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



As a jeweler, Theodore J. Arneson, of Westbrook, Cottonwood county, has made a decided success while yet a young man, but he has been willing to apply himself closely to his chosen line of endeavor and deal honestly with his fellow men.

Mr. Arneson was born in Westbrook township, this county, September 22, 1883, and is a son o� Edward J. and Olena (Pederson) Arneson, both natives of Norway. The father came to Wisconsin as a young man, where he worked for a short time. The mother came to Stearns county, Minnesota, when young. He came to Cottonwood county about 1875 and entered a homestead in Westbrook township, and there these parents were married and developed a good farm and comfortable home by their industry, accumulating in all three eighties. They removed to South Dakota about 1905 and later to Texas, where he is still engaged in raising cotton. His wife died there in 1913. They became the parents of four children, all still living, namely: Alfred, Theodore, Hannah and Laura.



Theodore J. Arneson grew up on the home farm and he received a public school education, later attending the Southern Minnesota Normal School at Austin, then took a correspondence course with the Northern Illinois Optical College, receiving a state certificate in 1912. He learned the jeweler's and watchmaker's trade by home study from text-books. Since 1907 he has been engaged in the jewelry business, also as an optometrist, for which he is exceptionally well equipped and is doing some excellent work and he has built up a very successful and rapidly growing business. He owns eighty acres of the old homestead, also the building in which his business is located.

Mr. Arneson was married in 1909 to Tina B. Amundsen, of Murray county, Minnesota, and to their union two children have been born, namely: Leslie Evert and Thelma Harriet.

Politically, he is a Republican. He has been justice of the peace in Westbrook township, filling the office very satisfactorily. He is a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America, and is secretary of the local lodge. He is a member of the Lutheran church.