Bio of Lewis O. ENSTAD (b.1873), Yellow Medicine Co., MN

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LEWIS O. ENSTAD

Lewis O. Enstad is a native of Yellow Medicine county, having been born on
his father's farm in Stony Run township July 1, 1873.

There he attended school and grew to manhood.  Until 1901 he worked with 
his father on the home farm, but that year he secured a place for himself, 
the southeast quarter of section 35, since which time he has been busily 
engaged in looking after its welfare, and he has the farm in good 
condition.

Mr. Enstad is married, his wife being Matilda Feroe, who was born October
28, 1874, in Stony Run township.  Her parents, Jonas and Pernela Feroe, 
were natives of Norway.  Mr. and Mrs. Enstad have five children, namely:  
Gladys, Juel, Orton, Luella, and Myrtle.

Ole L. Enstad, father of Lewis O., was born in Norway February 7, 1848.  
He was brought up on a farm and educated in the country schools, remaining 
in Norway until 1869.  That year he decided to come to America, making 
the trip alone, and settled in Freeborn county, Minnesota.  There he lived 
three years, spending most of the time working at railroad grading.  He 
arrived in Yellow Medicine county June 16, 1872, driving through with 
oxen from Freeborn county, and at once took as a pre-emption claim the 
northwest quarter of section 36, Stony Run township.  He build a dugout, 
in which the family lived one year, and then put up a log house that was 
their home for several years.  At that time Willmar was the nearest 
railroad point, and there one had to go if he had any trading to do.

The grasshoppers and hard times came upon the new arrivals.  Two crops in
succession there were a total loss, forcing Mr. Enstad to go to New Ulm to
find work in order to get a little money to tide over the time of famine.
However, perseverance and hard work finally won the day, and now Mr. 
Enstad owns about 1200 acres of splendid farming land, his home place  
being the homestead on section 36.  He now farms 380 acres and rents out 
the rest.  He raises much stock.

Ole Enstad was married in Freeborn county February 21, 1872, to Guro Kvam.
She was born in Norway February 9, 1850, and came to the United States in
1869, settling in Freeborn county.  There are eight children as follows:
Lewis, a farmer of Stony Run township; Ella (Mrs. Henry Halverson) of Hazel
Run township; Mary and Henry at home; Sever, a farmer of Stony Run; Gina, 
at home; Oscar, on a homestead in South Dakota; Laura, at home.

Lewis O. Enstad has on numerous occasions been called upon by his neighbors
to serve in an official capacity.  He has been a member of the town board
since 1902, was assessor of his township in 1900 and 1901, and has served
seven years as a member of the school board of district No. 22.  He is a
member of the United Norwegian Lutheran church of Stony Run.

Source: "A History of Yellow Medicine County" by Arthur P. Rose
Published 1914