Andrew Flagstad was born in Grimstad, Norway Oct. 16, 1837 to Morten Tostensen Flagstadt and Anna Erlandsdatter. He began sailing on the ocean when he was only 13 years old and had very interesting experiences as a sailor. He sailed all over the world and was shipwrecked twice, once off the coast of Ireland and once off the West Indies.
Captain Flagstad became a sailor on the Great Lakes in 1854. In addition to owning the Ella Ellinwood at one time, he also owned the “Swallow” and the M. T. Greene, a lumber barge, which was the largest of its kind at the time. People even laughed at the idea of the Captain imagining such a large boat could ply the inland lakes. Andrew sold the Ellinwood to his older brother, Captain Thomas Flagstad, in 1900. Another vessel that he briefly owned was the I. M. Weston.
On Sept. 10, 1866, Andrew Flagstad married Rosanna Keilty in Chicago. They had six children: Richard (1865-1876); Annie (1869-1876); Ella (1871-1876), Andrew (1874-1935) and Mathew R. (1876-1937). Three of the children died within weeks of each other from scarlet fever. One died as a newborn.
Rosanna died Dec. 5, 1900. She is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery along with her children. Andrew died July 29, 1916 at the home of his son Mat in Maple Grove. He had been living there for the preious 10 years. Flagstad was the oldest Mason, having been initiated in 1863. Andrew was also buried in Oak Grove Cemetery next to his wife and children.
