Peter A. Solem (1847-1913)

SOLEM, HELLAND

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 6/25/2020 at 16:35:50

From The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, March 13, 1913.

HIGHLY RESPECTED CITIZEN DEAD

P. A. Solem, Pioneer Furniture Dealer Of Roland, Passed Away Tuesday Afternoon After A Years Lingering Sickness.

Tuesday afternoon it was learned that Peter A. Solem had passed away and while his death had been anticipated for some time, it was still a shock to his large host of friends to learn of his demise. The deceased had been a patient sufferer from cancer of teh stomach for the last year, but he never complained and was resigned to the fate that he knew must come sooner or later, and he died content with his lot. He suffered very little pain and the end came peacefully just after dinner on Tuesday.

Peter A. Solem was born in Vikedal, Norway, August 27, 1857 and died on Tuesday, March 11, 1913, being 55 years, 6 months and 14 days old at his death. He received his education while staying at his parental home and when a young man, took to sea as a sailor. He spent a year and a half on a Norwegian ship, after which he went to South Africa and worked there as a cabinet maker. Later he went to Australia, where he remained only six months. He took to sea again, becoming a sailor on a British ship, but soon decided that he would retire from this kind of work, and so came to this country, coming inland. He located in Roland in 1885 and worked at the carpenter trade for a couple years after which he opened a furniture store, which he has since conducted, although for the past eight months he has been unable to be there to attend to his business himself.

On December 31, 1888, he was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Annie Helland by Rev. C. B. Jacobson, to which union three children were born, two girls and one boy. One little girl Selma, died at the age of two years while the other two children, Adelaide and Osvald, are left with their mother to mourn the loss of their kind husband and father.

Shorly after coming to Roland Mr. Solem became a member of Salem Lutheran church, where he has been a faithful member to his death, freely giving of his time and money to the furtherance of it's usefulness. He was a quiet and reserved man, who enjoyed the fullest confidence of those with whom he had dealing, and commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. His death willb e a source of genuine regret to many who called him their friend, but the greatest loss will be to his family, where he enjoyed the blessings of quiet home life.

The funeral will be held on Monday afternoon at two o'clock from Salem church, where Rev. J. N. Sandven will preach the funeral sermon, after which interment will take place in the Roland cemetery.

The Record wishes to join the large host of friends of the family in extending to them the sincere sympathy in the hour of their sorrow.