Monday, November 26, 2007

My Tjøsvold Great great grandparents

Picture of Akrahamn, Karmoy.
Picture of Rasmus and Elen and some of their children. Top row - David Johan, Tilla Ketura Second row Ragnhild and Josef, Third row Jonas and Hanna Petra, Bottom row Tørres, Karen, Ellen and Ragna



The House Rasmus built in 1905 and lived in and from which he started the first savings bank on Karmøy


Rasmus & Elen Tjøsvold


Rasmus Josefsen Tjøsvold 1848-1927


Rasmus Josefsen Tjøsvold was born January 6, 1848 on the island of Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway to Josef Jonassen and his wife Ragla Larsdatter. He was the fourth child of ten children born to them. He was baptized in the Åkra church on January 16,1848. I know nothing about his childhood. I do know that he was a banker and started the first savings bank on Karmøy out of his home. He was also involved in processing fish oil. He married Elen Karine Tørresdatter in 1870. They had 13 children

a)Ragnhild Josefine born 1871 married Johannes Olsen Akra Bnr 31


b)David Johan born 1872 married Anna Helene Olsen Neste Bruker


c)Tilla Ketura born 1874 married Tønnes Eliassen Akra Bnr 43


d)Josef born 1875 married Anna Lovise Larsdatter Amerika 1893


e)Hanna Petra born 1877 died 1879


f)Jonas born 1879 married Marie Simonsdatter Akra Bnr 378


g)Hanna Petra born 1880 married Johan T. Nilsen Akra Bnr 80


h)Elen Regine born1883 died 1886


i)Tørres born 1885 married Gunhild Serine Jørgensdatter Amerika


j)Gunvald born 1887 died 1887


k)Karen Regine born 1890 died 1978 ugift


l)Elen born 1893 married John Thysse Stavanger


m)Ragna born 1895 married Bård Johnsen Hauge Tjøsvoll Bnr 19

I also know that Rasmus built a new house in Åkrahamn in 1905. He passed away in August 22,1927 and is buried in the Åkra church cemetery in Åkrahamn, Karmøy, Norway.
Elen Karine Tørresdatter Vikra - 1851-1929
Elen Karine Tørresdatter Vikra was born the 17th of July 1851 on the Island of Karmøy, Norway, to Tørres Hanson and Berta Karine Pedersdatter. She was baptized at the Ferkingstad church the 20th of July 1851. She had 6 other siblings, one who died in infancy and who was also named Elen Karine. In the 1865 census she is listed as a Foster daughter in the household of David Tørresen and his wife Johanne S. Tørresen. This is most likely because her father died in 1858 and her mother in 1856. I suspect that this was her great grandparents because David was born in 1787 and there is a great-grandfather named David Tørresen in her family tree. She married Rasmus Josefssen Tjøsvold about 1870 and they had 13 children listed under Rasmus. She passed away February 27,1929 and is buried in the Åkra Church cemetery in Åkrahamn, Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

My Overland Great great grandparents

Crest from Gol, Buskerud, Norway. Displays the keys to the Stave Church. Gol is where Margit was from
A Stave Church moved to Oslo from Gol, Hallingdal where Margit was baptized and confirmed.

Buskerud Crest where Margit Eiriksdatter Steinbråten or Stenbraaten was from
Crest from Leksvik the area in Nord-Trondelag that Andreas was from Crest of Nord-Trondelag where Andreas was from




