BIOGRAPHIES:   Sam 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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SAM SORENSON, of Section 3, town of Elk Mound, who belongs to the
sturdy agricultural class on which society depends for the chief
necessaries of life, and in which the country is now taking a more
than ordinary interest, was born on his parents' farm in this town on
July 6, 1865, son of Andreas and Elizabeth Sorenson. The parents,
natives of Barrum, Norway, came to America in 1860 and directly to
Dunn County, settling on the farm above mentioned in Section 21, town
of Elk Mound. It was then, however, merely 120 acres of wild land,
and its subsequent value depended on Mr. Sorenson's strong arms and
industrious habits. In effecting its transformation into a good
modern farm he was greatly aided by his wife, who, like himself, was
built of good pioneer material and managed the household with care
and frugality. They spent 22 years on that place, starting with log
buildings, which Andreas Sorenson erected, and clearing more land
from year to year. In 1882 he sold that farm a! nd in partnership
with his son Sam bought one of 80 acre in Section 3, where he put up
a house and other buildings, though he and his wife did not move to
it until 1884, in the meanwhile residing on a rented farm. On the
latter farm they subsequently resided until their death, Mr. Sorenson
passing away first, on April 18, 1891, and Mrs. Sorenson on Nov. 14,
1893. Their children, six in number, were Maren, Arne, Randi, Lars,
Lena and Sam, of whom Sam is the only one now living. Sam Sorenson as
a boy attended the school of his district, after he was old enough
assisting his father to develop the home farm, which he did until he
was 20 years old. Then going to Washburn, Wis., he found employment
as "carriage man" in the sawmill there, a job at which he worked for
eight years. At the end of that time he returned home to take over
the management of the farm and care for his parents, upon whom the
years were beginning to press heavily. In fact he not only took over
the management, but ! the farm became his property, the other heirs
signing off their claims in his favor in consideration of his
previous services and with the stipulation that he should continue to
care for the parents for the rest of their lives, and this he did. He
has done his share as a progressive farmer to keep abreast of the
times in everything pertaining to his business. He has remodeled the
farm residence, built a good barn and other out-buildings and has
cleared and developed many more acres of land. He is engaged in
general farming and dairying with good results, and is a stockholder
in the Colfax Produce Co. of Colfax. On Aug., 17, 1895, Sam Sorenson
was united in marriage with Minnie Nelson, who was born in the town
of Elk Mound, June 27, 1870, daughter of James and Hannah Nelson. Her
parents were natives of Norway who came to this country in the early
60's, and to Dunn County, Wis., settling on a tract of 160 acres of
land in Section 2, town of Elk Mound, and, starting in pioneer
fashion ! with a set of log buildings, which Mr. Nelson erected, they
sold, moving to the village of Elk Mound, where Mr. Nelson died May
14, 1895, and Mrs. Nelson Feb. 22, 1902. They had a large family of
13 children, namely: Ole, deceased; Christ, who met his death from
drowning; Nels, deceased; Caroline, deceased, who was the wife of
John Jurgenson; James, of Eau Claire; Martha, who married Lars Benson
and is now a widow living in Chicago; Lena, residing in Elk Mound
village, the widow of Christ Ludvigson; Mary, living in Eau Claire
County, the wife of John Melby; Hannah, who married Edd Gunderson and
is now a widow; Anna, also a widow, whose husband was Engebrit
Garvick; Minnie, who is Mrs. Sam Sorenson; Louise, wife of John
Hanson and residing in North Dakota; and one who died in infancy. Mr.
and Mrs. Sorenson are the parents of four children, all residing at
home with them, who were born as follows: Arthur J., Dec. 22, 1896;
Henry L., May 22, 1900; Mildred, July 17, 1902, and Hazel L., Feb.
3, 1906.

-Transcribed from the "History of Dunn County Wisconsin, 1925," pages 819-820

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