Buena Vista County, IA
IAGenWeb Project

E. D. Rehnstrom, who for the past two years has served as trustee of Elk township, is one of the worthy citizens that Sweden has furnished to Buena Vista county, and he is numbered among the progressive and up-to-date agriculturists of this section of the state.  He was born in Sweden, August 19, 1871, and in that country made his home to the age of sixteen years, having in the meantime acquired a common-school education.  At that age, or in 1888, he emigrated to America, for he had an aim in life that he believed could be more quickly realized in the new world than in his native country.  Upon reaching the United States he made his way to Iowa, where for eight years he was employed by the month at farm labor.  During this time he carefully saved his earnings in the hope that he might some day [sic] become the possessor of land and engage in farming on his own account.

On the 25th of March, 1896, Mr. Rehnstrom established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Anna C. Blomstrom, a native of Rockford, Illinois, although she was reared in Elk township, this county, being a daughter of A. G. Blomstrom, a resident of Elk township.  Following his marriage Mr. Rehnstrom operated rented land for seven years and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres situated on section 10, Elk township.  He remodeled the house, built a good barn, cribs and other outbuildings, tiled and fenced the land and altogether made it a valuable property.  In course of time he added to it a forty acre tract, so that he now has two hundred acres of well improved land.  In addition to carrying on general farming he also raises good grades of stock, shipping about a carload of stock each year to the market. He is also a stockholder in the elevator and the creamery at Alta.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Rehnstrom has been blessed with two sons and three daughters, Reuben, Helen, Orville, Violet and Esther.  The parents are members of the Swedish Lutheran church of Elk township and Mr. Rehnstrom is serving as secretary of the church.  In national affairs he supports the men and measures of the republican party but at local elections casts an independent ballot.  He was elected to the office of township trustee, which position he has tilled for two years and is the present incumbent.  He has resided in Buena Vista county for the past twenty years and during that time has seen many changes, as this section of the state has been placed on a par with the older east.  He began life in this country empty-handed and therefore deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, while at the same time through his honorable and straightforward methods he has gained many warm and admiring friends.