Trondheim Crest Picture of Andreas Petter and Margit Overland at their home in Battle Lake, Minnesota.
Andreas Petter Overland 1846-1923
Andreas Petter Petersen Overland was born January 22,1846 in Trondheim, Norway to Peter Johansen and Karen Anna Andersdatter. He was the second of four children. He was baptized March 1,1846 in Stranden Church, Leksvik, Nord-Trondelag, Norway. According to the 1865 census he was a Skrædder (tailor] by profession. His older brother Johan was a fisherman. On October 14, 1860 he was confirmed in the Stranden Church. Andreas immigrated to the USA from Trondheim May 29,1872. The records for Trondheim harbour indicate that his destination was St. Paul, Minnesota. Approximately around 1875 he married Margit Eriksdatter [Steinbråten] Stenbraaten. The 1880 census for Minnesota indicates that in 1880 they were living in North Fork, Stearns county Minnesota and had two children. Petter Edeward Overland age 3 and Christine Amand Overland age 1. According to Church records Petter Edward Overland was born June 30,1876 and baptized September 9,1876 at Big Grove Lutheran Church, near Belgrade in Stearns County Minnesota. His sister Christine Amand was born 20 December 1878 and baptized January 9,1879 at Big Grove Lutheran Church. Andreas and Margit had 5 more children, Ida Olene born August 21, 1881, baptized September 11, 1881 at Big Grove Lutheran Church. Pauline Anette Overland born February 13,1884, baptized April 6, 1884 at Big Grove Lutheran Church. Anna Mathilda born 13 October 13 1886, and baptized October 31,1886 at Big Grove Lutheran Church, Mable Julia Overland born May 1, 1889, baptized June 23, 1889, at Big Grove Lutheran Church, died October 12 1890 and buried at Big Grove Lutheran Church cemetery, and according to Norwegian custom they called the next daughter Mable Julia. She was born September 8, 1891 and baptized October 11, 1891 at Big Grove Lutheran Church. Sometime in the 1890s the family moved to Battle Lake, Minnesota. On May 1, 1911 Margit Overland died of Tuberculosis, she was buried in the Battle Lake Lutheran cemetery. In about 1912 Andreas moved to Fergus Falls where he had a tailoring business. He also remarried Mathea 'Mattie' Johannesdatter MORSTAD a widow. with six children in about 1912. Here is his obituary from the Fergus Falls Journal in 1923. A.P. OVERLAND, an old resident of this city, and a well known tailor died at his home August 2, 1923. Mr. OVERLAND was born in Trondhjem, Norway January 22, 1846. When he was still a young man he came to America, settling first in Stearns County of this state, later they moved to Battle Lake where they lived up to 12 years ago, when he came to this city. He conducted a tailoring establishment in this city and was a well known and respected citizen. He is survived by his wife and six children.


Margit Eiriksdatter Steinbråten 1851-1911

Margit Eiriksdatter Steinbråten was born March 3, 1851 in Gol, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway to Eirik Olson Mekkel-Bakken and his wife Ingebjørg Olsdatter Hagen. [I changed the date of birth because only her death certificate says 1850. The baptism records say 1851 as does the Bygdebøk for Gol.] She was the fourth child of eleven. She was baptized June 8,1851 in the Gol, Stave Church pictured above and confirmed there June 17,1866. The Gol, Stav Church was moved to Oslo in 1884. A replica has been built of it in Gol, Norway, in Minot, North Dakota and at Disney world in Florida. She emmigrated from Oslo according to Norwegian archives to St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA. on the ship Hero. She left Oslo on December 18,1874, she was 25 years old. She married Andreas Petter Overland in about 1875. They had seven children:

a) Petter Edeward

b) Christine Amand

c) Ida Olene

d) Pauline Anette

e) Anna Mathilda

f) Mable Julia

g) Mable Julia

They lived in the Stearns County near Belgrade, Minnesota until sometime in the 1890's when they moved to Battle Lake, in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. She died May 1, 1911, in Battle Lake, Minnesota from Tuberculosis which she had for 1 year and four months. She was buried in the Lutheran Cemetery at Battle Lake.

Friday, November 23, 2007

My Olsen Great-great Grandparents

This old picture was in Grandma Olson's photo Album. I have no idea who they are but I have wondered if this is not a picture of Berta Karine, Ragnhild Jarlesdatter, Jarle Olsen, Jarle Olaus Olson, Ole Andreas or Berta's second husband, Elen Kristine depending on when the picture was taken. If anyone knows let me know.
Ole Andreas Olsen 1847-1883

Ole Andreas Olsen was born December 20,1847 on the island of Karmøy, Norway to Ola Kristoffersen and his wife Johanne Johannesdatter. He was baptized at the Åkra church on December 26,1847. In the 1865 Norwegian census, Ole was 19 years old and listed as a fisherman. In 1872 he married Berta Karine Olsdatter. They had four children.

