Knudt Olson Heimdal (October 19, 1830 – December 15, 1887) was a farmer and local politician from
Deerfield, Wisconsin who served one term as a member of the
Wisconsin State Assembly.
Background
Born October 18, 1830, in
Norway, he received a
public school
Public school may refer to:
* State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government
* Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...
education before emigrating to Wisconsin with his parents in 1844. He settled first in
Christiana before moving in 1846 to Deerfield (both places are in
Dane County), where he settled.
Public office
Heimdal was elected
town clerk of Deerfield in 1854, 1857, 1858 and 1859; town
treasurer in 1856; and chairman of the
town board in 1862–65, 1867 and 1869. In 1869, he was the
Democratic
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
nominee for the Assembly's 2nd Dane County district (the
Towns of
Bristol,
Burke, Deerfield,
Medina,
Sun Prairie,
Vienna,
Westport,
Windsor, and
York), but lost to former state senator
Willard H. Chandler
Willard Harris Chandler (November 18, 1830March 24, 1901) was an American educator, farmer, and Republican politician. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly, and was President pro tempore of the Wisconsin Senate for the 1865 and 18 ...
with 690 votes to Chandler's 734. In 1870 he ran again and won, with 858 votes against 751 for
Republican Robert B. Sanderson
Robert Bland Sanderson (February 25, 1825 – June 18, 1887) was an American businessman, farmer, rancher and politician from Columbia County, Wisconsin who represented part or all of Columbia County in the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wis ...
(Chandler was not a candidate).
Private life
Heimdal died December 15, 1887. He is buried in the Deerfield Cemetery. He was married to Sarah A. Adsit; their daughter Sarah G. Heimdal graduated from the
University of Wisconsin in 1899.
Barton, Albert O. "Old Days: Deerfield Cemeteries Give Pioneer History Log Cabin Revival"
'' The Capital Times'' August 27, 1935; p. 4, col. 1 via newspapers.com
References
Norwegian emigrants to the United States
Wisconsin Democrats
Mayors of places in Wisconsin
County supervisors in Wisconsin
1830 births
1887 deaths
19th-century American legislators
Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
People from Deerfield, Wisconsin
19th-century Wisconsin politicians
{{Wisconsin-WIAssembly-Democratic-stub