Rocksvold, Peter A. 1874 – 1944
ROCKSVOLD, CHASE, KIRKEBY, JOHNSON, ASH, BERGE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/26/2015 at 08:02:00
PETER A. ROCKSVOLD.
An excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres on sections 11 and 14, Glenwood township, pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by its owner, Peter A. Rocksvold, who is numbered among the leading farmers and stock-raisers of his part of the county. It was upon this farm that his birth occurred January 15, 1874, his parents being Anton and Anna (Chase) Rocksvold, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was a lad of eleven years when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world and the mother came with her parents when about fourteen years of age. Anton Rocksvold devoted his entire life to farming and stock-raising and became the owner of one hundred and forty acres of land now in possession of his son Peter. He passed away in 1886 at the age of forty-two years, while his wife survives and has married Christian Kirkeby, their home being near Waukon, Iowa. By her first marriage the mother had four children: Peter A.; Clara, the wife of Albert Johnson, living near Waukon; Emma, the wife of Albert Ash, of Mason City; and Albert, of Walsh county, North Dakota.
Throughout his entire life Peter A. Rocksvold has resided upon the farm which is now his home, his youth being spent in the usual manner of farm lads. His educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools and during his vacation periods he worked in the fields. During seven years in his early life he was employed by the month as a farm hand. He possessed much natural mechanical ingenuity and for the past twenty-one years has operated a sawmill and threshing machine and he also has a blacksmith shop upon his farm. When his labors had brought him a sufficient amount to enable him to purchase property he bought the old homestead of one hundred and forty acres to which he has since added until he now has a valuable tract of two hundred and forty acres on sections 11 and 14, Glenwood township. He has brought his farm under a high state of cultivation and in connection with the development of the fields and his other business interests he raises stock.
On the 12th of October, 1905, Mr. Rocksvold was married to Miss Ida Randine Berge, who was born in Glenwood township, April 12, 1882, a daughter of Baard and Carrie Berge, of that township. Mr. and Mrs. Rocksvold have one son, Russel Anton Burton. In politics Mr. Rocksvold is an independent republican, usually supporting the men and measures of the party yet casting an independent ballot if his judgment directs him in that way. He is a member of the First Lutheran church and for four years was one of its trustees. He is interested in all that pertains to the material and moral development of the region and is regarded as one of Glenwood township's most respected and valued citizens.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Glenwood Lutheran cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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