a) Elen Kristine born: 1873 "to America 1881

b) Jarle Olaus born: 1876 married Ida Olene Overland "to America 1881

c) Ole Johannes born: 1880 "to America 1881

d) Hanne Emilie born: 1883 died 1885

The first three were born in Norway and the youngest in the USA. Ole and Berta immigrated to the USA in 1881 to Battle Lake, Minnesota. Berta Karine's mother Ragnhild Jarlsdatter Langager Baardsen was a widow and her son Jarle Olsen (brother to Berta Karine) accompanied them to the USA. The story that I have been told is that two years after coming to Minnesota in 1883 Ole Andreas Olsen died from sunstroke after working in a hay field all day in the hot summer sun. He would have been buried in Minnesota but I have not been able to find where. A note that my grandpa Olson had saved appears to be a letter of reference that was sent to them in America from the pastor in the Skudenes parish office in Karmøy reads as follows. Skudesnes Clerical District Church record shows that bachelor Ole Baardsen Kvilhaug and maiden Ragnhild Jarlsdatter Langager in May 1850 were joined together in marriage, he was then 27, she was 23 years old. Also that the husband as of now is deceased and that she, since his death, has remained a widow.The same record shows that the above mentioned couples daughter Berthe Karine as maiden, on the 23rd of May 1872 was joined in marriage to renter bachelor Ole Andreas Olsen Liknes. She was born 3rd of October 1850 and he was born 20th of December 1847. This couple's now living children are:Elen Christine, said to be born the 7th of April, 1873 and was baptized the 20th of the same month. Jarle Olaus, said to be born the 9th of March and was baptized on the 2nd of April 1876 and Ole Johannes, said to be born the 25th of February and was baptized on the 21st of March 1880. Then, for now, it is informed that the mentioned Berthe Karine with her above mentioned mother and her mentioned children intends to emigrate to America, so they are now registered among the people moved out of Skudesnes. There is nothing unsatisfactoy known about their conduct.Skudesnes parish office the 7th of July 1884. Stated without fee. A. Bendeke.



Berta Karine Olsdatter 1850-1927

Berta Karine Oldatter was born March 10,1850 at Kvilhaug farm, Karmøy, Norway to Ole Bårdsen and Ragnhild Jarlesdatter Langager. She was baptized June10,1850 at Ferkingstad Church. In 1872 she married Ole Andreas Olsen. They had four children. a) Elen Kristine født: 1873 "til Amerika 1881b) Jarle Olaus født: 1876 gift med Ida Olene Overland "til Amerika 1881c) Ole Johannes født: 1880 "til Amerika 1881d) Hanne Emilie født: 1883 død 1885The first three were born in Norway and the youngest in the USA. Ole and Berta immigrated to the USA in 1881 to Battle Lake, Minnesota. Berta's mother Ragnhild Jarlesdatter Langager Baardsen and Berta's brother Jarle Olsen accompanied them to America. When Ole died in 1883 Berta remarried. I'm not sure what his name was but she had another son named Anders who was born in 1897 in Minnesota. He returned to Norway and married Elida Gurine Nilsen. He settled first on the Kvilhaugsvik farm and then on Bygnes, both farms are on Karmøy. Anders and Elida had two children a) Anne Gurine born: 1931 married Norvald E.Liknes andb) Olav born: 1932 married Liv Oddbjørg Hansen. Both of them live on Karmøy. I have written them a couple of times and received no response. Berta Karine died October 29,1927 in Minnesota. She was buried in the Nidaros Lutheran cemetery, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Monday, November 19, 2007

My Jacobson Great Grandparents

Austevoll Kommune Crest where both Jacobson and Nilson Families Came From
Above is picture of Blænes, Huftarøy, Norway where Marthines came from Picture of Mathines Jacobson Kolbeinsvik and Martha Dorthea Baardsen on their wedding day July 13,1893, Milnor, North Dakota [They were First Cousins]
Mathines Jacobson Kolbeinsvik 1863-1942
Marthines Jacobson was born February 25,1863 at Blænes, Huftarøy, Norway to Jacob Baarsen Kolbeinsvik and his wife Kristi Andersdatter Blænes. He was the fourth child of eight. He was baptized at home on Blænes and confirmed in Ostervold Church, Storeboe, Norway. He went to school at Ostervold as well. During his growing up years he moved with his family from Blænes to Vik to Trollholmen on Kolbeinsvik. He is also listed as living as a fosterson at his Auntie Ann Baarsdatter on Uglenes. When he was older he went to live with his grandparents Anders Knudsen Raunholm and Marthe Jacobsdatter Blænes on Blænes. On May 15,1882 he left Bergen to travel to DeLamere, North Dakota, where his uncle Knud Baarsen lived with his wife Marthe Vincentsdatter Kvalvaag and their daughters. The oldest of these daughters who were his cousins was Martha Dorthea Baarson who was seven years old when Marthines arrived. She became Mathines wife ten years later on July 13,1893. After they were married they lived near Delamere, North Dakota but on the South Dakota side of the border. Marthines had filed for a homestead in the early 1890s. By 1903 they moved to Hamar, North Dakota then to Finley, North Dakota. Marthines filed for a homestead in Canada, near Parkbeg, Sk. on November 27,1911. He started living there on June 15,1912. In the early 1920's they moved from the homestead to the John Ellingson farm about five miles north of Parkbeg. When Martha died in 1933 Marthines moved to Moose Jaw with his son Thomas and family. He lived in Moose Jaw until his death in 1942. He is buried at Bethany Lutheran Church, Parkbeg, Sk.
Martha Dorthea Baardsen 1875-1933
Martha Dorthea Baardsen was born May 28,1875 to Knud Baardsen Kolbeinsvik and his wife Marthe Vincentsdatter Kvalvaag in Ridgeway,Winneshiek County, Iowa. She was baptized at Lincoln Lutheran Church, Winnesheik County Iowa on July 25,1875. My wife and I visited Lincoln Lutheran in June of 2005. The church is no longer standing because it burned but the cemetery is still there and a cairn listing the names of the Pastors who served there. In about 1879 the family moved to DeLamere, North Dakota. She was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, DeLamere and was living there with her family until she married Marthines Jacobson in 1893. My wife and I visited Immanuel Lutheran, DeLamere in June 2005, it was a beautiful well kept country church still very active. The secretary of the parish also sent me a history book of the church. I was amazed to see that some of the pastors who served there were well known in Lutheran circles like Jacob Tanner who wrote the confirmation textbooks that I used and a Pastor Lavik whos son later became the president of the seminary in Saskatoon. She moved with Marthines to Hamar, Finley and they moved to Canada to their homestead at Parkbeg in June 1912. Martha suffered a paralytic stroke in April 1931 and was bedridden until she died November 3, 1933. She is buried at Bethany Lutheran Church, Parkbeg, Sk.

