WI BIO - Dane Co - ERDALL, John L.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, p 565

John L. ERDALL, of Madison, Dane County, WI, was born in Deerfield, Dane 
County, WI, 05 Jun 1865, a son of Lars J. ERDALL, who was born in Bergen 
stift [Hordaland fylke], Norway, in May 1839. Lars J. ERDALL was a son of 
James ERDALL, a native of the same locality, where he remained until 1847. 
On 24 Apr 1847 James ERDALL sailed from Bergen, Norway, and on 24 May 1847 
landed in NY. The same day he came to the Territory of WI [WI not a state 
until 1848], via the Hudson River to Albany, NY, by railroad to Buffalo, NY, 
on the lakes to Milwaukee, WI, and then by team to Dane County, WI. After 
remaining a short time in Pleasant Valley, Mr. ERDALL hired money and entered 
40 acres of Government land, paying $1.25 per acre, in Deerfield Township. 
Here he erected a small habitation of half logs, but one year later built a 
good, comfortable log house. James ERDALL resided there many years, and then 
came to Madison, Dane County, WI, where he died in 1889; his wife departed 
this life one year later.

Lars J. ERDALL (father of our subject) was but eight years of age when he 
crossed the ocean with his parents, and at that time the southern part of the 
Territory of WI was sparsely settled, and the northern part was inhabited by 
Indians and wild game. No railroad was built for many years afterward. 
Milwaukee was the nearest market, it requiring a week to make the journey, 
and wheat sold as low as 49 cents a bushel. During his youth Mr. ERDALL 
attended school and assisted on the farm, later taught school, and in 1869 
rented a farm, which he now owns. He was afterward employed as clerk and 
bookkeeper in an agricultural implement house eight years, then in an 
insurance office a short time, and next as a clerk in the office of the 
Secretary of State, which position he held until 1890. Lars J. ERDALL was 
married in 1861 to Anna ZEELAND, a native of Bergen [Hordaland flyke], 
Norway, and a daughter of John T. ZEELAND.

John L. ERDALL, the subject of this sketch, came to Madison, Dane County, WI, 
at the age of eight years, where he attended the high school until entering 
the university, in 1881. He graduated there in 1885, and the following fall 
entered the law school, where he graduated in 1887, and since that time has 
been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. ERDALL is a 
Republican in his political views, and in 1888 he was elected District 
Attorney for one term. John L. ERDALL was married in 1885 to Bertha T. 
SWANSEN, a native of St. Croix County, WI, and a daughter of Thorfin SWANSEN, 
a farmer of St. Croix County. To this union have been born three children: 
Agnes, Leonard, and Arthur. Mrs. ERDALL was educated in the high school of 
Madison, and also attended the Monona Academy of this city.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly