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Originally posted by DALB

History of Douglas and Grant Counties, Minnesota Volume II 1916
Constant Larson Editor-in-Chief Page 90 & 91

Theodore Bordsen

Theodore Bordsen, treasurer of Douglas county, was born in Port Washington, Wisconsin, February 11, 1850, of Norwegian ancestry. His father was Beruld Bordsen, born in Norway, on April 14, 1808, and his mother was Ranghild (Grinevold) Bordsen, also born in Norway, June 17, 1819

Beruld Bordsen came to America in 1844, and located on a twenty-acre farm near Port Washington, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming, together with work at his trade as a blacksmith. In 1868 he removed with his family to Douglas county, Minnesota, and located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Evansville, entering this land under the homestead laws. He built a home and other necessary farm buildings there and made that place his home for the rest of his life. He and his wife were the parents of six children, namely: B.W., Anna, who married P.O. Froland; Theodore, the subject of this sketch; Sina (deceased), who was the wife of Willam Thompson; Christen and Reinert. His church membership was with the Norwegian Lutheran domination.

Theodore Bordsen was practically self-educated. What little schooling he received was in the public schools of Port Washington, Wisconsin. As a young man he came with the family to Douglas county and found employment in working on the farm in the summer time. That his education was not neglected, and that he had made the best of his opportunity for self-education, is evidenced by the fact that he was qualified to teach school, and engaged in that occupation during the winter months. In 1873 he taught his last school and then took a position as clerk in the United States land office, holding that position for two years. After that he was for a short time engaged as clerk in a store. Since 1877 he has been continuously connected with some office in the court house in Alexandria. From 1877 to 1879 he was register of deeds. He was county auditor for nine years, and has been county treasurer since 1890.

In 1881 Theodore Bordsen was united in marriage to Marie Aaker, a daughter of L.K. Aaker, of Alexandria, and to this union three children have been born, Dr. Theo Laurence Bordsen, who is a physician and surgical specialist, of Portland, Oregon; Camilla, who married Albert O Hayes, who is connected with the geological survey in Canada, and Carl W Bordsen, who is stenographer for United States Senator Knute Nelson in Washington. Mr and Mrs Bordsen are members of the United church, of which he has served as trustee and also as clerk.

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