Uggen, Elmer George (1891–1949)

Elmer George Uggen was a musician, composer, conductor, educator, and music store owner who entertained American troops abroad during World War I with his score for the play “War is Hell.” He left a mark in Northwest Minnesota with the original words and music for “Crookstonian,” a march used as the official anthem of Crookston.

Uggen was born in Calmar, Iowa, on October 29, 1891, to Erick and Dena (Hagen) Uggen. His family moved to St. Paul when he was a teenager. In 1914, Uggen started his musical career as a violin instructor and bass player at the North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo. On March 20, 1915, he left for Chicago to study violin at the Metropolitan Conservatory of Music. He refined his skills under the instruction of two prominent violinists—Richard Czerwonky, former concertmaster of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Harry Diamond.

Uggen joined the Army on June 4, 1917, just two months after the United States entered World War I. With a rank of musician, second class, he served as assistant band leader of the First Infantry. Uggen brought entertainment to the soldiers with “War is Hell,” a play put on for troops throughout Germany. He composed, arranged, and conducted all the music for the eighteen-piece orchestra. They performed at the palace of the Prince of Wied for Generals John Pershing and Hunter Liggett. Uggen returned home in August of 1919.

Back in St. Paul, Uggen worked as a music instructor and performed in the Auditorium Theatre Orchestra in Minneapolis. He also traveled with the Million Dollar Band as a guest violin accompanist. Uggen was lauded as a highlight of the performances, “considered by many to be worth the price of admission to the concerts.”

In 1920, Uggen opened the Crookston Music House, selling pianos to residents of Northwest Minnesota. He also worked in the music department at the Northwest School of Agriculture. There he met Lucille Dokken, a piano professor. On July 28, 1924, he and Lucille married.

Uggen sold the Crookston Music House and he and his wife set sail on the Empress of Asia on November 20, 1924. They made their way to Manila, the Philippines, to meet Uggen’s brother Arthur. Arthur owned Manila’s Lyric Music House; the Uggens went to help his business while Arthur visited the United States. However, they did not enjoy life on the island and returned to Minnesota in 1925.

Uggen went back to work at the Northwest School of Agriculture as bandmaster and orchestra director. During this time, Uggen wrote the words and music to “Crookstonian.” The piece was commissioned for use at local gatherings, with the hope that all residents would learn the words and music to sing along. The march, in 2/4 time, sings the praises of the community’s work ethic and spirit.

“Crookstonian” was printed in 1927 and sold in Crookston by women’s club organizations. Uggen was thanked for “the quality of his booster masterpiece” by the community in the Crookston Daily Times. The six-page sheet music also includes a history of Crookston and a variety of photos highlighting the city’s major sights.

In 1929, Uggen edited “Crookstonian” and dedicated the piece to the Northwestern Minnesota Singers Association, who sang it at their winter concert. He added an orchestral arrangement and revised the text to make it specific to the choral group. Popplers Music of Grand Forks, where Uggen was then working as a department manager, donated the reprinted sheet music.

In the early 1930s, the Uggens moved from Grand Forks to Fargo. Uggen sold band instruments for Conn Educational Bureau, then moved to Moorhead and became the band conductor at Moorhead High School.

In 1937, the Uggens made their way to Minneapolis. Uggen held positions as salesman, vice president, and educational director at the Paul A. Schmitt Music Company. Several of Uggen’s arrangements for band were published by the Paul A. Schmitt Music Company, including “Built On a Rock (Fantasia On a Chorale)” by L. M. Lindeman; “Ocean Waves” and “Casey’s Old Time Waltz” by Casey A. Aslakson; and “Schmitt’s Playwell Trio and Quartet Folio”.

Uggen died on June 30, 1949, at the age of fifty-seven, of coronary thrombosis. He is buried in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.