KNUTSEN, JOHN H.

KNUTSEN, ANDERSON, ROALSON, OLESON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 2/2/2004 at 13:15:08

Biography reproduced from page 142 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

John H. Knutsen, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, of Swea City, which he is conducting with success, has been a resident of this county for the past ten years. He was born on a farm five miles southeast of Ossian, Winneshiek county, this state, April 15, 1868, and is a son of Harold and Margaret (Anderson) Knutsen. The parents were born, reared and married in Norway, where the father, who was a shoemaker and blacksmith, followed his trades until 1861. In the latter year they emigrated to the United States, locating at Winneshiek county, where two years later he purchased a farm. There he built a blacksmith shop and in connection with his farming continued to follow his trade. This section of Iowa was but sparsely settled at that time and land was very cheap, but Mr. Knutsen was a man of much sagacity and realized that it would rapidly increase in value, so he extended his property holdings from time to time as he was able. He subsequently sold his original place to his son Andrew, and moved to another farm he had bought near by. There the mother passed away in 1887, but the father remained on his farm until 1901, when he sold it and went to Ossian, where he lived retired until recently. He now makes his home with his son Andrew, on the old homestead near Ossian.

John H. Knutsen remained on the home farm until he was nineteen years of age, pursuing his education in the district schools and assisting his father in his agricultural pursuits. In 1887, he left the parental roof and went to Elbow Lake, Minnesota, where he worked as a farm hand for a time. From there he went to Wright county, North Dakota, to take a position on a large ranch, but very soon after his arrival he was called home by the death of his mother. He remained in Winneshiek county and during the succeeding seven years rented and cultivated one hundred and twenty acres of land located five miles southeast of Ossian, that belonged to his father. He went next to Humboldt county and worked out for two years. At the expiration of that time he was married and bringing his bride back to Winneshiek county, he again located on one of his father’s farms. He operated this with success for four years, but in the spring of 1902 he decided to become a resident of Kossuth county, and has ever since made this his home. When he first came here he rented a farm three-fourths of a mile north of Swea City, in Harrison township. He cultivated this for a year, then removed to a place two miles east of Swea City, remaining there for six years. At the end of that time he came to Swea City, and worked at the carpenter’s trade, but after a year he assumed the management of the Commercial Hotel, of which he is now proprietor. In addition to this hotel Mr. Knutsen is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located four miles east of Staples, Cass county, Minnesota, that he purchased in 1908.

On the 25th of November, Thanksgiving day, 1897, Mr. Knutsen was united in marriage to Miss Martha Roalson, daughter of Bellert and Martha (Oleson) Roalson, both natives of Norway. They were also reared and married in the Norse land, whence they emigrated to America in 1870, locating in Fayette county, Iowa, in the vicinity of West Union. The father, who had always been a farmer in the old country, worked by the day when he first came to America. He finally managed to acquire sufficient means to buy a team and covered wagon and with this he and his family crossed the Iowa prairies to Humboldt county. There they purchased a farm of eighty acres, nine miles southeast of Humboldt, which he cultivated until his death in 1897. During that time by reason of his diligence and unceasing application he managed to extend the boundaries of his place by the addition of another eighty acres, his holdings aggregating one hundred and sixty acres. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Roalson remained on the farm until 1908, when she sold her land and removed to Swea City purchasing some city property. She has since made this city her home. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Knutsen, as follows: Blanche Madeline, who was born April 2, 1900; Hermie Merton, whose natal day was the 16th of May, 1902; Sanford Theodore, who celebrated the seventh anniversary of his birth, November 23, 1912; and Arnie Leo, whose birth occurred on the 27th of December, 1907. The three eldest children are in school.

The family attend the Norwegian church, in which the parents hold membership, and in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. Mrs. Knutsen is a member of the Ladies Aid Society. In politics Mr. Knutsen is a progressive. He is a most estimable man and is held in high respect by the entire community, among whose citizens he numbers many stanch friends.