Mokelbust Blacksmith
A. O. Moklebust, or "Oscar" as he was known by his friends, was born in Kvinherred Parish, Norway, on February 23, 1867. His father was a ship builder, and it was from him he learned the carpenter trade, which he would make good use of later in his life.
He came to America in 1885, and settled in Story County. Here he met his future wife, Margaret Waage, from Roland. They were married in 1896 and moved to a farm north of Roland In December 1904, he had a farm sale at which time he bought a home in McCallsburg, and started up in the blacksmith business, where he had a good business shoeing horses and etc. for several years. With the horseless carriage becoming more and more prevalent, business slacked off and after much thought on the subject, he decided to get out of the blacksmith business and go in to carpentering. This was around the year 1920. Many of the barns and corn cribs, which are standing yet in the McCallsburg, Roland and Garden City vicinity, were built by Oscar. He continued with this trade until his retirement. In his retirement, he spent much of his time fishing along the banks of the Skunk River.
Oscar was the father of five children: Mabel Tucker, Owen (deceased), Margaret Stewart, Sanford, and Stella Roberts.
His wife preceded him in death in 1930.
In 1932, he made his home with his daughter, Stella and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. George Roberts, and remained with them until his death in 1947, on a farm in Milford Township.
EARLY DAY TRADESMAN — The Blacksmith shop had a very important place in the lives of the early settlers of any community. Such a man was Oscar Moklebust who came from Norway to the McCallsburg community in 1885. He married a Roland girl, Margaret Waage, and farmed a while before opening the blacksmith shop. Moklebust is the me in the center. The other two men are unidentified.