Carl Oscar Martinson

MARTINSON, ANDERSON, HANSON, DAVIDSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/2/2010 at 05:58:49

CARL OSCAR MARTINSON

Carl Oscar Martinson, of the firm of Gordon & Martinson, agents for the Ford and Buick cars at Lake Mills, is an alert, up-to-date and successful young business man and is highly esteemed in his community. He was born in Norway township, Winnebago county, January 30, 1886, of the marriage of Martin I. and Alena (Anderson) Martinson. The mother, whose birth occurred in Norway, accompanied her parents to the United States when twelve years of age and when five years old the father removed with his parents from Wisconsin, his native state, to Winnebago county, Iowa. Here he grew to manhood and in time purchased land in Norway township which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. He is still engaged in farming, which he finds at once profitable and congenial. The mother also survives. To them were born twelve children, of whom three have passed away, Selmer, Carl and Selmer, while those who survive are Ingebret, Oscar, Selma, Clara, Gilma, Nettie, Alice, Melvin and William.

Carl Oscar Martinson passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon the homestead and obtained his early education in the district schools. Subsequently he took a course in the Mankato Commercial College and in Luther Academy at Albert Lea, Minnesota. When twenty-three years old he left the parental roof and removed to Lake Mills, where for two years he was an employee of Eckert & Williams, implement dealers. He then began business on his own account, buying an interest in the Winnebago Auto Company, which he disposed of four years later, or in 1914. He then formed a partnership with O. T. Gordon under the style of Gordon & Martinson and they have since been agents for the Ford and Buick cars. They do a large business, the number of their annual sales being limited only by the number of cars they can secure from the factory. In 1916 they sold thirty-six Fords and ten Buicks and could easily have sold more cars but were unable to get them. Their success is proof of their thorough knowledge of the construction of automobiles, their aggressiveness and their fair dealing. In addition to his interest in the business Mr. Martinson owns stock in the Farmers Elevator Company, a prosperous local concern.

On May 13, 1909, occurred the marriage of Mr. Martinson and Miss Sarah Hanson, a daughter of Hans and Martha (Davidson) Hanson, of Norway township, Winnebago county. Mr. and Mrs. Martinson have had four children: Marvin Howard, who died July 7, 1911; Marvin H., born July 12, 1911; Laurence, who was born in July, 1913; and C. Eldon, born in March, 1915.
Mr. Martinson is a stanch republican but has confined his public activity to the exercise of his right of franchise. He is a communicant of the Lutheran church and is heartily in sympathy with its work. Although a young man he already ranks as an important factor in the business development of Lake Mills and his sterling qualities of character and his social nature have won for him many sincere friends.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 257-258.