Hetland, John M.

"HETLAND John M, Ada. Lawyer. Born March 7, 1858 in Norway, son of Lars J and Bertha (Bilstad) Hetland. Educated in public and high schools of Norway and Wis; graduated from Highland Park College Des Moines LL B 1889. Moved to U S from Norway 1872 and located in Vernon County Wisconsin until 1880; moved to Ada and engaged in farming until 1890 when he was elected register of deeds." (Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota. St. Paul: R.L. Polk, 1907)

"John M. Hetland graduated from the Highland Park College of Law, Des Moines, Iowa, and passed the Minnesota state bar examination in 1900. Mr. Hetland is the present county attorney of Norman county. He was register of deeds from 1891 to 1897. Mr. Hetland is well remembered for his early activities in the Farmers Alliance party. It was due in large measure to his letters printed in newspapers of the county and to his activities among the farmers in the western part of the county that the party took root and grew. He represented this senatorial district as house member in 1905 and 1906." ("Bench and Bar of Norman County" in History of Clay and Norman Counties, Minnesota. Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1918)