HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, VOL. II, 1918, pages 337-338.

G. A. Rye is the owner of valuable farming interests in Worth and Cerro Gordo counties and is also identified with banking interests in this section of the state. He was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, March 18, 1856, and is a son of A. T. and Mary Rye, who were natives of Norway. They came to America in 1849, settling at Perry, Dane county, where the father followed farming after devoting some time to digging minerals in that state. A. T. Rye was married three times and by his first marriage had one son, Tory. By the second marriage there were five children: Ole, Carrie, Nels, Andrew and G. A. of this review. By the third marriage there were no children. Mr. Rye removed with his family to Iowa. settling in Fertile township, Worth county, where he purchased forty acres of land and again concentrated his efforts and attention upon general agri­cultural pursuits. Both he and his wife died on that farm, passing away in 1889 and in 1881 respectively.

G. A. Rye was educated in Dane county, Wisconsin, pursuing his studies in the public schools through the winter seasons, while in the summer months he aided in the work of the fields and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. When he came to Worth county he worked by the month as a farm hand through the summer season and engaged in clerking in stores in the winter. He was thus employed until his marriage. That important event in his life occurred on the 27th of November, 1881, on which date he wedded Miss Anna M. Sanderson, a daughter of L. 0. and Sarah Sander­son, of Grant township, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa. Her father was a public school teacher and farmer. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rye ten children have been born: Mabel, who is the wife of Theodore Bolstad and resides in North Dakota; Lewis, who wedded Mrs. Caroline Halverson and lives on the home place; Melvin, who married Miss Nellie Gesme and who is a bank cashier re­siding in North Dakota; Arthur who married Miss Martha Wilber and is also bank cashier of North Dakota: Hilda, who gave her hand in marriage to Oscar Rholl, of Fertile, Iowa; Gordon, a resident of North Dakota; Harlan, who is employed in a bank at Fertile, Iowa; and Gladys, Florence and Eva, all yet at home.

In order to provide for the support of his family and take his place as all active factor in the business world Mr. Rye has always followed the occupation of farming and is the owner of two hundred and thirteen and a half acres of rich and productive land in Worth and Cerro Gordo counties. He is also part owner of a tract of five hundred and thirty-five acres in Worth county and from his agricultural interests he derives a very substantial annual income. He has also made judicious investments in bank stock and is now one of the stockholders of the Fertile Savings Bank and also of the First State Bank at Nome, North Dakota.

Mr. Rye and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for six years he filled the office of county supervisor, making a most excellent record in that position. He is a gentleman of many sterling traits of character, his genuine worth winning for him popularity wherever he is known. He has an extensive circle of friends in Worth county, enjoying the goodwill and confidence of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland - October, 2005