MAREN OLSEN AAS Death in Valders on Sun. of Mrs. Maren O. Aas of old age debility. She was born in Norway 10 Dec. 1802 and has resided in our county since 1851. The funeral was held Tues. Der Nord Westen, 02 May 1901 ******** Deaths of a Week: The death of Mrs. Maren Oaas occurred last Sunday at Valders. The funeral took place on Tuesday. Manitowoc Pilot, Wis., Thursday, May 2, 1901 pg. 1 ******** [12/10/1802 - 4/28/1901] [Aas Maren Olsen]
NILS OLSEN AAS Nils Olsen Aas, son of Ole Olsen, b 1 Dec 1801 Norway, d 7 Jan 1878. Lived at Aas sondre in Gjerpen. Immigrated 1851, signed the letter of call 1852. Lived in Cato. ml 27 Sept 1827 Gjerpen to Maren, daughter of Christen Olsen from Nordre Hoppestad, bp 22 July 1804 Gjerpen, d 28 Jan 1843 Gjerpen. m2 7 Sept 1843 Gjerpen to Maren, daughter of Halvor Halvorsen from Holt ode, bp 26 Dec 1802 Gjerpen, d 28 April 1901 bur Gjerpen. Children: *Ole b 26 Aug 1832; Anne Marie b 12 March 1837, m *Christian Larsen Ballestad; Maren b 10 March 1845, m *Torger Nilsen. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 161 ******** [Aas Nils Olsen]
INGEBORG MARIE AASTAD Funeral services for Miss Ingeborg M. Aastad of 710 Pine St., Manitowoc, who died Wednesday morning at the home of her niece, Miss Hazal Aslakson, will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Lutheran Church, Manitowoc, the Rev. Roland L. Schwandt officiating. Burial will be in the Gjerpen Evangelical Lutheran Church, Valders. Miss Aastad was 84. Miss Aastad was born June 24, 1874, in Manitowoc, daughter of the late Christian and Martha Skogan Aastad. In 1905 she moved to Evanston, Ill., where she resided until 1920 when she moved to California. She returned to Manitowoc in 1954 to make her home with Miss Aslakson. Miss Aastad was a masseuse by profession. Miss Aastad was a member of the First Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Women's Club. Surviving are the niece and nephew, Clifford Aastad, of Green Bay. Miss Aastad was the last survivor of ten children. Friends may call at the Jens Funeral Home, Manitowoc, after 2 p.m. Friday. Manitowoc Herald Times, Manitowoc, Wis. November 6, 1958 P. 25
ELLA AASTAD Ella K. Aastad birth: 11 August 1888 Minnasota death: 27 August 1903 Cato, Manitowoc Co., Wisconsin burial: Jerpen, Wis. residence: 1903 Cato father: K.K. Asstad mother: Louisa Wisconsin, Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968
ADOLF ALFSEN (d. 1878) Adolph Alfsen Wisconsin, Death Records Name Adolph Alfsen Event Type Death Event Date 1878 Event Place Cato, Manitowoc, Wisconsin Gender Male Marital Status Unknown Race White Father's Name A.O. Alfsen "Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907" ******** Adolph Alfsen Wisconsin Death Index Name Adolph Alfsen Event Type Death Event Date 04 Jul 1878 Event Place Manitowoc, Wisconsin Page 0248 "Wisconsin Death Index, 1820-1907"
REV. ADOLPH O. ALFSEN (d. 1937) The Rev. Adolph Odin Alfsen, 89 (photo below), who served the Gjerpen-Valders Lutheran congregation for 44 years before retiring, died Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elias Lund at Moorsetown, Mich. The Rev. Alfsen's last visit to the county was in 1935, when he came here from Chicago, to visit members of his old congregation. The body will lie in state at the Berge funeral home, Valders, until Tuesday at 10 a.m., when it will be moved to the Gjerpen-Valders parsonage to remain until the time of services. A short service will be held at the parsonage at 2 o'clock Tuesday followed by services at the Gjerpen church. The sermon will be deliverd by the Rev. D.G. Ristad city, acting president of the eastern district of the Lutheran church. Other pastors will assist. Interment will be in the Gjerpen cemetery. The Rev. Alfsen was born in Troudhjae, Norway in 1848, the son of Ole and Henrikke Alfsen. The parents with their children emigrated to America in 1860 and settled in Waushara county, Wis. In 1863 Rev. Alfsen entered Luther college from which he was graduated. He studied for three years at the Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., and before the close of his term was called to assist the Rev. E. Jensen, Trempeleau county, who was ill. He was ordained March 21, 1872. In July of that year he married Hillborg Sophie Nelson of Ridgeway, Iowa, who preceded him in death in 1916. The Rev. Alfsen was called to the Gjerpen-Valders congregations in the summer of 1873 and remained until September 1917. From here he went to Battle, South Dakota and later he was located at Spring Grove, Minn. and Rockdale, Wis. For 19 years his home has been in Chicago where he has lived a retired life. He spent his summers with his daughter, Mrs. Lund, where he died. Two daughters, Mrs. Lund and Mrs. H. Hovde, North Dakota, and two sons, Arthur and Joel Alfsen, Chicago, survive. Manitowoc Herald Times, Monday, August 30, 1937 pg. 2 ******** Rev. Alfson Retires from Work at Jerpen and Valders Norwegian Lutherans of this city are interested in the report that Rev. A. H. Alfson for more than forty years pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran churches of Jerpen and Valders west of this city is about to five up his charges and prays to be relieved of the work. Rev. Alfson resides near the Jerpen church on what is known as the "lower church" to differentiate it from the Valders congregation which is designated as the "west" church, the two designations referring to the geographical location. Rev. Alfson, it is said, will make his announcement this week in the Jerpen Church and though the Herald tried to get into communication with his today through the telephone, the lines were out of order and the report could not be substantiated. It is said that the announcement of his retirement was made in the upper church. Continuous pastorate of two congregations for forty years is a record of which to be proud and the parishioners of the minister are loath to have him discontinue his work. It is not known whether Rev. Alfson will retire from active service. Manitowoc Daily Herald - July 23, 1912 - page 1 ******** MINISTER IN QUARANTINE Rev. Alfsen's Home at Madsen is Under Smallpox Quarantine Smallpox has closed the home of Rev. A. Alfsen of Madsen, a quarantine having been established by the town board as result of the appearance of the disease in the family. The patient is a boy who made his home with Rev. Alfsen and the case is not a serious one but being the first in the town, every precaution is being taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Rev. Alfsen and family reported the boy's illness and have given the town board every assistance. Rev. Alfsen is in charge of the Jerpen church and is well known in this city. Manitowoc Daily Herald - Thurs., Dec. 3, 1908 ******** Adolph Odin Alfsen, son of Ole Alfsen and Henrikka Moe, b 6 July 1848 Trondhjem, d 28 Aug 1937 Michigan bur Gjerpen. Immigrated 1860. Lutheran pastor, Trempealeau Valley 1872-1873, Gjerpen 1873-1917. m 1872 to Hilleborg Sofie, daughter of Jakob Nilsen and Torbjar Torgersdatter, b 27 May 1852 Sun Prairie, d 4 Oct 1916 bur Gjerpen. Children: Henrietta Josefine b 28 April 1873 Trempealeau Valley, m 5 July 1898 Gjerpen to Pastor Kolbein Siegwart Johannes Hovde b 1869; Sofie b 21 Sept 1874, d 22 Sept 1874; Theodora Alice b 30 Dec 1875; Adolf d 4 July 1878 immediately after birth; Adolf d 30 June 1879, lived only an hour; Ida Luella b 27 May 1880, d 1920, m 8 Aug 1917 Gjerpen to Ole, son of "'August Gulliksen; Agnes Marie b 27 Sept 1886, d 10 Aug 1889; Esther Margareth b 17 Jan 1889, d 11 June 1889; Edvin Joel b 19 Sept 1890, d 30 Jan 1892; Arthur Edwin b 2 Jan 1892; Joel Olaf b 3 March 1895. A. O. Alfsen's sister Anna Theodora, b c1858 Trondhjem, was confirmed at Gjerpen in 1874. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 1 ******** (This is the Rev. Adolph O. Alfsen) [7-6-1848 - 8-28-1937]
AGNES MARIE ALFSEN Alfson Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Name Alfson Gender Female Birth Date 29 Sep 1886 Birthplace Cato, Manitowoc, Wisconsin Race White Father's Name A.O. Alfson Father's Birthplace Norway Mother's Birthplace Norway "Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926," database, FamilySearch
JOEL EDWIN ALFSEN Alfson Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Name Alfson Gender Male Birth Date 19 Sep 1890 Birthplace Cato, Manitowoc, Wisconsin Race White Father's Name A. Alfsen Father's Birthplace Norway "Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926," database, FamilySearch
NELLIE T. NELSON ALFSEN Mrs. Nellie Alfsen, 62, died suddenly early today at the Gulick Nelson homestead farm in Cato three miles east of Valders. She was striken with a heart attack late Thursday. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. from the Nelson home and at 2 o’clock from the Gjerpen Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mrs. Alfsen, nee Nellie Nelson, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Gulick Nelson, was born in Cato in 1879. In 1910 she married Carl Alfsen in Wautoma, Wis. They located on a farm there. Mr. Alfsen died in 1918 and she returned to this county. Survivors are a daughter, Gladys of Cato and a sister, Josephine Nelson, also of Cato. The body will be moved to the Nelson home Saturday noon from the Berge funeral home in Valders. Manitowoc Herald times - Friday, Oct. 10, 1941 - page 2
SOFIE ALFSEN (d. 1874) Sophia Alfsen Wisconsin Death Index Name Sophia Alfsen Event Type Death Event Date 22 Sep 1874 Event Place Manitowoc, Wisconsin Page 0235 "Wisconsin Death Index, 1820-1907"
SOPHIE ALFSEN (d. 1916) Mrs. Alfson, wife of Rev. A.O. Alfson of Jerpen, died last night at 10 o'clock. Funeral will be held Saturday. Manitowoc Daily Herald Thursday, October 5, 1916 pg. 1 ******** [5/27/1852 - 10/4/1916]
MARIT AMUNDSEN Marit Endresdatter, daughter of Endre Madsen Twedteieme and Marit Amundsdatter, brother *Mads, bp 11 Dec 1803 Vang, d 20 June 1889 bur Gjerpen. Immigrated 1857 with her daughter Marit. Cato 1880. m 19 March 1829 Vang to Amund Thomassen, b 1799, d 29 July 1842 Vang. Husmann at Ala-Oydgarden under Torpe in Vang from c1830. Children: Berit b 9 March 1829, d 28 July 1916, immigrated 1864, widow in 1900, living with her sister in Cato 1900-1910; Thomas b 1831, d c1911 Fusa, Norway; Endre b 1834, immigrated 1864, m 1858 to Ingeborg Ostensdatter; Marit b 13 July 1840, m *Gunder Gundersen. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 145 ******** [1805 - 6/20/1889]
ANON A. ANDERSON 27th WI Infantry, Co D Born: August 14, 1824 Enlisted: August 20, 1862 as a Private from Manitowoc Rapids, WI, 38 years old Mustered Out: August 29, 1865 1875-76 Manitowoc City Directory: Anderson, Anton, blacksmith, res Buffalo West of 5th 1890 Veterans Schedule, Manitowoc County: Anderson, Anon, post office Manitowoc Died: January 14, 1897 Buried: Gjerpen Lutheran Cemetery, Cato Township, WI. Gravesite: Row 12-1: "Anderson, A. A./Co D/27th Wis. Inf." Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum website: ANDERSON, Anun A.: WI 27th Inf Co D. Born 13 Aug 1824 in Norway. Civil War: Farmer. Age 38. Blue eyes, auburn hair, light complexion, 5'8½", medium build. Enlisted for three years on 20 Aug 1862 at Manitowoc Rapids, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Mustered 13 Oct 1862 at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Private. Detailed and left guarding commissary stores on 17 Mar 1865. Rejoined the company from the Quartermaster department on 20 May 1865. Mustered out 29 Aug 1865. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 boxes 129-6, 130-6; red book vol 32) (Bjerke) ******** Aanund Andersen, son of *Anders Aanundsen and Tarjas Ellefsdatter, b 13 Aug 1824 Norway, d 14 Jan 1897 Manitowoc Rapids bur Gjerpen. Immigrated 1853. Farmer in Manitowoc Rapids. Civil War veteran. m 20 June 1869 Manitowoc Rapids to Marthe Kirstine, daughter of Jacob Johnsen and Martha E., b c1840 Norway, bur 23 Feb 1897 Gjerpen. Children: Tollevine Augusta b 17 Dec 1869, bur 1870; infant bur 12 Nov 1871; Anne Elisabeth b 12 Sept 1872, d 13 March 1900 Tigerton bur Gjerpen; Alice Gurine b 7 Feb 1874. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 1
