Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1037

 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 895 chased 640 acres of land, built a home and followed general farming until 11)04, when he returned to Wanamingo township and engaged in farming in Section 20 on a farm of 160 acres. In 1905 he added forty acres, making in all a farm of 200 acres, all under cultivation. Since returning to Wanamingo he has sold his land in Yellow Medicine county and bought 160 acres in North Dakota. On his farm in "Wanamingo he has erected a good home at a cost of $3,500; also a barn thirty by sixty feet. Mr. Swenson was married, October 1, 1893, to Laura Gulmon, daughter of Agil and Anna Gulmon, natives of Fillmore county. They later went to North Dakota, where the father died in 1904. The mother is still living in the old home in Sanborn, N. D. Mr. and Mrs. Swenson have four children : Florence, John, Alvira and Stella. Mr. Swenson is a Republican in his political views, and is a stockholder in the elevator at Bombay. Hans M. Hjermstad, of Wananiingo township, was born in Norway, December 28, 1854, son of Martin and Martha (Erick- son) Hjermstad, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1866 and located in Belle Creek township, where they bought 160 acres of land which the father broke and improved, erecting a' home and following general farming until 1906, when 'they retired and purchased a home in Kenyon village. The mother died December 12, 1894, in Belle Creek, and the father is still living. Hans M. received his education in the schools of Belle Creek and worked on the farm with his father until 1882, when he went to Wanamingo township and engaged in farming four years, after which he removed to Red Wing and took up the trade of electrical engineer at the electric plant, remaining six years. He then entered the employ of Boxrud Bros., worked for them six years and in 1898 returned to the farm, since which he has followed general farming. Mr. Hjermstad was married June 16, 1882, to Anna ♦Quaal, daughter of John and Rosa (Bjorngaard) Quaal, natives of Norway. They came to America in 1866, locating in Wanamingo township, where they remained two years, after which they went to Minneola township, remain- ing five years. In 1872 they removed to Wanamingo township, where they purchased a farm and engaged in general farming, the father also working at his trade as blacksmith at Hader. Mr. and Mrs. Hjermstad have had six children: Matilda, mar- ried to George M. Draper, of Mankato ; Julius, of Kenyon ; Agnes, who is a stenographer at Zumbrota; Minda, Ruth, and Norma. The last three named live at home. Mr. Hjermstad is an inde- pendent voter and has held the office of supervisor, and has been clerk of the school board in district 64 for nine years. He is also road overseer. The family attend the Lutheran church. Haagen Thoreson was born on the farm in Wanamingo town-