Thorstein J. Questad Biography


	This biography appears on pages 808-811 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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				THORSTEIN J. QUESTAD. 

	The spirit of cooperation seems to be a prominent factor in the 
life of Baltic and that section of the state, for there are several 
well established business enterprises conducted upon that plan. Such a 
one is that of which Thorstein J. Questad is manager-the Cooperative 
Lumber Company of Baltic-of which he has had charge for four years. He 
is a native of Norway and possesses many of the sterling 
characteristics rightly attributed to his race. He was born on the 19th 
of January, 1856, and is a son of Jacob O. and Ragnhild Questad, who 
came to the United States with their family in 1870. They did not tarry 
on the Atlantic coast, but made their way at once into the interior of 
the country, settling first in Freeborn county, Minnesota. They came to 
South Dakota in 1873 and the father homesteaded land in Lyons township, 
Minnehaha county, becoming actively identified with the pioneer 
agricultural development of his section. Both he and his wife are now 
deceased. 

	Thorstein J. Questad was a youth of fourteen years when the 
family crossed the Atlantic. After acquiring a fair education in the 
country schools he attended the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, Iowa, 
and when his textbooks were put aside concentrated his energies upon 
farm work and upon school-teaching, giving his attention to the dual 
pursuits until 1883. He then turned his attention to the lumber 
business as manager for C. L. Colman and remained in that connection 
for twenty-five years. No higher testimonial of his capability, 
fidelity and trustworthiness can be given than the fact that he was 
retained for so long a period in such a position of importance and 
responsibility. For the past four years he has been manager of the 
Cooperative Lumber Company of Baltic, of which he is one of the 
stockholders. His long connection with the lumber trade well qualified 
him for the responsibilities that devolve upon him in this connection 
and under his guidance the business is proving a profitable one, the 
trade constantly increasing. For some years Mr. Questad was also in 
partnership with his brother in a general merchandising enterprise in 
Baltic, carrying a well selected line of goods and meeting with a 
liberal patronage. 

	On the 7th of July, 1886, Mr. Questad was united in marriage to 
Miss Emma Larson, a daughter of Colbein Larson, and to them have been 
born four children: Clarence, who died at the age of nineteen years; Le 
Roy Julius, manager of the Cooperative Lumber Company of Colton; Alma 
Ruth; and Henry George, who died in infancy. Mr. Questad is 
preeminently a home man, finding his greatest happiness at his own 
fireside and his greatest pleasure in promoting the welfare of wife and 
children. in religious faith he is a Lutheran and to the teachings of 
the church he is most loyal. In politics he is an earnest republican 
and has been called to several offices of honor and trust. He was 
president of the town board for two terms, was clerk of the school 
district for many years and has also been postmaster of Baltic. He 
recognizes fully the obligations that devolve upon him and discharges 
every trust in a way to win public confidence. His life has been well 
spent and has manifested the substantial and commendable qualities of 
manhood and citizenship.