Thore Engebretson

Thore Engebretson, who passed away in Allamakee county at the age of seventy-eight years, was one of its honored pioneers and successful agriculturists, owning two hundred and eighty acres of rich and productive land in Center and Paint Creek townships. He was a native of Barrum, Norway, and in that country wedded Miss Helena Marie Nelson, who was born in the same province. In 1851 they crossed the Atlantic to the United States with their family of four children and for one year made their home at Rock Prairie, Wisconsin. In 1852 they came to Allamakee county, Iowa, purchasing and locating on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land on sections 35 and 36, Paint Creek township. The log shanty on the place, which had been built by a former resident, remained their home for a time. Later a stone house was erected which is still standing and doing good service. Mr. Engebretson prospered in his undertakings as an agriculturist and subsequently purchased an additional tract of one hundred and twenty acres, making his farm one of two hundred and eighty acres, which is still in possession of three of his children, who reside on the place. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the call for troops and for one year loyally served the Union cause as a member of Company F, Ninth Iowa Cavalry. He came to the new world a poor man and experienced all the vicissitudes and privations of pioneer life. It was only by dint of persistent and untiring labor that he won the success which eventually placed him among the substantial and representative citizens of his community. His wife was called to her final rest at the age of seventy-five years. They were devoted members of the Lutheran church and their lives were in consistent harmony with their professions. In his political views Mr. Engebretson was a stanch republican.

Mr. and Mrs. Engebretson were the parents of the following children: Anton, who resides on the old homestead on section 35, Center township, with his two sisters, Emma and Christina; Mary, the wife of L. O. Larson, of Taylor township, this county; Johanna, who is the widow of George Bieber and resides in Rock county, Minnesota; Ludwig, who died at the age of forty-five years; Edward, who is deceased; Olof, a resident of Rock county, Minnesota; Christian, who was drowned in childhood; and Emma and Christina, who reside on the old homestead farm with their brother Anton, the former having been blind since the age of ten years. Anton Engebretson carries on general agricultural pursuits with good success. He is now sixty-four years of age and has lived here from pioneer times to the present, having witnessed the wonderful transformation that has occurred as early conditions have given way before the onward march of civilization.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Jan Miller

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