Theodore and Sophie (Dalager) Ogdahl: Raising a family in Pope County

Theodore and Sophia farmed in the Norway Lake area for a short time before returning to Barsness Township. In 1891 Sophia and Theodore purchased the place later known as the John Hagen farm where they lived and farmed for twelve years. In 1892, two years after they were married, lightening struck and killed one of their horses or the team. However, they could not afford to replace the horse or horses so Theodore bought a team of oxen that were much cheaper and slower. He used this team until he could afford a team of horses. Sophia served as Postmistress of Barsness post office until it was moved to an inland town in Barsness township called Cheesetown.

Following this they moved to the Hans Dalager farm where they resided for seven years.

Glenwood Herald

March 20, 1903

Hans Dalager of Barsness Township has leased his big farm to his son-in-law Theodore Ogdahl for a term of six years at an annual rental of $1,100.00. Mr. Dalager will most likely move into town. He feels that he has performed his share of hard labor on the farm and is therefore entitled to a few years of retirement and rest.

Hans Dalager died March 23, 1910.

Following Hans’s death, Theodore and Sophia decided to move onto another farm where they lived for about 28 years. In the fall of 1916 their residence burned down. Sophia and Theodore built a new home on this farm.

Theodore and Sophia had nine children. Following is a brief description of each.

• Henry Theodore, born June 7, 1891, Married Inez Smith in Minneapolis, Minn on Sept 20, 1916.
• Arthur William, born July 30, 1893, Married Helen Iverson in Weyburn Sask, Canada on June 18, 1917.
• Tillman Martinus, born April 21, 1895, married Irene Larson March 2, 1917 in Minneapolis, Minn.
• Ida Amanda, born July 28, 1897, married William Scrimgeour June 1925 in Glenwood, Minn.
• Solfest Oliver, born October 12, 1899, married Svea Myrtle Victoria Ronge November 21, 1924.
• Norman James, born September 29, 1902, Married Alice Jacobson in Farwell, Minnesota.
• Wallace Clifford, born November 11, 1907, Married Mabel Schillo in Glenwood. Minn.
• Julian Dalager, born May 16, 1910, lived 2 days.
• Leland Ellsworth, born September 9, 1913, Married Esther Glaspey in Iowa.

When the Ogdahl boys were young they lived on a farm that was near a small lake or slew. It was a good place for the boys to play and learn to swim. Highway 104 south of Glenwood now goes through the slew. The Bentrud farm was on the east side and the Ogdahl farm was on the west side.

Theodore & Sophia Ogdahl spent 47 years of their married life farming and had always been members of the Barsness Lutheran Congregation. Mr. Ogdahl served on the school board in district 40 for 12 years and as director of the Farmers Elevator for 22 years. He was also a director of the Federal Land Bank for 16 years and was the first shipper out of Glenwood for the Glenwood Shipping Association.

Mrs. Ogdahl served as treasurer for the Barsness Ladies Aid for 15 years and was the first woman to serve as chairperson of school district 40. Sophia also served as the historian for the Barsness Ladies Aid.

Hans Dalager: Lavilla (Dalager) Peterson remembers her father

My aunt Lavilla has related a number of memories to me about her father, Hans, some siblings, and other people of interest.  They’re all in the next few posts.  Following shortly after are more memories by Lavilla’s daughter, Wanda, my cousin.

Note:  When writing this information up later, I was left with several questions which you’ll see in the texts.  Please contact me if you have answers to any of these questions.  My contact information can be found by clicking the “About DFH” link above.

Lavilla remembered how Hans had admired the new horses someone had brought to the farm. Hans had had many horses and knew a good horse when he saw one. She remembered someone saying that Hans would have 7 hired men during the harvest season. He ran many outfits for cutting grain and threshing so he had to have many horses. Each grain wagon required two horses but when they plowed, there were 4 horses on each plow. Did he thrash out of stacks or use bundle rack to haul directly to the thrashing machine as was done later? ________________________ One year Lavilla said she had to drive a binder. She followed Herman’s binder. Therefore, if she had any trouble he could help her. That was the year that her school board came to get her signature for the next year while she was cutting grain with the binder. She said that was a ‘binding’ contract. Sometimes the fields were a long way from home. Therefore when they quite for the day, they would unhitch the horses and they would drive the horses home. She would have to walk behind the horses to control them with the reins and she said she did not like to do that. Sometimes this could be a rather long distance.

Cora (Dalager) Anderson: Lavilla (Dalager) Peterson remembers

Cora was married to Adolph Anderson. Adolph was a farmer and their farm was in the Garfield area. Adolph was killed in an accident. What kind of accident? _______ ______________________Cora was a teacher before she was married. All the girls in the second family were teachers except Tillie.

Their sister Alma died from an appendicitis when she was about 7. Lavilla said that she remembered Karl, my dad, coming to visit Amelia. Lavilla thought every thing was fine between them.

Lavilla did not remember much concerning the death of Hans. She was 7 years and Lucille was 5. She remembered that someone told them to get up because Papa had died. They kept the body in the home in those days until the funeral. She remembers seeing Hans lying on the bed.

The Holtens: Lavilla (Dalager) Peterson remembers

Lars Holten was a neighbor of Hans Dalager when Lavilla was growing up. The Holtens and Vindedahls were cousins to Hans. Lasse Holten was Lars Holtens father. Lasse Holten homesteaded the farm next to Hans Dalager in Chippawa Falls township. Other sons of Lasse were Chris, Henry, and Jacob. There were also some daughters who were married and lived in this area. Names Robert knew were Dearstead and Erickson who were related to Lasse Holten so must have been the families of daughters of Lasse Holten. Lasse Holten died about 1925 and his wife, who was crippled for many years, died about 1936. Lavilla remembered helping at the Holten home when she was a young girl. What was the name of Lasse’s wife? After the death of Lasse, Chris, Henry and Louis or Louise continued to farm. Question, is it Louis or Louise, a son or daughter? None of them married. They did not have any information on Jacob. Lars, who was a brother to Chris, Henry and Jacob was married and they had a daughter named Tilda who was a very good friend to Lavilla’s sister Tillie.

Lavilla remembered that one of Lars sons and a Vindedahl boy had a run-a-way with horses and a buggy in the Glenwood Park. She said that one horse went on one side of the tree and the other on the other side of the tree. Oscar Holten was killed but Benny Holten was saved. Question? Were there more than 2 in the buggy? What year did this happen?

Lawrence Holten married a Sue Cihlar from New York. Was Lawrence a son of Lesse Holten? _____________________________Lawrence Holten was hurt badly doing road maintenance on the edges of the road with a mower and horses. Robert said that Lawrence did not die in that accident. Robert said that Lawrence and Sue did not have any children but Sue had some children before she married Lawrence.

When Robert Peterson went to country school they would walk past the Holten place. At Christmas time when school kids were asked to sell Christmas seals for tuberculosis, Robert would stop at the Holtens. Robert said that Henry and Louise were always good for ten cents. Louise would pick out ten pennies from the change purse to pay their ten cents. Louise died of tuberculosis. Lavilla said that she has a picture of Louise. Henry and Chris were hard workers. They were dairy farmers and also raised a lot of hogs. They also farmed quite a bit of land with horses and later with pretty small tractors. The Peterson boys would help the Holtens with shacking and harvest.

In 1946 there was a big storm which took a lot of the Holten building and the Peterson’s barn. The Peterson boys helped the Holtens take care of their animals after the storm. The Holten barn had fallen down on the livestock that were in the barn. The Holtens crawled into the barn on the hands and knees to see if any of the animals were still alive. The Holtens had two big white horses and one of them was Cap. Some of the neighbors told Henry that you need to shoot that horse but Henry said “Naw” like people had heard before. They worked and wiggled this horse to the milk house which had been emptied. When they got the horse to the milk house, Henry said, “Com’on Cap.” Cap stood up and everybody cheered.

There are no descendants of this family with the Holten but there are descendants of the two girls who married, Erickson and Deerstad.

Lavilla said that Lasse had married a women who had children. Then she mentioned one, Edwin and not other information was given. Can you give any more information? _________________________________________________.

Hans Dalagers original homestead? What is its location? _______________This house burned. Them they rebuilt at a new location about a mile away, closer to a lake. What lake? ____________________ Which place did Herman live on? _______ ______ Lavilla said that the place where Selmer lived was also part of the homestead. Selmer and Willie tried to farm together for a while. Then Willie went off to school and Selmer stayed on the farm.

Lars Dalager – Self Made Man

Lars Dalager was born February 28, 1876, the youngest son of Lasse Dalaker and Guri Nilsdotter Staveteig. Lars was born and grew to manhood at Kaupanger, Norway, which is located on the Sognfjord.

Lars’ father, Lasse, had inherited the farm they lived on from his father, Solfest Dalaker, because he was the oldest son. It may have been because Lars was the youngest son of Lasse and would not inherit the land or because of his adventurous spirit, but he decided that his future lay in America. He emigrated to the United States from Norway by way of the port of Liverpool, England. Lars arrived at the port of New York on March 27, 1901 on the ship Eutruria, Connard Line after a 10 day crossing. He traveled to Glenwood, Minnesota where he stayed with his uncles Hans and Nels for about 5 years before moving on to Noonan, North Dakota. On March 29, 1908 Lars bought land in Mentor township, Divide county, about 6 miles northeast of Noonan.

Lars was a successful grain and sheep farmer and at one time operated nearly four sections of land. On July 6, 1914 Lars applied to became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America. On June 22, 1915 Lars Dalager received his citizenship.

In 1917 Lars surprised his many friends in Mentor township when he returned from a visit to Glenwood, Minnesota accompanied by his new bride. She was the former Marie (Molly) Vindedahl of Glenwood. They had been married at Glenwood on June 22, 1917.(1)

A year later, on June 23, 1918, Lars and Molly were blessed with the birth of a son, Alton Benjamin. You can be sure the summer and fall of 1918 was a new and joyous experience for this couple who were newly married but were not a young couple. Neither of them had been married before but Lars was 41 and Marie was 38.

The newfound happiness of Lars and Molly was short lived.

The Noonan Miner

November 7, 1918

Mrs. Lars Dalager, living north of town, died at the hospital in Estevan, on Tuesday morning, Nov. 5, 1918 from a short illness of pneumonia. she was 38 years of age and was married to Lars Dalager about a year and a half ago. She leaves to mourn her death, her husband and a small baby boy about four months old.

Mrs. Dalager was a woman highly respected by all who knew her, and by her many good qualities. She made friends wherever she went. She proved to be an excellent wife and mother and her family was always her first consideration. The family have the sympathy of all in their hour of bereavement.

It was shortly after this that Lars appeared on the doorstep of his neighbor’s home, Ole Hanson, with a baby boy in his arms…The Hansons had two small children, Olga and Martin. Mrs. Hanson said that she was willing to care for Alton as if he were a member of her family.

The Hansons moved into Noonan between 1920 & 1922 where they operated a dairy. Alton attended school in Noonan, graduating from high school in 1936. He went on to school to study electrical engineering at North Dakota Agricultural College (now NDSU), Fargo, North Dakota in the fall of 1936. In 1938 he transferred to the University of Texas in Austin, graduating in June of 1941 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.(3)

Lars Dalager’s Later Years

After the loss of his wife and the placement of his son in a good home, Lars hired Mrs. Clara Antonson as his housekeeper so he could put full time into farming. This arrangement started some time in 1921. Mrs. Antonson and her two children, Mabel and Art, lived in Lars’ house. Clara Antonson was Lars’ housekeeper for the rest of his life.

Mabel Johnson, Clara Antonson’s daughter, described Lars as a very pleasant fellow and they all helped with the farming. Before Lars had a truck to haul his grain, he hauled his grain by horse drawn wagon, loaded with 2 bushel sacks of grain, to the Soo Line track north of Noonan. Here it was loaded or carried into box cars and shipped to Minneapolis. It was a long slow trip and Lars would leave early in the morning. Lars also had cattle, horses and sheep on his farm which was a common practice at that time.

Mr. G. Earl Hasler from Waukegan, Illinois worked for Lars the summer and fall of 1933. He described Lars as being a man of strong opinions but a very kind man, a hard worker and a good business man. Lars helped raise and educate several children that were not blood relatives as well as his own son.

Harlan and Dick Dalager remember that Lars would stop at their farm, the Willie Dalager farm, when he was in Glenwood, Minnesota. Once when he stopped, his truck was loaded with a new combine which he had purchased in Minneapolis.

In 1957, Lars sold his farm to Bob Wissbrod of Noonan and moved to Morro Bay, Calif. Clara Antonson continued to be his housekeeper. He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Morrow Bay. Lars died May 8, 1964 at the age of 87. Lars was buried at the Los Osos Valley Memorial Park at Morro Bay, Calif. Mrs. Antonson died in 1983 at the age of 95 years.

Divide County Journal

Crosby, North Dakota

May 20, 1964

Lars Dalager was interested in people and good causes. He had a good sense of humor and was of a kindly, cheerful and helpful disposition. He enjoyed work and good fellowship. He often used to say that he never did any work or held any job that he did not enjoy. He was truly a self-made man. But this he would have been the last to admit, since he never tired of telling how much he owed to the opportunities and bounty offered by the American Republic.

Mr. Dalager maintained membership in Calvary Lutheran Church in Morro Bay and was an enthusiastic helper and supporter of all church-sponsored activities.

REFERENCES

The Noonan Miner, Noonan, North Dakota, July 5, 1917

The Noonan Miner, Noonan, North Dakota, Nov. 7, 1918

The Ex-Students’ Association, Univ. of Texas, Austin, Texas

Captain Arthur R. Moore, A Careless Word. . .A Needless Sinking, published 1988. Pages 250 & 515. Robert C. Wilmott, Reference Librarian at the Bland Memorial Library at the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York sent copies of the material on Alton Dalager.

Divide County Journal, Crosby, North Dakota, May 20, 1964

Morro Bay Sun, Morro Bay, Ca., May 21, 1964

Researched and prepared by: Jim Dalager, 610 Duluth Ave S, Thief River Falls, MN 56701, 4/28/1997

Lars Dalager was a first cousin to Jim Dalager’s father Karl Dalager.

Jennie (Dalager) Grove: Jennie’s father-in-law Olaus Grove, Pope County’s first pioneer

This story describes the lives of Jennie Dalager and Julius Grove. Jennie was my aunt, the oldest daughter of my grandfather Hans and elder sister of my father Karl.

To begin this story let us start with the life of Julius’ father Olaus Olson. Olaus was born at Kragero, Norway in 1840. His father, Ole, was a sailor who lost his life at sea when Olaus was a baby. When Olaus was five years old his mother took her two sons and along with her parents sailed for America. They settled in Rock River, Wisconsin where they lived for a few years. While living in Rock River Olaus’s mother became crippled and it became necessary for the two boys to earn their own livelihood and help support their mother. Seeking a more favorable place to live, they moved to Waupeca County, Wisconsin which is about 50 miles due west of Green Bay, Wisconsin. It was here that Olaus learned to trap, hunt, and survey.

In the fall of 1859, when Olaus was 19 years old, he traveled on foot westward across the state of Wisconsin to St. Paul, Minnesota. While there he decided to buy traps and other supplies necessary for spending the winter trapping and hunting. From St. Paul he proceeded north and west beyond the current settlements until he arrived in the territory which is now the western part of Stearns County and the eastern part of Polk County. Olaus located his main camp on the south shore of Tamarac Lake (also known as Spunk Lake). Spunk Lake is south of present day Brooten in the present township of Crow Lake. Olaus built a semi dugout and log cabin.

In 1859, when Olaus arrived in this territory, it consisted mainly of wilderness and formed a part of Stearns County. In 1862 the legislature set off part of Stearns and named it Pope County. No actual organization of the county took place until the fall of 1866, when the county seat was established at Glenwood.

When Olaus began trapping in 1859 he set his trap lines along the streams and lakes of Pope County, trapping beaver, otter and mink. In trapping beaver, considerable territory had to be covered to be successful as beavers had to be sought along the rivers and streams where they built their dams. It took Olaus several days to visit all the traps on his route. He traveled on skis carrying his rifle, hatchet, hunting knife, compass, blankets, matches, some food and cooking utensils. All these supplies and equipment and his firs he usually pulled on his sled. Because of the length of his trap line Olaus had to pitch his camp at some favorable place when night overtook him, using his cabin as his base for keeping supplies, firs, and making it his home when convenient.

When he had to spend the night on the trail he would find a sheltered area with good water and wood supply. He would clear away the snow from an area and build a fire. Over this he would prepare his meal usually consisting of coffee or water, hard bread, fried bacon and any wild game he had shot. At night he would build up his fire with larger logs to last over night and prepare his bed from small branches. Next he would wrap himself in his blankets and lie down with his feet toward the fire. Beside him he would keep his loaded rifle, hunting knife and hand ax as weapons in the event of an attack by wild animals, Indians, or fur thieves.

Game was plentiful and Olaus had a very successful season. Early in the spring, when skiing and sledding were good, he pulled his traps and stored them in his cabin, loaded his furs and started on his journey for St. Paul on skis and pulling his sled. He sold his furs at a good price and was a very happy boy as he proceeded homeward to his mother with more money in his possession than he had ever dreamed of possessing.

It was not long after his arrival home before his neighbors heard of his good fortune and were told of the opportunities there were in Minnesota. Hearing of this good fortune many of the neighbors sold or left their places and prepared to go with Olaus to Minnesota. As Olaus’ brother had died in an accident and his grandparents had also died, the only option open for his mother Marie was to go with Olaus to Minnesota. In the summer of 1860 a caravan of covered wagons pulled by ox-team to carry their women, children, provisions and goods, left for Minnesota. They had to ford rivers and streams and sometimes cut their way through dense forests. It took several weeks to reach the towns of Crow River and Crow Lake in Stearns County where they settled.

Olaus and his mother went to live in the log cabin he had previously built. Olaus continued with his hunting and trapping as his main occupation. He brought his furs to St. Paul to sell using the money the furs brought to buy provisions and clothing. During his hunting and trapping operation he picked out his future homestead in section 2, township of Barsness, Pope County. With the help of his friend John Sandvig, Olaus erected a little log house on this land in Barsness township. This was undoubtedly the first permanent shelter or house erected in Pope County. It was a squatter’s claim and used as a hunter’s camp or refuge on their hunting exploits. A squatter’s right in those days was recognized as a peremptory right. He did not take his mother there because of the hostility of the Indians and the long distance to neighbors.

In the spring of 1862 he helped his four friends locate and file on claims in the township of Lake Johanna. These four men, John Sandvig, Ole Kittelson, Salve Gakkestad and Gregor Halvorson were the first homesteaders in Pope County.

During the summer of 1862, the Sioux Indians, who lived in central and western Minnesota, showed considerable hostility toward the white settlers who were invading their hunting grounds. Also, food promised was not delivered and it was a dry summer. On August 17th war broke out and many white settlers were killed. During these times Olaus took an active part in warning settlers and helping his mother and neighbors escape to a place of safety. These fleeing settlers would hide in the woods and swamps during the day time and move at night until they reached Paynesville where a stockade had been built for their protection.

After the initial hostilities had quieted down, Olaus took his mother from Paynesville and went to St. Cloud. He worked in the lumber industry there until the summer of 1864 when it was considered reasonably safe for settlers to move back onto their claims. At this time Olaus and his mother moved back to Pope county and settled on the homestead he had selected in the township of Barsness. His nearest neighbors during the following winter were his friends who he had helped establish in Lake Johanna township. The following summer a party by the name of Ole Reine settled in the township of Gilchrist which was only seven miles away.

Times were hard for these early pioneers. The nearest town where provisions could be bought was St. Cloud which was seventy five miles to the east. The price of flour was eighteen dollars a barrel and other necessities were proportional. Olaus had to make occasional trip to St. Cloud for provisions. The trip was usually made on foot. He would pay for the provisions with furs and carry them home on his back in the summer and on his sled in the winter. Outside of flour and a few groceries, the main food was venison. Farmers began to grow grain for their own use as well as keeping a cow for milk. There really was no market for produce. Indians came by quite often and were usually hungry and as a result would demand food. Frequently a pioneer family would be left without provisions.

In the summer of 1866 many settlers came to Pope County. The influx of settlers continued so that by the end of the year 1870 the county had a population of about 2700 people. Many of these settlers were friends and former acquaintances of Olaus and as he had some knowledge of surveying, he would help the new people pick out and locate their claims.

About this time railroads came to Benson and Morris. This stimulated the raising of grain and cattle as the market was not to far away.

With the increase in the population the wild game disappeared more and more causing Olaus to change his occupation from hunter/trapper to farming. At first farming was a slow with much hard work. Farm machinery was crude, grain had to be cut with a cradle or reaper and tied into bundles by hand. It was threshed by small machines driven by horse power. Hay was cut by scythe and pulled together after it was cured by fork or hand rake. It was then hauled into the farm yard where it was stacked by hand or by the use of crude tackle. Marketing grain 25 to 30 miles in poor wagons pulled by oxen over poor roads was slow and hard. During the years 1876 and 1877 grass-hoppers came and destroyed all the crops in the community creating hardships for the whole community.

As better and more labor saving machinery were developed and with better prices the conditions on the farm improved. Through hard work and thrift Olaus was able to increase the size of his farm and build a nice home. He took part in community activities and held offices on the town board, school board and was instrumental in organizing the Barsness Lutheran congregation. In 1871 he cut and furnished the logs and material and helped build the log church that was the first home for the Barsness congregation. His wife, Ragnild, was the first president of the Barsness Ladies’ Aid Society.

