Polk-Dodge County MINNESOTA Biographies.....Vaatveit, John J. August 13 1856 - 
*******************************************************
File contributed for Minnesota Biographies Project by:
Carol Eddleman deddle@ix.netcom.com November 2, 2004, 2:48 pm

Author: Anonymous
John J. Vaatveit, a prominent merchant of McIntosh and well known citizen of 
King township, is a native of Norway, born in Village of Voss, on August 13, 
1856.  He was reared on a pioneer farm home in Dodge county, Minnesota, the 
family emigrating to the United States in spring of 1857, and spent his early 
manhood in Dodge county.  In 1856 he went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and 
began his career in the commercial world as a clerk in a general store.  After 
spending seven years in that employment, he made his first independent venture 
in the mercantile business and for five years continued his successful 
operations, establishing a store at Northland, North Dakota, and was appointed 
the first postmaster at that place.  In 1895 he sold his interests, resigned 
from the office of postmaster and transferred his attention to farming, 
removing to Polk county and buying a quarter section of land in King township, 
where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for some twelve years.  In 1907 he 
resumed his commercial activities, opening a general store at McIntosh, where 
he has since conducted a prosperous and steadily growing trade.  During the 
many years of his residence in King township, Mr. Vaatveit has won the respect 
and confidence of all his asociates through his ability as a business man and 
his public spirited citizenship.  He has been prominently associated with 
township affairs and has capably discharged the duties of various public 
offices, as chairman and member of the township board, a member of the school 
board of McIntosh and in several minor offices.  He has been further identified 
with public interests as the president of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, 
serving for a term of nine years.  He was married in Dodge county, Minnesota, 
to Martha Alrick, who is a native of Norway and they have reared a family of 
four children, Engvold, George, Minnie, who is the wife of Oliver Henson, and 
Mabel.  Mr. Vaatveit and his family are faithful supporters of the Synod 
Lutheran church and are actively identified with all its interests.

Additional Comments:
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of Polk County, Minnesota.  
Minneapolis: W. H. Bingham & Co., 1916, p. 143-4.

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/bios/mnbios/

File size: 2.6 Kb