America can boast of no better or more patriotic citizens than those
which Norway has furnished, and LaSalle county had no more worthy,
industrious, honorable pioneer than the father of the subject of this
narrative, who, with all of his sons, have been ready to do all within their
power for this land, the land of their love and pride.
Born near
Christiania, Norway, in 1813, Knute Halverson continued to dwell in his
native land until 1838, when he sailed for the west, believing that greater
opportunities awaited him here. Landing in the harbor of New York, after a
long, weary journey on the old-style sailing vessel of the period, he went
to Chicago by way of the great lakes, and from that place, then a tiny
hamlet comprised of a few rude cabins, he pursued his way on foot to LaSalle
county. Beginning at the bottom rounds of the ladder leading to success, he
worked at whatever he could find to do whereby he might earn an honest
dollar, and frequently — for money was scarce among the settlers — had to
accept farm produce or provisions in lieu of other payment. In 1840 he
married Elizabeth Olson and settled upon a little farm. Years rolled by and
in 1858 he was enabled to purchase the fine place known as the Halverson
farm, in Adams township. Here he spent the remaining years of his life,
respected by all who knew him, and at his death he left a valuable estate,
accumulated solely by his thrift and good business talents. He was a
true-blue Republican, and voted for every presidential candidate of his
party from William H. Harrison to William McKinley. One of the organizers of
the Lutheran church in his community, he held the office of deacon and
contributed liberally to the support of religious enterprises.
Charles K. Halverson is one of ten children, all but three of whom have
entered the silent land. His brother Nels is a resident of this county; and
the only surviving sister, Betsy, is the wife of S. M. Sanderson. Two
brothers were heroes of the civil war, and their lives were sacrificed to
their country. They were both members of Company I, Eighty-second Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, which saw hard service in some of the important
campaigns of the great civil conflict. Halver died of typhoid fever in the
south, and Ole was killed during one the Virginia campaigns.
The
birth of Charles K. Halverson occurred May 28, 1854. He received good
public-school advantages in his youth, and during the greater part of his
life he has pursued the calling of his forefathers, agriculture. However, he
was engaged in business in the town of Lee, Illinois, for a period of twelve
years, in the meantime serving as a justice of the peace and a police
magistrate. In 1894 he sold out his interests in the store which he had
conducted at Lee, and returned to the old homestead in Adams township, where
he had been born and reared to maturity. By the exercise of the talents with
which he was endowed by nature, he long ago placed himself above the need of
anxiety respecting his financial affairs, and with faith in himself and the
kindly Providence which has watched over his welfare he is quietly pursuing
the even tenor of his way.
On the 30th of September, 1875, Mr.
Halverson wedded Martha, daughter of Sander H. Sanderson, of De Kalb county,
Illinois. They have several children, namely: Curtis, whose education was
recently finished at Steinman's College, in Dixon, Illinois; Mabel, Clara,
Sander, Leslie, Walter and Edith.
Following in the political
footsteps of his father. Mr. Halverson is a loyal Republican. He and his
wife and elder children are members of the Lutheran church, and active in
its various departments of usefulness.
Extracted 22 Dec 2017 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 543-544.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
