Peder Degnepold

DEGNEPOLD, SKROM, AMUNDSON, AASE

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 11/28/2007 at 20:57:31

Peder Olson Degnepold follows farming on section 23, Logan township, Winnebago county, and comes of a family long identified with farming interests in Norway. His great-grandfather, Ole Degnepold, and his grandfather, Lars Degnepold, both followed the occupation of farming. His parents were Ole Larsen and Christie Pedersen. The father was both a farmer and fisherman and in his native country he reared his family of four sons and three daughters. One of the daughters, Mrs. John Amundsen, came to America, while another, Mrs. Lena Aase, passed away in Norway. There are two brothers still in Norway, the elder being Lars, a farmer, mechanic and boat builder, while the younger is Hans, a school teacher.

Peder 0. Degnepold was a young man of twenty-two years when in 1877 he came to the United States, settling first at Northwood, in Worth county, Iowa. In his youthful days and early manhood he was employed at farm labor, but became tired of working for others and resolved that his labors should more directly benefit himself. Accordingly he carefully saved his earnings until he had an amount that enabled him to purchase eighty acres of land in Winnebago county. His first purchase was made in 1885, at which time he settled upon his farm cultivated his farm and the result of his labor is seen in broad fields which bring forth rich harvests and also in the excellent improvements upon his land.

On the 13th of February, 1889, in Selo church, Nordfjord, Norway, Mr. Degnepold was united in marriage to Miss Johanne Marie Johnson Skrom, a daughter of John Kristensen and Ingeborg Andersen. To Mr. and Mrs. Degnepold have been born four children, Jennie Christine, Emma Alida, Christie and Ole Martinus.

The religious faith of the family is that of the United Lutheran church. Mr. Degnepold has always been interested in the moral and intellectual progress of the community and for three years served as a school director. He is a stand-pat republican, giving unfaltering allegiance to the party which he has supported since becoming a naturalized American citizen. For forty years he has lived in northern Iowa and throughout the entire period has been actively interested in farming. His success is the merited reward and the direct outcome of his own labors. He was empty handed when he crossed the Atlantic, but he possessed a spirit of industry and determination, which constitutes a safe foundation upon which to build prosperity. As the years have gone on he has added to his holdings and his financial resources and is today the possessor of a comfortable competence.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917, Vol. II, page 513.