John P. Sletvold Biography


	This biography appears on pages 714-715 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 P. SLETVOLD.  

	Among the energetic and valued citizens whom Norway has given to 
this country is numbered John P. Sletvold, a farmer and stock-raiser on 
section 14, Prairie Center township, Clay county. He was born in the 
land of the midnight sun in 1869, a son of Ingebrigt and Olufine 
Sletvold, the former of whom died in Norway. The latter subsequently 
emigrated to the United States and married Rev. Norbeck and both are 
still living. To her first union were born eight children: Odin, a 
resident of Sioux City, Iowa; Mrs. Anna Larson, of Balaton, Minnesota; 
Mrs. Ingare Berg, of Platte, South Dakota; John P., of this review; 
Mrs. Antoinette Battalden, of Lamberton, Minnesota; Fred, of Oakes, 
North Dakota; Mrs. Magna Sletten, of Gregory, South Dakota; and Helga, 
the wife of William Hartman, of Springfield, South Dakota. 

	John P. Sletvold came to the United States in 1888 when a youth 
of nineteen years and continued on his journey westward until he 
reached Iowa, where he settled and resided for five years. In 1893 he 
removed to South Dakota and in various sections of this state worked in 
the capacity of carpenter and contractor. He was so occupied for six 
years and at the same time taught a Norwegian school. In the meantime 
he became a landowner, purchasing property in this state. In 1899 he 
was united in marriage and has since devoted his time and energies to 
farming. He and his wife own one hundred and sixty acres of finely 
improved land on section 14, Prairie Center township, Clay county, and 
his labor has made it well improved and highly developed. He raises 
stock to some extent and finds this phase of agriculture profitable. 

	In 1899 Mr. Sletvold was married to Miss Mary Lohre, who was born 
in Norway in 1868 of the marriage of John and Gunield Lohre. In 1870 
they brought their family to the United States and settled in Clay 
county, this state, where the father purchased a squatter's right and 
proved up on government land in Prairie Center township. He followed 
general farming until his death, which occurred in September, 1912. He 
survived his wife for eleven years, as she passed away September 28, 
1901. To their union were born seven children: A. J., of Vermillion; I. 
J., deceased; Ing. J., and Mrs. Sletvold, twins; a son and a daughter 
who died in infancy; and N. J., of Grand Forks, North Dakota, a 
graduate of the University of South Dakota and a minister of the 
gospel. Mr. and Mrs. Sletvold also have seven children: Olga G., who 
was born in 1900; Ida A., whose birth occurred in 1901, and who is 
attending school, as are Gerda J., who was born in 1903, Marie H. A., 
whose birth occurred in 1905, and Judin I., born in 1907; Ruth E., 
whose birth occurred in 1910; and Roy J., born in 1912.  

	Mr. Sletvold is a republican, but has never taken more than a 
citizen's interest in the affairs of government. The family belong to 
the Lutheran church and are loyal to the teachings of that faith. Mr. 
Sletvold is regarded in his locality as a successful and progressive 
farmer, and his personal qualities have made him highly respected as a 
man.