|
Allamakee County >> 1913 Index Past and Present of Allamakee County Iowa Q Unless otherwise specified, these biographies are submitted by Dick Barton. J.
S. Quandahl, owner of the Quandahl Mercantile Store, the largest
enterprise of its kind in Allamakee county outside of Waukon, is one of
the best known business men in Waterloo township and his record in the
control of his extensive interests is a credit to a name that has here
been honored and respected since pioneer times.
He is one of Allamakee
county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Waterloo township in
1876, his parents being Nels and Julia Quandahl.
The parents came to
America in 1854 and after settling in Winneshiek county came from there
to Waterloo township, Allamakee county, in the early '70s.
In the
community which is now known as Quandahl the father bought a mercantile
store which since that time has been one of the strong and reliable
commercial institutions in this vicinity. The father remained active in
its conduct until his death in 1910, having survived his wife one year.
To their union were born nine children:
Lena, the wife of Henry Opheim,
of Waterloo township; J. S., of this review; Clara, deceased; Ella, the
wife of Charles Johnson, of Canada; Martha, who married Val Lopshire, of
Minnesota; Nettie, who lives at home; Arthur, who has passed away;
Edward, a resident of Canada; and Arthur, who lives at home.
J.
S. Quandahl was reared in his parent's home and acquired his
education in the public schools of Allamakee county, supplementing this
by a business course at Decorah, Iowa.
After laying aside his books he
entered into partnership with his father in the conduct of the Quandahl
Mercantile Store and their association continued until 1906, during
which time Mr. Quandahl of this review became known as a resourceful,
far-sighted and progressive business man, thoroughly familiar with every
detail connected with general merchandising.
Upon the death of his
father he purchased the entire stock and the store, and he is now
carrying on the business alone, a large and constantly increasing
patronage being accorded to him in recognition of his upright and
honorable business methods, his known reliability and his earnest desire
to please his patrons.
Mr. Quandahl owns also the old homestead of
sixty acres in Waterloo township and a fine modern residence.
He is
treasurer and a large stockholder in the Arctic Springs Creamery
Association and his ability is widely known and respected.
In
1904 Mr. Quandahl was united in marriage to Miss Petra Selnes, a
native of Winneshiek county and a daughter of Edward and Anna Selnes.
The parents were born in Norway and came to America in 1860, just before
the outbreak of the Civil war.
The father served for four years in that
conflict and after receiving his honorable discharge returned to Iowa,
settling in Highland township, Winneshiek county, where he purchased
land.
He became a prominent and successful agriculturist, operating his
extensive holdings until his death, which occurred in 1913.
His wife
survives him and resides upon the homestead.
To their union were born
nine children, seven of whom survive, the wife of the subject of this
review being the third in order of birth.
She acquired her education in
the public schools of Iowa, and was also for a time a student at an
agricultural school in Minnesota. She and her husband have two
daughters: Alma J., who was born in 1905; and Norma E., born February 1,
1913.
The family are members of the Lutheran church.
Mr.
Quandahl is a republican and always a stanch upholder of the
principles and policies of that party.
The cause of education finds in
him an intelligent champion and he has done much toward its promotion
through his able service as president of the Bear creek school district.
He has made an excellent record as a merchant and farmer and conducts
his interests in such a way that each year adds to his prosperity.
Energetic and efficient, always mindful of his duty to others and known
as a progressive and useful citizen, he is a native son for whom
Allamakee county has every reason to be proud.
P.
J. Quandahl, an honored and respected citizen of Waterloo township,
was born in Norway, March 25, 1851, and is a son of Jacob N. Quandahl,
also a native of that country, who came to America with his wife and
family in 1854 and settled first in Winneshiek county.
From there he
moved three years later to Waterloo township, Allamakee county, and
purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, a property which he
afterward sold, buying another farm on section 30.
Here he operated a
grist mill and a mercantile store in partnership with his two sons, the
subject of this review and his brother Nels.
They were very successful
in the conduct of this enterprise and the father became one of the
prosperous and
prominent business men of this vicinity.
He died in
Waterloo township at the age of sixty-eight, having survived his wife
only a short time.
Three children were born to their union, of whom
only one, the subject of this review, now survives.
P.
J. Quandahl was reared in his parents' home, having come with them to
America when he was three years of age.
When he had attained his
majority he joined his father and his brother Nelse in the conduct of a
grist mill and a general store and also in the operation of one hundred
and eighty acres of land in Waterloo township.
Their association
continued for seventeen years, at the end of which time the property was
divided between the two sons.
P. J. Quandahl now owns one hundred and
sixty acres of improved land and gives a great deal of his time to its
cultivation, although he also follows his trade as a millwright.
He has
recently turned over eighty acres of his land, and his mill, to his two
oldest sons.
He has at all times conducted his business interests in a
careful and capable manner and has gained recognition as one of the
resourceful an farsighted business men of this locality.
In
1873 Mr. Quandahl was united in marriage to Miss Betsy Severson, a
native of Norway, and they became the parents of nine children.
Jacob
and Knut are in partnership with their father, operating the
mill and
part of the homestead.
Both are married and Jacob has two children,
Evelyn P. and Truman J.
The other children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Quandahl are as follows:
Helen, who married Alfred Opheim, of Montana;
Sarah, the wife of Michael Bakkum, of Spring Row, Minnesota;
Clara, the
wife of George Burnett; Martha, who married S. Johnson, of McKenzie
county, North Dakota; Bertha P., who resides at home; Elmer,
of Montana;
and Olaf S., also at home.
The family are members of the Lutheran
church.
Mr. Quandahl is a republican in his political beliefs and is interested in community growth and advancement. He has served in an able and efficient manner as trustee of Waterloo township and never neglects the duties of citizenship. He has now made his home in Allamakee county for fifty-six years and his life record, ever honorable and upright, has gained for him the warm esteem and unqualified confidence of those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. --------------------------------------------- Correction:
Clara
J. Quandahl was married to George Bernatz Jr. not George Burnett. |