Andrew C. Fossum Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1479-1480 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	ANDREW C. FOSSUM, who is engaged in general contracting in the 
city of Aberdeen, was engaged in contracting and as superintendent of 
contracting work in the city of Chicago for seven years, and from the 
western metropolis came to Aberdeen in August, T881. Here he was in the 
employ of others in an executive capacity for, about two years, at the 
expiration of which, in 1883, he began contracting on his own account, 
as a member of the firm of Saxon & Fossum. This association continued 
four years and since that time he has conducted his operations 
individually. He erected the public-library building and many of the 
best business blocks and private residences in the city, while his 
methods have always stood voucher for the best of workmanship and the 
most absolute fidelity to contract. In addition to his own operations he 
has found his services much in demand as a superintendent in connection 
with the contract work of others, and in this capacity he has had charge 
of the erection of the' new buildings for the Jewett Brothers and the 
fine dormitory of 'tine normal school, besides many other notable 
buildings. Personally he employs at times as many as twenty-five men in 
connection with his contract work, and in this line as coupled with his 
general superintendency he has had the direction of the labors of fully 
one hundred men at various times. Mr. Fossum is a Republican in his 
political proclivities, and he served one year as a member of the board 
of aldermen, representing the third ward. Fraternally he holds 
membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. 

	Mr. Fossum is a native of Christiania, Norway, born on the 12th of 
October, 1844, and being a son of Christopher and Anna Fossum. He 
received a common-school education. He came to America in 1868, stopping 
first in Lansing, Iowa. In 1872 he went to Chicago, and in 1878 he went 
to Red Wing, Minnesota, and in 1881 came to Aberdeen, South Dakota. 

	In Chicago, Illinois, in 1874, Mr. Fossum was united in marriage 
to Walburg Olesen, who was born in Christiania, Norway, and they are the 
parents of eight children.