| Paa opfordring av min ven, den dyktige sekretær for Numedalslaget, hr. O. O. Enestvedt, vil jeg gjøre nogen optegnelser av mit lidet indholdsrike (?) liv til denne tid. | At the request of my friend the esteemed secretary for the Numedalslag, Mr. O. O. Enestvedt, I will make a memorandum of my not-so very interesting life to this time. |
| Paa gaarden Fjøse i Svene anneks til Flesbergs prestegjeld i Numedal, Norge, fødtes engang i førstningen av det attende aarhundrede (aarstallet ukjendt) Ole Fjøse, min oldefar. Min oldemors navn er ukjendt for mig. Han hadde arvet gaarden; den skal ha gaat i arv fra far til søn i flere slegtled forut, men intet vites med sikkerhet. Disse optegnelser er gjort efter utsagn av min far mens han levet. Ole Olson Fjøse, søn av ovennævnte, min bedstefar, blev født paa sin fædrenegaard omkring 1760. Han var to ganger gift, første gang med Beret Helliksdatter Letmoli, med hvem han hadde to barn, Sjur og Maret. Anden gand med Maret Olsdatter Foss (Lie), og hadde i det egteskap efternævnte barn: Beret, Anne, Gunhild, Ole (min far). Hellik, og Jøran. | On the Fjøse farm in the Svene annex to Flesberg's parish in Numedal, Norway, was born sometime in the first part of the eighteenth century (the year is unknown) Ole Fjøse my great grandfather. My great grandmother's name is unknown to me. He had inherited the farm, it had been handed down from father to son for several generations before, but no one knows for sure. These notes are made after testimony from my father while he was alive. Ole Olson Fjøse, the son of the afore named, my grandfather, was born on his parents farm around 1760. He was married twice, the first time to Beret Helliksdatter Letmoli, with whom he had two children, Sjur and Maret. The second time to Maret Olsdatter Foss (Lie), and in this marriage had the following children: Beret, Anne, Gunhild, Ole (my father) Hellik, and Jøran |
| Min far, Ole Olson Fjøse, eller Foss, bleve født paa sin fædrenegaard, Fjøse, den 12te mai 1816; døptes av provst Engelhart og blev konfirmert i 1832 av pastor W. Fangen. Gaarden kom i andres hænder mens far var liten, til en anden gren av slegten, i hvis eie den endnu er, saavidt jeg vet. Min far og i alle fald nogen av hans søskende kom bort til fremmede og led og sled ondt. Fars skolegang blev forsømt, men han blev en dyktig og tro arbeidsmand, og retskaffen i al sin færd, saavidt jeg vet. I 1843 blev han gift med Jøran Torgersdatter Kampestad eller Buserud. | My father, Ole Olson Fjøse, or Foss, was born on his parents farm, Fjøse, the 12th of May 1816; baptized by dean Engelhart and was confirmed in 1832 by pastor W. Fangen. The farm came into others hands while my father was little, to another branch of the relation, in who's ownership it still is, as far as I know. My father and most likely some of his siblings went away to strangers and suffered and toiled hard. Father's schooling was neglected, but he became an able and honest worker, and upright in all his affairs, as far as I know. In 1843 he was married to Jøran Torgersdatter Kampestad or Buserud. |
| Min mors slegt, efter optegnelser som jeg gjorde efter hendes utsagn mens hun levet, er som følger: Paa gaarden Kampestad i Lyngdals anneks til Flesbergs prestegjeld i Numedal, Norge, blev Torger Kampestad født i førstningen av det attende aarhundrede (aarstallet er ubekjendt); Han var min tipoldefar, men min tipoldemors navn kjendte min mor ikke. Gaarden skal ha gaat i arv fra far til søn forut ogsaa, men mor kunde ikke si det for sikkert. Sønnen, Halsten Torgerson Kampestad, fødtes paa sin fædrenegaard omkring 1750. Han arvet gaarden mens den var udelt. | My mother's relations, from notes that I made from her testimony while she was alive, are as follows: On the farm Kampestad in Lyngdals annex to Flesberg's parish in Numedal, Norway, Torger Kampestad was born in the first part of the eighteenth century (the year is unknown); He was my great grandfather, but my great grandmother's name my mother didn't know. The farm probably had gone from father to son before also, but mother couldn't say that for sure. The son, Halsten Torgerson Kampestad, was born on his parent's farm around 1750. He inherited the farm while it was undivided. |
| Han skal ha været en kjæmpeskikkelse, min oldefar, og sterk som en bjørn. Han blev gift med Jøran Dahlegaarden; hun eiet søndre Dahlegaarden. Efter mors utsagn skal hun ha været en framifraa dyktig kvinde og meget gavmild mot de fattige. Hun brugte at si: "Dæ æ bære aa staa ve skaape aa gje, hel ve døra aa be; dæ bli mat etter mei au." De hadde i sit egteskap to sønner, Halsteen og Torger; sidstnævnte er min bedstefar. Gaarden blev delt mellem dem; Halsteen fik vestre og Torger østre del, som ogsaa kaldtes Buserud. Mor fortalte at der i katolske tiden og fremover hadde staat et litet kapel eller gudshus paa gaarden Kampestad, og den dygtige Tov Flatin, forfatter av boken "Flesberg", nævner det ogsaa i sin bok. | He is said to have been a giant man, my great grandfather, and strong as a bear. He was married to Jøran Dahlegaarden; she owned south Dahlegaarden. After my mother's testimony she was an exceptionally capable woman and very generous towards the poor. She used to say: "It is better to stand by the cupboard and give, than by the door and beg; there will be food after me too." They had in their marriage two sons, Halsteen and Torger; the latter is my grandfather. The farm was divided between them; Halsteen got the west and Torger the east part, which was also called Buserud. Mother told that in the Catholic times and forward there stood a little chapel or Godshouse on the farm Kampestad, and the able Tov Flatin, author of the book "Flesberg", names this also in his book. |
| Torger Halsteenson Kampestad eller Buserud, min bedstefar, blev født paa sin fædrenegaard, Kampestad, omkring 1790. Han egtet Maret Olsdatter Klevjorden, en søster, saavidt jeg vet, av Hellik Letmoli og kjøbmand Klevjorden. Sidstnævnte hadde forretning paa Kongsberg. Mor fik litt arv efter ham da han døde; ti han og hustruen døde barnløse. Der var vist flere søskende, men jeg vet det ikke. Mor sa at Torger Dahlegaarden var hendes søskenbarn, men jeg vet ikke hvorden slegtskapet var. Mine her nævnte bedsteforældre hadde i sit egteskap efternævnte barn; Halsteen, Jøran (min mor), Ole, Maret, Torger og Ingeborg. | Torger Halsteenson Kampestad or Buserud, my grandfather, was born on his parent's farm, Kampestad, around 1790. He married Maret Olsdatter Klevjorden, a sister, as far as I know, of Hellik Letmoli and the businessman Klevjorden. The latter had a business in Kongsberg. Mother received a little inheritance from him when he died: because he and his wife died childless. There were surely more siblings, but I don't know. Mother said that Torger Dahlegaarden was her first cousin, but I don't know how the relation was. My here named grand parents had in their marriage the following children; Halsteen, Jøran (my mother), Ole, Maret, Torger and Ingeborg. |
| Jøran Torgersdatter Kampestad, eller Buserud, blev født paa sin fædrenegaard den 2den februar 1814; blev døpt av provst Engelhart og konfirmert av pastor W. Fangen i 1830. Hendes far døde da hun var ti aar gammel. Gaarden kom i andres hænder og hun maatte tidlig bort til fremmede. Hun tilbragte en længere tid hos pastor I. M. P. Kaurin, som siden blev biskop, og fik av ham og hans snilde og dygtige frue mangt et godt raad og formaning til at bli en god kristen kvinde og et nyttig medlem av samfundet, og disse raad og formaninger søkte hun efter bedste evne trolig at efterleve; ti hun var en kvinde med god forstand og sjeldne aandsevner. Hun fandt stor trøst i mindet om disse brave prestefolk og deres formaninger, naar de tunge dage kom i hendes lange og virksomme liv. Som ovenfor nævnt, blev hun gift med Ole Olson Foss (Fjøse), og disse to kunde hat aarsak til at si med Frithjof den frøkne: | Jøran Torgersdatter Kampestad, or Buserud, was born on her parents farm the 2nd of February 1814; was baptized by dean Engelhart and confirmed by pastor W. Fangen in 1830. Her father died when she was ten years old. The farm came into others hands and she had to go away early to strangers. She stayed a long time with pastor I. M. P. Kaurin, who has since become a bishop, and got from him and his nice and capable wife many a good counsel and exhortation to become a good Christian woman and a useful member of the community, and these counsel and exhortations she sought to the best of her abilities to faithfully live by; because she was a woman with good understanding and rare mental ability. She found great comfort in the memory of these brave clergy and their exhortations, when the heavy days came in her long and active life. As mentioned earlier, she was married to Ole Olson Foss(Fjøse), and these two could have occasion to say with Fridtjof the Bold: |
| "I anger er jeg opfødt, min arvegaard er brist, hit kom jeg nu fra ulven, hos ham jeg huset sidst." |
"In contrition I am reared, my hereditary estate is broken, Here I come now from the wolf, with whom I dwelled last" |
| Mine forældre tilbragte nogen tid hos min grandonkel, Ole Foss, ofte kaldet "Vesle-Fossen". Far drev hans gaard. De bodde vist ogsaa en tid paa en gaard som het Rustan. Der blev født fire barn i deres egteskap, mens de var i Norge, nemlig Marit, Jøran, Anne og Ole. | My parents lived for a while with my granduncle, Ole Foss, often called "Vesle-Fossen". Dad operated his farm. I think they also lived a while on a farm called Rustan. There were born four children in their marriage, while they were in Norway, namely Marit, Jøran, Anne, and Ole. |
| I 1852 undvandret de til Amerika, og Ole, som da var et halvt aar gammel, døde paa overreisen og hans lille lik blev sænket ned i det dystre dyb. Min mor sørget meget over sin eneste søn. De kom over paa seilskib og var ni uker og tre dage paa havet. De landet i Quebec. | In 1852 they emigrated to America, and Ole, who was then a half year old, died on the trip over and his little body was sunk down in the somber deep. My mother grieved greatly for her only son. They came over on a sailship and were nine weeks and three days on the sea. They landed in Quebec. |
| Jeg vil likesaa godt her nævne litt om mine søskende: Marit blev gift med en veteran fra borgerkrigen, Halvor Hanson Brua, fra Kongsberg, Norge. De bosatte sig paa hans farm i New Hope, Portage county, Wisconsin. De hadde syv barn: Hanna, Hans, Oscar, Hans, Martin, Julia og Mabel. Alle guttene er døde, men døtrene lever. Halvor døde for mange aar siden, og min søster bor endnu paa farmen. | I will likewise here mention a little about my siblings: Marit was married to a veteran of the Civil War, Halvor Hanson Brua, from Kongsberg, Norway. They lived on his farm in New Hope, Portage County, Wisconsin. They had seven children: Hanna, Hans, Oscar, Hans, Martin, Julia and Mabel. All the boys are dead, but the daughters are alive. Halvor died many years ago, and my sister still lives on the farm. |
| Jøran blev gift med en dansk mand, Hans Johnson, en veteran fra den dansk-tyske krig i 1864. Han deltog i det blodige slag ved Dybbøl skanse. Han var utlært møbelsnekker. Han er død for flere aar siden, og enken, min søster, bor i Ceder Falls, Iowa. De har fire barn: Mette Marie, Isaac, Lena og Clara. | Jøran was married to a Danish man, Hans Johnson, a veteran of the Danish-German war in 1864. He took part in the bloody battle at Dybbøl entrenchment. He was a trained furniture maker. He has been dead for several years, and his widow, my sister, lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa. They have four children: Mette Marie, Isaac, Lena, and Clara. |
| Anne blev gift med Knut H. Lien, fra Røros, Norge. Han er "log scaler". De bor i Eau Claire, Wis. De har to barn, Alma, lærerinde og stenograf, og Henry, utlært barber. Han var i krigen og var med i flere av de haarde træfninger i Frankrig, men er nu kommet tilbake og driver sit haandverk i Superior, Wis. | Anne was married to Knut H. Lien, from Røros, Norway. He is a "log scaler". They live in Eau Claire, Wis. They have two children, Alma, teacher and stenographer, and Henry, a trained barber. He was in the war and was in on several of the hard battles in France. But has now come back and works at his trade in Superior, Wis. |
| Mine forældre kom over St. Lawrence-floden og indsjøene til Chicago, tror jeg, og derfra til Rock River settlementet til Town of Ixonia, Jefferson county, Wis., hvor min onkel, Hellik Foss, som hadde utvandret i 1842, bodde. Begge brødrene hadde antat navnet Foss, da de syntes de hadde nogen ret til at bruke det. | My parents came over the St. Lawrence seaway and lakes to Chicago, I believe, and from there to the Rock River settlement to the town of Ixonia, Jefferson County, Wis., where my uncle, Hellik Foss, who had emigrated in 1842 lived. Both brothers had assumed the name Foss, since they thought they had some right to use it. |
| Efterat mine forældre hadde bodd der en tid, blev jeg født, den 13de desember 1854, og blev døpt av pastor Niels Brandt. | After my parents had lived there a while, I was born, the 13th of December 1854, and was baptized by Pastor Niels Brandt. |
| I 1856, da min onkel hadde solgt sin farm (far hadde ingen), flyttet de tillikemed nogen andre familier til Indi-landet, som det kaldtes, til det sted som siden, da townet organisertes, fik navnet New Hope, i Portage county, Wis. Paa reisen brukte de okser og de velkjendte lærred-bedækte vogne, "covered wagons". Alle familie-fædre i følget, som ikke før hadde kjøpt land (onkel hadde kjøpt sit forut), kjøpte nu land, opførte tømmerhytter og begyndte at rydde i skogen, som paa sine steder stod tæt. Landet var dengang et vildnis, og i nord fra settlementet var der ikke nogen hvid mands bolig i en afstand af 200 mil, helt op til Lake Superior, men der var mange indianere og en masse vildt, saa det ogsaa kaldtes "jægernes paradis". De hadde lang vei til marked og mølle. Engang da sneen laa meget dyp, gik far paa ski til Waupaca, en distance av 25 mil, og bar paa skuldrene en 100 punds sæk maiskorn til møllen. | In 1856, when my uncle had sold his farm (dad had none), they moved along with some other families to Indian-country, as it was called, to the place which later, when the town was organized, got the name New Hope, in Portage County, Wis. On the trip they used oxen and the well-known canvas-covered wagons, "covered wagons". All the heads of the family in the group, that had not bought land before (my uncle had bought his before), now bought land, built log cabins and began to clear the woods, which on their places stood tight. The land at that time was a wilderness, and to the north from the settlement there was no white-mans dwelling for a distance of 200 miles, all the way up to Lake Superior, but there were many Indians and a lot of wildlife, so it was also called "hunters paradise". They had a long way to the market and mill. One time when the snow was very deep, dad went on skis to Waupaca, a distance of 25 miles, and carried on his shoulders a 100 pound sack of corn to the mill |
| Et aar blev der trange tider for mange; ti den lille avling blev totalt ødelagt, av rust, tror jeg det var, saa der i vort hjem ikke fandtes hvetebbrød paa et helt aar; ti hvetemel kostet $18 barrelen, og da var det ikke greit, naar man ikke hadde noget at kjøpe for. Maismel var billigere. Mor bakte "johnny cake" av det, og saa kokte hun grøt av det, og om vaaren, da der var litet med melk, i "vaarheken", brukte vi lønnesaft til grøten. Mor var en dygtig gartnerske, saa hun skaffet grønsaker og andet til hjælp til familiens underhold. | One year there was tight times for many; because the little crop was totally ruined, by rust, I think it was, so wheat bread was not to be found in our home for a whole year, because wheat flour cost $18 per barrel, and then it was not easy, when one didn't have anything to buy with. Cornmeal was cheaper. Mom baked "Johnny Cake" with it, she also cooked graut with it, and in the spring, when there was little milk, during "spring dry-up", we used maple sap on the graut. Mom was an able gardener, so she had vegetables and such to help the family's sustenance. |
| En anden vinter var det ogsaa trangt. Der kom en masse sne, over fire fot dyp, og saa frøs der en tynd skare paa den, og da var hjorten ilde ute; ti baade mennesker og ulver kappedes om at ødelægge dette prægtige vildt. Man gik paa ski efter den, og de som ikke hadde geværer, brukte økser og hvad de kunde. Jeg husker de dræpte en buk syv à otte rods fra vor loghytte. Vi spiste det tørre hjortekjød istedenfor brød. | Another winter it was also tight. There came a lot of snow, over four feet deep, and then a thin crust froze on it, and then the deer had it bad; because both people and wolves cut loose to lay waste to this magnificent wildlife. People went on skis after them, and those that didn't have guns, used axes and whatever they could. I remember they killed a buck seven or eight rods from our log cabin. We ate the dried venison instead of bread. |
| Da den store borgerkrig brøt ut, var det undertiden uhyggelig i det lille settlement. En stor komet viste sig just før krigen brøt ut, og den bragte mismot og tvil og tillike skræk i mangt et hjerte; ti mange mennesker da som nu hadde let for at opskræmmes ved tilsynekomsten af kometer, faldende stjerner eller andre i sig selv noksaa natulige forekomster. Jeg husker at nævnte komet hadde en uhyre lang og bred hale; ti vi barn betragtet den til hver kveld i lang tid, naar det var klarveir. | When the big Civil War broke out, it was sometimes eerie in the little settlement. A large comet showed itself just before the war broke out, and it brought despondency and doubt and also fear to many a heart; because many people then as now were easily frightened by the appearance of comets, falling stars or other in themselves quite natural happenings. I remember that this comet had an enormous long and wide tail; because us kids contemplated it every night for a long time, when it was clear weather. Possibly comet Tebbutt |
| Da indianer-uroligheterne brøt ut her i Minnesota, vakte det ogsaa bange anelser og frygt i settlementet; ti avsondret som det var, og de mange indianere som færdedes der i den tid, var stillingen ikke egnet til at indgyde tillit i folket, især kvinder og barn. Jeg husker at naar mine søstre og jeg gik tilsengs om kvelden, saa var det med ængstelse og frygt for at de blodtørstige indianeres tomahawk og skalperkniv skulde berøve os livet i nattens løp, og endog i drømme plagdes vi av uhyggelige syner av mord og pinsler. Settlerne organiserte en "homeguard" til forsvar, men de fleste hadde ikke geværer. Om kvelden, naar man skulde gaa tilsengs, sattes geværer, hvis de hadde saadanne, eller ogsaa økser, ljaaer, høgafler eller andre redskaper ved sengen, for at ha noget at forsvare sig med i tilfælde av natlig overfald fra rødhudernes side. Jeg husker at far fabrikerte et morskt forsvarsvaaben ved at fæste en avhuggen ljaa til en "ironwood" staur. Han slipte ljaaen saa den var tveegget et stykke indover fra odden, saa det hadde vist bekommet en rødhud ilde hvis han hadde faat smake den; men heldigvis slap folket i settlementet med skrækken. | When the Indian uprising broke out here in Minnesota, it also awakened apprehensions and fright in the settlement; because cut off as they were, and the many Indians that traveled there at that time, the situation was not suited to instill confidence in people, especially