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TITLE MY FOREFATHERS IN LA CROSSE COUNTY
NAME EDNA SOLBERG
AGE FOURTEEN
SCHOOL HOLMEN HIGH SCHOOL
ADDRESS HOLMEN, WISCONSIN
SIGNATURES
Even C. Solberg
Mrs. R. D. Sandman
AV
ley Forefathers in. La Crosse County'
On a beautiful day in the summer of 1841 a small
vessel at sail from Oslo, Norway, carrying with it families
who were going to build the country which today is the great-
est and most advanced country in the world, America. Little
they thought that some day our country would be the leader of
the world.
Among the occupants of this vessel there was one
family of three whose names were Johnson, and like all the
older Norwegians they had more than one name, also being
called, Stoen. The Norwegians had a peculiar custom of naming
the sons the Christian names of their fathers, adding son, as
for instance if the father's name vas John, the son's name
would be "Johnson." They would also get their names by living
on a farm or home where another family had lived. All farms
were called by certain names of the former owner.
The ships were very different from what they are
today. They were sailing ,day after day and it was a very
happy party that dbod on board and watched the beautiful New
York Harbour oome into sight. It was not so busy in those days
as it is now.
2-- My Forefathers in La Crosse County
Johnson& are my great grandparents.
Coming to America they travelled by oxen to La Crosse
County and made their home on the farm that their daughter and
son-in-law own.
When my great grandparents arrived here there were
only three houses in La Crosse and thinking that that place
would never be a city they came to this site in Long Coulee,
one and one-half miles north of the present village of Holmen.
Lars Olstad came with them from Norway and settled about a mile
from them.
Of course there were no hones for the pioneers and
many were the nights that they slept under the beautiful starlit
skies with only Godes protecting hand over them, but they were
strong in faith and knew that the Almighty Father would ware for
them. The first home that they built was a small one -roomed log
cabin. Nevertheless it was a home, and what more could a family
of hardy pioneers wish?
They got their food by hunting and fishing. The woods
were full of game and the waters full of fish.
There were many Indians around here and later my great
3-- my Forefathers in La Crosse County
grandfather related the story that one day, several years after
their settling, a woman by the name of Mrs. Kjos was going to
a neighbors living about three miles away. She got to the neigh-
bors and on her journey back she became lost. She did not know
what to do but a group of Indians came and she made motions to
them explaining that she was lost. They motioned back that she
follow them. She followed them and was taken safely home. This
little incident shows haw most of the Indians were friends of the
white man.
Another story relates how one time word was received
that a band of dangerous Indians was coming here. My great grand-
father and another man went ahead to meet them. The other man
wanted to shoot but my great grandfather said, "No, they perhaps
are friendly." The Indians came up to them and they found the
Indians to be friendly, only wishing to trade articles for food.
My great grandfather at first had to carry provisions
from La Crosse to his home on his back. Lars Olstad, who is living
today at the age of ninety-three, tells now at one time my great
grandfather carried as much as one hundred pounds of flour on his
back from La Crosse.
4-- My Forefathers in La Crosse County
'Alien my great grandfather came they found a log cabin
on a farm now known as the Garret Hemma farm, that was evidently
built by a white man but no traces of him could be found. The
name of this man and his reasons for vacating the place are un-
known but it was supposed by these settlers that this man vas
either massacred or foreed to move by the Indians.
The first white children to be born in this part of
the country were my great grandparents' daughter, Mrs. Andrew
Nelson and Thersa Kjos.
For many years they had no church or minister but the
first minister was a Lutheran by the name of Mr. Frick. Be
vent among the homes preaching the word of God to the people mho
for many years had not heard a minister speak.
If our ancestors had seen the modern inventions and
improvements 'such as aeroplane, telephone, electric lights and
automobiles the would have marveled at the immiers of today.
We can thank our ancestors, one and all, for what we and our
country are.
Title: Yy For•!fathers in La Crosse County.
Name: Edna Solberg.
Age: 14 years.
School: Homen High School.
Adi.ress: Hclmen, Wisconsin.
