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History of Winnebago County and Hancock County Iowa K Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. K. K. KILAND submitted by Gordon Felland K. K. Kiland is now living, retired at Lake Mills but for a considerable period was closely connected with the agricultural interests of Winnebago county and his enterprise, industry and perseverance brought to him the success that now enables him to rest from further labor in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He was born in Norway on the 10th of August, 1847, a son of K. H. and Aase Kiland, who were also natives of that country. The father was a farmer of Norway, where he spent his entire life there passing away in 1864. His wife survived until 1875. Their son, K. K. Kiland,
was reared and educated in his native land and was there employed as
a farm hand until 1869, when at the age of twenty-one years he determined
to come to America, feeling that he might have better opportunities
on this side the Atlantic. He first settled in Dane county, Wisconsin,
where he was employed until he came to Winnebago county in 1872, at
which In December, 1870, Mr. Kiland was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hanson, and to them were born three children, but all died in infancy, and the wife and mother passed away in June, 1890. On the 1st of June, 1891, Mr. Kiland was married to Miss Anna M. Holland and they became the parents of three sons: Clarence A., who was born May 30, 1892, and died on the 6th of September, 1903; Orville M., who was born May 11, 1894, and is now operating the home farm; and Conrad A., who was born September 25, 1896, and is now serving in the United States navy. While Mr. Kiland has retired from active farm work, be still has business connections, being a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company, in the Lake Mills Creamery Company, the Lake Mills Lumber Company and the Leland Elevator Company. He is a man of good business judgment and his affairs have been so carefully conducted that be has won a very gratifying measure of success. In all of his dealings he has been thoroughly reliable as well as progressive, and his fellow townsmen speak of him in terms of high regard. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. Mr. Kiland has lived in Winnebago county from pioneer times, having for forty-five years been a witness of the growth and development. of this section of the state. He has contributed in no small measure to public progress and improvement and there is no feature of the county's development with which he is not familiar. He can relate many interesting incidents of the early days when homes were widely scattered, when there were large tracts of land uncultivated and when the farmers had to depend mostly upon their own efforts and the assistance of their neighbors, as it was a long distance to market and there was comparatively little ready money in the county. Mr. Kiland has lived to witness remarkable changes, for Winnebago county is now populated by a prosperous and contented people, many of whom have won their success within the borders of the county. John I. Kinden, who is living on section 10, Norway township, Winnebago county, is cultivating about two hundred acres of land which he and his wife own. His farm interests are carefully managed and intelligently directed, and that he is leading a life of energy and thrift is indicated in the excellent appearance of his place. He was born in Norway , May 21, 1860 , a son of Ingebrit and Nickolai Kinden, who were farming people and had a family of seven children, of whom John is the youngest. The parents never came to the United States and only two of the children crossed the Atlantic, these being John and his sister Syneve, now the wife of John Forde, of Worth county, Iowa. The death of the mother occurred on the 21st of April, 1881 , while the father passed away on the 2d of July, 1885 . John I. Kinden was at that time a young man of about twenty-five years. His boyhood and youth had been spent in his native country and its public school system had afforded him his educational opportunities. Following his father's death he came alone to the United States , and the fact that there were many of the sons of Norway living in Winnebago county, Iowa , attracted him to this section of the state. For a time he taught a Norwegian school at Norman but afterward turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and upon his farm established his family. He now owns the west half of the northwest quarter of section 14, Norway township, while his wife owns one hundred and twenty acres of the southeast quarter of section 10. He carefully tills his fields in the production of those crops best adapted to soil and climate, and the result of his labors is seen in the excellent harvests which he annually gathers. In 1892 Mr. Kinden was united in marriage to Miss Emma Butler, the widow of John Butler, who was one of the early settlers of Norway township but passed away August 27, 1887 , and was laid to rest in Line Creek cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Butler had four children, namely: Bernard, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Worth county; Albert, who follows farming in Center township, Winnebago county; Sarah, the wife of Martin Erickson, of Brown county, Minnesota; and Marie, who gave her hand in marriage to Edward Bergeson, of Freeborn county, Minnesota. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kinden have been born five children, as follows: Nickolai, Ingebrigt, Selma , Anna and Sarah, all at home. They are also rearing Mrs. Kinden's grandson, Alfred, who is a son of Albert J. and Anna (Peterson) Butler , his mother having died March 24, 1911 . In his political views Mr. Kinden is a republican, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He belongs to the Synod Lutheran church and has long guided his life by its teachings. He came to America imbued with the hope of finding better opportunities than he believed he could secure in his native land, and having elected to cast in his fortunes with the American people, he has ever been loyal to the interests of the country. No history of the pioneer development of Winnebago county would be complete without mention of Hans J. Knutson, who in the period of earliest development here established his home in Norway township and for many years thereafter was closely associated with agricultural interests. He was a native of Norway and his parents never left that land. It was in the year 1853 that he crossed the Atlantic and took up his abode in Dane county, Wisconsin , there he resided for three years. During that period he was united in marriage to Miss Ingeborg Dahl, who was also a native of Norway and came to America when about eighteen years of age in company with her sister, Mrs. H. G. Emmons, who was a representative of one of the first nine families to come to Winnebago county. It was in 1856 that these families left Dane county, Wisconsin , and with ox teams drove across the country to this locality. Although they settled near each other, the homes of some of the party were in Norway township, Winnebago county, while the others were in Worth county, Iowa , and Freeborn county, Minnesota . They were the families of Colben Larson, Hans J. Knutson, Ole Terum, Narve Grunhovd, Eric Braaton, H. G. Simmons, Hendrick Larson, Stengrim Jelle and Louis Nelson. Hans J. Knutson took up a homestead on the southwest quarter of section 10, Norway township, Winnebago county, which he cleared, drained and improved, and as time passed he added to this the southeast quarter of section 9 and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 10, making three hundred and sixty acres in all. This he converted into a fine farm and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on the 4th of March, 1888 . His wife survived him for a long period, passing away on the 5th of January, 1906 , when she was laid to rest by his side in Line Creek cemetery. This worthy couple were the parents of five sons and two daughters, of whom the eldest, K. H., died in 1916. The others were: Tina, who became the wife of Iver Lien and died in 1914; Mary, the wife of Veger Gulbrandson, living in Albert Lea, Minnesota; Lewis H., who is still owner of the old homestead, which is now one of the best improved farms in Winnebago county; Ole, a resident of Emmons, Minnesota; and Magnus and Anton, who died in childhood. Having deliberately chosen to become an American citizen, Hans J. Knutson was always loyal to the interests of his adopted land and proved his allegiance by active service during the Civil war when he became one of the defenders of the Union . His regiment was attached to the army under the command of General Sherman, with whom he participated in various hotly contested campaigns as well as the march to the sea. When hostilities ceased he returned home, but never completely regained his health. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he stood at all times for what he believed to be the best interests of the majority. He was an excellent farmer and through his own unaided efforts won prosperity. In the passing of Mr. and Mrs. Hans J. Knutson the county lost two of its best known and most worthy pioneer settlers. In the middle of the nineteenth century they had cast in their lot with the early residents of northern Iowa when the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun in all this region. There were great tracts of uncultivated prairie land and the timber was uncut. Few roads had been made and it was a long distance to market. The country offered no advantages save that land was to be had at a very low figure. It required much strenuous effort, however, to convert it into productive fields, but this did not deter the Knutson's and other substantial Norwegian families that were here founded, and they should ever be remembered as among those who laid broad and deep the foundation for the present progress and prosperity of the county. ERICK OLSEN KOBBERVIG submitted by Gordon Felland Erick Olsen Kobbervig, living on section 31, Norway township, has been a resident of Winnebago county for forty-one years and throughout the greater part of this period has carried on general farming. He is a self-made man, his success being attributable entirely to his own efforts, and he is today the owner of two hundred and forty-three acres of rich and valuable land. He was born in Nordre Valders, Norway, September 25, 1846, a son of Ole 0. and Margaret 0. (Brager) Kobbervig, who were farming people of the land of the midnight sun, where they remained until 1852, when they crossed the Atlantic and made their way to Dane county, Wisconsin. They took passage on a sailing vessel which was thirteen weeks in crossing the Atlantic. The father took up farming in Dane county and there he and his wife spent their remaining days, both having now passed away. Three of their children were born in Norway, namely: Isabel, now the widow of Tostin Spaanem, of Mount Vernon, Wisconsin; Erick O.; and Arney, of Lake Mills. After coming to the United States, five others were added to the family: Martin, now living on the old homestead in Dane county; Maria, the wife of 0. S. Olson, of Lake Mills; Mrs. Anna Nelson, a widow residing in Minneapolis; Mattie, the wife of George Nelson, of Van Metre, South Dakota; and Ole, whose home is in Kalispell, Montana. Erick 0. Kobbervig was a little lad of but five and one-half years when brought by his parents to the new world and in Dane county he acquired a common school education. When he was a youth of sixteen he put aside his textbooks to earn his living as a farm hand, and was thus employed until he reached the age of twenty-two. He then felt his age and experience were sufficient to enable him to engage in farming on his own account and from 1869 until 