Marcus H. Wangsness Biography


	This biography appears on pages 566-569 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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				MARCUS H. WANGSNESS. 

	Among Garretson's early settlers is numbered Marcus H. Wangsness, 
now a leading retired merchant of the city. There have been no unusual 
chapters in his life history; he has worked diligently and persistently 
to secure advancement and in the conduct of his mercantile interests 
has ever recognized the fact that satisfied patrons are the best 
advertisement. Born in Norway on the 8th of September, 1846, he is a 
son of Herman and Brita (Tvete) Wangsness, who were also natives of the 
land of the midnight sun. At length they determined to try their 
fortune in tile United States and in 1855 left Europe for the new 
world, their son Marcus H. being then a little lad of eight years. They 
settled first in Dane county, Wisconsin, in the locality known as 
Norway Grove, but after two years removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa, 
where the father purchased a farm of two hundred acres. Carefully, 
systematically and persistently he cultivated that land for fifteen 
years and then, in 1871, removed to Worth county, Iowa, where he 
purchased three hundred and twenty acres. Upon that place he continued 
to make home until death terminated his labors when he was about 
eighty-two years of age. His wife passed away at the age of seventy 
years. 

	No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of 
farm life for Marcus H. Wangsness through the period of his boyhood and 
youth. He attended the common schools of Winneshiek county, Iowa, and 
in the periods of vacation worked in the fields, thus giving his father 
substantial assistance in the development and improvement of the farm. 
On reaching manhood he became identified with the agricultural 
machinery business and for some years divided his time between the work 
of a salesman and the active duty of improving the farm. 

	In 1871 Mr. Wangsness was united in marriage to Miss Lena Olson, 
who was a native of Chicago, but of Norwegian parentage. They began 
their domestic life upon a farm in Worth county, Iowa, which Mr. 
Wangsness had previously acquired, and there they resided for six 
years. In 1877 he came to South Dakota and filed on a homestead and on 
a timber claim in Lone Rock township, Moody county. In 1878 he removed 
his family to his new home and lived upon that farm for six years. In 
1884 he returned to Iowa and in company with his brother Thomas engaged 
in general merchandising in the town of Norman. He was connected with 
mercantile interests there for four years, when he sold out to his 
brother Ole and returned to South Dakota, establishing his home at 
Palisade, Minnehaha county, where he opened a general store. Two years 
afterward in 1890 he removed his business to Garretson and has since 
been prominently identified with the commercial interests of the city, 
covering a period of twenty-five years. He has ever carried a large and 
well selected line of goods and has enjoyed a liberal patronage, owing 
to the fact that he has been fair and honorable in his treatment of his 
patrons and energetic and progressive in the management of the trade. 
Into other fields he has also extended his efforts, for he was one of 
the organizers of the First National Bank of Garretson and is still one 
of its directors. He yet owns the homestead and timber claim in Moody 
county and his realty possessions likewise include a half section of 
land in McHenry county, North Dakota, and a quarter section in 
Minnehaha county about three and a half miles southeast of Garretson. 
In 1908 he erected a substantial business block, which is a two-story 
structure, built of South Dakota red granite, and is one of the most 
imposing buildings in Garretson. At a recent date Mr. Wangsness has 
turned his mercantile interests over to his sons, who have become his 
successors. He is now practically living retired, giving his attention 
merely to the supervision and management of his landed interests. in 
1915 he moved into a new house, built of frame, red stucco and cement, 
one of the handsome residences of the town. 

	To Mr. and Mrs. Wangsness were born seven children. Ole, who 
married Stella Hermanson, of Moody county, received excellent business 
training, being a graduate of the Business College of Sioux Falls and 
the Business College of Minneapolis, and was formerly a member of the 
firm of Wangsness Brothers, but is now in California. Perry received 
his early education in the common schools, subsequently went to 
Augustana College at Canton, South Dakota, from which he was graduated, 
still later attended school at Northfield, Minnesota, for one year and 
finished his education at the University of South Dakota, graduating 
therefrom in 1913. Melvin received the same educational advantages as 
Perry' and the two brothers are associated in business, constituting 
the firm of Wangsness Brothers, general merchants, of Garretson. Bertha 
is the wife of Ole Johnson, a druggist of Garretson. Helen married Dr. 
F. C. De Vall, a practicing physician of Garretson. Ida is the wife of 
Arthur Steinitz, vice president of the Minnehaha State Bank of 
Garretson. Ellen, the firstborn, died in 1890 at the age of sixteen 
years. 

	The parents are members of the Lutheran church and are much 
interested in its work. Mr. Wangsness has served for several years as a 
member of the school board and also as treasurer of Garretson. He is 
interested in all that pertains to public progress and his influence is 
always on the side of improvement and advancement, so that he ranks 
among the most valued and representative citizens of his county.