Ruen, Olaus 1868 – 1960
RUEN, EGGE, MOE, EVANS, HAUGEN, DAHLEN
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/26/2015 at 14:52:07
OLAUS RUEN.
Olaus Ruen is the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres situated on section 25, Glenwood township. Here he engages in the cultivation of the crops best adapted to soil and climate and also raises stock. His entire life has been passed in Glenwood township, save for a year spent in Minnesota. He was born in this township March 2, 1868, his parents being Ole and Carrie (Egge) Ruen, natives of Norway.
The father was born October 14, 1825, and was in his twenty-fifth year when in 1850 he came with his parents to the United States, settling first in Racine, Wisconsin. The spring of 1851 witnessed his arrival in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, and in 1855 he took up his abode upon the farm now owned by his son Olaus. His mother died while they were crossing the ocean and his father passed away in 1879. Ole Ruen continued a resident of this county to the time of his demise, which occurred in October, 1893. While in his native land he had learned the shoemaker's trade and he followed it for many years after coming to the new world, but at the same time was engaged in farming, to which he made shoemaking a side issue. At one time he was the owner of one hundred and eighty-acres of land, which he cultivated, and was numbered among the enterprising agriculturists of the community. In politics he was a democrat and filled the offices of township trustee and justice of the peace. He was also treasurer of the school board for a period of years and took deep interest in the educational welfare of the community. The Lutheran church found in him an active and influential member and his influence was ever on the side of right, progress, justice and truth. He became connected with the Mutual Insurance Company, a local organization, of which he was one of the directors. His wife was born in Norway, May 25, 1830, and in company with her sister Martha came direct to Iowa in 1854. It was in October of that year that she gave her hand in marriage to Ole Ruen, since which time she has resided in Glenwood township, now making her home with her son Olaus. Her children were eleven in number: Peter, a resident of Kenyon, Minnesota; Amelia, living in Decorah; Henry, who will make his home in Steele county, Minnesota until December, 1913, when he will move to a farm which he has purchased in Frankville township, Winneshiek county; Cornelia, the wife of John Moe, of Glenwood township; Olaus; Maria, the wife of O. C. Evans, of Glenwood township; Margaret, who is the widow of Andrew Haugen and lives in Frankville township; and four children who died in infancy.
Olaus Ruen has been a lifelong resident of Glenwood township, save for the period of a year spent in Steele county. The educational opportunities accorded him were those afforded by the public schools. He was early trained in farm work and became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. In his youth he worked as a farm hand and since starting out in independent business has carried on general agricultural pursuits, being now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres on section 25, Glenwood township, which includes the old homestead and an additional tract of forty acres. Here he carries on general farming and also makes stock-raising a feature of the place. His farm presents a neat and attractive appearance and gives evidence of the progressive spirit of the owner.
On the 23d of May, 1900, Mr. Ruen was married to Miss Amanda Egge, who was born in Glenwood township, June 14, 1880, a daughter of Hans and Emmerense (Dahlen) Egge, who were natives of Norway but are now residing in Decorah. The four children of this marriage are Lawrence, Olgar, Eleanor and Adolph, all born upon the home farm.
The parents hold membership in the Lutheran church and have long been helpfully interested in its work, Mr. Ruen serving as church treasurer for the past twenty years. His political views were in accord with the principles of the republican party for an extended period, but he is now a progressive. For two terms he served as township trustee and made a good officer, but has always preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which capably directed, have brought him substantial and well merited success.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Pontoppidan Cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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