Knut 0. Brattrud
Knut 0. Brattrud, actively identified with farming interests in Worth county, his home being on section 29, Danville township, has resided upon that place since 1871, or for a period of forty-seven years That his time has been wisely spent is indicated in the fact that he and his sons are now the owners of nine hundred acres of valuable farm Property. He was born in Norway on the 24th of June, 1837, so that he has now passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey. His parents were Ole and Esther (Brattrud) Brattrud, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they spent their entire lives, the father passing away at the age of forty-four years, while the mother reached the advanced age of eighty-four.
Knut 0. Brattrud of this review acquired a district school education in the land of the midnight sun and in 1852, when a youth of but fifteen years, bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the United States, determined to try his fortune in the new world. He first made his way to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he resided for two years, during which period he worked for his board and clothes. On reaching Buffalo he took a boat for Wisconsin but the vessel on which he embarked was shipwrecked about five hours out of Buffalo and eight hundred passengers perished, Mr. Brattrud being one of the eighty-four who were saved. After working as a farm hand for two years in Wisconsin he was employed in a hotel at Mineral Point for a year and during the following year he acted as teamster for a surveyor, his work bringing him into Iowa. He was also employed in the lumber woods of Wisconsin and for fourteen years he followed the river. During the latter part of this time he was engaged in jobbing in lumber. He worked as far south as St. Louis, selling his product wherever he could find a market. In 1871 he came to Worth county, Iowa, and purchased his present home farm, upon which he has since resided. That he has prospered as the years have passed on is indicated in the fact that he and his sons now own nine hundred acres of excellent farm land in Worth county from which a most substantial annual income is derived.
In 1869 Mr. Brattrud was united in marriage to Miss Olive Thompson, of Springdale, Wisconsin, who died June 24, 1907, on her husband's birthday, and was buried in Brushpoint cemetery, Worth county. To them were born eleven children: Alice, the wife of Osten Sorenson, of Danville township; Otis, at home; Henry, who is engaged in blacksmithing in Hanlontown; Ida, the wife of George Olson, a resident farmer of Danville township, Worth county; Amanda, the wife of Theodore Johnson, also living in Danville township; John, who follows farming in the same township, Thomas, at home; Anna, the wife of Peter Branno, living in Brookfield township, Worth county; George, of Danville township; and Konow, and Ed, both at home. The sons have been actively associated with their father in farming, stock raising and other business interests and Mr. Brattrud and his sons, Otis and Thomas, are all stockholders in the Farmers' Savings Bank of Hanlontown and all three are stockholders in the Farmers' Cooperative Creamery of Hanlontown, while Mr. Brattrud and his son Thomas are stockholders in the Farmers' Cooperative Elevator Company of Hanlontown. Marked business enterprise has actuated them at every point in their career and sound judgment and keen sagacity have been salient features in their growing success.
In his political views Mr. Brattrud has been a republican since becoming a naturalized American citizen and for a number of years he served as a member of the township board of trustees. He and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and he has ever guided his life according to its teachings. His has been an honorable and well spent career. Coming to the new world when a youth of but fifteen, empty-handed, he has worked his way steadily upward, utilizing every advantage that has been presented and basing his success upon unfaltering industry and straightforward dealing. Today he is one of the highly respected and honored as well as venerable citizens of Worth county and while he is now far advanced in years he is still a factor in business circles.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Page 440
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, October 2, 2005