In 1871 Olaus was married to Ragnild Gilbertson, who came from Norway to Pope County in the year 1868. Her father, Gilbrand Berger, lived and died on a small farm in Norway. To them three children, Julius, Edwin and Lena were born. Edwin died in 1903. Lena was married to John Brendel, an attorney at Hallock, Minnesota.

It is not known when the Grove was added to Olaus Olson name. However, the Olaus Olson farm was in a wooded area of Barsness township. There were also several Olson families. Therefore it became common practice to refer to the Olsons in the grove. The family soon became know as the Olaus Olson Groves.

In the month of October, 1894, at the age of 54 years, Olaus was stricken with pneumonia and died. He was buried in the community that he loved, near his home that he cherished and in the Barsness cemetery that he helped establish. Thus the life passed of the man who may be entitled to be called the first pioneer of Pope County. Regnild lived another 23 years. She died January 5, 1917 and was buried beside her husband in the Barsness cemetery.

Jennie (Dalager) Grove: Courtship and Marriage to Julius Grove

Julius O. Grove was born May 23, 1872 on the farm that was homesteaded by Olaus Olson Grove. Julius grew to adulthood on this farm and was able to attend country school, even though Pope County was newly settled. In 1897 he graduated from St. Cloud State Normal College. Farm work and other employment enabled him to complete his higher education. For a time he was a school teacher in Pope County. He also served as the superintendent of the high school in Houston, Minnesota for one year. In 1901, at the age of 29 years, he gained his law degree at the University of Minnesota and at once located in Glenwood

On September 14, 1901 Julius took another important step when he married Jennie Dalager. Jennie was the eldest daughter of Hans and Ingeborg Dalager and was born on their homestead in Barsness township on March 26, 1872. This was only six years after the first settlers had come into the territory and Jennie experienced the pioneer life of the early settlers in this country. On January 5th, 1887, when Jennie was 15 years old, her mother passed away in child birth. Marthine, the baby in this birth also died. Jennie took over her mother’s place and soon the children looked to her for their motherly care. The youngest child was Karl, my father, who was 16 months old when his mother died. When Jennie’s father remarried it became possible for Jennie to go off to school. She attended St. Cloud State Normal College and was graduated in 1897. She taught school for four years in Park Rapids, Minnesota.

Glenwood, Minnesota

October 3, 1901

Dear Cousin Julia:

Did you get the invitation I sent you to come to my wedding. I have heard nothing from you and I wondered if you didn’t get it. Write soon and let me know.

I received a letter from Mrs. McCarlson when I was getting ready. She was then in Minneapolis. I intended to answer it, but in all the work we had here, it wasn’t done. I would write her now, but did not know where to send it. I hope she is home by this time and them this letter is as much for her as for you. How is she? I hope she is well again.

I was married Sept. 14th and I am still at home, but I expect to move to Glenwood soon. Julia and Christine are teaching school and Carl and Hannah went to St. Cloud to attend school. They went soon after my wedding.

Tell Jens that I really thought he would come when I heard Sophia was in Mpls. I knew you couldn’t come but where is Andrew? I think he owes me a letter. Well, you better tell him to write and promise to visit me at Christmas time. I shall write your mother when I get settled in my new home and tell her what kind of a home we have. Remember me to the Amundson’s and all of your folks.

I received many nice presents. From Mrs. Grove we got a single top buggy with single harness and from my folks a new Home Sewing Machine. We got a dinner table and six chairs from some people in Glenwood. I also got silver knives and forks, tea spoons, table spoons, sugar spoons and butter dish, spoon holder, pitcher and sugar bowl, three rugs, three bed spreads, one lamp, one table cloth and several other things. I’ll send Auntie a complete list of them when I write her. I shall wait anxiously to hear from you and to know how Sophia is. Give her my love.

From you cousin, Mrs. J. O. Grove

Margaret Dalager Lindroth gave me this letter at the Dalager reunion held August 8, 1998. The cousin Jennie wrote to lived in Webster, South Dakota

It is interesting to note that Jennie and Julius had attended the same country school together and had graduated from St. Cloud State Normal College together. After their marriage they returned to Glenwood to make their home. The next year they built a new home on Minnesota Avenue, Glenwood, Minnesota. They lived in this house all of their life together.

Glenwood Herald

Sept. 20, 1901

The Dalager-Grove Wedding

The wedding last Sat. at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Dalager in the town of Barsness, was by far the most elaborate and most largely attended of any similar gathering that has taken place in that locality in many a year. Upwards of 80 carriages accompanied the bridal couple, Mr. Julius O. Grove and Miss Jennie Gurine Dalager, to the Barsness church where the two in a most impressive manner were pronounced one and inseparable by the Rev. Bale. The Herald’s society reporter did not happen to be in attendance, hence we are unable to give a description of the attire of the bride and groom. When the ceremony was concluded the large gathering of people repaired to the home of the bride’s parents where a banquet feast awaited them and of which all partook with hearty relish.

In extending congratulations to the newly wedded, bestowing handsome and costly gifts upon the bride, feasting and visiting, the afternoon and evening was most delightfully spent by the guests and the verdict is general that an exceptionally good time was had. It is the intention of Mr. Grove to make Glenwood his future home, by opening here an office and begin the practice of law. To him and his estimable wife the people of this village will extend a hearty welcome and an earnest hope that their future may ever be happy and prosperous.

About October, 1901

Dear Cousin Julia,

I was very much surprised the other day by getting another box. The spoon you sent me is very nice and my husband and I thank you very much for it. I have been receiving presents nearly all the time. I got twice as many as I had any idea of getting and most of them are very nice and good. You will see from your mother’s letter what they were and what we bought for the money. We also had a little of the money left for smaller things so you see we were given every thing almost to start with.

I am well and happy and from my little experience in married life, I must say I think it is all right.

We live here now and some day hope to have a home here of our own. You must come and see me then. Remember me to Sophia. I should like to hear how she is. I hope she is strong now. Are you staying with her yet? I received your last letter just one day after I had sent you one.

I suppose Andrew is at school now. Greet him when you write to him.

All of our relatives around here are well as far as I know. Cousin Christian has gone worked at home this summer has gone to the woods to work.

I shall enclose a piece of my wedding dress. It was made with two small ruffles at the bottom. The waist had a yoke of satin trimmed with lace and the sleeves had puffs at the bottom of the same as the yoke. The braid was on the front part of the waist and on the cuffs of the sleeves. When I get a picture I shall send you one. I have been sending the other folks other pictures and so I send you this one. Now don’t forget me when the time comes for you to have such a picture.

Kindly see that your mother gets her letter that I enclose.

With best wishes for you, I am,

Your Cousin, Jennie

Give Sophia, Auntie, Louise, and Christi each a piece of this dress. They are small but all I have to spare.

To this marriage of Jennie and Julius five children were born. The Pope County Historical Society describes the Grove children in 1938. Rawland, deputy Pope County auditor; Hazel, wife of H. L. Martin, an insurance man at Syracuse, New York; Joseph, in the forestry service in northern Minnesota; Jerome, a teacher in the Glenwood High School; and Edward, a cadet at West Point Military Academy.

Julius Grove was always active in the community and county. He was elected county attorney of Pope County from 1902 to 1918. He took an active part in the work of the state legislature in 1921. For twelve years he was a member of the Glenwood Board of Education and was president during his last four years on the board.

Mr. Grove was active in the Lutheran Church in Glenwood, serving on the building committee, when the new edifice was built in the 1930’s, and for many years as a trustee of the church. He owned several improved farms and divided his time between his law practice and his farming interests.

In 1926 Julius O. Grove was a candidate for representative of the 47th state legislative district. In his campaign he supported farm legislation, co-operative marketing, workmen’s compensation and other measures aired as helping agriculture and labor.

In 1932 Julius Grove, at the age of 60, announced that he was a candidate for Judge of Probate of Pope County.

Hans Dalager: A Brief History by his granddaughter

The following essay was written by Lavinia (Dalager ) Martinson Larson in 1942 for a college course. Lavinia is the daughter of Herman Dalager from the second family (younger brother of Karl).  She is therefore the granddaughter of Hans. The essay was found in the archives of Lavinia’s aunt, Lavilla (Dalager) Peterson, Herman’s younger sister.

When Hans came to his homestead he built a log house, a stable and cleared and broke up some land. He left the place in care of someone and went to work in Goodhue county. While he was gone a prairie fire broke out and burned the buildings and 2 mules. He became real discouraged and went to a lumber camp near St. Cloud to work. But when spring came he came back to the homestead and started over again. He had speedy oxen and neighbors helped each other with work. Mosquitoes were real bad at times but tired people slept anyway.

The first two years he was here the nearest town was St. Cloud. Some times this trip was made by foot or with oxen to get supplies. Going to town meant a trip of 4 or 5 days. One time on their way home it began to rain. They turned the wagon box up-side-down and sat under it until the rain stopped.

