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.