BIOGRAPHICAL
B. ANUNDSEN.
It is a trite saying that all the world loves a lover, but
its fundamental idea is true. The world loves a lover—an
enthusiast of something that he places high above the humdrum
of mere material attainment. The world loves a man of an ideal
who fights for the realization of a sublime inspiration vehemently
and unselfishly, and it is this strong sympathy that men extend
to lofty and noble characters which made the late B. Anundsen
of Decorah beloved by all who knew him and kept him in the
hearts of his Norseland countrymen. A man who had but meager
advantages of education, he became by self-study not of books
as much as of human nature—one of the well informed men
of his day, a man who foremost understood the folk-character
of his Norseland friends and who upon coming to this country
set out to found for them a paper to their liking, a medium
which would keep alive in them the noble and strong spirit
of the Vikings, which would make for truer, stronger and better
manhood, which would foster the family spirit, which would
be entertainer, instructor and guiding friend. That he succeeded,
thereof, stands in proof the Decorah Posten, a publication
ideal in its perception, of powerful influence on mind and
character, a true family paper, its circulation far extending
over Winneshiek county, over the state, over the United States,
even into other parts of the world. The Decorah Posten, of
which Mr. Anundsen was the publisher and sale owner, has the
largest circulation of any Scandinavian publication on the
face of the earth, and it is remarkable that it attained its
foremost position by the inspiration and ambition of a youth.
Mr. Anundsen was born in Skien, Norway, on December 29, 1844,
of poor, honest parentage, and what little education he enjoyed
in his youth was secured in the common schools of his native
country. The spirit of the Vikings stirred his soul and when
twenty years if age his ambition led him to start out to conquer
new fields. Naturally he turned to the land where he perceived
the greatest opportunity — America, — first coming
to Canada, leaving his native country on March 22, 1864, and
arriving in Quebec on April 7th of the same year. The same
month marks his arrival in Milwaukee, but he finally located
in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on Monday, the first day of August,
1864. There, in 1866, he conceived the idea of publishing
a literary magazine for his countrymen in America, and the
Ved Arnen (By the Fireside) had its birth. This was the seed
from which the Decorah Posten has sprung. In its beginning
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the magazine had sixty subscribers and with its publication
began the first of many years of hardship for Mr. Anundsen,
in trying to keep alive a worthy literary journal. His able
wife devotedly helped him not only in his struggles in La
Crosse but even after Mr. Anundsen located in Decorah, and
much credit is due her for the great success which was to
be his. On Friday, December 13, 1867, he and his wife loaded
their printing press, type and household goods in two wagons
and left La Crosse for Decorah, reaching this city on December
IS, 1867. The country was still deeply suffering from the
wounds of the Civil war and years of struggle ensued, which
in 1870 compelled Mr. Anundsen on account of poor support
to cease publication, although he had at that time fourteen
hundred subscribers, of whom many, however, were unable to
pay their subscriptions. On September 18, 1874, the first
number of the Decorah Posten made its appearance. In its infancy
more obstacles had to be overcome, more years of struggle
had to be lived through, but the natural ability of Mr. Anundsen
won the day and he finally guided his publication to a position
beyond the danger point. Today two and a half tons of papers
leave the office per week for all parts of the world, and
the plant of the Decorah Posten is considered a model of its
kind and one of the best equipped in Iowa. Mr. Anundsen entered
upon newspaper publication at ,a period when the purpose of
journalism had its educational feature in addition to the
dissemination of general news and had not 'yet been tinged
with the commercial spirit of the age, which seeks through
sensationalism to stimulate the curiosity of the public without
regard to wrong impressions. He never deviated from the high
principles which he set up or lowered standards because he
considered it expedient or profitable to do so, and his policy
was ever in keeping with the high standard which has ever
been maintained by the paper. In November, 1910, Mr. Anundsen
suffered a severe attack of illness which forced him to give
up his editorial duties and he was confined to the house until
his death on March 25, 1913, although his directing hand yet
touched during that time here and there upon the policies
and management of his publication.
