Knute O. Burtness, a resident farmer of Fertile Township, Worth County, was born at Ness, Hallingdal, Norway, August 12, 1857, a son of Ole G. and Helga (Oswald) Burtness. The father and mother were also natives of Ness, Hallingdal, where they were married. They were farming people in that country and in 1865 came to the United States, settling in Rock County, Wisconsin where Mr. Burtness purchased a farm which he developed and improved throughout his remaining days. He passed away in the year 1899, having for six years survived his wife, who died in 1893. They were both loyal to the teachings of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which they held membership, and Mr. Burtness was a republican in his political views, giving active support to the party and to many plans and measures for the general good.

Knute 0. Burtness spent his boyhood largely in Rock County, Wisconsin, and is indebted to its public school system for the educational advantages which he enjoyed. On the 10th of March, 1876, he arrived in Worth County and settled on section 14, Fertile Township. The following year he purchased his present farm, which comprises two hundred and forty acres of good land which was all wild prairie, however, when it came into his possession. He turned the first furrows in the fields and converted the place into a rich and productive tract from which he annually gathers good harvests. He concentrates his efforts and attention upon the production of those crops best adapted to soil and climate and his labors are being attended with substantial success. Kensett was his nearest market in those early days. He met many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life but persevered in his work and has come to rank with the substantial agriculturists of his community.

On the 19th of December, 1879, Mr. Burtness was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lee, a daughter of Ole A. Lee and a. sister of G. A. Lee, who was at one time sheriff of Worth county. She was the first white child born in Mitchell County, her birthplace being on the riverbank at Otranto, and the date was the 11th of August, 1853. Indians came to the Lee log cabin in order to look into the windows and see the little white baby. To Mr. and Mrs. Burtness have been born four children: Henrietta, Carl, Tena and Adolph.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Burtness are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. Mr. Burtness has served as township trustee for nine years and has always given his political allegiance to the Republican Party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He does not seek office, however, but concentrates his efforts and attention upon his farming interests and has made a success of his chosen life work, for he started out in a small way and is today the owner of valuable farming property splendidly improved. In fact his farm is one of the fine places of Fertile Township and he is numbered amount the most progressive agriculturists of Worth County. HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, Page 455