Norwegian-American Historical Association

Vol 142 Summer 2011

From the NAHA Offi ce to Association Members

I T I

A Sneak Peak at Norwegian- Elias Molee, a unique character in American Studies, Volume 36 the annals of Norwegian-American Civil War Letter 2 history, who would have preferred to Translated  e Norwegian-American Historical be remembered here as elias molee Association is pleased to return to for reasons Professor Slind explains. The NAHA Civil War 4 publication after a hiatus to reorder Slind is Professor of History at Luther Collection the finances and governance of the College in Decorah, Iowa. Emeritus organization. It is a particular pleasure Professor of History Gary D. Olson New Acquisitions 6 this fall to present the thirty-sixth of Augustana College in Sioux Falls, volume in a series that began in 1926 South Dakota, has contributed an ably From the Front Desk 8 with what was then called Studies drawn demographic profile of the and Records. Through the years the Norwegian-American community in NAHA-Norge Seminar 9 format and content have changed Sioux Falls based on census data. His somewhat, but most volumes of the method and findings will help link Hired for Battle 11 series—now known as Norwegian- Norwegian-American research to a American Studies—have presented a growing body of research in American Odd Lovoll Honor 12 miscellany, including both essays and and transatlantic history. Carol presentations of primary sources. Colburn and Laurann Gilbertson, of Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, The present volume continues in that Iowa, turn our attention to the work tradition. Jens Christian Eldal, senior clothing of Norwegian-Americans. researcher at the Norwegian Institute Work clothing tells us much about of Cultural Heritage Research who we are on a daily basis, and (NIKU), is a close observer of the Colburn and Gilbertson’s article N-A traditions of wood construction and contributes to a fuller understanding H A architecture in Norway. His essay, of how Norwegian-Americans went presenting a study of the architecture to work in the United States. James S. 1510 St. Olaf Avenue of some of the earliest Norwegian- Hamre, Emeritus Professor of History Northfield, MN 55057 American Lutheran churches in the at Waldorf College in Forest City, www.naha.stolaf.edu Midwest, is a pioneering work in what Iowa, has written an introduction [email protected] promises to be a rich field of research. to the writing of one of Norwegian- Marvin G. Slind offers a study of America’s most prolific and often Phone: 507-786-3221 Continued on Page 10 Page 2

A Translation from the Translation services provided by: Tove and Ole Tobiassen 485 2nd Street Hammond, WI 54015 [email protected] 715-410-5931

Thank you Tove and Ole!

Private Knud Iverson Wisconsin Historical Society. Image ID: 53739 Used with permission Page 3

Civil War Collection Crab Orchard, Kentucky Give them all my kind Oct 17th 1862 and warm regards.

I want to write a few To my always beloved words home, and tell wife and children: how my situation is here. Dear and beloved wife First I will give thanks to and children, what will the Lord, whom governs happen to me now, only Private Knud Iverson died everything, for my good the Lord knows. It hurts December 31, 1862 at Stones health and for being me that I have not been still alive. able to answer the letters River, Tennessee just two that I have received months after composing Little has happened from you, neither have I this letter. He is buried in lately, and that gives us been able to write home Nashville. plenty of time to reflect due to battles and wear. during days and nights. Please forgive me. He was survived by his wife, The same kind of food is served all the time. I Your devoted husband Dorthea and their nine have so far been in two Knud Iversøn Wibe children, the youngest of battles, but my flank whom he never saw. stood well against the Dear children, please enemy, and we watched help, comfort and obey them flee before us. your mother.

We have not received By the grace of God, I payments for four will soon be home again. months, and unless things change rapidly, Give my regard to we may not get paid everyone at home, both until after New Year. family and friends.

Can you please forward Our beloved Lord whom me some money? sees everything and When I get paid, I will governs everything. immediately send home Written in haste. what you remitted to me. Write back to me soon. I have not spoken to or I beg you, my dear seen Gullick for years. brother-in-law Borger, But hope that he will that you will return the return to us again. favor I gave you last fall. Page 4

 e Civil War Collection NAHA Civil War Resources Dallas, Georgia. He describes the health and living conditions of P0001: Aaker Family Papers: his company, the slaves he meets, Andrew Scott (Groven) Civil War destruction of property, and the As the United States Letters. “The Civil War Letters battle engagement north of Atlanta. commemorates the of Andrew (Andreas) Scott of Company D, 10th Regt. Minn. P0027: Peter Christian Asserson 150th anniversary of Vol. Infantry. From Fort Snelling, Papers: Biographical information the War Between the Sept. 1864 to Memphis, Tenn, on a Norwegian-born rear admiral March 1865.” Translated from the and civil engineer in the United States, we thought Norwegian Originals by Olav K. States Navy. He was an ensign in it appropriate to Lundeberg (1935). 36 pages. Two the navy during the Civil War. typed copies. highlight the parts P0035: Ole Olsen Berge Papers of our collection P0011: Arlow W. Andersen Papers: of a Norwegian-born farmer at “Some Reflections on Cambridge, Manitowoc, Wisconsin: Civil War containing materials [B.] Willerup, and Norwegian- letters by Berge. from the soldiers and Danish Methodism in America” by Arlow W. Anderson, Wisconsin P0083: Ingebret Eriksen Papers: families who had first- Conference Historian. Letter of Letters to Eriksen, farmer hand knowledge of the April 12, 1995, with translations of and merchant at Scandinavia, sections of Buslett’s and Johnson’s Wisconsin, from Civil War soldiers. events of the day. comments on J.A. Johnson, Methodist minister and chaplain P0114: Ole Grimstvedt Papers: of the 15th Wisconsin Regiment Civil War Reminiscences, “Ole The following is [Civil War]; and translation of Grimstvedt’s Hospital Life from a summary of the obituary of Johnson’s widow, Nov. 1862 till April 2nd, 1866.” An earthy 1915. and realistic account by a western collections where Civil Dane County, Wisconsin, farmer War related material P0017: Sigurd Anderson lecture who served in the Co. C, 12th Wis. “Lawyers in the Civil War,” delivered Vol. Inf. as Ole Olson. can be found. before the Bar Association of the District of Columbia (1961). P0144: Hans C. Heg Papers: A typescript copy of a letter by Heg; a P0020: Ole Andreson letter by Olaf I. Rove to Waldemar Correspondence: Letters to his Ager, quoting August Reymert wife at Wiota, LaFayette County, concerning Heg’s contribution Wisconsin, from a Norwegian-born to the Civil War effort; a speech farmer who enlisted February 2, by Julius E. Olson; clippings 1864, with Company H of the Third concerning the Heg monument in Wisconsin Regiment of Infantry Madison, Wisconsin; genealogies; and was killed May 25, 1864, at Historic Heg Memorial Park, Page 5

Compiled by Jeff Sauve pamphlet, 1975; typescript copy (31 pages) of over 800 who served P1027 Ove Lind Papers: Copies of a Heg letter from Weaverville, in the Minnesota units. One folder of three Civil War letters written California, October 7, 1849; about the 15th Wisconsin Regiment, by a Private in Company I, 12th Photo of a monument to the 15th 3 folders of rosters and profiles Wisconsin Infantry, then in Wisconsin at Chicamauga Creek; of soldiers of that regiment, one Tennessee, to wife and daughter. and photocopies of an article by folder of profiles of Norwegians First letter written in some town Kevin Die-Zimmel about Heg’s who served in other units. There in Tennessee and dated May 8, contact with Sherman M. Booth, an are folders of letters and documents 1863 [perhaps Memphis]; second abolitionist opponent of the Fugitive concerning more than a dozen letter written in some other town Slave Law, and transcriptions of individual veterans. in Tennessee (beginning with the contemporary newspaper articles letter ‘C’ [perhaps Colliersville], concerning the “Booth affair.” “The P0562 Norse-American Centennial dated January 31, 1864; and third Civil War Letters of Colonel Hans Papers: Civil War Veterans A-Z letter written in some town in Christian Heg” was published by Correspondence and Reports. Mississippi beginning with the NAHA in 1936. letter ‘N’ [perhaps Natchez, dated P0681 J.J. Heimark Papers: A November 10, 1863. P0365: Ole Steensland Papers: translation of B. Aslakson’s Biographical data of a western “Ti maaneders fangenskab i P1439 SOLBERG, CARL Dane County, Wisconsin, farmer; Andersonville”. FREDRIK (1833-1924). CIVIL an address given at a reunion of WAR LETTERS, 1862. Reports the Fifteenth Wisconsin Infantry P0691 John Anders Johnson Papers: (March 7 to March 31, 1962) at Scandia Hall, Chicago (August Civil War letters (6 January-20 to Emigranten from the editor, 29, 1900), in which Steensland December 1862). who served briefly briefly as recounts his Civil War Experiences war correspondent for the 15th including those at Andersonville P0853 George Johnson (Guttorm Wisconsin Regiment, which he prison. Johnson Hovden) Civil War Diary: had helped recruit. The letters The Civil War Diary of a member are translated and edited by P0448 Nehemias Tjernagel papers: of the 15th Wisconsin Regiment, Clarence A. Clausen. Includes “Jens Ritland’s war story”. Company G, born in Sigdal, assorted clippings, and a 3-page Norway, covering the years 1863- biographical sketch of Solberg. P0468: Civil War Papers: Articles, 1865. Enlisted as George Johnson, clippings, certificates, Confederate 28 September 1861, he immediately money, correspondence, pamphlets, became a Sergeant and later a maps, pictures, and rosters about Second Lieutenant. After the war he Norwegians who participated in married Ragne Snersrud and lived the Civil War. Derwood Johnson on a farm near Ridgeway, Iowa. contributed information about The diary was translated by Norma nearly 100 who served on the Johnson Jordahl and edited by O. M. Confederate side, with copies of Hovde in 1971. The original diary muster rolls from the National is in the Luther College Library at Archives and Texas State Archives. Decorah, Iowa. Wally Toensing contributed a list Page 6

New Additions to the Archives The archivists The Archives continue to benefit members that you can no longer from the generosity of members and identify, why not donate them? will provide a friends who have made important NAHA staff, visitors, or members free lunch to donations. Although we aren’t able to may eventually be able to shed light acknowledge all donations here, we on such mystery photo subjects. anybody who do appreciate every donation, large Please note the opportunity to help successfully and small. We welcome additional identify the people in a collection of donations of Norwegian-American Chicago Norwegian-American glass identifies the letters, diaries, photographs, family plate negatives below. The archivists family found in histories, and community and will provide a free lunch to anybody congregational materials. Families who successfully identifies the the photograph can always rest assured that their family in these photographs, which collection “Lost donations will remain open for may be reviewed in the archives. family consultation in the NAHA Faces from the archives. They can also rest Recent additions to the manuscripts Windy City”, assured that family treasures will collection include: not be discarded in a hasty move • Ellef Ellefson Family. which may be or by future generations who have Photograph of a family reunion, consulted in the lost touch with their Norwegian- 1910, Viroqua, WI: enlargement American heritage. archives. (negative included) and If you have old photographs of newspaper clipping. Added Norwegian-American family to Collection P0539 Family Histories and Genealogies. Donated by Helen E. Brieske, Salida, CO. • Norwegian-American Literary Society of Chicago, P0279, additional items added: Grunnlov (1927); A History of Det Litterære Samfund DeLiSa by Helen Fletre (1975); and Festskrift 50 Års Jubileum (1975). Donated by the Society (now inactive). • Hans Christian Heg Papers, State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Microfilm of reel #1 of 1. POS. Added to Hans C. Heg Collection P0144. Donated by James E. Heg. Chicago gathering ca. 1895. Unknown subjects. Page 7

by Gary De Krey and Jeff Sauve

• Nils Lothe Family of Milltown, Donated by Holden Lutheran Halvorsdatter Røste. Added WI. Some forty letters and Church, Kenyon, MN. to Collection P0539 Family documents (1906-1955); two Histories and Genealogies. issues of Hardanger newspaper, We have also recently accepted Donated by the author. 1947. Added to Collection the donation of the following P0539 Family Histories and Norwegian-American family • Zahl, Ellen Dahlberg. Behind Genealogies. Donated by John histories, memoirs, and the Blackout Curtains (2007). Petersen, Bowling Green, KY. organizational histories: Added to Collection P0565 Norway in World War II. • Anders Braatelien Pederson, • Davidson,Clifford. (Zahl experienced the German “Description of the land, legends Remembering a Life (2010). occupation of Norway and and customs of Sigdal in the late Added to Collection P0539 immigrated to the U.S. in 1948 1800s and early 1900s.” Added Family Histories and with her parents and older to A.B. Pederson Collection Genealogies. Donated by the sister.) Donated by Donna P1555. Translation by Rosella author. Jackson. Geottelman, Decorah, Iowa. • Fram, Forward into the future. Recent additions to the photo Celebrating 100 years of District collection include: 2 Sons of Norway, 1910-2010, edited by Christine M. Anderson • Lost Faces from the Windy (Seattle, WA, 2010). Added City. One hundred glass plate to Sons of Norway Collection negatives depicting Norwegian- P0591. Donated by the author. American domestic life in Chicago, ca. 1895. Acquired • Herfindahl, Caroline. Vi Er through purchase from Dick Solunger! The Beginnings of Heibel, collector, Northfield, Solørlag in America (River MN. Falls, WI, 2011). Added to Bygdelagene Collection P0465. • Aaker Family. Over fifty Donated by the author. photographs, ca. 1880-1930s. Added to Aaker Family Papers • How We Came to Be, edited Collection P0001. Donated by by Penny Giesbrecht (Greene Jerry Aaker, Sheriden, MT. Family Reunion, 2011). Added to Collection P0539 Family • Anders L. Mordt, early pioneer Histories and Genealogies. of Oslo, Texas. CD of images (Includes extensive pedigree and documents. Donated by charts for the Greene/Carlson Carol van Maarth, Caliente, CA. and Lien/Sanden Families.) Donated by the author and • Den Norske Synodes Præster Mary Seeger. og Professorer, photographed by J.H. Olson, Minneapolis, • Pavri, Julie Nelson. Beyond the Minnesota, ca. 1874. Added to Big Wood: The Story of Nils oversized photograph collection. Danielson Opsahl and Ragnild Page 8

From the Front Desk by Jackie Henry

I chose to focus on the Civil War NAHA-Norway conference, what and who he left behind, I collection this issue, to highlight several NAHA staff and volunteers searched our records, Ancestry. some of the amazing letters and attended the Seven-Lag Stevne com and the major search engines. personal histories we house in in Fargo, North Dakota in July. I discovered that his photo at the the NAHA archives during this Jeff Sauve gave two well attended Wisconsin Historical Society had sesquicentennial period. We’ve presentations at the stevne, one on been misidentified for years and was published books and Studies creating a family history beyond the only corrected in December 2010. articles in the past but we still have names and dates, and one on using I spoke to descendent Steven W. some unearthed stories. Along the NAHA archives. I attended as Thompson of Eau Claire, Wisc., who the way, I experienced some a first time lag member and within said it took five years to convince serendipitus moments. moments of arriving, met two the Wisconsin Historical Society to sisters with whom I share a 3x great correct the error. I found a family As I was searching for untranslated grandmother. Again, I met a great history on Ancestry and contacted letters by Civil War soldiers for the number of NAHA members for the the person who posted the record. newsletter, I asked our volunteer, first time. Connie Lund Luedke shared the Judy Sosted, to photocopy some following information with me, letters from our files. A short I will also be sharing information time later she came to me with about using NAHA online resources “Evidently Kund and Dorthea tears in her eyes and said I had with the Romerikslag and Solørslag Rocknea, his wife, had been living given her the best gift ever. I in Austin, Minn. on September 14th. in America only a few years when had happened to choose a file of If you belong to an organization the war broke out. A local citizen letters by her great-great uncle interested in Norwegian-American was making comments that “you written to family members. While history or family genealogy, and immigrants” ought to help out your she knew he served in the Civil are looking for an event speaker, country and join the war. As he and War, she was not aware of the please contact us! Gary, Jeff and I his family were very grateful for this existence of these letters in our enjoy meeting our constituents and new home, he joined the service. He archives. She is currently having sharing our knowledge of NAHA left his wife and 8 children (plus one the letters translated by fellow resources. on the way) and fought for about one Sigdalslag members and offered to year before he was killed.” donate copies of the translations Finally, I’d like to share more to NAHA when complete. information on the story about Dorthea eventually remarried and Knud Iverson shown on page 2. died in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in The NAHA staff was well After finding the letter in our files, 1904. represented at the NAHA-Norge one of three letters donated to us, conference in Decorah this I was curious as to what happened It’s hard to believe it has already past June. I met many NAHA to Knud. From the Vesterheim been a year since I started as director members for the first time and museum Cival War Database, found of NAHA. I have met wonderful greatly enjoyed the presentations at http://vesterheim.org/CivilWar/ members and patrons, learned and hospitality shown us by the index.html, I found an entry for so much about the treasures that conference committee. Knud and discovered that he died NAHA houses and continue to be just two months after writing the amazed at the connectedness of the In addition to attending the letter. To understand more about Norwegian-American community. Page 9

NAHA-Norge Conference Recap

The Norwegian-American Historical Dream of a Norwegian University in Atlantic with a similar interest Association – Norway Chapter (NAHA- America.” In the evening Vesterheim in Norwegian American studies. Norway) held its eleventh conference Norwegian-American Museum hosted The wide variety of presentations at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa on a reception for all participants. The including interdisciplinary and June 14-17, 2011 with the title Migrant following day, Professor emeritus at transnational themes illustrated Journeys: The Norwegian-American Saint Olaf College and the University a broad interest in Norwegian Experience in a Multicultural Context. of Oslo, Odd S. Lovoll presented his American migration history. In our The Decorah conference was the first keynote address titled “Migration assessment of the conference, the held on American soil and the largest and the Norwegian Ethnic Press” positive comments from participants conference ever held by NAHA- followed by the first parallel session. may influence the NAHA-Norway Norway. The conferences are usually The Washington Prairie Lutheran board to consider the organization of held every three years. The publication Church in rural Decorah, a significant future conferences in the USA. series Norwegian American Essays symbol of Norwegian American is based primarily on peer reviewed immigrant culture hosted lunch for On behalf of the NAHA-Norway presentations from the preceding the participants. Jens Christian Eldal board I wish to thank all participants conference. The location was chosen of Norway used the location to speak and presenters who attended the based upon an invitation from Luther about architect C. H. Griese and the conference. NAHA-Norway wishes to College to hold our conference on their relationship between Luther College thank NAHA, our sister organization, campus in conjunction with Luther and Norwegian Lutheran churches for their generous economic support. College’s sesquicentennial in 2011. in Iowa about 1870. The rest of the It was very well received, and we afternoon was set aside for parallel appreciate the good ties that exist The conference program included sessions on campus, and in the evening between the two organizations. I wish plenary lectures, individual lectures, the participants attended an American to extend a special thank you to the roundtable conferences and a varied Barbecue Dinner in the Shirley Baker local organizing committee for all of cultural program. About 110 people Commons. their tireless work, especially Rachel attended, three-fourths who came Vagts. from the USA, while the rest came On June 16, Professor Janne Bondi from Norway. All told, the conference Johannessen held the second keynote We hope that many of you will join included 47 individual papers in six address entitled “The Norwegian us at our next conference in Norway parallel sessions on a wide variety Language in of the Midwest: Old- in 2014! of themes ranging from literature, fashioned, Standardised or Anglicised?” linguistic studies, religious studies, Following the sessions, a reception Terje Hasle Joranger history, social science, fine and folk was held in the Dahl Centennial Chair, NAHA-Norway arts, and music. In addition two plenary Union followed by a banquet in the roundtable sessions were held. The first Peace Dining Room. David S. Faldet session discussed a neglected field of of Luther College, author of Oneota Norwegian American studies, gender Flow: The Upper Iowa River & Its People history and Norwegian American presented the banquet speech with the immigrant women. The second title “Norwegian Adaptation On/Of session assessed the field of Norwegian the Ecotone.” June 17, the last day of American Studies today and tomorrow. the conference, included a session and a farewell brunch in the Peace Dining Luther College Professor John R. Room. Christianson opened the conference with an inspiring lecture on the The conference setting united history of Luther College titled “The participants from both sides of the Page 10 More Photos from the Studies Civil War Collection

