Knut Paul Hallanger

Burial record:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30691970/knut-paulsen-hallanger

Knudt P. Hallanger.

Among the flourishing and well kept farms of Ettrick Township is that of the subject of this sketch, Knudt P. Hallanger, a practical agriculturist, who has achieved prosperity chiefly through his own efforts and is now numbered among the substantial citizens of this township. Like many other successful farmers of the county, Mr. Hallanger is of Norwegian birth, having been born in Hardanger, Norway, July 31, 1860, son of Paul and Guri (Johnson) Hallanger, natives of the same country and locality, where Paul Hallanger was born Jan. 9, 1837, and his wife Nov. 2, 1834.

On July 5, 1867, the family made their appearance in Beaver Valley, this county, locating on the farm now owned by Knudt P. Hallanger. It was not then a farm, however, but merely a tract of wild land awaiting the plow of the pioneer. With a pair of oxen Mr. Hallanger began the work of cultivation and for years thereafter he was an extremely busy man. The original tract consisted of 80 acres, and for awhile this was all he owned, but in time he doubled the size of the farm, so that it contained 160 acres at the time of his retirement in 1893. For a number of years he continued to use oxen for his plowing and other farm work, changing to horses as conditions improved and he became more prosperous, the horse being the less hardy animal.

On retiring, as above mentioned, he took up his residence in Hegg, but after spending some years there he returned to the farm, where he died Jan. 19, 1913. He took no active part in town affairs, but was a man well known and respected for his industry, intelligence and good neighborly qualities. His wife survived him a little over two years, dying Feb. 2, 1915. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom are now living:

• Knudt P., who was the eldest;
• Breta, wife of Erik Sime, a farmer of Ettrick Township;
• Louisa, wife of John Shoblom, a farmer and ranchman in Montana; and
• Martin, who resides at Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Knudt P. Hallanger acquired the elements of an English education in the district school of his present neighborhood. Like other farmers' boys he had to make himself useful at an early age and was up in the morning doing chores long before the average city boy crawls reluctantly from bed. The hard work and fresh air did him no harm, however, but strengthened his lungs and his muscles, and at the age of 18 years he began to work in the woods during the winter time, resuming his farm work on the family homestead in the summer, and in this way he was occupied for eleven years.

Later he purchased the old homestead, on which he has since resided and which now contains 140 acres of land. Here he carries on general farming very successfully and according to up to date methods, having good barns and all necessary buildings and equipment, and in 1915 he erected a new and handsome modern residence, which is the comfortable home of a large family circle. Though devoting all his business hours to his farm, he is a stockholder in the Ettrick Creamery Company, the Farmers' Exchange of Blair and the Ettrick Telephone Company.

Mr. Hallanger began domestic life on his own account over 25 years ago, when, April 20, 1891, he was united in marriage with Betsy Johnson, who was born in Franklin Township, Jackson County, Wis., daughter of Nels and Jorand (Erickson) Johnson. Her parents were born and married in Hardanger, Norway, and came to America in 1867, settling in the location above mentioned, their dwelling being near the county line dividing Jackson and Trempealeau Counties, so that it was not far from the Hallanger farm.

Mrs. Johnson died when her daughter Betsy was a mere babe, her husband surviving her until 1901. Mrs. Hallanger was the youngest member of the family, the other children being: Lesa, wife of Andrew Lee, who resides in Franklin Township, Jackson County; Aleck, also residing there, in a part of the old Johnson home; and Nellie, who is the wife of C. K. Lein, a farmer in Robinson, Kidder County, N. D.

Mr. and Mrs. Hallanger have had a family of 13 children:

• Palmer Nicoli,
• Joseph Gilbert,
• Helmer and
• Christian, who are deceased;
• Helmer Bertram, residing at home;
• Cornelia, deceased;
• Cornelia Martina,
• Elvin Sigvort,
• Evelyn Jose,
• Carl Johan,
• Bernice Louisa, residing at home, and
• Edward Julius and
• Esther Juliet, who are deceased.

The family are members of the United Lutheran Church. In politics Mr. Hallanger is a Republican. He has served 16 years as a member of the school board, was township assessor five years and was again elected in 1917, and has also served as school clerk and treasurer and as trustee of his church. As a man of varied activities he is energetic and resourceful, using good judgment in business matters and conscientiously performing every piece of work that comes to hand, whether it is for himself or pertaining to the community at large.

-Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," page 371 - 373