Schjeldahl, Erick O. 1848 – 1913
SCHJELDAHL, ARNESON, FORD, THORSON, OPHEIM, LANGALAND
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/27/2015 at 14:55:21
ERICK O. SCHJELDAHL.
In the death of Erick O. Schjeldahl on the 13th of January, 1913, Highlandville and Winneshiek county lost one of their representative and valued citizens. He had filled the office of postmaster for a longer period probably than any other postmaster of the state, and in mercantile circles he was well known, having conducted a store in addition to managing the postoffice. He was found enterprising and thoroughly reliable in every connection and the record which he made was a most creditable one.
His birth occurred in Voss, Norway, on the 23d of June, 1848, his parents being Ole and Randvei Schjeldahl, who spent their entire lives as farming people in the land of the midnight sun. On crossing the Atlantic when a young man, Erick O. Schjeldahl made his way direct to Iowa, reaching Winneshiek county on the twentieth anniversary of his birth. During the winter seasons for a few years he resided with relatives in Pleasant township and attended school to acquaint himself with the English language, while during the summer months he was employed for a time as a farm hand. Desirous still of improving his education, he attended the Upper Iowa University at Fayette through two winters and secured a teacher's certificate in Winneshiek county but did not engage in teaching. Instead he turned to commercial pursuits, securing a position as clerk with S. W. Landers, proprietor of a general store at Decorah, with whom he remained for about three years. In 1875, in connection with Frank Landers, a son of S. W. Landers, he purchased a store at Highlandville, conducting it under the name of Schjeldahl & Landers until 1877, when the former purchased the interest of the latter. He was appointed postmaster of Highlandville in 1876 and continued in that position until his death. At the same time he conducted his general mercantile establishment and in connection with his brother-in-law, H. O. Ford, built a store at Bryant, South Dakota, which was conducted by Mr. Ford. They had a large business there and Mr. Schjeldahl also owned a half interest in a creamery at that place. His property holdings included a quarter section of land in that locality and at the time of his death he was likewise the owner of a farm in Highland township, together with one hundred and sixty acres at Wild Rose, North Dakota. In all of his business affairs he profited, for his sound judgment and enterprise were manifest in all of his undertakings. He lived an industrious, useful life and left to his family the substantial reward of his labors. He was connected with several interests and activities of a public or semi-public character, including the stock company that built the physician's residence and hospital at Highlandville and secured a physician to take charge. Mr. Schjeldahl owned a third interest in that enterprise, the object of which was to secure a resident physician in this district.
On the 10th of June, 1881, Mr. Schjeldahl was united in marriage to Miss Belinda Arneson, who was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, September 20, 1849, of Norwegian parentage. Six children blessed this marriage: Oscar C, who has a homestead at Haynes, North Dakota; Theodore, a graduate of Luther College of Decorah, of the class of 1905, and of the civil engineering course at Ames with the class of 1909 and now acting as administrator of his father's estate and manager of the store; R. Edgar, who has a homestead in South Dakota but is now residing in Winneshiek county; Margaret A., at home; Randvei H., who is now postmistress at Highlandville; and Arthur O., who is a graduate of the Albert Lee Academy, in which he completed both the normal and business courses. The three eldest sons are married, Oscar C. having wedded Hannah Thorson, while Theodore married Nettie Opheim and R. Edgar married Louise Langaland. The children at home expect to continue the conduct of the store which was established by their father, and which has made the name of Schjeldahl an honored one in business circles in their part of the county.
In politics Erick O. Schjeldahl was a republican until the last election, when he favored the progressive movement. He was a supporter of and attended the Big Canoe Lutheran church of Pleasant township and was acting as its treasurer when the new twelve thousand dollar house of worship was erected. He was active in all affairs pertaining to civic betterment and improvement and that he was a man of recognized honesty and worth is indicated in the fact that he was consulted many times by Norwegians who did not understand the English language. He came to the United States empty handed but gradually worked his way upward and at his death left a fine estate, and an untarnished name. Moreover, he had a family who are a credit and honor to him and who revere his memory.
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 Bruce Kuennen.
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