My Kalvenæs Great Grandparents

Bekkjarvik Chapell & Cemetery where Nils and Ragna are buried
Fitjar Crest


Mogster Church where Nils was baptized


Here is a picture of my Great grandfather Nils Jensson Kalvanæs and his wife Ragna Andrina Mikkelsdatter Bukholmen and my grandfather Andreas Nilson and his sister Jenny.

Nils Jensson Kalvanæs 1860-1935
I don't know very much about these great-grandparents. Nils was born April 21,1860 in Kalvenes, Selbjørn, Norway. He was baptized May 13,1860 at Mogster Church on Stolmen. He married Ragna Andrina Mikkelsdatter Bukholmen November 21,1890 in Fitjar Church, Fitjar Norway. They had three children.

Andreas Mikkel Nilsen Vikestol

Jenny Sofie Maria Nilsdatter Vikestol

Ragnvald Nilsen Vikestol

Nils died July 31,1935 and is buried in the Bekkjarvik Cemetery, Selbjorn.

Ragna Andrina Mikkelsdatter Bukholmen 1870-1916

Ragna was born October 13,1870 in Bukkolmen, Fitjar, Norway. She was baptized November 20,1870 at Fitjar Church. She was confirmed October 4,1885 at Fitjar church. She married Nils Jensson Kalvanæs November 21,1890 in Fitjar Church, Fitjar Norway. They had three children.
Andreas Mikkel Nilsen Vikestol
Jenny Sofie Maria Nilsdatter Vikestol
Ragnvald Nilsen Vikestol
Ragna died November 15,1916 and was buried November 23 in Bekkjarvik Cemetery, Selbjorn, Norway.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

My Tjøsvold Great-grandparents

Karmøy Kommune Crest. Karmøy is the Island where the Olsons, Tjøsvolds and Aadlands came From An Old Picture of Skudesnes Lutheran Church, Loreburn, Saskatchewan where Josef and Anna Tjøsvold are buried Åkra Church in Åkrahamm, Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway where Josef Tjøsvold and Anna Lovise Ådland were both Baptized


Josef and Anna Tjøsvold on their 50th Wedding Anniversary 1948

Josef Tjøsvold 1875-1949
Josef Tjøsvold Josef was born September 27, 1875 to Rasmus Josefssen Tjøsvoll and Elen Karine Tørresdatter Vikra at Åkrahamn, Karmøy, Norway. He was baptized and confirmed there and took his schooling there. Josef came to the U.S.A. in 1893 to two uncles who were living in South Dakota. He married Anna Lovise Aadland in South Dakota in 1898. They lived at Hammer, South Dakota which is just out of New Effington. They had some of their children baptized at the Ferkingstad Lutheran Church there. In 1906 they returned to Karmøy, Norway when grandma Olida was only 1 year old. They returned to South Dakota and on March 25, 1917 they arrived in Strongfield, Saskatchewan, Canada. Anna Lovise's brother Jacob, Wife and family and mother Anna Serine and a sister Sofie married to Olaf Berg had already come to Strongfield, Saskatchewan. Josef homesteaded just outside Strongfield. They later moved a house to Strongfield in the 1940's and retired there. (The house now lived in by Arlin and Ruth Olson in Strongfield) Josef had a conversion experience at the Bethania Lutheran Church north of Broderick. Josef became a powerful witness. The family was active in Skudesnes Lutheran Church at Loreburn. He passed away in 21 April 1949 and was buried in the Skudesnes Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Anna Lovise Aadland 1878 -1959
Anna Lovise Aadland was born June 29,1878 at Ådland, Karmøy to Lars Kristoffersen and Anna Serine Jakobsdatter She was the sixth child of seven children. She came to the USA in 1885 with her parents, when she was seven years old. They settled as far as I know near Hammer, South Dakota. It was there that Anna met Josef Tjøsvold also an immigrant from Norway. They were married there, and farmed on a quarter section of land that ran right up to the border between South Dakota and North Dakota. Grandma Olida spoke of running across the border as kids. I assume that Lars Kristoffersen her father passed away here and her brother Jacob and her mother Anna moved to Strongfield, Saskatchewan, Canada. As well her younger sister Janna Sofie had married Olaf Berg and moved to Strongfield. In 1917 Josef and Anna Lovise and family moved to a farm just outside of Strongfield. It was on this farm that my grandparents Joel and Olida were married in 1926 and here that my dad David was born in 1927. When I was very young I remember visiting the farm when Rudolf and Florence Tjøsvold, Dawn and Danny lived there. I also remember being babysat there the day of Great grandma Anna Lovise's funeral at Skudesnes Lutheran Church. I have a number of memories of Great grandma. I remember her visiting and staying at my grandparents. I also remember visiting her at the Lutheran Sunset home in Saskatoon. Great grandma Tjøsvold I'm told cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Lutheran Sunset home in Saskatoon. She also used to like to take the plane from Saskatoon to Edmonton to see her children and grandchildren in Edmonton. Anna Lovise passed away in Saskatoon, in 1959 and was buried at Skudesnes Lutheran Church Cemetery.


Saturday, November 17, 2007

My Olson Great-grandparents

Jarle's Blacksmith shop in Garfield, Minnesota
Another Picture of Jarle Olaus Olson

Kvilhaug- Sandhåland Area of Karmøy where Jarle Olson came from, you can see why they would have to clean sea salt off the windows. This picture off the internet taken in 1960-63
Ferkingstad Church on Karmøy, Rogaland, Norway where Jarle Olaus was baptized.
Jarle Olaus Olson and Ida Olena Olson on their wedding day Oct.1,1899, Battle Lake, Minnesota

Jarle Olaus Olson 1876-1928

Jarle Olaus Olson was born March 9th, 1876 on the Kvilhaug farm on the Island of Karmøy on the west coast of Norway. At the age of five years he emigrated with his family to Minnesota. I assume it was to Battle Lake, Minnesota. I know nothing about his childhood, but He would have taken his schooling in Minnesota. The story that I have been told is that two years after coming to Minnesota in 1883 [when he was 7 years old] his father Ole Andreas Olsen died from sunstroke after working in a hay field all day in the hot summer sun. Jarle left home at a young age. Below is a list of his siblings, parents and grandparents from the Slektsforum Karmøy website.

Kvilhaug Ao 21. Ole Andreas Olsen born 1847, died 1883

son to Ola Kristoffersen and Johanne Johannesdtr "N- Liknes-Ao 6.

married 1872 with Berta Karine Olsdtr born 1850, died 1927

daughter to Ole Bårdsen and Ragnhild Jarlesdtr "Kvilhaug-Ao 20

Barn:

a) Elen Kristine born: 1873 "to America 1881

b) Jarle Olaus born: 1876 married with Ida Olene Overland "to America 1881

c) Ole Johannes born: 1880 "to Amerika 1881

d) Hanne Emilie born: 1883 died 1885

e) Anders born: 1897 married with Elida Gurine Nilsen "Bos. Bygnes

***

Familien til Amerika 1881, sammen med Berta Karine's mor og bror.Anders kommer tilbake til Norge og bosetter seg først på "Kvilhaugsvik bnr 15, siden på Bygnes.Translation -The family to America in 1881, the same with Berta Karine's mother and brother. Anders came back to Norway and settled himself first on Kvilhaugsvik, then on Bygnes

I assume that the Anders above born in 1897 was a half brother to Jarle and that even though he was born in the USA, he went back to Norway. I have written to his children in Norway and received no reply.The youngest sibling Anders must have been a half-brother or a step-brother since Ole Andreas died in 1883.

