Mildred Stella HENDRICKSON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1910-43720
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 2010-MN-008023

Notes:

In the 1930 census, she was living at home in Richfield with her parents and brothers. She had no occupation.

Cora had H. C. Pratt’s address as 503 Freemont St., Anoka, MN.

In her note to Cora after Martin’s funeral (March 6, 1978), Dorothy said that Richard Hendrickson had come down for the funeral and had said that Mildred had just gotten married.

Her obit:

Funeral service for Mildred S. Giddings (Pratt), 99, Anoka, will take place Saturday, April 17, 11 a.m., at First Congregational Church of Anoka. Rev. Chris Fazel will officiate.??Giddings died March 12 at Lyngblomsten Health Care Center, St. Paul. She was born Oct. 9, 1910 in Minneapolis to George R. and Caroline (Munson) Hendrickson. She was a retired teacher in Anoka-Hennepin School District 11.??She is survived by her sons, Curtis Pratt (Pat Norton), Tom Pratt (Fran Olivera), Devin (Zoe) Hazenson, Jim Pratt and Jon Pratt (Deborah Clemensen); several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and brother, Richard (Betty) Hendrickson.??She was preceded in death by her husbands, Hazen Pratt and Ralph Giddings; and brothers, Chester and Will Hendrickson.??Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Anoka. Arrangements are by Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, Anoka.

Another obit, per Find A Grave:

Memorial service for Mildred S. Giddings (Pratt), 99, Anoka, will take place tomorrow (Saturday, April 17), 11 a.m., at First Congregational Church of Anoka. Rev. Chris Fazel will officiate.

Giddings died March 12 at Lyngblomsten Health Care Center, St. Paul. She was born Oct. 9, 1910 in Minneapolis to George R. and Caroline (Munson) Hendrickson. She worked at Sears and the YWCA, then after her first husband died in 1958, she returned to college and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in education and for the next 17 years taught at Washington Elementary School, Anoka. She was a member of Anoka Philolectian.

She is survived by her sons, Curtis Pratt (Pat Norton), Tom Pratt (Francisca Paz de Olivera), Devin (Zoe) Hazenson, Jim Pratt and Jon Pratt (Deborah Clemensen); stepchildren, Hugh Pratt, Betty Stewart, Bill (Dana) Pratt, Tom (Sharon) Giddings, Marilyn (Roger) Sawyer and Dick (Lyrlette) Giddings; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; many step-grandchildren and great-step-grandchildren; nephews and nieces; and brother, Richard (Betty) Hendrickson.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Hazen Pratt and Ralph Giddings; and brothers, Chester and Will Hendrickson.

Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Anoka.

Arrangements are by Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home, Anoka.

And another obit, in the Star-Tribune:

Giddings, Millie Pratt age 99, of Anoka, passed away March 12, 2010 surrounded by her loving family.

Millie was born in 1910 in Minneapolis to George and Caroline Hendrickson. She attended Wood Lake School, a two-room schoolhouse, in Richfield, graduated from Minneapolis Central High School a year early and completed two years at Saint Cloud State Teachers College before the financial crash of 1929 interrupted her college career. She then worked at Sears and the YWCA.

Millie was an active athlete, a hiker, a golfer and a skier. In the 1930's she and her friends went on many hiking expeditions, including one by automobile to Glacier National Park. In 1941 Millie married Hazen Curtis Pratt, a fellow founding member of the former Nob Hill Ski Club in Minneapolis. Hazen was a talented engineer trained at MIT, and the principal original designer of the Hoffman electrical enclosures still manufactured in Anoka.

After Hazen's unexpected death in 1958, Millie, with five boys ages 6-16 to raise and support alone, returned to college and graduated from the U of M with a degree in education in 1960. For the next 17 years, as a dedicated teacher, she inspired and encouraged the fifth graders at Washington Elementary School in Anoka.

In 1978 Millie married Ralph Giddings and they enjoyed retirement together with a lot of traveling. Millie was active in her community as a member, volunteer and officer of many organizations, including the First Congregational Church of Anoka and the Anoka Philolectian Society. Millie loved all social events, sending and receiving letters and phone calls, traveling, and learning new things. Millie was a loving and devoted wife and mother and a very good friend to all fortunate enough to know her. She was very talented at appreciating the best in people.

