Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Osmonsen, Halver ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:14 pm Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900 Halver Osmonsen The career of Halver Osmonsen is well worthy of emulation by the generation now entering upon the cares and responsibilities of life. Arriving in this country a stranger, in 1849, the year of the great gold excitement, he might have followed in the footsteps of that horde of adventurers who, wisely or unwisely, were wending their perilous way toward the setting sun, determined to reap a golden harvest within a year or two, but, coming of the steady, hard- working race of Norsemen, he preferred the old, well-tried paths of industry, knowing that it is ever the safest and surest way to wealth, - “by the sweat of the brow”, the tilling of the soil. The result of his wisdom and perseverance will be referred to below, where a sketch of his life appears: Born in Norway, May 22, 1825, a son of honest, God-fearing farmers, Halver Osmonsen passed his youth in the various activities common to his country, a limited education being afforded him in the schools of his locality. In 1847 his parents, Halver and Mary Osmonsen, emigrated to America, and two years later the young man decided to try his fortunes in the New World also, and landed in New York city July 3, 1849. The father settled in LaSalle county, where he died during the first year of the great civil war. He was survived by his wife, who died at the home of her son, our subject, at the ripe age of four-score years. Of their eight children five died in Norway, namely: Osmon, Sorn, Julia, Madala and Christian. Three are living, namely, Christian, the second, of Morris, Illinois, and now in his sixty-fifth year; Sorn, a retired form of Newark, Illinois; and Halver. During the first years of his residence in Illinois our subject dwelt in Morris and in the neighborhood of Lisbon, and although he had little or no means at first, he soon saved a good sum, by economy and wise management. After farming near Lisbon for eight year, he bought a place of sixty acres, which he improved and then sold at a fair profit. Coming to Grundy county, he purchased the farm which he still carries on, his home being on section 9, Saratoga township. At various times he has invested in land, and now owns over two sections, renting five farms to responsible tenants. He takes commendable pride in keeping his dwellings in good repair, and everything about his homestead is neat and attractive in appearance. In addition to the farm lands which he owns, over one thousand acres, he also owns a handsome residence in the town of Morris; and he is also the proprietor of two substantial houses in Chicago, leasing them at good rates. Mr. Osmonsen’s success, as shown by the facts stated above, need no special commentary, as it speaks for itself, but at the same time it may be pointed out to the younger members of the community that they may prosper in the same degree in their life work, if they only put their shoulder to the wheel, as he has done. Nor, in the multiplicity of his private interests, has he neglected his public duties. He served for six years as highway commissioner, and during his term of office many important improvements were made, such as the erecting of several new bridges. He espouses the Republican cause, and is faithful to all of his obligations as a citizen. As might be expected, he is an earnest church worker, and the Lutheran chapel, which stands on the southeastern corner of his farm, was erected upon ground which he donated for the purpose. Since the congregation was organized, nearly a quarter of a century ago, he has been one of the deacons, and besides contributing generously toward the church building he has liberally given of his means toward the maintenance of the work here. Just half a century ago, in Kendall county, Mr. Osmonsen married Engeri Olson, a native of Norway, born in 1822. They became the parents of two sons, - Oliver H. and Ole, - and for forty-four years they pursued life’s highway together. Mrs. Osmonsen was summoned to her reward November 27, 1893, and on the 3rd of December, 1894, our subject wedded Ingeri Fosse, a daughter of Soren and Annie Fosse, who rent one of Mr. Osmonsen’s farms in Saratoga township. The older son of our subject, already mentioned – Oliver H., - was born in Kendall county, January 14, 1850, and on the 1st of March, 1870, married Susan A. Johnson, who was born June 10, 1852, a daughter of Oscar and Annie Johnson. Ole, the younger son of Mr. Osmonsen, was born in 1852, married Maggie, daughter of Samuel Craig, a farmer of Nettle Creek township, and now resides in Morris, Illinois. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p470-472 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/osmonsen628nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb