Anna Trondsdatter LI

Notes:

She was first married to Ole Sølfestson of Luster. He died in 1804.

Died:
apparently from the complications of childbirth

Anna married Mons Monsson EIKUM on 10 Apr 1805 in Luster, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Mons (son of Mons Monsen Schancke EIKUM and Anne Christensdatter) was born on 2 Oct 1774 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died on 8 Mar 1845 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, 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 Brithe Olsdatter LIE on 7 Nov 1837 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Brithe was born on 20 May 1820; died on 20 Aug 1849 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

Mons married Kari Larsdatter LIE on 1 Jul 1852 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. Kari was born on 18 Jul 1827 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died on 9 Jan 1887 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 21 Oct 1838, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Other Events and Attributes:

• Confirmation: 10 Feb 1856, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

In the 1865 census, he was the Husmand med jord on Eikum indre hagen with his wife Anne Larsdatter and their 3 children.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Confirmation: 19 Jun 1859, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

On Eikum indre with her parents and siblings in the 1865 Norwegian census.

According to the out-migration records, Anne came to the U.S. with Thomas, or at least is listed together with Thomas and the Bolstads in their April 4th entry for 1867. The church book lists her right after Thomas as “piga Anne Monsdatter Eikum, age 23.”

Couldn’t find her in the U.S. 1870 census.

According to the bygdebok, she married Elias Jacobson i Vedviki. She died in 1910, he died in 1914.

Perhaps she chickened out of actually emigrating or else she returned to Norway. The 1875 census shows an Anna Monsdatter, b. 1844 in Urnes, Hafslo, as the wife of Elias Jacobsen, b. 1844, Gaardbruger, Selveier. They have a son, Jacob Eliasen, b. 1874 in Urnes, Hafslo. The live on the Vedviken farm, no. 69 (179). However, Anne Monsdatter, the half-sister of Thomas, was not born in Urnes. She was born on Eikum.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 27 Dec 1846, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
• Confirmation: 15 Jun 1862, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

He was shown in the 1865 census as 19 year-old unmarried Mons Monssen living on the Eikum indre farm in Hafslo with 60 year-old Mons Monssen and his wife, 39 year-old Kari Larsdatter.

He may be the Mons Ekum, operator of grocery store and saloon in Soldiers Grove, who is listed in “A Few Good Men of Crawford County.” That Mons Ekum came to the U.S. in 1873.

Settled in the Cornell, Wisconsin, area. Living in Colburn, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, in the 1920 census, just down the road from Albert Mercier (#8007).

Living as Mons Ekum in the town of Clayton, Crawford County, at the time of the 1880 census. He was a farmer, age 32, his wife Martha was 25, and his sons were Martin C., 3, and Lawrence, 1.

Still living in the town of Clayton in the 1900 census. The family consisted of Mons, 53, Martha, 46, Martin C., 23, Lawrence, 21, Mabel B., 19, Stina, 17, Grace, 14, Carie, 12, and Tressa M., 9. Martha had borne 8 children, only these 7 still living.

In the 1905 Wisconsin state census, the family lives in Colburn Twp, Chippewa County. Mons is a farmer.

According to an index published on the internet for the book "The First 100 Years - A History of Soldiers Grove" by W. M. Ward, Published June 1964, a Mons Ekum reference is on p. 45.

From a message board on Rootsweb in 2004:

I've been tracking the Mons and Martha Ekum family of Cornell, Chippewa County, Wisconsin. They had several daughters - Mabel, born in 1880; Stina, born in 1883; Grace born in 1886; Carrie in 1888. In a check of the name Ekum, two death notices popped up in Minnesota. Carol Jean Perry, Mower county, died in 1990, mother's maiden name was Ekum and Wilber George Hendrickson, Hennepin county, died in 1996, mother's maiden name Ekum. Would anyone have a way of finding out who the parents were of Carol and Wilber -- am I looking at daughters of Mons and Martha? Thanks!!!

With the reply from someone in Norway:

I read with great interest that you have been tracking the Ekum family of Chippewa Co., WI. Then you may be aware of the fact that Mons Schanke Monsson Ekum (1846-1928) was a native of Hafslo parish in Luster Co., Norway. He emigrated in 1871 and married Martha Johnson (1854-1920) of Vernon Co., WI, a daughter of former goldminer Christopher Nitter Johnson, also known as "California-Johnson" (1826-1875), who had emigrated from Luster Co., Norway in 1847.

