The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1930-03-21
BIOGRAPHY
E. F. MADSEN


from the Dagmar community was
layed in his final resting place. 1t
seemed as though the weather
tried to make a final protest
against what was taking place. 1t
did not, however, prevent a host
of friends and neighbors from
paying a tribute to the memory of
this man, by being present at the
occasion and by helping beautify
and soften the harsh realities of
death with multitude of frag-
rant flowers.
Mr.. Emil Ferdinand Madsen
was born in Asmes, Denmark the
18th of November, 1861. AS a
child he made his home with his
grandparents who lived by the
sea. 1t is possible that this early
acquaintance with the vast blue
ocean helped to contribute to his
later love and understanding of
the possibilities of the rolling prai-
ries of Montana.
At the early age of fifteen, he
sailed alone and unafraid to the
United States and made his home
at and around Waterloo, Iowa,
near relatives.
During the neyt thirty years he
had a varied career. He taught
Danish Folk school, was the auth
or of many songs, poems and sew
eral books. He was also a gard
ener in Clinton, Iowa and a lead
er among the Danes in that COM
munity.
During this period he came to
the realization of what the big OBJ
ject and ideal of his life was to
be, and so his dream of a Danish
settlement which he had long
cherished was now about to come
true. In the fall of 1906 he went
to the Dakotas and Montana anC
decided in favor of the beautiful
: rolling prairies of eastern Mon
tana in what was then VALLEY
county. In the spring of 1907 the
work of settlement began. To
: gether with his wife and family
and a score or so of other Danisl
homesteaders he started out from
Culbertson and amid many hard
ships built up what is now tn,
. Dagmar community. They wer,
at first situated forty miles from
the nearest railroad which togeth
. er with other hardships such a.
prairie fires and horse thieves, al
contributed to make those pionee
T days unforgettable in the mem
{ cries of the early settlers.
Mr.. and Mrs. Madsen have per
5 hapS housed at some time or 9th
er almost every land seeker VIII
came to found a home those frs
years. He built an interesting
home which he filled with artist
decorations among which wer
chiefly portraits and landscape
painted by his own hand.
Mr.. Madsen held offices such a
Notary Public, United States Com
missioner, Justice of the Peac,
Postmaster and chairman of tn
local school board for a number O
years.
On through the years his chic
JOY and interest was conferred
the welfare of the community an
the church life which had Away
been the foundation thereof.
During tie last two years of hi
life, his time was chiefly occupie
with literary work of which tn
biography of the Danish poet an
minister, F. z. Grundtvig, was tn
main work, soon to be publishe
in book form.
His health had been failing fC
several years and three weeks a
ter Christmas he went to bed ne7
er to arise again. His chief al
ment was nephritis but a gener;
rundown condition no doubt we
the main detriment in ever regain
ing health again.
During the seven weeks of h
illness he was attended by h
daughter and his niece, both trail
ed nurses, also other near rel;
tives and kind neighbors. He su.
fered very little pain but did M
fully regain consciousness for an
length of time, and on the morn
ing of March, the End, he quiet
passed away.
He leaves as mourners, his wifi
daughter, son with his family, {
well as other relatives and a no,
of friends both near and distal
who are grieved at the passing
a good man and they will eve
hold him in loving remembranc
for the many good deeds an
kindly acts he did for those
need.
1t was very fitting that his o.
friend and pastor, Rev. Frost,
Minnesota should come and admin
lister the last rites for this GOO
man who had lived his life ''By Il
side of the road, and was frier
to man."
He has lived in a house bv Il
side of the road,
Where the race of men go by
The men who are good-the ma
who are bad
AS good or as bad as l.
He did not sit in the Scorner's Sc
Nor hurl the cynic's ban
He has lived in a house bv Il
Il