The Lund Families of Otter Tail County, Minnesota

EDWARD T. LUND.

A prominent and well-known man of Otter Tail county and of the town of Vining is Edward T. Lund, who as a man of business and as a citizen interested in the public welfare has been of valuable aid to the community in the development of its life and in the advancement of its measures. Edward T. Lund is a member of one of the most noted ami highly-esteemed families of the entire district and has demonstrated himself to lie a man capable of handling the more important matters presenting themselves totsolution at the hands of the citizenship of the township and county.

Edward T. Lund was born at Lund, near Namsos, Norway, on May 11, 1853, and following his education in the public schools of his native land he was engaged as a sailor and fisherman until 1889, when he came to America and joined his brother. Andrew T. Lund, at Vining, Minnesota, with whom he lived until the death of Andrew T. Lund, in 1908. Edward T. Lund, following his emigration to this country, engaged in the business of a carpenter and a contractor, which vocation lie has followed since. Edward T. Lund, duringthe early days of his residence in Otter Tail county, bought a farm, which he later --old and moved to the state of North Dakota, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he lived for some time and then sold his holdings and returned to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he invested in eighty acres of land m Folden township, a place which Innow owns.

During tinyear [906 Edward T. Lund purchased a house and lot in the town of Vining, where he now lives.

On luly 26, mi" Edward T. Lund was married to Isabella Olson, who was born in Norway, and when three years of age came, with her parents, Elaf Olson and wife, to America, where they settled in Folden

MR A.ND township. Otter Tail county, where Elaf Olson now lives. To the marriage of Edward T. and Isabella Lund was born one daughter, Boletta Margaretta, whose birth occurred on October 15, 1910.

Edward T. Lund and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, where they take a leading part in the activities of that congregation. Tn political affiliation, Mr. Lund is a Republican.

By his pleasing ways and genial personality, Edward T. Lund has won a host of friends in Vining, and he is conceded to be one of the leaders in all moves for the betterment of life and general conditions in the locality. He is a man of various and broad experience in life, and from the benefit of these things he lends to the community a valuable element which is of appreciable value.

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

CHARLES A. LUND.

Charles A. Lund by his administrative ability and his powers as a business man, has lent new dignity and prestige to a family whose name has been honorably linked with the history of Otter Tail county for a period of over thirty years. As a son of one of the most successful agriculturists of the section of Minnesota in which he lives, he has stood as an exponent of that strong and noble manhood which characterized so admirably the life of his father. His career has been one of consecutive industry and his success has nut been an accident, but a logical result. As cashier of the bank at Vining, he has served with a devotion to duty which has been both profitable and pleasing to the public at large. Charles A. Lund is a son of Andrew Lund, whose life was remarkable for its great achievement and unqualified success.

Andrew T. Lund was born near Namsos. Norway, on the 22nd of August, 1848. He was the son of Torger Balzerson, a native of Alstahaug, Helegeland, Norway, and Boletta Margaretta Anderson, a native of Fosnes, Norway. Torger Balzerson followed the occupation of a sailor and a pilot most of his life. After a life of activity and success he retired to his farm at Lund, where he spent his last days with his children. His death occurred in 1864. Both parents were devout members of the Lutheran church. Of the family reared by the parents of Andrew Lund; Annie, the wife of Alexander Gjisness, came to America with her brother, Andrew, and died in 1912, in Wisconsin; Peter lived at Lund, Norway, on the farm left by his father until his death, which occurred in March, 191 5; Martha, the widow of Peter Eide, still lives in Norway, but has a son Peter residing in Folden township, and a son Anton who is living in Canada; Maren, the widow of Andrew Thorstep, lives in Helegeland, Norway; Thea. the widow of Benjamin Hanson Lund, resides in Lund, Norway; Ellen, who married Helge Gundtedt, a teacher, died early in life, leaving a son Magne who is at the present time residing in Vining; Andrew is the father of the subject of this sketch, and Edward T. is a resident of Vining. The third child. Olava, married Eric Menzen and after his death became the wife of Peter Arnsson. She is buried in Norway.