As far as Mons and Martha Ekum's daughters are concerned, only Stena (1883) appears to have left children. She married Peter Helgeson of Eau Claire, WI, and they had three daughters, Myrtle, Olga and Hazel.

Off hand, I don't know the background of Carol Jean Perry, but Wilber George Hendrickson appears to be a son of George Hendrickson and his wife Caroline Ekum. They lived in Minneapolis, MN. Caroline was born in 1885, and her father was Thomas Monsson Ekum (1850-1905) of Vernon Co., WI and of Siskiyou Co., CA. a halfbrother of Mons Schanke Ekum!

Birth:
birthdate per confirmation record

Family/Spouse: Marie Andersdatter EIKUM. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mons married Martha JOHNSON about 1876. Martha (daughter of Christopher Nitter “California” Johnson REESE and Gunnilda Torgersdatter FORTNEY) was born in Dec 1854 in Wisconsin; died in Dec 1920 in Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 25 Mar 1849, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
• Confirmation: 12 Jun 1864, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

Seems to have gotten favorable comments on her performance in confirmation classes or tests. She is unmarried and on Eikum indre with her parents and siblings in the 1865 Norwegian census.

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:

• Baptism: 28 Aug 1853, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

She is age 13 in the 1865 Norwegian census.

Her mother was called Kari Sjursdatter in the Baptisms in Hafslo database.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 2 Aug 1857, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

She is age 9 and living with her parents and siblings on Eikum indre in the 1865 Norwegian census.

In the 1910 census she had had 7 children, all still living.

Baptism:
Urnæs subparish

Family/Spouse: Hans Bugge Johannessen EIKUM. Hans was born about 1859 in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died on 12 Mar 1925 in Nicollet County, Minnesota; was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 2 Aug 1857, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

He is not listed in the 1865 census and there is a later son with the same name who is. Thus, it is likely that this Lars died before 1861.

Birth:
Urnæs subparish

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 1 Apr 1861, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

Shown as age 5 in the 1865 Norwegian census.

Baptism:
Urnæs subparish

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 7 Apr 1872, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

Baptism:
Urnæs subparish

Notes:

Or Martin Christopher.

Single and living at home with his parents and siblings in the 1905 state census.

Also referred to as Christopher Martin as he did, for example, on his draft registration. In that registration he was described as tall and of medium build with dark brown eyes and dark hair. He was a self-employed farmer and gave his nearest relative as Knute Nelson of Boyd.

As Christopher M Ekum, he was a farmer in Colburn Twp, Chippewa County, in the 1920 census. He was a widower in the 1930 census (indexed as Ekrem).

Birth:
from his draft registration

Christopher married Susan NELSON on 16 Sep 1908 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Susan was born in 1880 in Wisconsin; died in 1924; was buried in Big Drywood Lutheran Cemetery, Cadott, Chippewa County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Single and living at home with his parents and siblings in the 1905 state census.

In his draft registration he gave his nearest relative as Birtha Ekum of Cornell. Lawrence was of medium height and build with blue eyes and dark hair.

In the 1930 census, he and his family lived next door to or with his widower brother Christopher and sister Tressa in Colburn Twp.

Lawrence married Bertha QUALLE about 1910. Bertha was born about 1881 in Minnesota; died about 1935. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 26 Jun 1881
• Confirmation: 4 Jun 1899, Soldiers Grove, Crawford County, Wisconsin

Notes:

She is not listed in the 1905 in the household of her parents.

Notes:

Single and living at home with her parents and siblings in the 1905 state census. Her occupation is shown as domestic.

She is probably the “Christina Eckum” in the Wildwood Amusement Park photo that Martha sent as a post card.

Stina married Peter Martin HELGESON about 1909. Peter was born on 19 Jul 1873 in Freeman Twp, Crawford County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Single and living at home with her parents and siblings in the 1905 state census and 1910 federal census.

In the 1913 and 1914 and 1915 St. Paul city directories, Carrie and Grace lived together at 217 Spruce. Both were waitresses.

In the 1917 St. Paul directory, Carrie lived at 238½ West 4th and was still a waitress. Grace lived at 544 Wabasha, no occupation.

In the 1918 and 1919 St. Paul directories, Grace was the only Ekum in St. Paul. She roomed at 544 Wabasha and her occupation was “furn.”

Notes:

Single and living at home with her parents and siblings in the 1905 state census and 1910 federal census.

In the 1913 and 1914 and 1915 St. Paul city directories, Carrie and Grace lived together at 217 Spruce. Both were waitresses.

In the 1917 St. Paul directory, Carrie lived at 238½ West 4th and was still a waitress. Grace lived at 544 Wabasha, no occupation.

In the 1918 and 1919 St. Paul directories, Grace was the only Ekum in St. Paul.

She also had a cousin Carrie (see #13622) who married Oliver C Lee in Nicollet County on 21 Jun 1916.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Wisconsin Death Certificate: 009625

Notes:

Single and living at home with her parents and siblings in the 1905 state census.

In the 1930 census, she is Tressa Ekum, 37, living next door to or with her widower brother Christopher in Colburn Twp.

Notes:

Appropriately named after her father’s mother.

Included because Susan is shown in the 1900 census as having borne 8 children, 5 still living.

Albert’s obit says that he was preceded in death by 4 sisters and 1 brother. Therefore, this unnamed sibling of Albert must be a sister.

Susan’s obit shows that she had 5 daughters, one of them named Bertha.

Not listed in the Vernon County Death Index.

The bygdebok has her born in late 1880 and dying at an extremely young age.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Vernon County Death Index: V24, P559 As Albert M. Ekum

Notes:

Perhaps named for his little aunt Albertina who may have died at about the time he was born. Albertine had probably been named for her brother Albert Bowe who died while Albertine was in utero.

It’s possible that his middle name was Mons.

He placed the following advertisement in the Vernon County Censor, 9 Aug 1911 edition, and for two more weeks after that: For Sale: My stock and tobacco farm of 86 acres located 3 miles west of Readstown, known as the Hendrickson farm. Albert Munson Ekum, Readstown, Route No. 2. The Kickapoo Scout’s 4 May 1916 edition noted that Albert Ekum had sold his farm to Adolph Anderson.

The Kickapoo Scout’s 22 Jun 1916 edition noted that Albert Ekum had traveled to Minneapolis for medical treatment.

Registered for the draft on September 12, 1918, as Albert Ekum. He listed his home address as Route 4, Viroqua. He claimed to be 35 and born on November 26, 1882. His occupation is illegible. His nearest relative is listed as Bertha Ekum. Albert is described as of medium height and slender build with blue eyes and light hair.

The Kickapoo Scout’s 14 Nov 1918 edition noted that Albert Ekum had started to build his large store buildings in Liberty Pole and would soon start to sell all sorts of things that the people in the area needed. Albert advertised in the 26 Mar 1919 edition of the Vernon County Censor that he has opened up his new store in Liberty Pole and had on hand a full line of groceries.

The Vernon County Censor’s 9 Jul 1919 edition had a For Sale advertisment from Albert: My property at Liberty Pole consisting of 3½ acres of good tobacco land, garden and orchard, good house and barn, new store building, blacksmith shop.

The 27 August 1919 edition of the Censor had a brief article entitled A New City on the Hill: Albert Ekum, who has conducted a grocery at Liberty Pole, will take a change of base. He has purchased two acres of land from Ole B. Fortney and founded a new hamlet, which is christened “Mason City”, named for the early owner of the Mason farm. The store and residence is in course of erection on the country site, opposite the farm residence of Solfest Solverson, in the Franklin area.

The Censor’s 5 Nov 1919 edition said: Six miles south of Viroqua, on the Readstown state trunk highway, nearly opposite that farm home of Sylvester Solverson, looms up a fine combined business structure and dwelling. The place also has a full basement. It will open for business Saturday, November 8. At this favorable location, Albert Ekum has established a new trading place where he will dispense general merchandise to the people, carrying a complete stock. He invites all within his territory to call and inspect his goods, assuring them of new and good purchases at live and let live prices. A gasoline tank is established. Mr. Ekum is well known and has experience. The favorable location ought to insure success to the new merchant.

The Censor’s 9 Feb 1921 edition noted that Albert Ekum had hired a tutor to instruct him in the method of driving his new flivver.

