"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



Oscar J. Thompson, a well-known and well-to-do farmer of Amo township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a well-kept farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Storden, former member of the board of supervisors of that township and for years "road boss" in his district, is a native of Norway, but has lived in this country ever since he was fifteen years old and has been a resident of this section of Minnesota since the year 1897. He was born in 1871, son of Jens T. and Karna J. (Flatebo) Oyre, both of whom are still living in Norway, their native land, the former of whom, a former soldier of his country, is now a retired farmer. To Jens T. Oyre and wife ten children were born, of whom two only came to this country, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Andrew, living in Cottonwood county, also a resident and well-known farmer of Amo township. But two of the remainder of the children are now living, Torbjon and Kristhe J. Oyer, still residents of their native land.

Upon completing the course in the government schools in his native land, he then being about fifteen years of age, Oscar J. Thompson, in 1886, came to the United States, locating at Holstein, Ida county, Iowa, where he began working as a farm hand, and in that vicinity he continued to live for about ten years. There he married and established his home, but something more than three years after his marriage he came to Minnesota, arriving in Cottonwood county in 1897. He settled on a farm in Springfield township and there he and his family made their home for thirteen years, or until moving onto their present farm, a quarter of a section of excellent land in Amo township, which Mr. Thompson bought in 1910. Mr. Thompson is an excellent farmer and his place is well improved and well kept. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done well, long having been regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in that neighborhood. He also has given considerable attention to local civic affairs and during his residence in Springfield township served for three years as a member of the board of supervisors of that township. The year after his removal to Amo township he was elected "road boss" in his district there and has ever since occupied that position, except one year, during which time he has done much in the way of advancing the cause of highway betterment thereabout.

It was on January 23, 1893, that Oscar J. Thompson was united in marriage, in Ida county, Iowa, to Lena Bondhus, daughter of O. T. Bondhus, now a well-known resident of Cottonwood county, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, and to that union nine children have been born, Caroline,. Ole, Hattie, Agnes, Theodore, Sattie, Esther, Johanna Marie (deceased), Harra Kristhene (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Lutheran church and take a general interest in the good works of their home community, ever willing to promote all measures designed to advance the cause of the public welfare thereabout.