Ole Gunderson LAUGEN

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census: Houston, 1885, Houston County, MN. line 10

19 Laugen Ole O 51 Norway
" Ambjor 45
" Anne 18 WI
" Oscar 16
" Edward 13 MN
" Clara 5
" John 1
Evenson Even 74 Norway

20 Laugen Ole G 31 Norway
" Dinah 29 MN
" Emma 3
" Sofia 1
" George 3/12
" Gunder 64 Norway
Erickson Martin 27

• Biography: History of Houston County, MN, 1919, Houston County, MN. LAUGEN OLE G.
BOOK - HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY, MN., PUBLISHED IN 1919. Ole G. Laugen, proprietor of a fine farm in Houston township, who has also rendered public service in high official position, as county treasurer, member of the State Board of Equalization, and State Senator, was born in Nonadahl, Norway, April 24, 1854, son of Gunder and Christine (Landsverk) Laugen. He was thirteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Rushford, Fillmore county, Minn., and two years later he came with them to Houston county, the family locating on the farm in section 25 west, Houston township, which has ever since been his home, except for one or two periods of temporary absence. As a boy he attended the district school, and for a number of years was his father's assistant on the home farm, of which in the natural course of events he finally became manager and then owner. It is now a fine estate, well improved with good build- ings, and provided with the necessary equipment for modern scientific farming, which he carries on with profitable results. Mr. Laugen's public service began many years ago, when he became identified with the affairs of town government, serving at various times as clerk, assessor and supervisor. His efficiency in local office led to his nomination as county treasurer, and as such he served for eight years, during that time residing in Caledonia. Renominated in 1890, on the Populist ticket, he declined office, but in 1892 he was again nominated and elected on the Republican ticket, serving eight years. In 1901 Mr. Laugen was appointed by Gover- nor Van Sant to membership on the State Board of Equalization from the Tenth Judicial District; and in 1902 he was nominated and elected State Senator from Houston county, in which office he served four years, taking a beneficial part in much important legislation. His record as a public servant is one to which his fellow citizens may point with pride as justifying their choice of a representative in the highest legislative body in the State, and was the culmination of a long career of usefulness and fidelity to public interests. Religiously Mr. Laugen is identified with the Lutheran church. He was married, Dec. 17, 1880, to Dinah Christianson, who was born in Money Creek township, Houston county, daughter of Martin and Randine (Gulbrandson) Christianson, who were natives of Christiana, Norway. Emigrating to Chicago, Ill., in 1852, her parents, accompanied by Segrid Anderson, came in the following year to Houston county, Minn., and took a farm in Money Creek township, where they spent the rest of their lives, the mother dying in March, 1916, and the father some years previous. Mrs. Dinah Laugen survived her mother by only eight months, passing away Nov. 28, 1916. She and her husband were the parents of six children, whose record in brief is as follows: Emma, wife of John W. Potter, of Caledonia; Sophia, wife of Leslie Emery, of Caledonia; George, a member of the firm of Potter & Laugen, of Houston, who married Velma Whitehouse; Martin, a traveling salesman living in St. Paul, who since a boy of eighteen was in the employ of Bishop & Babcock until 1918 and is now with a Chicago firm; Louis, residing on the home farm; and Josephine, who died in Caledonia. Martin and Louis both enlisted in the United States Navy for the Great War, and were in training when the Armistice was signed. Mr. Laugen is now devoting his time to the cultivation of his fine farm, being one of the leading representatives of the agricultural industry in his township.' He is a member of the Shipping Association, and is fraternally connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Ole married Dinah CHRISTIANSON on 17 Dec 1880. (Dinah CHRISTIANSON was born ca 1860 in Houston County, MN and died on 28 Nov 1916 in Houston County, MN ².)