Sophie and Theodore Ogdahl’s final years in Glenwood as seen in news clippings

When Theodore was 70 years old, Sophia and Theodore moved into Glenwood March 1, 1938 where they planned to spend their retirement years. However, they continues to be active.

Theodore began to work for his son Wally Ogdahl at the Glenwood Hatchery. He thoroughly enjoyed his office duties and continued to work there well into his eighties. Theodore enjoyed visiting, especially in Norwegian. Because he had a rupture he was not able to walk very far.

Sophia continued to take care of their house along with much community and church work. She took in boarder’s and roomer’s during the depression years of the thirties.

Pope County Tribune

July 15, 1940

50th Wedding Anniversary

Friends and neighbors of Mr. And Mrs. Theo Ogdahl of Glenwood gathered last Sunday in large numbers at the Barsness church to help this much-respected couple celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Services had been announced for 11:00 o’clock at the church and those who attended first went to the church to worship. Rev. E. O. Barsness preached the sermon. The day was bright with sunshine, much like the day 50 years ago when they were married.

After the service the assembly repaired to the basement of the church where a meal was served by the ladies aid. Many of those who attended had brought well-filled baskets for the dinner.

At 2 PM the assembly entered the church to the strains of the Lohengrin wedding march with the bridal party at the head. Here a program consisting of musical numbers and talks was given. Rev. Barsness presided and after introductory remarks called on Rev. J. Linnevold of Glenwood. Rev. Barsness stated that Sophia’s and Theodore’s wedding was the first conducted in the Barsness church.

The remainder of the program consisted of talks by G. H. Moen of Glenwood who had been present at the wedding fifty years before, by Julia Solverud Knutson, sister of the bride, by Ida Scrimgeour, a daughter and a declamation by Elizabeth Scrimgeour, a grandchild. Musical numbers were given by Erling Wollan, Eleanor and Lorraine Ogdahl, daughters of Arthur Ogdahl, the Barsness male octet, Deloris Ogdahl daughter of Henry Ogdahl and by three year old Paul Ogdahl, son of Solfest O. Ogdahl. Wallace Ogdahl spoke for the family and at the end of the program Mrs. Ogdahl, the bride, read a poem.

Present at this golden wedding were three of the attendants of fifty years ago. They were Lars Holten, Mrs. Kittel Braaten and Jenny Grove. Ole Ogdahl could not be present so his place was taken by Nels Ogdahl in the procession.”

Pope County Tribune

July 19, 1945

Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Ogdahl of Glenwood enjoyed the rare privilege of observing their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary with a number of their children and their families, on Sunday, July 15th. They were married married 55 years ago in the Barsness Church. Five years ago they celebrated their golden wedding day in the Barsness church when the entire countryside joined in the festivities. This time they celebrated the event with a dinner at the Rex Café.

Present for the occasion was their son, Leland and his wife of Independence, Iowa; their daughter Ida, Mrs. W. A. Scrimgeour, her husband and daughter of Brownton, Minn; their son, Solfest and his wife and daughter, and with him Mrs. Henry Ogdahl and daughter and a daughter of Arthur Ogdahl and her husband, all of Minneapolis; Norman Ogdahl and wife and son of Farwell and Wallace Ogdahl and family of Glenwood. Mrs. J. O. Grove, a sister of Sophia, of Glenwood was also present at the dinner. Unable to be present for the occasion was their son, Arthur Ogdahl of Frontier, Saskatchewan, Canada; Henry Ogdahl in Alaska; and Tilman Ogdahl in Oregon.

Mr. and Mrs. Ogdahl were very happy to have their grandson, William Alexander Scrimgeour, who is in the air corps and is in training in Denver, Colorado call them over long distance telephone and add his congratulations. The connections were very good and it was very easy to hear him.

Pope County Tribune

December 3, 1948

Mrs. Theodore Ogdahl visited over Thanksgiving with Mr. And Mrs. Leland Ogdahl at Independence, Iowa. She also visited with relatives in the Twin Cities on the same trip. While in Minneapolis she visited another great grandson, a son of Mr. And Mrs. Lowell Ogdahl of Minneapolis. This is the 16th great grandchild that Mrs. Ogdahl has had the pleasure of welcoming. She has 22 grandchildren.

Pope County Tribune

December 9, 1948

Those who came to help Theodore Ogdahl celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday afternoon were Mr. & Mrs. Norman Ogdahl and family of Farwell, W. C. Ogdahl and family, Jennie Grove and Mr. And Mrs. John Norberg of Glenwood.

