The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-01-15
Death Angel Called I. /.
Pioneer In Business
From tuesdays Daily.

Baul lNefSOD, well hnONH Nhioubh
out this section as one OF the pio-
neer merchants of the state. died
last night at 6:SO at his home. III
State street. death being caused by
a complication of troubles resulting
primarily from a diseased condition
OF the glands of the throat. from
which he suffered for. about three
years. Operations failed to relieve
his troubles. and he was confined
to his bed for a year and four
months preceding his death. The
end came quietly and peacefully.
while he was surrounded by mis- de-
voted family, who had done all in
human power TO make his last mo-
ments calm and untroubled.
MIR Iverson was in truth a self.
made man. Starting in life without
material advantages. other than
youth and health. by honorable and
diligent work he raised himself from
the ranks TO n foremost place among
the business men of Minnesota. where
he was respected. and deferred to
in matters OF consequence TO the
business life of Mankato. lie was
born January 25. 1S49. in Dovre.
Norway. where he attended the pub
lie schools
Came Here When Young Man.
When a young man of twenty-one
he came TO America TO seek his
fortune. and although he could not
speak the language he managed very
well. and mastered it i'm short time
80 he could make himself under
stood. At first he secured work
with the railroads. and at one time
he. and another early day settler
by the name OF Chris Stand. con
tracted TO build a mile of the Omaha
railroad. This was the first rail.
road built into Mankato. Later Mr..
lvcrsOn secured n position as a clerk
in n clothing store. where he work
cd for ten years. On September 10.
1871, he was united i'm marriage to
Miss Anna Olson of Lake Crystal.
and they started housekeeping in
this city. having made their home
here ever since.
First Business Venture.
The first business concern which
MIR. lverson started was known as
the Iverson & Einstein Clothing
store. which was located on Front
street. Later he went into business
under the firm name of Jorgenson.
Nyquist 4 lrerson. Mr. JorgensOn
leaving the firm after a few years.
and the other members of the firm
dissolved their interests number
of years ago The present firm.
known as Paul Iverson & Son.
has been in operation for about
seven years and is one of the most
popular gentlemens clothing stores
in the city. In all MIR. Iverson has
been in business for a period OF thir-
ty-one years. being the, oldest cloth
ing merchant i'm point of length of
time in the business. OF any in the
city.
Had Other Stores.
Mr.. 1yerson did not confine his
business enterprise TO MankatO. but
branched out to surrounding towns
About eleven years ago he started
a store in Fergus Falls. in connection
with o. II. Lee of Owatonna. the
firm being known as Iverson & Lee.
Inc. Three and half years ago he
started a store at Henning. Mimi.
known as the Iverson & Lee Co..
and in which Mr.. Anderson OF Hen.
ming was partner These stores
are running now. as are also stores
started by him at Madelia and Lake
Crystal. which were sold to local
parties in those places.
In the summer of 1899 Mr.. Iverson
returned to Norway TO visit his moth
or. who died some years later. He
was a member of the odd Fellows
lodge. and the 4. o. U. w. and also
n member of the Baptist church, of
which he was a trustee for many
years.
Life Of Usefulness.
Mr.. VERSIONS life was one of broad
usefulness. and industry. and is a
shining example to any young man
TO conquer the obstacles I'm their
path. and become distinguished cit
liens. Coming to strange country
alone, unable TO speak the American
language, and with nothing but his
brain and hands as capital he made
his own way. and became both popu.
lar and respected as he gradually
grew to be one of the most promi.
nent business men i'm Mankato. When
starting out Tor himself, Mr.. iverson
followed an ancient Norwegian GUS
tom. that Of taking his fathers first
name and adding the word son" as
n second syllable. the coined word
making his own last name. His
fathers name being liver Holom, the
sons name thus became Iverson. He
was the only son in the family to
follow this quaint custom. "...
The survivors are the widow, Mrs.
Anna lverson; tive sons: Harry o.,
end Benjamin A. One daughter. May,
died when but a child. Other living
relatives are one brother, liver Holonl
OF Tracya!two sisters, Mrs. o. Kor-
nus. Galesburg.a n. d.: and Mrs. Tos-
ten Kelley, Of this city: a nephew, I.