GILBERTSON, Gilbert J.

GILBERTSON, KALDRUD, HAUGRUD, LARSON, OLEBACKEN

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 2/6/2011 at 21:57:32

Gilbert J. Gilbertson, who was prominently identified with farming interests in Mitchell county but is now practically living retired, was born on the 4th of September, 1843, in the town of Clinton. Rock county, Wisconsin, a son of Jens and Bergit (Kaldrud) Gilbertson. The father was born October 20, 1812, and his death occurred December 29, 1896. The mother was born September 4, 1813, and her life record covered the intervening years to the 1st of January, 1907. Both were natives of Numedal, Norway, but came to America in early life and were married in Rock county. Wisconsin, about the year 1840. Jens Gilbertson crossed the Atlantic in 1838 and Bergit Kaldrud made the voyage across the briny deep a year later. They became the parents of two children: Gilbert J.; and Aase, the wife of Tollef M. Tollefson, who is living north of St. Ansgar. It was in the year 1861 that Jens Gilbertson came with his family to Mitchell county, Iowa, and took up his abode upon the farm on section 36, St. Ansgar township, upon which his grandsons now reside. He secured two hundred and fifty-seven acres of land along the river and began the cultivation and development of that place, which he converted into a rich and productive farm. He was a cabinet maker by trade but through the period of his residence in that state devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He was an earnest church worker and a highly respected man of the community, his well spent life winning for him the warm regard of all with whom he came in contact.

His son, Gilbert J. Gilbertson, was reared upon the home farm and pursued his education in the common schools, while later he attended the Osage Seminary, being one of its first students. He was thus liberally educated and became thoroughly qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. He early took an active part in carrying on the farm work, soon becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and gathering the crops. After assisting his father in the work of the farm for a number of years he took over the property and began its cultivation independently. He then carried on general agricultural pursuits for a long period and became one of the substantial and representative farmers of his community, but in more recent years has left the farm work to the care of his sons, who are worthy successors of their father.

On the 4th of September, 1868, Mr. Gilbertson was united in marriage to Miss Ragnild Haugrud, who was born October 3, 1846, in Numedal, Norway, and came to America in the spring of 1865. Her parents, Foster and Liv Haugrud, always remained residents of Norway. Mrs. Gilbertson after coming to the new world was employed at household work in Charles City, Iowa, and in Minne­apolis, Minnesota. She came to St. Ansgar, where her friends were living, and following her marriage took up her abode upon the old Gilbertson farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson were born seven children: Louise, who became the wife of M. Olebacken, of North Dakota, and died in 1910; Mina, who studied music at Madison, Wisconsin, and was formerly a teacher of music and is now the wife of Nels Larson; Nellie, who attended the St. Ansgar Seminary and the Osage Seminary, after which she spent two years in the Wisconsin University and then taught school in Mitchell county for one year, for six years in Reynolds, North Dakota, and for four years in Duluth, Minnesota; James, who is engaged in the barber business; George, who attended the seminary at Osage, and Lewis, who attended school at Ames, Iowa, and who are now in charge of the home farm; and Anne, who is a student of music in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The two sons men­tioned have taken charge of the home farm and are cultivating it along scientific lines. They are successfully engaged in general farming and in dairying and are also raising Holstein cattle. They are stockholders in the Farmers' Cooperative Lumber & Grain Company and in the Cooperative Creamery and George Gilbertson is a director of the school district and a member of the State Dairy Association. They are thus both actively interested in the upbuilding and progress of the community in which they reside and they are justly accounted representative young business men of this section of the state.

In politics Gilbert J. Gilbertson is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he has never been an office seeker. He belongs to the Norwegian Lutheran church and for many years served as a trustee of his school district, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He was a young man of eighteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa and he has since made his home in Mitchell county. During all the intervening period, covering fifty-seven years, he has been deeply interested in the welfare and progress of this section of the state and has aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for its present progress and prosperity.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, pages 398-400