| Name | John Martin Hovland |
| Birth | 22 Apr 1873, Rothsay MN |
| Death | 16 Oct 1954, Rothsay MN Age: 81 |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Father | Syver Hovland (1849-1936) |
| Mother | Guri Torgersd Flaten (1854-1917) |
Martin Hovland was born April 22, 1873, in Trondhjem township, four miles east of Rothsay, Minnesota, the son of Syvert and Guri (Flatin) Hovland, who had emigrated from Norway; his father coming in 1854 when 19 years old and settled by Spring Grove, Minnesota, and his mother came in 1858, when she was but four years old, in company with her parents and settled in Iowa. In 1870 his father and mother moved to Otter Tail County and settled in Trondhjem township, where his father took a homestead in sections 26 and 35.
In November 1898 Martin Hovland became united in marriage with Otilda Halbakken, who was born March 16, 1880 in Trondhjem township, Otter Tail County, the daughter of Anders and Marit Halbakken, who had emigrated to America in 1868, first settling in the State of Iowa, before coming to Otter Tail County in 1870. Mrs. Hovland died in 1917.
To their union were born the following children:
1. Gilma, married to Willie Sundby and lives in Norwegian Grove township.
2. Arthur, is single and stays at home and tend to farm.
3. Norman, married Cora Monson and lives at Lignite, N.D.
4. Lloyd, married Lydia Zimmerman and lives at Rothsay, Mn.
5. Elsie, married Bill Bywater and lives at Lignite, ND.
6. Millie, single and keeps house for her brother Arthur on the home place.
Mr. Hovland was married the second time on June 17, 1921 to Mrs. Christine Helli, who was born at Fargo, ND, the daughter of Jens and Helene Gaare, who came from Norway and were pioneers there, taking a homestead two miles south of Fargo on the Red River.
(Missing page 2) find....
and had them trained so they were gentle by the time they were full grown and his father started to use them for field work.
Mr. Hovland's worst enemy during his days, was a ram that his father had on the farm. This ram would go for him and chased him into the house several times a day. The ram got the worst end of the deal, as he was butchered and did not taste bad at mealtime.
Mr. and Mrs. Hovland are members of Ringsaker Lutheran Church of Pelican Rapids, MN.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hovland are in good health and enjoys their nice home there in Pelican township, where they expect to live the balance of their lives.
Interviewed: Mr. and Mrs. Martin Hovland
Dated: August 22, 1938.
By: B. C. Bergerson.
| 1 | Othelia (Ottilde) Halbakken |
| Birth | 16 Mar 1880, MN |
| Death | 5 Apr 1917 Age: 37 |
| Father | Anders Ellingson Halbakken (1846-1936) |
| Mother | Mari Johansd Carlsrud (1847-1930) |
| Marriage | 2 Nov 1898, Stod MN Rothsay Mn |
| Children | Gilma Myrtle (1899-) |
| Arthur Selvin (1901-1998) | |
| Theodore Norman (1903-1994) | |
| Lloyd Alexander (1905-1998) | |
| Elsie Marie Juline (1907-) | |
| Millie Oletta (1911-) |
| 2 | Christine Gaare |
| Birth | Fargo, ND |
| Marriage | 17 Jun 1921 |