Olmsted County MINNESOTA Biographies.....John Raffelson 1840 - 
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File contributed for Minnesota Biographies Project by:
Mike Oiseth MOISETH@mn.rr.com March 10, 2005, 9:34 am

Author: Joseph Leonard, History of Olmsted County, Minnesota

JOHN RAFFELSON (deceased) was born in Norway in 1840 and was there
reared to manhood and educated in the local schools. During his early
manhood he learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked a
considerable portion of his time afterward. In 1869 he crossed the
Atlantic ocean to the United States, and coming West to Olmsted county,
he secured for his first job the task of grubbing a tract for a farmer.
He then worked at farming and continued with success, saving the most of
his earnings until 1879, when he bought a tract of 140 acres sections 17
and 20, Salem township, and here he remained engaged in farming and
stock-raising and here he remained until his death in 1902. Mr.
Raffelson was a Republican and took much interest in all laudable public
affairs. While living here he became prominent and occupied various
official positions of trust and responsibility with fidelity and credit.
He was public-spirited and generous and was one of the leaders in
progressive views and in public improvement. He served as treasurer of
this school district and acquitted himself with honor. He owned stock in
the Creamery Company and left to his beloved wife a fine property. In
1881 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Carlson, a native of
Norway. Two years later they took up their permanent residence on the
farm in Salem township. On this place they put about $5,000 worth of
permanent improvements. At his death Mr. Raffelson was laid to rest in
the family lot in St. Olaf's Cemetery; he had been a member of St.
Olaf's congregation for many years. His widow is a woman of more than
ordinary intelligence and public spirit. She has shown her business
ability by conducting the farm profitably ever since her husband's
death. She is well read and knows what is going on in the world, and is
up with the times in all her farm operations. She is highly spoken of by
her neighbors for her kindness, upright womanly character, industry and
honesty.

Additional Comments:
Joseph Leonard, History of Olmsted County, Minnesota: together with sketches of many
of its pioneers, 
citizens, families, and institutions. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association,
1910. Pages 621-622.

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