Stardig log cabin makes the move

This week a historic building was moved from Knute Township south of McIntosh to the East Polk County Heritage Grounds, located on the north side of Highway 2 on the east end of Fosston. The building was a log cabin home built by Olaf Stardig, a resident of the McIntosh community for over half a century. The 2 story log cabin was still sitting on the original farmstead, though it had been moved to make way for a new house. The farmstead, most recently owned by Lowell and Sue Ostenson, has been in the family since Olaf Stardig filed claim to the land in 1883. After his passing, his 3 daughters, Ida, Emily and Minnie, lived in the home until the Ostensons, Lowell being a great-nephew of Stardig, purchased it in 1971.

Mr. Stardig was born in Lima, Vallsjon, in Delarne, Sweden in 1848. As an adult and a married family man, he received letters from friends in America telling him about the Country. So, in 1882, he left his home, Country, wife and family and journeyed to America, finding himself in Alexandria, Minnesota where he found work in order to earn enough money to send for his wife and five small children, whom were still living in Sweden.

In 1883, the Thirteen Towns was opened and in August of that same year, Olaf Stardig came to Polk County. He filed on 160 acres of land 4 ½ miles southwest of what is now the City of McIntosh, though the town did not exist at the time. The township where he filed for his acreage was later named Knute Township after the late Senator Knute Nelson.

There on his land, Olaf Stardig built a log cabin home during the winter of 1884. He continued to work at any employment that he cold find, and by carefully saving his earnings, he was able to send for his family in the Spring of 1884.

Mrs. Marina (Ostenson) Stardig, Olaf’s wife, along with their 5 small children traveled from Sweden to America to join her husband. Anna, the oldest daughter, was 12 years old at the time. Along with Mrs. Stardig and the children, Olaf’s mother also traveled across the ocean to America.

As Polk County was still a sparsely settled wilderness in 1884, Mr. Stardig and his family had to undergo all the hardships and privations of frontier life. Hardy and resolute, armed with a determination to wrestle out an existence from the land, Mr. Stardig worked to develop his farm and make a permanent, secure home for himself and his family. He became one of the most prosperous farmers of Knute Township, with many friends and acquaintances, and a strong connection to his Community and Church.

In December of 1902, Olaf Stardig was one of the five men who signed the Petition requesting the formation of Columbia County, a division of the eastern townships of Polk County into the separate and independent Columbia County. 

Olaf Stardig was also a charter member of Salem Lutheran Church. In 1887, several area community members were interested in organizing a Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, meeting at the Garan Hendrickson home they adapted a constitution that 29 new communicant members signed, including Olaf Stardig.