AUGUSTA ANDERSON Mrs. Augusta (Grandma) Anderson (photo) of Rt. 4, Manitowoc, died early Tuesday morning on the homestead farm. Mrs. Anderson, 96, had been in ill health for a year. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Gjerpen Lutheran Church near Valders with the Rev. Jerry E. Moe officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mrs. Anderson, the former Augusta Mathiesen, was born at Manitowoc Rapids Oct. 24, 1861, daughter of the late Lars and Rosana Hummel Mathiesen. She was married May 17, 1886, to Nels Anderson, who died July 3, 1911. She was a charter member of the Ladies aid Society of the church and was a member of the Homemakers Club. Mrs. Anderson was the last of 11 Mathiesen children of seven girls and four boys. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Herbert Teitgen and Mrs. Norman Gustaveson of Rt. 4, Manitowoc, and Mrs. James Benishek of Branch; 13 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Two sons preceded her in death. Friends may call at Jens Funeral Home, Manitowoc, after 3 p.m. Thursday until 10:30 a.m. Friday and after 11 a.m. Friday at the church where the body will lie in state. Manitowoc Herald Times, Manitowoc, Wis. Tuesday, October 21, 1958 P. 11 [10/24/1861-10/21/1958]
ENGER ANDERSON After a week of unconsciousness, Mrs. O. Anderson died Sunday morning at the residence of her son-in-law, Charles Fehrmann in Newton. She was the mother of Messrs. L.J. and Theodor Anderson here. The deceased, who was 76, came to Wisconsin in 1846 with her parents from their Norwegian homeland. She married in Milwaukee with Mr. O. Anderson, and following his death 8 years ago she moved to Manitowoc County. She is survived by 6 children. The funeral was held Tuesday morning in Jerpen. Der Nord Westen, 23 Sept. 1909 ******** Mrs. O. Anderson, an old resident of the county, died last Sunday morning, after a long illness, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Chas. Fehrman, in the town of Newton. She had been in a state of coma for a week before she died from which it was impossible to rouse her. Mrs. Anderson came to this county with her parents in 1846. She as married at Milwaukee and with her husband resided on a farm in the Rapids. Mr. Anderson died in 1891, since which time she had lived with her daughter, where her death occurred. She is survived by six children, L.J., Theo. And George Anderson of this city, Mrs. Henry Fehrman and Mrs. Chas. Fehrman of Newton, and Mrs. H. Halverson of Cato. Mrs. Anderson was an estimable woman, a kind and loving mother, and was well liked by all who knew her. The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon from the home of Chas. Fehrman in the town of Newton. Manitowoc Pilot, September 23, 1909
INGEBORG ANDERSON Inge Andrea Andersen Wisconsin Deaths and Burials Name Inge Andrea Andersen Gender Female Burial Place Cato Death Date 23 Mar 1895 Death Place Cato, Manitowoc Co., Wisconsin Age 70 Birth Date 24 May 1825 Birthplace Norway Race White Marital Status Married Spouse's Name Soren Andersen "Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968" ******** Inge Andrea Andersen Wisconsin, Death Records Name Inge Andrea Andersen Event Type Death Event Date 1895 Event Place Cato, Manitowoc, Wisconsin Gender Female Age 70 Race W Birth Date 24 May 1825 Birth Year (Estimated) 1825 Birthplace Norway Burial Place Cato, Cemetery Gjerpen Congreg. Spouse's Name Soren Andersen "Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907" ******** [5/25/1824 - 3/23/1895]
JOHANN ANDERSON Johan Andersen, son of *Anders Eriksen Riis and Anne Johnsdatter, b 22 Jan 1855 Riis in Gjerpen, d 19 June 1890 bur Gjerpen. m 22 Jan 1885 Gjerpen to Wilhelmine, daughter of Martinus Wilhelmsen and Ragnild, b c1863 Bergen, d 23 Jan 1894 bur Gjerpen. Children: Alma Regine b 23 July 1885, d 1 July 1887; Walther, d 18 Feb 1887 age 1 day; Lilly Constance b 16 Dec 1889. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 99 ******** [1855 - 6/19/1890]
LEONARD ANDERSON Man Injured in Truck Accident Leonard Anderson was removed to the Holy Family hospital in the county ambulance with severe injuries about the head suffered shortly before 3 p.m. today in a crash of two trucks about four miles west of Manitowoc Rapids at a road intersection. According to word relayed to the sheriff's office by radio by county traffic officers a truck driven by Anderson collided with a town of Manitowoc Rapids truck driven by Clarence Klingheisen. Manitowoc Herald Times, Manitowoc, Wis. Saturday, July 15, 1944 P. 1 ******** NOTE: There is a article about Leonard Anderson in Cem 2 dying but it can not be read. There is a picture of him also. I just typed the headlines/ date of paper it is in if a researcher wants to search it out: Injuries Fatal To Man In A Truck Accident Manitowoc Herald Times, Manitowoc, Wis. Monday, July 17, 1944 Page 2 ******** [1890 - 7/15/1944]
NELS ANDERSON Nils Martinius Anderson, son of *Seren Andersen and Inger Andrea Bertelsdatter, b 17 Feb 1863 bp Gjerpen, d 3 July 1911 bur Gjerpen. Farmer in Cato 1895 1900, in Manitowoc Rapids 1905 1910. m 17 May 1886 Gjerpen to Auguste Christiane, daughter of *Lars Mathisen and Rosine Hommel, b 25 Oct 1861, d 1958. Children: Anetta Rosine b 2 May 1887, m 26 Oct 1915 Gjerpen to Albert Gamaliel Mervin son of *Mathias Gjeruldsen; Albert Norman b 10 Jan 1889, d 17 July 1928, m 20 Aug 1910 Gjerpen to Regina Berthina daughter of *Osman Larson; Leonard Sylvester b 18 July 1890, d 1944; Mabel Clarine b 10 Jan 1892, d 24 May 1989, m 22 or 24 April 1919 Gjerpen to Norman son of *Gustaf A. Gustaveson; Thelma Orbine b 18 March 1899, d 22 June 1987 Manitowoc, m 18 Nov 1920 Manitowoc to James (Bennie) Benishek d 1973. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 155 ******** [Nels Anderson/2/17/1863 - 7/3/1911]
OLE ANDERSON Ole Anderson of Manitowoc Rapids died on Wednesday evening of this week. He has suffered for some years from asthma, and was quite feeble in consequnece. He was 64 years old at the time of his death. He was one of the early settler of the town in which he lived and was a very intelligent man and a good citizen. His funeral takes place on Sunday next. Manitowoc Pilot, February 26, 1891 P. 2 ******** Ole Anderson of Manitowoc Rapids who died February 27, was born in Gramster, July 27, 1827 and immigrated to this country in 1848, settling first at Port Washington where he worked for a time as ship and boat builder, an employment which he followed in the old county. After two years he came to Manitowoc and purchased a farm in Manitowoc Rapids which he retained until the time of his death. Besides farming he took contracts for house building and built many of the houses now in the city. He leaves a wife and ten children to mourn his loss. Manitowoc Pilot Thursday, March 5, 1891 pg. 3 ******** (First publication March 5, 1891.) No. 20 STATE OF WISCONSIN,-COUNTY COURT FOR MANITOWOC COUNTY. In Probate. In the matter of the estate of Ole Anderson, deceased. An instrument in writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of Ole Anderson late of the town of Manitowoc Rapids, in said coutny, having been delivered into said court: And Ludwig J. Anderson of the city of Manitowoc in said county, having presented to said court a petition in writing duly verified, representing, among other things, that said Ole Anderson died testate, at the town of Manitowoc Rapids in said county, on the 24th (sic) day of February 1891; the said instrument is the last will of said deceased and that Ludwig J. Anderson is named therein as executor, and praying that said instrument be proven and admitted to probate and that letters testamentary be thereon issued to Ludwig J. Anderson. It is ordered, That said petition and the matters therein be heard, and proofs of said last will and testament be taken, at a special term of said county court, to be held at the probate office in the city of Manitowoc, on Tuesday, the 31st day of March, 1891, at 10 o'clock A.M. And it is further ordered: That notice of the time and place of said hearing be given by publication hereof for three successive weeks, once each week, previous to the time of said hearing in the Manitowoc Pilot a newspaper published in said Manitowoc county. Dated Marchy 4th, 1891. By the Court, Emil Baensch, County Judge. Nash & Nash, Attys. Manitowoc Pilot, Thursday, April 2, 1891 P. 2 ******** Ole Anderson Wisconsin, Death Records Name Ole Anderson Event Type Death Event Date 1891 Event Place Manitowoc Rapids, Manitowoc, Wisconsin Gender Male Age 63 Marital Status Married Race W Occupation Farmer Birth Date 27 Jul 1827 Birth Year (Estimated) 1828 Birthplace Scruction, Norway Cemetery Luth. Spouse's Name Inga Larson "Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907" ******** Ole Anderson Wisconsin Death Index Name Ole Anderson Event Type Death Event Date 25 Feb 1891 Event Place Manitowoc, Wisconsin Page 0251 "Wisconsin Death Index, 1820-1907" ******** Ole Andreasen, b 27 July 1827 Granston(?), Norway, d 25 Feb 1891 bur Gjerpen. Immigrated 1848 from Christiania or Arendal. Manitowoc 1850. Farmer in Manitowoc Rapids, settled in section 31 in 1850. m 1850 to Inger, daughter of *Lars Larsen Gulset and Ingeborg Gurine Thorsdatter, b 7 Sept 1833 Ballestad in Gjerpen, d 19 Sept 1909 bur Gjerpen. Immigrated 1846 with her parents. Living in Newton with the Carl Fehrmann family 1900 1905. Children: *Anton Ilai b 15 Sept 1852 bp Manitowoc; *Ludvig Johan b 19 Sept 1854 bp Gjerpen; Julia Emilia b 19 April 1857, m *Ole Christensen; Theodor Olavus b 29 June 1859, d 1940, m Mayme Muth 1876-1932; *Georg Torvald b 25 April 1862; Inanda Lovise b 23 July 1864, m *Henry W. Fehrmann; Laurine Marie b 13 June 1867, m *Carl Fehrmann; child bur 1868; Ida Olava b 2 Jan 1871, bur 3 Aug 1872; Ida Olava b 20 Jan 1874, m "Hans Oscar Halverson. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 165
SOREN ANDERSON Soren Anderson Wisconsin Deaths and Burials Name Soren Anderson Gender Male Death Date 22 Jan 1896 Death Place Manitowoc Co., Wisconsin Age 66 Birth Date Jun 1830 Birthplace Norway Occupation Farmer Race White Marital Status Married Spouse's Name Inger Anderson Father's Name Anders Johnson Mother's Name Mare Sorensdatter "Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968" ******** Soren Anderson Wisconsin, Death Records Name Soren Anderson Event Type Death Event Date 1896 Event Place Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Gender Male Age 66 Race W Occupation Farmer Birth Date Jun 1830 Birth Year (Estimated) 1830 Birthplace Norway Burial Place Manitowoc, Wis. Cemetery Kjerpen's Burialground Father's Name Anders Johnson Mother's Name Mari Sorensdatter Spouse's Name Inger Anderson "Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907" ******** [8/2/1830 - 1/2/1896] ******** (news article about Soren Anderson’s adopted son) Notes from Madsen The people of this vicinity were surprised by the arrival of Mr. Olaf Fisher after being absent 22 years. Mr. Fisher was an orphan brought to Manitowoc by the late Rev. Magelson from Illinois. When a lad of 13 years, he was adopted by the late Soren Anderson, living on the farm now owned by James Griffin. When a young man 27 years old, he left here to seek his fortune in the world. He went to Rhinelander and with a party of five started for Alaska 20 years ago, when so much was heard of the gold mines in Alaska. No news reached here from him in Alaska so friends here wrote to Rhinelander and received a clipping from a newspaper that he was killed with his party in a snow slide soon after his arrival there. So his many friends were surprised but glad to see him again. He is one of the county’s men who have been prosperous. He started on his trip with $400. He now is a wealthy mine owner at Fairbanks, Alaska. It is very interesting to hear him tell of his experiences. He speaks highly of the climate and says it is a healthy country. Manitowoc Pilot - Thurs., Jan. 3, 1918
