Nels Gunderson Opsahl

OPSAHL, BRUA, TORKELSON, QUALLE

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/6/2010 at 07:19:39

NELS GUNDERSON OPSAHL

Nels Gunderson Opsahl, who was long well known as an active, enterprising and highly respected farmer of Norway township, devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits on section 32, and Winnebago county claimed him as one of its representative citizens. He was born in Norway in 1839 and resided in his native land until he reached young manhood. His parents never came to the United States, but he determined to try his fortune on this side the Atlantic and made his way to the new world, settling in Worth county, Iowa, where he was employed as a farm hand up to the time of his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty-nine years of age. He then bought eighty acres of land in Worth county which he cultivated for a few years. He next removed to North Dakota, taking up a claim near Park River, after which he proved up on the property and secured title thereto. He then returned to Worth county, where he engaged in the cultivation of rented land until 1897. In that year he removed to Winnebago county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres, comprising the northwest quarter of section 32, Norway township. That tract still remains the home place of his family. He bent his energies to the further development and improvement of the farm and made it one of the excellent properties of the neighborhood, bringing the fields to a high state of cultivation.

When twenty-nine years of age Mr. Opsahl was married to Miss Ingeberg Brus, a daughter of Nels Torkelson and Anna Brua, who were natives of Norway. They were married, however, in Wisconsin, of which state Mrs. Opsahl is a native. On leaving Wisconsin her parents took up their abode in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and afterward established their home in Freeborn county, Minnesota, where the father continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits until his demise. His life was ever an upright, honorable one, being guided by the teachings of the Lutheran church, in which he held membership, and he was laid- to rest in the Lutheran cemetery just over the state line in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Opsahl became the parents of eight children, of whom one died in infancy, the others being: Gustinus, who is assisting in the cultivation of the home farm; Nikolai, also on the home place; Albert, who is living at Albert Lea, Minnesota; Lars, at home; Ida, the wife of Carl Qualle, of Norway township, Winnebago county; Bernard, whose home is at Twin Lakes, Minnesota; and Johan, upon the home place.

Mr. Opsahl continued to carry on the farm work until his death, which occurred in March, 1915, when he was seventy-six years of age. His was an active and useful life, and those who knew him entertained for him warm regard, because of his many sterling traits of character and his reliability in business affairs. He was laid to rest in the Lutheran cemetery at Scarville. He had long been a member of the Lutheran church and in his political views he was a republican. Mrs. Opsahl still resides upon the home farm with her sons and is one of the highly esteemed ladies of the neighborhood. She has carefully reared her family and by her wise management of the household affairs contributed in no small measure to her husband's success.

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. 505-506.