Pope County Tribune

March 10, 1949

Mr. And Mrs. Theodore Ogdahl had the great joy of having their children come home during the weekend for a family reunion and also to help them celebrate their birthdays. Mr. Ogdahl was 80 years of age a short time ago while Mrs. Ogdahl is celebrating her 75th birthday this month. All their children were home except Tillman who is on the west coast. The children who were home were Mr. And Mrs. Leland Ogdahl and two children of Independence, Iowa who came on Friday. On Sunday Mrs. Inez Ogdahl (wife of Henry Ogdahl who had passed away) of Minneapolis came in company with Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Ogdahl and Mr. and Mrs. Solfest O. Ogdahl. Present also were Mr. and Mrs. W. A. (Ida) Scrimgeour and daughter of Brownton, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. Norman Ogdahl and son of Farwell, and Mr. and Mrs. Wally Ogdahl and family of Glenwood. In the afternoon Mrs. Julius Grove, Mrs. Ogdahl’s sister, was also present.

The entire group was out to the Sunset Beach Hotel on Sunday where they enjoyed a very fine dinner. In all there were 21 present. They had a light lunch late in the afternoon at the Ogdahl home before they departed. It has been some time since the Ogdahls have had so many of their children at home at one time and it was a great treat to them.

Pope County Tribune

July 6, 1950

Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Ogdahl of Glenwood will hold Open House on Sunday, July 16th between the hours of 2 PM and 5 PM at the Glenwood Lutheran Church parlors, in observance of their 60th wedding anniversary.

Minneapolis Sunday Tribune

July 9, 1950

GLENWOOD, MINN—Mr. And Mrs. Theodore Ogdahl will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary Friday, July 14. Open house will be held next Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Glenwood Lutheran Church.

Glenwood Herald

July 14, 1950

A milestone that few married couples have the privilege of reaching, the sixtieth wedding anniversary, will be observed by Mr. And Mrs. Theodore Ogdahl of Glenwood at the Glenwood Lutheran church on Sunday, July 16th between the hours of 2 P.M. and 5 P.M. A hose of friends and relatives are expected to attend.

Sophia Dalager, second daughter of Ingeborg and Hans Dalager and Theodore Ogdahl, son of Astrid and Tore Ogdahl were married in the Barsness Lutheran church on July 14, 1890 by Rev. Skaar. Their attendants were Jenny Dalager Grove, and Gunild Ogdahl Braaten, Ole Ogdahl, the groom’s brother and Lars Holten. The reception was held at the new Hans Dalager home just built that summer. A delicious dinner and supper was served to about 200 relatives and friends. On the 16th of July, two days later, another reception was held at the Tore Ogdahl home in Kandiyohi County. To this union eight boys and one girl was born. The eldest, Henry, passed away November 15, 1945; living are: Arthur of Saskatchewan, Canada, now of Minneapolis; Tillman of Portland, Oregon; Ida (Mrs. Scrimgeour of Brownton, Minnesota; Solfest of Minneapolis; Norman of Farwell; Wallace of Glenwood and Leland of Independence, Iowa. There are 26 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Sophia died March 1, 1951, at the age of 77 years,less than a year after they had celebrated the 60th wedding anniversary. Funeral services for Sophia were held at the Glenwood Lutheran Church at 2:00 P. M. Friday, March 23. 1951. Theodore lived six more years. He died August 4th, 1957 at the age of 89 years. Both Sophia and Theodore are buried in the Barsness church cemetery.

Bibliography

• Glenwood Herald
• Glenwood Historical Library
• Lavilla Dalager Peterson
• Alice, Mrs. Norman Ogdahl Sr.
• Norman James Ogdahl Jr.
• Pope County Tribune

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)

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.

Jennie (Dalager) Grove: Obituaries of Julius and Jennie

Pope County Herald

Glenwood, Minnesota, May 20, 1937

J. O. Grove, one of Pope county’s most prominent citizens, passed away at his home at nine o’clock Sunday evening May 15th, after an illness of over a year, caused by a stroke. Mr. Grove had not been in good health for several years, but was active in his business up to a year ago, when he suffered a stroke from which he never recovered, and had been confined to his bed since that time.

