Full name at birth: Johan Thomassen Amundrud.
John Thompson, whose early settlement in Polk County made him one of the best known men of that region, is a resident of Vineland Township, and is proprietor of one of the fine farms of that locality. He is esteemed highly as a citizen and wields an influence for good in his community.
Mr. Thompson was born in the southern part of Norway, March 24, 1852, and was reared and educated in the common schools of his native land. He followed farming there and remained until 1871 when he came to America with his mother via Christiania to Quebec, Canada. They spent nine weeks on the trip and encountered a severe storm for twenty four hours. There were about six hundred passengers aboard the vessel. Our subject stopped off the train at Albert Lea, Minnesota, and spent three years at farm work in Freeborn County, Minnesota. In the spring of 1874, he went to the Red River in Polk County. He had no team and brought only his clothes and provisions, going with John Hanson, his neighbor, and John J. Borsvald, who had started later but had come to his friends on the way. The journey was much delayed by mud and rain, and by being frequently compelled to retrace their steps to find river crossings. They came to Wild Rice River, but could not cross. There they found a notice to wait as someone would be sent to help them cross. This was posted on a tree and was apparently in his brother Peder's handwriting and signed by him. They went on to Geortown and crossed to the Dakota side, going up to the elm River. There they other homeseekers and together they built a bridge on Sunday and they arrived at Belmont, July 5 (1874).
Our subject "squatted" on section 24 of Vineland Township. He stayed most of the first year with his brother Peder, and he then hauled logs from the river and built a shanty in which they lived until 1887, when their present comfortable frame dwelling was erected. Mr. Thompson now owns 214 acres of land, of which fourteen acres is timber on the Red River. He chose a good location in the early days there, and has prospered in his farming operations.
John Thompson was married at Christmastide in 1873 to Miss Johanna K. Lovlien. Mr. Thompson and his bride were engaged to marry prior to his leaving Norway and he sent her a ticket to join him in America. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of nine children, namely: Martha Marin, Thomas Hagbart, Julius, Peter Adolph, Magda Oliva (died at the age of 11 years) Trina Helene, Josephine, Alf Mauritz and Nora Eugenie.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Sand Hill Lutheran Church and served as township clerk for the last ten years, and most of the time as justice of the peace. He was one of the early constables and was chairman of the township board. Of late years he has been a Populist politically and was formerly a Republican. Our examination of the records in our subject's office shows that Vineland Township was organized in July 1876 with the following officers: Henry Simon, Chairman of the board; Steener Knudson, member of the board; Ole O. Estenson, member of the board; P. O. Satermo, Treasurer; C. Steenerson, Clerk; Paul Simon, justice of the peace, P. O. Estenson, justice of the peace; and A. J. Bramseth and P. Thompson, constables. Compendium of History and Biography of Northern Minnesota, 1902
John Thompson, whose early settlement in Polk County made him one of the best known men of that region, is a resident of Vineland Township, and is proprietor of one of the fine farms of that locality. He is esteemed highly as a citizen and wields an influence for good in his community.
Mr. Thompson was born in the southern part of Norway, March 24, 1852, and was reared and educated in the common schools of his native land. He followed farming there and remained until 1871 when he came to America with his mother via Christiania to Quebec, Canada. They spent nine weeks on the trip and encountered a severe storm for twenty four hours. There were about six hundred passengers aboard the vessel. Our subject stopped off the train at Albert Lea, Minnesota, and spent three years at farm work in Freeborn County, Minnesota. In the spring of 1874, he went to the Red River in Polk County. He had no team and brought only his clothes and provisions, going with John Hanson, his neighbor, and John J. Borsvald, who had started later but had come to his friends on the way. The journey was much delayed by mud and rain, and by being frequently compelled to retrace their steps to find river crossings. They came to Wild Rice River, but could not cross. There they found a notice to wait as someone would be sent to help them cross. This was posted on a tree and was apparently in his brother Peder's handwriting and signed by him. They went on to Geortown and crossed to the Dakota side, going up to the elm River. There they other homeseekers and together they built a bridge on Sunday and they arrived at Belmont, July 5 (1874).
Our subject "squatted" on section 24 of Vineland Township. He stayed most of the first year with his brother Peder, and he then hauled logs from the river and built a shanty in which they lived until 1887, when their present comfortable frame dwelling was erected. Mr. Thompson now owns 214 acres of land, of which fourteen acres is timber on the Red River. He chose a good location in the early days there, and has prospered in his farming operations.
John Thompson was married at Christmastide in 1873 to Miss Johanna K. Lovlien. Mr. Thompson and his bride were engaged to marry prior to his leaving Norway and he sent her a ticket to join him in America. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of nine children, namely: Martha Marin, Thomas Hagbart, Julius, Peter Adolph, Magda Oliva (died at the age of 11 years) Trina Helene, Josephine, Alf Mauritz and Nora Eugenie.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Sand Hill Lutheran Church and served as township clerk for the last ten years, and most of the time as justice of the peace. He was one of the early constables and was chairman of the township board. Of late years he has been a Populist politically and was formerly a Republican. Our examination of the records in our subject's office shows that Vineland Township was organized in July 1876 with the following officers: Henry Simon, Chairman of the board; Steener Knudson, member of the board; Ole O. Estenson, member of the board; P. O. Satermo, Treasurer; C. Steenerson, Clerk; Paul Simon, justice of the peace, P. O. Estenson, justice of the peace; and A. J. Bramseth and P. Thompson, constables. Compendium of History and Biography of Northern Minnesota, 1902
Full name at birth: Johan Thomassen Amundrud.
