John J. Skauge, an energetic and prosperous farmer of Wang township, was born in Norway, August 2, 1868, son of Johan Johnson Skauge, and of his good wife, Sigri Olsdatter, who spent the span of their years in Norway. The other children in the family were Randi, Ole, Marit, Johannah, and Berit. Of this family, John J. was the only one who came to America. He landed at New York, August 11, 1893, and three days later reached Minneapolis. For several reasons he alternated working in the saw-mills of Minneapolis and in the pine forests of the northern part of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then he devoted several years to house building in Minneapolis, in the meantime working in the same line for a year in Charles City, Iowa. It was in 1903 that he decided to settle down on a farm, the life to which he had been reared in the old country. Accordingly he came to Wang township, and located on 140 acres in section 36, which he purchased the following year. Here he successfully carries on general farming and makes a specialty of raising good grade stock. He has made many improvements on his farm and has reason to be proud of its well-developed condition. Mr. Skauge has taken an active part in the affairs of the community. He is director of his school district, as well as a director in the Hawk Creek Farmers Telephone Co., and the Sacred Heart Stock Shipping Association, and a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Co. of Sacred Heart. Mr. Skauge was married December 20, 1903, to Laura Larson, who was born and reared on their present farm, October 15, 1878, daughter of Michael and Anna (Hendrickson) Larson, the pioneers. Mr.and Mrs. Skauge have four children: Martin Julian, Lewis Jerome, Silas Archer and Edna Lenora, all at home.