BRATTLUND, ANDREW

BRATTLUND, KRANTS

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/21/2004 at 15:02:31

Biography reproduced from page 195 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Andrew Brattlund is a prominent farmer residing on section 5, Ramsey township, Kossuth county, Iowa, and owns and operates a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres. He is a leading citizen in his community and is now serving the second year of his term as clerk of the township. He was born in Sweden and in that country was reared and educated. When sixteen years of age he came with his parents, Gustave and Helen Brattlund, to the new world, the family settling in Wisconsin. After a time they removed to Kossuth county, Iowa, where the father and the subject of this review each purchased an eighty acre farm. Upon the farm which the father purchased in Kossuth county he resided until the time of his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-three years, his interment being at Bancroft. The mother, who survives him, is residing in Chicago and has attained the remarkable age of eighty-nine years. They were the parents of seven children, one of whom died in infancy, while a son passed away at the age of forty-three years. Three daughters are residing in Chicago and the address of one of the sons is unknown.

Andrew Brattlund remained with his parents until he attained his majority, when he settled on the farm which he now owns, having been a resident of Ramsey township since coming to Kossuth county. On his farm some of the buildings, which existed at the time he purchased it, are still standing but he has added many improvements and has also purchased more land, now owning one of the fine agricultural properties of Kossuth county, aggregating two hundred and forty acres. His farming operations are conducted along modern lines and his land is well drained and improved. As he pays a great deal of attention to the raising of hogs, cattle and horses, he sells no grain from his farm except a part of the oats which he produces, the remainder being fed to his stock. In addition to the farm and the large amount of stock which he owns he is also interested in the Farmers Elevator Company at Germania and in the creamery at that place.

Mr. Brattlund chose as his life companion and helpmate Miss Hannah Krants, a native of Sweden, who came to America when she was twenty-three or twenty-four years of age. To this union eight children were born, all of whom first saw the light of day on the present farm, which has been the family home since Mr. Brattlund first settled in Kossuth county. The first four children died in infancy, the surviving members of the family being Hulda, Gustave, Axel and Beda.

Mr. Brattlund is republican in his political faith and has taken an active interest in political matters, although he has never been an office seeker in any sense of the word. He also is deeply interested in educational matters, having been a school director of his district for a number of years. Mr. Brattlund, who has become one of the very successful farmers of Kossuth county, is a man of marked business ability. Beginning in a small way, he was able by the intelligent direction of his endeavors to increase his holdings of land from eighty to two hundred and forty acres and to finely improve this large and fertile tract of land, and now has a farm well stocked with cattle, horses and hogs. It may also be said to his credit that he has not along concerned himself with the business of amassing wealth but has been a public-spirited citizen, holding the position of township clerk. He is among the well known and influential citizens of Ramsey township and has an extended acquaintance in Kossuth county, where he enjoys an excellent reputation for integrity and business ability.