About 1870 Benson was established so that was closer and it was easier to haul grain to this railroad.

Hans bought horses as soon as they were available. He was one of the first farmers to have a barn with a hay mow. It was said people came for miles to see this. In 1888 he bought a team of horses in Goodhue County and went to get them. On the way back they became frightened and ran away. This happened near Willmar. The wagon tipped over and Hans broke his leg. It was never set right. As a result, this leg was shorter and had a bump on it. He had to have a built up heal on his shoe but he still walked with a limp.

Hans liked to sing when he drove along. The neighbors said they could hear him singing, mostly hymns.

He built an elegant brick house on the homestead place in about 1899.

Hans Dalager was always a hard worker and by persistent effort he forced his way ahead until he became what was considered the richest farmer in the county. At the time of his death he owned nearly 2 sections of land. He was married in 1871. Sixteen years later his wife passed away and 2 years later he married again. He had 6 children by his first marriage and 10 children by his second marriage.

Brita (Betsy) Dalager: Life and Times

The following was written by my aunt, Lavilla (Dalager) Peterson, in 1958 after a long awaited family reunion between the Glenwood, Minnesota and Webster, South Dakota branches. My Grandfather Hans’ family was separated from his sister Brita’s family in the late 1800s when tragedy struck Brita, and she moved with her children and my Great Grandmother Guri to Webster, where she would raise her family alone with little connection to Hans and his family until this reunion.

Today is the day to begin writing about our ancestors. It is the day following the 17th annual picnic, that the families of Hans, Nels, and Brita have had. It was in 1958 that Herman and Alma Dalager were invited to come to Webster, South Dakota to take part in their reunion. My brother Herman and his wife Alma in turn invited us and so after nearly 50 years of little communication the two families were brought together. Bertha’s son Andrew was there, his nephew McCarlson was there, their wives and many of their children and grand children.

You never heard such talking before. There were so many things to ask about, to marvel at and to tie together with long past events. I think by night fall we were all horse in voice and happy in spirit to think we had been united as kin.

We met and talked to my cousin (Guri) Julia Chilson, Brita’s daughter, and her children. She lived in Webster and her husband had run the Elevator Store which is still in Webster. It is still run by Herman and his sons. The Chilson family have records of their families so I do not have to go into that.

How did Brita happen to drift from Minnesota to South Dakota? She was living in Glenwood township, close to road 18 and joining Gerhard Swenson’s farm when there was an accident in their family. Her husband, Sjobakken, died mysteriously (hanging). Brita was grief stricken and determined to look for a homestead where there was room and a place for her and her five children. She decided to take her maiden name for herself and her children.

Now we must go back to see if we can get her mother into the picture. Guri Dalager had arrived from Norway bringing a small girl with her. I gather that Guri’s husband, Solfest, had passed away so she came to join Nils, Hans and Brita.

Brita and her mother Guri with the child from Norway started out in a covered wagon drawn by oxen traveling cross country. They set up on a piece of land in Day County, South Dakota. Her arrival in Webster was by covered wagon driven by oxen, Mike & Star, with all personal belongings, 5 children, Guri, her mother, and Kristie, a niece.

The first house built there is still standing and used as a granary. It was the first frame house built and it is now owned by John A. Dalager, a great grandson of Brita’s and the son of Albin Dalager.

When they arrived, they had 3 cows which they milked 3 times a day, trading milk for meat and potatoes from the Indians along the way. Jens Vinedahl was a cousin of Betsy’s who worked as a hired hand for her and also for the John McCarlsons and Andrew Dalagers. He almost lost his life in the 1888 blizzard that struck so suddenly while he was doing chores at Betsy’s.

A rocker was found there on our first visit to this location. I asked for the back piece of the chair and have it here. There is some carving on it.

Betsy lived in a wheel chair for her final 35 years, died at the home of her daughter, Julia Chilson in Webster March 31, 1921. Although severely handicapped, she often instructed confirmation classes and Bible school in place of the pastor.

Note: There is a plaque in Brita’s memory in Webster, South Dakota, commemorating her survival of a great prairie fire. To survive the fire, Brita hid down in a well for an extended period. Sadly, though she survived, her legs were paralyzed for the remainder of her life. Guri (Hans and Brita’s mother) passed away in the fire. Much later, the relatives decided to buy a marker for Guri’s unmarked grave under the lilac bushes on the original homestead near Webster.