Millie was preceded in death by husbands Hazen Pratt and Ralph Giddings; brothers Chester and Will Hendrickson. Survived by sons, Curtis Pratt (Pat Norton), Thomas Henry Pratt (Francisca Paz de Oliveira), Devin (Zoe) Hazenson, Jim Pratt, and Jon Pratt (Deborah Clemmensen); step children Hugh Pratt, Betty Stewart, Bill (Dana) Pratt, Tom (Sharon) Giddings, Marilyn (Roger) Sawyer, and Dick (Myrlette) Giddings, 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, many step grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces, and brother Richard (Betty) Hendrickson. Memorial Service Saturday, April 17, 11 AM with Visitation 1 hour prior at First Congregational Church of Anoka at Main Street and Third Ave. South. Memorials preferred to Franklin School in Anoka. Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home Anoka 763-421-0220 thurston-lindberg.com

Died:
Lyngblomsten Care Center

Mildred married Hazen Curtis PRATT, Sr on 9 Aug 1941 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Hazen (son of William Henry PRATT and Elizabeth D (Bessie) DEVIN) was born on 9 Mar 1896 in Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio; died on 24 Jun 1958 in Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Anoka, Anoka County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
#4470448

Mildred married Ralph Aranda GIDDINGS in 1978. Ralph was born on 8 Dec 1906 in Anoka County, Minnesota; died on 12 Nov 1990 in Anoka County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
not married in Minnesota or Wisconsin

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1955-MN-021970
• Occupation: Sheet Metal Worker, Tilesetter

Notes:

The son of Charles Hendrickson, Martha’s second husband.

In the 1909 Minneapolis city directory, he was living at Charles and Martha’s at 2630 13th Avenue S and was a clerk for Simmons Hardware Co.

George, and his new wife Caroline, were living next door to Charles and Martha at the time of the 1910 census. Both families were living in the area of 26th and 13th Avenue S. George is 24 and Caroline is 23. They are shown to have been married “0” years. George is a shipping clerk at a hardware company. They were renting the house they were living in. Caroline had had no children.

George registered for the WWI draft on September 12, 1918, at Local Board Division No. 12 at 3002 27th Ave S. He is living at 4137 21st Avenue South and is working as a machinist for the Minneapolis Street and Machine Company. He lists his nearest relative as his wife, Mrs. Caroline Hendrickson. He is described as of medium height and build with blue eyes and black hair.

George and Caroline and family were renting a home or part of a home at what appears to be 3203 21st Avenue in Minneapolis at the time of the 1920 census. Both of George’s parents were born in Norway.

At the time of the 1930 census, the family was living at 6605 1st Avenue in Richfield in a $4500 house that George owned. They had a radio. The household consisted of George, 44, Caroline, 43, Mildred S., 19, Chester G., 16, Wilbur G., 13, and George R., 2. George and Caroline were each 23 when they were married. George’s parents and Caroline’s parents were born in Norway. George’s occupation was tile setter, working in private homes. He was employed and was not a veteran.

In the 1940 census, he and his family, except Chet, lived at 6605 “Between Nicollet and 2nd Avenue” in Richfield. This was a house they owned, worth $3500, and the one everyone had lived in five years earlier. George was a tile-setter. He had an eighth-grade education, Caroline had one year of high-school, Mildred was a high school graduate, and Wilbur had had two years of high school.

The informant for his death certificate was the hospital. George died of septicemia and a heart attack. He was a tile setter and resided at 2717 15th Avenue South in Minneapolis.

Died:
died at University Hospital

George married Caroline MUNSON on 9 Mar 1910 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Caroline (daughter of Thomas Monsen EIKUM (MUNSON) and Susanna Clausdatter (Susan) BOWE) was born in Apr 1885 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 19 Feb 1945 in Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried on 22 Feb 1945 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1945-MN-005814

Notes:

Caroline accompanied her father and brother Albert to California in advance of Susan and the rest of the children traveling out there to join them. In the 1900 census, Caroline, Albert and Tom were living in Butte Township, Siskiyou County. Caroline was in school.

Clara, Caroline, and Dorothy visited Cora at her Minnehaha Avenue home on July 17, 1944.

Services held at Richfield Baptist Church, 2:00 PM, on Thursday, February 22, 1945, Rev. Royal Bowser officiating. Funeral arrangements by Joe Billman House of Flowers.

Her obituary said that her residence was 6605 1st Avenue South and that she was 58 years old. She was survived by her husband George, daughter Mrs. Mildred Pratt, sons Chester, Wilbur, and Richard, one sister and two brothers.

According to her death certificate, she died of sudden complications of gall bladder disease and stone which led to “lumbar arrest.” This may mean cardiac arrest occurring during or as a result of spinal anesthesia.

Birth:
April 1885 according to the 1900 census. 13 April 1886 according to her death certificate.

Notes:

Married:
as George Hendrickson and Caroline Munson

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1935-MN-021371
• Occupation: Machinist, stationary engineer

Notes:

Emigrated from Norway in 1872 and first settled in Wisconsin. Sometime between 1872 and 1880 he had moved to Minneapolis where he married Mari Eriksen, who may have lived in Wisconsin also.



Charles was born to Henrik Hansen and Anna Christine Sendresen on an island close to Rorvik, Norway called Stone Island or Stensoya in a group of islands called Risvaersund.  Karsten Henrik Henriksen came to the U.S. in 1872 and first settled in Wisconsin. Sometime between 1872 and 1880 he had moved to Minneapolis where he married Mari Eirksen, who may have lived in Wisconsin also.

Charles was a machinist for the Butler Manufacturing Co. for many years until 1922. In 1922, he joined his son Edgar in the Twin City Chandelier Manufacturing Co. In 1923-1925, and perhaps beyond, Charles was a fireman for the Strutwear Knitting Co.

Charles’s address at the time of the 1890-91 Minneapolis city directory was 2630 13th Avenue South. His occupation was fireman at Washburn C Mill.

In the 1885 Minnesota state census, he is Charley Hendrickson living in the 12th Ward of Minneapolis. The household consists of Charley, 30, Mary, 26, Henry, 0, and Charley Peterson, 25, probably a boarder. Everyone but Henry was born in Norway.

In the 1895 state census, he and his family live at 2630 13th Avenue S. Charles is an engineer and has lived at the present address for 8 years and been in Minnesota for 14 years. No wife is listed so Mary has died by this time. Edwin is still living with the family. There seems to be a “domestic” living with them named Anna Wang, age 32.

Charles and family were still living at 2630 13th Ave S. in Minneapolis at the time of the 1900 census (he was a widower by then). Charles is a stationary fireman. In that census, Edwin is not listed with the rest of Charles’s sons.

In the 1905 Minnesota state census, the family is still living at 2630 13th Avenue S. Living with them are Ines M. Jensen, 27, and her daughter (apparently) Elna, 2, and Hulda Carlson, 49, and (perhaps her mother) Annie Carlson, 90. The Jensens were born in Denmark and had been in Minnesota for 1 month. The Carlsons were born in Sweden and had been in Minnesota for 32 years. Ines Jensen was a domestic, Hulda Carlson was a dressmaker. Charles was a blacksmith, Henry was a day laborer, and George was a skilled mechanic. Edwin was not living with the family.

The 1909 Minneapolis city directory shows him living at 2630 13th Avenue South, occupation “oiler.”

Charles lived at 2630 13th Avenue S until about 1913 when they moved to 4036 11th Ave. S. In 1917, they moved to 4032 11th Ave. S. (which may be the same house). All of the lots on the west side of 11th between 40th and 41st Streets are empty in the 1914 Minneapolis plat book. Thus, Charles was probably the first owner of 4032 11th. The confusion about the correct house number probably arose because there would have been several empty lots on either side of Charles’s house when they first moved in. Although there is a house at 4036, Charles’s house was probably the one at 4032, the address that seems to have been settled on.



Charles’s obituary appeared in the Saturday, September 7th edition of the Minneapolis Tribune: “Charles Hendrickson, 81, a resident of Minneapolis for 56 years, died at St. Barnabas Hospital. His home was at 4032 11th Avenue S. Mr. Hendrickson was born in Namdalen, Norway. He is survived by his wife, seven sons, Henry, George, Theodore, Carson, Adolph, Edwin, and Arthur, a daughter, Mrs. Frank W. {sic} Carter, a brother, Christ Hansen of Minneapolis, four brothers and three sisters in Norway, 20 grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Funeral services will be Monday at 3 PM at the Enger Funeral Home, Grant Street and Park Avenue. Burial at Crystal Lake Cemetery.” {We don’t know who that great-grandchild was.}

Birth:
The Luster bygdebok, in its record of Kari’s children, says that Charles was born in Namdalen in Nord-Trøndelag. That agrees with the birthplace designation of Rørvik.

Buried:
Cora and Maurice attended funeral

Karsten married Mary ERICKSON on 20 Sep 1883 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Mary was born about 1859 in Norway; died on 21 Sep 1894 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Charles is a widower in the 1895 state census. According to Eileen, Mary died shortly after the birth of her son Edwin P. Hendrickson who was born in 1894.

Birth:
Debra says 1858 in Oslo

Died:
according to Debra

Notes:

Married:
#00220408 as Charles Hendrickson and Mary Erickson

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 6 Oct 1850, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
• Confirmation: 18 Jun 1865, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

Shown as Tomas Monssen, 16 years old, in the 1865 census, a “tjenestekarl” living on the Eikum indre farm with Mons Monssen and Kari Larsdatter.

Raised by Nels (d. 11 Oct 1890) and Rognild (d. 10 Oct 1880) Bolstad. {Neither of these deaths are included in the index of Vernon County deaths, either as Bolstad or as Ekum (see below).} Came to the U.S. when he was a year-and-a-half old. {No. See below.} There were several Bolstads shown in the Town of Franklin in the 1910 census but none in the 1870 census. Neither Thomas Munson nor Nels Bolstad is shown in the 1870 census for Wisconsin.

A Niels Sjursen Ekum, age 50, of Hafslo, and a Ragnhilde Ekum, age 48, also of Hafslo were on the boat “Claus Heftye” that sailed from Bergen on April 23, 1867, and arrived in Quebec on May 28, 1867. Thomas Monsen Eikum, age 17, of Lyster, was also on that boat. In the 1865 census, Niels Sjurssen, 50, husmand med jord, and Ragnilde Botolfsdatter, 48, were the only two people on Eikum indre bakken.

From the Sogn og Fjordane emigration records, we learn that four people from the Eikjum indre farm in Haflso moved out of Haflso, destination Amerika, on April 4, 1867. Those four were Nils Sjurssen, b. 1819; his wife Ragnhilde Botolphsdatter, b. 1819; Thomas Monssen, b. 1850; and Anne Monsdatter, b. 1844. (The date for the Bowes is April 9th.) Also leaving on April 4th were Andrea Johannesdatter Vadvig, age 19. (Andrea was born 31 Jan 1848 to the unmarried Johannes Christophersen Bjørno or Bjørnethune and Sophie Monsdatter Eikum.)

In the 1865 census, Niels Sjurssen, 50, and Ragnilde Botolfsdatter, 48, were the only two people living on the Eikum indre Bakken farm in Hafslo. Both were born in Luster. Niels was a husmand with land.

Thomas and Susan were married in a civil ceremony witnessed by J. H. Layne and Claus Bowe.

In the 1895 Wisconsin state census, Thomas Monson and family live in the town of Franklin, Vernon County. The household consists of seven people, five of whom were born in Wisconsin and 2 in Scandinavia. Four are males, 3 are females.

Thomas moved his family, which included six (?) children, to California because of his health. He died in California and his two surviving sons went to work in a factory making fruit boxes to make a living for the family. (The story says that Albert was 17 and Martin was 10 at that time. But that would put the date at about 1899, well before Tom died. Albert may well have started at the box factory in 1899.)

Because Susan and family is living with her parents in the 1900 census, Thomas had moved to California by that time and sent for his family later. In the 1900 census, Caroline, Albert and Tom “Munston” were living in Butte Township, Siskiyou County. Caroline was in school. Albert was working in a box factory, Tom had no occupation listed.

While they were living in northern California near Mt. Shasta, the family experienced an earthquake in 1906. This was probably the great San Francisco earthquake on April 18th. "They could feel it but weren't damaged by it too much." The family moved back to Wisconsin in either 1907 or 1909.

According to Dorothy's family story, Tom brought a bible with him from Norway, dated 1848, that Martin kept.

Census-taker O.K. Fortney visited the Munson farm in the Town of Franklin, Vernon County, on June 6, 1880, and found Thomas, age 29, and Susan B, wife, age 19. No children at that time, apparently.

In the 1896 Vernon County plat book index, Thomas’s land is listed as being record #3415 in Franklin 12, Section 31, R4.

Couldn’t find a separate Thomas Munson or Monson household in the 1885 Wisconsin census. The Thomas Monson household in the 1895 Wisconsin census consisted of 4 males and 3 females, of which 5 were born in the U.S. and 2 in Scandinavia. That mix is not consistent with other family information.

Died:
Date from the California Death Index images on FS. Thomas died in county #47, age 55, state file number 12258 for 1905.

Buried:
As Thomas M Ekum. He shares a gravestone with his daughter Theresa. CW block 31, lot 3, space 5.

Thomas married Susanna Clausdatter (Susan) BOWE on 8 Mar 1880 in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Susanna (daughter of Claus Sjursen BØE (BOWE) and Kari Andersdatter MAREIM) was born on 18 Dec 1860 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; was christened on 30 Dec 1860 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died on 9 Aug 1943 in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried on 12 Aug 1943 in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Vernon County Death Index: V20, P472 As Susan Ekum
• Baptism: 30 Dec 1860, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

Shown as illegitimate in her baptism record. The first daughter yet not named after her paternal grandmother because of the rule to name first children after dead spouses. Thus, she was named after Claus’s first wife.

Sponsors for her baptism were: Torbjørn Andersen Kleiven, Anders Andersen Mareim, Marthe Pedersdatter Kleiven, Sophie Pedersdatter Kleiven, Anna Pedersdatter Heidshammer.

Shown in the 1865 Norwegian census as Susanna Clausdatter, born in 1860 in Hafslo.

Was 4 feet, 10 inches tall but "a great woman, always jolly," according to Cora.

Lived in California for awhile with her five (?) children. Susan’s obit says that she spent 11 years in California but this doesn’t seem possible because she is shown to be in Franklin Township in the 1900 and 1910 censuses.