Changed name to Ekum because, according to Dorothy's family stories, there were so many Munsons in the area (after they moved back in 1907) that delivering mail was confusing. Some relatives in northern Wisconsin convinced Albert and other members of the family to change their name to Ekum, similar to the original family name in Norway.

Albert and Bertha ran a grocery store and cabins many years in Mason City, "a small place south of Viroqua." They moved to Viroqua in 1946. After moving to Viroqua, Albert sold corn and was a janitor of Immanuel Church until he died in 1952.

In his obit, it was noted that Albert was the proprietor of a Mason City store for 27 years, an assessor for the Town of Franklin for 22 consecutive years, and treasurer of Immanuel Church for 12 years.

Not shown as living with his mother at the time of the 1900 census (June 12th). He and his father and sister Caroline had gone to California by that time and were living in Butte Township, Siskiyou County. Albert had a job as a laborer in a box factory.

The 1920 census-taker was Douglas Nelson who found the Ekum family on January 21st:

Albert, 31, home-owner but with a mortgage, store-keeper of a general store working on own account. Bertha, 28, born in Norway and immigrated in 1908 or 1909, naturalized in 1911, can read and write (probably Norwegian) but cannot speak English. {Which may be why her age is incorrect.} Children: Earnest T, 6, who has attended school, Selma Margaret, age 4 years and some months, Theresa Caroline, age 2 years and some months, and Archie Bennet age 1 year and some months or less.

Shown as Albert Elsum in the 1930 census index. According to the census, Albert and his family were living on the “Viroqua and Readstown Road” in Franklin Twp, Vernon County, in a $2500 house that Albert owned and that was not a farm. They did not have a radio. The household consisted of Albert, 47, Bertha, 38, Theresa, 12, Archie, 10, Walter, 8, Dorothy, 4+, Selma, 2+, and Thomas, 3 months. (Ernest is not listed.) Albert and Bertha were 29 and 20, respectively, when they were first married. Bertha emigrated in 1909. Albert’s occupation is shown as “Merchant, Country Store.” Albert was not a veteran.

Albert’s store and filling station was robbed in September of 1939 by a “gang” of three Minneapolis men who had staged several other holdups in the area. The three were captured in Michigan. They had raided Albert’s cash register for about $15.

In the 1940 census, Albert, Bertha, and their six youngest children, lived in Franklin Twp. Albert was the operator of a rural store.

In the 1950 census, Albert and Bertha lived 419 S Washington in Viroqua. Albert is a janitor at a church as well as a seed salesman. Living with them at the same address is the Adrian Sherry family.

An article in the December 19, 1951, edition of the La Crosse Tribune:

Viroquans Mark 40th Anniversary

“Friends and relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ekum, 419 S. Washington Ave., honored them on their 40th wedding anniversary December 16th. A reception was held at Immanuel Lutheran Church parlors. Mrs. Ekum, the former Bertha Oren, came to this country from Norway when she was 17. She was 20 when she was married to Albert Ekum at Readstown by the Rev. L. C. Jacobson, then Immanuel Lutheran pastor. Their attendants were Mrs. Ida Anderson and Martin Ekum, sister and brother of the couple. Both were at the Sunday reception.

“In a brief program, the Rev. Peder Nordsletten, Immanuel pastor, reviewed the lives of the celebrants. Daughters of the couple participated in devotions and the reading of anniversary poems.

“Before coming to Viroqua to reside in 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Ekum operated a general store and tourist camp at Mason City on Highway 14 between Readstown and Viroqua for 26 years.

“Their children are Mrs. Floyd Clements, Mrs. Arnold McKittrick, Mrs. Adrian Sherry, all of this vicinity; Ernest, Mason City; Arch, Birmingham, England; Tomas, U.S. Army stationed in Virginia; Walter, Monroe, Wisconsin.

“Mr. and Mrs. Ekum never have seen the two children of Arch, who served overseas during World War II and married an English girl. Nor have they seen a grandchild living in the south. The other six grandchildren are in the area.”

In his World War II draft registration, he gave his address as Route 5, Viroqua. He was self-employed.

Ernest Ekum, in the Vernon County 150 years book, wrote:

“In the year of 1920, Albert Ekum bought two acres of land from Mr. Ole B. Fortney to build a grocery store and living quarters combined. They moved to the store from Liberty Pole on October 31, 1920. Behind the store on the north side were hitching posts for the customers’ horses.

