Christen Thoreson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 413-414 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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				CHRISTEN THORESON. 

	Christen Thoreson is a resident farmer of Brandon township, 
Minnehaha county, and, like a goodly percentage of the leading 
agriculturists of his part of the state, comes from Norway. He was born 
June 24, 1852, and is a son of Thorer Christianson, who was also a 
native of the land of the midnight sun and was a farmer by occupation. 
He remained a resident of Norway until 1868 when he came to America, 
locating in Minnesota. He subsequently removed to South Dakota 
accompanied by his family of five. He secured a homestead here and 
engaged in its cultivation and development throughout his remaining 
days. Both he and his wife are now deceased. 

	Christen Thoreson pursued his education in the public schools of 
his native land and in Minnesota. He was twenty-one years of age when 
the family came to South Dakota and he also secured a homestead claim, 
to which he has since added by purchase a tract of eighty acres His 
entire life has been devoted to general agricultural pursuits and he is 
thoroughly acquainted with the best methods of tilling the soil and 
caring for the crops. 

	In 1881 Mr. Thoreson was married to Miss Martha Olson, a daughter 
of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Johnson, both of whom are now deceased. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Thoreson have been born the following named, Sophia, Minnie, 
Christian, Inga, Julia, Olaf, Ruth, Elmer and Henry. The parents began 
their domestic life upon the farm which he secured upon coming to this 
county and have since lived on the old homestead although its 
boundaries have been extended through additional purchase. Mr. 
Thoreson's memory goes back to the period of pioneer development, for 
when the family came every evidence of frontier life was to be seen in 
this section. The journey had been made with covered wagons drawn by 
oxen. The family was in very straightened financial circumstances and 
they went through all of the hardships caused by the grasshopper 
plague. It was a difficult task to transform the wild prairie land into 
cultivated and productive fields, but the work was resolutely carried 
forward and Mr. Thoreson has always ranked with the energetic and 
industrious men of the county. Whatever success he has achieved is the 
reward of his earnest and indefatigable labor and he is now known as 
one of the substantial farmers of Minnehaha county. 

	Mr. Thoreson has always been interested in the welfare and 
progress of his section of the state and for fifteen years he capably 
filled the office of school treasurer, to which he was again and again 
reelected upon the republican ticket. He has always been an advocate of 
that party, never faltering in his allegiance thereto. His religious 
faith is that of the Lutheran church and in his life he exemplifies his 
belief.