Census-taker Torge Berge visited the Claus Bowe farm on June 13, 1900. The family consisted of Claus, 67 (born in June 1833), Carrie, 66 (born in Sept 1833), Sever, 34 (born May 1866), Louisa, 22 (born April 1878), Nils, step-son, widower, 46 (born Sep 1853), Andrew, adopted son, 37 (born Sep 1862), Susanna Monson, married, 39 (born December 1860), Martin, 10 (born March 1890), Clara, 7 (born May 1893), and Rhody, 4 (born May 1896). Louisa and Susan’s kids are shown as born in Wisconsin, everyone else was born in Norway. Claus, Carrie, Sever, Nils, Andrew, and Susanna emigrated in 1867. Carrie is shown as having borne 10 children, 7 still living. Susanna is shown as having borne 8 children, 5 still living.

Susan’s husband Thomas “Munston”, along with their son Albert and daughter Caroline (“Carrie”), are in Butte Township, Siskiyou County, California at the time (June 12) of the 1900 census. Thomas doesn’t have an occupation shown but Albert is already working in a box factory and Carrie is in school.

In the 1910 census, Susan and her family are back in Vernon County in Kickapoo Township. Albert Munson is the head of family (so he hadn’t changed his name to Ekum yet). Albert is 27, Susana is 47 and widowed, Martin is 20, Clara is 16, and Rhoda is 14. They own their farm but it is mortgaged. Martin is shown as a laborer, “working out.” Susana is shown has having emigrated in 1866. There are no entries for the number of children Susan has had.

In the 1915 Vernon County plat book, the family is in Kickapoo Twp, just over the line from Franklin Twp, on the road to Readstown. Albert Ekum is shown as the owner of 77.34 acres (85 in the Farmers’ Directory). Martin Ekum is shown as owning 80 acres in the Farmers’ Directory but he is not shown on the plat map so it probably means that he and Albert jointly own the same 80.

Census-taker Douglas Nelson visited the Anderson/Nundahl/Ekum farms (they were contiguous, apparently, which is consistent with Cora’s memory) on January 11, 1920, and found:

Martin Ekum, 29, owner of mortgaged property, farmer in general farming, an employer. Susan, mother, 51, [59? 61?] widow, immigrated in 1870, naturalized but no date shown. Rhoda, sister, 24, single, born in Wisconsin, no occupation.

In the 1930 census, Susan and Rhoda and Martin lived at 165 West Maple in Viroqua in a house that Martin owned.

In the 1940 census (indexed as Ekrem), Susan and Rhoda and Martin live at 165 West Maple Street. Susan is shown as the owner of the house, worth $400. She had a sixth grade education.

“Susan Ekum” on her death record in Vernon County.

Birth:
Fedt subparish

Christened:
Fedt

Baptism:
in Fedt

Buried:
Rev. D.T. Borgen, of Immanueal Church, conducted funeral

Notes:

Married:
“Thomas Munson, Susan Bowe” Vol 2, p. 439. Wisconsin Marriages on FS says 28 March.

Notes:

Of their children, only Karsten Henrik and Konrad Kristian came to America.

Henrik married Ane Kristine SENDRESEN on 19 Aug 1849 in Leka, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. Ane was born on 3 May 1825 in Oslo, Norway; died on 1 Jan 1913 in Rørvik, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The father of Thomas Munson is listed as Mons Monson in Thomas and Susan’s marriage record.

In Mons’s confirmation record in the church book, he is Mons Monsen Schanke Eikum.

In the 1865 Norwegian census, he is the owner of the Eikum indre farm (68-2) in Hafslo. This seems to be a relatively prosperous farm with 3 horses, 20 cattle, 55 sheep and 4 pigs.

Birth:
birth and death information from the bygdebøk

Mons married Birthe Torbjornsdatter TEIGHE. Birthe was born in 1817 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died in 1889 in Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The bygdebok calls her Bertha Torbjørnsdotter frå Skogateigen under Sviggum. Her father was a huusmann on Skogateigen 2, also called Nedre Teigen.

Later she became a husmann’s wife “på Øygarden under Talle i Luster.”

In the 1865 census, she was Berte Torbjørnsdatter, wife of Anders Andersen, b. 1811 in Havslo, who was a huusmand med jord on Ødegaard in Luster. They had a daughter, Anna, born 1858 in Havslo. Anna’s birth record not found.

Birth:
probably Sviggum

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Shoemaker, Tobacco Farmer
• Vernon County Death Index: V8, P85 As Claus Boe
• Baptism: 7 Jul 1833, Vangen, Voss, Hordaland, Norway
• Confirmation: 15 Oct 1848, Voss, Hordaland, Norway

Notes:

His parents’ names and his birth, baptism, and confirmation dates confirmed by the confirmation record in the Voss church book.

