John N. Brudvig

BRUDVIG, OLSON, ANDERSON, JOHNSON, HOLMSET, LUDVIGSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/5/2010 at 05:19:35

JOHN N. BRUDVIG

John N. Brudvig, actively and successfully engaged in general farming on section 29, Norway township, Winnebago county, was born in a little island called Osterand, in the northeastern part of Bergen, Norway, his natal day being April 20, 1844. His parents were Nels and Anna (Olson) Anderson, farming people, who had a family of three children, of whom John N. was the eldest. His two brothers were Andrew M. and Ole Brudvig. The former became an early settler of Norway township, Winnebago county, Iowa, and contributed to the pioneer development of that section, where he lived for many years and then passed to the home beyond. The younger brother died in Norway in 1866, when but eighteen years of age. The mother parsed away in Norway in 1871. It was more than a decade later, or in 1882, that the father emigrated to the United States. In the meantime he had married again and by the second union there were born three children: Andrew M., now a minister of the gospel in Colton, South Dakota; Emma, the wife of Andrew J. Brudvig, of Stutsman county. North Dakota; and Bertha, the wife of Joseph Johnson, of Thompson, Iowa. On coming with his family to the new world the father made his way at once to the home of his son, John N. Brudvig, and lived with him for three years. He then purchased a farm on section 20, Norway township, and continued to further develop and improve the place until his death, which occurred in 1900. His widow is still living and now makes her home with a daughter in Thompson, Iowa. In his political views Mr. Anderson was a republican, for his study of the political situation of the country led him to the belief that the principles of that party contained the best elements of good government. His religious faith was that of the United Lutheran church. He was a self-made man, his persistency of purpose and his energy enabling him to overcome obstacles and difficulties and work his way steadily upward to success.

John N. Brudvig attended the public schools near his boyhood home until he readied the age of sixteen years, when he began earning his living as a farm hand and was thus employed in Norway until 1867. He then resolved to try his fortune in the new world and came alone to the United States, making the voyage on a sailing vessel. He crossed the country to Lodi, Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he secured employment as a farm hand and thus worked until the fall of 1870, when he removed to Worth county, Iowa, and secured employment near Northwood. He remained in the service of others for six years and in 1873 he bought the south half of the southwest quarter of section 29, Norway township. He paid for it by working in Worth county and in 1877 he took up his abode upon that place, bending his efforts to the work of clearing, developing and improving the place. He has converted the wild land into productive fields, from which he annually gathers good harvests. He is interested in the Farmers Elevator at Scarville, Iowa, and in the Scarville Creamery.

It was in 1883 that Mr. Brudvig was united in marriage to. Miss Lena Holmset, a daughter of John Olson and Johanna (Ludvigson) Holmset, both now deceased, their remains having been interred in the Lime Creek cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Brudvig have become the parents of ten children: John, who is now living in Logan township; Nels, who is assisting in the operation of the home farm; Martin, who died in 1911 at the age of twenty-five years; Anna, who passed away in 1910 at the age of twenty-two years; Hannah, who is living in Mason City; Carl, a resident of Logan township; Hilda, also of Mason City; Emma, who died in infancy; and Emma, second of the name, and Clara, both at home.

Mr. Brudvig votes with the republican party, but while he has never sought nor desired political office he has served as school director for a number of terms and believes in sustaining good schools in order that the children may have the training which fits them for life's practical and responsible duties. Both he and his wife are members of the Synod Lutheran church. Mr. Brudvig has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has worked his way steadily upward. Energy and ability have brought him to the front as a successful farmer and his life record should serve as a means of encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished through individual labor.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. p. 292, 295.