G. A. Dahl

DAHL, LOBERG, OPDAHL, RINGESTAD

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/23/2010 at 06:02:25

G. A. DAHL

G. A. Dahl owns and operates a farm on sections 12 and 13, Norway township, Winnebago county, upon which he has lived for about seventeen years. He was born November 7, 1875, in Silver township, Worth county, Iowa, his parents being G. G. and Bertha (Loberg) Dahl, the former a native of Norway. The latter was born in Worth county, where her father settled at a very early period in the development of that district and where the family continued to reside for many years, both Mr. and Mrs. Loberg there passing away. Mr. Dahl was but fourteen years of age when he came to the United States with his parents, Gilbert and Anna Opdahl, the family home being established near Northwood in Worth county, while later they secured a homestead in Silver Lake township in the same county. Their son, G. G. Dahl, changed the family name to its present form. He worked for his father until he attained his majority and then purchased land in Worth county, where he continued to engage in farming until a few years ago, when he retired from active business life and established his home in Emmons, Minnesota, where he now resides. His wife, however, has passed away, and her remains were interred in Lime Creek cemetery.

G. A. Dahl was a pupil in the public schools of Worth county until he reached the age of sixteen years. Yet his opportunities during that period were somewhat limited as his labors were needed upon the home farm. When his text-books were put aside he concentrated his entire attention upon farm work and remained with his father until he reached the age of twenty-five years. Desirous of engaging in business on his own account, he then purchased the south half of the southeast quarter of section 12 and the north half of the northeast quarter of section 13, Norway township, Winnebago county. Taking up his abode upon this place in 1900, he has since continued its cultivation and has added many modern improvements to the farm. He also owns one hundred and twenty acres on section 19, Silver Lake township, Worth county, and from his properties derives a substantial annual income.

Mr. Dahl was married May 20, 1900, to Miss Julia Ringestad, a daughter of Nels and Anna Ringestad, the former of whom is a native of Winneshiek county, Iowa, while the latter was born in Sweden but was brought to the United States when eight years old. They are still living upon their farm, which adjoins that owned by Mr. Dahl. To Mr. and Mrs. Dahl have been born four children, Alma, Norris, Lawrence, and Cora, all at home. Mr. Dahl holds membership with the Sons of Norway, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Lutheran church. He has served on the school board and as road boss, but has never been active as a political worker. He is a republican and keeps well informed on questions and issues of the day. He now owns a well improved farm carefully cultivated, so that good crops are annually gathered. All that he possesses has come to him as the reward of earnest, persistent labor, for he had no assistance when he started out in life.

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. 219-220.