K.K. Kiland

KILAND, HANSON, HOLLAND

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 5/5/2006 at 03:55:56

K. K. Kiland is now living, retired at Lake Mills but for a considerable period was closely connected with the agricultural interests of Winnebago county and his enterprise, industry and perseverance brought to him the success that now enables him to rest from further labor in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He was born in Norway on the 10th of August, 1847, a son of K. H. and Aase Kiland, who were also natives of that country. The father was a farmer of Norway, where he spent his entire life there passing away in 1864. His wife survived until 1875.

Their son, K. K. Kiland, was reared and educated in his native land and was there employed as a farm hand until 1869, when at the age of twenty-one years he determined to come to America, feeling that he might have better opportunities on this side the Atlantic. He first settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he was employed until he came to Winnebago county in 1872, at which time he purchased eighty acres of land in Newton township. This he improved and cultivated for four years and then sold that property, after which he bought a farm in Center township. Subsequently he added to his holdings until he now owns two hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land on section 19, Center township, which he has brought to a high state of Cultivation, making many splendid improvements thereon. He continued actively to operate his farm until 1915, when he retired and removed to Lake Mills, where he has since made his home. His life has been one of diligence and determination, and his labors have brought to him a substantial measure of success, placing him among the well-to-do citizens of Winnebago county.

In December, 1870, Mr. Kiland was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hanson, and to them were born three children, but all died in infancy, and the wife and mother passed away in June, 1890. On the 1st of June, 1891, Mr. Kiland was married to Miss Anna M. Holland and they became the parents of three sons: Clarence A., who was born May 30, 1892, and died on the 6th of September, 1903; Orville M., who was born May 11, 1894, and is now operating the home farm; and Conrad A., who was born September 25, 1896, and is now serving in the United States navy.

While Mr. Kiland has retired from active farm work, be still has business connections, being a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company, in the Lake Mills Creamery Company, the Lake Mills Lumber Company and the Leland Elevator Company. He is a man of good business judgment and his affairs have been so carefully conducted that be has won a very gratifying measure of success. In all of his dealings he has been thoroughly reliable as well as progressive, and his fellow townsmen speak of him in terms of high regard. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. Mr. Kiland has lived in Winnebago county from pioneer times, having for forty-five years been a witness of the growth and development. of this section of the state. He has contributed in no small measure to public progress and improvement and there is no feature of the county's development with which he is not familiar. He can relate many interesting incidents of the early days when homes were widely scattered, when there were large tracts of land uncultivated and when the farmers had to depend mostly upon their own efforts and the assistance of their neighbors, as it was a long distance to market and there was comparatively little ready money in the county. Mr. Kiland has lived to witness remarkable changes, for Winnebago county is now populated by a prosperous and contented people, many of whom have won their success within the borders of the county.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917,Vol II, page 548