Beadle County Biographies

Mads Melhaven

Mads Madsen was born in Serritslev, Denmark, on the Melhaven farm, on 21 Mar 1874. He emigrated in 1902, and applied for naturalization in Beadle county on 21 Mar 1903, with second papers filed on 22 Apr 1908, also in Beadle county. Mads' surname was legally changed to Melhaven on 15 Jan 1927.* He worked as a foreman for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

Pictured at left is Mads. In the photo at right are Mads, Gødtfred and Jørgen Madsen. They are Mads' first cousins once removed. Gødtfred emigrated in 1903, and Jørgen in 1906.

Mads' daughter Elsie Marie came to visit him from Denmark in December of 1931. The article below, from "The Evening Huronite", describes her time in Huron.

Mads died on 19 Aug 1938, and was laid to rest in beautiful Riverside cemetery.

PARTIES GIVEN FOR MISS MELHAVEN

Miss Elsie Melhaven of Denmark, who has been visiting her father, Mads Melhaven, for several weeks, was guest of honor at a party given last evening by Mrs. Paul Paulsen at her home, 1439 Illinois avenue southwest.

The twelve guests were entertained with contests, in which Mrs. O. S. Stokke and Mrs. Erick Anderson were the winners. Mrs. Chester Williams gave a reading.

A shower of handkerchiefs was presented to Miss Melhaven.

Mrs. Stokke entertained at a bridge party for Miss Melhaven a few days ago at her home, 1354 Illinois avenue southwest.

Mrs. Robert McGlynn and Mrs. Paul Paulson held high (--?--) in the game and Miss Melhaven received a guest prize.

Miss Melhaven expects to leave tomorrow for Chicago where she will visit Mr. and Mrs. E E. Chamberlain, before going on to Washington, D. C., and New York City. She will sail for Denmark from New York December 9.

*The Notice of Application for Change of Name appeared in the Evening Huronite on 17 Jan 1927, and reads as follows:

Notice of Application for Change of Name

To Whom it May Concern:

Public Notice is hereby given that the undersigned Mads Jorgen Madsen has duly filed in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, of Beadle County, State of South Dakota, his petition for an order of said Court
changing the name of undersigned from Mads Jorgen Madsen to Mads Melhaven. That petitioner will at the regular January 1927, term of said court, on Monday, the 21st day of February, 1927 at 10:00 o'clock
A.M. or as soon thereafter as counsel may be heard apply to the Hon. presiding Judge of said court at the court house in the City of Huron, Beadle County, South Dakota, for an order changing the name of
petitioner as in said petition prayed for.

Dated at Huron, South Dakota, this 17th day of Janary, 1927.

Mads Jorqen Madsen
Pettitioner