Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/992

 854 HJ STORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY chased 160 acres in Belvidere township, improving the land and erecting buildings and carrying on a general line of farming, add- ing eighty acres in 1908, so that he now cultivates 210 acres, mak- ing a specialty of raising fine stock and horses. November 11, 1882, he was married to Gunnel Knutson, daughter of Ole and Gunnel (Nelson) Knutson, natives of Norway, who came to Amer- ica in 1856, locating in Staton, Wis., coming later to Minnesota, in 1858, and settling in Goodhue county, where they conducted farming operations on 160 acres of land until the death of the father in 1867. Later the mother married Oliver Knutson, a brother of her first husband, and they purchased another 160 acres and carried on general farming. The mother died Septem- ber 21, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Benrud have six children: Gust A., born September 7. 1886; living at Goodhue: Hannah P.. born July 16, 1888; Ole Christian, born January 2, 1890; George Ken- neth, born July 27. 1892: Paul Albert, born September 3, 1894: and Minnie Sophia, born February 21. 1899. Mr. Benrud is a Republican in his political views and the family attend the Norwegian Lutheran church. Henry E. Bollum, one of the substantial residents of Belvidere, is a native born son. having first seen the light of day in the township, -Inly 21. 1865, son of Ole J. and Helena (Oppergaard) Bollum, natives of Norway, who came to America in 1862 and located in Belvidere. where they purchased a farm of 120 acres, which they increased until the homestead consisted of 680 acres of good land. Here the father died in October, 1890, and the mother still lives on the home place, with her son. Henry E. attended the schools of his neighborhood and took a course at St. Olaf's College at Northfield. Since leaving he has engaged in farming, owning 200 acres, and renting eighty more, raising the usual crops and breeding live stock. Mr. Bollum is a Republican in politics and is now serving as town cleric of Belvidere and as clerk of school district 117. He is vice president of the Farmers' Mercantile Association of Goodhue, and, being an active church worker, has served several years as secretary and treasurer of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Belvidere. By Minnie C. Johnson, whom he married February 21. 1890, Mr. Bollum has six children : Ordner, Lillian, Edna, Elmer, Florence and Walter. Tollef Johnson, father of Mrs. Bollum. was born in Norway. December 28, 1811. and came to America in 1861. One year later he enlisted in Company G, Seventh Minnesota Yolunteer Infan- try, and served in the Indian campaign, afterward participating in a number of Southern campaigns. Upon his return he pur- chased a farm of 160 acres in May Creek township, where he remained seven years, afterward selling out. He then purchased eighty acres in Belvidere, increased this to 200 and carried on