Sever C. Monson

MONSON, VINJE, SAGEN, NESHEIM, MOE

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/3/2010 at 05:00:33

SEVER C. MONSON

Sever C. Monson, who is operating the Farmers Elevator at Scarville, was born on the old family homestead in Logan township, Winnebago county, August 8, 1875, a son of Colben and Bertha (Vinje) Monson, who were natives of Norway, where they were reared and married. Four children were born to them ere they came to the new world, namely: M. C., living in Worth county, Iowa; K. C., whose home is in Chicago, Illinois; Anna, the wife of Halvor Sagen, deceased, whose home was in Fertile, Iowa; and Carrie, living near Fertile. In the year 1869 the parents came with their family to the new world and settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa, whence they removed to Logan township, Winnebago county, in 1870. For ten years they lived upon government land that was not for sale. As soon as it was placed upon the market, however, their son, M. C., purchased the property, comprising the northwest quarter of section 16, Logan township. After living for ten years in Winnebago county the father removed to Worth county, establishing his home near Fertile. There he purchased a farm upon which he resided until his death, which occurred October 31, 1913. Both he and his wife were laid to rest in Brush Point cemetery in Worth county. They were well known farming people of this section of the state and enjoyed the high regard of all with whom they came in contact. Following their arrival in the new world they became parents of three children, namely: Martha, who is the wife of S. A. Nesheim, of Chicago; Albert, also a resident of Chicago; and Sever C., of this review.

The last named enjoyed such educational privileges as the pioneer schools of Winnebago county afforded. He pursued his studies to the age of sixteen in the local schools and afterward spent two winter terms in St. Ansgar Academy, while for one year he was a student in the Iowa State Teachers College. He left the farm to give his attention to other business interests and from 1900 until 1904 owned and conducted a hardware store in Hanlontown. For five years thereafter he was employed in the grain business there and in 1910 he became manager of the Farmers Elevator at Scarville, in which connection he has since remained, carefully, systematically and successfully conducting the business.

On August 24, 1903, Mr. Monson was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Moe, daughter of H. P. and Elizabeth Moe, of Logan township, Winnebago county. Mr. and Mrs. Monson now have three children, Esther, Kenneth and Catherine. The parents are members of the United Lutheran church and in his political views Mr. Monson is a republican. He has been a director of the Scarville school board for six years and is now serving as a member of the town council. He stands for progressive interests in matters of citizenship, seeking to promote public welfare along practical and helpful lines, and he is much interested in the growth and progress of Winnebago county, witnessing its development from pioneer times to the present.

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. 521-522.