Shown as Clouse Bowe on his gravestone.

The database Digitalarkivet: Migrants from Voss 1837-1864 shows that Claus Sjursen Boe left home on July 5, 1849, for “Christiania for at indtræde i Guldsmedlære.” This probably means that Claus originally intended to be a goldsmith or jeweler and may have begun an apprenticeship in Oslo.

Shown in the 1865 Norwegian census as Claus Sjursen, shoemaker, born in Wos in 1830, a husfader on the Svigum domicile in Hafslo, living with his wife, two daughters, Susanna and Anna, and stepson Anders Larsen.

In Susanna’s baptism record in Digitalarkivit, Claus’s farm is shown as “Bøe fra Voss.” In Anna’s baptism record, Claus’s farm is shown as Bøe. In Sever’s baptism record, Claus Sjursen Bøe’s farm is shown as Sviggum. The Luster bygdebok describes Claus as “frå Bø på Voss.”

An incorrect family tradition has Claus and Carrie emigrating to the US from Norway in 1862 and settling in Liberty Pole, WI. Their Viroqua homestead was supposedly applied for on May 20, 1862, and approved on June 15, 1874. Although the 1862 date is wrong because Claus and his family were still in Norway at that time, the 1874 date is correct as confirmed by the land patent on the Bureau of Land Management’s General Land Office web site. The homestead papers were signed by President U S Grant on June 15, 1874.

The Bowe farm was Box 22, Wisconsin Route 3 in Franklin Township, Vernon County.

Claus declared his intention to become a citizen of the U.S. in Vernon County (still known as Bad Ax County at the time). This was recorded September 30, 1868, and the hearing, order, and filing was completed December 9, 1873.

Claus and his family were recorded in the 1870 census which took place on July 8th. At that time they were living in Vernon County with the post office shown as New Brookville. The family was Clouse, 38, Carrie, 26 (sic), Susan, 10, Ann, 6, Severt, 4, and Betsey, 2. (No Andrew! No Nels.) Everyone is shown as born in Norway except Betsey who is shown as born in Wisconsin. If Bertha (“Betsey”) was indeed born in Wisconsin, then the family must have been in Wisconsin in 1867.

In the 1870 census, the value of Claus’s real estate is shown as $400 and the value of his personal estate is $200. This is an order of magnitude less than some his neighbors but is more than a few others shown on the same census page.

The history of the Kickapoo United Lutheran Church indicates that "Klaus Boe" settled in the area in the time period 1859-1862. This is too early and is probably a continuation of the false family legend.

Claus moved in with Louise after Carrie died.

Claus died intestate so a judicial process to certify descent was carried out (probated) on April 22, 1919, in the Vernon County court. Claus’s property was identified to be the west half of the SE quarter of section 27 so Claus must have sold the NE quarter of the SE quarter (which had been part of his original homestead) before he died. The court order declared that a one-sixth undivided share of the property was to go to: Louise Larson, Anna Anderson, Susanna Ekum, Betha Nundahl, Martha Hendrickson of Minneapolis, and Sever Bowe. The ownership and descendants were verified by the testimony of N. H. Sviggum. (For some reason, this name was whited-out in the court document. It took some effort to discern the name.)

Dorothy's family stories say that Claus "homesteaded a farm in what is now called Black Bottom in Vernon County." This is between Viroqua and Readstown.

"He came from Norway where he had been trained as a shoemaker and started a shoe shop in Liberty Pole (southwest of Viroqua) until he got his land. There he dug a hole in a bluff and lived in it with his family until he got his home built. This hole was later used as a root cellar and still remains on the farm."

The 1875 Wisconsin state census records, for Clouse Bowe, 5 males and 6 females. These 11 people may have been: Claus, Nels, Anders, Sever, and Albert, and Kari, Susan, Anna, Bertha, Martha, and Louise. If not Nels, the extra male could be that unknown boy who Louise remembers as a brother who ran away.

Census-taker O.K. Fortney visited the Bowe farm in Franklin Township, Vernon County, on June 12, 1880, and found Claus, age 47, Kari, age 46, Andrew, age 18, Ana, age 17, Sever, age 14, Bertha, age 11, Martha, age 8, Louisa, age 3, and Albertina, age 3. Kari was indicated as “cannot write.” Andrew, Ana, and Sever were indicated as having been born in Norway; the younger children were indicated as having been born in Wisconsin. Andrew, Ana, Sever, and Martha (but not Bertha) were indicated as having attended school within the census year.

