Olaf Lein

As printed in 1916

OLAF LEIN.

< )lat Lein, a farmer living on the outskirts of Underwood, Otter Tail county Minnesota, is a native of the state of Iowa, born in Winneshiek county, June i_\ 1872, son of John and Marit (Randahl) Lein. John Lein- parents both lived and died in their native Norway, and while the parents of Marit Randahl were also Norwegians by birth, they in [870 or 1871 emigrated to America with their daughter and her husband. They all lived for a time in Iowa and after a few years the Randahl grandparents came to Otter Tail county, where they bought a farm located just west of where the village of Underwood now stands. There the grandparents spent the remainder of their days.

Both of Mr. Lein's parents were born in Norway and were there married and in the early seventies, as before stated, came to this country. At their home in Iowa he worked for a time on the railroad and then rented a fruit farm, where he spent some four years. About 1878 or 1870 he moved to Wilkin county, this state, when he purchased a farm of one hundred and. sixty acres, thirteen miles west of Fergus halls. The land wagood, but the buildings very poor indeed, and he gradually improved them until lie brought them up to good condition. He later sold out and moved to Fork, located in the northwest portion of this state, and there operated a small general store and was appointed postmaster, which position he held for a great many years. The mother's death occurred at that place in 1912 and the father then disposed of his little store to a son-in-law and moved to Warren, this state, where he entered into partnership with a friend and they are now doing a real-estate business. Both John Lein and his wife were members of the Lutheran church from childhood and in that faith have reared their family. There were originally eleven children in their family, six of whom grew to maturity. Inga was the wife of Theodore Sjordal, and died at her home in Underwood: Nicolena married 1. Ornis and lives at Fork, this state: Carl was from his boyhood a wanderer and his whereabouts at the present time are unknown; John lives at Warren, this state, where he is engaged in farming, and Christena is the wife of G. H. Gunheim.

Olaf Lein was the fourth child in the order of birth, and at the age of two years was taken into the home of his Grandfather Randahl, who reared him. He attended the public schools of Underwood and was taught practical farming on the grandfather's home place just west of Underwood, which is now Mr. Lein's home. On the death of the grandfather, Mr. Lein came into possession of the home. This at first had.contained eighty acres, but the grandfather had sold some three acres into town lots and Mr. Lein has platted and sold five additional acres, so his farm now consists of seventy-two acres. This is all in good condition, well improved and with good buildings, and he conducts a general farming business in addition to raising considerable live stock.

On November 15, 1893, Mr. Lein was united in marriage with Berit Sands, daughter of Thore and Guri (Holt) Sands, both natives of Trondhjem, Norway. They lived there several years after marriage, or until the time of the mother's death, in [881, when the father, with his four children emigrated to America. They settled in Sverdrup township, this county where be followed the carpenter trade and later took up farming. He lived for a time at Underwood but now resides in North Dakota, having retired from active duties. Mrs. Lein is the second child of the family, the eldest being Peter, who was an engineer and farmer in Oregon, where be died; Ragna is the wife of Gus Wanstedt and lives at White Deer, South Dakota, while Olaf. the youngest of the family, is a farmer in Canada.

Mr. and Mrs. Lein have a family of six children, namely: Florence, born on March 26, 1895; Thoralf, July 18, 1896; Jarl, September 16. [898; Leonard. April 6, 1902; Thelma, June 2. 1903, and Goodwin. February 19, 1910. Mr. Lein takes a commendable interest in all that affects the life of the community and is independent so far as politics are concerned. voting for the man of his choice. His life has been such that he stands high in the regard of those who know him.

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.