WI BIO - ROGNHOLT, Andrew

History of Richland County, Wisconsin. Miner, J. H., ed. Chicago: Western 
Historical, 1906 pp 620-621

Andrew ROGNHOLT, a representative citizen of Akan township [Richland County, 
Wisconsin], a progressive, popular, and successful farmer, stock-grower and 
raiser of tobacco, was born 04 August 1865 in Kristians-Amt [Christiansand 
prestegjeld in Vest-Agder flyke?], Norway, one of the most picturesque 
districts of southern Norway, son of Nels and Bertha Rognholt. Andrew 
ROGNHOLT is a scion of stanch old stock in that section of Norway. The 
father, Nels ROGNHOLT, was born in 1819 and died in 1899, and the mother, 
Bertha ROGNHOLT, was born in 1824 and died in 1904. Both passed their entire 
lives in Norway. Of their [Nels and Bertha ROGNHOLT's] four children, two 
are living.

Andrew ROGNHOLT was reared and educated in Norway, having the advantages of 
good schools and being brought up to the discipline of the farm. In 1886, at 
the age of twenty-one years, he immigrated to America and came to Wisconsin, 
locating in Rock County, where he farmed on land which he rented, and thus 
continued until 1892, when he came to Richland County [Wisconsin] and bought 
eighty acres in Akan Township. In 1899 he [Andrew ROGNHOLT] sold this 
property, and in that year purchased his present fine farm of 120 acres, upon 
which he has made many improvements of excellent order, making it one of the 
model places of Akan Township. [The 1919 plat map of Akan Township, Richland 
County, Wisconsin, shows Andrew ROGNHOLT owning 40 acres in the northwest 
corner of Section 26, adjoining 200 acres in the northern part of Section 34, 
the latter tract adjoining 68 acres in the northwest corner of Section 27. 

Andrew ROGNHOLT gives his attention to diversified agriculture and stock 
raising, and is one of the most extensive growers of tobacco in the county, 
having been one of the first to engage in the cultivation of this product in 
Akan Township. He erected on his farm the first tobacco shed in Akan. He is 
enterprising and public-spirited, a man of superior mentality, animated by 
sterling integrity of purpose and commanding the confidence and esteem of his 
fellow-men. In politics he renders loyal support to the Republican party, 
and while he has never been a seeker of public office he is rendering 
efficient service as Clerk of his school district. He also acts as Director 
for the Farmers Insurance Company, and Director and Clerk for the Five Points 
Cheese Factory [Five Points in Akan Township, Richland County, located near 
the intersection of Sections 22, 23, 27, and 26.] In religious matters Mr. 
ROGNHOLT serves as Clerk of the Lutheran church in Richland County.

In 1886 Mr. [Andrew] ROGNHOLT was united in marriage to Miss Mattie OLSON 
[Marthea SYNSTELIEN], who was born in Norway. [Martha born in 1863 and died 
in 1937? Andrew died 1935?] They [Andrew and Mattie (OLSON) ROGNHOLT] 
became the parents of eight children, all of whom are living except one; they 
are, in order of birth: (1) Nels [born 23 September 1886? died in Richland 
County 08 November 1967?]; (2) Tillie; (3) Bertha; (4) Olga [born 1892? 
died October 1918?]; (5) Mary, deceased; (6) Carl [Carl Alfred born 1895 
and died 29 October 1918?]; (7) Clara; and (8) Oscar [born 1902 and died 21 
April 1962?]

[The deaths of both Carl Alfred ROGNHOLT and Olga ROGNHOLT in October of 1918 
suggests they died as a result of the flu of 1918, when millions of people 
died worldwide. The worst month in the United States for the 1918 flu, 
termed "la grippe" on death certificates at that time, was October, with most 
flu-related deaths occurring from September through December of that year. 
The submitter was told by a former Wisconsin resident, now deceased, how she 
and her siblings watched through the window of their home as the horse-drawn 
wagon bearing their father's casket was driven past on the way to the 
cemetery, since all were ill and quarantined and could not have attended a 
funeral service had any been held; most public gatherings were prohibited. 
This otherwise reliable informant told of caskets being stacked in the 
street, the men burying the dead unable to keep pace.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly