BIOGRAPHIES:  Sever SOMMERVOLD, Menomonie, Dunn County, WI

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Sever Sommervold, pioneer of the Sommervold cabinet works on Sixth Avenue 
West, Menomonie, was born in Orkedalen, Norway, March 30, 1883, son of John 
and Millie (Amundson) Sommervold.  The parents lived and died in Norway, 
their native land, the mother passing away in 1900 and the father in 1923.  
After attending public and high school in Norway, Sever Sommervold learned 
the trade of carpenter and cabinet-maker.  In 1902, a youth of 19, he came 
to the United States to better his fortune, and, like the great majority of 
his countrymen, naturally gravitated to the Northwest.  Having an aunt, 
Martha Brerad, in Menomonie, he came first to this city and stopped with her 
for a while.  From July until October, that year, he worked for farmers, 
being busily engaged during the threshing season.  In October he went to the 
woods for the Chippewa Lumber & Boom Co. and was in their employ until March, 
1903.  Then he began working for Sever Olson, a carpenter and contractor with 
whom he remained that summer.  His next employment was with the Dunn County 
Sash & Door Co., and lasted three years, at the end of which time the concern 
went out of buisness.  After that and until 1913 Mr. Sommervold was with Govin 
& Hanson, who also were contractors and builders.  He terminated his service 
with them by buying them out and going into buisness for himself in the Govin 
& Hanson shop, and here he has since remained.  He manufactures sash and doors 
and does all kinds of cabinet work to order.  A highly skilled workman, and 
thoroughly reliable in business matters, he has built up a large trade which 
is still gradually increasing.  His shop is equipped with all necessary 
machinery, such as a jointer, moulder, tenon mortiser, rip saws, and a large 
collection of hand tools.  Mr. Sommervold was married Dec. 1, 1906 to Amelia 
Johnson, who was born in Menomonie, Nov. 10, 1884, a daughter of John and 
Hanna (Larson) Johnson, who settled in Menomonie in 1880.  The father died in 
1916 but the mother is still living.  Mr. and Mrs. Sommervold have one child, 
Melvin John.  Mr. Sommervold is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the 
Scandanavian American Fraternity.  In 1920 he made a trip to Norway to see his 
father and other relations and old friends, being away three months.  He and 
his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

-Transcribed from the "History of Dunn County Wisconsin, 1925," page 864