ROALSON, ROAL

ROALSON, OLESON, FEVOLD, STENSLAND, LARSON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 9/1/2003 at 20:09:39

Biography reproduced from page 609 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Roal Roalson is an enterprising and successful agriculturist of Eagle township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land, located on section 35. He was born in Norway, on the 4th of March, 1872, a son of Belest and Martha (Oleson) Roalson, whose family numbered eight children, all of whom, with the exception of the eldest daughter, are living. The parents emigrated to the United States with their family in 1872, coming direct to Iowa. For four years thereafter, the father, whose energies had always been devoted to agricultural pursuits, worked out by the month as a farm hand in Fayette county. During that period he managed to accumulate sufficient money to enable him to buy a team and wagon, and with his family and few belongings continued his journey westward to Humboldt county. There he bought eighty acres of government land and began farming for himself. He cultivated this place until his death in 1886. The mother later increased her holdings by the purchase of another eighty acre tract and remained on the homestead until 1908. She then disposed of her farm and purchased a residence property in Swea City, where she has since made her home.

Roal Roalson was but three weeks old when his parents left the Norseland, so that practically his entire life has been spent in Iowa. He was educated in the common schools of Humboldt county, and while still in his boyhood began assisting about the work of the farm. His duties were increased from year to year and by the time he had finished his schooling he was thoroughly familiar with the various duties connected with plowing, planting and harvesting the fields. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age and then started out to earn money to purchase a farm of his own. At the end of a year he had saved enough from his wages to enable him to begin as a renter and for seven years thereafter he cultivated rented land in Humboldt county. In 1902, he came to Kossuth county and purchased his present farm, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres on section 35, Eagle township. In addition to the cultivation of his own land he annually rents from eighty to one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is largely planted to such cereals as are best adapted to the feeding of stock. In connection with his diversified farming he makes a specialty of raising and feeding cattle and hogs, and is prospering in both lines of his business. Mr. Roalson is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Swea City, and he was also a stockholder in the Swea City Creamery Company until he withdrew from the dairy business, at which time he sold his interest in that industry.

On the 3d of October, 1896, Mr. Roalson was married to Miss Annie M. Fevold, a daughter of John and Mary Fevold, natives of Norway. The father, who was a farmer, came to America in his early manhood, first locating in Fayette county, Iowa. Soon after his marriage he went to Humboldt county and bought a farm, and there continued his agricultural pursuits until his death in July, 1886. The mother, who subsequently became the wife of J. O. Stensland, a farmer of Beaver township, Humboldt county, remained on the homestead until 1901. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fevold, two of whom are deceased. Mrs. Roalson is the eldest of the four living, the others in order of birth being as follows: Martin, who is a farmer in Edgeley, North Dakota; John, who is farming in Webster county, Iowa; and Amelia, the wife of Bert Larson, a farmer of Humboldt county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Roalson have six children, the four eldest of whom are attending school in district No. 6, Eagle township. In order of birth they are as follows: Myrtle, Bert, Elmer, Louis, Marvin and Florence. The last named was born February 24, 1912.

Mr. and Mrs. Roalson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Swea City. In politics he is a republican and takes an active interest in township affairs. He is now serving his second term as trustee, and has for seven years been a director of school district No. 6 and he is also president of the Eagle township school board. He is highly esteemed in his community, is enterprising and progressive both in matters of business and citizenship, and conducts his transactions in public and private life in an honorable and upright manner.