Grindeland, Nels C. 1852 - 1945
GRINDELAND, TUFTE, TWEET, STONE, FOLDET, OTTESON, ROBERTSON, EMLEY
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/15/2015 at 15:52:20
NELS C. GRINDELAND.
Nels C. Grindeland, carrying on general farming and stock-raising upon one hundred and sixty-five acres of excellent land on section 14, Pleasant township, is a native of Norway, born October 28, 1852. He is a son of Colben and Hansina (Tufte) Grindeland, also natives of that country, who in the spring of 1854 crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Northern Illinois, where they resided for eight years on a rented farm. With two teams of oxen they afterward drove overland to Allamakee county, Iowa, carrying all their belongings in a covered wagon, and in Waterloo township, that county, the father purchased land, buying one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred December 3, 1881. He was a devout member of the Lutheran church and guided his honorable and upright life by the principles in which he believed, his death depriving this part of Iowa of a representative citizen and one of the earliest and greatest of its pioneers. His wife, who was born December 18, 1823, survives him and makes her home with the subject of this review, being still active and hearty at the age of ninety.
Mr. and Mrs. Grindeland became the parents of eight children: Ingre, who passed away at the age of twenty-one years; Nels C, our subject; Colben, of Hatton, North Dakota; Turine, the wife of A. Tweet, of Ross, North Dakota; William, of Pleasant township, this county; Martin, of Hatton, North Dakota; Annie, the wife of Andrew Stone, of Bowman, North Dakota; and Albert, of Highland township.
Nels C. Grindeland was about ten years of age when his parents came to Iowa and upon the home farm he grew to manhood, assisting, with its operation when not engaged with his books. After his marriage he rented a farm in Pleasant township, Winneshiek county, and for twelve years thereafter continued to develop and improve it, finally purchasing one hundred and sixty-five acres on section 15, upon which he has resided since 1891. He built upon it a residence, which thirteen years ago was entirely destroyed by fire, but this has been replaced by a modern dwelling. The other improvements upon the farm include fine barns and outbuildings, all in good repair, and Mr. Grindeland has installed labor-saving machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and under his able management both branches of his activities have proved important sources of income to him.
In 1875 Mr. Grindeland was united in marriage to Turie Tweet, born in Winneshiek county, June 22, 1856, a daughter of Ole A. and Kjersta Tweet, natives of Norway, who came to the United States about the year 1853 and settled in Wisconsin, whence in the following year they came to Winneshiek county, where the remainder of their lives were spent. Mr. and Mrs. Grindeland became the parents of twelve children: Helen, the widow of Bert Foldet, by whom she has three children; Tina, the wife of Thomas Otteson, of this township ; Oscar, who resides in Stanley, North Dakota; Nettie, the wife of Matt Robertson, of Seattle, Washington; Tilda, who passed away when she was three years of age; Tilla, the wife of Ed Emley, of Decorah; Sander Oliver, who lives at home; Nora; Harry; Charles, who died when he was four years of age; Esther Henrietta; and Charley O. The family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.
Mr. Grindeland gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is eminently public-spirited and progressive in matters of citizenship, taking an active interest in the welfare of this section. He has held various important offices, serving as township trustee and director of school district No. 8 for a number of years. The school building is situated on his farm and a number of the teachers have made their homes with his family. During his many years of residence in Pleasant township Mr. Grindeland has gained the unqualified respect and esteem of his friends and neighbors, who know him as an honorable and upright gentleman and as a true and loyal citizen.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
BIg Canoe Lutheran Cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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