K. O. Teigen Biography


	This biography appears on pages 923-924 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HON. K. O. TEIGEN. 

	Hon. K O. Teigen, a member of the legislative assembly of 1915, 
ranked with the representatives of that body who proved their loyalty 
to the state's best interests by sturdy support of measures and 
movements looking to the welfare and upbuilding of the commonwealth. He 
is also one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of Day county, 
where he has resided since 1901. He was born in Norway, May 30, 1872, a 
son of Ole M. and Sunev (Tekene) Teigen. The public schools of his 
native country afforded him his educational privileges and in 1892, 
when he was twenty years of age, he left Norway for the new world, 
believing that he might enjoy better business opportunities on this 
side the Atlantic. Immediately after his arrival in America he began an 
effort to secure an English education by attendance at the public 
schools and later he pursued a course in Concordia College at Moorhead, 
Minnesota. He had landed at New York city on the 14th of April, 1892, 
and from the eastern metropolis made his way to Douglas county, 
Minnesota, where he remained for a year. He then went to Kindred, North 
Dakota, where he resided at intervals until 1901. In that year he 
removed to Day county, South Dakota, where he entered a claim to which 
he has since added by purchase until he now has a farm of five hundred 
and twenty acres, which is highly improved and cultivated. He devotes 
his land to diversified farming and stock raising, conducted according 
to the most approved modern scientific methods. The well tilled soil 
brings forth good crops and the farm work results in the attainment of 
a substantial annual income. 

	On the 21st of July, 1901, Mr. Teigen was united in marriage to 
Miss Amalia Sellevold, a daughter of Christian and Bertha (Sethern) 
Sellevold, of Day county, South Dakota. To them have been born seven 
children, namely: Beatrice Sophia; Olaf Clarence, who is deceased: 
Chester Leonard: Alice Clara. Martin Lewis: Myrtle Bertina: and Oscar 
Clarence. 

	Mr. Teigen and his family are members of the Lutheran church and 
are actively interested in the moral as well as the material 
development of the community. Politically he is a republican and since 
becoming a naturalized American citizen has taken an active interest in 
political affairs. He has served in various local offices and therein 
discharged his duties with such ability and fidelity that he was called 
upon to serve the state in a legislative capacity, being elected a 
member of the general assembly in 1914. He was on duty throughout the 
session of 1915 and earned the well deserved reputation of being an 
intelligent and hard working legislator, taking an active part in 
furthering the business of the house. He demonstrated conclusively that 
his decisions were reached only after a thorough study of the subjects 
under discussion His deliberations brought out the strong or weak 
points of any measure and his belief in a bill called forth his 
strongest advocacy thereof. He did important committee work as a member 
of the committees on school and public lands, highways and bridges and 
warehouses and grain. As a member of the second named he was able to do 
important work, for he had long and carefully studied and advocated the 
good roads movement. Mr. Teigen is one of the sturdy type of self-made, 
substantial men who have contributed to the upbuilding of South Dakota. 
When he arrived in America he had no assets except perhaps the most 
valuable one that he could have possessed-a determination to succeed. 
Making wise use of every opportunity and advantage that has come his 
way, he has progressed to a position of prominence in the community and 
state.