Eugene A. Sorenson
Eugene A. Sorenson
Eugene A. Sorenson, dealer in leaf tobacco and inventor of the Victor Piston Ring, is one of the genial, energetic young men of Whitehall, and his work in developing the tobacco industry has been an important feature in the modern agricultural progress of Trempealeau County. He was born in Dane County, Wis., March 16, 1876, second of the six children of John and Ellen (Otteson) Sorenson, was reared on the home farm, and left school at the age of 13 years. Starting out for himself at the age of 22, he worked a little over a year for the Utica Creamery Co., Utica, Wis.; about four years for the Wheeler Prairie Creamery at Stoughton, Wis.; and a little over two years for Jokum Johnson, general store keeper at Utica, Wis. It was in 1905 that he came to Whitehall and for five years was one of the firm of R. Holtan & Co., dealers in and packers of leaf tobacco. In 1910 he engaged in business for himself as buyer and packer, and two years later purchased the warehouse of the Home Tobacco Co. at Whitehall. In November, 1916, the business was incorporated under the name of the Mabbett Leaf Tobacco Co., with a capital of $30,000 and with W. F. Mabbett as president, E. A. Sorenson as vice-president, and C. W. Birkenmeyer as secretary and treasurer. The company has large warehouses at Whitehall and at Edgerton. Mr. Sorenson is in full charge of the large Whitehall warehouse. This establishment is fully equipped for the best work, employs from 30 to 40 people during the busy season, and has a yearly output of from 200,000 to 500,000 pounds. In addition to his position of honor in the tobacco world, Mr. Sorenson is widely known as the inventor of the Victor Piston Rings, for automobiles, aeroplanes, motorcycles, steam engines, marine motors, compressors, gas engines and pumps. The rings are manufactured by the A. E. White Machine Works, of Eau Claire, Wis. Mr. Sorenson was married Feb. 15, 1900, to Emma Johnson, daughter of Jokum and Aasil (Smithback) Johnson, born June 4, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Sorenson have two children, Adehne, born Feb. 20, 1904, and Eldora, born Aug. 18, 1908.
(from HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY WISCONSIN
Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Edited by Eben Douglas Pierce, M.D.
H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.
Chicago and Winona 1917)
Eugene A. Sorenson, dealer in leaf tobacco and inventor of the Victor Piston Ring, is one of the genial, energetic young men of Whitehall, and his work in developing the tobacco industry has been an important feature in the modern agricultural progress of Trempealeau County. He was born in Dane County, Wis., March 16, 1876, second of the six children of John and Ellen (Otteson) Sorenson, was reared on the home farm, and left school at the age of 13 years. Starting out for himself at the age of 22, he worked a little over a year for the Utica Creamery Co., Utica, Wis.; about four years for the Wheeler Prairie Creamery at Stoughton, Wis.; and a little over two years for Jokum Johnson, general store keeper at Utica, Wis. It was in 1905 that he came to Whitehall and for five years was one of the firm of R. Holtan & Co., dealers in and packers of leaf tobacco. In 1910 he engaged in business for himself as buyer and packer, and two years later purchased the warehouse of the Home Tobacco Co. at Whitehall. In November, 1916, the business was incorporated under the name of the Mabbett Leaf Tobacco Co., with a capital of $30,000 and with W. F. Mabbett as president, E. A. Sorenson as vice-president, and C. W. Birkenmeyer as secretary and treasurer. The company has large warehouses at Whitehall and at Edgerton. Mr. Sorenson is in full charge of the large Whitehall warehouse. This establishment is fully equipped for the best work, employs from 30 to 40 people during the busy season, and has a yearly output of from 200,000 to 500,000 pounds. In addition to his position of honor in the tobacco world, Mr. Sorenson is widely known as the inventor of the Victor Piston Rings, for automobiles, aeroplanes, motorcycles, steam engines, marine motors, compressors, gas engines and pumps. The rings are manufactured by the A. E. White Machine Works, of Eau Claire, Wis. Mr. Sorenson was married Feb. 15, 1900, to Emma Johnson, daughter of Jokum and Aasil (Smithback) Johnson, born June 4, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Sorenson have two children, Adehne, born Feb. 20, 1904, and Eldora, born Aug. 18, 1908.
(from HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY WISCONSIN
Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Edited by Eben Douglas Pierce, M.D.
H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.
Chicago and Winona 1917)