As a boy Andrew Lund those a life on the sea, and at the age of seventeen decided to cross the Atlantic ocean. After landing in America he went (8b) to Hudson, Wisconsin, where he was occupied in the winter in the lumber business and in the spring he obtained employment on the St. Croix river. For ten years he worked on the boat line and during that time gained many valuable experiences and made many acquaintances. He formed a very interesting acquaintance with Senator Moses E. Clapp.

in the spring of 1868, Andrew T. Lund married Annie Amundson, at Hudson. In the spring of [879, lie and his wife came by rail to Perham, Minnesota, and from there to Xidaros township they went by a team of oxen. After settling in Nidaros township they began the task of homesteading eighty acres of land, which was located in section 2. The farm, which was a wilderness, was gradually transformed into a cultivated tract of land under the management of Mr. Lund. After a short period of residence on the farm the community life in that section was brightened by the fact that the Northern Pacific railroad would cut through that township. In 1881, the building of the road was completed and the village of Lund sprung up (which was later changed to Vining), a place named in honor of the family of which Charles Lund is a member. To the village since that time, have been drawn other lines of enterprise until now in its attractiveness it remains a worthy monument to him whose name it honors.

During his early days on the farm Andrew Lund was not wholly occupied with its duties, he found time to enter other fields of work and on account of his ability was readily chosen as a leader. He became agent for the Andrews & Gage Grain Elevator Company, and as his business grew to large proportions, Mr. Lund was soon able to lease the elevator, and when his success was assured he bought out the entire plant. Aside from this line of work Mr. Lund was also engaged in the general mercantile business. in partnership with Ole T. Xyhus. For twenty years Mr. Lund held the appointment of postmaster and executed the duties of that office in an efficient manner. He continued to succeed in various lines of business enterprise. Mr. Lund from time to time added to his land possession-, until at the time of his death he was owner and manager of two thousand acres of land, and was known throughout that section of Minnesota as one of the largest landowners in Otter Tail county.

In 1004 Mr. Lund organized and placed on a linn basis the Hank of Vining, with he and bisons as stockholders. In [908 the hank was incorporated as Lunds' State Bank, with Mr. Lund as president, an office he held until December 16, [908, when his death occurred. The hank had a capital stock of ten thousand dollars and a very handsome surplus at the time of the death of its president. In the affairs of education Andrew Lund always expressed a deep interest, ami was often called upon to assist in school affairs lie served as trustee of Concordia College, at Moorhead, and also was trustee of St. Luke's hospital, at Fergus Falls, an institution he helped to organize. As a Republican he was honored with positions of high standing and at the time of his death had held every township office. He was at one time a candidate for the Republican nomination to Congress and in the convention held the balance of power, which his withdrawal threw to the forces of Frank M. Eddy. As a candidate for the state Senate Mr. Lund gave another exciting race and during his life gave evidence of a deep enthusiasm for Republican party and its cause.

Andrew Lund was able to enter many fields of endeavor and carry out successfully every undertaking. He was devout in religious affairs and through his efforts the United Lutheran church at Vining was erected and placed on a firm foundation. As a member of the church he did everything in his power for its welfare. He donated the ground for its location and even solicited funds for the erection of the present building. Mr. Lund was president of the Sons of Norway. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America.

Andrew T. and Annie (Amundson) Lund were the parents of the following children: Thea became the wife of Rev. J. C. Herre and is living in New York city; Melvin resides in Vining. as a farmer and a lumberman; Charles is the subject of this sketch; Oscar is a merchant in Vining; Harry A. manager the homestead farm; Andrew T. is president of the bank and is in the real-estate business; Fmil A. resides at Vining; Gundrun married Thoe Thoen, of Thoen Brothers clothing store at Minneapolis, and Boletta, who married William Huntington, a merchant, lives in Paynesville, Minnesota. Mrs. Andrew Lund passed away on the 3rd of July, 1904.

