The 1916 History of Otter Tail County traces the Risbrudt family to Engebret Tarkelson, born in Norway in 1825, who emigrated in 1861, lived at Spring Grove, Minnesota, and in Winneshiek County, Iowa, and in 1868 squatted on unsurveyed land in St. Olaf township, where he died in 1907. His son Torkel, born in Norway in 1845, took land next to his father's, borrowed the money for his first sack of flour, and built up 480 acres; he served sixteen years as township treasurer. Another son, Ellef E. Risbrudt, born in Norway in 1857, bought his own St. Olaf farm in 1884 and spent 1911 to 1914 on a Montana homestead. Torkel's son E. T. Risbrudt, born in St. Olaf in 1874, was one of the first graduates of Park Region College in 1893, taught school, farmed in Tumuli township, and became general manager of the Dalton Grain and Lumber Company. Every fact below is cited to the public-domain 1916 county history.
Where the family starts
Engebret Tarkelson and Kari (Ellefson) Tarkelsonborn 1825Most recent in our records
E. T. Risbrudtborn 1874Tap a name to jump to that person.
Squatted in St. Olaf township in 1868
TORKEL E. RISBRUDT.
Torkel K. Risbrudt is generally known throughout this section as a leader in public affairs, and as a citizen he is highly respected. He is the s. m of Engebret and Kari (Ellefson) Tarkelson, both natives of Norway, where his birth occurred on November 6, 1845. Engebret Tarkelson was born on April _'o. [825, and emigrated to America in 1861. Immediately upon his arrival in this country, he located in Spring Grove Houston county. Minnesota, and the following year removed to Winneshiek county. Iowa. where he remained until [867. lie then removed to Douglas count)', Minnesota where he remained until May -'4. 1868, at which time he squatted mi land which was nut surveyed at the time, located in Si Olaf township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and continued to reside on that place until his death, on October. 1907. This home was purchased under the homestead law and consisted of one hundred and sixty acres. Kari Ellefson was born on September 24, 1 count v. Iowa-
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
1 Winneshiek lie must of his education i
11 the Schools s' attendance at the schools in Iowa. As hundred and sixty acres of land in St.
sack of flour, which he purchased at Alexandria, Minnesota, and for which he borrowed the money. During the first years of his farming operations he did teaming in connection with his agricultural work and gradually added to his holdings until he owned four hundred and eighty acres of well-improved land. Before he began selling this property to his sons it was devoted to general farming and stock raising.
Torkel E. Risbrudt has seen many changes in this section, his first memory of Fergus Falls being but a lone log cabin in which he spent the night upon his first trip to that town. Among the many offices which he has held are those of constable, assessor, chairman of township supervisors, township clerk and director. lie also served as treasurer of the township for sixteen years. Politically, he votes independently, and his religious affiliations are with the Norwegian Lutheran church.
On March [8. [873, Torkel E. Risbrudt was united in marriage to Geuine Ellfson, and they are the parents of six children, whose names follow: Edward, Clara. Theodore, Christopher and Helena.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer, St. Olaf township
ELLEF E. RISBRUDT.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Ellef E. Risbrudt received his education in the public schools of St. Olaf township, Otter Tail county, and was reared on the home farm where he assisted his father with the work until twenty-seven years of age. In 1884 he purchased one hundred and seventy acres of land in St. Olaf township, on which he erected buildings and made other improvements. He has continued to live on this place ever since. In 191 1 he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, under the homestead law, in Montana and remained there until Christmas, 1914. Each year he returned to his former home in St. Olaf township to visit his people, and in 1901 purchased ninety acres of land near the home place. In 1900 he invested in forty acres more adjoining his farm, and now owns three hundred and ten acres in St. Olaf township. He is also the owner of ten acres of timber land, which was given to him by his father. The farm in St. Olaf township is devoted to general agriculture and stock raising.
On June 2, 1883, Ellef E. Risbrudt, Jr., was united in marriage to Christine Johnson and they are the parents of six children as follow: Clara. Emma. Tena, Elvin, Selmer and Noble. Politically, Ellef E. Risbrudt, Jr., is a stanch advocate of Republican principles and is very earnest in his convictions. Religiously, he is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and lends his active support to that church.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Teacher, farmer, banker and grain company manager
E. T. RISBRUDT.
A career of general usefulness in many directions has been that of E. T. Risbrudt, who on account of the various activities in which he has been engaged is a man of broad understanding of problems of business and a keen student of human nature. E. T. Risbrudt is a native of the county in which he still reside-, having been born in St. Olaf, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, on the 31st of January, 1874. the son of Torkel and Gurine (Soliah) Risbrudt.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops in the early 1900s. We pick up from there and trace your line down to you and back as far as the records go, into a written book with every source cited.
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