Bernt N. Hagna Biography


	This biography appears on pages 715-716 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				BERNT N. HAGNA.

	Throughout his entire business career Bernt N. Hagna has been 
connected with the lumber trade and is now president of the Hagna 
Lumber Company, having its general offices in Watertown. The business 
of the firm, however, covers a broad territory, for they own and 
control several yards in South and North Dakota. Mr. Hagna was born in 
Mower county, Minnesota, on the 20th of December, 1875, his parents 
being N. N. and Berget Hagna. The father is still living on the old 
family homestead in Minnesota, which he secured as a claim from the 
government fifty-five years ago. He was one of the early Scandinavian 
settlers of the northwest and took an active and helpful part in 
reclaiming wild land for purposes of civilization and in promoting the 
substantial and material development of the district in which he lives. 
In 1913 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed 
away in September of that year at the age of seventy-six.  

	Bernt N. Hagna attended the public schools of his native county 
and also continued his studies at Valparaiso, Indiana, for a time and 
in St. Olaf College at Northfield, Minnesota, remaining about four 
years in both places. He thus became  well qualified for life's 
practical and responsible duties and after his school days were over 
became connected with the lumber business in connection with the Veblen 
& Hagna Lumber Company of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. He was thus 
engaged for four years, during which time he thoroughly acquainted 
himself with the various phases of the lumber trade. He was afterward 
made superintendent of the lumber interests of the Northwest Lumber 
Company with headquarters at New Rockford, North Dakota, there 
remaining for five years. On the expiration of that period he organized 
the Hagna Lumber Company of Watertown in 1908 and today the company 
owns and controls five yards in South Dakota with a sixth yard in North 
Dakota. Bernt N. Hagna is the president of the company and associated 
with him in the ownership and conduct of the business are N. N. and H. 
A. Hagna. He is a well known representative of lumber interests in this 
section of the country and his well defined plans are carried forward 
to successful completion. He possesses em ray, persistency and 
initiative and brooks no obstacles that can be overcome by earnest, 
honest effort. The business has from the first been a growing one and 
now employs twelve men.  

	On the 24th of November, 1909, Mr. Hagna was united in marriage 
with Miss Bessie Genett Larson, a daughter of L. W. and Johanna Larson, 
living at Fosston, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Hagna have one son, Lewis 
William, three years of age.  

	The parents hold membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church and 
in polities Mr. Hagna is a republican, keeping well informed on the 
questions and issues of the day and voting for the candidates of the 
party because of his firm belief in party principles. He is a member of 
the Country Club and of the Commercial Club and cooperates heartily in 
all movements instituted by the latter for the benefit and upbuilding 
of the city. His life has been a busy one fraught with earnest labor 
and characterized by laudable ambition. Nor is the end yet reached, for 
the course and policy which he is pursuing will lead to still larger 
success.