“They sold groceries and later added clothing such as jackets, shirts, gloves, shoes, etc.

“There was no electricity then so they used two aladdin lamps to light their store.

“For a time, they bought fresh cream from the farmers around for Swift & Co. who came and picked it up.

“Later, when people started buying cars and there were better roads, the Ekums tore the porch off the front and put in gasoline pumps. They also tore out the hitching posts and built a place to drain oil from cars.

“The Ekums then built a few tourist cabins which was a good business.

“In 1946, the Ekums sold their store to Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Olson of Madison and they then moved to the city of Viroqua.

“The store was then run by the Olsons until the roads got better and the people were shopping more elsewhere. Later the state road was rerouted from the store location and the Olsons closed their store and business.”

According to the obit in the La Crosse paper, he died suddenly at his home in Viroqua on Tuesday afternoon, March 4th. Visitation was at the home on March 7th, and the funeral on the 8th was from the home and at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

That obit also says: “Before coming to Viroqua six years ago, Ekum operated the Mason City general store and tourist cabins in the Township of Franklin, Vernon County, for 27 years. He held many township offices including assessor, and was treasurer of the Franklin Lutheran Church for many years. He remained active in church work in Viroqua.”

Died:
Died at 2:30 PM according to Cora’s diary. Died suddenly at his home on South Washington Avenue according to La Crosse obit.

Buried:
Rev. Borgen conducted the funeral according to one source, Rev. Peder Nordsletten according to another.

Albert married Brita Eriksdatter (Bertha Malina) ØREN on 19 Dec 1911 in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Brita (daughter of Erik Pedersen NUNDAL and Malene Ovesdatter ØREN) was born on 21 Dec 1891 in Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died on 11 Feb 1960 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. [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.

Caroline married George HENDRICKSON on 9 Mar 1910 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. George (son of Karsten Henrik (Charles) HENDRICKSON and Mary ERICKSON) was born on 1 Jan 1886 in Minnesota; died on 27 Jun 1955 in Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died as an infant. Not listed in the Vernon County Death Index.

The bygdebok calls him Kelley. He should have been named after his mother’s father.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Social Security Number: 394-07-9077 issued in WI before 1951
• Baptism: 15 May 1890, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin

Notes:

Martin registered for the draft on June 5, 1917, in the town of Franklin by registrar Carl B. Fortney. He claimed to be 27, born on March 6, 1890, in the town of Franklin. His home address is shown as Rural Delivery route 4, Viroqua. He claimed to be a self-employed farmer. Regarding anyone “solely dependent on you for support,” he listed “mother and invalid sister.” He is described as tall and of slender build with blue eyes and brown hair.

Changed name to Ekum because, according to Dorothy's family stories, there were so many Munsons in the area (after they moved back in 1907) that delivering mail was confusing. Some relatives in northern Wisconsin convinced Martin and Albert and other members of the family to change their name to Ekum, similar to the original family name in Norway.

Operated on at the Viroqua hospital for a ruptured appendix in November of 1921.

No children. Seven years younger than Albert.

In his obituary, it was noted that Martin “for many years operated a filling station in Viroqua.”

Pallbearers at Martin’s funeral: Leonard Erickson, Richard Hagun, Robert Miller, Maynard Wedwick, Leland Ekum, and Larry McKittrick.



According to Cora’s diary, she, Ron, and Don R. visited Martin during their trip to Viroqua on June 19, 1966.

Martin Ekum is shown in the 1910 census as a single, 20 year-old hired man on the Ole Solverson farm.

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, [that must have been 59 or 61] widow, immigrated in 1870, naturalized but no date shown. Rhoda, sister, 24, single, born in Wisconsin, no occupation.

At the time of the 1930 census, Martin, 40, his mother Susan, 69, and his sister Rhoda, 33, were living at 165 West Maple in Viroqua in a $3500 house that Martin, presumably, owned. The household did not have a radio. Susan is shown as not being able to read or write and having come to this country in 1866. Martin’s occupation is attendant, service station, and he is employed. Martin was not a veteran. Rhoda and Susan have no occupation.

In the 1940 census, he (indexed as Marlin Ekrem), lives with his mother and sister Rhoda at 165 Maple Street in Viroqua. He had a 7th grade education and worked as an attendant at a gasoline filling station.

