Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/978

 840 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY to any in the county, having- well tilled land and comfortable buildings. In 1908 he retired, since which time he has rented his farm. Mr. Bakko is a Republican in politics and has for many years been an ardent supporter of the Norwegian Lutheran church, lie was married in December, 1854 to Margaret Finseth, daughter of Knute and Margaret Finseth, natives of* Norway who came to America in 1853 and located in Wisconsin until 1855 when they came to this county and here ended their days. .Mrs. Bakko was undoubtedly the first white woman in Holden town- ship, and the story of her early adventures has often been told. To Mr. and Mrs. Bakko were born eleven children. The oldesl George 0. is married and lives in Bottineau comity. North Dakota. He is the one. who as a baby, so took the fancy of an Indian Squaw thai she stole him, and would have succeeded in getting away had not Mrs. Bakko, who had been drawing a pail of water shouted in such a way thai the terrified squaw dropped tin' infant and lied into the woods. Christine the second child, is the wife of Nels Nyhagen, of Kenyon. Knute 0. also lives in Kenyon. Margaret married Ole Berg and lives in Cali- fornia. Sophia is the wife of E. A. Satron. of Kenyon. Edward, the youngest, married Emma Sands, daughter of Henry and Gurine (Elstead) S;inds. and conducts a drug store m Kenyon. A. T. Kjos, of Bolden township, was horn in Skien, 'Norway, March 5, 1849, and came to America the same year with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Anderson K.jos. They settled in Walworth county. Wisconsin, where they lived until 1856, when they moved to .Minnesota and settled in section 23, Holden town- ship, where the family still reside. A. T. K.jos was the only son and was obliged to assist his lather at an early age. When he was ten years id' age he drove a siring of loin- yoke of oxen before a breaking plow, and at twelve years hauled wheal to Red Wing with a yoke of oxen, the trip taking three days. In 1869 he was married to Karen Marie i'lvigcn. and fifteen children have blessed this union, nine boys and six girls, all of whom are living. In 1887 a Washington Territory colony, with a mem- bership of 35 families was organized and Mr. K.jos was chosen to go out and locate for the colony: but finding the country and conditions, there, altogether dilTerent from what was expected, Mr. K.jos concluded to still continue his residence in Goodhue county, and advised his followers to keep away from Washing- ton. In 1888 Mr. Kjos was elected county commissioner, of the Third distinct, and has held that office for 1»i years. He has also held other minor offices, such as town supervisor, town as- sessor, district school clerk, etc. Mi-. K.jos was prominent in or- ganizing the Farmer's Elevator company of Kenyon, and served the first six years, as secretary of the company. The family are