BIOGRAPHIES: Nels O. TVEDT, Barron, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Transcribed by Peg Lamkin Edited and submitted by Vic Gulickson 28 March 2002 ==================================================================== Nels O. Tvedt, president of the A. B. Leaf Tobacco Co., Barron, was born in Stavanger, Norway, March 15, 1861, son of Ole O. and Kari (Nettland) Tvedt. He came to America in 1880 and found his way at once to Dane county, Wis., where for five years he was engaged in the packing and sizing of tobacco. Then he went to the Pacific coast. After pressing hay the first summer, he entered the employ of the Blakely Mill Co., and worked for a year and a half in their sawmills and logging camp between Tacoma and Seattle. In the fall of 1887 he returned to Wisconsin, and worked in the factory of the Fuller & Johnson Co., at Madison. Subsequently he again entered the tobacco business, growing tobacco in the summer, and working as a sizer and packer in warehouses in the fall and winter. In the spring of 1895 he came to Barron County to occupy a piece of wild land which he had purchased the previous year in section 17, Barron Township. He housed his family in an old lumber camp, while he erected a house, a structure of hewed logs, 14 by 24 feet, sided and plastered, with a frame addition 12 by 14 feet for a kitchen. By hard work and close application he developed this farm, erected better buildings, and purchased stock and equipment. To the original tract he added by purchase, until the place consists of 245 acres, of which 165 are under the plow and the balance in cleared pasture land. Mr. Tvedt retired from farm work in 1920, and took up his residence in Barron City, where he owns a comfortable home. The firm of the A. B. Leaf Tobacco Co., is owned by him and the Anderson Brothers of Menomonie, Wis. The company has a large warehouse here and does a good business. Mr. Tvedt is a substantial citizen, served the town of Barron in various capacities, including that of supervisor, and has always stood for everything that is just and right. He is a member of the Barron Congregation of the Norwegian Lutheran Church and has occupied a number of official positions therein. Mr. Tvedt was married Nov. 29, 1887, to Rachael Stensland, daughter of Thor and Julia Stensland, of Madison, who brought her from Norway to America when she was one year of age and settled on a farm in Dane County, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Tvedt have ten children. Clara is the wife of Earl Butler, who is manager of a lumber company in North Dakota. Theodore is on the home farm. Helen is the wife of L. R. Smith, who is in the garage business in Chetek, this county. Henry is on the home farm. Ruth is the wife of Elmer Tuft, who is in the garage business at Chetek, with his brother-in-law, L. R. Smith. Gertrude, Esther and Norma are at home. Dorothy is dead. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 108.