Nils H Mork

Source: History of Dunn County, 1925, p. 800.

NILS H. MORK, an early settler in the town of Wilson, where he is now living, having built up a good farm in Section 26, was born in Norway, Sept. 16. 1846, son of Hans and Anna Mork. The mother having died in Norway, in 1869, Hans Mork came to the United States and settled in Minnesota, where he remained for two years. He then came to Dunn County, driving here with an ox team, anad homesteaded 160 acres of wild land in the town of Sheridan, he and his family making their home in their covered wagon until he had built a small frame house, the lumber for which he hauled from Prairie Farm.

He cleared his land and spent the rest of his life in conducting his farm. He was twice married, by his first wife Anna having six children, all of whom are now dead but Nils. His second wife, to whom he was married in Dunn County, died on the farm. Nils H. Mork was married in Norway, in 1871, to Ingeborg Aanden, daughter of Ole and Cecil Aanden, who spent their lives in their native land. In the same year he came with his wife to the United States, locating in Minnesota, where he found employment on farms. In 1873 he came to Dunn County, whe ehe and his family lived one winter with his father. He then took a homestead of 160 acres in Section 26, town of Wilson. The land was wild and included some standing timber. Mr. Mork began improvements by building a log house of 12 x 14 feet and a log barn with straw roof, and began the clearing of his land. For some years he was unable to give all his time to it, for money had to be earned for the support of the family, and to earn it he had to work out for others.

At that time there were many Indians about but it is not recorded that they gave the family any trouble, though Mrs. Mork and the children may sometimes have felt timid when the father was away, as it was not many years after the uprising in Minnesota when so many white settlers were killed. The Morks probably heard gruesome stories from eye witnesses of the terrible things that happened then -- some nine or ten years before. For a number of years, like the pioneer settlers, Mr. Mork used oxen on his farm and split rails and built rail fences. In time he put up another log house, larger than his first, making his own shingles for the roofing. For many years he has farmed here gradually increasing in prosperity and continuing to improve and modernise the place.

In 1903 he built a seven-room frame house and a frame barn of 34 x 72, with a granary, machine sheds and other buildings. He has bought additional land until he now owns 360 acres in Section 26 and has 70 acres under plow. He does general farming and dairying, having at the present time 42 head of mixed grade cattle, and he also raises Duroc-Jersey hogs. He is a stockholder in the Ridgeland Cooperative Creamery. He formerly served many eyars on the Wilson town board as supervisor, and at various times served as school director and as road commissioner, making a good record as a public official.

In 1921 he and his wife celebrated their Golden Wedding, receiving many congraatulations onhaving reached that important milestone on life's pathway, which is the lot of but few married couples. They have had 13 children, nine of whom are now living, namely, Hans, Olaus, Sina, Anton, Sam, Jennie, Gunda, Otto and Morris. Those deceased are Matt, Mary, Ida and Andrew.

Sina married Paul Thompson of the town of Wilson; Jennie married Helmer Hanson of Duluth; Gunda married Oscar Steen of the town of Tainter; Olaus is farming in the town of Wilson, and Otto, Anton and Morris are living on the home farm. In Sept 1917, Morris was enrolled in the U.S., service and trained at Camp Grant, where he performed duty in the camp bakery until the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Mork in addition to the above mentioned children, have an adopted daughter, Gunda Lee, whom they have reared from infancy.