Gudmund Skartvedt Biography


	This biography appears on pages 802, 805 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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				GUDMUND SKARTVEDT. 

	Gudmund Skartvedt, one of the well known and prosperous citizens 
of Canton, was born on the west coast of Norway, February 19, 1852. His 
father, Aage Skartvedt, came to America in 1853, locating in Winneshiek 
county, Iowa, where he remained until 1882, carrying on agricultural 
operations. In that year he came to South Dakota and settled in Canton, 
where he lived retired until his death, which occurred in 1899. He was 
a veteran of the Civil war, having served one year as a member of the 
Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, seeing much active service with the 
army commanded by General Sherman. His wife, who in her maidenhood was 
Eli Atletvedt, passed away in 1912. She was married in Norway in 1846 
and became the mother of eleven children, eight of whom grew to adult 
age and all of whom are residents of the United States. 

	Gudmund Skartvedt was the fourth in order of birth and was given 
good educational advantages, as he attended Luther College at Decorah, 
Iowa. He did not graduate, however, as he left school one year before 
completing his course in order to begin his active career. For five 
years he engaged in teaching school and then entered the real-estate 
and insurance business, which proved very successful and remunerative 
He was also actively interested in farming and still owns valuable farm 
lands in Lincoln county. He is one of the representative men of Canton 
and in winning financial success for himself has also aided in the 
development of the county. 

	Mr. Skartvedt was married in 1891 to Miss Lisa Brandon, a native 
of Norway and a daughter of Peter Brandon; one of the first pioneers of 
South Dakota Six children were born to this marriage as follows: Lajla 
E., Peter M., Ansgar K., deceased, Mozart H., Thor G., deceased, and 
Agnes E. T. The mother passed away when the youngest child was but an 
infant and Mr. Skartvedt was again married in 1896, Mrs. Vilhelmina D. 
(Hage) Oppen, becoming his wife. Five children were born to this 
marriage: Cornelius G., Olga E., Valborg G., Harold Frithjof, deceased, 
and Frida H. Mrs. Skartvedt is very active in church work, taking 
particular interest in the missionary societies of the church and in 
all charitable enterprises. She came to America when a girl of 
seventeen and has thoroughly identified herself with the spirit of her 
adopted land. Mr. Skartvedt is a devoted Lutheran and for nine years 
served on the board of trustees of the general church body. His 
political convictions in a large measure coincide with the policies of 
the progressive republicans, but he often votes independently, feeling 
that the qualifications of a candidate are of more importance than 
party lines. He has been a member of the school board for a number of 
years and was for some time president thereof. For seven years he 
served on the city council of Canton, aiding in securing many 
ordinances which have proven beneficial to the city.