Andrew Knudson

AND. KNUDSON PASSES AWAY.  Pioneer Resident And Civil War Veteran Succumbs to Heart Trouble.  “Colonel” Andrew Knudson, age 78 years, Civil war veteran and pioneer resident of Grand Forks, died yesterday afternoon (May 28, 1919) at 3:15 as the result of heart trouble and old age.  He had been in poor health for the past six weeks.  Funeral arrangements will not be announced until word is received from relatives in San Francisco.

Born in Norway.  Mr. Knudson was born in Layster, Norway, in 1840 and came to the United States in 1859.  He saw two years and eleven months service with Company D, 20th Wisconsin infantry and was honorably discharged in 1865.  He has been a resident of this city since 1882 during which time he was connected with the hotel business.  For the past few years and at the time of his death he was commander of the G. A. R. post in this city.  From 126 men in 1888 when the post was organized there are now but seven living members and the passing of the “Colonel” leaves but three in Grand Forks.  The colonel was a member of the Zion Lutheran church.  He was an active member of the Knights of Pythias and the Sons of Norway, and was also a member of the Grand Forks Commercial Club.

Pioneer Hotel Man.  Mr. Knudson, a tailor by trade, entered the hotel business shortly after his discharge from military service in La Crosse, Wis., where he was married to Jane Henson, in July, 1867.  He came to Grand Forks in 1882 and took charge of the Scandinavian hotel on Fourth street.  Several years later he took over the City hotel and changed the name to the Knudson House.  Later disposing of this place he acquired the Arlington hotel which originally stood on the site now occupied by the Schlaberg block on DeMers avenue and was later moved near to the Northern Pacific depot.  Mr. Knudson moved the building to its present location on the corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets.  He had been in personal charge of the Arlington for the past 20 years and had built additions nearly doubling its original size.

Among those who survive are the widow and four sons, Rudolph S. of San Francisco, Cal.; H. Peter, connected with the Stanchfield Clothing company, Grand Forks; G. Oscar, manager and proprietor of the Columbia hotel, Grand Forks, and Joseph B. at home and Hans Albertson, half-brother, of 110 Walnut street.  (Grand Forks Herald, Thursday, May 29, 1919, Volume XXXVIII, Number 180, Page 12)