BIOGRAPHIES:   Lauris E. SORENSON, Elk Mound Township, Dunn Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Laura Abood <lauraabood@yahoo.com>  13 January 2004
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LAURIS E. SORENSON, of the town of Elk Mound, now living retired
after a long and effective career of industry along agricultural
lines, is a native of Dunn County, having been born in Section 14,
town of Elk Mound, Sept. 23, 1861. His parents Engebreth and Anna
Sorenson, came to the United States as young people, and single,
becoming residents of Fond du Lac County. They were married at
Waupun, that county and then settled in Minnesota, from which state
they came in 1859 to Dunn County, Wisconsin, and to the town of Elk
Mound, where they bought 120 acres of government land in Section 14.
Making a clearing and erecting a set of log buildings, Engebreth
Sorenson began the development of a farm. The task of making a living
during Civil War times proving hard, he enlisted in 1862 as a soldier
and as such served two years, being honorably discharged. Then
returning to his farm, he continued his improvements for some years
longer, when his further efforts were terminated by his death on
March 26, 1871. He was not yet 41 years old, having been born May 7,
1830. For three years after his death his wife carried on the farm
alone and then became the wife of Anders Hanson, and she and Mr.
Hanson continued to reside there until 1893, when they moved to
another farm owned by Mr. Sorenson in the same section, where Mrs.
Hanson died at the venerable age of 92 years and five days on Nov.
10, 1919. She had survived her husband nearly 49 years. Mr. Hanson,
who was born Nov. 19, 1845, died Jan. 25, 1922. It is told of Mrs.
Hanson that when she came to Dunn County from Minnesota, she walked
all the way, carrying a nine-months baby and driving a cow and calf
before her. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Engebreth Sorenson six
children were born, the first two of whom died in infancy. The others
were Lauris E. subject of this sketch; Gena, who married Peter Mahla
and is now a widow residing in the town of Elk Mound; Gabriel, a
prominent farmer of the town of Elk Mound, and Martin, also of this
town. Lauris E. Sorenson was educated in the district school. Being
the eldest surviving child in the family, as soon as he was old
enough most of the farm work fell upon him. He continued to perform
it until his mother's second marriage in 1874, when Mr. Hanson took
charge of the farm, though Lauris until 1890 worked on it a part of
the time, when not working out for others. In 1890 he began farming
for himself on 120 acres of land that he had previously purchased in
Section 14. Of this tract 16 acres had been broken, the rest being
wild. Mr. Sorenson began the work of improvement by erecting a small
frame house and several other small buildings, and in time through
much hard work, sometimes in spite of discouragements, he developed a
considerable part of his land. In 1915 he added to his farm another
tract of 40 acres, increasing the total area to 160 acres. In 1899 he
built a barn of 32 x 56 feet and has since increased its length to 70
feet. In 1900! he erected a fine residence, and among his various
labors was the construction of a cement-block silo of 12 by 36 feet
and other good out-buildings in addition to the barn. Mr. Sorenson
continued to operate the farm until Nov. 15, 1923, when he rented it
to his son Carl, and he and his wife have since made their home with
their son Tille, who owns a farm in Section 27, near the village of
Elk Mound. During his active career Mr. Sorenson served several years
as town supervisor, and was also at times a director and treasurer of
his school district. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative
Creamery of Elk Mound. He was married July 19, 1890, to Clare
Tilleson, who has born in the town of Elk Mound, June 23, 1865,
daughter of Tille E. and Anna B. (Benson) Tilleson. Her parents, who
came to this country when young people, were married at Elk Mound and
then engaged in farming in Section 22, where they remained for the
rest of their lives. Mr. Tilleson, who was born Feb. 15, 1842, died
at the age of 81 years, on May 25, 1923. His wife Anna, who was born
Oct. 7, 1847, had a shorter lease of earthy life, having passed away
on June 18, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Sorenson have enjoyed 34 years of
happy wedlock, during which time they have been loving and mutually
helpful companions. They have had five children, Tille, Anna, Emil,
Leonard and Carl, whose individual records in brief are as follows.
Tille, born Feb. 17, 1893, and who was in the U. S. service in the
World War, is now the proprietor of Silver Spring Farm in Section 27.
His army service covered the period from August, 1918, to June, 1919.
Anna, born Aug. 31, 1896, is now Mrs. George Ausman of the town of
Elk Mound. Emil, born May 15, 1899, is residing with his parents.
Leonard, born Feb. 23, 1901, is living on the old home farm with his
twin brother Carl, who operates it. Carl married Emmen Ellingstad and
he and his wife are the parents of one child, a daughter, Ione. The
family are members of the Barrum Norwegian Lutheran Church in the
town of Elk Mound.

-Transcribed from the "History of Dunn County Wisconsin, 1925," pages 853-854

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