One of the most enterprising and progressive ranchers of El Monte and vicinity in the early nineties and later, was Michael Osmund, a native of Farsund, Sweden.

Mr. Osmund was educated in the common schools of Norway, after which he went to sea, finally locating permanently in America, where he first engaged as a lumberman. Later he followed farming in Cass County, Iowa, for some time, his mother from Sweden joining him there, and they then came to California in 1891. For a time, he was located in Pasadena, but later purchased the property consisting of thirty-five acres, southeast of El Monte, now owned by his widow. This he improved from a wild state, building a comfortable residence, substantial barns and outhbuildings. While he carried on general farming, he made a specialty of raising celery. He planted his ranch to walnuts, but unfortunately death overtook him before the trees reached maturity, and he did not live to see them bear.

He was a Mason fraternally, being identified with Lexington Lodge No. 104 of El Monte, and also belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star and the Forresters. He was a Lutheran in religion, and in politics a Democrat. His death occurred January 16, 1906, and removed from the community a worth citizen, a helpful friend, and one who tried to live according to the Golden Rule. Mr. Osmund was married in Farsund, Norway, June 12, 1895, to Miss Christine Hansen, a native of that place and daughter of Ole and Martina Hansen, her father being a builder and farmer in Norway, where both parents died several years ago.

Since her husband’s death, Mrs. Osmund has continued to conduct the ranch, which she has managed profitably. She is the mother of four children, May, Carl and Albert, living with their mother, and Myrtle (Mrs. Charles Snow) of El Monte. In religion, she is a member of the Lutheran Church.