This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Christofferson, Jacobson, Mesingstad, Sorenson, Rude Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/gFC.2ACI/1306 Message Board Post: Martinius O. Christofferson, an active farmer, dairyman and stockraiser of the town of Colfax and for several terms, a member of the Dunn County board of supervisors, was born in the town of Ettrick, Trempealeau Co, Wis, May 11, 1872. His parents, Ole and Martha Christofferson, were Norwegians who came to the United States in the early 60's. Coming west by rail to a point on the Mississippi River, they took a steamboat up the river to LaCrosse. Though Ole Christofferson was a shoemaker by trade, he did not linger in the town, but pushed on to Trempealeau County, where he took a homestead of 145 acres, and built a log house and barn. Thus started as pioneer farmers, he and his wife worked hard for success, which was at last attained, but not until after many years of hard work. In the early days he used oxen when breaking in his land and the family experienced the usual hardships of those who seek to tame the forces of nature. When prosperity came, he added to his comforts, erecting new buildings and making his place one of the attractive farms of his township. He is still living on it but his wife has passed away. They had 3 children, Martinius, Christ and Regina, the last mentioned of whom is the wife of Harold Rude, a farmer near Blair, Trempealeau Co. Martinius as a youth helped his parents to improve the home farm, in the meanwhile obtaining a district school education. He remained there until 28 years old, at which time he went to North Dakota, where he farmed for 5 years. Two years after that he returned to Wisconsin and bought a 220-acre farm in Section 33 town of Colfax, Dunn Co. The property was improved and in good condition, except the barn, and one of his first acts, therefore, was to build a new one, 32 x 64 feet in size, adding a concrete silo. This is the place he is now operating, having 130 acres under the plow. He has 20 head of grade Holsdtein cattle and a drove of Poland China hogs. During the 19 years he has resided here he has become well acquainted with most of the people and has been closely identified -- for some years at least -- with the affairs of local government. He has served as clerk of the school board of his district, and in 1918 he was elected chairman of the town of Colfax board of supervisors, an office to which he was reelected each year until 1925, when he was succeeded by Ingraham Iserelson, Mr. Christofferson having declined to serve longer. As it is an office that carries with it membership on the county board, it was required on his part considerable knowledge of county affairs and involved a certain amount of responsibility. Mr. Christofferson is one of the directors of the Colfax Cooperative Creamery. His religious affiliations are with the Norwegian Lutheran Church. He was married in Trempealeau Co., Wis. Dec 27, 1899 to Helga Mesingstad, daughter of Andrew and Olevia Mesingstad. After a married life of less than 10 years, she died in 1909. She had been the mother of six children, one of whom, Harold, is deceased. Those living are Oliver, Morris, Marie, Helen and Alvin. Marie is the wife of Sidney Sorenson of Detroit, Mich. In Nov. 1912, Mr. Christofferson married Gena Jacobson, daughter of Jacob and Beret Jacobson, and of this union one child has been born, whose name is Oscar. Mrs. Christofferson's father is living but her mother has passed away. Extracted from The History of Dunn County (Wisconsin), 1925, pp. 621-622.