Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....Evenson, Even 1844 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 17, 2015, 7:38 pm

Source: See Below
Author: Alden, Ogle & Co.

   HONORABLE EVEN EVENSON, the present representative of Meeker county in the
Lower House of the State Legislature, resides on sections, in Greenleaf
township, and is one of the most prominent citizens of the county. He is a
native of Norway, and was born on the 21st of November, 1844. His parents were
Hans and Christine Evenson, who came to America in 1857, settling first in Scott
county, Minn., where they remained one year, and then removed to Wright County,
where they resided for two years, after which, in 1860, they settled in Meeker
County, Minn., the father pre-empting a quarter of section 8 in the present
township of Greenleaf. A full history of the father and other members of the
family will be found in another department of this work. The family consisted of
father, mother and five children, Even being the eldest son.
   
   At the time of the Indian outbreak in 1862, Even was residing with his
parents on the homestead. Although not yet eighteen years of age, he was a
careful observer of events, and on the memorable 17th of August was in
attendance on the war meeting at the old Ripley postoffice. That night he was
one of the fearless little band of settlers, who went to the Baker and Jones
residences, and discovered the horrible butchery which the savages had committed
so near their own doors. He remained with the squad that night and the following
day, and, later in. the same week, went with the family to Forest City, where he
was doing guard duty when the Indians attacked the place in the night. A
sentinel named Henry L. Smith was the first man to return the fire of the
savages, and the second shot was fired by Even. During the following year, Even
worked in St. Paul and Anoka, and in the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company I,
Second Minnesota Cavalry. The regiment was assigned to duty on the frontier, and
Even went with a detachment of his company as escort of Captain Fisk's immigrant
train to the Idaho gold fields, and went as far as Fort Rice in Dakota. He
remained with the command, doing frontier service until the fall of 1865, when
he was mustered out. He returned to the old homestead, and has since remained
there, with the exception of the summer of 1867, when he was employed near St.
Paul.
   
   In November, 1869, Mr. Evenson was married to Helen Danielson, a daughter of
Nels and Randi Danielson, who were among the first settlers in Meeker county.
She was born in Norway on the 28th of October, 1847. During the Indian outbreak
she had a thrilling and dangerous adventure, she being one of the two women who
were left in the thicket all night while the setflers were flying for their
lives. Mr. and Mrs. Evenson have been blessed with seven children, the third
born of whom, Robert E., is dead. The others are as follows: Henry Nicholas,
born October 24, 1871; Carl Richard, born December 17, 1873; Robert B., born
July 27, 1877; Elmer Emanuel, born August 13, 1879; Anna Bertha, born September
25, 1881; and Nels Oscar, born April 13, 1884. The family are members of the
Ness Norwegian Lutheran Church.

   Mr. Evenson’s life has not only been a busy one, but an unusually useful one
as well. Besides filling various township offices, he has filled the office of
county commissioner for eight years, the last four years of which time he was
honored with the chairmanship of that body. He made a careful and efficient
member of the board, and during his service was recognized as second to none in
point of ability or influence. In 1886 Mr. Evenson was elected to represent
Meeker county in the Lower House in the XXVth Legislature on the republican
ticket, and he has proven well worthy the trust reposed in him, making a record
satisfactory to his constituents and highly creditable to himself. His ability
was recognized in the formation of the House Committees as he was placed upon
the Committees on Education, Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute, and on Roads,
Bridges and Navigable Streams.

   When the State Board of Trade was in existence Mr. Evenson was appointed by
Judge Brown to represent the Twelfth Judicial District in that body, the most
important work of which was the recommendation to the Legislature for the
establishment of the State grain inspection system.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from 
Illustrated Album of Biography
Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota
1888




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