Funeral services were held Thursday, May 20th, at his home at 2 o’clock and at the Glenwood Lutheran Church at two-thirty p. m. Internment was in the Barsness cemetery. Active pallbearers were Nels Austvold, Wm. Dalager, Henry Ness. J. O. Haugen, Melvin Billehus and A. K. Gandrud. Honorary pallbearers were Ed Kaldahl, Theo. Ogdahl, Carl Ronning, A. P. Branae, O. P. Brendal and Knut Knutson.

Although one of what might be termed the second generation of pioneers, the life of J. O. Grove was closely woven with the developments of Pope County. He saw the country developed from the pioneer days to the present stage of development. Julius was 65 years old.

Jennie Dalager Grove lived 16 years after Julius passed away. Jennie passed away October 14, 1953 at the age of 81 and a half years.

Glenwood Herald

Oct 18, 1953

In her active years Jennie took a prominent part in the community life of Glenwood. She was a faithful member of the Lutheran Ladies Aid, the Women’s Missionary Society and a former member of the Art Circle and Literary Club. Beside raising her own family she took into her home orphaned children and made it possible for them to complete their schooling. In her great desire to help others she gave gladly to causes that would lift humanity to a nobler plane. Her life resembled a great river, deep and mighty, flowing on and on yet with little or no sound.

A sister, Mrs. Julia Knutson, wrote the following words in her me memory.

She was to me like some great cliff,

That lift’s its awe inspiring form

Swells from the deep and midway leaves the storm;

While round its head the rearing clouds are spread

Eternal sunshine settles on its head.

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.

LaVilla (Dalager) Peterson: Memories

Lavilla is the daughter of Hans and Amelia, half-sister to Karl. What follows are some memories I compiled from an interview. –James Dalager

I was born May 18, 1903. I have been reminded many times by my sister Tillie that she, a girl of 14, came home from a dance and had to stay up and take care of things in the home while I was born. No doubt it was more like being born into a company as I had 7 sisters and 3 brothers older than I. I was also unfortunate enough to be born on a different place than any of my sisters and brothers. This was because the family was living on the Allen Hanson (1976) place waiting for their new home to be vacated by our Lutheran pastor Gens Bale. Pastor Bale was living there until the parsonage was completed and ready for occupancy.

My older sisters tell me that the family moved to the new home in September of 1903. I never lived on the homestead as this had been rented to Sophia and Theodore Ogdahl. Sophia was my half-sister. We never moved back to the homestead. I have two sisters younger than I so that was 10 children my mother had between 1888 and 1910.

During the 1908-09 school year my sister Cora went to live with Julia and Tollof Solverud in Sherwood, North Dakota. She finished 8th grade there. Tollof was real friendly and treated Cora as their adopted daughter who they nicknamed ‘Tootse.’

Tollof was a druggist by profession. Later Julia and Tollof went to Kirksville, Mo. to study and become chiropractic doctors. The started their Osteopathy business in Mankato. Later Tollof and Julia adopted a boy who they named Truman. They had plans to adopt girls also; however, Tollof died at an early age (1915-1916) so they never adopted a girl. Julia continued the Osteopathy work at Mankato for a short time and then moved to Glenwood. Julia took a job as teacher in Lowry. Later she became Superintendent of Pope County schools. Mother rented the house Hans had bought in Glenwood to Julia. Frances, Hilda’s daughter, still lives in this house.

Later Julia was a matron at an orphanage in Willmar and director of the House of Mercy, a home for pregnant girls in Fargo.

Julia’s son, Truman Solverud, finished college at St. Olaf during the depression years. Jobs were scarce. Julia suggested that he do volunteer work at the welfare office. This eventually lead to his work with the Red Cross. Following WWII he became director of Red Cross activities in Japan, Korea and Okinawa, the Philippines and Taiwan. By 1956 he was director in Hawaii, Guam, Enewetok and Kwajalein working with military hospitals, educational programs for military personal.

In later years Truman was located in Washington D.C. and lived at 5701 Colfax Ave., Alexandria, Va. His wife, Lila, whom he met while a student at St. Olaf College, was from Watford City, North Dakota.

In 1914-1915 my sister Cora took normal training in Glenwood and taught in school district 78 during the 1915-1916 school year. Lucille, Helen and I all had Cora as our teacher that year. She was super.

My niece Christine also taught for a number of years at Cokato, Minnesota. She had a blond haired boy friend named Tilrud but this didn’t go. Alice went to live with Christine in Herman, Minnesota where she took her 8th grade.

