| Parents: Education: Occupation: Marriage: |
Ola Gauthsen Qvale Olene Gurine "Gurine" Tormesen Completed the 6th grade Law office clerk [1880] Probate judge of Kandiyohi county for three terms [elected 1884] County attorney for two terms 12th Judicial District Court Judge of Minnesota for 49 years [April 1897-1946] Johanna "Jennie" Maria Pacifica Torviksen Jorgenson September 20, 1899 Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota |
 |
| Children: | Arthur "Maury" Maurice | May 7, 1901 | † Nov. 21, 1962 |
| Ola "Florence" Florence Gustava | May 23, 1905 | † Nov. 19, 1995 |
| Notes: | Emil's father owned a fishing business in Norway and went down with one of his ships. In 1878 when he was |
| 18 years old
Emil and his mother Gurine immigrated to the United States
with his siblings. He taught himself English while working
that year and in 1879 in Red Wing, MN for the secretary
of the Minnesota State Board of Health, Dr. Hewitt.
Later he did farm work at Ettrick, WI and did manual labor in Minneapolis and Hudson, WI. In January 1880 Emil became a clerk in the law office of John W. Arctander at Willmar, Kandiyohi, Minnesota and began to teach himself law. Two years later he was admitted to the bar after an examination by a committee comprised of Arctander, Judge John H. Brown and Scot Ramson of Willmar and S. E. Plumbley of Litchfield. He was elected probate judge of Kandiyohi county in 1884, served three terms and then was elected county attorney for two terms. He became a naturalized citizen in 1886. In April 1897 he accepted an appointment as district judge and occupied the office until he retired in 1946. Emil had an unswerving habit of ignoring completely the popular side of any issue and administering the law under a policy of no compromise with justice. In a 49-year career, he had a remarkable record for being sustained on appeals and only two of his decisions were reversed by the Supreme Court. He was a stickler for correct legal procedure and gave all attorneys equal treatment. Emil furnished his own office in the aged Kandiyohi county court house and insisted on buying his office stationery. He kept his own law library and devoted an extraordinary amount of time to his judicial duties. He studied the law continually as he felt he must keep informed. Emil spoke with a pronounced Norweigian accent. He never ate lunch. He drank only two cups of coffee a day, at breakfast and at 2 p.m., and had milk for his evening meal. He smoked a pipe. At the time of the May 1, 1885 Minnesota State Census, G.E. was 24 years old and living with his mother Mrs. O.G. Qvale and sister Bertha in Willmar, Kandiyohi, Minnesota [1885 Minnesota State Census, Roll MNSC-31, line 30]. In the June 1, 1900 census Emil was 38 years old and living with his wife Jennie and mother Gurine in his home at 205 East Litchfield Ave. in Willmar, MN; brother S. B. Qvale, S.B.'s wife Mayme and their and Swedish servant Phoebe Lund lived next door. In the June 21, 1905 Minnesota state census he was living next door to his brother and sister-in-law at 205 Litchfield Ave. in Willmar, MN. In the April 20, 1910 census, Emil was 50 years old and living with his wife, son Maurice, daughter Florence and mother Gurine at the same address in Willmar. On January 19, 1920 census he was 59 years old and living at 205 Litchfield Ave. in Willmar next to his brother S.B. and his family. At the time of the April 22, 1930 census, Emil was 69 years old and living with his wife Jennie in their spacious home valued at $10,000 (over $100,000 in 2001 dollars). The family did not own a radio. At the time of the Apr. 13, 1940 U.S. Federal census, Judge Qvale was 79 years old, widowed and living with his two children in the family home valued at $12,000 at 205 Litchfield East in Willmar, Kandiyohi, Minnesota. The family had been living in the same house in April 1935. Although both daughter Florence and son Maurice had completed four years of college, the Judge had been educated through the 6th grade only. He was a District Judge for the State of Minnesota, working 56 hours a week for 52 weeks in 1939, and earning $5,000 (although he had income from other sources as well). Son Maurice was divorced and working as an electrical engineer for the power company; daughter Florence was single and not currently employed. For years Emil was a duck hunting enthusiast but gave it up in old age. He also used to fish considerably, being a devotee when he was younger of the "Norweigian spoon hook" -- a net. At the time of his retirement in 1946, Emil was 86 years old and living in his home in Willmar with his son Maurice, daughter Florence and her husband, George Westman. His wife Jennie had died eight years earlier. He was the guest of honor at the 1946 annual meeting of the 12th District Bar association held at the clubhouse of the Benson Golf Club. As a tribute to the retired jurist, the entire personnel of the Minnesota Supreme Court was in attendance. Emil passed away at his home at 205 East Litchfield Ave. in Willmar on January 31, 1951. He was 90 years, 4 months and 6 days old. |
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