Wollert Hildahl Biography


	This biography appears on pages 890-891 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	WOLLERT HILDAHL. - As the name indicates, the subject of this 
sketch is of Scandinavian birth, being a native of Norway, born at Odda 
Hardanger, on the 26th of August, 1875. When two years old he was taken 
by his parents to the city of Bergen, where he spent his childhood and 
youth, receiving his educational training at "Hans Tank of Hastrus og 
Hambro's" schools of that place. In 1893 Mr. Hildahl came to the United 
States and proceeding direct to South Dakota, has since been a resident 
of the city of Sioux Falls. He is a gentleman of scholarly attainments 
and refined tastes, a clean, forcible and fluent writer and since 
becoming a resident of the United States has made rapid progress in 
acquiring a knowledge of this country and its institutions, being 
widely informed upon the leading questions and issues of the times and 
keeping himself in close touch with the trend of modern thought 
throughout the world. He has, since his naturalization, given evidence 
of his full sympathy with our government and, with an abiding faith in 
its perpetuity, he upholds its principles, standing at all times for 
good order and strict enforcement of the law. He is interested in 
secret fraternal and benevolent work, belonging to the Masonic 
fraternity at Sioux Falls and the Benevolent and Protective Order of 
Elks at the same place, being an active participant in the 
deliberations of both organizations. Mr. Hildahl, on March 14, 1902, 
was united in marriage with Miss Emma Julia Lien, of Sioux Falls, the 
union resulting in the birth of one child, a son to whom has been given 
the name of Jonas Lien.  

	Mr. Hildahl has for many years been affiliated with the leading 
Scandinavian musical organization of the state, the Minnehaha Mandskor, 
and has served it in various capacities, as well as the Northwestern 
Scandinavian Singers' Association, of which the Mandskor is a member. 
The Mandskor was organized December 11, 1890, and became a member of 
the Northwestern Scandinavian Singers' Association at the time of its 
organization at Sioux Falls in 1891.  

	Mr. Hildahl has served as treasurer of the Minnehaha Mandskor, 
twice as its president and upon two occasions was sent as a delegate to 
the national convention of the Northwestern Scandinavian Singers' 
Association. By the latter body he was elected vice-president of the 
convention at Duluth in 1898 and in 1890, at St. Paul. he was honored 
by being chosen president.  

	In the year 1902 Mr. Hildahl took charge of the Syd Dakota Ekko, 
a paper devoted to the interests of his nationality in Dakota and the 
northwest and which for many years has also served the Northwestern 
Scandinavian Singers' Association as its official organ, having 
published what is known to the singers as "Sangernes Spalte," this 
department being the especial work of the present editor. Through the 
medium of his paper and otherwise, Mr. Hildahl exercises a wide and 
powerful influence among his fellow countrymen and is held in high 
esteem not only by the Scandinavian populace of the Dakotas, but by the 
general public as well.