FARM HOMES OF C. T. AND L. G. SELLEVOLD
Topography—This is a very rolling township with much rough stony land, in fact, it is the roughest township in the county, and no doubt has more rocks to the acre than any other township in the county, however, when the rocks are removed the land is very productive.
The south half of the township was settled by sons of Norway, the first being the John and James Bakke families and the north half by Hungarians, and ninety per cent of these settlers came from Minnesota. When the first settlement was made, there were five lakes in this township, two of which are still well known, especially by sportsmen, Hazelden and Opitz lakes. At this time the other three are practically under cultivation or used for hay. Sixty per cent of the settlers or their descendants are still on their farms.
The first child born here was Ed. M. Hanse, (now cashier in the Security Bank and Trust Co.) born to Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Hanse, August 19, 1883.
The first deaths were of two children at the same time of Mr. and Mrs. Lars Berglund in September 1886.
The first marriage was consummated between Albert Hanson and Julia Vik in January, 1883.
The largest family was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Krause, parents of eight sons and six daughters, all living but one.
This township was named at a township meeting of the settlers, the name being suggested by L. Hazelden, being the name of his native town in England. It was approved also by the county commissioners.
Dates of settlement of homesteaders:
1881—John A. and James A. Bakke, June 15.
1882—M. L. Hanse, Leonard Hazelden, Engebret Hanson,
J. B. Vik, Aug. Hanson, Peter Anderson.
1883—Lays A. Knude, E. Stavig, Christian Haaseth,
A. 0. Sorbel, G. S., Gunder and Mikel Moen, Soren and
Carl Benedickson, Mike and Frank Schmaus, J. Rassier,
M. Rauschwater, A. E. and Martin Erickson, J. A. Vannebo,
C. T. Sellevold, Hans Anderson.
1884—Mrs. Carrie Onstad, M. L. Satern, Knud Stianson,
Stiean Valness, Nick Longan, John Weyer, Lars Satern,
H. O. Kleven, Peter Thornes.
1885—Elias Loseth, Lars Berglund, J. Schoenborn,
J. P. Opitz, Rymond Schneider, George, Mike and Steven
Janish, E. Kirchknopf, S. Schuster, J. Pitzel, M. Deutch,
M. Polleris, Geo. Newberger, J. Kintz, J. Fink, S. Schreier,
S. Lentsch, J. Sattler, J. Arnston, Andrew Loben.
1886-87—P. A. Kjorsvick, H. Johnson, M. Nerland,
Hans Saga, M. Sigarty, P. Wachtler, Sr., J. Drews, Wm.
and Aug. Krause, Carl Krause, J. J. Hatle, Peter Brunsvig, T. J. Hatley.
Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Sellevold came from Bergen, Norway, 1870, to Goodhue county, Minnesota, later moving to Kandyohi county. In 1883 he and his family set out in a covered wagon with ox team and landed in Day county, Dakota Territory. Previous to this time he had been a teacher in parochial schools but he now settled on a homestead and tree claim with his family, a son and two daughters. His son, L. G., remained with him until he was twenty- three years old when he rented his father's farm. After a few years L. G. added 360 acres to this, which was also fully equipped with farm buildings. For the past few years, however, the entire farm has been rented, but father and son still continue to make the old place their home.
The above picture shows the one home, the home of the parents is in the grove to the left, and doesn't show. The farm is fully equipped with electricity from a home plant, and a grove of trees containing ten acres. Many of the elm and ash trees reach the height of forty feet and are over a foot in diameter.
Phone and R. F. D., Grenville.
August H. Hanson came to America from Kongsberg, Norway, with friends in 1870, when only twelve years age. He landed in Pope county, Minnesota, where his parents lived. Here he worked on farms most of the time until 1883 when he came to Day county and filed a homestead and tree claim.
On March 15, 1894, he was married to Mrs. M. Moen and to this union were born four sons and one daughter, the boys still live at home. He has added eighty acres to the original homestead and this he farms with his own help. He has always carried on diversified farming in a thorough manner; milking an average of fourteen cows, marketing about twenty-five hogs, some twenty-five head of cattle, one hundred and fifty chickens and twenty-five ducks, annually. He is a horse, rather than a tractor farmer, keeping at least ten head of good work horses. He does not owe a dollar and always pays cash. He was hailed out in 1888-89. Although he was insured, the Company failed, so he received nothing, therefore has not insured since, neither has he had hail losses since. His entire income has been from his farm.
In the above picture are shown the original claim shanty and his present home and family.
R. F. D., Grenville, S. D.
James A. Bakke was born in Stoughton, Wisconsin, December 22, 1859. He came to Morris, Minnesota in October, 1880, where he lived with his brother Ole until June, 1881. Then he, with his mother, brothers John and Ole, sisters, Belle and Julia, and Ole and Hans L. Hanse, left Morris and came to Day county. Here Mr. Bakke filed on a homestead, preemption and tree claim, where he has continued to live.
In December, 1893, he was married to Miss Alice Olson. To them were born four sons and three daughters, two of the daughters died of diphtheria while still quite young.
Mr. Bakke and his two sons farm the three quarters, practicing diversified farming. They are going strong on alfalfa, having eighty acres now. They milk five to eight cows, market thirty to forty hogs and eight to ten cattle, annually. In 1925 Mr. Bakke suffered his first and only loss by hail in forty-five years farming. He has always enjoyed good health and still does a man's day's work.
The picture above shows a grove containing eleven acres.
R. F. D., Roslyn, S. D.