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Rasmus O. Haugland

HAUGLAND, GUNDERSON, SUNDERLAND, PETERSON, THOMPSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 5/5/2006 at 03:46:32

Rasmus O. Haugland, a retired farmer living in Lake Mills, has reached the advanced age of eighty-two years and receives the respect and honor to which his long, active and well-spent life entitles him. He was born in Norway, October 18, 1834, of the marriage of Ole G. and Ingeborg (Gunderson) Haugland who in 1846 removed with their family to Dane county, Wisconsin, where both passed away and are buried. The father engaged in farming and also taught school in Norway. To them were born twelve children, of whom three grew to maturity and of whom our subject is the only one now living.

Rasmus O. Haugland began his education in the common schools of his native country and continued it in the schools of Dane county, Wisconsin, until he was sixteen years old. From that time until 1867 he worked as a lumberman, cutting timber along the Wisconsin river and taking the lumber down the Mississippi to St. Louis. In 1867 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Center township, Winnebago county, Iowa, and from that time until 1914 was continuously engaged in its improvement and cultivation. During that time his land, which had been in a raw state when it came into his possession, was brought to a high degree of cultivation, many improvements were made thereon and his resources steadily increased, enabling him to retire from active life in 1914. He then took up his residence in Lake Mills, where he owns an attractive home. He helped organize the Lake Mills Creamery Company, the Lake Mills Lumber Company, the Leland Creamery Company, the Farmers Elevator Company at Leland and the Mount Valley Threshing Company at Leland. He still owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he rents, and twenty acres of timberland.

In 1867 Mr. Haugland married Miss Sarah Sunderland, a daughter of Ole H. and Anna Sunderland, natives of Norway, who on emigrating to the United States first located in Dane county, Wisconsin, but in 1866 removed to Winnebago county, Iowa, whence they went to Wright county, North Dakota, where they died and are buried. To Mr. and Mrs. Haugland were born eleven children, of whom four died in youth, while seven survived namely: Emma, now Mrs. L. E. Peterson, of Forest City, Iowa; Anna, the wife of T. A. Thompson, of Center township; Oscar, who married and resides at Nashua, Montana - Edward, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume; Helmer, who is married and resides in Lake Mills; Emil, a traveling salesman of St. Paul, Minn.; and William, a resident of Forest City.

Mr. Haugland is a stanch republican and has done much effective work for his party. His first presidential vote was cast for John C. Fremont and he has lived under eighteen presidents in the United States and under two kings in Norway. He has always taken a commendable interest in public affairs and for one term was county supervisor, for four years justice of the peace and for a number of years school director. In religious faith he is a United Lutheran. He began his independent career with no capital save his energy, strength and sound judgment, and these qualifications have proved amply sufficient, as he is -now one of the substantial men of the county. He has a wide acquaintance and holds a warm place in the regard of many.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917,Vol II, page 115


 

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