Hans H. Korstad Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1445-1446 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	HANS H. KORSTAD, the able editor of the Individual, published at 
Brookings, was born in Valders, Norway, on the 11th of July, 1864, and 
is a son of Helge and Siegrid (Lommen) Korstad, the former of whom was 
engaged in teaching in the schools of his native land for a number of 
years, being a man of high intellectuality. In 1870 he emigrated with 
his family to America and located in Lyon county, Iowa, where he engaged 
in teaching in a Norwegian settlement, and also entered claims to a 
homestead, to whose improvement and cultivation he gave his attention, 
in connection with his other vocation. In 1878 he came to Brookings, 
South Dakota, securing land in this vicinity and devoting the balance of 
his days to farming. He died in 1897, and his widow still resides on the 
homestead farm, which comprises a half section of valuable land. In the 
family are seven children, all of whom are living, namely: Ole, who 
resides on the home farm; Hans H., who is the immediate subject of this 
sketch; Peter, who is likewise a farmer of this county; Tollef, who is a 
resident of Alberta, Canada; John, who is associated in the management 
of the old homestead; Belle, who is the wife of Rev. Nels Jacobson, of 
Claremont, this state; and Mary, who remains with her mother, who has 
now attained the venerable age of seventy-five years, being a devoted 
member of the Lutheran church. as was also her husband. 

	Hans H. Korstad was but six years of age at the time of his 
parents' immigration to the United States, and at the age of eight years 
he became a student in the public schools of Lyons county, Iowa, having 
previously attended the Norwegian schools. He continued to there 
continue his educational work until the removal of the family to Dakota, 
where at that time educational advantages were most meagre, as the great 
territory, as yet undivided, was practically on the frontier of 
civilization. The town of Brookings had not yet been established and no 
railroads penetrated the territory. During the first few years after 
coming to what is now the favored and prosperous state of South Dakota, 
the subject of this sketch found his portion to be that of arduous and 
consecutive toil, while he had no opportunity to continue his education. 
Finally a school was established in Brookings, and he attended the same 
until he had attained the age of twenty years, when he entered the State 
Agricultural College, at this place, where he completed the general 
course in 1889, having fully profited by the opportunities there 
afforded. During 1890-91 he was engaged in teaching and then turned his 
attention to farming, in which he continued until the autumn of 1896, 
when he disposed of his land and came to Brookings, where he became 
associated with Stacy A. Cochran in the purchase of the plant and 
business of the paper known as the Individual, whose publication they 
have since continued, our subject being editor and having made the paper 
an able exponent of local interests. It is issued on Thursday of each 
week and is non-partisan in politics. The paper has gained distinctive 
popularity, having a circulation of about one thousand at the time of 
this writing, while additions to the list of subscribers are being made 
each week. Mr. Korstad is also the owner of a quarter section of 
valuable land near Pierre, while he owns his attractive residence in 
Brookings and also the building in which the office of the paper is 
located. In politics the subject has given his support to the Populist 
party, .while he is quite in sympathy with the socialistic movement in 
its higher and legitimate form. He and his wife are members of the 
Lutheran church, and fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen. 

	On the 22d of October, 1899, Mr. Korstad was united in marriage to 
Miss Dorothea E. Skorr, who was born in Norway, being a daughter of 
Elias Skorr. Her mother died in Norway, and when Mrs. Korstad was about 
sixteen years of age she came alone to the United States, where she 
joined her brother. Her father came to America in 1902 and died at the 
home of his son, Ole, of Bruce, South Dakota, on the 3d of September, 
1901, at the age of seventy-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Korstad have one 
son, Elvin H., who was born on the 22d of July, 1900.