Julia (Dalager) Solverud-Knutson: Julia and Tollef in Sherwood

It is not known if Tollef and Julia went to Kenmore right away or not as the newspaper write-up of their wedding states. The following newspaper items from the Sherwood Tribune & Journal indicate that a little over a year after their marriage they were living in Sherwood, N.D. Sherwood is about 45 miles northeast of Kenmore. Lavilla, Julia’s sister, remembers that Julia and Tollef were in Sherwood shortly after their marriage. It is not known where Julia and Tollef spent the year following their marriage as the first newspaper reference to them in Sherwood is November, 1907.

The Sherwood Tribune & Journal

Nov. 28, 1907 Tollef Solverud and his wife are spending Thanksgiving at the latter’s sister’s home in Denbigh.

Dec. 26, 1907 Prof. Johnson & wife of Denbigh are Xmas guests of Mr. and Mrs. Tollef Solverud.

April 2, 1908, page 7 Mrs. Tollef Solverud called to Glenwood, Mn because of the sickness of her little sister. (This is her sister Alma)

April 9, 1908, page 5 Tollef Solverud received word Tuesday from Mrs. Solverud, who is at her parents home in Glenwood, Mn, that her 6 year old sister died Saturday. He also learned that his brother Ted was taken to Rochester Hospital Sunday for an operation for appendicitis.

April 23, 1908, page 3 Tollef Solverud returned Tuesday from Hayfield, Minn, where he was called on account of the death of his brother. Mrs. Solverud will remain there a week or so yet.

May 21, 1908, page 7 Tollef Solverud and wife now occupy the rooms over the Hamilton Drug Store. They moved there from the Anderson rooms Friday.

June 18, 1908, page 5 Druggist Solverud is taking the pharmacy examination this week and looking after some matters in Grand Forks and Fargo.

July 2, 1908, page 3 Tollef Solverud’s brother-in-law Geo. Houston of Herman, Mn visited him and his wife Friday evening. Mrs. Tollef Solverud went to the home of her sister in Denbigh today.

Aug. 13, 1908, page 3 Karl Dalager came over from Kenmore Saturday to visit his sister, Mrs. Solverud, and friends. Karl has a good position at Kenmore and he returned there Monday.

Nov. 19, 1908, page 3 Mrs. Tollef Solverud & Mrs. L. L. Goheen attended the County SS convention held in Glenburn Tuesday and Wednesday, they being delegates from the Presbyterian and Methodist Sunday Schools respectively. Mrs. Solverud was elected Supt. of the county primary department.

Dec 3, 1908, page 5 Tollef Solverud and wife & Miss Cora Dalager spent Thanksgiving with Prof. Johnson and family at Denbigh. Mrs. Solverud and Mrs. Johnson are sisters.

Jan 28, 1909, page 3 Druggist T. Solverud was a Denbigh visitor the first of the week.

Apr 22, 1909, Karl Dalager came up from his home in Minnesota Tuesday. He expects to go to work for the Northern Telephone Co. soon.

May 6, 1909 Front Page

Solverud buys Deering Store

Popular Druggist & wife will remove to Deering–Farewell Reception Given Friday.

Tollef Solverud has purchased the Pat Lee drug store in Deering and will move to that town soon. He went down on Monday to invoice the stock. Mr. Solverud has been connected with the Hamilton drug store since July of 1907, and by his genial manner & strict application to business won the confidence and esteem of those with whom he dealt.

He and his wife have been active & prominent in Church and lodge circles during their stay here and will be greatly missed by those among whom they have performed their almost indispensable service. Friday evening the Workmen & the Degree of Honor gave them a farewell party at the IOOF Hall. Members of the lodge & a number of invited friends of the couple gathered to enjoy the evening. Amusements, consisting of cards, music, dancing and a light lunch of donuts and coffee. The lodge presented Mr. and Mrs. Solverud with a fine solid oak rocking chair.

