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| Ole O. Hovland Ole O. Hovland was born in Norway on December 17, 1837. The son of Ole H. & J�ran Hovland, he was one of six sons. Namely, Syver, Nels, Otto, Hans and Gulbrand. On November 14, 1863, he was united in marriage to Anne Arnesdatter Teslo. The wedding took place at Lunde Kirke, Hadeland, Norway, the Rev. Halbo officiating. September 14, 1840 was Grandma's birthdate date. In 1867 they immigrated to the United States with their two small children Julia and Maria. A journey that covered a period of seven weeks. First they settled in Big Canoe, Winneshiek County, Iowa. There they lived four years. In the spring of 1871 they gathered up all their earthly belongings and loaded them into a prairie schooner drawn by a team of oxen. They set out for Otter Tail County, Minnesota, where many Norwegians had gone before them; and after many adventures and hazardous undertakings they finally landed in Trondhjem Township, a few miles west of Erhard, Minnesota. They first took a Homestead of 120 acres in Section 26 in the township of Throndhjem. The land was wild and the task of breaking up the soil and cutting the timber was a heavy one. First they lived in a dugout and later a log house. The log house was built by Ole O. Hovland during the first months of residence on the place. And there they lived until 1883 when he purchased 200 acres in Section 25 of the same township and moved there. At that time the railroad ended at St. Cloud. From there on it was nothing but a large and confusing mass of uncultivated and uninhabited wilderness. There was no Pelican Rapids at that time. No stores; no groceries; no flour. They used to make coarse bread out of grain they cracked between two flat stones; if they wanted white flour Grandpa Hovland had to take a half bushel of wheat and walk to Alexandria, Minnesota, a distance of over 60 miles, the round trip taking often more than a week. There were three things these early settlers always looked out for before they settled, and that was: water, wood, and fish and game. With this they knew they could always keep warm, and have things to eat. Grandpa Hovland was not only a good farmer but also a good businessman for that time. He held positions of high trust at various times and always performed his duties conscientiously and intelligently. He worked on the School Board, Township Board, and held various trusteeships in the church. They lived five miles from the South Immanuel Church which he helped organize, and on Sunday mornings often walked to church. They were both devoted Christians. In 1907 he retired and rented the land to his son Lewis. On November 14, 1913, they celebrated their Golden Wedding with all their children present, and a host of friends, neighbors and relatives. Ole O. Hovland passed away at the farm home December 24, 1915, at the age of 78 years. His wife passed away March 19, 1931, at the age of 90 years. They were the parents of 14 children. Information received from Irene Ronningen by Diane Mack (author unknown). Ole O. Hovland: For over a half century, Minnesota and her agricultural opportunities have been extolled in other lands, and to her farms have come people of every country. The industrious, thrifty Norwegian has been among the settlers, and in almost every instance he has come fully prepared for self-support and for assuming the responsibilities of citizenship. One who represents most broadly this strong element in American citzenship, is Ole O. Hovland, who after many years of a busy life is able to look back upon his accomplishments with satisfaction. He was born in Hadeland, Norway, on December 17, 1837, and is the son of Ole Hanson and Joran Olesdatter. The parents of Ole Hovland were born in Norway and spent most of their married life in the country of their nativity. Their last days, however, were spent in America, on the farm owned by their son, Nels Hovland, in Trondhjem township, where the father died in 1888, and the mother passed away in 1893. They reared a large family, of whom the following information is given: Gilbert, a farmer, is now residing in Wert county, Iowa; Hans, who died in Iowa, was also a farmer; Ole is the subject of this sketch; Syver lives in Trondhjem township, where he has a farm; Nels lives near Lawndale, in Wilkin county, and Otto is a farmer in Trondhjem township. The educational advantages received by Ole Hovland were, according to the customs of that locality and period, extremely meager. The principal lessons of his life were gained in the early years during his boyhood on the farm in Norway. The remarkable fact of his career is that with so small a fund of educational resources, he was able to cope with the problems of an independent life in this country and win success. In 1867 he came to America, a joyrney that covered a period of over seven weeks. He settled in Winisheik county, Iowa, where he lived for four years, working as a farmer. In 1871 he came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, in a covered wagon drawn by a team of oxen. In this county, he began the task of homesteading one hundred and twenty acres of land located in section 26 of Trondhjem township. The land was wild prairie and the task of breaking up the soil and cutting the timber was the first to be considered. A log house was built by Mr. Hovland during his first months of residence on the place and there he lived until 1883, when he purchased two hundred acres in section 25 of the same township. He moved upon this land where he now resides. The farm represents a large investment of modern improvements and is devoted exclusively to general farming. Mr. Hovland sold the homestead a few years ago to his son Olans, and after his retirement in 1907, rented part of the land to his son, Lewis. Mr. Hovland has not been content to work in just one field of enterprise, but has reached out into broader interests where his influence has been lasting for the welfare of the community. For a number of years he acted as school treasurer and was active as a road supervisor for some time. He has always been an ardent member of the Synod Lutheran church, in which congregation his wife is also a valuable assistant. On November 14, 1863, the marriage of Ole Hovland to Anna Teslo, a native of Norway, took place. She is the daughter of Arne and Annie (Wika) Teslo, Norwegians, by birth, who died in their native land. Mrs. Hovland was born on September 14, 1840, in the same community where her husband spent his childhood. In 1913, fifty years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hovland celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, amid much rejoicing and among a group of old and intimate acquaintances. The celebration was a fitting climax to fifty years of patient toil, devotion to duty and true home building. The following children were born to Mr. & Mrs. Hovland: Julia married O. J. Aamodt and later died in Barnesville, Minnesota; Mary, who lives near Barnesville, became the wife of A. P. Stadum, and after his death married Ole Stone; Olans lives on his father's homestead; Anton, a farmer, resides in North Dakota; Thea, the wife of O. S. Osten, lives in Norwegian Grove township; Lewis manages part of his father's estate and has never married; Sophia, the widow of A. H. Kittelson, lives in Norwegian Grove township; John, who follows farming resides near Stampede, North Dakota; Minnie, the wife of O. B. Ulsrud, lives in Columbus, North Dakota; C. Edwin, a banker, lives in Cotone, North Dakota; Ida (Mrs. A. O. Sommerness), is residing in Columbus, North Dakota; Ida Caroline died at the age of four years, and Oliver died at the age of seven. History of Otter Tail County Minnesota, Illustrated 1916, Vol. 2. John W. Mason, editor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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