John Thompson, whose early settlement in Polk County made him one of the best known men of that region, is a resident of Vineland Township, and is proprietor of one of the fine farms of that locality. He is esteemed highly as a citizen and wields an influence for good in his community.
Mr. Thompson was born in the southern part of Norway, March 24, 1852, and was reared and educated in the common schools of his native land. He followed farming there and remained until 1871 when he came to America with his mother via Christiania to Quebec, Canada. They spent nine weeks on the trip and encountered a severe storm for twenty four hours. There were about six hundred passengers aboard the vessel. Our subject stopped off the train at Albert Lea, Minnesota, and spent three years at farm work in Freeborn County, Minnesota. In the spring of 1874, he went to the Red River in Polk County. He had no team and brought only his clothes and provisions, going with John Hanson, his neighbor, and John J. Borsvald, who had started later but had come to his friends on the way. The journey was much delayed by mud and rain, and by being frequently compelled to retrace their steps to find river crossings. They came to Wild Rice River, but could not cross. There they found a notice to wait as someone would be sent to help them cross. This was posted on a tree and was apparently in his brother Peder's handwriting and signed by him. They went on to Geortown and crossed to the Dakota side, going up to the elm River. There they other homeseekers and together they built a bridge on Sunday and they arrived at Belmont, July 5 (1874).
Our subject "squatted" on section 24 of Vineland Township. He stayed most of the first year with his brother Peder, and he then hauled logs from the river and built a shanty in which they lived until 1887, when their present comfortable frame dwelling was erected. Mr. Thompson now owns 214 acres of land, of which fourteen acres is timber on the Red River. He chose a good location in the early days there, and has prospered in his farming operations.
John Thompson was married at Christmastide in 1873 to Miss Johanna K. Lovlien. Mr. Thompson and his bride were engaged to marry prior to his leaving Norway and he sent her a ticket to join him in America. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of nine children, namely: Martha Marin, Thomas Hagbart, Julius, Peter Adolph, Magda Oliva (died at the age of 11 years) Trina Helene, Josephine, Alf Mauritz and Nora Eugenie.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Sand Hill Lutheran Church and served as township clerk for the last ten years, and most of the time as justice of the peace. He was one of the early constables and was chairman of the township board. Of late years he has been a Populist politically and was formerly a Republican. Our examination of the records in our subject's office shows that Vineland Township was organized in July 1876 with the following officers: Henry Simon, Chairman of the board; Steener Knudson, member of the board; Ole O. Estenson, member of the board; P. O. Satermo, Treasurer; C. Steenerson, Clerk; Paul Simon, justice of the peace, P. O. Estenson, justice of the peace; and A. J. Bramseth and P. Thompson, constables. Compendium of History and Biography of Northern Minnesota, 1902
John Thompson, whose early settlement in Polk County made him one of the best known men of that region, is a resident of Vineland Township, and is proprietor of one of the fine farms of that locality. He is esteemed highly as a citizen and wields an influence for good in his community.
Mr. Thompson was born in the southern part of Norway, March 24, 1852, and was reared and educated in the common schools of his native land. He followed farming there and remained until 1871 when he came to America with his mother via Christiania to Quebec, Canada. They spent nine weeks on the trip and encountered a severe storm for twenty four hours. There were about six hundred passengers aboard the vessel. Our subject stopped off the train at Albert Lea, Minnesota, and spent three years at farm work in Freeborn County, Minnesota. In the spring of 1874, he went to the Red River in Polk County. He had no team and brought only his clothes and provisions, going with John Hanson, his neighbor, and John J. Borsvald, who had started later but had come to his friends on the way. The journey was much delayed by mud and rain, and by being frequently compelled to retrace their steps to find river crossings. They came to Wild Rice River, but could not cross. There they found a notice to wait as someone would be sent to help them cross. This was posted on a tree and was apparently in his brother Peder's handwriting and signed by him. They went on to Geortown and crossed to the Dakota side, going up to the elm River. There they other homeseekers and together they built a bridge on Sunday and they arrived at Belmont, July 5 (1874).
Our subject "squatted" on section 24 of Vineland Township. He stayed most of the first year with his brother Peder, and he then hauled logs from the river and built a shanty in which they lived until 1887, when their present comfortable frame dwelling was erected. Mr. Thompson now owns 214 acres of land, of which fourteen acres is timber on the Red River. He chose a good location in the early days there, and has prospered in his farming operations.
John Thompson was married at Christmastide in 1873 to Miss Johanna K. Lovlien. Mr. Thompson and his bride were engaged to marry prior to his leaving Norway and he sent her a ticket to join him in America. Their marriage has been blessed by the birth of nine children, namely: Martha Marin, Thomas Hagbart, Julius, Peter Adolph, Magda Oliva (died at the age of 11 years) Trina Helene, Josephine, Alf Mauritz and Nora Eugenie.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the Sand Hill Lutheran Church and served as township clerk for the last ten years, and most of the time as justice of the peace. He was one of the early constables and was chairman of the township board. Of late years he has been a Populist politically and was formerly a Republican. Our examination of the records in our subject's office shows that Vineland Township was organized in July 1876 with the following officers: Henry Simon, Chairman of the board; Steener Knudson, member of the board; Ole O. Estenson, member of the board; P. O. Satermo, Treasurer; C. Steenerson, Clerk; Paul Simon, justice of the peace, P. O. Estenson, justice of the peace; and A. J. Bramseth and P. Thompson, constables. Compendium of History and Biography of Northern Minnesota, 1902
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