Signatlires:
iy Forefatners in La Crosse County.
On a ceaatifal day in the summer of 1641 a small vessel st sail
fro.: Oslo, Nnr4ay, carrying with it families WAO wefe going to build
tne wnicn today is tne greatest and most advanced country in
:le warld. America. Little tney thought tnat some day our country would
-rne tne le.der of tne world.
Amcn‘o tne occupants of this vessel tnere was one family of tnree
wno,7e names were Jonnson, and like all tne older Norwegians tney nad
7.cre tnan one name, also being called. Stoen. The Norwegian nail a
custon of naming tne sons the Christian names of tneir fatners,
adding son, as for instance if the fathers name was John, tne son's
nalne -woald be "Johnson." Ti -icy would also get tneir names by living
on a farm or nome where anotner family nad lived. All farms were called
by certain names of tne former,' owner.
The snins were very different from wnat they are to -day. They
were sailing day after day and it was a very happy party that stood on
board and watcned tne beauriful New York Harbour come into signt. It
was not so busy in tnose days as it is now.
Johnsons are.my great grandparents.
Coming to America they travelled by oxen to La Crosse County and
made tneir nome on the farm tnat tneir daugnter and son-in-law now own.
When my great grandparents arrived here there were only three
houses in La Crosse arid tniTiking that that place would never be a city
tney came to tnis site in Long Coulee, one and one-nalf miles north of
tne present village of Holmen. Lars Olstad came with tnem from Norway
and settled about a mile from tnem.
Of course there were no nomes for the pioneers and many were tilt
nignts tnat tney slept under the beauriful starlit skies with only God's
protecting hand over them, but they were strong in faith and knew tnat
tne Almighty Father would care for tnem. .Tne first nome that tney
built was a small one -roomed log cabin. Nevertneless it was a nomeiand
what more cold a family of nardy bioneers wisn?
They got tneir food by nunting and fishing. The woods were full
of game and the waters full of fish.
There were many Indians around here and later my great grandfatner
related the story that one day, several years after tneir settling, a
woman by tne name of Mrs. Kjos was going to a neignbors living aipou;.t
three miles away. She got to the neii.f.,nbors and on her journey nack sne
became lost. She did not know .that to do but a group of Indians came
and sne made motions to tnem explaining tnat she was lost. Tney motion-
ed back that she should follow tnem. She followed tnem and was taken
safely nome. Tnis little incident snows now most of the Indians were
friends of the white man.
Another story relates now one time word was rec ed that a band of
daruerous Indians was coming here. My great gtandfa ner and anotner man
werit ahead to meet tnem. The other man wanted to snoot out my great-
grandfatner said, "No, they perhaps are friendly." Tne Indians came an
to them and tney found the Indians to be friendly, only to
trade articles for food.
My great grandfather .at first naa to carry provisions from La Crosse
to his no7le on nis oack. Lars Olstad, wao is living to -day at the
of ninety-three, tells how at one time my great grandfather carried as
mucn as on nunlrel unls of flour on his :back from La Crosse.
When my great ,7ran-ifther came tney found a log cabin on a farm
now known as the garret 'er=,a farm, that was evidently built by a white
man but no cr:es of nir7. c:ouLd oe found. The name of uhis man and his
reasons fcr va:a:ng :ne 0ce are unknown hut it was supposed by these
settlers at tnis !ran was eitner massacred or forced to move by the
Indians.
The fi:st white cnildren to be born in tnis palt of the country
were 7.y great grandoarents daughter, Mrs. Andrew Nelson and Tnersa Kjos.
For oy years they had no cnurch or minister but the first
7.inister Lutheran by the name of Mr. Frick. He went among.tne
nomes .:_rechin:, the word of God to the people vi:Jo for many years nad not
he.:ird a :f]inipter speak.
If our ancestors had seen tne modern inventions and improvements
such as aeroCiane, telephone, electric liLnts andautomobilts the would
nave .rveled lit the wondors of to -day. We can thank our ancestors,
cneiand all, for wnat we and our counry are.