| Name | Ole Theodore Hovland |
| Birth | 17 Jul 1871, Trondhjem Township, Otter Tail County, MN |
| Death | 29 Jan 1940, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, MN Age: 68 |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Father | Syver Hovland (1849-1936) |
| Mother | Guri Torgersd Flaten (1854-1917) |
Self-made men, men who have achieved success by reason of their personal qualities and who have impressed their individuality upon the business development and agricultural life of their community, have an important influence upon such institutions as have come within the sphere of their usefulness. Of such is Ole Hovland, a prosperous farmer of Trondhjem township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Ole Hovland was born July 17, 1871 at Trondhjem township, son of Syver O. and Guri Torgeson Flaten Hovland, who had immigrated from Hadeland, Norway. His parent's came to America in 1866, first settling by Spring Grove, Minnesota, where they stayed till in 1871 when they rigged out a covered wagon with ox team and started for Otter Tail county and located in Trondhjem township, which was the family home for some time before building a log house.
In November of 1894, Mr. Hovland was married to Kari Moen, who was born May 27, 1873 at Trondhjem township, daughter of John Moen and Marit Tollefson Moen, who came from Hadeland, Norway in 1866, first settling by Spring Grove, Minnesota, coming to Trondjem township in 1871.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hoveland: Melvin, living in Fergus Falls, Minnesota; Sella, died when 6 weeks old in 1907; Johnnie stays on the home farm; Sella, married Knute Gothe and live by Carlisele, Minnesota; Arthur, deceased; Louis, living at Central Butte, North Dakota; Henry, lives in Maplewood township; Oliver in Oscar townships; Edna, married Albert Scuelt, living in Erhards Grove township; Eunice and Eddie are both single and live at home.
Mr. Hovland remembers one evening, when he was a small boy, an Indian came to their home, and his father was home. When he seen the Indian coming, he stepped outside and greeted him in Indian language. The expression on the Indian's face changed and he took out his peace pipe and handed it to his father, after which father asked him into the house for something to eat. After the Indian finished eating, he ran away and was never seen again.
Mr. Hovland at first attended school in private homes, and later in District No 89. His first teacher was Ingeborg Nelson, who used to bring candy for the smaller children to make them mind.
Mr. Hovland has held several township and school offices, also in church affairs.
Mr. and Mrs. Hovland are loyal members of the Friborg Lutheran Church of Oscar township, and take an active interest in the affairs of that organization.
Mr. Hovland is one of the versatile and broad-minded citizens of Otter Tail county, where he established his family in a comfortable home, the foundation of American happiness in the country which he adopted as his permanent home.
Interviewed: Mr. Ole Hovland
Dated: June 13, 1939
"Information collected and compiled by Works Progress Administration"
Hovland, Ole S. Trondhjem township July 1871
Hovland, Mrs. Ole S. Trondhjem township May 1873
B.C.B.
Ole purchased a farm about one mile from Syver's home. He built a one room house and later a two room addition. He spent many rough years and a lot of hard work farming 160 acres with horses and a walking plow. Later he rented a neighboring farm of 160 acres. They also had a few cows, beef cattle, hogs and chickens. Ole purchased a woodlot near Erhard, MN. All the wood for fuel was cut and split by and and hauled home with horses by sled. Ole and his neighbors would haul wheat to Phelps Mill and have it ground into flour, Phelps Mill was nearly thirty miles and it would take two days for this trip. In 1934 there was drought. Russian thistle was all the cattle had for feed and bedding. Soil blowing was severe and when Ole worked with the horses he would have to stop and clearn their nostrils.
Kari passed away in 1934. Ole lived on the same farm until he passed away on January 29, 1940.
| 1 | Kari (Carrie) Moen |
| Birth | 27 May 1873, Rothsay MN |
| Death | 17 May 1934, Rothsay MN Age: 60 |
| Burial | Friborg Cemetery Rothsay MN |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Father | Johan Engebretson Moen (1841-1920) |
| Mother | Margit Tollefsd (1843-1879) |
| Marriage | 16 Nov 1894, Oscar Township Rothsay, MN |
| Children | Gilbert Melvin (1895-1958) |
| John Ingvold (Twin) (1897-1980) | |
| Sella Oliva (Twin) (1897-1897) | |
| Sella Oliva (1899-) | |
| Arthur (1902-1918) | |
| Louis (1904-1990) | |
| Henry (1907-1989) | |
| Oliver Calmer (1910-) | |
| Edna Myrtle (1913-1982) | |
| Inez Amy (Twin) (1916-) | |
| Eddie Hilman (Twin) (1916-) |