Bio of KNUDSON, Torkel (Tom) (b.1865), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol II, pg 265-266
TORKEL KNUDSON
One of the most successful business men in Minneapolis is Torkel Knudson (known
to all of his friends as "Tom"), who is engaged in the manufacture of furniture.
He was born in Nass, Norway, on the 22d of November, 1865, a son of Knut Knudson
and Christen Iverson Knudson. Both parents were natives of Norway and never came
to the United States. For many years the father was engaged in the hotel
business in Nass. His demise occurred in his fifty-fifth year after a life of
successful achievement, and Mrs. Knudson died in her fortieth year.
In the acquirement of his education Torkel Knudson attended the schools of his
native country. At the age of fourteen years he came to this country and settled
in Lanesboro, Minnesota, in 1879. He worked on a farm near that place for two
years and then removed to Buxton, North Dakota, where he continued farming for a
year.
For the following two years he worked on the Northern Pacific Railroad and
subsequently went to Red Wing, Minnesota, where he made his initial step in the
furniture manufacturing business. He worked in a furniture factory there for
three years and in 1887 came to Minneapolis, working in the Ellis Hardware Store
for a like period. Then for five years he was associated with the Frank Peterson
Furniture Company, at the termination of which time he returned to Red Wing and
was traveling salesman for the Red Wing Furniture Factory for fourteen years. He
traveled throughout the Northwest and was very successful. During those years he
took advantage of every opportunity to learn* the business and in 1904
established a furniture manufacturing business of his own, on Franklin avenue,
Minneapolis. In two years his business had grown to such extensive proportions
that he was forced to move to larger quarters and for five years conducted the
business on Main street, Northeast. For ten years he was located at No. 505
First avenue Northeast, and in 1920 he opened his present building at No. 24-26
First street South, where he has extensive showrooms and factory, operating as
the Twin City Upholstering Company. Mr. Knudson devotes his entire time and
attention to the business and each department receives his personal supervision.
He has built up an extensive and important patronage and his enterprise is one
of the most representative of its kind in the Northwest. Mr. Knudson owns a
beautiful home, valued at twelve-thousand dollars, and he has extensive real
estate interests.
In Minneapolis on the 12th of October, 1912, was celebrated the marriage of
Torkel Knudson to Miss Mabel Larson, a daughter of Lars Larson, who for many
years has been engaged in farming near Minneapolis.
Since attaining his majority Torkel Knudson has been a strict adherent of the
republican party and the principles for which it stands. Although he has never
been active in party affairs, he is conversant on all living questions and
issues of the day, and no movement for the development and improvement of the
city, county or state seeks his aid in vain. His religious faith is that of the
Lutheran church, of which he is a consistent communicant, and fraternally he is
identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He holds membership in
the Odin Club and the United Commercial Travelers Association. For recreation
Mr. Knudson turns to the great outdoors and although he is fond of hunting and
other sports, his hobby is his work. Mr. Knudson has not only gained a position
of prominence in manufacturing circles, but he is active in financial circles,
being one of the stockholders in the Mercantile State Bank.