May 6, 1909, page 2 Karl Dalager left Monday for Russel where he is working for the Northern Telephone Co.

May 20, 1909 Mr. and Mrs. Tollef Solverud moved to Deering Friday shipping their household goods by that days freight. Mr. Solverud has engaged in the Drug business at Deering, having purchased a drug store three weeks ago. Their many friends regret their leaving and will miss them in many ways. The Tribune wishes them the best of success in their new home.

July 15. 1909, page 3 Mrs. Solverud came up from Deering Saturday evening to visit old time friends over Sunday.

The next information about Tollef and Julia is the following letter written about a year and a half later after the death of her father Hans on March 23, 1910. The letter was written on drug store stationery and was written to her cousin Julia Dalager Chilson in Webster, South Dakota.

Solverud’s Drug Store

Drugs, Chemicals and Sundries

Prescriptions Carefully Compounded

Deering, North Dakota

DEC 10, 1910

My dear cousin Julia,

I have thought of you often since I last wrote you. It is now five years since I made you a visit. I shall long remember the nice times we had together. I am not very well and have no family as yet. Guess I am beyond hopes of ever being a mother. Last fall I went to see the Doctors Mayo. They told me they could do nothing for me whatsoever. I then went to a specialist in Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri. I took treatments from him for five weeks. I got much better but was so lonesome among strangers and being so miserable, so I came back home again. That doctor told me I had three curves in my back and those caused all my head aches and other ailments I have. When I came back from Kirksville I felt much better, but it was not long until papa died and the shock was too great on me. Poor papa. It seems so lonely without him, but he was glad to go and ready to meet his master. Papa had been poorly for over three years. Only Sophia was there from the first family when he died. I spent six weeks at the home a year ago this fall and I had such nice visits with papa.

After the settling of the will Amelia has much property and a beautiful new house nicely furnished. She had a baby boy shortly after papa died. Her baby lived only 36 hours. Karl is at Inverness, Montana. He has a lumber yard there, also a claim. He is doing real well. He has turned out a fine business man. Of course he has a girl or two on the string even now. Hope he will decide to be married soon. He will spend Xmas with me. He has made my home his home since I was married.

Let me hear from you. I so long to hear how you all are. Remember me to Auntie, Sophia, Andrew and all their families. How are Christie and her family? Greet them from me..

We have had several deaths in the Dalager families of late years. Soon I presume our turns will come to take that journey. Let me hear from you soon. Remember me to all your family. By the way, how many babies have you now? I send you a little painting as a kind remembrance of my kind thoughts of you. It is my own work from the Calendar you sent me two years ago. I put a new pad on it every year so it is up to date even now. Put on the picture 2 x 2.5 inches in white mat and a narrow gilt frame. That will improve it greatly. I see my letter is quite long so must close with lots of love to you all. Remember me to your husband and babies.

Much Love,

Cousin Julia Solverud

Excuse haste, I have scribbled this letter in a hurry.

P.S. Where is Almine now? I have never heard from her. I would like to hear from you before I go. Will drop you a card from Des Moines.

Almine was the daughter of Kristie Amundson who was Nils Dalager’s daughter. She came to the US with Brita and grew up with Brita at Webster, SD. It should also be noted that Amilia agreed with Julia and rectified the inheritance as best she could. It should be noted here that my father, Karl, had spent much time living with his sisters when he was growing up. He was with Julia a lot and was with her in Sherwood and later in Deering.

Karl and Ida: Karl’s early years and bachelorhood

Karl Theodore Dalager was born on October 31, 1885 in Barsness Township, Pope County, Glenwood, Minnesota. He was the son of Hans Sylfestsen Dalager and Ingeborg (Isabelle) Knudsen Dalager. Karl’s mother died January 5, 1887 of childbirth when Karl was a little over 14 months old. Marthine, the child that was born at that time also died.

