HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, VOL. II, 1918, page 611

Olaf Hoel, a resident farmer of Danville township, Worth county, living on section 6, was born August 17, 1874, upon the farm which is still his home, his parents being Christian and Carrie (Pladsen) Hoel, both of whom were natives of Norway and came to the United States in young manhood and womanhood. They were married in Rock county, Wisconsin, and soon afterward removed westward to Worth county, Iowa, settling in Brookville township. They arrived in this county about 1866 or 1867 and about 1873 removed to the farm that is now the property of their son Olaf. The parents spent their remaining days upon this place and were numbered among the highly respected and valued residents of the community.

Olaf Hoel was educated in the district schools and on reaching manhood concentrated his efforts upon the work of the home farm, having for many years previously been the active assistant of his father in the operation of the fields. Shortly before his father's death he purchased the place, comprising two hundred acres of rich and productive land, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. He has added various improvements to the farm and has made it one of the valuable properties of the district. The place is neat and thrifty in appearance and the enterprise of the owner is manifest in the excellent crops which are gathered.

On January 23, 1897, Mr. Hoel was united in marriage to Miss Asana Swenson, of Bristol township, a daughter of Even Swenson, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Worth county. Mr. and Mrs. Hoel have become parents of eight children: Mandeline, who is a graduate of Luther College, at Albert Lea, Min­nesota, and is now a teacher in the district schools; Cora, who was graduated from Luther College at Albert Lea, Minnesota, with the class of 1918; and Violet, Clarence, Lillie, Olger, Alvin and Fern, all yet at home.

The parents and children are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and Mr. Hoel gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, however, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which have been wisely and successfully managed; and aside from his farming interests he is a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank of Hanlontown, a stockholder in the Farmers Cooper­ative Elevator Company and in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Hanlontown. He displays sound judgment in the management of his business interests, wisely places his investments and by reason of his untiring industry has gained a measure of success that is most gratifying

Transcribed by Gordon Felland - August 7, 2005