Grindeland, Knudt L. 1846 - 1933

GRINDELAND, LEEN, KNUDTSON, STAEN, SANDERS, ROZELLE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/15/2015 at 15:35:08

KNUDT L. GRINDELAND.

Knudt L. Grindeland is entitled to a place of distinction not only as one of the most substantial farmers of Highland township, Winneshiek county, but deserves especial mention for the services which he rendered his adopted country during the Civil war. Highland township has been his home ever since his childhood days and for thirty-five years he has been making his home on his two hundred acre farm, which he still cultivates. He was born May 3, 1846, in Norway. The father died in that country when his son, Knudt, was only four years of age and the mother subsequently came with her children to the United States, accompanied by her father, Halstine, and her brother Albert. Courageously she cast behind her associations and friendships to seek in a new land of greater opportunities a home for her family in which her children might more easily gain financial independence. However, it was not given her to witness even the beginning of the progress made by her family, for she died in Illinois only eight days after arriving in that state, the cause of her demise being cholera. Knudt L. Grindeland has therefore no recollection of either one of his parents. To them were born two children: Knudt L., of this review; and Caroline, the wife of Christian Leen, who resides in Canada.

Knudt L. Grindeland and his sister were reared by the grandfather and an uncle. They remained in Illinois for about a year and then came to Winneshiek county, where they located in Highland township. Mr. Grindeland has ever since made his residence here. In 1863, on July 9, he enlisted with Company F of the Ninth Iowa Cavalry and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, with his company on February 3, 1866. He was with his regiment all the time and participated in all its engagements except during the time when they were stationed in Benton Barracks at St. Louis, at which time Mr. Grindeland was in the hospital. He enlisted under the name of Knudt L. Knudtson, but after he returned from the war he found so many Norwegians of that name in the neighborhood that he adopted as his family name that by which the home farm in Norway was known. Mr. Grindeland has followed agricultural pursuits during all his life and has resided on his present farm for about thirty-five years. The farm now comprises two hundred acres. He had another farm of sixty-five acres, of which he has disposed. His lands are under high cultivation and all modern improvements can be found thereon. He engages in general farming, giving part of his attention to stock-raising. His son, Albert K., acquired by purchase eighty acres of land from our subject and he now also operates the home farm, relieving his father from the more arduous duties of active labor.

On June 22, 1870, Mr. Grindeland was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Staen, who was born in Highland township, this county, June 21, 1853, and is a daughter of Ole and Julia Staen, natives of Norway, the parents being among the first settlers of Highland township, securing their lands from the government. The father has passed away but the mother still makes her home on the same farm on which they first settled. Mr. and Mrs. Grindeland became the parents of ten children: Julia, who was the wife of Theodore Sanders and has passed away, leaving three children—two daughters, Idella and Mildred, who make their home with our subject, and a son, Carl, who resides with his uncle Louis; Louis, a resident of Highland township; Emma, the wife of Clifford Rozelle, of Chicago; Olof, at home, who served for three years in the regular United States army during the pacification of Cuba with the Twenty-eighth United States Infantry, being two years and three months in Cuba and nine months in the United States; Albert, who takes care of the home farm; Bennie, who died at the age of four years; Clara, who passed away when sixteen years of age; and Cora, Bennie (second of the name) and Jeanette, at home.

Mr. Grindeland has exhibited the same patriotic spirit which led him to defend the Union cause during all his life and ever gives his support to worthy public enterprises. He is considered one of the most substantial men in his neighborhood and enjoys the high respect and esteem of all who know him. He is a self-made man in the most noble sense of the word and is admired as much for the qualities which have made his success possible as for the substantial position which he has made for himself in life.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913

Highland Lutheran gravestone
 

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