Joseph J. Ordal Biography


	This biography appears on page 497 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOSEPH J. ORDAL. 

	Joseph J. Ordal has won a name for himself in Buffalo township as 
a successful farmer, his home on section 10 being one of the well 
developed farms of the locality. His birth occurred March 4, 1867, in 
Norway, and his parents are Johannes and Martha (Sandal) Ordal, who 
came to the United States in the spring of 1880, arriving in Minnehaha 
county, South Dakota, on the 17th of May, of the same year. Three days 
later the father filed on a preemption located on section 11, Buffalo 
township, and the following year filed on a homestead farm, upon which 
the family now resides. For many years the father operated tile place, 
reaping bountiful harvests in return for his labor in cultivating the 
fields. In 1906, however, he gave his son Joseph charge of the 
homestead, although he and his wife still reside thereon. 

	Joseph J. Ordal learned the secret of successful agriculture from 
his father, as he assisted in the work of the homestead from boyhood. 
Since 1906 he has had the entire management of the farm and has 
operated it most successfully, together with additional land which he 
has purchased. He farms in all two hundred and sixty-eight acres, the 
place being one of the best improved properties of Buffalo township. 
His parents are both living and make their home with him. His brother, 
Zachariah J. Ordal, is principal of the Lutheran Normal School of Sioux 
Falls and is recognized as an able and progressive educator. Mr. Ordal 
of this review is treasurer of the Lutheran church, to which he and his 
parents belong. He and his father are both progressive republicans and 
the former has served for years in various township offices, being at 
present clerk of the town board. He has been a member of the school 
board and has been repeatedly elected township assessor, performing his 
duties in all of these connections with the utmost care and ability.