Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1040

 898 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY Olsbrygge, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1846, locating in Dane county, "Wisconsin, remaining until 1854, when they removed to AVanamingo township where they pre-empted 240 acres of wild land which the father broke and improved. He erected a home and other outbuildings and followed general farming until his death on June 11, 1866. The mother died on June 17, 1897. John A. received his education in AYanarningo township. After leaving school he took up farming and now owns 115 acres in Section 7 where he resides, and where he has followed general farming. "When he was twenty-one years of age he went to Brookings county. South Dakota, took up a home- stead of 160 acres and a tree claim of 160 acres, which he proved up in three years and then sold the land. He now has 160 acres in North Dakota under cultivation. Mr. Bonhus has never mar- ried. He has seven brothers and sisters: Gunder and Anna, who died in infancy; Gunder, who owned the old homestead and died May, 1905; Knute, who died at the age of sixteen; Anna, who died in 1880; Kjostolf. of Valley City, X. D.; Jorgen, who died June 1, 1903. Air. Bonhus is an independent voter and has never sought public office. He is a member of the Lutheran church. Arnt J. Fordahl, of AVanamingo village, a native of Norway. was born June 16, 1868, son of John and Randi (Hegge) Fordahl, who came to America in 1869 and located on Section 1, Cherry Grove, in the spring of 1870. Here they firsl bought 120 acres and later forty acres more, upon which the father built a large home and roomy barns, improving it until it was under a high state of cultivation. He died November 9, 1879, but the mother still lives on the old homestead. Arnt J. acquired his education in the common school at Cherry Grove. Completing this, he worked on the farm and threshed for a number of years. In 1890 he purchased a half interest in the AVanamingo mill, and in 1891 his brother purchased the other half. In the fall of 1891 the brothers built a mill which burned down January 18, 1892. They erected a new mill in the spring and installed ma- chinery for grinding feed and making flour. The mill was then conducted under the name of A. J. Fordahl & Co., until 1900, when the brother sold his interest to Arnt J., who now conducts it under the name of the AVanamingo Flour Alills. They make a specialty of "Nonpareil" and "Staff of Life" flours. This mill was first built by a Air. Clark, and in 1861 he sold it to Nels Norby, who later sold a half interest to Henry Nelson. Norby and Nelson were in partnership for some time, after which' Norby bought Nelson out. The old mill was originally half a mile further west, but in 1868 was moved to the present site. Air. Fordahl put steam power into the mill, so it is now operated by both steam and water. He was united in marriage July 1, 1890.