Nels Haugen Biography


	This biography appears on page 1678 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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	NELS HAUGEN, postmaster of Hartford, Minnehaha county, was born in 
Valders, Norway, on the 28th of June, 1852, being a son of Nels and 
Christina (Anderson) Haugen, both of whom passed their entire lives in 
the fair land of their nativity. The subject received his education in 
the schools of his native place, where he was reared to maturity. In 
1874, at the age of twenty-one years, he severed the home ties and set 
forth to seek his fortunes in America. He embarked at Bergen, Norway, in 
1874 of that year and arrived in New York city in April. Thence he came 
westward to Iowa, where he remained about one year. In June, 1875, he 
took up his residence in Minnehaha county, South Dakota, where he 
entered a homestead claim three years later, and he worked previously at 
farming in different parts of the state, and also in steamboating on the 
Missouri river. He then turned his attention to the improvement and 
cultivation of his farm, where he continued to reside until 1887, when 
he came to Hartford, where he did effective work as a buyer of grain for 
different elevators, continuing to be thus employed until 1902, when he 
received his appointment as postmaster, of which office he is now 
incumbent, having given a satisfactory and able administration of its 
affairs. He has been a staunch advocate of the principles of the 
Republican party from the time of attaining the right of franchise, and 
he has taken an active interest in public affairs. He was for eight 
years township clerk of Grand Meadow township, and for six years held 
the same office in Hartford township. The village of Hartford was 
incorporated in 1896 and he was chosen as first village clerk, an office 
of which he continued in tenure for eight years. Fraternally he is 
identified with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. 

	On the 31st of March, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Haugen to Miss Annie L. Tvedt, of Hartford, who has proved a devoted 
wife and helpmeet, and of this union have been born seven children, 
namely: Louis N., Cark A., William E., Thomas 0., Martin B., Clarence R. 
and Roy O.