Groton, SD newspaper, September 23, 1913
As noted last week, N. O. P. Synoground was on his deathbed out at his home in California, and he passed away a day or two later. Mr. Synoground, with the late Mr. R. C. Hanson, filed on the the first claims taken in Hanson Township in 1880. Though of Scandinavian birth, Mr Synoground had been a western pioneer long before the rush of settlement to Dakota Territory in the early eighties. A teamster between Bismarck and Deadwood, when that town was in the heyday of its glory, enabled him to acquire a fund of pioneer knowledge unknown to many of the present generation.
He had large faith in this region, and having acquired a liberal knowledge of horticulture before coming to America, he gave much attention to the culture of fruit and ornamental trees, and the groves orchard and shrubs about his Hanson farm—which he still owned at the time of his death—bear testimony to his years of intelligent effort along these lines.
He was chosen president of the State Horticultural Society, and served many positions of public trust. Was president of the Ferney Farmers Elevator Co., and held that position until that company attained to a record unusual among successful elevator companies. Was likewise president of the Groton-Ferney Mutual Telephone Co., and was closely identified with the affairs of that company so long as he remained here.
With advancing years and failing health, he sought a milder climate on the coast, locating at Kerman, where he began the development of a good property, but he disposed of same last year, and bought property at Long Beach, where he had established his home prior to his death.
A widow and a large family of grown sons and daughters, all his children born in Hanson Township, survive him.
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Transcriber Research Notes:
Church record of Sonder Bbjert states that he was one of twins born Nov. 13, 1851. The twins were named, Juliane Sondergaard & Nis Olesen Pedersen Sondergaard. Parents were Peder Nissen Sondergaard and Inger Christendatter.
Date of death: Sept. 16, 1913; Buried: Sunnyside Cemetery, Long Beach, CA
~Transcribed by Brown County Coordinator, L. Ziemann