Peter A. C. Walle

WALLE, VOLD, JOHNSON, HAUGE, STEFFENSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/7/2010 at 17:31:59

PETER A. C. WALLE

Peter A. C. Walle, whose home is on section 15, Eden township, Winnebago county, has devoted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits and is today the owner of an excellent farm which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. He was born near Delavan, Minnesota, December 14, 1869, and is a son of Christian Johnson and Beret (Void) Walle, who were born at Bergen, in the northern part of Norway. The father was a sailor and in that locality was married. Five of their children were born in Norway, after which the family came to the United States and located in Minnesota, where they lived for nine years. A removal was then made to Eden township, Winnebago county, where Mr. Walle purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 15. He at once began to break the sod and prepare the fields for planting and in due time good harvests were gathered. He thereafter continued to engage in farming until his death, which occurred in 1906, while his wife survived until 1910. They were buried in the churchyard cemetery upon the home farm. Mr. Walle was a republican in his political views and was an earnest, consistent Christian man. Moreover, in a material sense he was a self-made man, owing his success entirely to his own efforts. Of the five children born to him and his wife in Norway, two are let living: Ole B. C., who is living in Lamoure county, North Dakota; and Chris C., a resident of Eden township, Winnebago county. One of the children died in Norway in infancy and another when on shipboard coming to the United States, while John died at the age of thirty years. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Christian Johnson Walle in this country, of whom two are living: Peter A. C. and Ed, both of whom are residents of Eden township. One died in early life, while Johanna became the wife of Ole Hauge, of Eden township, and passed away in 1916.

Peter A. C. Walle began attending the pioneer schools, but his educational opportunities were very limited, as deafness prevented him from pursuing his studies in that way. This deafness, however, has fortunately passed away. In his youth Peter Walle worked in the fields and began farming the home place for his father on shares. He now owns the home farm. When he first started for himself he purchased the south half of the northwest quarter and the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 14, but has since sold that property and is today the owner of the old homestead, which is one of the good farms of Eden township. His entire life has been devoted to general agricultural pursuits and the spirit of progress actuates him in all that he does.

When thirty-eight years of age Mr. Walle was united in marriage to Miss Maria Steffenson, who came to the United States from Norway about two years prior to her marriage. She has become the mother of three children: Christina Bettina, Anna Serena and Bernice Jenetta. Mr. Walle and his wife are members of the United Lutheran church and are people of genuine personal worth, enjoying the warm regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact. His political endorsement is given to the republican party. He is now the owner of a fine farm and may justly be called a .self-made man, his success being attributable entirely to his persistent, earnest labors carefully directed.

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. 559-560.