Anne Kanten Alm's Brother

Christian Iverson Kanten

Christ Iverson Kanten, one of the well-known and successful farmers and stock raisers of Big Bend Township, Chippewa County, Minnesota, was born near Christiania, at the town of Hadeland, Norway, on February 1, 1853, being the son of Iver and Anna (Gilbertson) Kanten, both of whom were natives of that country. The parents were educated and grew up in their native country and were there married. They came to the United States in 1864, locating in Fillmore County, Minnesota, where they lived until 1869, at which time they moved to Chippewa County, where the father homesteaded eighty acres of land in Tunsberg Township.
Christ Iverson Kanten was educated in the public schools of Norway and in the United States. When a lad he came to the United States with his parents, who located in Fillmore County, Minnesota, where the family lived for five years, after which they came to Chippewa County, and settled near Watson, where they lived for ten years. In 1880 Christ Iverson Kanten left the home of his parents and came to Big Bend Township, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. The land was for the most part wild prairie, only a small part of which had been broken, with very few buildings, and they of the most primitive kind. He at once began breaking the land and getting it ready for planting. He succeeded in the raising of good harvests and prospered. In time he purchased more land and today is the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres in Sections 8, 9, 16 and 17. He is a successful farmer and a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, owning at the present time about eighty head. In addition to his cattle he has many hogs and horses, all of which are among the very best. Mr. Kanten has an ideal farm, which is all under high cultivation and well improved. In 1897 he built a good barn, which he rebuilt and remodeled in 1910. The substantial house that he built in 1888, was remodeled and made modern in 1916. He has every modern convenience, including furnace, hot and cold water and electric lights, and runs his own light plant. The house and other buildings of the farm are nicely located and make a pleasing impression, as viewed from the public highway. The buildings are well kept, and surrounded as they are by groves, give the effect of beauty and prosperity. The yard to the house is beautified with flowers and shrubs, making this country home one of the best in the community.
In 1880 Christ Iverson Kanten was united in marriage to Susan Olson, a native of Norway and the daughter of Ole Jacobson. To this union have been born the following children: The two first-born were twins who died in infancy; Iver a successful farmer; Ole at home: Anne the wife of S. O. Eide, of Big Bend Township; Gilbert, who lives in Milan, where he conducts a garage and light plant; Henry, Emma, Erwin and Melvin are all at home. In addition, they have an adopted daughter, Dora, who receives the same care and attention as their own children. The family are members of the Lutheran Church at Hagen and take an active interest in all Church work. They are prominent in the local, social and religious activities of the community and are highly respected by their neighbors and friends. Mr. Kanten has always been interested in local affairs and has done much toward the growth and the advancement of the Township and the County. He has always been partial to good schools and good roads. He believes in giving the children the best school advantages. The schools of the township, during his administration, as school treasurer, made wonderful advances and are today among the better-grade schools of that Section.