Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....Evenson, Even November 21, 1844 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 18, 2020, 1:32 pm Author: See below HONORABLE EVEN EVENSON, the present representative of Meeker county in the Lower House of the State Legislature, resides on section 8. 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 I860, 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 anil 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 1S65, 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 settlers 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: Henrv Nicholas, born October 24, 1871; Carl Richard, born December 17, 1873; Robert R., born July 27, 1877; Elmer Emanuel, born August 13, 1879; Anna Rertha, 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 hoard, and during his service was recognized as second to none in point of ability or influence. In 1880 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 bis 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. A portrait of Mr. Evenson will be found upon another page in this Album. Additional Comments: Extracted from: ALBUM OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY OF Meeker County, Minnesota, CHICAGO: Alden Ogle & Company, 1888. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/meeker/photos/bios/evenson569gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/meeker/bios/evenson569gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb