An excellent farm property of one hundred and eighty-five acres, splendidly improved, pays tribute to P. H. Adland, who is the owner thereof. For many years he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits but is now largely living retired, receiving an excellent income from his holdings. His parents were Thomas and Julia (Nelson) Adland, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was born near Bergen, August 12, 1831, a son of Mons K. and Ellen (Thompson) Adland. Mons K. Adland was born and reared in Bergen, where he obtained a public school education, and although he became familiar with agricultural pursuits in early manhood, he afterward turned his attention to the fishing industry as owner of a fishing vessel. In 1837 he brought his family to the United States and from New York traveled by way of the Lakes to Chicago and later joined a colony in Iroquois County, Illinois. The family suffered from fever and ague during their two years’ residence there and Mr. Adland then removed by team to Racine County, Wisconsin, settling on a farm on section 30, Raymond Township. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land and at once began its cultivation, the family living in a log cabin for several years. He prospered as time passed on and, adding to his holdings, became the owner of between five and six hundred acres which he divided among his children about ten years prior to his demise. He and his wife held membership in the Lutheran church and he gave his early political allegiance to the Democratic Party but on the organization of the Republican Party joined its ranks. He passed away in 1869, at the age of seventy-six years, having for two years survived his wife.
Thomas Adland was a lad of six summers when brought by his parents to the new world and was reared upon the home farms in Illinois and Wisconsin, where he attended the district schools. When a youth of sixteen ho began operating a threshing machine, which business he followed for a number of years, and in 1859 he assumed the management of the home farm, becoming owner ultimately of three hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land. His success was due to untiring industry, capable management, sound business judgment and honorable methods. He was actuated in all that he did by the spirit of enterprise and progress and his farm became a visible expression of modern ideas of agriculture.
It was on the 19th of May, 1859, that Thomas Adland was united in marriage to Miss Julia Nelson, who was of Norwegian birth but became a resident of Racine County when but two years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Adland were born nine children: Carrie, who is engaged in the millinery business in Milwaukee; Ellen, who is at home with her mother; Peter H., of this review; Martha, the widow of A. L. Huus and a resident of Forest City. Iowa; Edwin, Bertha and Lavina, all deceased: Thomas, who is conducting a restaurant at Riverside, Iowa; and Jessie, the wife of F. R. McQuillis, who is engaged in the insurance business in Milwaukee. In his religious faith Thomas Adland was an earnest Lutheran. In politics he became a republican but later joined the ranks of the democracy. He ever kept well informed, reading widely and thinking deeply, and was in close touch with the vital questions and issues of the day. While never ambitious to hold office, he served as chairman of the board of supervisors for a number of terms and ever made an excellent record when called upon for public service.
Reared under the parental roof, Peter H. Adland attended the district schools in his early boyhood and afterward became a student in a business college at Milwaukee. He began business life upon the home farm and has had no occasion to change his occupation, for he has found the work of the fields a profitable source of income. He is today the owner of one hundred and eighty-five acres, constituting a valuable farm property equipped in the most modern and progressive manner. For a considerable period he engaged in the work of the fields but at the present time he has rented his land and now takes life easy, deriving from his property a very gratifying annual income.
In October, 1907, Mr. Adland was married to Miss Minnie Olsen, who was born in Norway Township, Racine County, a daughter of Nels Olsen, who came to this County about 1864 and is now living with his daughter, Mrs. Adland. The latter is a member of the Baptist church, while Mr. Adland is identified with the Lutheran church. His political endorsement is given to the Democratic Party but he is without ambition or desire for office, yet he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and indorses all plans and projects for the general good. He is a worthy representative of an old and honored pioneer family well known in Racine County through three generations. The work instituted by his grandfather and carried on by his father has been continued by him and he stands today a high type of the modern agriculturist whose work is carried on along scientific lines, attended by splendid results.