Sundell, August

SUNDELL

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/28/2010 at 01:48:09

August Sundell, one of the active and successful farmers and stock raisers and breeders of Neola township, lives on section 17, where a farm of one hundred and twenty acres pays tribute to the care and labor he bestows upon it. He arrived in this county when a young man of twenty-three years, his birth having occurred in Sweden, August 5, 1858. There he was reared to manhood amid the environments of agricultural life while spending his boyhood on the old home farm. His father, Andrew Sundell, was born and reared in Sweden but died when August was but eleven months old. His widow long survived him and reared her family.

August Sundell enjoyed the advantages offered by the common schools of Sweden and also spent one year as a pupil in an English school in Nebraska. In early life he began work as a farm hand, receiving fourteen dollars per month for his services. He was thus engaged for several years or until his labors had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account. In March, 1889, in Omaha, Nebraska, he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Johnson, who spent her girlhood days in her native country--Sweden. After their marriage they settled on the farm which Mr. Sundell purchased near Underwood. He there had one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he cultivated for two years, after which he sold that property and rented for a year. About 1892 he purchased the place upon which he now resides. Some improvements had been made upon it and he began to cultivate the soil with his characteristic thrift and diligence. He has since tilled the fields and also raised and fed hogs and cattle, his live-stock interests being an important source of income to him. What he possesses he has gained through his own labor and may truly be called a self-made man.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sundell have been born four children, Anna, Elsie, Roy and Ruth, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. In the community where they reside the family enjoy the warm friendship of those with whom they have come in contact. Politically Mr. Sundell is a democrat, interested in the work of his party and active in its support. He was elected and served as township trustee, also as a member of the school board and has been a delegate to the county conventions. Fraternally he is connected with Neola lodge, I. O. O. F.