|
Gudbrand J. Lomen
Theodore Roosevelt believes in the Biblical injunction to man: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." He admires genius, capacity to work, ability to do, independence of character, courage, frankness and honesty;
and if recent newspaper and magazine articles be true, this category is not complete without adding, large families. This foreword has been suggested by the fact that the last census of Nome shows that G. J. Lomen has the largest family in this community, five sons and one daughter, and he is prouder of his family than of any success or achievement of his life. Mr. Lomen was born of Norwegian parents on a farm near Decorah, Iowa, January 28, 1854. He attended the common schools of the state, Luther College, and in 1875 was graduated by the State University of Iowa with the degree of LL. B. Two
years later he was elected to the office of Clerk of the District Court of Houston County, Minn., and held this office for a period of eight years. Removing to St. Paul, he established an office and began the practice of law. In 1889 he was the
Republican candidate for Municipal Judge of St. Paul, but was defeated with the rest
of his ticket. He represented the first ward in the House of Representatives during the
session of 1891, and took an active part in Minnesota politics, serving on county and
congressional committees.
He came to Nome with the rush in 1900, and was engaged in the practice of his profession until Sept. 1, 1903, when he accepted the office of deputy clerk of the
U. S. District Court, at Nome. While practicing law in Nome Mr. Lomen acquired a number of valuable mining interests. He has been an attorney in a number
of important cases before the District Court in Nome, notably as the representative of
the plaintiffs in the celebrated No. 14 - Ophir suit in 1901 . Among other important
cases with which he has been connected, are the suits over No. 3 bench claim, Daniels
Creek, the Sequoia claim on Ophir Creek, and the suit against the Wild Goose Mining
Company, involving the question of water rights on Ophir Creek. The importance
of the last case mentioned was emphasized by the fact that it was the first one of the
kind to determine the question of water rights to come before the court. During his
practice before the courts in Minnesota he was attorney for a client who received the
largest alimony. $45,000, ever awarded in any court of the state.
G. J. Lomen and Julie E. M. Joys were married in Manistee, Mich., May 27. 1878. The issue of this marriage is six children, as heretofore noted, George, Carl,
Harry, Ralph, Alfred and Henry. Mr. Lomen is a patriotic citizen, with a hereditary
love of the land of his ancestors, and has taken a prominent part in the celebrations at
Nome by Norwegians of Norway's Independence day, May 1 7 ; and in the absence of
Vice-Consul R. T. Lyng, he fills the position of acting vice-consul in Nome for
Norway and Sweden. He is an unpretentious man, whose quiet demeanor conceals an erudite mind. His unvarying urbanity and probity are distinguishing qualities of his
character, and make him a highly esteemed citizen.
Mr. Lomen was one of the participants in the amusing incident of a run-away boat, which is one of the stories told in this volume.
Source: Nome and Seward Peninsula by
R. S. Harrison. Seattle: The Metropolitan Press, 1905.
|
