Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/892

 772 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY father again married, March 2, 1902, the present Mrs. Van de Bogart having been Minnie L. Drew, daughter of Samuel and Martha Morris Drew, natives of England, who in 1848 located in Canada and after living there several years, moved to Red Wing in 1864, where they engaged in general farming. Mr. Drew died May 6, 1907, and his wife September 23, 1907. The family worships at the Methodist Church. Martin 0. Tonseth is a prominent figure in Lands Congrega- tion, being teacher of the parochial school of that church in Zumbrota and having charge of the schools at seven other points. For the duties of this office he is well fitted, standing high in the esteem of parents and pupils. Mr. Tonseth was born in Norway, February 28, 1845, and received his education in his native land, after which he worked on the government telegraph lines for four years. In the spring of 1872 he decided to seek his fortunes in this land of wider opportunity. Arriving in Zumbrota in the spring of 1872 he erected a home, and worked first as a farmer and then as a stone mason. He taught in the Sunday school of his congregation for several years and then in 1893 took charge of the parochial schools. He is a good citizen in every respect, one of those men who uplift the moral tone of any community. Mr. Tonseth was married September 28, 1873, at Zumbrota to Oline Strom, who came to America in 1873 and died March 6, 1903. Her father died in the old country, and her mother came to America in 1877, remaining until her death in 1892. Ole Hansen and Sigre (Martinsdatter) Tonseth, parents of Martin O. Tonseth. were natives of Norway, where the father was a shoemaker. He died in April, 1878, and the mother in February, 1876. They had five children — Hans, Kari, Martin (deceased), Ole (deceased). Rasmus R. Sigmond, a well-known merchant of Zumbrota, first saw the light of day in La Salle county, Illinois, September 26, 1856, his parents being Rasmus R. and Mary (Wix) Sigmond, the former a native of Stavangen and the latter of Bergen, both in Norway. After arriving in this country they took up their residence in La Salle county, where the father expired March 1, 1884. The mother still makes her home on the old place. The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools, the Rock River Seminary at Mt. Morris, 111. ; the East High School, Aurora, 111., and Fowler Institute at Newark, 111., graduating from the latter in 1876. Previous to his graduation, however he had known something of business life, having entered the employ of a mercantile company at the early age of fifteen years. After leaving school as a student, he taught two years in his native county, and then started in the mercantile business at Danwav. 111. Here he remained a little over a vear and then