Arne Hilmo

Arne Hilmo has spent almost his entire life in Allamakee county, covering a period of more than half a century, so that he is familiar with its history from pioneer times to the present. He is today the owner of two hundred and seventeen acres of valuable farm land, located on Section 16, Makee township. Mr. Hilmo is one of a family of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Hilmo, the former a native of Norway, born in 1829. He was reared and married in his native country and there two children were born before the family emigrated to the new world in 1855. Mr. Hilmo first located in Lansing, this county, and at the time of his arrival in Makee township the Knudtson family was the only one residing in this section of the county. Mr. Hilmo worked for the latter for some years as a farm laborer, at seventy-five cents per day, or twelve dollars per month. After a number of years spent in this way he managed to save enough money to purchase a tract of raw land and he at once gave his attention to its clearing and development, eventually making it a desirable piece of land. After eight years, however, he disposed of that tract and purchased the farm on which the son now resides. This tract, containing two hundred and seventeen acres, was also raw land, but Mr. Hilmo cleared it of the brush, fenced and cultivated the fields, erected a good house, barn and outbuildings, and made his home thereon throughout his remaining years. His death occurred December 6, 1900, when he had reached the seventy-second year of his age. His wife survived for only about two years, passing away August 29, 1902, and thus the county lost two of its highly respected pioneer citizens.

Arne Hilmo was reared on the home farm, giving his father valuable assistance in clearing and developing a new place, and the knowledge he gained at that time has proven a valuable asset to him in his later life. After the death of his father, he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the homestead and is now the owner of two hundred and seventeen acres of splendid farming land, situated on section 16, Makee township. Of this he has one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation. He raises good grades of stock and also engages to some extent in dairy farming, having thus been identified for the past thirty years. He was one of the promoters of the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company at Waukon and is now one of the stockholders.

It was on the 25th of November, 1878, that Mr. Hilmo was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Holden, who was born and reared in Norway. The three surviving children of this marriage are Julia, at home; John, who assists his father on the farm; and Ludwic, who is assistant cashier and bookkeeper in a bank at Dazey, North Dakota. One daughter, Louisa, died May 30, 1900.

Mr. Holm adheres to the republican party on national issues, but locally he is independent. He belongs to the Lutheran church in Paint Creek township. He has always worked hard and well deserves the success which is today his. He is not only a prosperous farmer and dairyman of the county, but is one of its highly respected citizens, for he has always been honest and upright in his dealings with his fellowman and all who know aught of his career speak of him in the highest terms.

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

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