John A. Lunstrum Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1164-1167 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN A. LUNSTRUM. 

	J. A. Lunstrum is one of the excellent citizens and 
agriculturists whom Sweden has given to South Dakota and is now the 
owner of a fine farm of six hundred and eighty acres located on 
sections 25, 26 and 35, Great Bend township, Spink county. He was born 
in Westergotland Sweden, November 18, 1858, and is a son of Lars J. and 
Sarah (Pearson) Larson. The father came to this country but returned to 
his native land, where he passed away in February, 1910. His wife had 
preceded him in death, her demise occurring in 1867, and both are 
buried in the same cemetery in Sweden. 

	John A. Lunstrum was educated in the land of his nativity but his 
school advantages were somewhat limited, as he put aside his textbooks 
when but fourteen years of age. From that time on he has been compelled 
to provide for his own livelihood and the prosperity that is now his is 
the direct result of his own energy and good management. After leaving 
school he found employment upon farms in the neighborhood and was so 
engaged until 1881, when he emigrated to the United States, making his 
way to the vicinity of Madison, Wisconsin. He worked there for one 
winter but in the following spring went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where 
he remained until August 28, 1882. Thence he went to Canada and for a 
few months worked upon the Canadian Pacific Railroad, returning to St. 
Paul in November of that year and remaining there for a time, after 
which he went back to Wisconsin. 

	In the spring of 1883 Mr. Lunstrum came to South Dakota, arriving 
at Redfield, on the 6th of April, and he has since made his home in 
this state. He took up a preemption claim in Faulk county and proved up 
on the same but felt that he could find a more desirable location and 
therefore gave away the claim and removed to Spink county. He had 
previously joined his brother, Sanford Lunstrum, at Madison, Wisconsin, 
and the two worked together until they were married. They rented land 
in Spink county and after some time the subject of this review 
purchased two hundred acres with his share of the profits of their 
farming operations. He devoted his time to the cultivation of his land 
and, as he was industrious and familiar with the best methods of 
agriculture, he annually harvested good crops which brought him high 
prices upon the market. As his resources increased he added to his 
landed possessions, buying a quarter section at a time, and is now the 
owner of six hundred and eighty acres. He has followed diversified 
farming, as he believes that that method secures the greatest returns 
from land, and his activities have gained him more than a competence. 
He raises considerable stock, keeping thirty horses, forty-five head of 
cattle and about forty hogs. Every year since his farm came into his 
possession he has made some improvement thereon. When he purchased it 
the greater part of it was wild prairie and he had to break one hundred 
acres before he could put in crops. The first home in which he and the 
family lived was a sod house, and that remained their residence from 
1889 to 1897. In the latter year it was washed away and he built a 
temporary frame building which served as a home until he could erect on 
higher land the present fine residence, which is one of the most 
desirable farm homes in Spink county and which was built in 1911. He 
has made other improvements, the farm having an excellent set of 
buildings, including barns and granaries, and the fields being well 
fenced. 

	Mr. Lunstrum was married, in Great Bend township, on the 10th of 
July, 1889, to Miss Mary Jacobson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lars 
Jacobson. The father was a pioneer farmer of Fillmore county, 
Minnesota, but both he and his wife are now deceased and are laid to 
rest near Preston, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Lunstrum are the parents of 
five children: Leda, who married James Hanson, of Lodi township, Spink 
county; Selma; Emma; and Amanda and Esther, both attending school. 

	Mr. Lunstrum is independent in the exercise of his right of 
franchise, supporting men and measures rather than party. His religious 
faith is that of the Lutheran church and he takes an active part in its 
work. He has always manifested a laudable interest in the public 
schools and for ten years has served as chairman of the board of 
education, doing much in that time to raise the standard of the schools 
in his district. He has resided in South Dakota continuously since 1883 
and, as he is excellently informed concerning the early history of the 
state, it is but natural that he should be a member of the Old 
Settlers, Association. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of 
America. In addition to his farm he has a number of business interests, 
being a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator and in the Cooperative 
Store of Redfield. He has labored persistently and intelligently and, 
as he has recognized and utilized all the opportunities that have 
presented themselves, he has gained more than a competence. All who 
know him rejoice in his success, for it has been won by honorable 
methods, and he himself is held in high regard because of his upright 
character and his loyalty to his friends.