Gunder (Gunnar) T. Winkjer

Gunnar (Gunder) T. Winkjer and Karen Annie (Helle) Winkjer. Gunder T. Winkjer was born in Norway in 1840, and at age 19 (ca. 1859) left home for the Australia gold diggings. He returned to Norway and emigrated from Norway to New York in 1859, then directly to Goodhue county, Minnesota until 1866. He then went to Douglas County and bought 160 acres of land on Section 1, Moe township. It has increased to 200 acres. Gunder T. Winkjer married Karen Annie Helle in Goodhue county, and they had 11 children, 8 still living: Toulo (Brandon meat market proprietor), Petter Joel G. Winkjer, Mary, Gideon, Lena, Jonathan, Theodore, and Lawritz Kraft. The deceased children were Jonetha, Jonetha, and Josias who died in infancy. Gunder T. Winkjer has also been the presidents of the Farmer's Elevator Company at Garfield, and owner of the lumber yard in Garfield. The parents of Gunder T. spent their last years living with their daughter Mrs. Foslien in Douglas County.

Birth: Feb. 27, 1840 Skogn Levanger kommune Nord-Trøndelag fylke, Norway Death: Jul. 13, 1934 Douglas County Minnesota, USA

Obituary, Alexandria Citizen News, Douglas County, Minnesota, Thursday, July 19, 1934 Page 1 PIONEER OF MOE, 94, RESIDENT SINCE 1868 SUCCUMBS FRIDAY Gunder T. Winkjer Passes Away at Home of Son On Homestead Farm GARFIELD LUMBERMAN FOR 14 YEARS Came to Minnesota in 1864, Settled First in Goodhue Co., Then Came Here

Gunder T. Winkjer, one of the most influential and respected pioneers of Moe Township, Douglas County, Passed away Friday, July 13, at the home of his son, Theodore, in Moe township, after an illness of only two months. He was 94 years, 5 months and 15 days old at the time of his death. He is a native of Skogn, Thronhjem (Trondheim), Norway, born Feb. 27, 1840, the son of Thomas and Mariett Winkjer. His father was a farmer in Norway and after retiring from the activities of life, came to the United States to live with his children. Gunder T. Winkjer received his education in the public schools of Norway and there grew to manhood on his father's farm, where as a lad he assisted with the work about the farm. He remained a resident to f his native country until he was twenty years of age, when he left for Australia with a company of gold seekers. He remained in that country for three years, after which he went to New Zealand, where he remained for a year. In Australia and New Zealand he was successful as a miner, but later returned to Norway, where he remained for a year amid the scenes of his childhood and with relatives or friends. In 1864 he decided that he would come to America, and after landing in Quebec, he came directly to Minnesota and located in Goodie county and was there four years, at the end of which time, in 1868, he came to Douglas County and homesteaded a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Moe Township, where his son, Theodore, is now living and where he was at the time of his death. He later added to the farm, Making it two hundred and ten acres, and has been the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in the community of Garfield. He remained on the old homestead for forty-eight years, during which time he had devoted himself to the development and improvement of the tract and engaging in general farming and stock raising. For fourteen years he was engaged in the lumber business in Garfield, in connection with his work on the farm. This farm is on and one quarter miles from Garfield, and is recognized as on of the best in that community. G. T. Winkjer was united in marriage to Karen Anna Helle in Goodhue county in 1867 and to this union the following children were born: Johan Taulo, Peter Joel, Jonetta, Jonetta, Anne Maria, Gideon, Lena, Jonathan, Josias, Theodore G. and Kraft. The two Jonettas, Lina, Losias, Maria and Kraft are all deceased. His wife, two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death some years ago. The family were active members in the East Moe Norwegian Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Winkjer was one of the organizers and for many years a trustee. He always took much inters in local civic affairs and was one of the organizers of the township of Moe. He was one of the organizers of the Moe and Urness Fire Insurance Company and was connected with the movements that led to the organization of the Farmers Elevator Co., the Co-operative Creamery Col, and the Farmers Telephone Co., at Garfield, Minnesota, and had held offices at various times in these companies. Mr. Winkjer was one of the delegates to the farmers convention held at St. Paul for the purpose of urging the State Legislature to introduce the manufacture of twine at the State Prison, which proposition, after a vigorous fight, was adopted. Mr. Winkjer has ever been a man of large influence in the community and is held in the highest regard by all who knew him. HIs life has been a busy one and he has accomplished much that is good. He will be greatly missed by a host of friends and relatives. Others surviving besides those already mentioned are ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at one-thirty o'clock from the house and at two o'clock from the East Moe Church, Rev. Bestul officiating. Duets, "Behold The Host in White" and Dun Stou Hvide Folk" were sung by Bernice Foslien and Luella Hanson. The pall bearers were: Frank, Levi and Palmer Foslien, Theodore and Lewis Foslien and Thomas Winkjer, all nephews of the deceased. Interment was made in the church cemetery. The following donations were given in memory of Mr. Winkjer: Mrs. Ole Winkjer, $3 to the orphan home, Mr. and Mrs. Theo. Fossils, Mr. and Mrs. John Gunderson and Lewis Foslien, $3 to Sunset Home at Glenwood. His sons Taulo, of Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada, Joel of Washington, D. C., and Gideon of Rumsey, Alberta, Canada, were not able to be present at the funeral. Out of town friends attending the funeral were: Levi Foslien of Minneapolis, Mrs. Chas. Johnson of Anoka, Emma Foslien of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Anderson and Mrs. Farland of Lowry, Mr. Hans Moe of the Ebenezer Home in Minneapolis, Marriet Winkjer of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Paulson and Mr. and Mrs. Martin Paulson of Ashby, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Stormbound of Nelson, Lars FLoan, and Mr. and Mrs. Ole Winge of Clontarf, T. B. Sumstad of Ashby, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Hanson of Beloit Wisconsin and Mr. Grimstad and Mr. G. Spilseth of Kensington. The Alexandria people who attended were: Mrs. G. Lunlie of Bethany Home, Christ Fishiness, Andrew Quam, Albert Olson, John Urness, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Berg, Mr. and Mrs. Knute Landru, Wm. Landed, C. W. Colbjornsen, Mrs. R. E. Ballard, and Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Ballard. The following poem, which was written by John HJelseng of Craik, Sask, Canada, on the occasion of Gunder T. Winkjer's 94th birthday, which was celebrated on Feb. 27, 1934. A Brief Tronder Saga (A Tronder is a native of Trondelag) Our honored friend of Tronder's line, On Norway's fields he cradled lay, 'Mongst rugged mounts and stately pine, Grew up this scion of our day.