TENNIS ANUNSON SUICIDE. On Sunday last Tennis Annonson (sic) of the Branch committed suicide by hanging himself from a rafter in his granary. He was a man about 65 years of age and never had any trouble which should drive him to self destruction. During the last two months he was afflicted somewhat with melancholy and often expressed the wish that he was dead but showed no symptoms of insanity. On Sunday he quit the house and soon after his body was found suspended from a rafter in the granary. He used for the purpose a piece of clothes line on which was an iron ring; with this he formed a loop around his neck and tied the other end to a rafter which he reached from the stairway. He then allowed himself to drop and thus was strangled. Dr.Frazer was called but the man was beyond medical assistance. An inquest was held by Justice David Sheldon and a verdict rendered in accordance with the above facts. Manitowoc Pilot, Thursday, March 27, 1890 P. 1 ******** (First publication April 17, 1890.) No. 28 IN PROBATE-MANITOWOC COUNTY COURT. In the matter of the estate of Tennes Annenson (sic), deceased. On reading and filing the petition of John Annenson (sic) of Manitowoc Rapids, Wis., representing among other things that Tennes Annenson, late of Manitowoc Rapids, Wis., on the 23d (sic) of March. A.D. 18890 (sic) at Manitowoc Rappips (sic), Wis., died intestate, leaving goods, chattels and estate within the state, and that the said petitioner is the son of said deceased, and praying that administration of said estate be to John Gunderson granted, it is ordered that said petition be heard before this court, on Tuesday, the 13th day of May, A.D., 1890, at 10 o'clock A.M., at my office in said county. Ordered further, that notice thereof be given to the heirs of said deceased, and to all persons interested, by puhlishing (sic) a copy of this order for three successive weeks prior to said day of hearing, in the Manitowoc Pilot, a weekly newspaper published at Manitowoc in said county. Dated at Manitowoc, the 11th day of April, A.D., 1890. Emil Baensch, County Judge. J.D. Markham, Atty. for Petitioner, Manitowoc, Wis. Manitowoc Pilot, Thursday, April 24, 1890 P. 3 ******** Birth: Jun. 14, 1825, Norway Death: Mar. 23, 1890 WI 27th Inf Co K Residence: Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Born in Norway. Civil War: Laborer. Age 34. Blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, 6'. Enlisted for one year on 17 Sep 1864 at Manitowoc. Mustered 7 Oct 1864. Bounty $100. Private. Joined from recruiting depot on 7 Nov 1864. Sources: (WHS Series 1200 boxes 129-14, 130-12) ******** Termis Annerson Wisconsin, Death Records Name Termis Annerson Event Type Death Event Date 1890 Event Place Manitowoc Rapids, Manitowoc, Wisconsin Gender Male Age 64 Marital Status Married Race W Occupation Farmer Birth Date 14 Jun 1825 Birth Year (Estimated) 1826 Birthplace Foeders, Norway Cemetery Jerper Cem. Father's Name Arma Annerson Mother's Name Bertha Annderson Spouse's Name Anna Annerson "Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907" ******** Tennes Aanundsen, son of Aanund ? Amundsen and Bertha Anderson, brothers *Gunder and ?*Syvert, b 14 June 1825 "Toeden in Norway", d 23 March 1890 Manitowoc Rapids, "hanged himself from a rafter in the granary". Immigrated 1856. Farmer in Manitowoc Rapids. Co. K, 27th Wis. Inf. m June 1837 to Anne Hansdatter, b 25 Nov 1820 Norway, d 7 March 1899 bur Shawano County. Children: Aanund b 2 July c1849; Berthe b 9 Nov 1850, m *Trond Tostensen; Henning b 19 Jan c1853; Karen Marie b 18 June 1855, d 1941 bur Shawano County, m 2 June 1879 Manitowoc to Charles Fr. Stevens; August b 18 Feb 1858; Alwari (Elvira) b 16 March 1860, m *Hans Evensen; Johannes b 11 Dec 1862. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 221
ANNE GURINE ASLAKSON Mr. and Mrs. S. O. Gunderson were at Valders yesterday to attend the funeral of the late Mrs. Aslakson. Manitowoc Daily Herald - June 25, 1914 - page 3 ******** [4/10/1832 - 6/22/1914]
ARLIE HAZEL ASLAKSON Arlie Hazel Aslackson Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Name Arlie Hazel Aslackson Gender Female Birth Date 11 Nov 1905 Birthplace Cato, Manitowoc Co. Race White Father's Name Hans Aslackson Father's Birthplace Am. Mother's Name Chrestine Casted Mother's Birthplace Norway "Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926" ******** Arlie Hazel Aslackson Wisconsin Deaths and Burials Name Arlie Hazel Aslackson Gender Female Burial Place Jerpen Death Date 13 Nov 1905 Death Place Cato, Manitowoc Co., Wisconsin Age 0 Birth Date 11 Nov 1905 Birthplace Cato Race White Father's Name Hans Aslackson Father's Birthplace America Mother's Name Christine Mother's Birthplace Norway "Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968" ******** Arlie Hazel Aslackson Wisconsin, Death Records Name Arlie Hazel Aslackson Event Type Death Event Date 1905 Event Place Cato, Manitowoc, Wisconsin Residence Place Cato, Gender Female Age 0 Marital Status Single Race W Birth Date 11 Nov 1905 Birth Year (Estimated) 1905 Birthplace Cato, Wis. Burial Place Jerpen, Father's Name Hans Aslackson Father's Birthplace America Mother's Name Christen Aslackson Mother's Birthplace Norway "Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907" ******** Arlie H Aslackson Wisconsin Death Index Name Arlie H Aslackson Event Type Death Event Date 13 Nov 1905 Event Place Manitowoc, Wisconsin Page 0454 "Wisconsin Death Index, 1820-1907" ******** [11/11/1905 - 11/14/1905]
CHRISTIANE MARTINE ASLAKSON Mrs. Christina Aslakson, 69, died Saturday at her home in the village of Valders after a few days illness. Her death followed 12 days after that of her husband. Hans C. Aslakson, which occured Sept. 19. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. from the home in Valders and at two o'clock from the Gjerpen Lutheran church, the Rev. E.A. Fretheim officiating. Burial will be in the adjoining church cemetery. Mrs. Aslakson, nee Christina Martine Aastad, was born in Stattelle, Bamle, Norway, Jan. 22, 1869 and came to this country with her parents in 1871 as a passenger on the last sailing vessel to leave Norway for America. The family located in this city. In 1895 she was married to Hans Aslakson. They lived on a farm in Cato for 25 years and in 1920 moved to Manitowoc where they lived 12 years. In 1932 they moved to the village of Valders where they since resided. Mrs. Aslakson was a member of the Gjerpen Lutheran church and the Gjerpen Ladies Aid society. Survivors are a daughter, Hazel, Valderes; and a sister, Ingeborg M. Aastad. The body will be moved to the Aslakson home Monday evening from the Berge funeral home. Manitowoc Herald Times, Manitowoc, Wis. October 3, 1938 P. 2 ******** Mrs. Christina Aslakson, 69, died Saturday at the home in Valders, just twelve days after the death of her husband, Hans Aslakson. The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the village. Survivors are a daughter, Hazel, and a sister, Ingeborg M. Aastad. The Manitowoc Sun Messenger Friday, October 7, 1938 pg. 6
HANS CHRISTIAN ASLAKSON Hans Christian Aslakson, 74 (photo), a life long resident of Manitowoc county, died Monday evening at St. Joseph's hospital, Milwaukee, following an illness of several weeks. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 from the home at Valders and at 2 o'clock at the Gjerpen Lutheran church, the Rev. E.A. Fretheim officiating. Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery. The body will be taken from the Berge Funeral Home to the residence Wednesday evening. Mr. Aslakson was born on a farm in the town of Cato Feb. 12, 1864. In 1895 he married Christina Aastad of Manitowoc. The couple lived on a farm in Cato for 25 years and in 1920 moved to Manitowoc where they lived for 12 years. In 1932 they moved to the village of Valders where he has since resided. Mr. Aslakson was an active member of the Gjerpen Lutheran church. Survivors are the widow, one daugher Hazel, and one brother Olaves of Springfield, O. Manitowoc Herald Times, Manitowoc, Wis. September 21, 1938 P. 9 ******** Hans Christian Aslakson, son of *Thor Aslaksen and Anne Gurine Halvorsdatter, b 12 Feb 1864 bp Manitowoc County, d 19 Sept 1938. Farmer in Cato. m 31 Oct 1895 Manitowoc to Christiane Martine, daughter of *Christen A. Aastad and Marthe Kirstine Isaksdatter, b 22 Jan 1869 Stathelle in Bamble, d 1 Oct 1938. Immigrated 1871. Children: a son b and d 8 Aug 1896; Marcella Geneva b 23 Aug 1897, d 7 Oct 1920; Thelma Charlotte b 2 July 1900, d 12 Oct 1908; Arlee Hazel b 11 Nov 1905, d 14 Nov 1905; Hazel Arlie b 15 March 1907. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 75
HAZEL A. ASLAKSON Miss Hazel A. Aslakson, age 87, formerly of 710 Pine St., Manitowoc, died Monday, February 6, 1995, at North Ridge Care Center, Manitowoc. Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 9, 1995, at First Lutheran Church. Revs. Steven D. Olson and Richard E. Lind will officiate with burial at Gjerpen Cemetery, town of Cato. Hazel was born April 15, 1907, in the township of Cato, daughter of the late Hans and Christiana Aastad Aslakson. She attended rural elementary school in the Gjerpen area of Manitowoc County. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1924 with the first class to graduate from the new Lincoln High. She attended the Manitowoc County Normal for one year after which she taught for two years in a rural school south of Valders. She attended St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., and graduated in 1931. She did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Following graduation she taught for five years at the Reedsville High School, five years at Fort Atkinson Senior High School, three years at the Janesville Senior High School. In 1946 she moved back to Manitowoc where she taught English at the Washington Junior High for 26 years. She retired in 1972 after having taught for 41 years. Since her retirement she has done volunteer work as an English language tutor working with our Hmong adults and children. She also taught a weekly Bible class for the residents of Shady Lane Home each Friday for 20 years. She was a member of First Lutheran Church where she belonged to the First Lutheran Church Women, the OUr Savior Alter Guild, the Wednesday Morning Bible Class, and taught Sunday School for many years. She was a member of the Manitowoc County Retired Teachers, the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Friends of the Manitowoc Public Library, the Manitowoc County Historical Society, the Viking Rosemalers, the Lauback Outreach Literach Council, and Society of Norway. Survivors include cousins and many, many friends. She was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters. Friends may call from 6 p.m. until the time of service at the church on Thursday, this being at her requiest. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church, Manitowoc. Jens Funeral Home, Manitowoc is assisting the family with the arrangements. There will be no Wednesday evening visitation. Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter - Feb 7, 1995 p. A2 ********** HAZEL ARLIE ASLAKSON Hazel was born April 15, 1907, the daughter of Hans (1864-1938) and Christiana (1869-1938) nee Aastad Aslakson of Gjerpan, Wisconsin. Their(sic) were 4 other children in the family - son (1896-1896), Thelma (1900-1908), Marcella (1897-1920) and Arlie Hazel (1905-1905) Hazel attended schools in Gjerpan and Manitowoc. She graduated from Lincoln High School. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, graduating in 1931. Hazel became a(sic) English teacher and taught many years. First Reedsville high school for 5 years, Fort Atkinson for 5 years, Janesville for 3 years and completing her years at Washington Junior High School in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Hazel retired in 1972 after 41 years. After retirement, Hazel was very active in church work, holding many responsible chairmanships. She also helped a family from Laos assimilate into American life, teaching them housekeeping methods, taking care of their children, and teaching them to read, write and understand English. One of the Laotian gentleman helped her with her garden, spading, transplanting and trimming. She was always teaching them. Hazel traveled to many places during her lifetime. Most of the United States especially the national parks and historical places. There were several trips to Europe, including Germany, Austria, France, Italy, England. Of course, Norway was the highlight for her, where she had relatives and could converse with them in Norwegian. My parents traveled with her in 1970 and had a great time, meeting relatives in Norway. They traveled on the Rhine river and attend Omeraergu. One of her goals was to go to Israel and Holy land, which she accomplished as well. Many people remember her for her dedication to her church, both the Gjerpan Lutheran Church where she was confirmed and the First Lutheran Church in Manitowoc. Hazel died February 7, 1995 after short illness. She is buried at the Gjerpan Cemetery in Valders, Wisconsin. ************ The following is a transcription of an autobiography written by Hazel in 1930 while at college submitted by a researcher/see contributors page: ME by Hazel A. Aslakson Aslakson-Publisher 907 W. Second St. Northfield, Minn. All Rights Reserved May 22, 1930 Dedicated to Mother and Dad I cannot honor you by placing your name here, but I can honor my book by your names to whom I owe my greatest thanks for your endless love. Preface I started this book with one aim in mind - namely to receive my due credit for it in my Course of Education at St. Olaf College. I asked numberless questions of my parents, spent sleepless nights trying to recall my childhood, and after much arranging and rearranging I have put my first twenty-three years down on black and white. I have become so much interested in writing "Me", that it is my present intention to add to it from time to time, until it shall be a complete volume which may be used as source material by some poor college student who is burning the midnight oil trying to discover how people lived way back in the early twentieth century. "Me" "O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us! It wad frae mony a blunder free us, And foolish notion: What airs in dress on gait wad lea'e us, And ev'n devotion." Robert Burns To write about myself - what I am and why - I'd need a keen insight, more than that, a supernatural ability of seeing the past and the present which I find myself lacking in. Surely these twenty-three years have made some definite impressions upon me. What would I have been had I been born into a very wealthy family where my every desire would have been satisfied before I was fully conscious of it myself? Then too if I had been forced, because of circumstances to be one of those thousands of factory girls who work tedious hours in the larger cities - how would I differ from now? Not as either of these, but in an average Christian home, I have developed to what I am - with my faults and - virtues, if I may pride myself at possessing such, both known and unknown to me. "Way back" in 1907 on April 15, a nine pound girl was born while a blistering blizzard raged out of doors. I was the fifth child to be born to my parents Hans and Christiane (Aastad) Aslakson. The oldest child, a son, died as a babe in 1896, then there was Marcella Geneva who was ten years at the time of my birth, and Thelma Charlotte who was then seven. In 1905 Arlie Hazel had been born but died when only a few days old. I was born on a farm in the town of Cato, Manitowoc County Wisconson. My home was a large white house at the top of a hill. A short distance from the house there was a wood through which a winding creek meandered. It was here I spent much of my time as a child as I did not have any play mates near by, and my sister was ten years my senior and her interests would naturally be quite different from mine. I remember very little of my early childhood, but a few things have been told me by my parents. When I was a year and a half old (Oct. 1908), my sister Thelma died at the age of eight years and three months. She was sick but two weeks when she died of Infantile Paralysis. I do not have any remembrance of her directly, but I do recall that while I Photo was small Mother, Dad and others spoke of her a great deal and I now feel as if I had known her and remember her distinctly. She was a light, small featured girl with golden curly hair and large blue eyes. She was very obedient and was always held up as an example to me when I was apt to do something wrong. The influence which these remarks made upon me was great. I believe, as when I look back I feel as if I can see her, an almost angelic child showing me what to do and what not to do. Shortly after her death my folks had a large picture of her framed which perhaps has helped put life into this Ideal. From this time on until I started school I have only a few faint impressions which may guide me in remembering my childhood. I have left my earliest home but I shall cherish all rememberances Photo of it. I led the life of a typical farm child - enjoying the out of doors in summer and winter. It was about half a mile from our home to that of our nearest neighbors, and as my only sister then living was so much older than I, it was necessary for me to play alone most of the time. I enjoyed being with Dad out on the fields where he would be working, and how happy I was when he would lift me up and let me ride on some vibrating farm machinery as he drove over the rough and bumpy fields. I had various pets such as cats, chicks, calves, and injured birds which took the place of any number of playmates, with their only disadvantage that the(sic) couldn't talk - but I carried on conversations for them all and did not miss my playmates as many thought I must. These pets to-gether with my two favorite rag dolls - "Per" and "Ingebor" helped develope my childlike imagination and caused the years to speed by quickly. I had other dolls which were much prettier who - could sleep and had pretty dresses - and enjoyed playing carefully with them, but they did not afford the entertainment these ill shaped faded toys did. I remember one day with "Per", throwing him in the air and finally it fell on the roof of the house and got stuck there and I couldn't get it down. That evening we had a terrible rain and wind storm-and for me to think of "Per" out in all that. As soon as I woke up in the morning I ran to the window but couldn't see him on the roof - there he lay - I then ran out as I was and came happily in hugging my drenched doll and cried - "Her er min Per, min Per." Even though the years seem to have sped by so quickly as I now look back, it seemed almost an eternity from one year to another. I did look so admiringly at my sister and long for the day when I would be "big". In summer I spent much of my time in the edge of the woods near the house and would play for hours near the babbling brook, gathering flowers and berries, or caring for my invalid birds. It was mostly barn swallows and sparrows which I found which needed treatment, but most of the time my medical knowledge was not sufficient to revive them to health, and the final rite of burial would have to take place. Beneath a large horse chestnut tree I would solemnly lay the bodies to rest in their small card-board caskets - covered with grass or wild flowers if I could find them. All my dolls were placed in a row and formed the sympathetic congregation, while I alone would have to do all the mourning. It was at about this time of my childhood fancies, that one Sunday afternoon after a big chicken dinner which I had enjoyed very much, Mother found me under this chestnut tree with a handful of white chicken feathers placing them carefully in the ground. When asked what I was doing, I told her I was planting chickens. Photo I was a nervous, rather high strung child and would cry very easily at some very foolish things. People who came to the house and saw me would almost invariably make some remark about my large blue eyes, until I began to believe that they were something of which I should be ashamed. At last any remark of that kind would cause me to cry and I would run to my mother who could only quiet me by saying,"Well, if you cry, your eyes will get so much bigger." In our home we spoke nearly only Norwegian and it was only just before I started to school that I began to talk English. We lived in a very Norwegian community where all church services were held in Norwegian and very little English was heard when groups would gather for social functions. Before I was old enough to go to school I learned to read Norwegian from my -"A-B-C bok" - and learned to spell out my words "k-a-t-kat, h-e-s-t-, hest." I started school when I was almost seven years old as I had to walk nearly a mile alone across the fields to the little white country school house. My first day at school was a very unhappy one and not at all what I had hoped that it would be. I wanted to sit with my cousin who sat near the back of the room, but Mr. Hanson, the teacher, had me sit in a smaller seat in the front of the room with a red-headed freckled girl whom I had an unusual dislike for. I resorted to tears, my usual remedy for correcting all unfavorable conditions, but it was of no avail, and the day was utterly spoiled for me. After I got used to school life I liked it very much, and I feel I should have missed a great deal if I had not had a chance to attend just such a rural school whose attendance was about forty children. Through the grades I had several teachers in this order - Alvin Hanson, Neta Sampe, Etta Wells, Mrs. A.C. Pederson, Geraldine Cavanaugh, and Thelma Anderson. Miss Cavanaugh my teacher in the sixth and seventh grades had, I believe, the greatest infuence upon me of any teacher during my early education, or I think I can say in any of my school life. She was a peppy, bright- eyed Irish girl, who always appeared neat and well dressed and she demanded like exactness in school discipline. Assignments were made and insisted upon, but when work was over there was always time for play. She became my ideal - "What are you going to be when you get big?" - the childlike question would always be answered by me - "A teacher" - and a vision of Miss Cavanaugh would come before me. At the end of my seventh grade, I went to Valders, a small village a few miles from my home where I took the county examinations given for pupils of the rural schools. For two days I wrote, but was rewarded when I got a second grade diploma which entitled me to gain entrance into a high school. I was all excited when I learned of this but my joy soon turned to grief Photo when my parents told me I would have to finish the eighth grade as I was not quite twelve years old. So it was up to me to spend one more year at the country school. But how misused I felt - didn't they care for me at all? Then too, I thought they could send me to Central Wis. College at Scandinavia, Wisconsin - but now I believe I can understand why. The years 1917-1919 Marcella was at the Ladies Lutheran Sem. at Red Wing, Wis. Now my thoughts turned to the day when I could go away to school. This was almost continually my favorite ambition to go to that school or to such a one. During my year in the eighth grade I took instructions ever Saturday morning by way of preparing me for confirmation. I had attended Sunday School regularly throughout the grades and as a reward for unbroken attendance I was proudly showing people a gold pin with a wreath around it, and an additional badge - for three years attendance. At first I learned my religion lessons in the Norwegian language. Some times the meaning was not exactly clear but I managed to give and understand most of it. One day I did not succeed as well - I was asked to repeat part of our lesson the sixth commandment - the result caused a slow smile to flicker over Rev. Alfsen's face, a kindly, gray-haired gentleman. My answer was as follows: "Det sjette bud - En hvar skal elske og akte sin - (pause) - sin rotte felle." Every Friday night and Saturday morning I would have to recite my lesson word for word to my mother, but how I should have liked to have put it aside Photo sometimes until I could learn them just a little better, but it seemed to be traditional. I was the only one in our class who was learning her lessons in the Norwegian so my parents decided that I could change to the English and be with the rest. It seemed to be a gradual process of change as for a time I used a book having the two languages and then finally I used only the English. I enjoyed these Saturday mornings very much, as we gathered at ten o'clock in the vestry of the church and sat around a small stove feeling so full of mischief that we could hardly sit still. These meetings with our pastor made a great impression upon me and I remember things which Rev. Alfsen, and later Rev. White, told me there as distinctly as no number of regular sermons could make me do. Then too, confirmation was one of those signs that we were getting grown up - and what could be more thrilling than any form of preparation for that? My life seems to have broken as into another chapter at the end of this year. My home has always been a happy memory to me, a place where I could go and be sure to be understood. In boldest type among the records of my life our cele- bration of Christmas stands out particularly well. I would not be Christmas if we would drop a single one of those almost sacred traditions. We, as children, were never allowed to believe in Santa Claus - which caused me to spend many perplexed moments trying to figure out just why others were always speaking of this wonderfully good person who never entered my life. I do not feel that I have lost anything by not experiencing this belief as our home was made so full of preparation and joy at this time of the year that there doesn't seem there would be room for any more just then. A big Christmas tree with the many presents piled beneath it, evergreens and bells decorated the house, where every one was busy bustling and scurring around happily. Norwegian dishes were prepared and the house was either full of company or lacking in inhabitance all to-gether, during the entire "Jule helg". Christmas Eve was the beginning of all the festivities, and the goal toward which we all had been working. Year after year every thing was done in the same way, the table was loaded down with the same good things to eat and it would have been nigh unto sacrilege had Mother planned that identical menu for any other part of the year. "Ribens stek", mashed potatoes, a vegatable(sic) or two, "Jule kake", mince pie, "fattig mands bokelse", candy, nuts, and fruit. At the mere thought of it Christmas with all its joys looms up before me. Before we could sit down to our evening meal it was necessary that the less fortunate should be remembered. About a half mile from our home an old bachelar(sic) Carl Rus lived all alone in a rather tumble-down shack. Mother, my sister, and I would pack a large basket of food for him and Dad would walk over with it. This always made him very happy and each time he would say - "O nei, nu blir det Jule has mig ogsaa". How I used to stand at the window and watch for Dad to return. After supper we gathered about the tree, opened our presents, and had a good time. Memories I shouldn't want to lose! It was a secret ambition of mine to have it said to me or of me, that I was getting thin - but not so! I grew tall, and taller, and kept in even pace by gradual "widening out". This perhaps should not be considered surprising as there was every reason that I should grow thus. I was given wholesome food and was not allowed to turn up my nose and refuse to eat any certain kinds of food. It was an unwritten rule that we children had to eat any thing Mother put before us, and everything which we put on our plates had to be eaten. My imagination must have been working especially well and it created numerous things for my well developed Fear to lurk about. My greatest fear was that of being left alone - and this feeling has never entirely left me. While I was small my primary resort was to turn to tears when I found that I was left alone. Later this grew to be more of a worry that any thing would happen which would cause me to be left alone in the future, and when I would find myself alone I would be overcome by a panicy feeling fighting faint. I have tried to quell this emotion but I still find that it is constantly with me, and I crave company. I have no idea what may have caused this feeling to develop so strongly in me, nor do I know what to do in order to overcome it. As a child I was quite high strung and had very decided likes and dislikes. What I did like I would like "with avengence(sic)", while that for which I did not care, I nearly hated. As to school subjects it was spelling about which I would worry and stew, and in which I got my far lowest marks and deservedly so. I seemed to have almost a total absence of a spelling sense, and how I would envy my best friend Janet who could most thoughtlessly jingle off the spelling of words which she had perhaps never heard before. Especially one teacher whom I had in the grades punished me for not being able to spell. I remember remaining after school and writing each word I missed ten to twenty-five times each. I had a chance to give this method a fair trial and it may have done some good but I have my doubts as far as I'm concerned. I did enjoy arithmetic, grammar, and history and was always at the head of my class in them. In thinking back upon the home of my childhood I sense a strong religious feeling penetrating all the recollections of it. Prayer life and regular church attendance are among the outstanding of these, and I feel I owe much to my dear parents for their guidance. I had several very odd ideas and they were purely childlike but very real to me. I thought of God as a kind old man who possessed very human features, and this idea has stayed with me, nor should I care to have it changed - a fatherlike gray haired man, large of frame, leaning upon a common cane, as he sits on the throne amid the soft fleecy clouds. Heaven was of a definite location - high above the blue sky, and the most common scenes would be the woodlands, flowers, rambling brooks, and other scenes of nature. The death of my sister Thelma caused me to think much of death and of life here after. I would think of her as an angel fitting perfectly into the glorious heavenly setting. One summer I remember I believed very definitely that people who died were buried but somehow their coffins and their bodies were glorified and took on a spiritual aspect and in the coffins the souls ascended to heaven. The beautiful white coffins could not be brought into heaven, so they were piled up on this side of the sky, and they were the white, fleecy clouds which we see bobbing back and forth in the summer sky. Mother also in teaching me of religion, told me of sin and of how greatly displeased God was with all wrong doing. This childlike idea also gained root in the summer sky - the large roaming clouds would pass over the sun and cause a shadow to fall upon one spot of the earth while the rest of the surrounding land was in the brightest sunshine. This I believed was one of God's ways of showing his displeasure with the sinfulness of humans. I felt very badly indeed, when our home was covered by such a shadow for then - I believed I or one of our family had sinned by word, action, or thought. I worried a great deal about this, and many a perfect sunny summer day was marred by such belief. I clung to this idea for some time, then finally one Sunday morning in church the minister read - Matthew 5:45 - "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust". What a relief! But isn't it well to have such a reminder of God's fatherlike interest in us here below, for surely our wrong-doing is seen by Him, and He grieves over it. I had an inner desire and I believed quite firmly that I would follow this idea that I should like to become a missionary when - "I got big". When I was in the seventh and eighth grades this idea was especially prevalent, but I may say, it has not left me entirely yet - but will it develop? I enjoyed missionary sermons, and one especially which was preached by Rev. Thorson in our church I shall never forget. Another person whom I believe also had a great effect on my life is my mother's only sister - Aunt Ingeborg. She is a maiden aunt, five years younger than Mother and very much like her. She is tall, quite thin, full of fun, Photo and very kind hearted. Her generousity and her cheerful nature as much like that of my mother, has served as a challenge to me whenever in her presence. She is very exacting and particular, and as a child I often feared doing anything which she might deem wrong - this I believe however was mere familial love extended to her. I must admit that any words of reproach from her hurt me - and although not very many came my way - those that did have left an impression, the cause of which remarks now seem quite humorous. In the spring of 1920 I graduated from the eighth grad of the Cato Dist. 12 School, with a first grade diploma having passed the examinations given to the rural pupils throughout Manitowoc County. Now I was ready to enter high school. Our home was under a peculiar strain Photo during that entire summer as my sister - Marcella was ill. She had not regained her strength and health since the winter before when she suffered from flu-pneumonia while at the Red Wing Ladies Lutheran Seminary. Mother and Dad were continually worrying as they realized as I didn't, the seriousness of it all. Doctors and specialists were visited and consulted, and finally Mother and my sister went to the Mayo Clinic at Rochester, Minn. and there they were advised to go west for her health. The middle of August brought a decision to the family for a decided change. The farm was to be sold, and we were to leave for Phenox (sic), Arizona about the middle of September. Mother's sister - Aunt Ingeborg who was then a masseuse in Chicago, Illinois, came home and decided to drive out with us. There was assorting and packing to be done and a lot of it for Mother and Dad had lived in the same house since they were married in 1895. Boxes and trunks were packed and placed for storage. On September seventh a public auction was held. Here everything which we did not wish to keep was to be sold. Hundreds of people gathered from miles around to bid on and to buy cattle, horses, farm machinery, even to household utensils and furniture. Early in the morning people began to gather, and not until long after dark did they disperse. All these people had to be fed, and large basket fulls of sandwiches and boilers full of hot coffee were used. Gradually things were precious to us all found new owners. We had all been busy making preparations for this day, and like a dream it was all over. For the next two days people came and went, taking with them their newly acquired possessions, and leaving that premises bare and forlorn where my earliest childhood had been spent. We spent a few days with relatives and friends, and finally left with all the worldly possessions which here could be claimed by us, packed on our old open- air Jeffrey Car. Early one bright September morning - Sunday it was - we started out and were accompanied to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, by several cars full of neighbors and relatives. After a big picnic dinner in a park there we left them and started for the West. We traveled along very leisurely and it should have been a nice trip had we all been well, but Marcella's health kept failing, and when we came to Garden City, Kansas she had to be taken to the hospital there, where she passed away October seventh, 1920, from heart trouble. Photo We returned to Manitowoc at once, and the funeral took place at the family burial grounds at the Gjerpen Church. We stayed at the home of my Uncle Isaac (Aastad) Mother's brother, for a week or more until we could get a house to rent, as houses were very scarce that fall. We then moved into the upper flat of a large old-fashioned house, owned by Mr. C.G. Gielow, who lived down stairs with his dog. He was a rather old gray haired man, with a gray mustache and had the characteristics of typical German in speech and actions. He was a widower, and as he lived alone he would take his dinners with us, and I enjoyed to listen to his interesting conversation. The rooms in the house were not very well arranged nor were they very large but we had to be satisfied with what we could find just then. Almost eight weeks after the regular opening of school I entered Washington High School as a freshman. It was an old structure made of brick, with ill ventilated rooms and dark hallways. There was not enough room in the building proper so four barracks had been built to accommodate all the pupils. Three of those barracks were double having two room(sic) while the four(sic) one was used as a large study hall. These seven additional rooms were cold and barn-like but it proved to be one way of temporarily solving the problem of large high school attendance. Of all green "Trash" I was of the greenest as I tried to find my way among the nine hundred students. Half in a daze, and before I really knew what it was all about I had registered for English I from Miss Nora Healy, Latin I from Miss Jean Anderson, General Science - Miss Mabel Ditmar, and Algebra from Mr. W. Leuhr. I enjoyed high school and found it very easy. I especially enjoy my English class from that snappy, Irish lady who was the very personification of pep and enthusiasum in the class room and with out, and Algebra from that gray haired, father-like "Leuhr." I was put into new environment and among mostly only strangers while at school. It was up to me to gain new friends and companions which I did, but felt much more free among my old pals. It was hard to adjust myself to the new conditions, and it seemed to give me a more developed and sober outlook upon life. I was serious and thoughtful - to a much greater extent than I was a few years later. The recent sorrow of our family was also greatly responsible for this change, and I was just at the age when a child decides she is pretty near grown up. Then too came the problem as to where I should continue taking my instructions for confirmation. There were two Norwegian Lutheran churches in Manitowoc but I wanted to be confirmed with the class with whom I had started. Manitowoc was only ten miles from my former home and church so I started in the fall to go up to Gjerpen Church each Saturday morning on the branch Soo Line train - a hopelessly slow affair, and came home in the afternoon. I continued to do this all fall until it became very cold and stormy and I could not depend upon the train. Through the worst winter months I met with the confirmation class in town with Rev. Boyd the paster(sic) as instructor. In the spring I again went with my regular class and was confirmed June 12, 1921 by Rev. A.O. White in a class of five: Adelaide Nelson, Janet Griffin, Ralph Paulson, Chester Anderson, and I. I did feel quite grown up as a result of that day although this rite didn't change my whole appearance as it did in our mother's day. In May that same year we moved to another house - from 913 South Thirteenth Street on the South side of town to 507 Buffalo Street on the North side. We then lived in the upper flat in the Christian Rosland home, the land lord himself living down stairs again. The rooms were much better but the general feeling was far from homelike. Land-lord and land-lady of the extreme type - demanding absolute quiet nearly all evening, while they themselves played jazzified pieces on a tinny player piano until any hour of the night. this change also gave me about twelve blocks to school instead of the block and a half as I had gotten used to, but still I went home for dinner at noon. Shortly after school was out Mother, Dad, Uncle Isaac, Aunt Inga, Clifford, and I went up north to Sturgeon Bay where we spent a couple of weeks at Seldom Inn Cottage. The cottage was only a couple of rods from the shore of Green Bay which it faces. We spent most of our time swimming, boating, and fishing. Across the bay could be seen miniature "fjeld" - for thus they must be called as many an old Norwegian has stood looking across the water and recalling his own youth "bak i gamle Norge." The large Wisconsin Photo State Park which is only a few miles from there yearly attracts countless visitors from all parts of the state. This northern section is quite correctly called the "Playground of Wisconsin". That same summer Mother, Dad, and I took a trip to Plymouth, Ohio to visit with my uncle Olaves, Dad's brother. This was a most enjoyable trip. During my Sophomore year at high school Marie White stayed with us and attended the Junior High as a freshman. We had some very good times to-gether - some of which surely were kiddish in every sense of the word. Nearly every morning which was nice we would get up early and walk out on the pier which stretches out into Lake Michigan. How beautiful the bright rising sun looked on the shining water, and how the rolling waves came in Photo and washed out our names which we wrote in the wet sand - I shall never forget! I love the lake and miss it whenever I am away from it. The subjects which I took in my second year were: English II from Miss Janet Strothearn, Latin II - Miss Jean Anderson, Plane Geometry - Miss Ella B. Jones, Ancient History - Mr. Learned. In October of this year I had my appendix removed and had to miss eight weeks of school. My Junior year was quite uneventful as I remember it - perhaps because I can't remember much about it. I do happen to remember what subject I took which were: English III - Miss Janet Strathearn, a remarkable teacher - who exacted work from us but who wasn't so very pleasant if we did not have everything just so. Modern History - Mr. Rex Johns, Advanced Algebra and Solid Geometry from Miss Ella B. Jones, German I - Miss Jenne Zenses, and Art I (two periods) - Miss Mildred Markham. Of these courses I found most pleasure in the Art course, from which I have also received much benefit. It included - painting, sketching, and other handicraft. The Senior year was at last there, and I was of that previledged(sic) group who did so want to show their superiority. The first semester we only went to school one-half day each. In order to accomodate the large enrollment the Juniors and Seniors went to school in the forenoon, while the two lower classes came in the afternoon. February first we moved into our new Lincoln High School. It is a magnificent building built on the top of a high hill overlooking Lake Michigan. This school and its surroundings has been voted the most beautiful in the state. In November and December of my Senior year it was again necessary for me to miss eight weeks of school - this time as a result of an automobile accident in which I broke my left ankle. It was very discouraging to have to miss so much again, and even after I could return to school I had to hobble about on crutches and finally limp from class to class. The twelfth of June, 1924 I was graduated from Lincoln High School in a class of 156 - the first class to receive their diplomas from that new edifice. What a problem to know what I should do the next year! Nearly half of the girls in our class were going to commercial work, while the other half were going on to school. Which was I to choose - should I go to a business college - no, I wanted to teach. Finally it was decided that I attend the Photo Manitowoc County Rural Normal, in Manitowoc. How I did hate it at first, and so did nearly everyone, but as violently as we disliked it in the fall, to the same degree did we learn to love it before the end of the year. In the early winter four of the girls with whom I was chumming a great deal at school, found it necessary to change rooming place, and as they could not find a place which was for rent, they all stayed with us the rest of the year. They were: Ruby Smith, Mabel Stearn, Clara Oesau, and Germaine Sinkular. This was one of the most enjoyable years I have spent, and these girls have remained very close friends of mine ever since. In April that year it was required that we all go out into some rural school to do two weeks of practice teaching. Blanche Cherney and I were sent to the Poplar Grove School Photo at Rockland, Wisconsin where Mr. Walter Schnell was the teacher. We worked and worried about it all but finally we were through with it all, and the end of the year came only too soon. The year came to a close with many parties and banquets, and I received a First Grade teacher's certificate which entitled me to teach in any one room rural school in Wisconsin, for five years. One of the happiest days of my life was the day I agreed to teach the Cedar Grove School at Valders, Wisconsin the coming year for one hundred dollars a month. All summer I looked forward to September seventh and at last it came, and I was a typical rural teacher ruling my small subjects in a little white school house by the side of the road. My attendance was small varying from thirteen to seventeen pupils, because of the fact Photo that most of the families in that vicinity were of the Catholic faith and had their own parochial school. This left only a few for the public schools. I stayed at the Alfred Reinertson home about three-fourths of a mile from the school. That home was very different from the one which I had been used to, and it required a great deal of readjusting on my part. Mrs. Reinertson was a tall, stout, middle aged woman, who found no greater enjoyment than to talk, and talk almost incessantly while her husband would quietly sit by and take it all in. There was one grown son at home, a boy senior in high school, a girl a sophomore, and a little boy whom I had in the fourth grade. The teaching was enjoyable but very strenuous. The cold walk and tramp through the untrodden deep snow between seven and seven-thirty each morning, with a cold school house often below zero as my goal - was not the most pleasant. Half this distance was a straight narrow road through a thick cedar swamp. The pleasure of the changing scenes in this wood, my love for the dear little country urchins, and the check as a recompense at the end of each month kept me going. Day after day I taught my eight grades, one or two in each grade until spring, and then I signed up for another year. My second year of teaching followed in the same course of things with its up's and down's. The teaching hours from nine to four were wonderful, and I should not wish for a more happy occupation, but the hours before and after, just weren't - "what they are cracked up to be." That year another seven and one-half dollars were added to my reward for my efforts by the district and the state gave me an additional two dollar(sic) for staying in the same school two years. How often it all seemed a hopeless task! The last day of that year came too, and I had the traditional "last day picnic." But before this came the spring contests, county examinations, reports to be enter(sic), and endless other necessary evils. It was all over - I had everything packed, and the day after the picnic Dad drove out to get me. Everything was packed in the car and I had a few final errands to be done at Valders as we drove through. When I had completed the last of these I came back into the car - gave a sigh, and said, "Well, now I'm though!" and went into a faint. I had lost over twenty pounds during the year - and doubtless I had taken my work too seriously. Photo The previous summer I had decided that I should like to come to St. Olaf College in order to fit myself for teaching in high school, as I knew I would like it. I was unable to get in as a freshman in 1926 as my registration came in too late, but I thus was registered early enough for '27 and also got another year of teaching experience which I have not regreted(sic). Those two years had brought me in contact with a type of people with whom I had not had any occasion to mingle before. The summer of 1927 was a busy one, getting ready to come to college. I heard a great deal of St. Olaf that summer as Marie White '29- was to be my room-mate and we saw each other a great deal, our homes being only ten miles apart. The plans and expectations developed, and September found me a typical "frosh" at St. Olaf, having all the earmarks of their traditional "greeness". We got a rather nice room at the home of Mrs. Anna Hestenes, 907 West Second Street. Ellen, the land-lady's daughter who lived down stairs, and I were the only freshman(sic) in the house. There were four seniors: Edna Falness, Marjorie Flaa, Mildred Vesledahl "Milly", and Magnhild Ordahl "Muggins". There were also four juniors - Gladys Weseth, Gladys Koplin, Harda Hesteness, and Marie White my room- mate. It was a jolly bunch, but also quite studious. Without being fully aware of what I was doing or what was being done for me, I was registered for my course consisting of English 1-2 from Mr. Paulson, Norse 15-16 Mr. Bly, Chemistry - Dr. Glasoe, History 1-2 - Miss Agnes Larson, and Religion 1-2 from Prof. Grase. I enjoyed Photo my course but I surely found out that I was not scientifically minded. Many a morning I had to get up at five in the morning to try to memorize some of those senseless equations, as they seemed to me. I would learn them for the class period but I could feel that hard worked for knowledge gradually leave me as soon as I left the lecture room, and each day I would have to study in the same way. One instructor whom I had that year and who made a great impression on me was Miss Agnes Larson. How I feared her the first days! I felt perfectly weak as I left her class room, but gradually I overcame this feeling and I enjoyed each class period more than the last. She was so enthusiastic and interested in her subject that she made those old Goths and Huns, human and living characters. College life is great, but that day which has the honor of being the one on which vacation begins holds a charm for by far the majority of the students, which can not be compared with any other. This I know was true of me especially the first year, but not much less so now - nor do I think it shall ever be. Vacations were welcome but when June first came I was more than ready to pack my trunk and board the first Soo Line that left the Cities going east. That summer my "good auntie" Ingeborg came to Manitowoc to spend three months with us. It was the first time she had been east for eight year(sic), when she left for Pasadena, California. We had a lovely summer and am only looking forward to another like it. The twenty sixth of July brought another new experience to me. I was brides-maid, at a large church wedding of my cousin Signe Aastad to Rev. Christian Anderson at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. September came only too soon, for then I had to come back to Northfield, and my aunt had to return to Pasadena. I was already in my second year of college, but how long it seemed until I would reach my goal and be ready to begin to teach again. How true it is that it is not in looking backward that time is long but in looking forward. We stayed at the same place again, but chose as our room a bright, sunny south-west corner instead of the north- east room we had had before. Marie and I were room-mates again and had more things added to our list of "good times together". Photo Marie and I were the only ones who came back here, who had been here the year before. Marie and Selma Bakken "Sally", were the only seniors here, while the juniors were Lillian Lund, Muriel Asleson, Mildred Foss "Mickey", Orpha Johnson, and Hazel Knutson "Sprat". We were four sophomores - Ellen Hestenes, Alice Rostad, Helen Nelson, and I. This year was even more enjoyable than the last as all the girls were more of the same type, and we did have some of the most unforgetable(sic) times. My course of study my second year was - World Literature from Mr. Paulson, American History - Miss Agnes Larson, Botany - Prof. Schmidt, Religion from Prof. H. Thompson, German from Prof. Bollenbacker, and General Psychology from Prof. Ringstad. It seemed like a terrible course but I enjoyed every hour of it. Photo Graduation came and Marie was through at St. Olaf, this thought was not a pleasant one to me. I had to find a new room-mate for my junior year and as such Ione Hegstad decided to be. Vacation came and went without anything special happening. One day in the later part of August I had a letter from Ione "Onie" saying she was unable to return to school that fall. I felt very blue but as Alice Rostad was not able to return either, Helen Nelson and I decided to rome to-gether. We stayed at the same place and even in the same room as the previous year. Three new girls were put in here - Marjorie Davick "Marg", LeDell Anderson, and "Connie" Jenson, otherwise we were the same "bunch". My course was: Shakespeare and American Literature from Dr. Spohn, History of Art - Prof. Mellby, Old English and Chaucer from Mr. Paulson, Junior Education - Mr. Bly, Religion (13) - Dr. Hegland, and first semester French History from Karen Larson. Now I am nearing the end of my junior year for which reason I am writing this autobiography. What the future holds for me, I could not guess, nor should I care to know but I feel quite confident that what I shall be, will depend greatly upon what I have been, am now, and why. Photo Photo Photo Photo Chapter III My Present Self Photo My Present Self In the fore going section or chapter I have told of my early home, environment, and education all of which are greatly responsible for what I am to-day. The question which I am now about to enlarge upon is not so much "how have I gotten this way" as "who am I?" How I used to enjoy having it said of me while I was a child - "how she has changed!" As I grew older I began to wonder - well just "how" have I changed, but this was never explained to me. Gradually this was said less often and lately I have come to wonder - have I left the plastic age entirely - as I am now is that me by which I form my ideals, act, and by which all my acquaintances may know me? At present I am twenty-three years of age and am finishing my last year at St. Olaf College. I am what would be termed a well built woman five feet-five in height and tiping(sic) the scale to 145 pounds. I should love to lose a few pounds in weight but am laughed at when I mention dieting and am told - I'm the type who should be plump. I'd look haggard if thin, and like remarks from most intimate friends and I fall for them and continue to cater to my all too good appetite. I wear a perfect 38 size dress and wear a "5-1/2 B" shoe. This shows my general build. While I was in high school and right in that growing age, I felt that I was very tall and would try to appear smaller by slumping my shoulders, which gave me a very unattractive walk. I no longer feel I am too tall, neither does it bother me to walk with or be in the presence of shorter people, but have, I believe, developed quite an erect walk as I go tripping along with short, quick steps. As I walk I am very apt to look down instead of straight forward and thus enjoying the scenery. I stand and sit quite erect too, but am told I nearly always tilt my head toward my right shoulder. I have been blessed with a strong body and great physical resistence. My health habits from childhood have been based on regularity and even to this time I believe they may be classed as such. While at school, however, I have too often taken advantage of our not having regularly balanced meals and I can well understand I have very often violated that one fundamental law of health. I can very easily get along with less sleep than the average eight hours and do not feel in the least bit tired even after considerable loss of sleep. I can thus continue for a long time with staying up late but all of a sudden I feel my entire body give way to my nerves as it were, and I must rest. I crave a great deal of fresh air both at night and in the day. As I have already mentioned I have a good appetite but a very varying one. I can not think of any kind of food I do not eat, as from childhood I was taught to eat every thing or any new kind of food my Mother offered me. I am very thankful for this lesson as I have been saved, what I must believe to be an embarrasing(sic) situation of having food offered you which you can not eat. The only prerequisite which the food I am to eat must possess is that of cleanliness. I find myself to be very finicky as to the least suggestion that the food may not be clean, or at my own least suspicions as to it. It is therefore very hard for me to eat at a public eating place where I may have the least reason for suspecting any carelessness in the choice or preparation of the food. My choice of clothes has always been rather reserved, and the darker colors appeal especially to me. When wearing a black dress I have always had my best times. Green, blue, and white make me feel very comfortable and I can enjoy myself to the fullest. I prefer clothes which are rather plain and have more or less tailored lines. With the new styles which come in from time to time I do not "fall" for the new fangled ideas as so many do - too conservative, I think perhaps. It has often been said that the more one knows the more one realizes how much one doesn't know - very true I believe. While at high school I was made to have great confidence in myself, there were so many who were not as mentally alert as the average and thus I came to feel quite capable when my marks were constantly considerably above the average. At coming to college one is thrown with persons of one's class and ability and with it a new problem presents itself. I found that I had to apply myself to a greater extent here than before, but also found here at St. Olaf a very find(sic) measure of my ability. All grading of class work is here done by the Normal curve - meaning that the grade "C" is the average which fifty percent of the students receive, twenty-five percent have averages lower and twenty-five percent above. Since my grades given to me in my four years here, when averaged give me nearly a "B" I may say my general alertness is that of the upper fourth. As to my type of mind an analysis is hard to give. Of course I like some things better than others but I don't know how to classify them. Throughout my school life I have been attracted especially by subjects which require analysis and thinking through. Mathematics and history have held for me an interest with concrete facts and their requirements for analysis. Grammar too has been attractive to me from the same standpoint. My limitations, however, have long ago been discovered by my teachers and myself - namely my having seemingly been born - short in spelling. I believe I can truthfully say that every word I am now able to write correctly I have spent considerable time actually learning through concentrated study. My dictionary is one of my best friends, to be found on my table whenever I'm writing a letter or or(sic) paper, and many are the words I have looked up in writing this very "autobi". My second limitation appeared when I took my science requirement courses in high school and college. Chemistry and Botany actually seemed beyond me. I took a course in Chemistry when I was a freshman at St. Olaf and all I can say is I would have enjoyed the year more had I not been registered for that course. I came through with a passing grade but only by memorizing and cramming meaningless facts, they seemed to me, just before the exam periods. As my likes in subjects differ so do my methods of study vary also. I have found that I am able to learn things much more quickly if I write them down in note or outline form, whether it be for class work or review for exams. Here too I should perhaps mention that hobby of mine of writing down the main facts of speeches I hear, reading I do, and even of my own thoughts. I find much enjoyment in reading some of these from time to time or of adding new ideas to them which may be associated with them. In speaking of my methods of study I might add I never worry about my school work, and find I have a great deal of self confidence. When I work, I work hard and get through in a short time. The faster I do my work the more I seem to get out of it. I enjoy details in work of drawing, writing and descriptions. The type of reading which I do as recreation, I believe, is under a period of change at the present. I feel almost bored at times with the stories of fiction I have always enjoyed so much both in book form and as magazine stories. Books on varied subjects have interested me this last year which I would not have had the patience to have read a year ago. Adventure and travel books attract my attention greatly - perhaps because I feel the constant desire of leaving Northfield and getting into a new place. I'm "fed up" as it were on having the same environment about me all the time. I crave a change - perhaps the "Wanderlust" in me, but this has never bothered me so much before. Having mentioned one type of companions - books, I had better tell a bit about the human species and what kind of friends I most enjoy. In considering this I think of my friends - lo and behold, I believe they are of the same class or type. Not the extremely loud or "flapper" type nor the overly quiet and reserved but the class in between. I enjoy having friends about me who have the same interests as I do and yet are not afraid to voice their opinions where we may differ. I am quite easily bored when in a group whose ideals and standards differ from my own, and, I am told, do not refrain from showing disapproval. I am most at ease and have my best times in feminine company. I am often made to feel very uneasy in a large crowd or when surrounded by many people for any length of time. I feel perfectly satisfied when with one or two good friends with whom I can confide. How I should like to have the ability of seeing myself as others see me. It has been my good fortune of having two very close friends who have very openly told me several things about myself. At first, I have been told, I appear quiet, bashful, and very reserved. All my life it seems I have been classified as quiet. It used to make me feel like screaming and showing everyone I could be anything but quiet, but have later been told it was not this kind of quietness that was meant. While I was teaching rural school this accusation was made time and again, but I believe this was because my standards differed so entirely from theirs, my pronounced opinions as to right and wrong being responsible. I cannot say why I have formed these opinions as I have, as my home was anything but a dictating one. Suggestions of what was hoped for in us were given but my parents left the decision to us. My fundamental principle by which I judge right and wrong is: Anything which an individual feels he should not do, and does, it is wrong - the conscience which we all possess if it has not been hardened, being the guide. The hardening of one's conscience I consider the greatest moral wrong. Religion has always meant a great deal to me and St. Olaf College with all its advantages in this line has developed many of my ideas. I am a Lutheran by inheritance but also by conviction. My religion is true and fundamental to me - an absolute necessity for life and happiness. I believe in a God who is over all things ruling with Fatherliness but also with rightious(sic) judgement in all things. Sin is anything contrary to the holy will of God be it in thought, word, or deed. Through prayer we are able to commune with our Father and seek forgiveness from all our sins through the merits and death of His Son - Jesus Christ. I believe in the direct and indirect answering of prayer very decidedly. Salvation is bestowed upon every repentent sinner who acknowledges his own guilt and the absolute atonement through faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I also believe in a heaven of all perfection which awaits each redeemed individual. Heaven is the absence of all unpleasantness, the fulfillment of God's perfection. To the Christian heaven may start in this life through his complete satisfaction and happiness received as a result of implicit faith in Christ. My religious views have changed from being emotionsal to intellectual. Truly I cannot understand or rationalize all the facts of my religion, but I am ready to let faith play its part also. I believe regular church attendance, prayer, and daily Scriptural reading are absolutely essential for a happy life. My interest lies greatly with the work of Missions and always has. It has been a secret ambition of mine to do some work along that line either "Foreign" or "Home" fields, and am only hoping I may realize my dreams some day and give my life to some phase of the work. What my vocation is to be seems rather unsettled at present. I have been preparing myself while at college to enter the educational field as a high school teacher of English, history, dramatics, and library, but positions seem very scarce. In years to come I may smile at the amount of worrying I am doing about it, but I am determined in getting a position. I do not wish to teach more than about three years, then go into the field of my ambition afore mentioned, here I feel my greatest success awaits me. I believe the added teaching experience would make me more fit for such work, teaching me more about that peculiar and interesting mass of mumanity with which we are surrounded. Dreams, ambitions, hopes - of course I have them, but perhaps I believe too much in Fate to even voice these to myself. I hope to make a success of my teaching and it is my dream to have several years of service to those who are less fortunate than myself. I also hope some day to have a home of my own where I may be surrounded by my loved ones and I myself being worthy in return of their love and respect. ************* Edith Hubbard It is a priviliege to have the opportunity to say a word in the behalf of Hazel Aslakson whom I knew well in high school in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I was head of the English Department at that time. Miss Aslakson was a student of excellant(sic) character and ability. She was always dependable, with high ideals and her work was thorough and painstaking and of high grade. ************* A.O. White It is with great pleasure that I state that I have known Hazel Aslakson for more than 13 years. She was in my class and received instructions prior to confirmation. Since then she has always conducted herself in such a way as to reveal her sincerity in her christian faith, and been exemplary in her associations with others. I consider her character to be such that it will exert an influence for good in what ever position in life she may be placed. Have had opportunity to watch her as a teacher and consider her especially well fitted for that position. ************* (Can't read the name) Miss Aslakson taught a rural school for two years (1925-27 District No. 6. Town of Liberty) I became acquainted with her while she was a student at the Manitowoc County Normal School. We considered this young woman one of our very good beginning teachers. Her character is of the best. Her personal appearance always is very good. She has a good personality and should be a good leader for pupils of high school age. We were well satisfied with her ability to instruct and she conquered difficulties in school which at that time was in need of strong teacher leadership. I cheerfully recommend Miss Aslakson to any position that her training in your institution has fitted her and shall be (can't read) any school board inquiries that are directed to me. ************* Agnes Larson Health, vitality, physical alertness, appearance, character, manners, dress, mental ability, intelligence, ambitions, interest, industry, reliability, accuracy, punctuality, initiative, resourcefulness, leadership, judgment, common sense, self control, willingness to cooperate, scholarship, ability to get, organize,and use information, expression, command of English, estimated success as a teacher - Execellent. Arthur Paulson - same as Miss Larson ************* C. G. Stangel. Hazel Aslakson was a member of our high school 1920-24, receiving a high school diploma on June 12, 1924. Her conduct at school and on the street seemed exemplary. Her home conditions are right and she is a type that should adapt herself easily to new situations. I have nothing unfavorable to report about her. ************* C.A. Mellby Health, vitality, physical alertness, mental ability, intelligence, initiative, resourcefulness, leadership, scholarship, ability to get, organize and use information - Very Good. Appearance, bearing, manners, dress, character, habits, ambition, interest, industry, reliability, accuracy, punctuality, judgement, common sense, self control, willingness to cooperate, express(?) command of English, estimated success as a teacher - Excellent. ************* THE ASLAKSON FAMILY Maren Simons datter Stullen (2-2-1806 - d 12-2-1888) married Halvor Olson Aas (11-28-1810 - d 1-14-1892) 9-13-1832, lived in Gjerpan, Norway and had 8 children. They sailed to the US in 1856 Halvor Olson Aas was the son of Ole (b 1775 d?), grandson of Halvor Solvesson Nordic Aas (b 1736 d?) and Aagot Sondresdtr (b 1744 d?) of Norway. Maren was daughter of Simon (b 2-18-1781 - d 10-18-1851) and Maren Kristoffersdatter (b ? - d 5-21-1843), they had children in addition to Maren Ingeborg (b 6-24-1810 - d?), Kristen and Simon (b 6-9-1809) Helle (b 10-11-1812 - d?) 1. Anna Gurin Olson-born 4-10-1833, baptized 5-19-1833, confirmed 4-15-1849 and died 1915 of heart condition. She married Toy Aslakson( b 6-29-1823 - d 6-29-1892 of a stroke) son of Kari and Aslak Ekos(1823-1891)( both killed). Brother of Torger who died at 3 yr. of age, and Torbjoren also killed. His wife was Marie Knutson. They had 3 sons: Aslak Norstad Knut Norstad John(b? - d 1860) Anna and Toy had 9 children. Some came to the US in 1871 on the “Laurdal” a. Anton (b 1859-1872) b. Maren Karina (b 10-6-1865 - d 5-1925) married Knute Olaf Knutson (b 8-23-1853 - d 11-2-1920). Knute was born in Oslo, Norway, came to US at 6 months of age, son of Nels and Oline Knutson and brothers Christan and BenDitlov and sister Mary. married 10-8-1882 at Gjerpan Church. 1. Agnes (2-18-1892 - d 6-19-1982)married Clarence Peterson (b 1889- d 1958) on 10-19-1916 a. Holm Orville (b 7-8-1917 - d 12-24-1967) b. (private) 2. Edwin (b 1-20-1889 - d 6-19-1971) married Clara Skatrud (b 10-3-1890 d 2-8-1981) on 4-28-1914, lived on a farm in town of Cato, member of school board and trustee of Gjerpen Church. (NOTE: There is more of this tree in the copy of her records in the Two Rivers Lester Library. I cannot put it online for privacy reasons - many are still living.) ************ The following are scans of documents that Hazel Aslakson submitted to the Eugenics Record Office at Cold Springs Harbor, Long Island, N.Y. in January of 1930. Document Document Document Document Document Document Document Document Document Document Document Document Document Document Document Document
MARCELLA GENEVA ASLAKSON The body of Marcella Aslackson will arrive today on the four o'clock train and will be taken to the home of Isaac Aasted on North Eighth street. The funeral will be held Monday with short services at the house at one o'clock, thence to the Jerpen church, Madson station. Manitowoc Herald News Saturday, October 9, 1920 pg. 3 ******** Mr. and Mrs. Hans Aslackson returned Saturday from Garden City, Kansas, accompanying the remains of thier daughter Marcella, who died there. Burial was at Valders. Manitowoc Herald News Monday, October 11, 1920 pg. 3 ******** Isaac Aastad returned to Bloomington, Ill., after attending the funeral of his niece, Miss Aslackson. Manitowoc Herald News Tuesday, October 12, 1920 pg. 8 ******** Notes from Madsen Friends and relatives were shocked when the dispatch came from Mr. and Mrs. Hans Aslackson from Garden City, Kans., that Marcella had passed away at a hospital in that city on October 7. Having disposed of their farm here a month ago they started on their western trip September 19 in their auto to take her to Phoenix, Ariz., to a warmer climate, hoping that she would regain her health. they returned Saturday, October 9 and the funeral was held from the home of Isaac Aastad of Manitowoc on Monday to Jerpen Church and her remains were laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery. Rev. A. O. White spoke in the English language and Rev. A. O. Alfson in the Norwegian. Marcella was 23 years of age. Besides her parents, she leaves one sister, Hazel. They have the sympathy in their bereavement of the whole community. Manitowoc Pilot - Thurs., Oct. 14, 1920
THOV ASLAKSON T. ASLAGSEN (sic) of Cato had a stroke of paralysis on Saturday last from the effects of which he died on Saturday. Manitowoc Pilot, July 7, 1892 P. 3 ******** Thor Aslaksen, son of Aslak Torbjornsen and Kari Torgersdatter, b 1823 Norway, d 26 June 1892 bur Gjerpen. From Eikaasen in Drangedal. Immigrated 1854. Farmer in Cato. m 10 Aug 1858 Gjerpen to Anne Gurine, daughter of *Halvor Olsen Aas and Maren Simensdatter, b 10 April 1833 Aas nordre in Gjerpen, d 22 June 1914 bur Gjerpen. Immigrated 1856 with her parents. Children: Anton b 15 Sept 1859, d 1876; Maren Karine b 9 Oct 1860, m *K. Olof Knudsen; Johanne Marie b 21 March 1862, d 1876; *Hans Christian b 12 Feb 1864; Tommine b 1 March 1866, d 1876; *Olavus b 31 Oct 1867; Lars b 22 Oct 1869, d 14 June 1928, m 2 Oct 1901 Manitowoc to Jergine daughter of *G. H. Rudi; Teodor b 20 June 1871, d 1876; Anna Marie b 29 March 1873, d 4 Jan 1893. 1876 deaths caused by "black diphtheria". "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 222,223 ******** [1823 - 6/26/1892]
ANDERS O. AUBOL Anders Olsen Aabol (Andrew O. Aubol), son of Ole Toresen and Anne Olsdatter, brothers *Nils, *Ole, and *Ole, sister m *Erik Olsen Ton, b 4 June 1818 Aabol in Nord-Aurdal, d 22 Aug 1893 bur Gjerpen. Immigrated 1848. Farmer in Cato to 1885, later in Eaton. ml 9 April 1848 Nord-Aurdal to Kari, daughter of Ole Olsen and Ingri Gundersdatter, b 3 Dec 1826 Ranom in Nord-Aurdal, d 2 March 1876 bur Gjerpen. m2 1882 Cato to Marit, daughter of Knud Olsen and Jorond Knudsdatter, brother *Knud K. Kvale, sister m *Gunder Tollefsen, b 17 Oct 1841 Qvaleeier in Vestre Slidre, d 1932 bur Valders. Immigrated 1881. Children: Anne Marie b 20 May 1850, m *Even Thompson Helle; Ole b 23 Oct c1851; Ingri Gurine b 5 April 1853; Anton b 20 Nov 1854, d 24 Feb 1918 St Hilaire, Minnesota, m 16 March 1881 Gjerpen to Maren Anne daughter of *Ole L. Kjaer; Gunder b 29 April 1856; Sonneva Oline b 6 May 1858; Carl Otto b 15 Oct 1860, pastor, m 1886 to Randina Ranum; Edvard b 25 Nov 1862; Martin b 2 Nov 1864; Oscar b 26 June 1870, d 28 Jan 1891. "Manitowoc-skogen; A Biographical and Genealogical Directory of the Residents of Norwegian Birth and Descent in Manitowoc and Kewaunee Counties in Wisconsin from the First Settlement to 1900"; by Robert A. Bjerke pg. 17
