NORTHWESTERN IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME II 1804-1926 C. E. Haakinson Carl E. Haakinson, an enterprising business man of high standing, is thoroughly imbued with the admirable qualities of his Scandinavian ancestors and worthily bears a name that is deeply engraven upon the pages of Sioux City's history in terms of honor and success. He was born May 5, 1876, in Sloan, Iowa, and his father, Edwin Haakinson, was a native of Ringsager, Hedemarken, Norway. He was born January 4, 1844, and was a boy of ten when his parents, Haakin and Ellene (Amundson) Haakinson, left Ringsager and came with their family to the United States, settling in Winchester, Winnebago county, Wisconsin. In September, 1861, when a youth of seventeen, he enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of Company C, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and was later promoted to a position on the staff of General Lester. Mr. Haakinson spent four years in the service of his adopted country, participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary ridge and Knoxville, and was honorably discharged in September, 1865. After the termination of the Civil war he returned to the Badger stare and obtained employment in the ship yard at De Pere, subsequently taking subcontracts for ship building at Fort Howard, Maryland. In 1870 he opened a general store in Sloan, Iowa, and there resided until 1883, when he came to Sioux City. He organized the Union Stock Yards Company, of which he was managing officer until January, 1889, and then established the Haakinson Packing House. He was sole owner of the business and built up a large industry. He next turned his attention to transportation affairs and was one of the five men who formed the Sioux City & Northern Railway Company. He was one of the directors of the Sioux City Rapid Transit Company and a leader in every project for the development of this region. He was managing director of the University of the Northwest and from 1885 until 1887 acted as treasurer of Woodbury county. He was one of the most progressive men in Iowa and did much to shape the destiny of Sioux City, in which he was greatly admired and esteemed. In 1870 he married Miss Carrie Hanson, who was also a native of Norway and during her infancy was brought to Wisconsin by her parents. Mr. Haakinson was but seven years old when the family came to Sioux City and his education was acquired in its public schools. He was graduated from high school in 1892 and for three years was employed in his father's packing plant. In 1895 he started out for himself and for several years conducted his affairs independently as a dealer in building material on a brokerage basis. he prospered in the undertaking and in 1904 formed a partnership with Robert I. Beaty. The business was operated under the firm name of Haakinson & Beaty until 1915, when it was incorporated, and the present style of the Haakinson-Beaty Company was adopted. Mr. Haakinson has formulated many well devised plans for the expansion of the business, which has now assumed large proportions, and as its president displays the foresight, administrative power and unerring judgment which were distinguishing features of his father's commercial career. On December 20, 1904, Mr. Haakinson married Miss Evelyn Bowers, who came to Sioux City in 1900 from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and they now have five children. Carlton B., the eldest, was graduated from the Shattuck Military Academy in 1924 and is now attending Williams College at Williamstown, Massachusetts. He belongs to the Alpha Kappa Epsilon fraternity and is the possessor of a fine physique and a well developed intellect. While a cadet he played football and baseball and excelled in these sports. The other children are: Bradford R., a young man of seventeen and a senior at the Shattuck Military Academy; Sue, who is fifteen years of age and a member of the junior class of St. Mary's Hall at Faribault, Minnesota; John Wallace, who is a student at the North junior high school in Sioux City; and Jean, a pupil at the Hunt grammar school of this city. Mr. Haakinson is an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman and each season spends considerable time at his lodge on Deer lake, in northern Minnesota. He belongs to the Sioux City Boat Club and through his connection with the Chamber of Commerce is stimulating municipal growth and development. He is a consistent member of the St. Thomas Episcopal church and leads a healthful, well balanced life, enjoying to the fullest extent the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been associated. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/