The Amundson Families of Lyon County, Minnesota

GREGAR AMUNDSON (1872). A pioneer settler of Lyon county, one of the few men who still live on the homestead they took in an early day, and one of the big land owners, farmers and stock raisers of Nordland township is Gregar Amundson, who for forty years has lived on the southwest quarter of section 22. His farm consists of 560 acres on sections 22 and 27, improved by good substantial buildings and a fine home. He had practically no means when he came to Lyon county and his rise has been accomplished by his own unaided efforts.

In Tellemarken, Norway, on October 10, 1850, Gregar Amundson was born. His parents were Amund and Ragnild (Levson) Olson, both of whom are buried in the old country. In 1872, when he was twenty-two years of age, Gregar broke home ties and journeyed to America. After spending two months in Boone county, Iowa, he came to Lyon county and took his claim in Nordland township, and upon that place he has ever since lived. After passing through the days of adversity that accompanied the grasshopper scourge, he came upon prosperous times and is in comfortable circumstances. He is an extensive stock raiser and makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and a director of school district No. 25.

Mr. Amundson was married in Minneota May 12, 1878, to Annie Furgeson. She was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, December 14, 1860. Her father, Kittle Furgeson, was born in Norway and died in 1902. Her mother, Margaret (Helgeson) Furgeson, was also born in Norway and now resides in Minneota at the age of eighty-two years Mr. and Mrs.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FERDINAND AMUNDSON (1878), farmer of Nordland township, is a native of Lyon county and a son of pioneer settlers, Gregar and Annie (Furgeson) Amundson. He was born in the township of Nordland March 9, 1878, received a district school education, and grew to manhood on his father's homestead. Two years were spent working in the Furgeson blacksmith shop in Minneota; except that he has always lived in his native township. In the fall of 1911 he rented the west half of the southwest quarter of section 27 from his father and started farming. He now has charge of a 160-acre farm and is meeting with success.

Mr. Amundson was married in Island Lake township June 27, 1905, to Cora Christenson. She was born in that township May 17, 1884, and is a daughter of Peter and Alma (Russel) Christenson. Her parents were born in Denmark and Wisconsin, respectively, and now live in Island Lake township. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Amundson, as follows: [name withheld], born April 11, 1907; [name withheld], born June 10, 1908; and [name withheld], born October 13, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Amundson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Minneota.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

OLE AMUNDSON (1874) has lived in Eidsvold township all his life — thirty-eight years. His parents, Anund and Kari (Heggen) Amundsen, were among the earliest settlers of the precinct. They came to the United States from Norway in the spring of 1869, lived in Iowa, later in Dodge county, Minnesota, came to Lyon county in the spring of 1874, and took as a homestead claim the south half of the southwest quarter of section 24, Eidsvold township.

Ole was born on the homestead November

28, 1874, and he resided with his parents until 1902. Then he was married and started farming for himself on the 120-acre farm on section 9 that he had bought several years before. His land is the south half of the northwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of the section. Mr. Amundson is clerk of school district No. 79 and he served as township treasurer thirteen years. He is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

Helga Esping, born in Lyon county August 5, 1878, became the wife of Mr. Amundson November 20, 1902, the ceremony having been performed in Minneota. Her parents. Ole H. and Helga (Nelson) Esping, were born in Norway and were early settlers of Lyon county. The mother died in 1904; the father still lives in Eidsvold township.

Mr. and Mrs. Amundson have the following named five children: Hilda O, born August 25, 1903; Arthur O., born April 25. 1905: [name withheld], born January 18, 1907; [name withheld], born October 23, 1908; [name withheld], born March 9, 1911.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

AMUND H. AMUNDSON (1882) owns and farms the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 20, Monroe township, besides renting and farming additional land. For the past five years he has been a director of the Garvin Farmers Independent Elevator Company.

Hallingdal, Norway, was the boyhood home of Amund Amundson, and he was born April 14, 1863. The lad was brought up, on a farm and received his education in the public schools and also received several months' schooling in America after he immigrated to this country in May, 1882. During his first year in the United States Amund made his home with an uncle, Ole Amundson, on section 20, Monroe township, Lyon county. The next year his parents came to this country and rented land in Lyon county, and Amund made his home with them. In 1888 the father took a homestead in Monroe township, the place which our subject now owns and which he bought from his mother in 1910. He has farmer the place himself since the father's death in 1895.

Helge Amundson, father of our subject, was born in Norway March 5, 1835. Amund's mother, Sigrid (Anfindson) Amundson, has lived on the farm and kept house for her son since the father's death. Amund Amundson is clerk of Monroe township, a position he has held ten years. For seven years he has served as clerk of school district No. 33, and he was for several years one of the supervisors of the township. Mr. Amundson is affiliated with the Holand Norwegian Lutheran church and is a member of the Sons of Norway organization of Tracy.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.