My nephew Kenneth Dalager married Barbara Steward June 15, 1956. Ken was employed as an electrical engineer at Remington Rand Univac. They have divorced and Ken has married Judy Beiswinger and they live in New Brighton. She is the owner of Biswinger Hardware.

My brother Herman Dalager and Clarence Pladson were head of the church crops project to raise money for the Barsness Church. The project leased 65 acres from N. P. Halvorson.

Fun on the farm

When growing up Hannah played a mouth organ and the youngest children danced and had fun.

The hired men were Anton Hoff, Rasmus Feigum, Anton Ogdahl, ‘fatty’ Gunder Johnson. Fatty became part of the Dalager family for a long time. After working for dad he worked for Cora and Adolph Anderson and later in the 3d generation my son Ralph teased my daughter Lila about him by just pointing his finger at her and saying ‘fatty Gunder.’

Hans Dalager and Ingeborg: Ingeborg’s early days, courtship, and the first family

Ingeborg Knudson, also known as Isabelle, was born August 8, 1848. In the Nord-Aurdal records she is listed as the daughter of Knud Lagesen Gjeldemarken and Ingeborg Syversdatter. In the Sor-Aurdal records, Ingeborg Syversdatter was born October 6, 1823 and her wedding to Knud Lagesen Gjeldemarken took place on June 17, 1847. The death record of Knud, found in the Nord-Aurdal records, recorded his death on April 24, 1853, at the age of 34 years. Ingeborg would have been less than 5 years old at the time. She had no known brothers or sisters. From family records it is known that Ingeborg came to the St. Cloud area when she was 12 years old, about the year 1860. It is uncertain who she traveled with or how long she lived in the St. Cloud area. However, Hans and Ingeborg may have first met in this area.

The 1870 federal census for Barsness township, Pope County, lists family #10 as Lars Larson (age 45), Ingeborg (age 47) and Isabelle (age 21). Hans Dalager was listed as family #12 in this same census report. The age for Ingeborg (47) would be right for Ingeborg Syversdatter who had been married ot Knud Lageson Gjellemaken and the age for Isabelle (21) would be right for Ingeborg Isabelle Knudson, if the census was taken in the spring before her 22 birthday on Aug. 8, 1870. This indicates that Lars Larson was most likely Ingeborg’s step father and his wife, Ingeborg, was her mother. To further support this the Nord-Aurdal records record the marriage, on Dec 29, 1853, of Lars Larson Anmarken, age 27, son of Lars Knudsen, to Ingeborg Syversdatter, age 30, the mother of Ingeborg Isabelle.

Lars Larson’s homestead document lists his quarter of land as the SE 1/4 of section 12 of Barsness township and Hans Dalager’s homestead document lists his quarter of land as the NE 1/4 of section 12 of Barsness township. Therefore Lars’ and Hans’ homestead quarters adjoined each other.

On July 7, 1871 Hans married Ingeborg (Isabelle) Knudson Larson. Following their marriage, Hans & Ingeborg settled on the groom’s homestead. The following children were born to them: Jennie (Mrs. J. O. Grove), Sophia (Mrs. Theodore Ogdahl), Christine (Mrs. George Houston), Solfest (who died at the age of 2 years of convulsions while teething), Julia (Mrs. Solverud Knutson), Henry (who died as a baby), Hannah (Mrs. P. O. C. Johnson), Louise (who died as a baby), Karl Theodore, and Martin (who died at the age of two months of blood poison contracted from his mother). Ingeborg, the mother of the above children died of blood poisoning six days after the birth of Martin. She was 38 years old when she died January 5, 1887.

Some of the characteristics of the Dalager children, as described by Julia would be physical stamina. This is illustrated by the long lives of those who lived through infancy. Their mother, on her death bed, requested that her children be given a chance for an education. Four of the girls in the family followed the role of teachers. The following Bible verse, written in Norwegian, is recorded on Ingeborg’s gravestone in the Barsness Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Luke 18:16 Let the little children come to me and forbid them not,
for the kingdom of God belongs to such.

Hans Dalager and Amelia: First and second families, buttermilk, fire, and a surrey

On April 7, 1888 Amelia Bentrud married Hans Dalager, a widower. The wedding took place on the Bentrud farm. Hans’ first wife, Ingeborg, had died in child birth in 1886. Ameila did not turn 20 until June 20, 1888. Amelia stepped into a home where there were 6 children, 5 girls and 1 boy. The oldest girl was 16 years old and the baby boy was 3 years old. The following children were born to Hans and Amelia: Tillie (Mrs. Anton Ogdahl), William (Willie), Cora (Mrs. Adolph Anderson), Selmer, Alice (Mrs. Torwald Disrud), Herman, Lavilla (Mrs. John Peterson), Lucille (Mrs. Arnold Selness), Helen (Mrs. Charles Thomas), and Alma (who died in April 1908 at the age of six).

The farm Amelia moved to was a large farm at the time consisting of about 2000 acres. There were sometimes as many as 7 hired men and 2 hired girls during the summer What would the bread making task be at this house? The women also did the milking and other chores during the summer months.

As the family of Hans and Amelia grew, the children of Hans and Ingeborg were growing up also. Sophia was married to Theodore Ogdahl in 1890, just two years after Hans married Amelia. Her oldest son, Henry, was born in 1892. Sophia and Theodore were living on the place that Ralph Peterson now owns and where his son Mark lives. Jenny taught country school after completing her training at St. Cloud Normal School. Country school at that time was usually held during the fall and spring. As a teacher, Jenny was on her own and did not live at home. Christine also trained as a teacher and taught in school district 78. During this time she made her home with Sophie.

Hannah, Karl and Julia lived at home with Hans and Amelia during the years following their marriage. Julia was a great story teller. One of her jobs was to watch the children which she was very successful at because of her interest in story telling. She went on to study at St. Cloud Normal School were she became interested in stars. Julia would tell the children stories about the stars. She also taught them English and would tell Bible stories.

Everyone was home at Christmas. This included the hired help which were usually two hired men and a hired girl in the winter. The Christmas tree was always important. The tree was usually a boxelder. Each branch was wound with green tissue paper. Then flowers were made and attached and small candles were tied on. There were gifts under the tree. There were pocket knives for the boys and dolls for the girls. A pie was made over a big dishpan with oats. In each one was a gift for each child of apples, popcorn etc.

Hans Dalager usually wore a beard and was a very loving and affectionate person. He usually brought Amelia gifts on special occasions. He was witty, cheerful and very good with children. He did not like to listen to gossip, always spoke Norwegian, and did not drink alcohol. Hans drank butter milk instead of whiskey. He might smoke once in while for the fun of it with friends. He would punish children if needed, loved family parties, especially at Christmas time, and would serve wine at the beginning of parties. Hans liked to sing when he drove along. The neighbors said they could hear him singing, mostly hymns in Norwegian.

Every day Willie was expected to bring in the wood for the next day. One time when he failed to do this and was expecting a whipping he hid all day by crawling under his bed so no one could find him.

In 1901 the Gilbertson school house burned. There was rejoicing that morning when the announcement was made–no school because the school had burned down. Bridget Olson, the teacher, was saving ashes in a wooden box at the school for Mrs. Gilbertson to use in making lutefisk and this caused the fire. The school board asked to have school at the Dalager place. There was no happiness for the Dalager youngsters now as school was soon in session again. The school was set up in the new addition to the house that was used as a summer kitchen. All the neighborhood children came to school at the Dalager place. There were over 20 students. Most of the children walked to school. Lunch usually consisted of slices of bread with molasses, molasses cake and once in a while an apple. To have apples they would be bought by the barrel.

Once when Cora was walking to the Gilbertson school she met a wolf. She had a tin pail to hold her lunch. She banged on the pail and the wolf ran off. It is not known if this was before or after the school was rebuilt.

One year a prairie fire took all the crops and a pair of oxen.

Once when Carrie Scokerstaff, who lived near Terrace, was to come over to help with house work, a big winter storm hit. Hans, who had gone to Terrace to pick up Carrie, and Carrie were caught in the storm and had to wait out the storm under the tipped over wagon box.

In 1888, when Tillie was a baby, Hans bought a team of horses in Goodhue County where he had relatives. On the way home from Goodhue County the horses became frightened and ran away. This happened near Willmar. The wagon tipped over and Hans broke his leg. Hans was hospitalized at Willmar. Because the leg was not set properly he always walked with a limp and had to have a heel built on his shoe.

Amelia Dalager went to church every time there was church service. Children and hired help also went. They usually loaded a wagon in the summer and a sleigh in the winter.

Hans served on the church building committee in 1883 when the first church was built in Barsness township.

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 became one of the richest farmers in the county. At the time of his death he owned nearly 2 sections of land.

Hans’ daughter Alice remembered when Hans brought home a new surrey around 1903-05. A surrey was a two-seated buggy pulled by two horses and had plenty of room for the kids. He had gone into town by himself that day. She did not know where he bought the surrey, whether in St. Cloud where he did most of his shopping, Alexandria or some place else. He came home while it was still light. The roads were not very good at that time but she didn’t think it was muddy. Alice didn’t think Hans would have taken them out in the mud. First they ate supper. The kids didn’t know any thing about the surrey as yet. After supper Hans said he had something to show and they were all surprised and excited. Hans loaded as many kids as would fit in the surrey and took them for a mile and a half ride to school district 78 as he wanted to look at some land that was for sale near by. Alice thought he bought the land later on because this land later went to the Groves as a part of Jennie’s share of Han’s estate.

According Lloyd Vindedahl of Glenwood—a distant relative of the Dalagers—Hans was a good operator. Lloyd had worked for a man who had worked for Hans Dalager many years before. This man had been hired to plow for Hans and his was one of eleven walking plows that Hans had working in his fields. A walking plow had only one moldboard. The pay was fifty cents a day plus food and lodging which was not bad at that time.

Hans Dalager: Land Holdings

Hans made a number of land deals through the years, some of which are detailed below.

Glenwood Herald

July 5, 1901. Hans Dalager and Theodore Ogdahl returned Saturday morning from a trip to the Red River valley where Hans Dalager purchased 380 acres from W. J. Carmen. Mr. Ogdahl brought with him and left at the Herald office a sample of the wheat now standing and growing on this farm. The straw is about 4 feet long with heads 4 inches in length. Judging from the sample of grain and the location of the property, Mr. Dalager has struck a snap without a doubt. (Comment: This may be the land he bought in Bigwood township, Marshall county near Oslo, Mn)

March 20, 1903. Hans Dalager of Barsness township has leased his big farm to his son-in-law Theo Ogdahl for a term of six years at an annual rental of $1,100.00. Mr. Dalager will most likely move into town and occupy the residence property he purchased some time ago from Martin Rigg. 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.

Posters and an ad in another part of this issue proclaim an auction sale that he will have on March 25th at which he will dispose of his livestock, farm machinery etc. This was in preparation to leaving the farm upon which he accumulated sufficient income to keep him in comfort during his remaining years.

Hans Dalager Auction Sale
Section 12 of Barsness Township
About 7 miles south of Glenwood
March 25, 1903 at 10 A.M.

62 head of cattle
feed mill
2 McCormick Binders
4 harrows
2 seeders
Fairbanks scale
1 drill
Cutter
2 wagons
grind stone<
1 Buggy
2 mowers
1 corn cultivator
2 Hay rakes
sets of harness
4 pigs
5 sheep
bob sleigh
fanning mill
farm tools
household goods
other articles

Terms of the sale: all sums of $5.00 and under cash. Larger sums 9 months time on approved note at 8% interest. 3% discount for cash on sums over $5.00

Hans was still interested in land. In November of 1903 he made an extensive trip into Manitoba. He reported rich soil well adapted for grain and stock raising. He especially liked the city of Winnipeg.

In a letter to his son Karl, Hans describes land he had purchased in Marshall county.

Glenwood, Nov. 1909

Dear Son Karrel,

I will now lend you a few words and let you know that your letter was welcome and I thank you for it. I am now much better than the time you were here but as yet I am not able to work. I am happy that you have begun a steady occupation as lumber work is a good job. I would think it is very good if you would follow after what Tollef want. Be honest in your dealings and pray to the Lord that he will help you in every instance. Seek first the kingdom of God and then everything will be added unto you. Be steady in the work you now have. I believe it is good and I am glad. I am happy that you have quit the telephone business.

How much land I have near the Red River you shall now know–it is 378 and 1/2 acres located in Marshall County Minnesota in sections 4 & 5, township N 156, range 50 and my price is $28.00 per acre and I give you one dollar per acre for you to sell the $30.00 per acre.

If you wish to go there to see the land you go to Oslo, Minnesota and then it is 9 miles to the farm. The name of the township is Big Wood and there is a store and an elevator 5 miles from my place and three miles north there is a church and now a store. At the elevator with a bank near by– one can sell all that one has to sell. You and Tollef take a trip there and see both the farm and woods which are beautiful. Ask at the Lars Klakkig for information where it is located.

I will now close my writing with friendly greeting both to you and Tollef Solverud from all of us and I hope to hear from you soon.

Cordially, Hans L. Dalager