Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

F. W, Corneliussen is an enterprising agriculturist, owning and operating one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 32, Nokomis township, which was entered from the government by his father in 1869.  Mr. Corneliussen is a native of Norway, born December 21, 1856, of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Corneliussen, who were likewise natives of that country.  The parents emigrated to America in 1865 and spent three years in Wisconsin, after which the father came to Iowa and entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Buena Vista county.  In 1869 he returned to his native land and in 1872 brought to this county his family, numbering five sons, all of whom grew to mature years.

F. W. Corneliussen was a youth of sixteen years when he accompanied the other members of the family to the new world.  He was given the advantages of a common-school education and remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage, which occurred in Nokomis township in 1880, when Miss Mary Gulbransen became his wife.  She is also a native of Norway but was reared in America.  Following his marriage Mr. Corneliussen located on a tract of eighty acres which he purchased.  He built a good house and improved the place in other ways, making his home thereon for three years.  He then sold that property and removed to Barnes township, where he bought two hundred acres, which he also improved with a house and good buildings.  After residing there for eight years he disposed of that property and invested his money in one hundred and sixty acres in Maple Valley township, which he improved.  He cultivated that farm for six years, subsequent to which time he disposed of his land and bought the interest of the other heirs in the homestead property, which has been his home since 1896.  He has here one hundred and sixty acres, all of which have been placed under a high state of cultivation.  He has recently completed a fine two story and a half house, has erected good barns and outbuildings, has fenced and tiled the land, and has made it a valuable farm property.  He follows practical methods in his labor and his efforts are attended with gratifying results.  In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, he also raises stock on a small scale, feeding cattle and Poland China hogs.  He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator and in the creamery at Alta.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Corneliussen has been blessed with ten children:  Christena, Sven, Anne, Emma, Millie, Florence, Bessie, Ruth, Irene and Fred.  Mr. Corneliussen casts his presidential ballot for the republican candidates but at local elections votes independently.  He has been a member of the school board for many years.  He holds membership relations with the Methodist Episcopal church at Alta and is an officer in the church.  His wife and family also belong to that organization.  Mr. Corneliussen has assisted materially in the agricultural development of Buena Vista county, for he has improved four good farms and is now the owner of one of the valuable farm properties of his section of the state.  Like many who come to this country from foreign lands, he has improved the opportunities that have come to him, has displayed good judgment in making his investments and has accumulated a goodly competency.