"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



Elmer E. Knudson, one of the best-known and most substantial young farmers of Westbrook township, Cottonwood county, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Westbrook and actively identified with the general activities of that community, is a native son of Cottonwood county and has lived there all his life. He was born on the old homestead farm where he now makes his home, August 14, 1879, son of Erick and Mary (Sampson) Knudson, natives of Norway and pioneers of Minnesota, whose last days were spent in comfortable retirement at Westbrook.

Erick Knudson was the son of a saw-mill owner in Norway and was reared to an active, out-door life. He married in his native land and in 1870 he and his wife, accompanying the latter's parents, Samuel Samson and wife, who, with their other two children, John and Samuel, came to this country in that year, emigrated to the United States, proceeding directly to Minnesota and settling in Jackson county. A few years later they moved up into Cottonwood county and both the Knudsons and the Samsons established their permanent homes there. Samuel Samson settled on a homestead farm in Westbrook township and there he and his wife spent the rest of their days, living not far from the home of their daughter, Mrs. Knudson. Eriek Knudson homesteaded a quarter of a section of land in Westbrook township and there established his home. He and his wife were among the pioneers of that settlement and did much in the early days to help in the work of bringing about proper social and economic conditions thereabout. Erick Knudson was a good farmer and as he prospered in his affairs bought more land, until he became the owner of six hundred and forty acres of fine land, three hundred and twenty acres of which surrounded his home. In their old age he and his .wife retired from the farm and moved to Westbrook, where their last days were spent. They were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Hilda, who married Adolph Peterson; Carl S., a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume; Melvin, Selma, who married Bert Johnson; Emma, who married Albert Kleven, and Clarence, William and Arthur.

Elmer E. Knudson has lived all his life on the homestead farm on which he was born. He received his schooling in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and even in early boyhood took an active part in the labor of developing and improving the home farm and in the eventual division of his father's considerable estate carne into possession of the old original quarter-section homestead, where he now makes his home and which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Knudson's farm is well improved and his farming operations are carried on in accordance with modern methods of agriculture. In addition to his general fanning, he has given considerable attention to stock raising and has done very well.

In 1909 Elmer E. Knudson was united in marriage to Cora Hanson, daughter of Hans Hanson, and to this union four children have been bora, Arvid, Myron, Evelyn and Oren. Mr. and Mrs. Knudson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and take an earnest interest in the various beneficences of the same. Mr. Knudson is a Republican and takes a proper interest in local political affairs, but is not included in the office-seeking class.