Bendik Gunderson

Bendek Gunderson, a prominent citizen of Clay county, now living in retirement on his farm in Moland township, is known as one of the earliest pioneers of the region.
Mr. Gunderson was born in Telemarken, Christiansandstift, Norway, September 6, 1822. His father, Gunder, owned the farm Gjedestad, and our subject being the eldest son of the family, inherited the home farm at his father's death. Farming his native land, however, did not prove a success, and in 1861 he sold out, and after clearing up his debts had about $200 in money and with this he brought his family to America, June 15, 1861. He settled in Houston county, and farmed for ten years, operating a forty-acre farm. Acting upon the advice of his brother, Ole Gunderson Thortvedt, the pioneer of the Buffalo river region, our subject went to Clay county in June, 1871, journeying by team from Houston county. He reached Clay county after a trying journey and purchased the relinquishment to the farm which he now owns. He lived in his wagon until a log house could be erected, 14x16 feet, with elm bark roof. His first crop in 1872 was destroyed by grasshoppers, and he got no returns from his farm until the following year, when he raised three hundred bushels of wheat. He was compelled in the meantime to get his supplies at Alexandria, one hundred and forty miles distant, the trip consuming twelve days. Those trying times caused many of the settlers to leave their lands, but our subject persevered, and as times grew better he purchased railroad land and began to succeed. He now owns one hundred and seventy-eight acres of land on the Buffalo river, and has retired from active labors, turning the farm over to his son.

Mr. Gunderson has been active in public affairs in the county. He had no English education, but in the early days he drew up a petition in his own language and had it translated into English, and it was owing to the circulation of this petition that his township was organized. He is an active church worker, and was instrumental in the building of the Norwegian Lutheran church in Moland township, and has been a liberal contributor to church work. In politics Mr. Gunderson is a Republican.

In 1853 our subject was married to Annie Aavaldsen. To this marriage eleven children have been born, namely: Gunder; Jennie, deceased; Sina, deceased; Oval; Andreas; Ole, deceased; Hilbert, deceased; Andrew, deceased; Olaus; Sina; and Olaf.

From: Compendium of History and Biography of Central and Northern Minnesota (Chicago, Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1904), page 266.

GUNDER B. GUNDERSON
Gunder B. Gunderson, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Clay County, is the owner of a valuable estate in Moland township. By his thrift and energy, aided by a natural business capacity, he has gathered about him an ample sufficiency of this world's goods to guarantee immunity from want in his old age.

Mr. Gunderson was the eldest son of Bendik and Annie (Aavaldsen) Gunderson, and was born on the farm Gjedestad in Moland, Prestegjeld, Christiansandstift, Norway, July 5, 1854. The family emigrated to America in 1861 and settled in Houston county, Minnesota. They removed to Clay County June 15, 1871. Our subject, then a youth of seventeen summers, performed the work of a mature man and conducted the farm with great efficiency. They had brought with them some stock, and as the railroad construction made a great demand for milk, butter and beef, they were able to obtain high prices for these products. Our subject engaged in breaking land at $4.50 to $5.00 per acre, and in this way they tided over the trying times which followed their settlement there. For two successive years crops were destroyed by grasshoppers, but the family was kept from want through the activity largely of our subject. He managed the old home farm until 1884, when he took charge of his own land in section 20, which he had purchased in 1877, and which he still owned. He purchased more land in 1892, securing the farm in section 19 on which he now resides. He is the owner of five hundred acres of excellent farm land, and has a comfortable residence with many modern improvements and conveniences.

Mr. Gunderson married, in 1884, Anna Tveten, a native of Norway. Of this marriage eight children have been born, namely: Bennie, Allen, Agnes, Clarence, Andrew, William, Henry, and an infant unnamed. In politics our subject is a Populist. He has served in various public offices and has been an active worker in the interest of education. He became township clerk in 1876, and with the exception of one year has held that office continuously to the present time. He has also been school clerk for the past fifteen years. He is thus intimately acquainted with the public affairs of his locality, to which he has given much attention, to the great benefit of his community.

January 7, 1873, is memorable as the date of the most remarkable blizzard in the annals of the county. The storm began about 11 A. M., lasting three days. Also the year 1873 is known as the year of high water, and held the record until 1897, when all records were broken and the water stood three feet deep on the prairie along Buffalo river. 1887 is noted as the year of the severe wind storm which destroyed the school buildings and several farm residences and buildings in the locality. In 1890 this experience was repeated, severe storms passing through the township. In 1880 and 1884 hail laid waste the crops throughout the region, and in 1887 and 1890 hail and wind storms again devastated the township. For more than twenty-five years Mr. Gunderson has been clerk of Moland township.

From: Compendium of History and Biography of Central and Northern Minnesota (Chicago, Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1904), pages 258-59.