Continued from Page 1 cited authors, Olaf Morgan Norlie. Those who would like to know more about the indefatigable Norlie will do well to start here. Norwegian-America has produced a number of historians, among them Paul Knaplund. Particularly as a Norwegian-American historian, Knaplund is the topic of an article by Richard Cole, Emeritus Professor of History at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The volume concludes with a presentation of an early story by O.E. Rølvaag, originally published when Rølvaag was a student at St. Olaf College.

Members and friends of the Capt. J.A. Rossing Association will, I think, find both food for the mind and sheer pleasure in reading these essays. They will perhaps also want to know that the volume is dedicated, by permission, to His Majesty King Harald V and Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway. The book will be presented to the king and queen as the gift of St. Olaf College on the occasion of their Sgt. Otto F. Steen visit to the college on October 14, 2011.

Todd Nichol Editor

Col. M.B. Hansen Page 11

Hired for Battle by Jeff Sauve

This 1865 tintype photograph months of enlistment under Gen. Together they had nine children, shows 30-year-old Private Rasmus Sherman and his March to the Sea. and homesteaded 90 acres near Hanson proudly standing next to Discharged July 21, 1865, Hanson Clarkfield, Minn. Hanson passed Old Glory with its 36 stars. His returned to Iowa where in 1866 away in 1916. military records indicate he stood he married Gjertrud Endreson, 5-foot 3-1/2 inches, with blue eyes originally from Bergen. and light hair. His occupation was listed as “laborer”.

Having emigrated from Hufteren Island near Bergen the previous year, Private Rasmus Hanson Hanson made his way to Decorah, Iowa, where he was paid $300 to legally substitute for a family man drafted into the Civil War. Enlisting Oct. 26, 1864, in Company E, 13th Iowa infantry, Hanson embarked to the battlefront.

After nearly two months of service, Hanson penned a Christmas letter to family and friends back in Norway, informing them of his joining the Army (Dec. 25, 1865, Graysville, Tenn.):

Very likely I have been a fool, and you may think that now I have really gone off my base, bot going off to war isn’t so dangerous when God is on your side.

Although not stated directly, Hanson suffered much hardship and hunger during his first few

Reprinted with permsision from the Sons of Norway Viking (May, 2011). NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID FARIBAULT, MN 55057 PERMIT NO. 21

Norwegian-American Historical Association

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Fritt Ord Foundation Honors Odd Lovoll history of the Norwegian-American dinner with his family, friends press. Fritt Ord, which means and representatives from Fritt Ord “Freedom of Expression” in English, followed the reception. was founded in 1974 to “protect and promote freedom of expression The Fritt Ord Foundation financed and the environment for freedom of Odd Lovoll’s research for his most expression in Norway, especially by recent publication Norwegian encouraging lively debate and the Newspapers in America (2010) and will courageous use of free speech”. fund publication of the Norwegian- language edition. Odd served as The Fritt Ord Honnør, or Freedom editor of NAHA from 1980 to 2000, of Expression Tribute, acknowledges during which time he produced 32 remarkable efforts to promote free NAHA publications. In 1992, he was speech. Each tribute is accompanied named the first holder of the King by a crystal vase and a monetary Olav V Chair in Scandinavian Studies award. Professor Guri Hjeltnes at St. Olaf College. He taught in the St. presented the award to Odd Lovoll Olaf College History and Norwegian at the Foundation headquarters departments between 1974 and 2000. On September 6, 2011 in Oslo in Oslo. At the awards ceremony, Norway, the foundation Fritt Ord Odd delivered a presentation on feted Odd Lovoll with the Fritt Norwegian-American history, which Ords Honnør in recognition of was followed by a reception for about his scholarly contributions to the 100 invited guests. A celebratory