Charles A. Lund

As printed in 1916

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 History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.