BIOGRAPHIES: Nels J. TWESME, Ettrick Township, Trempealeau Co., WI

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** Posted for informational purposes only -- the poster is not related
to the subject of this biography.

Nels J. Twesme, who is living practically retired on a small farm in section
15 E, Ettrick Township, was born in Hardanger, Norway, Nov. 7, 1847, son of
Jone Larson and Anna (Matson) Larson.  His parents, who were natives of the
same province in Norway, emigrated to the United States in 1869, but the
father died on the voyage and was buried at sea.  His wife, with her daughter,
continued on to Trempealeau County, Wis., settling on Beaver Creek, Ettrick
Township, where she lived many years, passing away in 1905.  She and her 
husband had five children, of whom Nels J. was the fourth born.

Nels J. Twesme was educated in his native land and was only ten years old 
when he began to earn money by tending goats, subsequently working on farms
for six or seven years.  He then took to the sea, making coastwise voyages
as a sailor for some five years.  In 1869 he came to this country, locating
on Beaver Creek and for two years thereafter worked as a farm hand.  At the end
of that time he bought a farm, which was located near his present farm in
Ettrick Township and began its cultivation, with the aid of an ox team, using
oxen on his farm for many years subsequently.  He was unable at first to speak
English, but gradually acquired a knowledge of the language by associating with
English-speaking people.  After spending some 36 or 37 years on that farm,
Mr. Twesme sold it to his children and bought his present small farm of 20 
acres, where he is keeping a few cows, pigs and chickens, which he can take 
care of without too much work.  This rural life he prefers to living in town,
where he would have nothing to do.  He is also a stockholder in the Ettrick
Creamery and in the Telephone Company.

April 12, 1869, Mr. Twesme was united in marriage with Ranveig Larson, who was
born in Hardanger, Norway, daughter of Lars and Ranveig Longesetter Larson,
natives of that place, where the father was engaged in farming.  Her parents
remained in their native land and are now deceased.  Mrs. Twesme, who was one
of two children born to her parents, was educated in Norway, where also she 
and her husband were married while he was on a visit to his native land.  Mr.
and Mrs. Twesme are the parents of five children:  John, unmarried and a 
carpenter by trade, who resides with his parents; Randema, wife of Thomas Halven,
residing on a farm in Jackson County, their home being only two miles from the
Twesme residence; Louis, engaged in the real estate business in Chicago, who
married Miss Charlotte Kravick of Dane County, Wis.; Edward, who lives on a 
part of the old farm in Ettrick Township, and Thea, wife of Cornelius Davis.
Mr. Twesme and family are members of the Lutheran Synod Church.  In politics
he is an independent Republican, but has not been active in public affairs.

-- Transcribed from "The History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917" 
pages 458-459