Also I have a copy of a letter that his father-in-law Andreas Petter Overland wrote in reply to him when Jarle asked for his daughter Ida's hand in marriage. Also there is a copy of the wedding invitation. On Sunday, October 1, 1899 he married Ida Olena Overland at the Overland home at Battle Lake. For a time, either before or after he was married Jarle had a blacksmith shop in Garfield, Minnesota. In the spring of 1909, Jarle went north to Broderick, Saskatchewan, Canada to get a homestead. His homestead was NW1/4 of 13-31-7 W3 . For a while he worked for a blacksmith in the Outlook district. Later in the summer and harvest he worked for A.N, Finnestad. In the fall of that year Ida and the four oldest children, Alvin, Orville, Joel and Benjamin moved to Canada to join him. Jarle's dream I'm told was to get wealthy in Canada and then go back and buy a Dairy farm in Minnesota. When harvest was done in 1909, it seems they stayed for a short time at Tollef Vallevands. The winter of 1910 was spent doing chores for the Risvold brothers while they took a trip to the States. In the spring of 1911 the family moved to the NE 1/4 of 14-31-7 W3, which Jarle bought from Tollef Vallevand. This quarter was across the road from the homestead. He rented more land in the Glenside district in 1920 where the family moved for 3 years. From the Glenside district the family moved to the Rasmus Finnestad place. Jarle and Ida were Lutheran Brethren and being there was no Lutheran Brethren Church near Broderick they had Sunday School at home. Jarle and Ida lived North of Broderick until they passed away. Jarle passed away from stomach cancer in 1928 at the age of 52. The story told about his funeral is that they wanted to have the funeral at Bethania Lutheran which had been financed by A.N. Finnestad. Bethania was a Lutheran Free Church, a different Synod. A.N. Finnestad stood on the steps and said to the family that there would be no funeral that day unless there was an ordained Lutheran Pastor. The family had arranged for the ordained Lutheran Free pastor from Elbow and Skudesnes to do the funeral and so the funeral went ahead. His wife Ida passed away the following year in 1929. They are both buried in the Bethania Lutheran Cemetery, North of Broderick along with an infant son Philip.

Ida Olene Overland 1881-1929

Ida Olene Overland was born August 21, 1881 in Stearns County, Minnesota to Andreas Petter Overland and Margit Eriksdatter Steinbråten [Stenbraten]. She was baptized September 11,1881 at Big Grove Lutheran Church, near Belgrade, Minnesota. Sometime later the family moved to Battle Lake, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Her father was a tailor. She was the third of eight children. In the late 1890's she met Jarle Olaus Olson. They were married at 7PM, October 1, 1899 at the Overland home in Battle Lake, Minnesota. They continued to live there until 1909 when they emigrated to Canada. In the spring of 1909 Jarle came North to Saskatchewan to get a homestead. I have a copy of a land title for a piece of property up in the Melfort area dated at Humboldt in 1909. I assume he traded it for the quarter North of Broderick. In the fall of that year Ida and the four oldest children, Alvin, Orville, Joel and Benjamin moved to Canada to join him. When harvest was done in 1909, it seems they stayed for a short time at Tollef Vallevands. The winter of 1910 was spent doing chores for the Risvold brothers while they took a trip to the States. In the spring of 1911 the family moved to the NE 1/4 of 14-31-7 W3, which Jarle bought from Tollef Vallevand. This quarter was across the road from the homestead. He rented more land in the Glenside district in 1920 where the family moved for 3 years. From the Glenside district the family moved to the Rasmus Finnestad place. Jarle and Ida were Lutheran Brethren and being there was no Lutheran Brethren Church near Broderick they had Sunday School at home. Jarle and Ida lived North of Broderick until they passed away. Ida passed away in 1929. They are both buried in the Bethania Lutheran Cemetery, North of Broderick along with an infant son Philip.

Friday, November 16, 2007

My Maternal Grandparents

Wedding Picture of Grandpa Andrew and Grandma Josefine - November 17,1917, at the Jacobson Homestead near Parkbeg, Saskatchewan
Fitjar Church Austevoll, Hordaland, Norway



