EDWARD RUSTAD
In the death of Edward Rustad, Worth county lost a substantial citizen worthy of high respect. He was long identified with business interests as a hardware merchant and farmer, and was also president of the Northwood Manufacturing Company. His activities were ever of a character that contributed to public progress and prosperity as well as to individual success, and his aid and influence were ever given on the side of advancement and improvement. He was born about a mile and a half west of Northwood, on the old Rustad homestead, in Worth county, April 19, 1856, a son of Simon and Anne Magdalene (Nelson) Rustad, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they were reared and married. The father was born at Lillehammer, Norway, January 9, 1826, and in March, 1852, he wedded Anne Magdalene Eliasdather, whose birth occurred in Fredrikshald, Norway, September 8, 1823. Not long after their marriage they bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the United States, first settling in Rock Prairie, in Rock county, Wisconsin, where they remained until, 1854 and then removed to Worth county, Iowa. They were among it pioneer settlers and sheared in all the hardships and privations incident to frontier life. The father built a log cabin with puncheon floor and the roof was covered with straw. He worked hard in order to gain a start and year-by-year carried on the work of improving his farm, adding to his cultivated fields until his entire place was highly developed. To his original purchase he made additions until his landed possessions comprised four hundred and eighty acres. constituting one of the valuable farms of the county. Upon this he erected a fine residence, in the rear of which stood large and substantial barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. In his farm work he was most progressive and be possessed the industry and honesty characteristic of the sons of Norway. To him and his wife were born nine children, who were reared upon the old homestead. The parents were consistent members of the Lutheran church and in his political faith Mr. Rustad was a republican. He held the office of justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, and he. also occupied other local offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity.
Edward Rustad spent his boyhood days upon the old home farm and continued to assist in its cultivation until he reached the age of twenty-four years. His educational opportunities were those afforded by the public schools. After leaving home he secured a clerkship in the hardware store of John Henderson, in whose employ he remained for a number of years, after which he went to North Dakota, where he engaged in the hardware business with his brother, Sam Rustad, with whom he was associated in that way for one year. He then returned to Northwood and soon afterward purchased two hundred and forty acres of land from his father in Worth county. His attention was then concentrated upon the further cultivation and development of the place until 1908, when he removed to Northwood and retired from active business life. However, he was financially interested in the Northwood Manufacturing Company and filled the office of president.
On the 3rd of June, 1891, Mr. Rustad was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Olson. a daughter of Austin and Emily Olson, who were natives of Norway. Her father left that country when eighteen years of age and on a sailing vessel crossed the Atlantic to America. reaching the shores of the new world after a voyage of sixteen weeks. He made his way across the country with the Aaser Groth family, who settled in St. Ansgar, Mitchell, county, while afterward Mr. Olson went to Silver Lake township, Worth county. Following his marriage to Miss Nellie Olson he enlisted for active service in the Union army and served for two years during the Civil war. He then returned home and a year later his wife died. Another year passed and he then married her sister, Miss Emily Olson. Subsequently he purchased the farm of his father-in-law two miles west of Northwood, becoming owner of three hundred acres, upon which, lie resided until he retired from active business life, being ranked with the leading and representative agriculturists of the community. He died in Northwood, while his wife passed away on the old homestead farm west of the city in 1894. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and both he and his wife were loyal members of the Norwegian church. To Mr. and Mrs. Rustad were born eight children: Eleanor, Edva, Seymour, Agnes, Joyce, Leland, Raymond and Raynold, the two latter deceased.
In his political views Edward Rustad was a stalwart republican, being firmly convinced that the principles of the party contained the best elements of good government. He served as president of the school board and the cause of education found in him a stalwart champion. He was also interested in the moral progress of the community and held membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church, to which Mrs. Rustad still belongs. He was held in high esteem, his genuine worth winning form him the confidence and good will of all with whom he came in contact, and as a businessman and citizen he was widely and favorably known.
Transcribed by Gordon Felland - July 15, 2005 (pictures added 11/23/06)
MRS. EDWARD RUSTAD AND THEIR CHILDREN
