Knudt Heimdal
Knudt Olson Heimdal was a farmer and local politician from Deerfield, Wisconsin who served one term as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Background
Born October 18, 1830, in Norway, he received a public school education before emigrating to Wisconsin with his parents in 1844. He settled first in [Christiana, Dane County, Wisconsin|Dane County, Wisconsin|Christiana] before moving in 1846 to Deerfield, where he settled.
Heimdal was elected town clerk of Deerfield in 1854, 1857, 1858 and 1859; town treasurer in 1856; and chairman of the town board in 1862–65, 1867 and 1869. In 1869, he was the Democratic nominee for the Assembly's 2nd Dane County district, but lost to former state senator Willard H. Chandler with 690 votes to Chandler's 734. In 1870 he ran again and won, with 858 votes against 751 for Republican Robert B. Sanderson.
Heimdal died December 15, 1887. He is buried in the Deerfield Cemetery. He was married to Sarah A. Adsit; their daughter Sarah G. Heimdal graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1899.