Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-07-05
THE PUSH OF A NEWCOMER
DEMONSTRATION OF OPPORTU-
NIFTY IN FREE AMERICA
The Career OF Martin II. BekkedaI
and His Accomplishment as
Worker and Financier

On another page % tod2y's CENSOR
is given q group picture of the six
teen warehouses under control of NJ.
Bekkedal, the extensive tobacco dealer
and general business man, who Ope-
rates more and larger tobacco plants
and asserting warehouses than any
other dealer in Wisconsin, and there
sre in fact few more extensive hand
lers in the United States than Mr.. Bek-
kedal and his eastern connection. Il IS
conceded that there is no finer packing
house in this country than that main
tanned by him m Niroqua.
1t is to demonstrate the superiority
of the Upited States over any other
countrylon the face of the globe as af-
fordipg opportunities for young men
of energy and push. that we take up
this chapter of the career of a modest
business man, Martin II. Bekkedal
Born in Norway of humble parentage
fortY-eight years ago, he came to this
country without money or influential
friends, but with disposition to improve
the advantages open here for men with
courage of their convictions and talent
to develope in business and industrial
way. Young Bekkedal arrived at
Westby in 1884. having none other than
the usual meagre luggage of new
conner. He had been taught the oc-
cupation of farmer in the Hamer dis
trict of Norway and naturally he took
to the soil here, finding occupation at
that. Besides working on farms he
grubbed over forty solid acres for farm
ers in the territory where he established
his new home. He then engaged with
Merchant Ballsrud and clerked for four
years in Westby.
Mr.. Bekkedal's career as a tobacco
dealer dates from 1892, when he picked
up lot of trash" which regular deal
ers disdained to look at. His first
years purchases amounted to 81, 400,
one half of which he borrowed to prose-
cute the work, the ether half he had
saved from his earnings. From this
small beginning the young man specu-
lator, with plenty of nerve and de-
termination to make or break, forced
himself TO the front, always in modest
way, till he commands competence in
the financial world and has retained the
confidence of everybody who has had
dealings with him.
From his first holdings Mr.. Bekkedal
grew yearly, and at a rapid pace, till
the year 1900 staggered him with its
immensely, the amount re luired to
handle his better than 10000 cases of
tobacco being over S400, 600, but there
were good financiers who had watched
his successful course, his determination
to be square, and advanced more than
half Of the amount. A few years since
he formed a connection with the east
ern firm OF Rosenwald Bros, all west
ern dealings being under MIR. Bekkedal's
management. Their largest years
holdings. was in 1908, when they handled
%, 900 cases, with an investment of
| more than million dollars.
So much for the tobacco dealings of
this Norwegian newcomer. 1t is to his
credit to say that he has not been idle
either night or day, keeping his active
brain and willing hands busy till he en-
braces banking. farming, numbering and
other callings in large way. carefully
supervising all these interests, eencen-
trating his every energy TO their move
ments. He has a trained business mind
and vein and apparently handles all
these numerous affairs with tact and
| judgment.
| Mr.. Bekkedal is a good family man,
having married Miss Amanda Anderson
Of Westby; seven chill lren have been
born to them, six living. His home is
one Of the largest and most complete
in the county. The family spends much
of the summer season at Minocqua.
where they have pleasant cottage and
enjoy life by the lake.
Mr.. Bekkedal has visited the old home
in Norway twice since he came to
America. His mother is living at the
age Of eighty years. For her and the
other remaining members of the family
he purchased splendid farm on his
last visit there.
The CENSOR endeavored to secure a
picture of Mr.. Bekkedal from which to
| produce likeness TO accompany this
| brief sketch, but the modesty Of the
man precluded submission, hence the
omission. Mr. Bekkedal says he has
never had a picture taken in this coun-
try. Which tells the story of too
! modest man.