Re: Niels Knutson
BRAGESTAD, KNUTSON, KNUDSON, NAGLESTAD, ESPE
Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email) In Response To: Niels Knutson (kathy)
Date: 8/19/2012 at 20:26:54
I located a couple of biographical sketches on two of their sons. Gunvor's maiden name was Naglestad.
John N. Bragestad, one of the worthy native sons of Winneshiek county, has devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career and is the owner of a well improved and productive farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 35, Decorah township. He was born on that place on the 6th of December, 1863, and it has always remained his home. His parents, Nels and Gunvor (Naglestad) Bragestad. were both natives of Norway. The father, who emigrated to the United States in the '50s, located first in Wisconsin but subsequently came to Iowa and purchased land in Decorah township, this county. In the cultivation and improvement of that property he was busily engaged throughout the remainder of his life, passing away in 1885. The mother was called to her final rest in 1894. They enjoyed an extensive acquaintance throughout the community and well merited the respect and esteem which were uniformly accorded them.
John N. Bragestad was here reared and educated, attending the district schools and also pursuing a course of study in Breckenridge Institute of Decorah. He had early become acquainted with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for crops under the able direction of his father, whom he assisted in the work of the home farm until the latter's death, when the property came into his possession. It comprises one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land, and the many improvements which may now be found thereon are largely due to the enterprise and thrift of its present owner. Bounteous harvests annually reward his labors and bring him a gratifying financial return. He is the secretary and a stockholder of the Nordness Creamery Company and well deserves recognition among the substantial and representative citizens of his native county.
Mr. Bragestad gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as trustee of Decorah township, making a creditable record in that connection. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. He holds the office of treasurer of the Norwegian Mutual Insurance Company of Winneshiek county and is widely recognized as an able business man. Mr. Bragestad is unmarried and lives with his sister Anna. He has witnessed the growth and transformation of this county for the past half century and his own labors have been a factor in the work of general development and upbuilding.
Source: Past and Present of Winneshiek County, page 103
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Knute N. Bragestad, dealer in real estate in Gary, Norman county, is one of the well-known and influential citizens of his community. He has resided in that county for many years and until about one year ago followed farming extensively and with pronounced success, and is the owner of a fine farm near Gary. Our subject was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, March 30, 1858, and was the eldest of four children who were named as follows: Knute, Ole, John and Anna. Of these, Ole is now deceased and John and Anna are conducting the homestead farm in Decorah township, Iowa. The parents of our subject, Nels K., and Gunvor (Naglestad) Bragestad, were natives of Norway. The former died in Iowa in 1884 and the latter died in the same state ten years later. Our subject remained in his native county until he attained his majority and attended the common schools and also attended Breckenridge Institute two terms. He worked on the home farm until 1879 and then went to Crookston and from there to Norman county, Minnesota. He began farming on land in section 12 in Strand township and remained there to improve the farm until it is one of the valuable properties of the locality. The farm is completely fenced and has a set of good buildings thereon, and about sixty head of cattle are kept. The machinery for the economical conduct of the place is of the latest pattern and every convenience known to modern farming is supplied, and the farm is altogether one of the best equipped of the township. Mr. Bragestad has directed his attention to the real estate business in Gary for the past year and has a flourishing business and enjoys the confidence of those with whom he has to do. When he located in Norman county, Ada was but a village and Crookston could boast of little more and he could then look across the unbroken prairie and not a settler was to be seen in any direction. He began farming with an ox team and, like others of those pioneer days, had his experiences with Indians. Our subject was married in 1884 to Jennie Espe, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of Ole Espe who was born in Norway and died in Iowa. Mrs. Bragestad's widowed mother now resides in Polk county in the city of Crookston. Mrs. Bragestad went to Norman county in her childhood. Our subject and wife are the parents of three children who are named as follows: John, Agnes and Olaf, deceased. The family are members of the Lutheran church with which denomination our subject has been connected since his childhood. Mr. Bragestad is a gentleman of active public spirit and has been called upon to serve in various official capacities. He was clerk of courts from 1894 to 1898 and was a member of the first board of county commissioners. Politically he is independent and is a stanch believer in reform. He is enlightened and progressive and his high standing is well deserved.Source - COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY & BIOGRAPHY OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA, 1902, page 253.
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