On October 26, 1865, Mr. Anundsen was married in La Crosse,
Wisconsin, to Esther Mathilde Charlotte Hofstrom, a native
of Sweden. Through years of business struggles and straitened
circumstances she was his help and inspiration. She was born
May 28, 1838, and lived to see their joint work grow to success.
She died in Decorah, January 2, 1899. Their children were
five, of whom but one is living, Frederick Haddorph, born
December 9, 1872, who married Miss Emma C. Hegg, of Decorah
and is advertising manager of the Decorah Posten The deceased
members of the family are: Ludwig Nathaniel, born December
30, 1866; Arthur Fernando, born January 12, 1868; Louise Mathilde,
born September 13, 1870, and Emily Sophie, born December 18,
1874. On September 10, 1901, Mr. Anundsen married Miss Helma
Beatha Hegg, of Decorah, a daughter of Hans and Johanna (Houg)
Hegg, natives of Norway. The father was a harness-maker by
trade, the parents coming to Decorah early in the history
of the city. Here the father for many years was engaged in
the harness business.
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being highly esteemed and respected in commercial and social
circles. He died in Decorah in 1878, his wife surviving him
until November 6, 1907. To B. and Helma Beatha (Hegg) Anundsen
was born, on June 16, 1902, one son, Brynjulf Bjorkholt, a
student in the Decorah public schools. Mrs. Anundsen presides
with loving care over her household, being a devoted mother
and finding her greatest happiness with those dear to her.
Public-spirited and progressive, Mr. Anundsen as readily
conceived the true American spirit of citizenship as he understood
the spirit of his native country. While active in life he
could always be found in the front rank of those who seek
moral and material betterment for their fellowmen and has
perhaps done more along these lines than anyone man in Winneshiek
county. He gave his adherence to the republican party, upholding
the principles and policies which made possible the rapid
rise of the republic. He was a member of the United Lutheran
church of Decorah, in the work of which he always took helpful
interest, which is continued by his wife. For years he was
a member of the Decorah school board, always exerting his
influence in the cause of education. Among his countrymen
in the United States Mr. Anundsen was very popular. This is
especially true in his relation to his colleagues in the Scandinavian-American
press. When, in 1895, the Norwegian-Danish Press Association
of the United States was organized he was unanimously chosen
president, a position he held for a number of years, and would
have held for a number of years more, had he not insisted
on being relieved from its duties. Mr. Anundsen was one of
the organizers of the national Norwegian society, Det Norske
Selskab i Amerika, founded for the purpose of perpetuating
among the Norwegian-Americans the interest in Norwegian culture
and literature. He was its first president, and was reelected
to that position until he finally declined. He continued one
of its directors until his death, being one of its stanch
supporters, also; when funds were needed in order to carry
out its aims. For many years he was also a prominent figure
in the Symra and Luren Norwegian societies, where are fostered
those stalwart characteristics peculiar to the people of the
northern kingdom and where is kept alive the spirit of brotherhood
between the Norwegian residents of this section, he being
among the foremost to preach devotion and veneration of native
land and loyalty to the newly found home. In 1899 the Decorah
Posten had its twenty-fifth anniversary. On this occasion
Mr. Anundsen was honored by citizens of Decorah and non-residents
alike, speeches at a banquet being made in his honor by some
of the most prominent men of his nationality in the country.
In 1906 Mr. Anundsen visited his native land, being the object
of marked attention while there. Upon his return he was made
a knight of the Order of St. Olaf by Norway's elected king,
Haakon. Mr. Anundsen always manifested the most distinguished
public spirit in supporting worthy enterprises, contributing
liberally to any good cause of a public or charitable nature.
Especially was he interested in young men, and youths trying
to obtain an education without the necessary means always
found a responding heart in him. Mr. Anundsen's name is deeply
engraved in the annals of Decorah and Winneshiek county, where
he was beloved and venerated by old and young, high and low,
and no death in many years has caused a greater sorrow throughout
this county and state than his.
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