women and children. I remember that when my sisters and I went to bed in the evening, it was with anxiety and fright that the blood-thirsty Indian's tomahawk and scalping knife might deprive us of our lives during the night, and even in our dreams we were plagued by sinister scenes of murder and torture. The settlers organized a "homeguard" for defense, but most of them didn't have guns. In the evening, when people went to bed, they set guns, if they had such, or also axes, scythes, hay-forks or other tools by the bed, to have something to defend themselves with in case of a nightly assault from the redskins side. I remember that dad made a fierce defensive weapon by fastening a cut off scythe to an "ironwood" stake. He sharpened the scythe so it was two-edged a bit in from the point, so a redskin would surely have fared the worse if he had gotten a taste of it; but luckily the people in the settlement got away with just the scare. |
| Der er en tildragelse som jeg ikke let glemmer fra disse tider. Faa yngre mennesker vet nu hvad en "shinplaster" er for noget, men jeg har aarsak til at mindes dem. I den tid kunde en hvilkenfomhelst bank utstede sedler paa snart sagt al slags sikkerhet eller rettere usikkerhet. De kaldtes med haan, som nævnt, "shinplasters". En dag kunde de gaa for nogenlunde fuld myntværdi, og næste dag ikke være værd papiret de var trykt paa. | There is an event which I will not easily forget from these times. Few young people now know what a "shinplaster" is for instance, but I have a reason to remember them. At that time any bank whatsoever could issue notes on almost all types of security or more correctly insecurity. They were called with scorn, as mentioned, "shinplasters". One day they could go for fairly full mint-value, and the next day not be worth the paper they were printed on. |
| Far hadde engang været borte paa arbeide og kom hjem med nogen pengesedler, og vi barn var da meget glade; ti mor hadde sagt, at naar far kom hjem, saa vilde der bli greier; ti da skulde vi faa nye klær og sko, som det nok ikke var rart bevendt med. Far drog da til vor kjøbstad, Amherst, syv mil fra vort hjem, og vi ventet hver paa sit; endog mor ventet paa litt egte kaffe; for det meste maatte vi bruke "knupkaffe". Da far kom, saa vi straks at noget var i veien. Han satte sig stilfærdig ned paa en krak, sukket og sa: "Det blev nok ikke rart med min handel idag; ti Gasman kastet pengene tilbake over disken og sa at de var værdiløse." Vi barn tok det temmelig haardt, men barnesindet gjenvinder snart sin likevegt. Det blev omsider slut med disse "wild-cat" banker, som de kaldtes; de blev skatlagt ut av verden. De ilagdes en skat av ti procent av hver daler som utstedtes. | Dad had been away at work one time and came home with some paper money, and us kids were very happy; because mom had said, that when dad came home, then there would be things; because then we would get new clothes and shoes, which was not strange for us to be in need of. Then dad went to the market, Amherst, seven miles from our home, and we each waited for our things; even mom waited for a little real coffee; for the most part we had to use "knupkaffe". When dad came, we saw right away that something was wrong. He sat himself quietly down on a stool, sighed and said: "It didn't go very well with my shopping today; because Gasman tossed the money back over the counter and said that it was worthless." Us kids took it pretty hard, but the mind of a child soon regains it's balance. These "wild-cat" banks, as they were called, were eventually stopped; they were taxed out of business. They put on a tax of ten percent for each dollar that was issued. |
