Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2025 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Buffalo & Pepin Counties, Wisconsin - Vol. 1 pub. H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, MN - 1919 [page 142-143] HANS S. QVALE, or "KVALE," of Gilmanton township, Buffalo county, is a conspicuous example of the progressive modern farmer, and is a man who has fought his way up by hard work from an humble position to one of substantial prosperity and comparative wealth. Like many of the successful men of this section, he is of Scandinavian origin, having been born. in Norway, Nov. 29, 1860, son of SEVER H. and SOPHIA E. (DALE) QVALE. His educational opportunities were very limited, being confined to a short school attendance in his native land. In 1881, with his brother ANDREW, he came to the United States, they preceding their parents, who followed in 1888. Landing at New York, he came directly to Buffalo county, locating in Church valley, Modena township. Up to 1894 he worked for others, being employed on farms in the winter, and at the logging business on the Mississippi river, Beef Slough and West Newton in the summer. In the spring of 1894 he rented a farm in Gilman Valley, and from that time on worked rented farms until 1903. He had acquired land of his own, however, previous to this, as in 1885 he homesteaded 120 acres in section 32, Mondovi township, and later bought 160 acres adjoining, making 280 acres that he owned in Mondovi town- ship. In 1903 MR. QVALE bought the "MOSHER Farm" in section 5, Gilman valley, of WILL LINSE, which is the one on which he now resides, having operated it personally since his purchase. It contains 193 acres and was improved when he got it, being provided with a frame house and barn. He has since remodeled the house into a fine one and a half story residence of nine rooms, and has also provided himself with a good barn, 44 by 64 by 14 feet in dimensions, with a ten- foot full basement; a granary, 16 by 24 feet, with tool sheds on both sides; a double corn-crib, 22 by 28 feet; two machine sheds, 22 by 52, and a poultry house, 12 by 16 feet; also a garage, 12 by 20 feet, in which he houses his "Reo Six." The house and barn are furnished with running water, and all the buildings are in good shape. Of his land MR. QVALE has 150 acres under the plow, with 35 acres in meadow, the balance being in pasture and timber. The soil is a good black loam with clay subsoil and the location eight and a half miles southwest of Mondovi, and five and a half miles west of Gilmanton. In addition to the advan- tages above enumerated MR. QVALE has a full equipment of teams, tools and modern machinery, the farm, everything considered, being one of the best in the valley. He is doing a good business in general farming and dairying, keeping graded Holstein cattle and Poland-China and Berk- shire hogs, of the latter selling 15,000 pounds annually. His annual receipts from butter alone are $2,500, while he is also a stockholder in the Equity Elevator Co., at Mondovi. His service in official life includes four years as supervisor on the town board and two years as school treasurer. On June 12, 1884, MR. QVALE was united in mar- riage with JOHANNA, daughter of JOHN and MARTHA (LERUM) OTTUM, of Modena township, and who was born in Modena township, Buffalo county, July 10, 1866. For the first two years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. QVALE re- sided with the latter's mother, subsequently taking up their residence on their farm in Gilman valley. They have had a large family of children, whose record in brief is-as follows: SEVER, born Oct. 6, 1885, is de- ceased; JOHN, born Feb. 28, 1887, is a resident of Platte- ville, Wis.; SEVER (second), born Nov. 16, 1888, is a farmer in Gilman valley, near the old homestead; MARTIN, born in 1889; OLAUS, in 1890, and MARIA in 1892, are deceased. SOPHIA, born Oct. 31, 1893, is now the wife of ARTHUR JOHNSON, of Alma, Wis.; MATILDA, born Dec. 10, 1895, is now MRS. ADOLPH ODEGARD, of Mondovi township, this county; EDWARD, born Sept. 14, 1897, is farming at home; ANDREW, born Dec. 7, 1899, is also working on the home farm; MARTIN-(second), born in 1901, is deceased; HENRY, born May 11, 1903; CHRISTINA, born Feb. 3, 1905; JULIUS, born June 12, 1907, and EMMA, born Nov. 22, 1908, are all living at home. The QVALE family is one that stands high in social regard, the parents and older children being industrious and useful members of the respective communi- ties in which they reside, while the younger give ample promise of worthy careers. ===========================================================================