Richard Mattson
Richard Mattson
Richard Mattson, president of the Whitehall Mill & Power Company, was born in Soler, Norway, Nov. 11, 1869, son of Martinus and Dorothy (Lund) Mattson.
The father, a farmer by occupation, was also a native of Norway and came to the United States in 1872, and after reaching Blair, Wis., bought a farm in Pigeon Township, which was his home until 1908. He then retired and moved to Whitehall, where he died Nov. 22, 1916, at the age of 82 years. His wife, who is also living, is 77 years old.
Richard Mattson, who accompanied his parents to America when a young child, at the age of 18 years began working in the woods at the lumber industry, and was thus occupied for six years during the winters, being employed on his father's farm in the summers. He subsequently learned the carpenter's trade and followed the business of carpenter and contractor in Whitehall until 1910. He then bought an interest in the Whitehall Mill & Power Company, with which concern he has since been connected.
While a contracting carpenter he built the schoolhouse in Blair and another in Taylor, also a bank in Hixton, additions to the schoolhouse and jail in Whitehall, and the residences of E. A. Sorenson and C. B. Melby, besides doing other important work. The Whitehall Mill & Power Company, with which, as above stated, he became connected in 1910, was incorporated in the spring of that year with a capital stock of $10,000, Mr. Mattson becoming president and John Wagstad secretary and treasurer.
The concern occupies a substantial frame building, and besides furnishing electric light and power for the village, has a capacity of 25 barrels of flour per day. It was originally started and the building erected in 1880 by Earl, Gates & Scott, and was purchased in 1893 by John Larson, who sold out Nov. 1, 1908, to T. E. Thompson. With Mr. Thompson as president, John Wagstad as vice-president, and M. S. Olson as secretary and treasurer, it was operated until its incorporation in 1910, as above recorded.
Mr. Mattson is an up-to-date business man, and aside from his personal interests has served eight years as a member of the village council. He is a member of the church, belonging to the Norwegian Lutheran Synod.
He was married in Pigeon Township, Sept. 5, 1896, to Augusta Mortenson, who was born in that township Aug. 3, 1876, daughter of Hans H. and Mathia (Evenson) Mortenson. Her father, now 81 years old, is a retired farmer living in Whitehall with his wife, who is now 70.
Mr. and Mrs. Mattson have nine children: Hilman, who enlisted in Company I, Eleventh United States Infantry, April 24, 1917; Adelia, Agnes, Rudolph, Anna, Edwin, Alfred, Elsie and Helen, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
(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)
Richard Mattson, president of the Whitehall Mill & Power Company, was born in Soler, Norway, Nov. 11, 1869, son of Martinus and Dorothy (Lund) Mattson.
The father, a farmer by occupation, was also a native of Norway and came to the United States in 1872, and after reaching Blair, Wis., bought a farm in Pigeon Township, which was his home until 1908. He then retired and moved to Whitehall, where he died Nov. 22, 1916, at the age of 82 years. His wife, who is also living, is 77 years old.
Richard Mattson, who accompanied his parents to America when a young child, at the age of 18 years began working in the woods at the lumber industry, and was thus occupied for six years during the winters, being employed on his father's farm in the summers. He subsequently learned the carpenter's trade and followed the business of carpenter and contractor in Whitehall until 1910. He then bought an interest in the Whitehall Mill & Power Company, with which concern he has since been connected.
While a contracting carpenter he built the schoolhouse in Blair and another in Taylor, also a bank in Hixton, additions to the schoolhouse and jail in Whitehall, and the residences of E. A. Sorenson and C. B. Melby, besides doing other important work. The Whitehall Mill & Power Company, with which, as above stated, he became connected in 1910, was incorporated in the spring of that year with a capital stock of $10,000, Mr. Mattson becoming president and John Wagstad secretary and treasurer.
The concern occupies a substantial frame building, and besides furnishing electric light and power for the village, has a capacity of 25 barrels of flour per day. It was originally started and the building erected in 1880 by Earl, Gates & Scott, and was purchased in 1893 by John Larson, who sold out Nov. 1, 1908, to T. E. Thompson. With Mr. Thompson as president, John Wagstad as vice-president, and M. S. Olson as secretary and treasurer, it was operated until its incorporation in 1910, as above recorded.
Mr. Mattson is an up-to-date business man, and aside from his personal interests has served eight years as a member of the village council. He is a member of the church, belonging to the Norwegian Lutheran Synod.
He was married in Pigeon Township, Sept. 5, 1896, to Augusta Mortenson, who was born in that township Aug. 3, 1876, daughter of Hans H. and Mathia (Evenson) Mortenson. Her father, now 81 years old, is a retired farmer living in Whitehall with his wife, who is now 70.
Mr. and Mrs. Mattson have nine children: Hilman, who enlisted in Company I, Eleventh United States Infantry, April 24, 1917; Adelia, Agnes, Rudolph, Anna, Edwin, Alfred, Elsie and Helen, all of whom reside at home with their parents.
(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)