Selnes, Ole Martin 1870 –

SELNES, KOKOS, MICHELSON, BRENNA

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/30/2015 at 08:38:47

OLE MARTIN SELNES.

Not only is Ole Martin Selnes well known as one of the prosperous farmers of Hesper township but he also owns a valuable half section in Moore county, Texas, and has achieved success in the real-estate business, buying and selling farm lands. He is a native of Winneshiek county, his birth having occurred in Frankville township on June 30, 1870. His parents were Raffel and Anne (Michelson) Kokos, natives of Norway, the former born on September 14, 1832, and the latter on December 26, 1827. The father came to the United States in 1861 and the mother in 1865. Their marriage took place in Glenwood township, this country, in 1869. They spent their lives since on farms in Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, the father passing away on January 31, 1908, and the mother about one year later, on January 2, 1909. The mother had been previously married and of that union were born six children, of whom four are now living. To her marriage with Raffel Selnes were born two children: one who died in infancy; and Ole Martin, of this review.

Ole M. Selnes has made his home in Winneshiek and Allamakee counties all his life and ever since laying aside his schoolbooks has followed agricultural pursuits. He has resided in Hesper township for nineteen years and for nine years has been located on his present farm. He owns one hundred and seventeen acres on section 25, Hesper township, and his place is well improved, most of the buildings have been placed thereon by our subject. He is a breeder of Poland China hogs and also raises high-grade cattle and horses. He also has made the real-estate business a profitable source of income, buying and selling farm lands. In later years he made an investment in Texas, acquiring a half section of land in Moore county.

In 1893 Mr. Selnes marries Miss Anna Brenna, who was born in Norway in 1864 and came to the United States in 1891. She is a daughter of Elias and Lorenza Brenna, who also crossed the Atlantic and now reside in Fillmore county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Selnes became the parents of seven children: Edwin Robert, who died in infancy; Edwin Robert (second of the name), a student at Luther College in the class of 1916; and Alma Louise, Arnold, John Edgar, Alfred Melvin and Selmer Philip.

Mr. Selnes is a republican and for two terms or six years served as county commissioner. For a similar period of time he acted as township assessor and for eight years was secretary of the district school board. He was road supervisor for one term. Both he and his wife are members of the United Norwegian Lutheran church of Hesper. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to Hesper Lodge, and also belongs to the Elks and Owls of Decorah. Mr. Selnes is one of those agriculturists who have done much toward promoting the development of Winneshiek county. He is public-spirited and gives an example of what should constitute American citizenship. He has attained success because he has ever applied himself arduously and intelligently to any task he has undertaken, and such prosperity as has come to him is but the natural outcome of labor well applied. He enjoys in a high degree the respect and esteem of the neighborhood and is ever interested in measures which make for better living conditions or promote the people's welfare along material, moral and intellectual lines.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913