|
a.
|
Note: [Nannestad Sept 2004.FTW]
[Gedcom - Lars Stokstad.FTW]
SOURCE CITATION: Ancestor Chart, dated May, 1981, prepared by Esther Stokstad Haug.
SOURCE CITATION - BIRTH AND BAPTISM:
Photocopy (in Arnold Offerdahl files)
Ullensaker Church record of birth, Year 1821, Page 118, Number 75:
Lars
Born: 16 September 1821.
Christened: 07 Oct 1821
Parents: Kristen Olsen, Anne Ingebretsdtr (Ingelsdtr), Farm Kopperud Eie
Witnesses: Lars Thorsen Kopperud
Martha Olsdatter Ellingrud (a paternal aunt)
Nils Eng(ebretsen) Ellingrud (a maternal uncle)
Anne Olsdtr Kopperud
Lars Engebr(etsen) Kopperud (a maternal uncle)
(Comment by Jan Kristiansen: It is somewhat strange that Lars isn't given as "illegitimate" on his baptism, as his parents weren't yet married then. But the banns of the marriage had been published, so the rector obviously connived at it... ")
SOURCE CITATION - INFORMATION ABOUT BAPTISMAL WITNESSES
I. Lars Torersen, Ullensaker Bygdebok, vol. 3, p. 157: Bruk 1. Lars Torersen, fra Tangen, Nannestad, får i 1811 bygselsbrev på gården av stiftsprosten. Denne Lars Torersen var vidt bekjent for sin styrke og blev også som oftest kal t STORE LARS. I hans gifte m. Marte Halvorsdtr. Kopperud, var det mange barn, men det var visst bare 4 som vokste op. 1. Anne, g.m. Ole Larsen Jæren, brjker her. 2. Marte, g.m. Henrik Larsen, også bruker her. 3. Mari. 4. Halvor, f. 1829 . I 1846 kjøpte Lars gården av Staten for en pris av 650 spdlr. Straks ut i 1850-årene overlot han gården til sine svigersønner og tok føderåd for sig og sin kone. Lars døde 1861, ca 70 år gml. Hans hustru Marte, som døde før ham (1857 ) nådde samme alder.
TRANSLATION BY TOLKEN: Lars Torersen, Ullensaker Bygdebok, vol. 3, p. 157: Bruk 1.
Lars Torersen, from Tangen, Nannestad, find in 1811 bygsels letter(s) on the farm of stifts prosten.
This Lars Torersen was widely known for his strength, and was most frequently called LARGE LARS. In his marriage with Marte Halvorsdtr. Kopperud, there were many children, but it only 4 were know to have grown up:
1. Anne Larsdtr., g.m. Ole Larsen Jæren, bruker her.
2. Marte Larsdtr., g.m. Henrik Larsen, also bruker her.
3. Mari Larsdtr.
4. Halvor Larsson, f. 1829.
I 1846 Lars bought the farm of The state for a price of 650 spdlr. In 1850 he turned over the farm to his sons- in-law, and took "føderåd" for himself and his wife (support received after transferring one's estate to a successor).
Lars døde 1861, ca 70 år gml.
His wife Marte, which died before him (1857) also at age 70.
II. Lars Engebretsen, Ullensaker Bygdebok, vol. 3, p. 161: Bruk 2. Lars Engebretsen, sønnen i Fjellberg (hvortil henvises). bygslet gården i 1819. Lars var f. ca. 1800 og var således ganske ung, da han overtok Kopperud. I 1846 fikk Lar s skjøte på gården av Staten for 700 spdlr. I Lars' ekteskap m. Marte Torstensdtr. fra Nannestad omtales 8 barn. 1. Ellen Maria, f. 1827. 2. Jens, f. 1830, fikk gården. 3. Karen Martea. 4. Torine. 5. Kristen. 6. Lars, til Nannestad ? 7. Anne. 8. Olaus, bodde på Vilberg. I 1861 døde Lars Engebretsen, vel 60 år gml., hvorefter enken en kort tid drev gården inntil sønnen.
TRANSLATION BY TOLKEN: II. Lars Engebretsen, Ullensaker Bygdebok, vol. 3, p. 161: Bruk 2.
Lars Engebretsen, the son in Fjellberg (hvortil henvises). leased the farm in 1819. Lars was born about. 1800 and was thus quite young, when he took over Kopperud. In 1846 Lars got the deed on the farm from The state for 700 spdlr. In Lars' mar riage to Marte Torstensdtr. from Nannestad there were 8 children:
1. Ellen Maria Larsdtr, f. 1827.
2. Jens Larssen, f. 1830, got farm.
3. Karen Martea Larsdtr.
4. Torine Larsdtr.
5. Kristen Larssen.
6. Lars Larssen, til Nannestad?
7. Anne Larsdtr.
8. Olaus Larssen, lived at Vilberg.
Lars Engebretsen died in 1861, wellover 60 years old, after which the widow operated the farm for a short time, and then to the son Jens.
III. Nils Engebretsen, Bygdebok, vol. 3, p. 212:
Nils Engebretsen, overtok den fra 1820. I sitt ekteskap med Marte Olsdtr. Ellingsrud hadde han folgende barn som levde. Nils Ellingsrud døde i 1870 - arene visstnok adskillig over 80 år. Hans hustru som døde allerede 1842, blev henve d 50 år gml.
TRANSLATION BY TOLKEN: Nils Engebretsen (Ellingsrud), Bygdebok, vol. 3., p. 212:
Nils Engebretsen, took over the farm in 1820. In his marriage with Marte Olsdtr. Ellingsrud he had following child(ren) which lived. Nils Ellingsrud died in 1870 - probably several years over 80 år. His wife, who died in1842, was approxim ately 50 years old.
It appears that Nels Eng(ebretsen) Ellingsrud and Martha Olsdtr Ellingsrud are husband and wife, and that Martha Olsdtr was a sister to Lars' father Kristen Olsen, and Nels Engebretsen was a brother to Lars' mother Anne Ingebretsdtr. (Brothe r and sister Olsen married brother and sister Engbretsen(dtr)).
SOURCE CITATION - BIRTH:
(Taken from letter dated 22 Jan 2000 to Arnold Offerdahl from Jan Kristiansen, genealogist at the State Archives in Oslo)
Ullensaker church register for period 1815-35, page 120,
Name: Lars Kristensen
Born: 16 September,
Baptized: 07 October 1821,
Parents: Kristen Olsen KopperudsEie and Anne Ingulsdatter
Godparents:
Lars Thorersen
Ingebregt Kopperud
Anne Olsdatter Kopperud
Martha Olsdatter Ellingrud
Nils Ingebretsen Ellingrud
In the register written by the sexton is a "Lars Engebretsen Kopperud" given as sponsor instead of "Ingebregt Kopperud."
SOURCE CITATION - CHRISTENING:
LDS, Intnl Genealogical Index, Individual Record of Christening:
Name: Lars Christensen
Date: Christened 07 Oct 1821, Ullensaker, Akershus, Norway.
Father: Kristen Olsen,
Mother: Anne Ingelsdr.
SOURCE CITATION:
(Taken from letter dated 29 Jan 2000 to Arnold Offerdahl from Jan Kristiansen, genealogist at the State Archives in Oslo)
Ullensaker bygdebok, vol 2., p. 739:
"Brekkedal of Holm. "Ca. 1848 this place became a freeholder farm, and the first freeholder here was, as far as can be seen, a Lars Kristensen, who stayed there for just a short while" See daughter Andrea Larsdatter's baptism in my 22 Ja n 2000 letter where Lars Christensen's address was given as Holmseie.
SOURCE CITATION - MARRIAGE:
(Taken from letter dated 22 Jan 2000 to Arnold Offerdahl from Jan Kristiansen, genealogist at the State Archives in Oslo)
Ullensaker church register 1851-62, page 249:
Married 26 December 1853,
Bachelor and ....(hard to read) Lars Christensen Syltengen of Berg, born on Kopperudeie, lives on Syltengen, 32 years old, son of cotter Christen Olsen Kopperudeie.
Maiden Inge Andrea Olsdatter Syltengen, born on Aaseie, 24 years old, daughter of cotter Ole Olsen Holmseie.
Witnesses:
Cotter Ole Olsen Myrhuus
Farmer Hans Olsen Bergseie
"As you see, when they got married they both lived on Syltengen, a subfarm of Berg farm at Ullensaker. Kopperudeie means a subfarm of Kopperud farm, Ullensaker."
SOURCE CITATION - MARRIAGE:
LDS, IGI Record, Batch number M421726, Dates 1851-1862, Source Call No. 0278176.
Wife: Inge Andrea Olsdr
Husband: Lars Christensen
Date: 26 Dec 1853, Ullensaker, Akershus, Norway
SOURCE CITATION - MARRIAGE:
John L. Stokstad's notes: "Lars was 32 years old when he got married in the year 1852."
SOURCE CITATION: NORWAY 1865 CENSUS:
Kommune: Ullensaker
Farm: Stokstadhagen
Lars Christensen, Hovedperson, Husm. med jord, b. 1821
Inge Andrea Olsdatter, b. 1829
Andrea Larsdatter, b. 1854
Ingebor Larsdatter, b. 1857
Christian Larsen, b. 1860
Ole Larsen, b. 1863
(Bertha Larsdatter was born after the 1865 census, b. 10 May 1867)
SOURCE CITATION: EMIGRATION:
Emigration from Ullensaker, Norway, 1869-1899, Stoermann Næs Holum's Genealogy Page [http://home.sol.no/~holum/Ullweb6.htm]:
Date: 12 Jun 1868
Kristensen, Lars, age 47,
Destination - Chicago
SOURCE CITATION: (shows proximity of 1. Anton Furseth, 2. Henrik and Jacob Stokstad, and 3. Lars and Inge Stokstad, 1860-1870)
1865 Census:
Kommune: Ullensaker
Farm: Stokstadhagen (Stokstad Farm #3)
Lars Christensen, Hovedperson, Husm. med jord, b. 1821 (emigrated 12 Jun 1868)
Inge Andrea Olsdatter, b. 1829 (emigrated 23 Apr 1869)
Andrea Larsdatter, b. 1854
Ingebor Larsdatter, b. 1857
Christian Larsen, b. 1860
Ole Larsen, b. 1863
Bertha Larsdatter, b. 07 May 1867 (married Henrik Olsen Stokstad, 21Apr1897)
1875 Census::
Kommune: Ullensaker
Farm: Stokstad Farm #3)
Ole Iversen, Husfader, Gaardbruger selveier, b. 1842
Karen Henriksdatter, Konen, b. 1837
Henrik Olsen, Son, b. 1869 (emigrated 18 Mar 1892, married Bertha Larsdtr Stokstad 21 Apr 1897)
Jakob Olsen, Son, b. 1867 (emigrated 18 Mar 1892, married Milla A. Julseth (Hanson)
Berthe Olsen, Datter, b. 1872
Christofer Olsen, Son, b. 1874
1875 Census:
Kommune: Ullensaker, # 0235
Farm: Furuseth Øvre
Christofer Olsen, Husfader, Gaardbr. Selveier, b. 1833, Gjerdrum Præstegj.
Marie Throndsdatter, b. 1835
Theodor Christofersen, son, Hjelper faderen, b. 1860
Mina Christofersdatter, b. 1862
Anton Christofersen, son, b. 1865 (emigrated 23 Mar 1888) (married Sophia 28 Mar 1894)
Anna Christofersdatter, b. 1871
Haaken Christofersen, b. 1874
SOURCE CITATION: USA 1880 CENSUS:
Dane County, Deerfield Township, Vol 6, ED 67, Sheet 10, Line 31:
Stockstad, Lars C., age 58, b. Norway (1880-1821=59)
Stockstad, Inga O., age 39, b. Norway
-- Ingeborg, D. age 23, b. Norway
-- Christian, S., age 20, b. Norway
-- Ole, S., age 17, b. Norway
-- Bertha, D., age 12, b. Norway
-- Sophia, D., age 9, b. Wisconsin (our ancestor)
-- Maria, D., age 7, b. Wisconsin
-- Johan, S., age 5, b. Wisconsin
SOURCE CITATION - DEATH:
See photo of Gravestone, Riverside Cemetery, Stoughton, WI
Handwritten notes of Eda, Evelyn, and Olga Furseth
Date: 1892 (09 Apr 1892)
PHOTOGRAPHS - The following photographic records (slideshows) are on a separate cd-rom:
Lars Kristensen Stokstad and Inge Andrea Olsdtr
_________________________________________________________
LIFE STORY - LARS AND INGER STOKSTAD
Lars Kristensen Stokstad (before marriage) was born on KopperudEie, Ullensaker, Akershus, Norway on 16 Sep 1821, and was christened on 07 Oct 1821. His parents were Kristen Olsen KopperudEie and Anne Engebretsdtr KopperudEie. Lars' father die d on 11 Nov 1830 when he was 9 years old. Little is known of Lars' youth, but in the early part of the 19th Century the children of poor parents were not required to go to school, so it can be assumed that Lars had 'worked out' from the tim e he was old enough to do that. (Compulsory education was established in Norway by the Primary School Act of 1827.)
Inger Andrea Olsdtr (before marriage) was born 24 Oct 1829. Her parents were Ole Olsen and Ingeborg Jensdtr. Both of Inger's parents died in 1841 when she was about 10 years old, and she then went to live with an uncle at Kaaprud. She came fro m a family of 5 siblings, all of whom later emigrated to USA and located in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The sibling who lived the closest to Inger was a sister Gurine, who married Lars Hansen Habberstad, and who lived and farmed in the Brooklyn , WI area.
Lars and Inger (after marriage): Ullensaker church register, 1851-1862, p. 249, records their marriage date as 26 December, 1853, and records their address as Syltengen, a subfarm of Berg farm in Ullensaker. Oral history is that Inger and Lar s were both day workers on the same farm, when Lars in 1853 asked Inger to marry him. Their courtship was very short. Inger once told her children that "when Lars asked her to marry him she promptly said yes, and that was all there was to it , as he was an honest and hard-working man."
Ullensaker bygdebok, vol. 2, p. 739, records the following: "Brekkedal of Holm: Ca. 1848 this place became a freeholder farm, and the first freeholder here was, as far as can be seen, a Lars Kristensen, who stayed there for just a short while. " This bit of information correlates with information on the baptismal record of Lars and Inger's daughter, Andrea, dated 29 Aug 1854, and which shows Lars' address as Holmseie.
From the year of their marriage in 1853 to 1868, a period of 15 years, Lars and Inger lived in Ullensaker, and had the following five children:
Andrea, daughter, 29 Aug 1854
Ingeborg, daughter, 04 Jun 1857
Christian, son, 01 Apr 1860
Ole, son, 29 Sep 1863
Bertha, daughter 07 May 1867 (20 May 1866?)
The Norwegian 1865 Census shows all of the above family members except Bertha, who was born in 1867. The Census shows them living on:
Sogn: Hovind og Ullensager
Prestegjeld: Ullensager
Gardsnavn: Stokstadhagen
Martikkel: 178
Lars is listed as "hovedperson, husm. med jord", which translates to "main person, tenant with some land."
We can only assume that these must have been difficult years for them, because Inger urged Lars to go to America to seek, there, a living for the family, which she thought would be better than their staying in Norway. Her friends thought she wa s "hard" to have her husband make such a venture. In 1868 Lars emigrated to USA. Norwegian emigration records show that he and Hans Knudsen (a husband of Inger's sister, Anne Maria) departed Ullensaker on 12 Jun 1868. They came by way of New Yo rk, Chicago, and Milwaukee. From Milwaukee Lars and Hans Knudsen walked to Stoughton, and one version oral history is that while walking along the railroad track, they carried a trunk between them that held all of their possessions.
On leaving Norway, Lars was requested by Ole Stokstad (the owner of the farm on which Lars worked) to retain the Stokstad name when he went to USA, so that that name would also be in America. This he did. Later, two of Ole Stokstad's own sons , Hendrick and Jacob, both emigrated, and Hendrick in 1897 married Bertha, daughter of Lars and Inger.
Inger was very quick and active, always on the go, and constantly busy doing something. When she decided to do a thing, it was done withoug delay. She told once about the time, after Lars had left for America, when she had a cow, a pig, and chic kens, which was more food that she needed for herself and her five children. So she took a baby from Oslo to care for and feed. Shortly before Inger and the five children sailed for America she had to return the baby to Oslo. She took the bab y on her back and walked there, a distance of 21 miles - 42 miles round trip - and while walking those miles she managed to knit 2 pair of stockings.
In the spring of 1869 Inger and the 5 children, Andrea, Ingeborg, Christian, Ole, and Bertha, ages 14, 11, 9, 5, and 2, emigrated to USA to join Lars. Norwegian emigration records show that they departed from Oslo on the vessel Argo on 23 Apr 186 9, bound for Liverpool, England. In Liverpool the boarded the vessel S. S. Moravian, wich sailed on 06 May 1869 to Quebec. They arrived in Quebec, Canada on 17 May 1869. They traveled by train to Detroit, and it was on this trip that the trai n struck a storage house (?) of brown sugar, and the passengers filled up everything they had with brown sugar. In Detroit they stayed overnight in an immigrant house, and on the next afternoon they sailed from Detroit to Milwaukee. They travele d by train from Milwaukee to Stoughton, where Lars met them at the train station.
Before leaving Norway, the two oldest, Andrea and Ingeborg, had received new hats, which they were permitted to wear on the train coming to Stoughton to meet their father. Shortly before arriving, Andrea lost her hat.
After arriving in Stoughton, the family was taken in by Christopher Larson Howe, who operated a blacksmith shop, and lived on the corner where the Stoughton City hall is now located. Christopher Howe was the father of Stoughton grocer Adolph Howe . Lars' family stayed with him for a few months while Lars worked for Mr. Howe.
In the summer of 1869 the family moved to the Jermond Skaalen farm. Then in 1870 they moved to a place across the Yahara River, near Burt (Burritt?) Spring. It was here that Sophia was born on 28 Mar 1870, and later Mary, on 25 Mar 1872. Durin g these years Lars worked wherever he could get a job.
About 1873 the family moved to the Frank Soule farm, located in Section 2 of the Township of Rutland, about 2 1/2 miles due west of Stoughton. They lived here for two years, and Lars raised 5 acres of tobacco.
In 1875 the family moved to the Johnson place about 1 mile west of Stoughton. Here their last child, son Johan, was born on 08 Feb 1875. In the spring of 1876 they moved to the Anna Springen farm near the Magellson School, and in 1877, accordin g to John Stokstad's notes, they moved the the Lars Rekve farm near Deerfield, WI, where Lars raised hops.
Then from 1878 to 1880 the family lived on the Bergo farm [Tom Fosheim farm?] on Liberty Prairie. It was sometime during these two years that Lars bought a double buggy, made by N.T. Olson of Stoughton. The U.S. Census for 1880 shows Lars C. Stockstad, age 58, and Inga O. Stockstad, age 39, with all of their children except Andrea, who had married Lars Ellingsrud. They are recorded as living in Deerfield Town (Twshp), Dane County. [Note the une xplained discrepancy in Inger's age (1880 - 1829 = 51)]. Following are the children, listed as living with them:
Ingeborg, age 23, born Norway
Christian, age 20, born Norway
Ole, age 17, born Norway
Bertha, age 12, born Norway
Sophia, age 9, born Wisconsin
Maria, age 7, born Wisconsin
Johan, age 5 born Wisconsin
In 1880 Lars and Inger purchased the Jera farm, from the Jera people who had moved to Iowa. This farm is about 8 miles due east of Stoughton, on present Hwy 51. This farm became the Lars Stokstad homestead, and is still in the family, operate d today by Eric Lyman Stokstad. The first years after 1880 were spent grubbing trees and clearing land of brush, building fences, and erecting sheds and stables. In 1890 a new dwelling house was constructed, which was one of the most modern hous es of the time in that vicinity. During the winter and early spring of 1890, while still in their teens, daughters Sophia and Bertha went to Chicago and worked and saved money to help furnish the new house. On the night that the new house was de dicated, Sophia and Bertha came from Chicago and brought with them a "wonderful upholstered parlor suite".
Lars Stokstad died 09 Apr 1892 at the age of 71. The farm and all his personal property was left to his wife, Inger. She carried on with the farm with help from her son Christian and a hired hand. But on 03 Dec 1894 Christian married and move d away. Then the farm was operated by son Johan and a hired hand named Ole Hyland. In 1897 son Ole was married and bought the farm from Inger, with the agreement that she could continue to live there. She occupied the front, upstairs bedroom , and used the garret over the kitchen for cooking her meals. She kept one horse and a cow. This arrangement continued from 1897 to 1914, a period of 17 years.
The U.S. 1900 Census shows that Inger was "living alone" in Albion, Town, Dane County. This would have been living alone in the upstairs rooms of the homestead, while Ole and Carrie lived in the downstairs rooms.
During these years she was a very active woman. She served as president of the Wheeler Prairie Ladies Aid "Kvendeforening" for many years. She had a horse named Frank, and a single buggy that was her usual mode of transportation to take her wher e she wanted to go. She would visit the homes of her children. Eda Furseth recalled that "when she came to our house she usually stayed a few days, and would do up all the mending." She spent much time visiting sick and old people. On on e of these occasions when she visited the Skaalen Home near Stoughton (now destroyed by fire) her horse became frightened and ran away with her and the buggy. She was hospitalized for some time.
Inger was a midwife, and delivered hundreds of babies. People would come from miles around to get her for that purpose, She was very reverent about this responsibility -- after delivering a baby she would go to her room and pray for the new life .
There is a family tale that one time the minister had come to visit Inger. During the course of the visit she offered him some wine, with the assurance that he didn't have to worry about its alcoholic content because "she had made it herself, an d all that she had used was grape juice and sugar." [Is this a clue to Inger's sense of humor?]
In 1914 Inger moved to live with her daughter Sophia and husband at the Anton Furseth home, 1-mile northwest of Stoughton, WI. Eda Furseth recalls that "as long as she was able, she ate with us." For six of the eight years that she lived ther e she kept up her activities, making a lot of quilts and rugs of all sizes. She crocheted one rug for the living room that was 9x12 feet in size For recreation she used to take strolls around in the Furseth woods. There was a stump long her pa th that she used to rest on when she took these strolls, which her grandchildren referred to as "grandma's chair." She was very fond of reading, and memorized many songs and poems.
During these years she suffered with asthma, and in the later part of 1920 she fell and broke her hip. From that time on she was bedridden in a room directly above the kitchen. She used a cane to tap on the floor when she needed someone to com e to her bedroom to assist her.
Inger died 25 May 1922 at the age of 94. She is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Stoughton, WI, alongside of her husband Lars, who had died on 09 Apr 1892 -- 30 years earlier.
_________________________________________________________
THE HISTORY OF LARS C. STOKSTAD, BY JOHN L. STOKSTAD
Note attached, written by Esther Stokstad Haug, (John's daughter):
"I have typed these papers almost verbatim from writings my father did in the 1930's. They were written to be read at the annual family reunions, which have been held every year since 1927. The papers have been in my possession since his deat h in 1950."
Lars Kristianson was born in Olso, Norway October 18, 1821. Little is known of his youth except that he worked on the farm belonging to (Uncle) Hendrick Stokstad's grandmother who lived 21 miles from Oslo.
It was while working here that he met Inger Andrea Olson who was working on the same farm. She was born October 31, 1828. When she was ten years old her parents died and she went to live with an uncle named Kaaprud.
Father was a man of few words, very slow but deliberate, hard working yet quite athletic. He was not easily angered, but once wrought-up his temper got away from him. It was for this reason that Mother took all the responsibility for bringin g up all the children.
The only relatives he had that I know about were three nieces and three nephews. Anton Melby of Madison, Hagbart Hanson of northern Michigan, and Lauritz Hanson who lived in Stoughton until he died. Hagbart and Lauritz had three sisters an d it is one of them who is the mother of the queen of the Worlds Fair Hagbart is an old bachelor and Lauritz had one son who was shot and killed by someone up in the Cameron district. Anton Melby had four children, two that are married and livi ng in Madison, Sigurd who is studying for the ministry, and Fria who is doing missionary work in China.
Father loved his coffee, and every afternoon he would come in and sit down in his rocker and rock, beating time on the floor with his foot 1-2-123, 1-2-123. Then Mother would move the coffeepot over on the hot spot on the stove.
I remember one day while he was waiting for his coffee he said to Mother, "It seems kind of queer for I never believed in fortune tellers, but I remember once when I was a young man there was a woman who told me that I would some day own property , which at that time was very improbable, and that I would live on a hill close to a running stream."
On a similar occasion he told about a time when he worked on a farm called Bløerud how the cattle would be untied and chased out of the barn all at once, and how another time a cow and calf were tied together in the same yoke so tight that it wa s impossible for human hands to have done it and they had to saw the yoke to get it open.
The circumstances of his folks I do not know. I take for granted that he worked out from the time he was old enough to do anything, since the children in Norway of poor parents in the early part of the 18th century were not required to go to scho ol.
One time I remember of him telling about his father hew he fell over unconscious near the fireplace and getting his hand into the fire and burning it almost to a crisp.
He was 32 years old when he got married in the year of 1852. The courtship was very short as Mother once said that when Lars asked her to marry him she promptly said yes and that was all there was to it as he was an honest and hard working man.
Mother came from a family of 5 children all of whom emigrated and located in Wisconsin. She had 3 sisters and 1 brother. The sisters were Mrs. Hans Knudtson (Andrea) who located in Minneapolis in 1868 and whose family has grown into the secon d hundred. Mrs. Lars Habbarstad (Gorine) of Brooklyn, Wisconsin whose family has grown into the 3rd hundred; they had 8 children--Andrea, Olava, Theodore, Karen, Gorine, Lena, Ole and Hans. Karen married Nelson of Stoughton and their childre n were Ole, Christ, Edward, Hans and Lina. The brother Ole Linlytcha Smebraatan Olsen came to this country about 1890 with a family of 4 children, Ragna, Lava, Hans and Inga. Inga was raised in our home by Mother, and was Inga Neath.
Mother was very quick and active, always on the go and all the time busy doing something. When she decided to do a thing it was done without delay. I remember her telling about the time when Lars left for America and she had a cow, a pig and chi ckens so she had more food than was needed for herself and the five children. So she took a baby from Christiania to care for and feed. Shortly before she should sail for America she had to return the baby, and she took the baby on her back an d walked to Christiania a distance of 21 miles, 42 miles both ways. On this trip she knitted 2 pair of stockings.
I remember how she used to brag a little bit about the way she used to tie her station along side the men in the harvest fields in the early days in America when grain was cut with a reaper, and that she demanded the same pay as they, which was $3 .00 per day.
Another time when Father had contracted to husk a lot of shocked corn on the Alme farm and the snow came before it could be done, she bundled up her baby Bertha in blankets and set her in the snow and husked corn so as to finish the job and be rea dy to move in the spring.
They had five children born in Norway, Andrea August 29, 1854, Ingeborg June 4, 1857, Christian April 1, 1860, Ole September 29, 1863, and Bertha May 7, 1867.
In the fall of 1868 Lars C. Stokstad emigrated to America. On leaving Norway he was requested by Ole Stokstad to take the Stokstad name so that the Stokstad name would also be in America. This he did, and now the woods are full of them. Late r two of Ole Stokstad's sons came to this country, Hendrick and Jacob Hendrick married my sister Bertha, so their children are Stokstad on both sides.
In 1869 Mother and the 5 children came over. Ingeborg and Mother were quite seasick during the trip across. In Liverpool, England they waited for the steamship for 11 days. The trip across the ocean took 9 days. They landed in Quebec, Canad a and traveled by train to Detroit. On this trip they hit a storage house of brown sugar and the immigrants filled up everything they had with brown sugar. From there, where this wreck was, to Detroit they traveled on a flat car. In Detroit the y stayed over night in an immigrant house and on the next afternoon they sailed from Detroit to Milwaukee.
Before leaving Norway, Andrea and Ingeborg got new hats and they were permitted to wear them on the train just before coming to Stoughton to meet their father. Shortly before arriving in Stoughton Andrea lost her hat, and when her uncle Hans Knut sen came to tell about it he also lost his hat.
On arriving in Stoughton the family was taken to Lars Howe, the father of Adolph Howe, who was operating a blacksmith shop and who lived on the corner where the city hall now stands.
Here they stayed for some time and father worked for Mr. Howe. They then moved to Jermond Skaalen where they lived the summer of 1869. In 1870 they moved to the place across the river near Burt Spring. Here Sophia was born March 28, 1870 and Ma ry was born March 25, 1872. During these years Father worked wherever he could get a job.
From here they moved to Soule's, 2 1/2 miles west of Stoughton where they stayed for two years and raised five acres of tobacco. Then in 1875 they moved to the Johnson place across the road from Lewis Hoel where I was born on February 8, 1875.
In the spring of 1876 they moved to Anna Springens farm near Magelson School and in the spring of 1877 they moved to Deerfield and lived
|