Census-taker Torge Berge visited the Bowe farm on June 13, 1900. The family consisted of Claus, 67 (born in June 1833), Carrie, 66 (born in Sept 1833), Sever, 34 (born May 1866), Louisa, 22 (born April 1878), Nils, step-son, widower, 46 (born Sep 1853), Andrew, adopted son, 37 (born Sep 1862), Susanna Monson, married, 39 (born December 1860), Martin, 10 (born March 1890), Clara, 7 (born May 1893), and Rhody, 4 (born May 1896). Louisa and Susan’s kids are shown as born in Wisconsin, everyone else was born in Norway. Claus, Carrie, Sever, Nils, Andrew, and Susanna emigrated in 1867. Carrie is shown as having borne 10 children, 7 still living. Susanna is shown as having borne 8 children, 5 still living.

Susan’s husband Thomas “Munston”, along with their son Albert and daughter Caroline (“Carrie”), are in Butte Township, Siskiyou County, California at the time (June 12) of the 1900 census. Thomas doesn’t have an occupation shown but Albert is already working in a box factory and Carrie is in school.

Census-taker Frank Munyon visited the Bowe/Anderson farm on May 6-7, 1910, and found Clause, age 77, widowed, Sever, age 44, and Bertha Oren, 18, servant. Next door to them, on a separate listing, is Charley C. Anderson, age 42, Anna, age 43, and Cora C., age 14. Clause, Sever, and Anna are shown as coming to the U.S. in 1867, Charley in 1868, and Bertha Oren (later to marry cousin Albert) in 1909. Clause is shown as owning his farm free and clear. Charley is shown as owning his farm with a mortgage. Clause is shown as having his “own income”, Sever and Charley are farmers, and Bertha is a house work servant. Sever and Bertha are shown as employees (presumably both by Clause) and Charley is shown as working on own account. All speak English except Bertha who only speaks Norwegian. All six are able to able to read but Anna is shown as not being able to write. Cora is shown as having attended school in the period since Sept. 1, 1909. Charley and Anna are shown as having been married 15 years and Anna is shown as having borne one child, still living.

The Wisconsin Deaths data base on Ancestry.com shows the deaths of Louise Bowe on 12 Dec 1876 and Albert Bowe died three days earlier. These are the only Bowe deaths listed for Vernon County; the database extends only up through 1907. (Albertina Bowe is not listed.) These two children died of scarlet fever while Kari was pregnant with her twins. It seems a good guess the 1877 twins, Louise and Albertina, were named after their dead siblings. Similarly, it seems a good guess that Albert Ekum was named after Albertina who may have died at about the time that Albert was born.

The IGI shows that the Claus Sjursen, the son of Sjur Nielsen, married Susanna Kristoffersdatter on 18 August 1857 in Luster, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. This woman’s father was Kristoffer Andersen. The IGI records for this are:

Batch No.: M423033
Dates:  1841 - 1859
Source Call No.:  0278148
Type:  Film
Printout Call No.: NONE
Type: 
Sheet:  00

This Susanna was born 5 Jun 1827 and christened 24 Jun 1827 in Luster. Her parents were Christopher Andersen and Kisti Olsdatter.

The Luster church book shows Klaus Sjursen Böe, unmarried shoemaker, b. 1 Jun 1833, arriving in Luster in May of 1857. He was coming from the Hadsel farm in Vos to the Landvig farm.

The Sogn og Fjordane flytting records show Clause Bowe leaving the Luster parish and going to the Hafslo parish with the following comments: “'Bo af Vos' innflyttar til Luster, som flytte til Hafslo. Att. 17/1-61.” The “aar hendling” for that record is 1858. This may mean that Claus joined the Luster parish in 1858 and left it in 1861.

The Digitalarkivet database for marriages in Hafslo shows that Claus Sjursen Boe, an Enkermand (widower), Skomager, married Kari Andersdatter Mareim, pige, on March 27, 1861 in Fedt in Haflso. Bride and groom were each 27.5 years old. Bride’s father’s name was Anders Andersen Mareim.

The Digitalarkivet database for Sogn og Fjordane flytting shows Claus Bø of Sviggum, a shoemaker born in 1833, leaving Hafslo for “Amerika” on April 9, 1867. Thirty people left Hafslo that day for Amerika. Accompanying Claus, all of Sviggum, were his wife, Kari Melheim, and children, all with surname Bø, Susanne, born 1860, Anna, born 1863, Sjur, born 1866, and Anders, born 1862. Kari’s son, Nils Pedersen, “dreng”, born 1854, left Hafslo for Amerika at the same time. Also leaving Hafslo for Amerika on April 9, 1867, were Anders Andersen of Mareim (Kari’s brother), born 1840, unmarried, no occupation shown.

The family departed from Bergen, bound for Quebec, on the frigate Roska, under a Capt. P. A. Stoesen. This ship departed Bergen on April 25th and arrived in Quebec on May 31st (Stoesen’s manifest is dated the 30th). A total of about 341 people (including 292 adults) were on board this ship and one man and one young girl died during the passage. Some others of the 30 people who left Hafslo on April 9th were also on the Roska.