| Mine forældre holdt "Emigranten" i den tid, og mor, som var meget flink til at læse, sad om kvelden (ti om dagen hadde hun ikke tid) og læste høit for os ved skinnet fra fede tyrirøtter som lagdes i ovnen, og vi lot onvsdørene staa aapne; anden belysning hadde vi ikke. Hun læste beretninger om krigens gang og om indianernes umenneskelige herjinger i Minnesota, mens vi barn lyttet til i aandeløs spænding, og jeg mindes det som om det var igaar, hvor inderlig glade vi var da krigen endelig blev slut. Disse tildragelser gaar mig aldrig av minde. | My parents subscribed to "Emigranten" in that time, and mom, who was very good to read, sat in the evening (because during the day she didn't have time) and read out loud for us by the light from fat resinous roots that were put in the stove, and we let the stove doors stand open; we didn't have any other light. She read reports about the course of the war and about the Indian's inhuman harrying in Minnesota, while we kids listened with breathless excitement, and I remember it as if it was yesterday, how intensely happy we were when the war finally was over. These events I will never forget. |
| Det var smaat bevendt med skole i settlementet i førstning. Mor lærte os norsk. Der var ikke saa faa amerikanere som var bosatte i vort nabolag, og saa var der en jæger som hette Joel Dixon, som hadde sit tilhold hos os naar han om høsten drev jagt. Han var amerikaner. Av ham og vore amerikanske nabobarn lærte jeg tidlig at tale engelsk. Omsider blev skoledistrikter organiserte. I vort distrikt blev der bygget et litet skolehus av rundt tømmer, og engelsk skole blev holdt nogen uker om aaret. Vi hadde ogsaa litt religionskole. En av de norske lærere som holdt religionskole, hette Ole Vogsland, og den anden hette Jens Høgsveen. De var begge dygtige, og jeg er dem taknemmelig for hvad de lærte mig. I femtenaars-alderen sluttet jeg paa commonskolen. Jeg hadde let for at lære. Mor vilde gjerne at jeg skulde bli prest, men mine forældre var for fattige til at koste mig paa skole, og saaledes kom jeg ikke paa colleget. Nogen har faat litt understøttelse, men litt stolthet har jeg nok faat i arv, saa jeg ikke likte at trygle. | There was little emphasis on school in the settlement at first. Mom taught us Norwegian. There were a few Americans that lived in our neighborhood, and there was a hunter named Joel Dixon, who stayed with us while he hunted in the fall. He was an American. I learned to speak English early on from him and our American neighbor kids. After a while school districts were organized. In our district there was built a little schoolhouse of logs, and English school was held a few weeks during the year. We also had some religious school. One of the Norwegian teachers that taught religious school, was named Ole Vogsland, and the other was named Jens Høgsveen. They were both capable, and I am thankful to them for what they taught me. At the age of fifteen I was finished with the common school. Learning was easy for me. Mom really wanted me to be a minister, but my parents were too poor to pay my way to school, and so I didn't get to college. Some people have received a little financial support, but I have surely inherited a little pride, so I didn't like to beg. |
| Jeg blev konfirmert av pastor Niels Berge i New Hope kirke, i 1870. Vi var 13 gutter og 13 piker, saa det kunde se ut som uheldige tal, men en av guttene blev prest, Rev. Carl J. Moen; en blev digter, Mr. Ole A Buslett, og tre av guttene har været medlemmer av legislaturen: Ole A. Buslett i Wisconsin, Jacob Nelson i Nord Dakota og jeg i Minnesota. Av pikerne blev en lærerinde i engelsk, nemlig Susan A. Nederlo, siden gift med Mr. Anders Brekke, men han er død for en tid siden. Hun var en meget vakker og begavet kvinde og hadde en deilig sangstemme. | I was confirmed by Pastor Niels Berge in the New Hope church, in 1870. We were 13 boys and 13 girls, so it could look like an unlucky number, but one of the boys became a minister, Rev. Carl J. Moen; one became a poet, Mr. Ole A. Buslett, and three of the boys have been members of the legislature: Ole A Buslett in Wisconsin, Jacob Nelson in North Dakota and I in Minnesota. Of the girls one became an English teacher, namely Susan A. Nederlo, since married to Mr. Anders Brekke, but he has been dead for some time. She was a very beautiful and gifted woman and had a delightful singing voice. |
