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1890 Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Story County, Iowa

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graduated at St. Olaff's College, at Northfield, Minn. She is a lady of intelligence and amiability. Mr. Ersland is a Republican in politics, and socially is a member of the I. O. O.F., Cambridge Lodge, having passed through all the chairs of the same. He is also connected with the A. F. & A. M., of Cambridge, and is secretary at the present time. He is a member of the S. of V., consisting of about twenty-five members, and has held all the chairs of this order. Mr. Ersland has been connected with the public schools of his district for the last three years, and was one of the recent census enumerators. He and Mrs. Ersland are the owners of 131 acres of valuable land, a fair farm residence, and a barn 84x40 feet. They have a good grade of stock on their farm, and are in comfortable circumstances.

Brit. O. Fatland is a citizen and merchant of the town of Cambridge, Iowa, his establishment comprising an excellent and extensive stock of agricultural implements. He was born in Kendall County, Ill., April 5, 1852, and was the first in a family of ten children born to his father's second marriage, the other members of the family being: Henry (who is married to Martha Helleland, and is a furniture dealer of Cambridge), Esther ( who died at the age. of thirteen years), Peter (who is married to a Miss Larson, and is engaged in farming in Wright County), Oley (who is a school teacher of Story County, and is now studying medicine in Iowa City), Sarah (who is the wife of L. A. Larson, a dealer in furniture, carpets, pianos, organs and sewing machines, at Cambridge), Carl (who is a farmer of the county), Mary (who died in infancy), Mary E. and Lena. The half brothers and sisters of the subject of this sketch are as follows: Ellen (who is the wife of Anfin Anfinson, a farmer), and John (who is a farmer of the county, and is married to Sarah Heggen). The parents of these children were born in Norway, and both are now living, the former being seventy-two years of age, and the latter sixty-two. They emigrated to America in 1847, and in Story County, Iowa, Brit. O. Fatland obtained his education, being an attendant of the common schools, thereby becoming fitted for the practical issues of life. He is a warm advocate of the public-school system, and in fact educational institutions of all kinds find in him a friend and liberal supporter. He commenced to make his own way in the world when he attained his twenty-second year, and although reared to a farm life, he has for some time given his attention to his present business. He emigrated direct from Kendall County, Ill., to Story County, Iowa, in 1855, at which time the country was in a very virgin condition, the prairies not being settled at all, and only a few homes along Skunk River. The county had no drainage to speak of, and it was then thought that the western part would never be settled, but since that time wonders have been accomplished, and it is now one of the most fertile regions of the State. He was married to Miss Elsa Berhard, a native of Europe, whose education was received in the common schools of Iowa, and to them a family of eight children have been born: Cora (aged sixteen years), Oscar (aged fifteen), Willie (aged twelve), Nettie (died in infancy), Olive Bernetta (aged eight), Lenora (aged five), Henrietta (aged three) and Vidah L. (an infant). Mr. Fatland is a Republican, his first presidential vote being cast for Rutherford B. Hayes, and he has always upheld the principles of his party. He has held the position of town clerk for three terms, and filled this position very creditably. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Cambridge, and he and wife are ardent members of the Lutheran Church, and both have been teachers in the Sunday-school. They

Page 321 of 460

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