BIOGRAPHY
At the turn of the century Martinus Aasgaard was one of the best known and most progressive farmers and stockmen of Home Lake Township. He was born in Norway in 1858 and came to the United States in 1869 settled in Arena in Dane County, Wisconsin, where he worked for fifteen years. The name Aasgaard means "farm by the creek" in Norway is located north of Oslo near Lake Mjosa, the largest lake in Norway. He was married in Wisconsin and in April of 1885 they moved to Minnesota. All their worldly possessions were represented by fifty dollars in cash. His brother Ole, had come to Norman County before him and was teaching school in Home Lake Township, School District No. 44. He was rooming at the John Homelvig farm to which Martinus and his bride came with a rented team of horses and wagon. He returned the team to Ada, making the trip back on foot: twenty six miles largely covered by swamps and water. In the spring of 1886 Martinus Aasgaard homestead one hundred and sixty acres of land in Section 26, Home Lake Township; and in 1898 he bought forty adjoining acres to increase his holding. He carried out an extensive series of improvements, including new building, the erection of fences and the setting out of groves. One well known feature of the farm was a well built round barn. In those days farmers had no cream separators so they took their milk to a creamery to be separated--sold the cream and took the skim milk back home with them. In 1891 a creamery was established in Home Lake Township. It was located north of what was known as Home Lake--the only lake in Norman County. Martinus Aasgaard and Anton Lerud helped organize this creamery and were stockholder. A few years later this creamery was sold to the Twin Valley Creamery Association and they moved the building to a site north of Twin Valley where it was operated for many years. Mr. Aasgaard helped organize School District No. 16 in 1886--to serve the children living farther south in the township. A new building was put up for $55--the lumber cost $278.18 and M. Aasgaard painted it for $5. The first teacher was Ole Aasgaard who received $105 for a three month term. The school year was divided into two terms: the first starting about March 10 and running to the first part of June--and the second from November first to the middle of January. Spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, grammar, and history were taught. Ole clerked in a general store in Twin Valley when he was not teaching and children loved to have him wait on them because he gave such generous helpings of candy for their pennies. Martinus was the first clerk of the school board of District No. 16 and held that position for several years. He was a life long member of Wild Rice Synod Church and served the congregation as trustee for several years. He died in 1904 at the early age of forty six years. In 1884 Martinus Aasgaard was united in marriage to Maria Larsen, a native of Norway, coming from a farm near Eidsvold in Eastern Norway. She was born in 1863. She came to America with her parents at the age of three years. The voyage across the Atlantic Ocean took thirteen weeks. The first year in Home Lake Township was one of hardships; credit was difficult to obtain and money was still more difficult to secure. Lawrence, the oldest of their nine children, was born at this time (1885). He grew up to the life of a farmer and in 1909 bought a farm of his own in Home Lake Township and married Hannah Albertson. Both are now deceased. They had six children. Inez, the second child of Martinus and Maria, was born in 1887. She was married to Warner Johnson and they had five children. They also farmed in Home Lake Township and are now deceased. Mina was born in 1891 and was married to Ole Nysetvold, a contractor and builder, and they lived in Twin Valley. They are now deceased. To their union eleven children were born. Oliver was born in 1893 and he stayed at home and helped his mother farm until he died in 1922. Almer was born in 1895. He was drafted to serve in the first World War and gave his life for his country in France. Julia was born in 1897. She married Sidney Aamoth and they had two children. He died and later she married John M. Bentley and they had two daughters. Julia died and John has died also. Clarence was born in 1900 and was killed in an accident in 1928. Two sons died in infancy. The Aasgaard's were esteemed people in the community and were interested in the welfare of their family and were sympathetic to the needs of their neighbor's. Often, in the absence of a doctor, an undertaker, or a pastor, Martinus acted in those capacities, doing the best he knew how to show concern for his fellow man.