In his World War II draft registration, he gave his mother Susan, 165 Maple Street, as the person who would always know his address. He was employed by Steenson Bros, of South Main Street, Viroqua.

In the 1950 census, Martin and Esther lived on W. Maple Street in Viroqua. He is an attendant at a gasoline filling station.

In a typed letter to Cora dated December 7, 1968, Theresa Clements says about Martin: “Uncle Martin hasn’t been too good either. He was in the hospital three weeks ago, from Saturday night until Thursday. His heart acted up again and guess it was worse this time. A nurses aide said to Sally that three doctors worked over him for two hours that night and that it was a coronary. But, if it had been that, he wouldn’t have gotten home so soon. He did have oxygen from Saturday night until Tuesday morning but he told me Sunday night that he was feeling fine then. He hasn’t gone back to work though. He tried it a couple of times but didn’t feel good again. He doesn’t work so hard at the station -- just tends the pumps -- but I think he started back too soon and put in too long a day and got over-tired. Then a week ago today he was feeling so good he went out and trimmed some bushes in front of his house and had to have a doctor again. I think the work he does at home is much harder on him. And this past year he has had such an obsession about his lawn that he was mowing it almost every day all summer. He didn’t go to the funeral parlor today {for Carl Nundahl} either but he went up to the funeral parlor last night.”

In her Christmas letter of 1973, Theresa said, “Uncle Martin is doing pretty good but his legs bother him a lot. He says they don’t pain him but get so stiff and bothers him to walk some.”

In her birthday card to Cora dated Thursday, February 28, 1974, Theresa said, “Uncle Martin just got home yesterday after spending 24 days in the hospital. He had an abscess on a toe and didn’t go to the doctor right away -- he had it several days before he told me about it -- so he ended up with a badly infected foot. Then, after a few days in the hospital he got real sick from all the antibiotics he was getting. His stomach got real upset, he had diarrhea for over two weeks, and had hiccups almost steady for three days. He got so weak, and just didn’t get his appetite back, so we did get a little worried as it hung on so long. He was going to go home on Monday but then he was so dizzy and nauseated again. I think now that part of it was weakness and a lot of it was homesickness. He said he had never been away from home this long in his life. And when I talked to him last night he said he felt stronger already. His foot is fine. As far as that was concerned he could have gone home weeks ago.... I just talked with Uncle Martin and he said he had been weak and dizzy this morning but was feeling fine. He isn’t going to try and drive his car until he gets stronger, though, so Floyd is going to take him to the bank tomorrow.”

In a note to Cora after Martin’s funeral, Dorothy McKittrick said that Martin had been in the hospital for a little over a week but had gone back to the nursing home the day before he died. “He had gotten quite thin and was very weak.”

The casket-bearers at his funeral: Leonard Erickson, Richard Hagen, Maynard Wedwick, Leland Ekum, Robert Miller, and Larry McKittrick.

Cora had two addresses for Martin in her address book:

165 West Maple Street, Viroqua 54665, and
Norseland Nursing Home, Room 114, Westby 54667

There was no house at 165 West Maple Street, just a vacant lot, as of August 17, 2003.

Baptism:
Franklin Lutheran Church

Died:
Norseland Nursing Home

Buried:
funeral Viroqua United Methodist Church

Martin married Esther Leona HILTON on 28 Jun 1944 in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Esther was born on 22 May 1911 in Iowa; died on 6 Mar 1970 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried on 9 Mar 1970 in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Vernon County Death Index: V25, P19 As Clara Munson

Notes:

Never married. Lived with her aunt Louise. Is shown in the 1920 census and the 1930 census and 1940 census as living with Louise and Martin in Viroqua.

In the 1950 census, she is living in Viroqua with her aunt Louise. Also in the household is the Halvor Allness family.

Her obit says that Clara died suddenly on “Tuesday morning” at a Madison hospital after a lingering illness. That would mean that Clara died on July 1st, the date on her Vernon County death record. The obit said that she had been in failing health for about a year.



May have been the only one of her family to _not_ change her name to Ekum.

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

Clara “and Mildred and kids” visited Cora on Minnehaha on July 18, 1947.