This hardy youth had visions vast, A wanderlust coursed through his veins, On world-wide seas he sailed the mast, To search for wealth o'er farthest waves.

Those far-off days he lives anew, They are as graven on his brain, With strength and will and courage true, He won that youth from North _____??

Gunder Thomassen Winkjer's actual birth record in Norway shows: Born 25 Feb. 1840, baptized April 5, 1840, in Alstadhaug, Skogn, Nord Trondelag, Norway. The parents are farm owner Thomas Larsen Vinkjer or Vinkjær, and Marith Gundersdatter.

The parish records show that Gunder Thomasen Vinkjer left for Australia April 18, 1859. Biographical information from the Book:

Source: "Compendium of History and Biography of Northern Minnesota " Published 1902 Geo. A. Ogle & Co. Chicago, Illinois. Page 499: Gunder T. Winkjer was born in Norway in 1840, and at age 19 (ca. 1859) left home for the Australia gold diggings. He returned to Norway and emigrated from Norway to New York in 1859, then directly to Goodhue county, Minnesota until 1866. He then went to Douglas County and bought 160 acres of land on Section 1, Moe township. It has increased to 200 acres. Gunder T. Winkjer married Karen Annie Helle in Goodhue county, and they had 11 children, 8 still living: Toulo (Brandon meat market proprietor), Petter Joel (our subject), Mary, Gideon, Lena, Jonathan, Theodore, and Lawritz Kraft. The deceased children were Jonetha, Jonetha, and Josias who died in infancy. Gunder T. Winkjer has also been the presidents of the Farmer's Elevator Company at Garfield, and owner of the lumber yard in Garfield. The parents of Gunder T. spent their last years living with their daughter Mrs. Foslien in Douglas County.