From: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. "The History of Rice and Steele Counties, Minnesota." Chicago: H.C. Cooper, 1910:

Christopher N. Hillstad [sic], a self-made and progressive farmer of Havana township, Steele county, was born in Norway, February 19, 1858. He received his education and passed his boyhood in the Fatherland, emigrating to America at the age of fifteen, and locating in Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in farming till 1877, when he removed to Havana township, Steele county, continuing in the same line of work. In 1892, he purchased an eighty acre tract in section 21, Havana, later acquiring 100 acres of improved land in section 27, same township, where he has followed general farming ever since, achieving his success by hard work and up-to-date farming methods. Mr. Hillstad owns a fine herd of cattle and pays much attention to dairying and stock raising. He is a stockholder in the Havana creamery. In politics, he is a follower of the Republican party, and though he has never sought public office, is interested in all that pertains to the good of the county. The Lutheran Church numbers him among its members. June 27, 1884, he was united in marriage with Olena Nelson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Nelson who died on the same day, March 28, 1909, of old age. Mr. and Mrs. Hillstad have eight [sic] children, Christina, who is married to Theodore Thompson, of Havana, Nilda, Eddie, Richard, [Clarence], Cora, Ruth, [Joseph] and [Maurice].

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From the Owatonna Daily People's Press, May 5, 1934:

C. N. Hillestad Dies Friday of Pneumonia

Former Havana Farmer Passes Away Suddenly Early Friday
Funeral to Be Next Monday with Services in Afternoon

Christ N. Hillestad, 228 Chestnut Street, died early Friday morning. He was ill only a short time. He suffered a bad cold only last Wednesday and was taken with a chill and then a heart attack. He rallied and then suffered further heart attacks. He was taken to the Owatonna City Hospital where he was given every care and attention. He died of pneumonia.

Mr. Hillestad was for many years one of the prominent and substantial farmers of Havana Township, taking an active interest in the Havana Creamery Association of which he was a stockholder. He was a member of the Lutheran church, south of Anderson Station. He made a success of his general farming and came to Owatonna in 1920 when he retired from active work. Mr. Hillestad and family have ever since made their home at 228 Chestnut Street.

Mr. Hillestad was born in Hafslo, Norway, Feb. 19, 1858. When a boy in his teens, Mr. Hillestad came to America and was engaged in farming around Sauk County, Wisconsin, and came to Steele County in 1877 and located in Havana Township, where he continued to follow farming. Mr. Hillestad married Olena Nelson June 27, 1884. They made their home on farms which he leased and worked and in 1892 he purchased an 80 acre farm in section 21, Havana, and later acquired 100 acres of improved land in section 27. He followed general farming and by hard work and close attention he made a success. He was always a pleasant man to meet.

Mr. Hillestad is survived by his wife, two daughters: Mrs. Cora Mellem and Mrs. Ruth Lundberg, both of Minneapolis; by five sons: Edward, of Amery, Wisconsin, Richard, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Clarence, Joe, and Maurice, all of Owatonna; by eleven grandchildren, one brother, John, of Fosston, Minnesota, and by one sister of Norway. Two daughters predeced him in death.

The funeral will take place next Monday, May 7, with a service at his home, 228 Chestnut Street, in the afternoon at 2 o'clock and then the funeral cortege will go to the Aurora Lutheran Church where services will be conducted by Rev. T. E. Moen at 2:30 o'clock. The interment will be made in the Thompson Cemetery.