Lew Ness Biography This biography appears on pages 728-731 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 LEW NESS. Lew Ness, the owner of Spring Valley Farm, which comprises five hundred and twenty acres on section 35, Great Bend township, Spink county, came to this country from Norway without funds and without a knowledge of English. However, his determination to succeed and his persistent work to that end eventually enabled him to purchase land, which he improved and as he prospered he added to his holdings until he now has one of the finest farms in Spink county. He was born at Vigedal, Norway, November 17, 1859, and is a son of Halver Larson and Anna (Ness) Ness. The mother has passed away and is buried in Vigedal, but the father is still living and makes his home in that town. Lew Ness attended the public schools of his native country until he reached the age of fourteen, and when only fifteen years old he was compelled to earn his own living. He worked upon farms in Norway for a number of years before coming to the United States and his knowledge of agricultural methods proved of great value to him when he settled in South Dakota, even though conditions in this state and in Norway differ widely When he arrived in the United States in the spring of 1880 he was without funds and as it was necessary for him to find employment immediately he began working as a blacksmith in Story City, Iowa, although he knew nothing of that trade. He soon learned it, however, and followed it for about two years, but in the spring of 1882 came to South Dakota, settling in Hand county, where he took up a homestead and proved up on the same. However, crops were bad and he decided to leave that section of the state, giving the farm to a loan company in exchange for the loan which he received. In 1885 he came to the district where he now resides and bought two hundred acres of land, which he cultivated and developed. He followed mixed farming and was soon able to acquire more land, adding to his holdings by degrees until he now owns five hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. Here he still does general farming, raising in addition to grain about fifty head of cattle, fifty horses and a large number of hogs. The buildings upon his farm are all well adapted for their purposes and the barn is an unusually fine one. He has about three hundred trees upon the place, which add much to its attractiveness and the residence is large and well designed and one of the best in Spink county. He is thrifty and allows nothing to go to waste that could be advantageously utilized, and this trait, together with his industry, is largely responsible for his success. Mr. Ness was married in Redfield, South Dakota, on the 14th of August, 1899, to Miss Emma Tegland, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tegland, both of whom are deceased and are buried in Slater, Iowa. Mr and Mrs. Ness have four children: Fern, Harley, Lucille and Gleva, all attending the district school. Mr. Ness is a member of the Lutheran church and contributes to its support. Politically he affiliates with the democratic party and has held a number of local offices. He has served on the town board of Great Bend and is supervisor, while he has done a great deal for the public schools in his capacity of treasurer of school district No. 3, Frankfort. Even though at times in his business career he has met with discouragements and obstacles, his resolution has never faltered and he has persevered in his efforts, being certain that in the end industry and good management would be rewarded, and so it has proved, as he is now in the possession of a comfortable competence. Moreover, his upright life and many excellent characteristics have won him the esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact.