Rangdi FLATEN

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 17 Apr 1842, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway

Notes:

In the 1880 census, he was a farmer in Warsaw Twp, Goodhue County.

From the book - RICE COUNTY FAMILIES. PUB. 1981:

Flaten Families, 1868--. Ole Flaten and Maren Wangensten Stelle migrated from Valdres, Norway, to Dennison, Minnesota, just on the line between Rice and Goodhue counties, with their one year old son, Nils, in 1868. Shortly after Maren's death in 1891, Ole moved to Northfield with his family of 6 children: Nils, Randi, Sigrid, Ingvald, Dorothea and Ole Jr. In the early 1900s Ole married Anna Martin. They had a son, Rudolph, born in 1904. Ole Jr. has written of his father: "He was a poor farmer with 2 beautiful hobbies, books and violins. Whenever he had money with which to acquire those treasured possessions he would make a trip to Minneapolis. In addition to buying violins and books, father never failed to bring bananas home. This we considered a treat fit for the Gods." Ole continued "In his spare moments, father would work on his violin, affixing the strings and adjusting the bridge and tuning post. Then he would price and sell them, always keeping one for himself. Father played the violin very well. Often he would go into the parlor at night and there in the dark he would play Norwegian folk tunes. As a child I sat quietly. Some of the livelier tunes, such as the ‘Halling' would awaken bright emotions in me and I would then interpret the music by dancing. Perhaps I'd look up and see my father watching me and I'd run quickly to a corner." The elder Ole Flaten had received his education in a teacher's seminary in Norway. He taught parochial schools for 30 years in the Dennison and Northfield areas. He established the first bookstore at St. Olaf College and the first bookstore in Northfield. As the family grew up they scattered to homes elsewhere. Only 1 son, Nils, returned to make his home in Rice County. His story of working his way through college is a poignant one. He received his B.A. in Classical Studies from the University of Minnesota in 1893. He interrupted his studies for 2 years, working and teaching in Buxton, ND. He had retained his father's interest in the violin. As a violinist, he organized and directed a touring band in Buxton. He returned to work there following his graduation. In 1894 he met his future wife, Inez Ruth Olson, who was then teaching in nearby Hillsboro, ND. They were married in 1896. Nils writes, "Of our 3 boys, Olav and Arnold were born in Minneapolis, Olav October 18, 1897, and Arnold May 18, 1900. Sigurd was born in Northfield April 3, 1907." From 1896-1900, Nils taught at U.C. seminary and continued his graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, receiving his Ph. D. in Romance Languages, Latin and Arabic in 1900. In 1900 he was elected to head the Department of Latin at St. Olaf College at a salary of $1,000 a year. It was said that Nils was born with an "itchy foot." Thus, in addition to the urge to improve and use his foreign languages, he found traveling to be a tonic both mentally and physically. He spent the year 1909-1910 as a student in Spain, Italy and France. He returned in 1913, touring by bicycle. He financed this trip by writing daily for Decorahposten (at $3.00 a column). He was stationed in Italy in 1918-1919 as a secretary to the YMCA to teach English to Italian officers. In 1921 he began his trips to Europe as conductor of tourist groups, continuing this routine every summer for 11 consecutive summers. In 1925, Inez consented, for the first time, to accompany him on one of his tours. Inez took pride in organizing ladies aids in several Lutheran churches of southern Minnesota. She died in 1964. Nils translated and published a number of books and numerous articles during the year 1924-1934. He continued to teach at St. Olaf College until 1947. Their oldest son, Olav Nicolas, spent his adult life in the lumber business in Wyoming and Nebraska. He established a small community named Northfield near Gering, Nebraska. The youngest, John Sigurd, graduated from St. Olaf College in 1929. While working in Wyoming he contracted TB. Complications of his illness remained with him for the rest of his life. He returned to make his permanent home in Northfield. He died in 1974. Arnold Wangensten Flaten came to Northfield in the year of his birth, 1900. His years in the public schools and at St. Olaf College were marked by his interest and participation in athletics and in the visual arts. The latter was inspired by his mother who studied oil painting and by his father's descriptive letters and cards from European art centers. Arnold earned his way through St. Olaf "College, largely by making posters. He graduated in 1922 and entered Luther Theological Seminary. During those years in Minneapolis he took courses at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Following his graduation in 1925 he accepted a call to a mission congregation in Laurel, Montana. There his art was put to use in transforming a former laundry into a church. These were rich years for Arnold. In 1928 he returned to Minneapolis as assistant pastor to Dr. J. A. O. Stub at Central Lutheran Church. It was here that he met his future wife, Evelyn Solberg. At this time, Dr. L. W. Boe, President of St. Olaf College, asked Arnold to start a department of Art at the College. This involved a 2-year study period in Italy and France. Evelyn and Arnold were married in France. They returned to Northfield in 1932. Arnold immediately went to work designing and helping in the construction of the first Art building on the campus, called "The Art Barn." This was the first Art department in a college of the American Lutheran Church, and second department of Art in a private college in Minnesota. Former students from those early years were to go on to graduate schools and return to establish art departments in other Lutheran colleges. The St. Olaf work began as a one man department in 1932 where it was necessary for Arnold to teach many aspects of art, such as drawing, painting, sculpture and the history of art and architecture. Soon the program grew and Arnold welcomed additions to his staff. Being on the ground floor with a knowledge of art and architecture as well as the theology of our church, Arnold accepted an invitation to teach a course at Lutheran Seminary. In addition, he was invited to lecture and to meet with building committees throughout the Midwest. Thus, as the need became apparent, he as an Architectural Consultant founded, with Edward Sovik (a former student), what is now Sovik, Mathre, Sathrum, Quanbeck Architectural firm located in Northfield. As Arnold's philosophy demanded that all art teachers should "produce," he supplemented his teaching with his work in sculpture. In 1974 his work as sculpture was summarized in a book entitled "Arnold Flaten, Sculptor." His early interest in athletics continued. He was admitted to the St. Olaf Hall of Fame as a result of his years of active participation in football, track and tennis. Arnold died June 1, 1976. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, who lives in Northfield, and their children: Anne Flaten Pixley, Claremont, CA, exhibiting artist in USA and European galleries; Robert Arnold, Arlington, VA, Deputy Assistant, Secretary of State for Congressional Relations; Mary Evelyn, Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico, French teacher and stained glass craftsman; David Nils, LaVerne, CA, Director, Designer, Actor and Professor of Theatre.

Ole married Maren Nilsdatter WANGENSTEEN STEILE. Maren (daughter of Nils Larsson STELE WANGENSTEEN and Sigri Gulbrandsdatter DE ØYLO) was born on 18 Jul 1842 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died on 8 Jul 1891 in Minnesota; was buried in Vang Lutheran Church Cemetery, Dennison, Goodhue County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 4 Sep 1842, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway

Notes:

She was the second Maren born to her parents. The first, her namesake, was born in 1840 and died in 1841.

Birth:
Find A Grave says 8 July which is incorrect and, apparently, a misreading of her gravestone

Notes:

Vang A, p. 498.

He and Rangdi, ages 61 and 60, lived with their son Ole in Warsaw Twp, Goodhue County, in the 1880 census.

Ingvald married Randi Olsdatter BÖE on 28 Oct 1839 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. Randi (daughter of Ola Olsen TUNE and Gjartrud Eiriksdatter BØ) was born on 7 Nov 1820 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died on 20 Jan 1892; was buried in Vang Lutheran Church Cemetery, Dennison, Goodhue County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She had several children die young before her last child, Ingvald, was born.

She and her son Ingvald came to the U.S. in 1876 and her husband followed in about 1877.

Birth:
Nordre Böe

Notes:

Married:
at the stave church

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer, Ordførar. Forlikskommisær, Brev- og dokumentskrivar

Notes:

He is I2255 in Jim’s VS.

Jim’s notes:

Ved siden av ordførervervet, som han hadde i mange år, var han dokumentskriver og forlikskommisær. Han ble syk etter et bryllup sør i bygda, hvor han fikk for mye å drikke og døde av det. Med andre ord drakk han seg nok ihjel på dårlig hjemmebrent. Om de andre barna se merknad under kona Sigrid. Han var åttende ordføreren i Vang og den første som hadde hvervet mer enn i tre år. Han satt som ordfører til 1861, da Nils Thune overtok hvervet.

De fleste av barna dro til USA i 1868, de andre fulgte etter i 1876. De første må altså kalles de virkelige pionerer. De fleste ble farmere. Se fil USA OBW (Wangensteen-Slægten) skriver om Nils: "Vistnok med fuld Grund er det sagt at Wangensteenslægten er en åndskraftig Slægt og at enkelte af dens Medlemmer er høit begavede Mennesker Nils Wangensteen Stele må således i første Rekke nævnes blandt dem, som har raget høiest i Begavelse og Kundskaber. Han var i Årrækker Formandskabets Ordfører, Forligelseskommisær samt privat Brev- og Dokumentskriver for hver den, som trængte til hans Bistand. Han skrev et Indhold lige så godt som en Jurist og hans Håndskrift var meget vakker. Men hvad de kommunale Gjøremål angik, så afløstes han af sin Slægtning Nils Thune. Det var ingen annen Råd. Endeligt kom det sidste og skjæbnesvangre Tillfælde. Det var et Bryllup syd i Bygden og mer end nok af sterke Drikke. Så skrantet Nils Steile og var sykelig en kort Tid, indtil Døden gjorde en Ende på den før såvel legemlig som åndelig kjæmpesterke Mand. 54 År gammel"

Dette tyder på at han var alkoholiker?OBW hentyder ofte at lensmennene reiste vidt omkring og hvor de kom fikk de en "sjenk", derfor ble de ofte litt for glade i "det sterke".

Frøholm skriver:"Han var på Berge ikring 1840, men overtok garden her i 1842. Han ble sjuk etter et bryllaup sør i bygda, der det var mykje sterk drykk."(Dette kan også tyde på at han fikk i seg dårlig hjemmebrent og døde av det!)

Sigrid og Nils hadde også disse barna: Maren død lietn Maren (1842- ) gm Ole I Flaten (1842- ) de giftet seg i 1865 og dro til USA. Der ble han bokholder.

Birth:
Stele 21/2 Uppigarden

Died:
Stele 21/2 Uppigarden

Nils married Sigri Gulbrandsdatter DE ØYLO. Sigri (daughter of Gudbrand Olson ØYLO and Marit Gudmundsdatter REMME) was born in 1818 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died in 1860 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Øylo 54/

Died:
Stele 21/2 Uppigarden

Notes:

Vang A, p. 467.

He is I2598 in Jim’s VS.

Jim’s notes:

Han var også klokker fra 1808 i Vang, og i hele Vang fra 1817-1860, han var hjelpevaksinatør 1824-63, medlem i bankstyret, og han var en meget brukt kjøgemeister. Gjartrud og Ola hadde også sønnen Ola (1818- ) han var lærer, ugift og bodde hjemme . Den 17.10.1874 ble han borte i Kvamskleivene, han kan ha fallt utfor, men ryktet sier at han ble myrdet og kastet utfor. Morderen ble aldri funnet. Om de andre abrna, se kona hans Gjartrud E Bø.

Birth:
Tune 36/1 Midtre

Ola married Gjartrud Eiriksdatter BØ. Gjartrud (daughter of Eirik Håvardson BØ and Ambjørg Ovesdatter WANGENSTEEN) was born in 1791 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died in 1869. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She inherited her father’s farm.

Birth:
Bø 23/2-3 Nørre

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer and Lensman (1831-1872) in Vang

Notes:

First wife was Maren Jonsdotter Kvam. Second wife was Anne Torkjelssdotter Hemsing from Syndrol.

He is I107 in Jim’s VS.

Jim’s notes:

Han var først på Stele 21/1. Det henger et maleri av han og kona hans på Beitostølen høyfjellshotell. Han giftet seg til Kvam og flyttet dit. Lensmannskontoret på Stele var en peisestue som nå er sel på heimstølen til Stele 21/1.

Han var en høy og rank mann med langt hår som hang i krøller ned over skuldrene. Han hadde stort rødlig skjegg. Han ble meget velstående i sin lensmannsperiode og var en meget aktet lensmann. Bunadtøyet i Valdres herrebunad er etter ham. OWB (Wang ensteen-Slægten) skriver om han: "Han var en Tid Gårdbruker på Steile og blev Lendsmann i Vang 1821. Hans Kontorbygning på Steile var ikke som Lendsmandsbygninger nutildags, men kund en liden Peisestue, der den Dag i Dag benyttes som et efter nuv ærende Forhold lidet og uanseligt Seterhus på Steiles Hjemseter. Det var først av ikke rart bevendt med Hans Kundskaber, men Hodet var lyst - Han var af sin Samtid holdt for en Begavelse av Rang - og det blev ikke længe, får han var Stillingen fu ldt voksen. Og det er fortalt af ham selv, at han skrev sin ansøgning om Lendsmannsbestillingen på Fjøstrevet, fordi han vilde være uset og ikke lade sig mærke med, at han , unge Mand, optrådte som Lendsmandsaspirant, overfor sin Forgjenger, Lends mand og Stortingsmand Ole Qvam, der efter sigende havde gjort Lendsmandsstillingen ledig mod at lade sig betale 100 Spd. Og så fik den smarte Lendsmand Qvam smukt finde seg i, at han aldrig fik Lendsmandsstillingen igjen, for det viste sig me r og mer, at det lyst Hode på Wangensteen greiede Stillingen udmærket godt.

Lendsmand Wangensteen var en stærkbygged Mand, nærved 3 Alen høi og rank som Gran. Ansigtet var vakkert, Næsen dog lidt fladtrygt, Munden var velformet, og Håret, som han bar tredelt, i smagfulde krøllede Lokker langt ned på Skuldrene og det rødgu le Skjæg bredte sig som et Skjold over hele Brystet. Stemmen var sterk og klangfuld, så når han f.Ex. læste Bekjentgjørelser fra Kirkebakken, var det en Nydelse at høre ham såvel på kort som længer Afstand. Hans Optræden var udsøgt høflig såvel ov erfor høi som lav, og når han talte med sine Overordnede skede det altid på stående Fod. Men når så Vedkommende syntes det blev for meget av dette "på stående Fod" saa brugte de at sige: Værsgo, sit ned Lendsmann, sit neden ned". Nokså beskeden t pleide han da at svare; "Tak, Tak, Tusind Tak".

Lars Wangensteen blev en rig Mand i de 50 år han var Lendsmand. Det antages at han var Eier av 10 til 15 Tusind Spd. og et Par Gårde; Kvam og Stele. Hans Døtre kom til de største Gårde i Vang og Slidre og for Sønnernes Vedkommende lagde det sig sl ig, at "nogen kom ud" og de ind. Alligevel ser det ikke ud til at den Lennsmands Rigdom og Magtfylde har havt stor Tilvækst hos alle hans Efterkommere. Tvertimod! Lendsmand Wangensteen var gift 2 Gange, første Gang med Maren Johnsdatter, med hvilken han fik Gården Kvam i Medgift. I dette ægteskab - den andet var barnløst - var 7 Barn."

Ove B Stele (Wangensteen) skriver dette om ham i en oversikt over lensmann i Valdres historielags tidsskrift: "Lars Nilsen Wangensteen Han var en tid gårdbruker på Steile og blev lendsmand i 1830. Hans kontorbygning på Steile var en liten peisestue, der den dag i dag benyttes som et efter nutidens forhold litet og uanseelig sæterhus på Steiles hjemsæter. Det var fra først av småt bevendt med hans kundskaper, men hodet var lyst og det blev ikke længe, førend han var stillingen fuldt voksen. Det er fortalt av ham selv, at han skrev sin ansøkning om lendsmandsbestillingen på fjøstrævet, fordi han vil de være uset og ikke la sig merke med, at han, unge mand, optrådte som lensmandsansøker overfor sin forgjænger lensmand og stortingsmand Ole Qvam på Kvale, der efter sigende hadde gjort lensmandsbestillingen ledig mot at la sig betale 100 spd . Og så fik den smarte lensmand Qvam smukt finde sig i, at han aldrig fik lensmandsstillingen igjen, for det viste sig mer og mer at de lyse hode på Lars Wangensteen greide stillingen noksaa godt.

Lensmand Wangensteen blev en rik mand i de ca. 50 år som han var lensmand i Vang. For i hans tid vokste retshandlinger op som paddehatter i en høstnat. Og det har bl. a. været sagt at anmeldelser, stevninger, forhør og domme i anledning brændevins loven av 1848 økede lensmandens indtægter. Ved sådanne anledninger brukte lensmanden at si: "Gudske lov for lov og ret". Men "Klokkarguten" - søn til klokker Tostensen på søndre Bø - som var mer "fremtalende" end mange andre mennesker sa: "Du tal a so ein man, men peika so ein skjelm".

I det samme fik lensmanden øie på han Trond i Brudgomshouge og sa: Dæ æ formykji me de Trond! Du ha sagt at Fan skulde ta me o fautn o skrivar'n o prukeraterad'n". Men han Trond påstod at det hadde han ikke sagt - han hadde ikke sagt at Fan skuld e ta dem alle på en gang, men så litt og litt omsenn.

Men lensmanden var nok ikke så lei som noen ville ha det til. Jeg mindes godt at ha set et brev fra lensmanden til en god ven og fordums nabo. Brevet lyder bl. a. slik: Det har kommet mig for øre at du min gode ven B. har brændt brændevin ulovlig; men det tror jeg ikke". Dermed var den sak klappet og klar.

Lars Wangensteen var født 1791 og døde 1872."

Lars married Maren Jonsdatter KVAM in 1818 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. Maren (daughter of Jon Ovesen KVAM and Berit Torsteinsdatter SKJEL) was born in 1799 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died in 1841. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Kvam 53/

Notes:

Birth:
Øylo 54/

Gudbrand married Marit Gudmundsdatter REMME. Marit (daughter of Gudmund Jonsen RØN and Sigrid Eivindsdatter REMME) was born in 1794 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died in 1861. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]