Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-09-02

son, MS son, mao Deen clerk OF SClOOl
district 10. -, and we expected to
find tic records here. A successor
had been elected, however, in the per-
son OF Ole T. Hagen, who resided a
mile or two> distant. Being so near
the corner of the county we proceeded
some distance westwardly and mount
ing one of the highest hills took an
"al vista" panoramic view of the
country to the northwest, located in
Pope, Swift and Kandiyohi counties.
The view into Lake Johanna from this
point is grand. A vast basin sur
rounded by high ranges of hills and
completely paved with small but steep
knolls. Lake Johanna makes fine
scenery, but we judge is difficult land
to work crops upon. To the north
west is a community called Stockholm
by the people of the vicinity, although
the Swedish settlement at that place,
was long ago abandoned. The Swedes
who first located there moved farther
to the northwest where they re-estab-
lished their "Stockholm' and where
it is noWs officially known as such.
One of the first settlers in Lake Jo-
hanna before the Indian troubles was
Jon Sandvik. Later he was instru-
mental in having the mail route es-
tablished from Willmar, by way of
the postottices of Norway Lake, West
Lake and Sunburg, to Lake Johanna.
On our way back eastwardly, we
took view of the hanging rock of
Norway Lake, in Sec. 5. We were
obliged to make long detour around
the base of an immense hill to reach
the home of Mr.. Hagen. Here we Sc
cured notes from the remaining rec
ords of Dist. No. 73-by no means
complete. Our work there done, we
threaded our way out from the big
hills and at late hour arrived at the
Bendikson home near the Lake of
Hafta, where we were generously pro-
vided with food and shelter. Lasse
Bendikson, the early settler who re-
sided here, died but a short time ago.
His son, Lewis Bendikson, Jr., now
runs the place with his brother, Peter.
The latter, however, has been fire.
man on the Great Western railway
and may go back to his position
there. The Bendickson estate con-
sists of 365 acres, As acres of which is
woodland.
In the morning we retraced our
steps northward to the home of Ole O.
Wig. Here we secured some addition
al information regarding Dist. No.
70. Mr.. Wig has a fine place, and is
ap interesting gentleman. He showed
us an old oak tree under which he
had camped with his family during the
first summer on the place and point
near by where dug out had served
them for home for fourteen years.
The contrast with the fine residence,
large barn, and other. farm buildings,
geared windmill, and other improve
ments of'the present spoke eloquently
of the evolution which finally crowns
the energetic and persistent efforts of
the pioneer with success. Mr.. Wig is
a patriotic citizen. He has g flag pole
erected on the hill back of his house,
and on proper occasions displays the
national emblem. He has not for
gotten the land of his birth and has
also fine specimen OF the Norwegian
colors, which occasionally he filings
to the breeze, always however, he
added, beneath the flag of his adop-
ton.
Our next visit was at the home of
Ole P. Stensrud who is the custodian
of the records of the Sunburg church
organization. The people of this vi
cinity were preparing to attend a fu-
deral. The aged mother of Ole Tor
kelson had passed away and the earth
ly remains were to be consigned to
their-resting place. Mr.. Stensrud was
very accommodating, and we secured
what information we could find with
out any delay: The Sunburg church
was organized in 1876 by Rev. o.
Paulson of Willmar. The church lost
the original grant of ten acres OF land
from the railroad lands by reason OF
failing to have the agreement re-
corded in the register Of deeds Office.
Mr.. Bendikson, who purchased the
railroad land, however, donated the
site for the church and churchy yard.