Two days ahead of the Roska was the frigate Claus Hefty, under a Capt. Andersen Jr., which departed Bergen on April 23rd and arrived in Quebec on May 28. Niels Sjursen Ekum, 50, his wife Ragnhilde Ekum, 48, both of Haflso, and Thomas Monsen Ekum, 17, of Lyster, were on that boat as were many other ex-residents of Hafslo and Lyster.

In the 1885 Wisconsin census, the “Clouse Bowe” household consisted of 4 males and 6 females. Of these 10, 5 were born in the U.S. and 5 in Scandinavia. Eight of those people probably were: Sever, Claus, and Andrew; and Louise, Bertha, Martha, Kari, and Anna. But that leaves a boy and a girl born in the U.S. which suggests that Albertina was still alive and that there was another boy, born in the U.S., living with the Bowes. Could that boy be the one who Louise remembers ran away? Could that boy be one of Anders Anderson’s children?

In the 1895 Wisconsin census, the household consisted of 4 males and 4 females, of which 2 were born in the U.S. and 6 in Scandinavia. Those people probably were: Sever, Claus, Andrew, and Nels; and Louise, Bertha, Kari, and Anna. By this reasoning, Martha must have been married and gone and Albertina must have died.

In the 1905 Wisconsin census, the household consisted of Clouse, 72, Carrie, 71, Nels, 50, Andrew, 42, and Sever, 40. All three of the younger men are shown as “son.” Nels is shown as a widower. Also living in the household were Chas Anderson, 39, son-in-law, Anna Anderson, 43, daughter, and Cora Anderson, 9, niece.

In the index to the 1896 Vernon County plat book, Claus’s property is described as Franklin 12 Sec 27 R4. Claus is listed as a “patron” of the 1896 plat book and his business is referred to in the Patrons’ Directory as the “Bowe Stock, Grain and Tobacco Farm”, Liberty Pole. In that 1896 plat book, Claus’s property is still the original 120 acre homestead in the SE corner (all but the SE 40 which was owned by O.B. Fortney) of Section 27 of Franklin Twp. The property is shown on the plat book map as “Bowe Stock & Tobacco Farm.”

Also in the 1896 plat book, two 40s adjacent to Claus’s farm on the west and southwest seem to be collectively owned by Andrew and Sever Bowe. In the plat book, this 80 is shown as owned by “A.S. Bowe.” The two 40s are 1) the SE quarter of the SW quarter of Section 27, and 2) the NE quarter of the NW quarter of Section 34.

In the 1915 plat book, Charley Anderson owns 45 (42 in the Farmers’ Directory) acres of that northeast leg of Claus’s original homestead (apparently all of the original homestead east of the road) and Sever Bowe owns the remaining 75 acres of the original homestead plus the northern 40 of the 80 that he and Andrew apparently owned in the 1896 plat book. That gave Sever a contiguous 115 acres (120 in the Farmers’ Directory). In the 1915 plat book, the southern 40 of Andrew and Sever’s 80 is now owned by Sever Nundahl. Andrew Sherry is the owner of that other 40 next to the Bowe property (the SE quarter of the SE quarter which was owned by O.B. Fortney in the 1896 plat book).

Claus died intestate and his estate wasn’t settled until April of 1919 when his 80 acres (West half of the SE quarter of Sec 27, Twp 12 N, range 4 west) were divided equally among his six children: Susanna Ekum, Anna Anderson, Bertha Nundahl, Martha Hendrickson, Sever Bowe, and Louise Larson.

Baptism:
as Claus, son of Sjur Nielsen Böe

Claus married Kari Andersdatter MAREIM on 27 Mar 1861 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Kari (daughter of Anders Andersen MAREIM and Anna Eriksdatter OPHEIM) was born on 27 Sep 1833 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; was christened on 29 Sep 1833 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died on 31 Oct 1908 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried in North Kickapoo Lutheran Church Cemetery, Franklin Twp, Vernon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Vernon County Death Index: V5, P63
• Baptism: 29 Sep 1833, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
• Confirmation: 6 Aug 1848, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

Baptismal sponsors: Peder Anderssen Mareim, Johannes Ericksen Opheim, Bertha Jorgensdatter Opheim, Britta Pedersdatter Opheim, Christie Pedersdatter Mareim.

Of Marem or Mareim farm initially, later, at the time of Anna’s baptism, shown as Sviggum farm. The Luster bygdebok lists her as “Kari Andersdotter frå ein plass under Mareim.”

Shown as Carrie Bowe on her gravestone.

Shown as having been born in 1830 in the 1865 Norwegian census.

Listed in the 1880 U.S. census as “cannot write.”

Notes:

Married:
Fedt