Andreas Mikkel Nilson 1890-1948

Andreas Mikkel Nilson, was born December 30, 1890, to Nils Jenssen Vikestøl(born April 22,1860 and his wife Andrina Mikkelsdatter Kvaren (born October 13,1870) in Vikestøl, Fitjar, Austevoll, Hordaland, Norway. He was baptized January 18,1891 in the Fitjar Church, Fitjar by Pastor Thomas Fryknell, and confirmed September 10,1905, by Pastor Christian Larsen Dahler in the Bekkjarvik Chapel on Selbjørn. Andreas was the firstborn of a family of five (two boys and three girls). He grew up on the Vigestol farm which was part of Grasdal, Baatevik, and Sætre. The Vigestol farm was the harbour for the local area. This family grew up looking out to sea from every part of the farm. The school that Andreas attended was down the coastline to Gauksheim. After his confirmation Andreas became a full time fisherman, shipping out of Bergen and Haugesund. With these fishermen he travelled up the coast of Norway and as often as far as Iceland. Part of the money he made as a fisherman was used to build a new house on Vigestol so the family could have a more comfortable place to live. The house was probably built by his Dad, who was a good carpenter. This house was still lived in on Vigestol in 1968. The lumber and supplies were likely purchased in Kvalvaag on Stolmen and brought to Vigestol by barge or boat. It could easily be carried from the dock to the building site. In 1908 Andreas decided to visit his Aunt Synneve, who had emigrated to Geddes, South Dakota in 1901, and had married Olaf Johnson. Andreas knew his Auntie well from her frequent visits on Vigestol during his first eleven years. He sailed on Steamship Stjerne on December 12,1908 and landed in New York on January 1, 1909. He travelled by train from New York to Geddes and stayed there for five years until 1914. While in South Dakota he worked on the farm with his uncle Olaf, planting and harvesting corn. He spent most of his time off the farm working for Peter Norbeck, drilling wells in the south west corner of South Dakota. These were deep wells, many of which were artesian wells and provided much needed water for farmers in the area. It should be noted that Peter Norbeck later became the govenor of North Dakota and was instrumental in the establishment of Mount Rushmore National Monument. The Norbeck family was very politically astute. Peter's father the Reverend Georg Norbeck, was a member of the first General Assembly of South Dakota, and his brother Enoch wasa member of the General Assembly for two terms. The father Georg Norbeck was an active Pastor of the Norwegian Synod of the Lutheran Church. Andreas returned to Norway in 1914 with the intent of staying in Norway. The farm Vigestol had a mortgage which he was prepared to repay. The firstborn son had 'Odelsrett', the right of inheritance, and Andreas wanted to have his father honour this for him but Nils wouldn't do it. As a result Andreas decided to return to Canada. On November 17th, 1917 at the Jacobson farm north of Parkbeg, he married Josefine Jacobson. They spent their wedding night in the hotel in Mortlach, Saskatchewan. They farmed on the homestead north of Parkbeg and began their life together on this farm. Four children were born on this farm: Dorothea Amanda, Melinda Josephine, Norman Melvin, Obert Wilfred.During the winter of 1922-1923, the family resided on Princess Street just north of Pasqua Hospital in Regina where Andrew attended barber school. After returning to the farm for a couple of years, they sold the homestead and moved to Secretan, Saskatchewan in 1925, where they established a restaurant and barber shop. They lived in Secretan for three years where the fifth child arrived: Lester Thomas.After the time in Secretan, they purchased the Kelly farm north of Parkbeg and went back to work the land. They lived on the farm and raised their family there adding three more children: Arne John, Florence Nina, Evelyn Viola Andreas passed away on April 2, 1948 at home at Parkbeg from a heart attack. The funeral was held at Central Lutheran in Moose Jaw and he was buried in the Rosedale Cemetery in Moose Jaw.

Josefine Karoline Jacobson 1895 -1994

Josefine was born not far from DeLamere, North Dakota on the Sisseton Indian Reservation in North Dakota on September 23, 1895. The Jacobson family moved from DeLamere to Hamar to Finley and to Kenmare, all in North Dakota before emigrating to Canada in 1912 to take out their homestead at Parkbeg, Saskatchewan. They became a part of the community and lived in Parkbeg and Moose Jaw where the family stayed for most of their lives. In Parkbeg, Josefine Jacobson met Andrew Michael Nilson (Andreas Mikkel Nilsen Vigestøl), a Norwegian emigrant from Bekkjarvik on the island of Selbjørn, just south of Bergen, near the area where the Jacobson and Baardsen families had lived. They were married on November 7, 1917 at the Jacobson farm near Parkbeg, Saskatchewan. They farmed on a homestead north of Parkbeg and began their life together on this farm. Four children were born on this farm: Dorothea Amanda, Melinda Josephine, Norman Melvin, Obert Wilfred,.During the winter of 1922-1923, the family resided on Princess Street just north of Pasqua Hospital in Regina where Andrew attended barber school. After returning to the farm for a couple of years, they sold the homestead and moved to Secretan, Saskatchewan in 1925, where tey established a restaurant and barber shop. They lived in Secretan for three years where the fifth child arrived: Lester Thomas.After the time in Secretan, they purchased the Kelly farm north of Parkbeg and went back to work the land. They lived on the farm and raised their family there adding three more children: Arne John, Florence Nina, Evelyn Viola. In the fall of 1949 Josefine moved to Moose Jaw to establish Florence in teachers college and Evelyn in high school. She returned to the farm in the spring to plant a garden and raise chickens. This pattern continued until 1956 when she moved to Moose Jaw permanently. In 1965 she purchased a house on Clifton Ave and established a boarding house. Josefine enjoyed travelling and visiting her family all over North America. She was always active in the Lutheran Church, first in North Dakota, then at Bethany Lutheran, Parkbeg and at Central Lutheran in Moose Jaw. She passed away Feb 16,1994 in Union Hospital, Moose Jaw and was interred in Rosedale Cemetery beside her husband.