Charles A. Lund was born in Hudson. Wisconsin, on the lath of October, 1878. His early education was received in the public schools of Vining and after completing the common-school course, he attended school at Concordia College, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1896. His education was completed in the St. Paul College of Law. from which he received the degree of LL.B. in 1904. He was admitted to the bar but after a short time returned to Vining where he helped his father organize the bank of which institution he has been cashier since its organization. The business of the bank lias steadily increased and in 1913 a new brick building was erected, containing vaults modeled after those in the National Bank of Fergus Falls. The bank at the present time has over one hundred depositors. Mr. Lund is executor of his father's estate, though a large part of it was divided previous to his death.

The farm of two hundred acres near the village of Vining occupies a great deal of the attention of ( charles Lund. He is a breeder of Shorthorn cattle of which he has forty-six head. His aim is to rear only purebred

Il6 stock. In 19 1 2 Mr. Lund erected a modern house and barn and has two silos on the place. The barn was destroyed by a cyclone.

Following the example of his father, Charles Lund has remained loyal to the cause of the Republican party. He is president of the village of Vining. He is a member of the United Lutheran church.

On the 30th of June, 1908, Charles A. Lund was united in marriage to Matilda Westberg, a resident of Fergus Falls, and the daughter of August Westberg, a member of one of the oldest families in Otter Tail county. To Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Lund the following children have been born: Corrinne Elizabeth, who was born on October 18. 1909, and Wesley Carlton. April 28, 1912, and died on June 30, 1914.

Mr. Lund has been chairman of the school board, succeeding has father in 1909. He has the honor of having built the first consolidated school in Otter Tail county, which is a step in advance of the educational system in this section. For a distance of two miles around the school site children are brought each day to the up-to-date building, where the influence is more lasting and the conditions more healthful than those found in the old-time district school of the rural community.

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

ANDREW T. LUND.

Andrew T. Lund was born at Vining, Minnesota. December 21, 1885, the son of Andrew T. and Annie K. (Amundson) Lund, both of whom were natives of Norway, the father being born in the year 1848, at a settlement called Lund, in Kolvereid, Namdalen, and the mother being born near Christiania, in the year 1850. When seventeen years of age, Andrew T. Lund, Sr., in the year 1866, came to America, making the trip alone, while his wife, as a girl, came to this country with her mother and father. Andrew T. Lund and the parents of Annie Amundson settled at Hudson. Wisconsin, where Andrew Fund was engaged in logging on the St. Croix river for ten years, and during which time he was married, and later he and his wife moved, in the year 1870. to Otter Tail county. Minnesota, where they took up a homestead of about one hundred and sixty acres of land in Nidaros township, a place where now a part of the town of Vining is located. On taking possession of his land. Andrew T. Lund proceeded to clear the land and to plant crops, together with the erecting of a log house in which to live, at the same time buying grain for the Andrews & Gage Grain Company, at Minneapolis. A few years later Mr. Lund leased the local elevator from his former employers and for the next twenty years he conducted this industry on his own responsibility, being interested in the only lumber yard at Vining during the same time. In IQ04 Andrew T. Lund discontinued the grain business and organized a private bank, which he conducted until [908, and then the institution was incorporated as Lund's State Bank, a financial house which the sons of Mr. Lund now operate.

Andrew T. Lund, Sr., was a most active man during his entire life and held many important positions. Mr. Lund was a member of the firm of Nyhus & Lund, general merchants; he took an important part in the organization of St. Luke's Hospital al Fergus Falls. Minnesota, an institution of which he was a trustee for some years; he was instrumental in securing for the town of Vining a railway siding from the Northern Pacilic railway, and he was the door of the land and one of those who secured funds for the building of the Lutheran church at Vining, a church in which for many years he was a trustee. Andrew T. Lund, Sr., was a Republican in politics and was at one time the candidate of his party for a seat in the United States Congress; he served in several local offices, including a place on the school board and other offices in the township and in the town of Vining. Mr. Lund was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was prominent in the organization of the Sons of Norway, at Vining. Andrew T. Lund was one of the most honored men of Otter Lail county and but for the fact that the state of Minnesota possessed one postoffice named Lund, the present town of Vining would now bear that name. Andrew T. Lund. Sr., died on December 16, iyo8, his wife having preceded him in death about four years, she dying on July 3,

