Knud Wefald

Knud Magnus Wefald (November 3, 1869 October 25, 1936), was an American Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota's 9th congressional district from 1923 to 1927.

Knud Wefald
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Minnesota's 9th district
In office
March 4, 1923  March 3, 1927
Preceded byHalvor Steenerson
Succeeded byConrad Selvig
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 49th district
In office
January 5, 1915  January 1, 1917
Preceded byS.N. Lee
Succeeded byJohn A. Healy
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 60th district
In office
January 7, 1913  January 4, 1915
Preceded byMoyle Edwards
Succeeded bySamuel C. Scott
Personal details
Born
Knud Magnus Wefald

(1869-11-03)November 3, 1869
Kragerø, Telemark, Norway
DiedOctober 25, 1936(1936-10-25) (aged 66)
St. Paul, Minnesota
Resting placeHawley Cemetery
Hawley, Minnesota
Political partyMinnesota Farmer–Labor Party
Spouse(s)Sarah Skree
ChildrenTen
OccupationRetail Lumber Business, Politician

Background

Knud Magnus Wefald was born in Yttre Vefald, Drangedal, in Kragerø, Telemark county, Norway. He attended the local schools and high school of his native land. He immigrated to the United States in 1887 and in 1896 settled in Hawley, Clay County, Minnesota where he engaged in agricultural pursuits while managing a partly owned lumber business.

Career

As a member of the village council of Hawley he served as council president in 1907 1912, 1917, and 1918 before becoming a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1913 1915. Subsequently, Wefald was elected on the Farmer-Labor ticket to the 68th and 69th congresses (March 4, 1923 March 3, 1927) from Minnesota's 9th congressional district. After an unsuccessful campaign for reelection in 1926 to the 70th congress he resumed his former business pursuits. Wefald edited a Norwegian language newspaper in Fargo, North Dakota, 1929 1931 and was executive secretary of the commission of administration and finance of Minnesota in 1931 and 1932. Finally, he served as railroad and warehouse commissioner of Minnesota from January 1933 until his death in Saint Paul, Minnesota, October 25, 1936.[1][2]

Papers of Knud Wefald are in the collections of the Norwegian-American Historical Association Archives. Included are an account from 1903 concerning a trip to Norway, poems that he wrote in both Norwegian and English, and extracts from the Congressional Record during his term in the United States House of Representatives.[3]

References

  1. Congressman Knud Wefald: A Minnesota Voice for Farm Parity by Jon M. Wefald, Minnesota History 38 (December 1962): 177-85
  2. Wefald, Knud Magnus (Minnesota Legislators Past and Present. Minnesota State Legislature)
  3. Wefald, Knut (From the Archives by Charlotte Jacobson. NAHA. Volume 31: Page 317)

Other sources

  • United States Congress. "WEFALD, Knud (id: W000251)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Halvor Steenerson
U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 9th congressional district
1923 1927
Succeeded by
Conrad Selvig
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