HISTORY OF MANITOWOC COUNTY


came to Manitowoc and again he secured a clerkship, this time entering the
em-
ploy of E. R. Smith, with whom he continued for one year. On the expiration
of that period, in partnership with H. Nordvi, he purchased the business
of his
employer and in partnership relation conducted the store for a few years.
At
the end of that time Mr. Torrison became sole proprietor and thus started
in
business alone about 1853. The store was then located on Sixth street, where
the Smalley Manufacturing plant now stands. Soon afterward, however, a new
location was obtained on York street between Sixth and Seventh, and in the
'6os
Mr. Torrison erected a building at the southeast corner of Commercial and
Eighth streets. This was a two-story frame structure about thirty by ninety
feet. He occupied that building until i882, when he located at the southwest
corner of Eighth and Commercial a brick building three stories in height,
with
basement, its dimensions being eighty-six by one hundred feet. Still his
en-
larged quarters did not prove adequate to the growth of the business and
he
afterward enlarged the building by the erection of an addition on the south,
twenty-six by one hundred feet, and two stories in height. Again the growth
demanded more commodious quarters and a three-story structure, fifty by one
hundred and fifteen feet, was built on the west. The store is now one hundred
and twelve by one hundred and fifty feet and with the exception of the building
to the south is three stories in height. It is an all brick structure with
base-
ment under the whole and a general line of merchandise, save furniture and
hardware, is carried. The moving spirit that developed the growth of this
en-
terprise was Osuld Torrison, and his success resulted from his close applica-
tion and his well defined and carefully executed plans.
Mr. Torrison had comparatively few opportunities in his youth. After the
father's death he brought his mother, one brother and two sisters to the
United
States, paying their passage with funds which he had saved from his own earn-
ings. It has been well said that the man who is a good son always makes a
good husband. The truth of the statement was proven in the life of Mr. Tor-
rison, who was ever most devoted to his own family. In 1854 he married Miss
Martha Hanson Findal, a native of Norway and a daughter of Isaac Findal,
who brought his family to the United States in 1850 and located in Rapids
town-
ship, Manitowoc county, where he purchased land and began the development
of a farm but died soon afterward. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Torrison were born
ten children. Thomas E. is now the head of the Torrison company. Inanda is
the wife of the Rev. A. Bredesen, residing in Deerfield, Wisconsin, and is
the
mother of two sons and two daughters. Isaac B. resides at Decorah, Iowa,
where he is pastor of the Lutheran church, He married Elizabeth Koren of
that place, a daughter of Dr. V. Koren. Oscar M., now municipal judge in
Chicago, married Ida Michelson, a daughter of Captain H. Michelson, of Chi-
cago, and they have three children, a son and two daughters. George A. is
a
Chicago physician, specializing in the treatment of diseases of the nose,
ear and
throat. He married Emma Johnson, of Chicago, and they have two daugh-
ters. Gustave, who is a member of the 0. Torrison Company, married Tilla
Mandt, a daughter of the late T. G. Mandt, of Stoughton, Wisconsin, and they
have two sons. Norman G. is also connected with the firm of 0. Torrison &
Company. Aaron J. is in charge of the clothing department of the company.
He -married Agnes Dreng, a daughter of J. 0. Dreng, and they have two sons.


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