According to the obit in the La Crosse newspaper, which had her age as 58, Clara Munson died at a Madison hospital after a lingering illness. “Since childhood she had made her home with an aunt, Mrs. Martin Larson. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Halvor Allness. The Rev. Alf Romstad officiates. Survivors include one brother, Martin Ekum, Viroqua, her aunt, and several cousins.”

Died:
Cora’s diary said July 3rd, probably the day Cora heard

Buried:
4NE3

Other Events and Attributes:

• Vernon County Death Index: V19, P335 As Rhoda Ekum

Notes:

Never married. Lived with her mother and brother Martin according to Cora. Her obit noted that she had been “in poor health nearly all of her life.”

Martin referred to her as his “invalid sister” when he registered for the draft.

Her obit says that she died on September 8th as does the Vernon County death record.

Census-taker Douglas Nelson visited the Anderson/Nundahl/Ekum farms (they were contiguous, apparently, which is also 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, widow, immigrated in 1870, naturalized but no date shown. Rhoda, sister, 24, single, born in Wisconsin, no occupation.

An article in the Vernon County Censor, 5 Jan 1921 edition, said “Miss Rhoda Ekum, who has been spending the summer at Minneapolis, returned home for the holidays, accompanied by her brother-in-law, who returned the first of the week …” She had been, apparently, staying with Caroline and her family and George had accompanied her back to Viroqua,

At the time of the 1930 census, Rhoda and her mother were living with Martin in Viroqua.

In the 1940 census, Rhoda lives with her mother and Martin in Viroqua. She had a sixth-grade education.

Died:
Died in a hospital in La Crosse. Cora’s diary says September 9th.

Buried:
Rev. D. T. Borgen conducted the funeral

Notes:

Died from spinal meningitis at age 4.

According to FS’s California Death Index images, Theresa died 14 Mar 1906 in county #47, age 3, state file number 7596 for 1906.

Buried:
As Theresa M Ekum. She shares a gravestone with her father.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1955-MN-009582
• Baptism: 10 Jun 1889, Solvorn i Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

She is listed in the 1914 Mankato city directory as a clerk for C J Zotalis. She lived at home with her parents and siblings at 433 Belgrade Ave in N Mankato.

Carrie married Oliver Carl LEE on 21 Jun 1916 in Nicollet County, Minnesota. Oliver was born on 13 Jun 1888 in Minnesota; died on 23 Mar 1965 in Olmsted County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was living with her parents in the 1910 census. She was employed as a milliner in a millinery shop.

She is listed in the 1914 Mankato city directory as a clerk for L Blum & Co. She lived at home with her parents and siblings at 433 Belgrade Ave in N Mankato.

She was living with her parents in the 1920 census. She was a sales lady at a dry goods store.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1979-MN-007587

Notes:

Called Johnnie in the 1910 census. He was living at home with his parents and siblings. He was employed as a stripper in a cigar factory.

In the 1930 census, he is John Eikum (indexed as Eckam), a post-office clerk in Mankato, Minnesota. He was born in Norway and came to the U.S. in 1901.

Died:
other sources say 17 Mar 1979 in Moose Lake, Carlton County, Minnesota

Johannes married Daisy Genevieve NORD on 29 Jun 1919 in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Daisy was born on 18 May 1895 in South Dakota; died on 25 Aug 1981 in Carlton County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was living at home with her parents in North Mankato in the 1920 census but she had no occupation.

Notes:

She was living at home with her parents in North Mankato in the 1920 census. She was a sales lady at a dry goods store.

Monsine married William Joseph HOLTZ on 9 Dec 1954 in Nicollet County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was living at home with her parents in the 1920 census. She was a teller at a bank.

Lukris married Carl T RUDBERG on 4 Sep 1943 in Nicollet County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1901-24992

Notes:

He was living at home with his parents in North Mankato in the 1920 census. He was a truck driver for a furniture store.

He and Helen and Kenneth still lived in North Mankato in the 1940 census. He was a truck driver doing general hauling. Also living with the family was the 40 year-old Frances Dennison, sister-in-law.

In the 1960 Mankato city directory, he was the supervisor in charge of the North Mankato Water Works.

Family/Spouse: Helen L HEISER. Helen was born on 14 Apr 1910 in Nicollet County, Minnesota; died on 4 Oct 1986 in Nicollet County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]