Henry J. Moe

MOE, ELLEFSON, ROVANG, HORVEI

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/3/2010 at 04:55:06

HENRY J. MOE

Henry J. Moe, a resident farmer of Winnebago county, living on section 33, Norway township, was born in Worth county, Iowa, September 1, 1874, a son of John S. and Elie (Ellefson) Moe, who were natives of Norway but came to the United States in early life with their respective parents. The father located in Minnesota, near Brooten, while the mother became a resident of Spring Green, Sauk county, Wisconsin, where her parents spent their remaining days, her father there following the occupation of farming. After living for some time in Minnesota the Moe family removed to Winnebago county, where the paternal grandfather passed away and was laid to rest in North cemetery at Lake Mills. His wife was buried at Waubay, Day county, South Dakota, where she had lived with her son after her husband's death. For about eight years John S. and Elie Moe made their home in Worth county, Iowa, where they settled in pioneer times. Mr. Moe performed the arduous task of developing a new farm and they met all of the experiences and hardships of life on the frontier. On selling his farm there, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres just east of Lake Mills, in Winnebago county, and lived thereon for eighteen years but at the end of that time again bought his first farm, on which he made his home until his removal to Emmons, Minnesota, just across the state boundary line. He also purchased another farm in Silver Lake township, Worth county, and made many improvements on both places. His remains were interred in North cemetery at Lake Mills and his widow is now living at Lake Mills. They became the parents of five children, but two died in infancy. Those still living are : Inger, now the wife of Gilbert Rovang, of Worth county, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Oscar Horvei, of Lake Mills; and Henry J.

The last named acquired his education in the schools of Lake Mills, which he attended to the age of fifteen years. Through the remaining period of his minority he worked with his father upon the home farm in Winnebago county, near Lake Mills. On the 17th of January, 1896, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Horvei, a daughter of Andrew J. and Anna Horvei, of Worth county, where her mother is still living. Her father, however, has passed away and his grave was made in Silver Lake cemetery, Worth county. In their family were the following children: Agnes; John; Martha, deceased; Olai; Christina; Oscar; Anna; Louis; and Albert, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Moe have become the parents of thirteen children, namely: Alfred; Evelyn; Mabel, who died at the age of nine years; Wilma; Beulah; Hulda; Millie; Carl; Violet; Lillian; Eleanor; Hamlet; and Myrtle.

In the year in which he attained his majority—also the year of his marriage— Mr. Moe began farming for himself on rented land in Center township and for four years cultivated property which he leased. During that time he and his young wife practiced close economy and thus carefully saving their earnings they were at length enabled to purchase a farm. They have acquired three different eighty-acre tracts on section 33, Norway township, and today have a valuable and productive farm of two hundred and forty acres. Mr. Moe has remodeled the buildings upon it, keeps everything in a state of good repair and now has a well improved farm property that constitutes one of the attractive features of the landscape. He works diligently in the production of crops and his careful management and energy are bringing to him deserved success. He is a stockholder in the Lake Mills Creamery Company and the Scarville Elevator Company, and also a stockholder and director of the Farmers Elevator Company of Lake Mills. He has never been neglectful of the duties of citizenship and is interested in all affairs pertaining to the welfare and progress of his community. He votes with the republican party and is one of its active local workers, having served as committeeman. He is also deeply interested in the cause of education and has served as school director and as president of the school board. The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Moe is that of the United Lutheran church and in Winnebago county they are widely and favorably known.

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. 554-555.