In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1843
From 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)
A veteran of the Civil War, one who took part in many of its most important engagements, a citizen who in local life has proved himself of great value to the community, and who has been a most important part of the development of those things which have done much for the moral and physical betterment of the township and county, and a man who has made a host of admiring friends as the result of his useful and unselfish life, is Stengrim Hansen, who was born in Norway, October 22, 1843, tne son ot Hans S. and Martha (Kupsing) Bergerud.
Hans S. Bergerud, following the death of his wife. Martha, came tk> America and settled in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, in the year 1872, living with his sons, Erik and Christian, for a time, plans S. Bergerud then took up a homestead of eighty acres of land in Aastad township, land which his son, Stengrim, the subject of this sketch, had pre-empted at an earlier time, it being what was known as "double-priced" land. Some time later Hans S. Bergerud was married, secondly, to Mary Olson, who was born in Norway, and who came to this country about the same time as Mr Bergerud. Hans S. Bergerud suffered the loss of his second wife in death after some time and then went to live with his son. Christian, dying at that place. Hans S. and Martha (Kupsing) Bergerud were the parents of the following children: Gunell. Thorston, Stengrim. Erik, Christian and Christopher. To the marriage of Hans and Mary (Olson) Bergerud were born four children, as follow: Martin, Olena, Andrena and Gunell.
Strengrim Hansen, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the public schools of Norway. With his sister, Gunell, and her husband, he came to America in the year 1861 and went to the state of Iowa, where tin v located in Winneshiek county, living there for a short time. Stengrim Hansen enlisted.-is a volunteer in the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, and served with that regiment for the remainder of the Civil War. after which he continued as a cavalryman and took part in many of the engagements while clearing the Indians from the states of North and Smith Dakota. Following his experience as a soldier, Stengrim Hansen returned to the state of Iowa and worked as a farmer on eighty acres of land which he owned until the year 1871. when he sold his land in Towa and came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Western township, Inter adding, by purchase, one hundred and sixty acres more. On this land Stengrim Hansen placed many improvements and now lives at tinplace, engaging in general farming pursuits. Mr. Hansen has also "free claimed" fifty-five acres adjoining his farm and running along the lake.
1 during the year 1869 Stengrim Hansen was married to Mary Olson, who was born in Norway and came to America with her parents, who located in Winneshiek county, Iowa. To the marriage of Stengrim and Alary Hansen were born the following children: Martha, Ole, Hans, Gunell, Theodore, Gustav,.Martin. Gilbert and Edward, who died at the age nf twenty-seven years.
Few men have been mure loyal to their faith and church than has Stengrim Hansen, who has aided in the construction of three churches of the Norwegian Lutheran denomination in Western township. As a member of his church. Mr. Hansen is esteemed and honored, not only for the part that he has done for the people of his faith, but on account of his good and his unselfish life. Stengrim Hansen is no less honored in the town of Fergus Falls, where the St. Luke's hospital was made possible largely due tn the efforts ami sacrifices of this worthy man.
In political life Stengrim Hansen has taken no especial part hut has preferred to serve his community in other ways, the results of which will long he to the tried of the locality and its various life and interests
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.
The printed record stops around 1916. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.