This left Karl in the care of his 5 older capable sisters, the oldest being Jenny who was 15 years old. Hans married Amilia Bentrud on April 7, 1888 and Karl soon had a half-sister, Tillie. Not much is known of Karl’s childhood other than that he attended country school and was often in his sisters’ homes as they moved away to their own home. At the age of 14 years Karl left home and moved in with his sister Sophie (Mrs. Theodore Ogdahl).

One of the best sources of information about family is found in family letter and newspaper articles. They also give a time frame and give a picture of community activities. The following letter written by Karl’s sister Julia to a cousin in Webster, S.D. mentions Karl and shows Julia’s concern for Karl. Karl was 19 at the time.

Willmar, Minn. Feb. 27, 1905

My dear cousin Julia:

I received your letter sometime ago. Thank you very much for same. I was so glad to hear from you. I presume Karl has told you all about things here so I shall not write much concerning the affairs. I am real well and have a lovely position this year. When I heard from the folks last they were well. Well, I presume you were surprised to see Karl. He is quite a man now. He was kind of tired out and wanted very much to go and see you folks so I let him go. He wrote me the second day he was there. He was so delighted with the place. If he is not a good boy you must go for him. He has not been away alone before. Karl wrote me about your beautiful home. I was so glad to hear you are so comfortably settled now. I presume it is real pleasant.

I was very much surprised when I received Andrew’s invitation. (Andrew Dalager of Webster, S.D. was married Feb. 8, 1905.) He surely did not wait very long. Well, dear, I shall try to pay you a visit. I have no idea how soon I will be able to do it, but rest assured I shall do so soon.

Give my love to the folks up there, also Karl. Ask him to let me hear again from him. You would do me a great favor if you would look after him. I have no idea how he will care for himself out among strangers. I was so glad when he decided to go west as I do not care to have him around home. The young people there are not the nicest kind as so many of the boys drink and I am very anxious to keep Karl away from such society. Let me hear from you soon, if you will kindly favor me with a few words. With love and best wishes, I am,

Your loving, Julia Dalager

PS. I have mislaid your letter and I cannot think of your name so will you kindly pardon me for sending it in your maiden name.

Over the next few years Karl worked at different jobs in the Glenwood area and also in North Dakota, Montana, and Canada. When his father died on March 23, 1910, Karl was working in Inverness, Montana. Karl worked in this area of eastern Montana and western Dakota so he would be close to his sister Julia who was living in Sherwood, N.D. Julia’s husband, Tollef Solverud, had a drug store in Sherwood, North Dakota.

To follow Karl’s activities as a young man I will use newspaper news and letters.

The Sherwood Tribune & Journal, Sherwood, ND

April 16, 1908 Karl Dalager went to Mohall Monday to accept a position as clerk in the Sherwood Hotel at that place. Mr. Dalager has had experience in the hotel business and will most likely give value received in his services at Mohall.

June 4, 1908, page 2 Karl Dalager took Rev. J. P. Davis to Antler this morning to catch the early morning train.

June 18, 1908, page 5 Karl Dalager and R. M. Ripley drove to Kenmore Tuesday.

August 13, 1908, Page 3 Karl Dalager came over from Kenmore Saturday to visit his sister, Mrs. Solverud and friends. Karl has a good position at Kenmore and he returned there Monday.

April 22, 1909 Karl Dalager came up from his home in Minnesota Tuesday. He expects to go to work for the Northern Telephone Co. soon.

May 6, 1909, page 2 Karl Dalager left Monday for Russel where he is working for the Northern Telephone Co.

The letter below was written shortly before Hans passed away March 23, 1910.

Glenwood, Nov. 1909

Dear Son Karrel (sic),

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 wants. 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 S. Dalager

The land described by Hans in Big Wood township of Marshall county was very good land and well suited for raising wheat, potatoes, or sugar beets. However it is near the Red River of the North which is prone to spring flooding. When visited by the writer, it was interesting to note that the township roads were much higher than the surrounding land.