To Andrew T. and Annie Lund were born the following children: Thea, who married the Rev. J. C. Herre, and lives at New York City; Melvin who is a tanner of Henning township, and lives at Vining, is a graduate of the agricultural school at Minneapolis; Charles A., who is cashier of Lund's State Bank, is an attorney and graduate from the St. Paul College of Law; Oscar A., who is a partner in the firm of Nyhus & Lund, general merchants at Vining; Harry A., who lives on the home place near Vining; Andrew T.. the subject of this sketch; Fmil A., who is a real-estate dealer and land owner of Vining; Gundrun, who married Theodore Thoen, of the firm of Thoen Brothers' Clothing Company, at Minneapolis. Minnesota, and Baletta. who married William H. Huntington, and lives at Paynesville. Minnesota. Four children of Mr. and Mrs. Lund are deceased.

Andrew T. Lund was educated at the Fergus Falls, Minnesota, high school and later at Concordia College, where he graduated in the class of 1908, with the degree of Bachelor of Accounts, and after finishing his schooling he entered the lumber business at Vining, continuing in this business for four years and then he sold his interests and has since followed the real-estate business together with the duties of his office as president of Lund's State Bank, a position in which he succeeded his father. Andrew T. Lund has found time from his busy life to serve his town as recorder since it was incorporated, in the year 1909, and he takes an active part, as owner, in the plotting and in the development of "Sunny Side," a resort on East Battle lake, one mile from Vining. Andrew T. Lund has served several years as president of the local society of Sons of Norway and he is now dommer of that organization.

On June 2j, 191 5, Andrew T. Lund was married to Alma Korum, who was a school teacher of Otter Tail county, and the daughter of John Korum and wife, old settlers who are now deceased. The Lund family is one of the well-known families of the community, they being strong financial supporters of Concordia College, an institution from which seven of the children of the family have graduated.

Andrew T. Lund and his wife are leading members of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Vining and in church circles as well as the social and business circles of the town and county are esteemed and respected for their part in the life of the community.

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

TEMAN A. LUND.

One of the well-known and prosperous farmers of Erhards Grove township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is Teman A. Lund, who was born in Erhards Grove township, September 12, 1876, the sun of Anund and Olena Lund, both of whom were natives of Norway. Anund Lund came to America in 1869 and settled in Waseca county, Minnesota, where he lived until 1874, and then moved to Erhards Grove township, where he homesteaded eighty acres of land in sections _m and 22, to which he added eighty acres and where the elder Lund lived until his death, in 1S0N. his widow, Olena. surviving him until 1015. Anund and Olena Lund were the parents of the following children: Christine, Mary I deceased). Tora (deceased), Andrena (deceased), Peter (deceased), Emma (deceased), Jennie, Tilla, Teman A.. Lena, John and Peter.

Teman A. Lund received his education in the public schools of Erhards Grove township, after which he went to the state of North Dakota and homesteaded a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Pierce county, where he lived for seven years and then returned to Otter Tail county, Minnesota. On his return to Erhards Grove township, Teman A. Lund bought one hundred and eighty-three acres of land in section 8, a place which he improved with a modern house, large barn and outbuildings, and where he now follows general agricultural pursuits, together with the raising of live stock.

During the year 1902 Teman A. Lund was married to Clara Christopherson, who was born in Erhards Grove township, February 3, 1878, the daughter of Andrew and Lise Christopherson, who were among the early settlers in Erhards Grove township. To the marriage of Teman A. and Clara Lund have been born three children, Orville, Linda and Myrtle.

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