Robert T. Sundal Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1192-1193 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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				ROBERT T. SUNDAL.  

	As president of the Farmers State Bank of Lyons, and as an 
official in various other business enterprises of Minnehaha county, 
Robert T. Sundal ranks among the substantial and influential citizens 
of his section of South Dakota. He is, moreover, actively engaged in 
agricultural pursuits on a valuable tract of three hundred and twenty 
acres, located on section 15, Lyons township. Mr. Sundal was born in 
Norway on the 18th of November, 1860, a son of Torger and Anna (Rote) 
Sundal, who emigrated to the United States in 1887, joining their son, 
who had preceded them two years, and with whom they have since made 
their home.  

	Robert T. Sundal received a common-school education in the land 
of his nativity and after putting aside his books there learned the 
tailor's trade. He was a young man of twenty-five years when, anxious 
to test the truth of the reports he had heard concerning the new world, 
he set sail for America. Arriving here he first located in Sioux Falls, 
South Dakota, and spent the four succeeding years working at his trade. 
At the end of that time he engaged in the tailoring business at Dell 
Rapids, South Dakota, where he spent seven years. During this time he 
accumulated a capital sufficient to enable him to purchase one hundred 
and sixty acres of land and while he was engaged in business for 
himself his parents lived on the farm and conducted the same for him. 
As above stated, he remained in business for himself seven years, and 
when that time had expired he located on his land and has since devoted 
his energies to farming. He has added a second tract of one hundred and 
sixty acres to his original holdings, so that his home farm now 
comprises three hundred and twenty acres, and he has also purchased 
other farm property and now owns two hundred acres on section 16, Lyons 
township, while his home property is situated on section 15. Although 
he is busily engaged in his farming operations, he yet finds time to 
devote to public enterprises. He was one of the organizers of the 
Farmers State Bank of Lyons, of which he was made vice president, while 
in 1911 he was made president of the institution, in which capacity he 
has since ably served. He is also serving as treasurer of the Farmers 
Cooperative Lumber Company of Baltic, and since the organization of the 
Baltic Creamery Company has served as its vice president. In these 
various capacities he has always performed his full duty and he is 
numbered among the foremost citizens of Minnehaha county.  

	It was in 1888 that Mr. Sundal married Miss Mathilda Fossen, who 
was likewise a native of Norway, and to them were born seven children, 
of whom four still survive. These are Alex, Taylor, Mildred and Pearl, 
all at home. The wife and mother departed this life in 1898 and in 
January, 1911, Mr. Sundal wedded Laura Kjeldsen, also a native of 
Norway, and by her marriage she has become the mother of a daughter and 
son, Hazel and Marvin.  

	Both Mr. and Mrs. Sundal affiliate with the United Lutheran 
church and Mr. Sundal gives his political support to the republican 
party. For the past twelve years he has served on the board of 
supervisors. When Mr. Sundal arrived in America he was entirely 
ignorant of the customs and language of its people but the courage 
which enabled him to leave the land of his birth and establish himself 
amid strange people and new customs did not desert him, and despite the 
obstacles and handicaps which are always encountered by the foreigner, 
he has succeeded in life and today ranks among the leading citizens and 
enterprising business men of his adopted county and state.