Ole E. Lien Biography


	This biography appears on pages 725-726 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				OLE E. LIEN.  

	Ole E. Lien, the efficient auditor of Roberts county, is one of 
the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Sisseton. A native of 
the neighboring state of Iowa, he was born in Clayton county, on the 
24th of June, 1869, a son of E. E. and Carrie (Olson) Lien. His 
paternal grandfather, Evan Lien, passed his entire life in Norway but 
his maternal grandfather, Ole OIson, became a resident of Iowa, where 
he followed agricultural pursuits until his demise. E. E. Lien was born 
in Norway in 1837 and passed away in 1909, while his wife was born in 
that country in 1844 and died in 1894. He emigrated to the United 
States when twenty years of age and she was brought to this country by 
her parents when but three years old. Mr. Lien followed agricultural 
pursuits in Clayton county, Iowa, and was also engaged in merchandising 
there and was likewise connected with banking interests as a partner of 
ex-Governor Larrabee. In 1904 he removed from Iowa to Roberts county, 
South Dakota, and homesteaded land, upon which he resided until his 
demise. He was very successful in all of his business operations and 
was active in public affairs. He was a republican ill politics and for 
a number of years served on the school board, while he was one of the 
first commissioners of Roberts county. His religious faith was that of 
the Lutheran church, and he was well known and highly esteemed in his 
community.  

	Ole E. Lien completed the public-school course and was then for 
one year a student in Luther College at Decorah, Iowa, and for two 
years attended the Breckenridge Normal School at Decorah, after which 
he took a course in the Richards Business College of that place. For a 
year he was employed in a bank at Elgin, Iowa, and then went to Eagle 
Grove, where he engaged in the mercantile business for six years, 
conducting a store in partnership with Niel Hanson under the firm name 
of Lien & Hanson. In 1895 he sold out and removed to Roberts county, 
South Dakota, where he took up a claim. Later he returned to Iowa and 
was for one season with the International Harvester Company, after 
which he purchased his father's farm in Roberts county, this state, and 
gave his time and attention to its cultivation for a number of years. 
Later he embarked in the real-estate and insurance business and for ten 
years he has been secretary of the Roberts County Insurance Company. In 
1912 he was elected county auditor and made such an excellent record 
that in 1914 he was reelected to that office, in which he is still 
serving. He is thoroughly reliable and in the discharge of his duties 
is both prompt and accurate.  

	Mr. Lien was married in 1891 to Miss Vinnie Hard, who was born 
near De Kalb, Illinois, and they have three children: Hobart, at home; 
Millard, who is in the eighth grade at school; and Vivian, who is in 
the fourth grade.  

	Mr. Lien is a stalwart republican and has done much effective 
work in behalf of his party. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights 
of Pythias, and in all three orders has passed through all of the 
chairs. He devotes his entire time to the duties of his office and has 
gained the commendation of his fellow citizens for the efficient manner 
in which he performs the work entrusted to him. In all relations of 
life he has measured up to high standards of manhood and has gained 
many warm friends.