ANDREW A. RODBERG

RODBERG, OPDAHL, NELSON, KVERNAVECK

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 8/20/2007 at 16:11:51

As its name indicates, Norway township, Winnebago county, has been largely settled by those who were born in the land of the midnight sun or whose parents came from that country. Andrew A. Rodberg first opened his eyes to the light of day at North Fjord, Norway, March 13, 1862, being the second child of Amund and Anna Rodberg, who are farming people and who had a family of six children: John, who is now a resident of Scarville, Iowa; A. A.; Jeneca, now the wife of Louis Opdahl, of North Fjord, Norway; Olina, the wife of Rasmus Nelson, also living in that country; Gertrude, the wife of Andrew Kvernaveck, of Norway; and Jacob, who died in Norway. The first two were the only ones who ever came to the United States, the parents and other members of the family still living in Norway.

Andrew A. Rodberg spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his native land and when twenty-one years of age came alone to the United States, first settling near Northwood, Worth county, Iowa. He worked as a farm hand for a short time and then removed to Norway township, Winnebago county, where he was employed at farm labor until he reached the age of twenty-seven years. In the meantime he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought to him a sufficient sum to enable him to purchase the northeast quarter of section 31, Norway township. With characteristic energy he at once began to clear and develop that property, upon which he still makes his home. He soon cleared the land, plowed under the native prairie grasses, harrowed his fields, planted his seed and in due course of time was gathering good harvests. All through the intervening years to the present he has carefully cultivated his land and the result of his labors is seen in a splendidly developed farm, upon which are good improvements. He rotates his crops, studies the best methods of enhancing the yield and utilizes the latest improved machinery in planting and harvesting.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917, Vol. II, page 299.