Ole O. Haugse Biography


	This biography appears on pages 851-852 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				HON. OLE O. HAUGSE. 

	The Hon. Ole O. Haugse has rendered his state efficient service 
as a member of the legislature, taking office in 1909. He is known 
throughout Minnehaha county as a prosperous and progressive farmer, his 
land on section 11, Grand Meadow township, being excellently improved 
and yielding bountiful crops. He was born on the 1st of October, 1854, 
in Norway, a son of Ole Haugse, who passed his entire life in the land 
of the midnight sun. The subject of this review was reared at home and 
educated in the common schools, but, being ambitious and hearing much 
of the opportunities offered by the new world, he came to the United 
States in 1872, when a young man of eighteen years, and located in 
Winneshiek county, Iowa. There he worked as a term hand for about five 
years and in the spring of 1878 came to South Dakota, walking the 
entire distance, three hundred miles or over. 

	Mr. Haugse took up a homestead, and subsequently purchased 
another quarter section situated on section 14, just across the road 
from his home place. He has devoted the greater part of his time to 
agricultural pursuits and, as he has made an intelligent study of the 
soil and climate and the crops best adapted thereto, as well as the 
best methods of cultivating the land, he has found farming a very 
profitable occupation. He has identified himself thoroughly with the 
section in which he makes his home and is connected in an official 
capacity with several local business enterprises, being a stockholder 
and a member of the board of directors of the Lyons Grain & Elevator 
Company, and also a stockholder in the Farmers Bank of Lyons. 

	On coming to South Dakota in 1878, Mr. Haugse was accompanied by 
his wife and a ten-months-old daughter. Their first home was an adobe 
hut with no floor and a roof made of hay, through which the heavy rains 
would sift, soaking the ground beneath. After living in that house for 
five years a two-room structure was erected and this contained a floor, 
it being the home of the family for ten years. Now there is one of the 
finest farm residences in the township upon Mr. Haugse's place and all 
of the other improvements are in keeping therewith. In 1915 he 
purchased a house on West Twelfth street, Sioux Falls, and leaving the 
farm in charge of his children, he and his wife took up their abode in 
their new home, where they are now enjoying a well earned rest. 

	In Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1877, Mr. Haugse was united in 
marriage to Miss Julia Jensen, a native of Norway, who came to the 
United States three or four years previous to the arrival of her future 
husband. Her father was John Jensen, who on coming to South Dakota took 
up a homestead in Buffalo township, where he and his wife spent the 
remainder of their lives. 

	Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Haugse, as follows: 
Jennie, the wife of Ed Nelson, of Madison, South Dakota; Oscar, a 
farmer in western Manitoba; Nettie and Henry, on the home farm; Anna, 
the wife of Martin Nelson, of Sioux Falls; Josie, now Mrs. Andrew 
Walker, of Burk township, this county; Lewis, Albert and Joseph, at 
home; and Charlie, who has taken up a homestead in Montana. 

	The family are members of the Lutheran synod and are much 
interested in all phases of church work. Mr. Haugse is a republican in 
his political belief and is influential in the councils of the party in 
the state. He has always taken a prominent and influential part in 
public affairs, and has been found true to every trust reposed in him. 
He has held many local offices, having served as a member of the town 
board for several years and as justice of the peace for many years. He 
is especially interested in the progress of education and ever since 
coming to South Dakota has been a member of the school board, now 
serving as treasurer of the same. He represented his district in the 
state legislature, his term of office beginning in 1909, and while a 
member of that body supported many bills which have proved of great 
benefit to the people of the state. Not only was he a ready speaker on 
the floor but proved his value as a conscientious worker upon many 
important committees. He made his home in Grand Meadow township for 
over three decades and during that time consistently labored for the 
welfare of the community as well as for his own advancement, and his 
activities have won him not only prominence but also a high place in 
the estimation and regard of his fellow men.