A. N. Lundstrum

LUNDSTRUM, MILLER, OLSON, HALVERSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/2/2010 at 05:56:08

A. N. LUNDSTRUM

The Scandinavian countries have contributed a large quota to the progressive citizenship of Winnebago county. The number includes A. N. Lundstrum, who was born in Sweden, April 6, 1852. He is a son of Nels and Mattie Miller, who were also natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives. They had a family of nine children of whom six are yet living.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for A. N. Lundstrum during his boyhood and youth. He learned the blacksmith's trade in Sweden and that gave him the privilege of taking any name desired. Accordingly he took the name of Lundstrum, which his brother also chose. Thinking to find better opportunities in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic in 1873 and made his way into the interior of the country, settling first at Mason City, Iowa, where he remained for a short time. He afterward removed to Mitchell county, Iowa, where he was employed as a farm hand for three years. He then worked at his trade in a foundry in Osage, that county, for one year." He next came to Winnebago county and invested his hard earned savings in forty acres of land, constituting the nucleus of his present farm on section 24, Forest township. He afterward added eighty acres and now has a good farm property of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 13 and 24, Forest township, known as the Walnut and Maple Hill Farm. He has improved it with fine buildings, adding all the accessories and conveniences of the model farm of the twentieth century. He built an addition to his house with lumber made from trees which he planted and which he also sawed. In addition to his farm property he has other business interests, being a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator of Forest City and the Forest City Cooperative Creamery Company.

In 1877 Mr. Lundstrum was married to Miss Anna Olson, a native of Wisconsin, and they have become parents of eight children: William, a farmer of Newton township; Lewis, who is living in Madison, Wisconsin; Martha, at home; Ida, the wife of John J. Halverson; Elmer, who is farming; Lillian, at home; Lloyd, deceased and Lloyd, the second of the name, now at home. Mr. Lundstrum holds membership in the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance is given the republican party and he has served as one of the trustees of his township and as school director. He is never neglectful of his duties of citizenship, but on the contrary is ready and willing to aid in matters relating to the welfare and upbuilding of his district. His life has been one of unremitting industry and his perseverance and energy have constituted the foundation upon which he has builded [sic] his success.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 180-181.