My Genealogy Hound

MORRIS SANDSTED was among the very first settlers of Harlan county. He filed on a homestead on Turkey creek in the fall of 1873, and was about the first man to settle in the northern part of the county. Wild game was plenty, but settlers were few and far between. He has experienced almost every phase of frontier life, and although he has seen some hard times, he has passed through them all and is now one of the most prosperous farmers in the county.

Mr. Sandsted is a native of Sweden, and was born September 22, 1848. He was reared on a farm, received a good education, and came to the United States in the spring of 1868, landing at New York city. He came West to Chicago and thence to Henry county, Ill., where he obtained employment on a farm for a few years; also spent two years in Des Moines, Iowa, and then came to Nebraska.

Mr. Sandsted was married March 5, 1874, the woman of his choice being Miss Hannah Jenson, who came to America from Sweden in 1871. Their family consists of five children, as follows — Edward, Annie, Emma, Willie and Millie.

Mr. Sandsted has three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, all of which is well improved, and his buildings are commodious and substantial. He takes great interest in keeping his farm and buildings in good shape, and in supplying himself with every convenience known to the successful agriculturist. He is a breeder of Short-horned cattle and has some fine specimens to show as a result of his efforts in this direction. Mr. Sandsted has never sought political positions, but he has been called upon to fill some important public offices. He established Grover post-office and was the efficient postmaster of the same from 1875 to 1880, and subsequently served as postmaster of Scandinavia until the office was discontinued a few years ago. Has been justice of the peace two years, and has tilled various other local offices. He is republican in politics, although no politician. He is one of the representative men of Harlan county, however, and no doubt could have any office he would choose to ask for, but he prefers the more quiet pursuits of life. He and his estimable wife are zealous members of the Free Mission church.