Kroigaard, M. P.

KROIGAARD, MADAMADER, JUHL, NISSEN, FUGLSANG, GUGELIE, PAULSON, FLEMING, LUND, SORENSEN, HOIST, MICKELSON, CHRISTENSEN, SCHMIDT

Posted By: Volunteer Subscribers
Date: 4/15/2003 at 22:08:50

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

M. P. KROIGAARD.

The subject of this sketch, who is a well-known farmer residing on section 31, Bloomfield township, was born in the 15th of September, 1832, in Slavewick, Denmark, where his parents, Peter C. and Mattie M. (Madamader) Kroigaard, spent their entire lives. He was the second in order of birth in their family of six children, the others being as follows: Christen, who married Catherine Juhl, now deceased, and resides in Slavewick; Jorgen, who married Ellen Nissen and lives in Clinton, Iowa; Cecelia, widow of Hans Fuglsang and a resident of Maquoketa, Iowa; Anna, wife of William Fugelie, of Miles, Iowa; and Christine, who first married Christen Paulson and second Henry Fleming.

Mr. Kroigaard grew to manhood in his native land, for which country he fought bravely in the war between Denmark and Germany in 1864-5. The following six years he spent working on a farm in Denmark. In the spring of 1871 he came to the United States, the voyage being made by steamer in thirteen days. On landing in New York, he proceeded at once to Chicago, and from there went to Sabula, Iowa, where he worked on a farm. On the 16th of February, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Else Maria Lund. The next two years he spent in working in a sawmill and packing house. During the following two years he was employed as a farm hand by Joseph O. Day, and then rented Mr. Dickerson’s farm near Sabula, Jackson county, for one year. At the end of that time he came to Clinton county, and rented the Hey farm near Malone for two years. The following two years were spent on the farm of Mr. Brown, in Berlin township, and for four years he rented the Risley farm in the same township. On the expiration of that period he bought an eighty-acre farm on section 31, Bloomfield township, and section 36, Brookfield township. This place, with the help of his true and hard-working wife and family, he has greatly improved by the erection of a good house and barn, and in connection with its operation is successfully engaged in raising cattle for market.

Mrs. Kroigaard, who was also born in Slavewick, Denmark, October 24, 1842, is a daughter of John P. and Mattie M. (Sorensen) Lund. Her parents were farming people and life-long residents of Denmark, where the father died in 1851, and the mother on the 25th of December, 1881. They were both members of the Danish Lutheran church and most estimable people. In their family were five children, namely: Annie Maria, wife of Andres Hoist, of Delmar, Iowa; Else Maria, wife of our subject; Christina, who died at the age of three years; Rasmus, who married Cenia Mickelson and resides in Denmark; and William, who married Cenia Christensen and is engaged in the tailoring business in Copenhagen, Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Kroigaard have two children: Minnie Magdalene, born March 29, 1874, was married February 28, 1900, to Carsten Neilsen Schmidt, and lives on their farm in Welton township, this county; and Peter Johansen, born May 10, 1876, who assists his father in the operation of the home farm.

Mrs. Kroigaard came to the new world on the steamer Saxsonia, the machinery of which broke during the voyage, causing a delay of several days. At length, after twenty-five days spent upon the water she landed in New York, September 30, 1871. There was a great deal of sickness on board and two passengers died and were buried at sea. From New York Mrs. Kroigaard went to Sabula, Iowa, which journey occupied one week, as the passenger service, especially for emigrants, was very poor at that time. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kroigaard are members of the Danish Lutheran church, of honest and kind character, and he is a Republican in politics. He has always refused to hold office, but takes considerable interest in public affairs, as every true American citizen should.