52 Ancestors: #37 Charles Halvorson, Minnesota State Senator

Kittel (or Kjetil) Halvorsen Otterholt, the brother of my great-great-grandmother Aaste Halvorsdatter Otterholt, was born on 11 September 1850 in Bø, Telemark, Norway. He was the son of Halvor Eriksen Otterholt and Guro Hansdatter Askilt. He was enumerated with his family in the 1865 census of Norway, living on the Otterholdt farm in Bø.

On 20 April 1867, he and his parents and siblings left Norway from Skien, Telemark on the Rjukan and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 30 May 1867. The family settled in Canisteo, Dodge County, Minnesota. They were enumerated there in the 1870 United States census. Kittel was listed as a farm laborer. He also clerked in a drug store from 1869 to 1873.

Kittel changed his name to Charles Halvorson. On 9 January 1878, he married Julia Baronette Olson in Dodge County, Minnesota. In 1879, they moved to Montevideo, Chippewa County, Minnesota. Charles was a bookkeeper for two years.

Charles and Julia's first child, daughter Ella Gurina, was born on 11 January 1880. Sadly, she died three weeks later. A second daughter, Ella Josephine, was born on 5 November 1880. In 1881, Charles became a partner in the general store Stone & Halvorson in Lac qui Parle Village, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota.

On 24 November 1884, daughter Cora Elizabeth was born in Dawson, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. In December 1884, Stone & Halvorson left Lac qui Parle Village and split into two stores: Stone & Halvorson in Madison, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota and Charles Halvorson in Dawson, Minnesota. The Madison store was only open for a short time.

Daughter Olga Beatrice was born on 13 January 1887. Daughter Effie Amanda was born on 31 December 1889. Twin sons were born on 19 June 1893, fifteen minutes apart: Charles Stanford and Walter Stanton.

In 1897, Charles' modified Queen Anne style home in Riverside, Dawson was built. It had seven stained glass windows and a wrap-around porch with columns. It cost $10,000 to build and was one of the finest homes in the area.

On 8 November 1898, Charles was elected to the Minnesota State Senate. He was a Republican and represented District 18, Chippewa and Lac qui Parle counties. During the 31st legislative session (1899-1900), he was chair of the Illuminating Oils committee and also served on the Forestry and Fire Protection, Internal Improvements, Public Parks, Railroads, State Prison, and Temperance committees. During the 32nd legislative session (1901-1902), he was chair of the Retrenchment and Reform committee and also served on the Forestry and Fire Protection, Grain and Warehouse, Public Lands, Public Parks, State Prison, and Temperance committees. His term ended on 5 January 1903.
   
On 27 February 1906, there was a fire in the Dawson business district. Charles' store there was burnt and did not reopen. However, he had other business enterprises. He was a partner in the men's clothing store Halvorson & Olson in Montevideo, Minnesota until 1908.

On 17 April 1909, Charles was appointed to the Minnesota State Board of Control. He replaced Leonard A. Rosing, who had died. Charles' term expired on 3 April 1911.

Charles was considered an honest, honorable, and dedicated man. He died in Hennepin County, Minnesota on 25 June 1913 and was buried in Grace Lutheran Cemetery in Dawson, Minnesota.

Telemark county, Bø, Parish register (official) nr. 8 (1849-1861), Birth and baptism records 1850, page 22. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011050470.jpg

Passenger list, Rjukan, 1867. Passenger Lists, 1865–1935. Microfilm Publications T-479 to T-520, T-4689 to T-4874, T-14700 to T-14939, C-4511 to C-4542. Library and Archives Canada, n.d. RG 76-C. Department of Employment and Immigration fonds. Library and Archives Canada Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota. State of Minnesota, 1901. Page 124.

The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota. State of Minnesota, 1901. Page 125.

 The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota. State of Minnesota, 1901. Page 671.

Journal of the Senate of the Thirty-Sixth Session of the State of Minnesota. St. Paul, Minnesota: McGill Warner, 1909. Page 1223.

Sixth Biennial Report of the Board of Control of State Institutions of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Syndicate Printing Co., 1912. Page 27.

From Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt; Shared Roots in Telemark. Compiled by Melvin and Alpha M. (Boe) Brodshaug, 1984. Published by Arlene (Boe) Christensen and Marjorie (Boe) Bergee. Printed by Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa.

References
Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt: Shared Roots in Telemark. Compiled by Melvin and Alpha M. (Boe) Brodshaug, 1984. Published by Arlene (Boe) Christensen and Marjorie (Boe) Bergee. Printed by Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa.
Journal of the Senate of the Thirty-Sixth Session of the State of Minnesota. St. Paul, Minnesota: McGill Warner, 1909. Available from Google Books.
The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota. State of Minnesota, 1901. Available from Google Books.
Minnesota Legislative Reference Library: Legislators Past and Present
Ronningen, Johan. "Charlie Halvorson." Telesoga 29(1) (May 2008): 26-28.
Sixth Biennial Report of the Board of Control of State Institutions of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Syndicate Printing Co., 1912. Available from Google Books.
Telelaget of America. Telemark to America: Volume II: Settlements. 2nd ed. Telelaget of America, 1992, 2009.