Rustad, Ole 1857 – 1925
RUSTAD, GULBRANDSON, SHERVAN, NELSON, HALVERSON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/26/2015 at 15:22:20
OLE RUSTAD.
A native of Norway, Ole Rustad came to America in 1880 and 1881 marks his advent in Winneshiek county, where for many years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Highland township, but is now located in Springfield township, where for the past four years he has conducted the only mercantile establishment in Nordness, enjoying a large and profitable patronage. For the past two years he has also served as station agent for the Rock Island Railroad here. Born in the Norseland on July 12, 1857, Ole Rustad is a son of Martin and Lizzie (Gulbrandson) Rustad, natives of Norway. The father, who had been engaged as an agriculturist in his native land, came to America in his later years and located in Wisconsin in 1883, where he remained one year before coming to Winneshiek county. He has made his home with his son Ole ever since and is still enjoying good health at the remarkable age of ninety years. His wife passed away in 1859 when our subject was but two years of age.
Ole Rustad was reared and educated in Norway and in 1880 came to America, making his way inland to Wisconsin, where he remained one year before coming to Winneshiek county. Here he hired out for some time by the month, carefully husbanding his earnings and subsequently acquiring title to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Highland township. He immediately set himself to work to clear and improve this property and in the course of seventeen years made it one of the most valuable in his section, all of his land being put to good use and the substantial buildings bespeaking the prosperity of the enterprise. He then sold out and came to Nordness, where he engaged in the mercantile business, acquiring a complete stock and convenient building, and he has since operated his store with ever increasing success. He enjoys a large patronage and as he has the only store in Nordness does a most profitable business. He carries in stock practically everything that might be demanded by his customers, and by his obliging ways and fair methods has made numerous friends for his business.
In January, 1886, Mr. Rustad was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Sherven, a daughter of Jens and Bertha Sherven, natives of Norway. To Mr. and Mrs. Rustad were born four children: Lizzie, the wife of Charles M. Nelson, an agriculturist of Pleasant township, this county; Mabel, who married Hans Halverson, who also farms in that township; Abraham, who follows the same occupation; and Mary, at home.
During the last two years Mr. Rustad has added to his multitudinous duties that of station agent for the Rock Island Railroad, being efficient in the discharge of his duties and pleasing the railroad officials as much by his work as the general public, who appreciate the careful and expeditious manner in which he handles the railroad work for them. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church, and politically he is a republican, always keeping well informed upon public questions, although he has never cared to actively participate in political affairs of his district. The life record of Mr. Rustad is highly commendable, for it demonstrates what can be accomplished if industry and energy lead the way, and it may well serve as an example to the younger generations. He is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him in a business as well as in a social way and enjoys the confidence and good-will of his many friends.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Big Canoe Norwegian Methodist Cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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