Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/954

 816 HISTOKY OF GOODHUE COUNTY left their native home in Norway and came to America, living first at various points in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, until 1855, when they took a homestead of 160 acres in section 35, Minneola township, which they improved and cultivated. On this farm the 'father built a comfortable home and commodious outbuildings. He was a good man in every way and is remembered by many as one of the early settlers of Goodhue county. He died in 1908 and his wife in 1878. Cornelius A. was born on the homestead June 26, 1860. He received his preliminary education in the pub- lic schools in Minneola township, then took a four years course of study in Luther College at Decorah, la. For a short period he returned to the old farm, and from 1884 to 1897 engaged in farming in Kenyon and Mazeppa. In 1897 he took charge of the old farm, on which he has made many improvements. He was married to Sigrid Ylvisaker, daughter of X. Th. and Kristine Ylvisaker. of Norway, who came to America and located ;M Ked Wing, where Mr. Ylvisaker was ;i Lutheran minister. He died some years Later, hut his wife still lives with her children. Mr. and Mrs. Erstad are parents of Andrew, born November 4, 1888; Olaf, born February 1!>. L892; Einar, horn November 19, 1894, and Ruth, born May 2. 1897. Willi the exception of An- drew, who attends the Lot tier < Jollege at Decorah, la,, they are all at home. Gunder Froyum, one of the prosperous farmers of Minneola township, was horn in Norway. September 5, 1849. During his childhood he attended school in Norway. At the age of sixteen he came to America with his parents and for six weeks was a pupil in the Minneola school. After Leaving sehool he applied himself to the farm work, remaining as his father's assistant until his death, when he inherited the home farm, which he con- tinued to improve, erecting several new farm buildings. He has followed general mixed farming, being very successful. He is also interested in the stone quarry. He is prohibition in politics and has always been interested in the welfare of the country in which he lives, filling the office of town supervisor for two years, also road overseer, and treasurer of the school board. Mr. Froyum was married April 17, 1878, to Dena A. Goplin, daugh- ter of A. A. and Mary Goplin, farmers of Norway, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Froyum have ten children — Sophia, married to Carl Fossum ; Matilda, married to Henry Bjugan ; Julia, now Mrs. Has- set, of North Dakota; John, Alfred, Helen, George, Selma, Her- man and Floyd, all at home. They all attend the Lutheran Church. The parents of Gunder Froyum were John and Sigri (Avelsgard) Froyum, both natives of Norway, emigrating to America in the year 1865, and locating^ in 1866 in Minneola, where they purchased 120 acres of land, which the father broke