Spilde, P. J. 1873 – 1963
SPILDE, YSTAAS, HOMRE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/4/2015 at 08:44:41
P. J. SPILDE.
Among Winneshiek county's successful and progressive native sons is numbered P. J. Spilde, who owns and operates a farm of eighty acres lying partly in Springfield and partly in Pleasant township. He was born in Pleasant township on December 16, 1873, and is a son of John P. and Julia (Spilde) Spilde, natives of Norway. The father came to America when he was nine years of age, locating in Winneshiek county, where he was reared and educated. Upon attaining his majority he purchased a farm in Pleasant township which he improved and operated for thirty-three years thereafter, becoming well known as a prosperous and enterprising agriculturist and as a loyal and public-spirited citizen. Eventually he sold his property and retired from active business life, buying a ten acre farm in the same township, whereon he still resides, having reached the age of sixty-four. His wife is also living, being now sixty-two years of age.
P. J. Spilde was reared in Pleasant township, upon his father's farm and acquired his education in the district schools. He began his independent career at the early age of twelve and the independence and self-reliance developed in him by being thus early thrown upon his own resources have remained salient elements in his character since that time. Until 1895 he worked as a farm laborer and then rented land which he operated for two years, finally purchasing sixty acres on sections 3 and 4, Springfield township. He began the improvement and development of this property and as his financial resources grew added to his holdings, buying in 1907 twenty acres in Pleasant township, so that he now owns eighty acres of highly improved and cultivated land. His farm is provided with an attractive residence, good barns and outbuildings and is among the most desirable properties in this section of the county. Aside from his agricultural pursuits Mr. Spilde also delivers cream four days a week for the Nordness Creamery Company and he is a stockholder in that concern as well as in the Nordness Telephone Company and the Farmers Hog Company of Decorah.
On the 10th of June, 1897, Mr. Spilde was united in marriage to Miss Ida Ystaas, a daughter of Iver and Sarah (Homre) Ystaas, natives of Norway. The father was a pioneer in Winneshiek county, purchasing in early times the farm which the subject of this review now owns. He has reached the age of seventy-one and has survived his wife since 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Spilde have live children: Julia, aged fifteen; Iver, thirteen; Andrew, ten; Ida, seven; and Gustav, fourteen months.
Mr. Spilde gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a member of the Lutheran church. He is interested in the development of the community and cooperates heartily in all measures and projects for its advancement and growth. He is a man of many sterling traits of character, active in business, progressive in citizenship and at all times trustworthy and reliable.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Washington Prairie Lutheran cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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