Wednesday, November 14, 2007

My Paternal Grandparents

Joel Lorimer Olson - 1906 - 1985
Joel Lorimer Olson was born in Battle Lake, Minnesota, on September 12, 1906 and passed away on May 12, 1985, in City Hospital at Saskatoon at the age of 78 years and 8 months. He came to Canada with his family in the fall of 1909 and settled North of Broderick. He attended school at Eden Valley and Golden Meadow schools. Joel loved machines and after getting a Grade 7 education he was involved in working on the farm. He loved running the Steam Engine for threshing. When his parents were both sick he was sent to find a hired girl. He went to the Tjøsvold farm at Strongfield and brought Olida home to be the hired girl. In 1926 he was united in marriage to Olida Tjøsvold and to this union were born three sons and one daughter. He farmed for 45 years in the Hawarden area and served on the local school and telephone boards. Joel was a committed Christian and an active member of Skudesnes Lutheran Church where he held various offices on the church council, and taught the adult Bible class for many years. He was a respected lay speaker who often preached at home and in other. congregations.He was also active in the Elbow Bible Camp and served a few years as caretaker.In the early 1970's he retired to Strongfield where he lived until 1981 when he suffered a stroke, and moved to Saskatoon.
Christine Olida Tjøsvold -1905-2003
Christine Olida Tjøsvold was born at her parents home in Roberts County South Dakota on the 17 of November 1905. At the age of eleven she moved with her family to Strongfield Sask.where she continued her education at Wildon school. She attended services and was confirmed at Skudesnes church. At the age of 16 she left school to work with her sister, Mable , living in the "Cookcar"and cooking for harvesters. She gained a wealth of experience in home making from working "out" for various neighbors . One day a very handsome, red haired, blue-eyed man came to her parents door desperate for a girl to help his sick mother . She went, and five months to the day later married Joel Olson. On the death of Joel's parents shortly after their marriage, she became surrogate mother to his four young sisters , ranging in age from 6 to 13. For a time Joel's teenaged brothers made their home with Joel and Lida, too, so the table usually had at least eight to ten people around it. A son and a daughter, David and Ione, were born while Joel's sisters were still very young, so there were six children under the age of fifteen to be clothed, fed and sheltered - all this by a young couple 25 years of age during the great depression. Olida was equal to the task. She was an excellent cook, meticulous seamstress, and avid gardener. She could make delicious meals from very little, made beautiful garments from flour sacks and old clothes,(one morning she made a dress for Esther before school!)-- and her garden was not only super productive but also her refuge when the stress level peaked. She always had some red and pink poppies in the middle of the vegetable garden. In the winter she would spin yarn and provide knitted garments and make quilts. The boys were gone and older girls were out working by the time the second son Oliver,was born . When she was down to her own children and Clara, she took under her wing to nurture and help an orphaned teenaged sister and brother from a neighboring farm. Dorothy"s children still call her grandma. The year that Clara was married, the last of her children, Lorimer, was born. After nineteen years she now had only her own four children at home. The door was always open, and the house was always full, the table always bountiful and there was always space to spread another bedroll on the floor! Lida was always more comfortable with fifteen people around her than one on one!
After they were married they lived on the homestead North of Broderick. Then moved to the Perry place west of Hawarden. Then in the early 40's they bought a farm four miles East of Hawarden. In the early 1970's they fixed up the old Tjøsvold house in Strongfield and retired there. In 1981, Joel had a stroke and they moved to Saskatoon. Joel passed away in 1985. Grandma Olida shortly after his passing moved into the Circle Drive Alliance Church condominiums. In 2000, we celebrated her 95th birthday at Rock of Ages Lutheran Brethren Church. She lived there until she got sick on New Years Day, 2001. After a brief stay she moved to a private care home in Saskatoon operated by an old neighbor from the farm at Hawarden. In March 2002 she moved to a private care home operated in Outlook. In August 2002, Olida had a bad fall at the Care home and ended up in the hospital for a few days. From the hospital she moved into the Outlook and district Pioneer Home where she lived until her passing. After a chest infection Olida passed away at 5:15AM Wednesday July 16,2003.