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



The chief characteristics of C. N. Sonnesyn, well-known citizen of St. James, Watonwan county, are keenness of perception, an unflagging energy, honesty of purpose and motive and every-day common sense, which have enabled him not only to advance his own interests in a most gratifying manner, but also to contribute largely to the civic and material interests of St. James.

C. N. Sonnesyn was born in Norway, May 22, 1866. His parents spent their lives in that country, and there the subject of this sketch grew up and was educated, and in the spring of 1885 immigrated to Minnesota, locating in the town of Madelia where he worked a year in a hardware store in the summer and attended school in the winter. The next year he went with his brother, J. K. Sonnesyn and Charles Johnson to St. James and engaged in the general merchandising business, and was thus associated for about tour and one-half years. In 1890 he moved to Butterfield and there built a new store building and put in a stock of general merchandise. He became associated with the Butterfield Creamery and was also a member of the firm then known as the Butterfield Hardware Company, and later he opened a general store at Darfur. In 1902 he disposed of his general store at Butterfield and engaged in the real-estate business, and since that time he has been one of the leading and most active land men in southern Minnesota. His dealings have included many trades for merchandise stocks and he has operated as many as eight stores at one time in this and neighboring states. For a number of years lie has made his home in St. James where he carried on extensive operations, buying and selling lands. Perhaps more people have been brought to Watonwan county through his dealings than through any other individual agency. His advertising matter, setting forth the advantages of this section of the state, has been sent into thousands upon thousands of homes, and his printing bills for this class of work has run into hundreds of dollars in a single month. His plan has always been to buy and sell farms. Whenever he finds a farm that appears to him to he a bargain, he buys it, improves it and sells it again, whenever he can get a fair profit. In the year 1913, he sold $1,250,000 worth of land. Although his main office has been at St. James for a number of years, he has main-tained an office at Butterfield. His principal land business has been in selling Watonwan county land to buyers from Iowa and Illinois. He has located many of the best farmers who have come to this locality in recent years.

In addition to being a good land man, Mr. Sonnesyn is developing into somewhat of a scientific farmer. He owns about two thousand acres in this county which he works or rents. He has done much to improve the live stock of the county by importing registered breeders. He has shipped many carloads of registered stock into the county. Shorthorns, Herefords and Aberdeen Angus are the breeds favored. He is at present giving a great deal of time and attention to one of his farms which lies near the village of Grogan and upon which he has a large herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle in which he takes special pride. These cattle have captured many prizes at the local county fairs. He is an advertising booster for Watonwan county and Minnesota. His years of residence and his continued activities which have contributed so much to the welfare of the city of St. James, justly entitle him to the high esteem in which he is held.

C. N. Sonnesyn was married in 1895 to Anna Mellun, of Stoughton, Wisconsin, to which union two children were born, namely: Earl, who is living, and Ingred Alida, who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away in 1901. In 1903, Mr. Sonnesyn married Elizabeth Lunde, of Minneapolis. To this second union two sons have been born, namely: Nels and Clifford, both at home.

Politically, Mr. Sonnesyn is a Republican, While living in Butterfield ie was a member of the city council. Fraternally, he is an Elk, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Mutual Benefit Association.

He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.



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