1876 he engaged in cultivating rented land in Dane county. On the 18th of January of the latter year be came with his family to Lake Mills, Iowa, and there resided for a few years, during which he engaged in the implement business. He next bought an eighty-three acre farm in Center township and has since added to his original purchase by acquiring the southeast quarter of section 31, Norway township, just across the road from his first tract. He has put all the improvements upon his place and his labors have converted it into a good farm which is the -visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift. He is a stockholder in the Scarville Creamery Company, the Farmers elevators at Scarville and Lake Mills and the Savage Mail Order Company at St. Paul. When twenty-five years of age, in January, 1872, Mr. Kobbervig was married to Miss Julia Olson, of Dane county, Wisconsin, whose parents were among the pioneer settlers there. One child born to this union died in infancy, while the others are still living, namely: Malina, who is the wife of T. J. Moe, of Lake Mills; Caroline, at home; Mattie, who is the wife of Henry Dakken, of Lake Mills; Otis, residing in Glasgow, Montana; Sarah, who gave her hand in marriage to Chris Willardson, of Albert Lea, Minnesota; Ella, at home; Agard, living in St. Paul, Minnesota; Leonard, at home; Wilford, who enlisted in the United States cavalry from Des Moines and is now stationed at Fort Logan, Texas; and Alpha, at home. The wife and mother passed away in September, 1910, and was laid to rest in North cemetery at Lake Mills. She had been devoted to her family and was a consistent member of the United Lutheran church, to which Mr. Kobbervig also belongs. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party, but he has never sought nor desired office. He served, however, on the school board at Lake Mills and as judge of elections several times, and he has ever been interested in those forces and movements which tend to promote public progress and improvement. His life has been an exposition of that industry and perseverance which characterize the Norwegian people and his activities have contributed much to the agricultural progress and development of Winnebago county. He has lived to witness many changes here, for he took up his abode within its borders in pioneer times and be aided in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present progress and prosperity of the district. John Daniel Kuns is now living retired in Forest City but was long actively identified with farming and stock raising interests and is still the owner of valuable farm property in Winnebago county. He was born near Pierceville, Indiana, August 22, 1850, a son of Jacob and Jemima (Hoobler) Kuns, who were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Indiana and there remained for three years. They afterward became residents of Livingston county, Illinois, where the father passed away. The mother still resides there at the very advanced age of ninety- three years. In their family were eight children, four of whom survive. John Daniel Kuns was reared and educated in Livingston county, Illinois, his early experiences being those of the farm bred boy who divides his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. After reaching man's estate he began farming on his own account in Illinois and in 1889 he removed to Winnebago county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm, residing thereon until 1906. In that year he retired from active business life and removed to Forest City. In the meantime he had brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and had added many modern improvements to his place, converting it into one of the valuable farm properties of the district. He was practical and progressive in all that he did and as the result of his untiring industry and sound judgment he annually gathered good harvests. He is still the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land in this county, all of which is improved. While upon the farm he also fed stock of various kinds and this branch of his business contributed much to his income. On September 2, 1871, Mr. Kuns was married to Miss Phoebe M. Brooker, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, a daughter of Thomas and Lucinda (Wilber) Brooker, the former a native of England, while the latter was born in Ohio. They were married in the Buckeye state and thence removed to Illinois, while in 1887 they became residents of Winnebago county, Iowa, where their remaining days were passed, the father dying September 9, 1891, and the mother January 7, 1917. In their family were ten children, nine of whom are yet living. To Mr. and Mrs. Kuns were born ten children: Della May, who became the wife of John Conner and died in 1903; Bertha L., the wife of R. V. Hotchkiss, living in Fairmont, Minnesota; Mabel F., the wife of Raymond McBride, of Mount Valley, Iowa; Erastus E., a resident of Montana; Ammond R., who married Esther Witter and is living in Hancock county; Grace Belle, who is the wife of Earl Patten, and is living in Rowan, Iowa; Edward A., who married Flora Studer of Luverne, Iowa; Lula Pearl, the wife of Henry Nelson, of Forest City; John J., who married Gladys Walsh and lives at Clear Lake, Iowa; and George Dewey, at home. The family attend
the Baptist church and they are numbered among the valued and respected
citizens of this part of the state. In politics Mr. Kuns has long has
long been a stalwart republican and he has served for several years
as school director and as justice of the peace. He owes his success
to his own efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife. Through
their labors they have won a handsome fortune and are now reaping the
benefits of their former toil. Moreover, their success has been so honorably
won and so worthily used that the most envious could not grudge them
their prosperity.
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