John J. Lande

LANDE, TUFTE, JOHNSON, KLOSTER, MONSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/19/2010 at 04:20:35

JOHN J. LANDE

For many years John J. Lande was one of the leading farmers of Winnebago county but is now living retired in Lake Mills surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He was born in Norway on the 10th of October. 1864, and is the youngest of the six children of Job and Christina (Tufte) Lande. The father, who was a sailor, is now deceased, but the mother is still living and makes her home in Halsnoen, Norway. 'They never came to the United States. The first of their family to cross the Atlantic was Anna, now Mrs. Andrew Kloster, of Newton township, Winnebago county, Iowa, and John J. was the next to come to the new world, emigrating in 1884. The following year Mons and Eli, now Mrs. Gunder Johnson, came together to Lake Mills, but the others remained in Norway, where Enger died and where Signe is still living.

John J. Lande was only nineteen years of age when he set foot on American soil and continued his journey westward to Lake Mills, Iowa. In this locality he worked as a farm hand for four years and then purchased the north half of the northwest quarter of section 4, Newton township, Winnebago county. Subsequently he bought the west half of the southeast quarter of section 33, Logan township and continued to cultivate both tracts until the spring of 1914, when he retired from farming and removed to Lake Mills. He still owns a half section of finely improved land, however, and from the same derives a comfortable income. For several years he carried on his farming operations in partnership with his brother Mons, who is unmarried and is living with him. Mons Lande was born July 14, 1855, and was thirty years of age when he came to America. After working as a farm hand until 1891 he purchased the south half of the northwest quarter of section 4, Newton township, adjoining his brother's farm, and together they engaged in the cultivation of their land.

On January 9, 1890, John J. Lande was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Monson, a daughter of Johannes and Carrie Monson, who were early settlers of Newton township and are now deceased, their remains being interred in the North Prairie church cemetery. Mrs. Lande died in 1905 and was also laid to rest in that cemetery. Mr. Lande was again married March 9, 1907, his second union being with Miss Jennie Johnson, a daughter of George L. and Gertrude Johnson, who are still living on their farm in Newton township, where they located at an early day. Mr. Lande has seven children, namely: Carl J., Gilma J., J. Martin, Gladys B., Cora E., John S. and Raymond L.

Mr. Lande is a member of the Synod Lutheran church and by his ballot supports the men and measures of the republican party. For eighteen years he filled the office of township trustee and was also a member of the school board for a number of years and was president of the creamery company at Gryte, Logan township. He and his brother Mons have twice visited their native land, first spending three months there in 1902. The summer after his removal to Lake Mills in 191-1 they again went to Norway and not only visited their parents and old friends but also attended the centennial celebration of the union of Norway and Sweden in getting freedom of territory in Christiania. After a very enjoyable time they returned to America content to make this country their home and enjoy the advantages and privileges here afforded.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 461-462.