| Vort hjem var fattig, men hyggelig, og der hos mine snilde forældre svandt da mine barndoms og første ungdomsaar, med skolegang, arbeide paa den lille farm og med jagt og fiskeri. Jeg var eneste søn, saa mine forældre forkjælet mig nok litt. | Our home was poor, but pleasant, and there with my nice parents my childhood years and first years of youth slipped by, with school time, work on the little farm and with hunting and fishing. I was the only son, so my parents surely spoiled me a little. |
| Jeg var en meget ivrig jæger og nedla ialt, mens jeg var i Wisconsin, 20 hjorter, nogen av dem prægtige kronhjorter, 3 bjørner og en masse andet smaavildt. Jeg hadde flere geværer, iblandt dem en Kentucky mundladnings-rifle, som jeg skattet meget høit; ti det var et utmerket gevær. Med den skjøt jeg alle bjørnene og de fleste av hjortene. Jeg hadde lyst til at ta den med baade til "kors og kirke", som man sier, lik Berdon Seielstad i Gudbrandsdalen, da han ved Kringen hadde skudt den skotske Sinclair, men jeg gjorde det ikke. | I was a very enthusiastic hunter and downed in all, while I was in Wisconsin, 20 deer, some of them impressive bucks, 3 bears and a lot of other small wildlife. I had several guns, among them a Kentucky muzzleloading-rifle, that I prized very highly; because it was an outstanding gun. With it I shot all the bears and most of the deer. I had desire to take it with both to "class and church", as they say, like Berdon Seielstad from Gudbrandsdal, when he shot the Scotsman, Sinclair, at Kringen, but I did not do it. |
| I sekstenaars-alderen fik jeg plads som betjent eller clerk i en butik i den lille landsby Nelsonville, hos en engelskmand som hette Edward Creed. Det var snilde folk. Jeg blev der næsten et aar, men saa sluttet han med forretningen. Jeg tænkte ogsaa saa smaat paa at bli advokat, det var ikke saa vanskelig dengang; naar man fik plads hos en sakfører og blev der nogen tid, saa fik man "admission to the bar"; men manden som jeg skulde være hos, valgtes til congressman, saa det blev ikke meget av det. Jeg har altid havt lyst til at læse og studere jus, og har holdt paa dermed mer og mindre paa egen haand hele tiden siden. | At the age of sixteen I got a placement as a clerk in a store in the little town of Nelsonville, with an Englishman named Edward Creed. They were good people. I was there almost a year, but then he closed the business. I thought also a bit about becoming a lawyer, it wasn't so difficult at that time; when one got a placement with a trial lawyer and was there for a while, then he got "admission to the bar"; but the man that I was to be with, was elected as a congressman, so it didn't amount to much. I have always had a desire to read and study law, and have kept up with it more or less on my own ever since. |
| Jeg gjorde da, som de fleste av guttene i settlementet: drog til tømmerskogen. Jeg tilbragte fem ả seks aar som skogsarbeider, tømmerfløter (log-driver) og "riverman", det vil si, en som er med at fløte bordflaater (lumber rafts and fleets) nedad Wisconsin og Mississippi elvene, undertiden helt ned til St. Louis i Missouri. Jeg var bare en gang med saa langt som St. Louis. Fra Wausau i Wisconsin til St. Louis i Missouri er en avstand av 1,000 mil. Det var et slidsomt arbeide og tillige farlig, baade i skogen og paa elven; ti mange mistet livet i skogen ved at kvister og trær faldt ned paa dem, og mange druknet i de farlige stryk og fosser i Wisconsin elven. Jeg husker en nat, mens jeg var paa "log drive", som vi maatte overnatte paa en liten ø i elven, da "Wannigan", den baat som proviant og sengklær fragtedes paa, blev forhindret, saa den ikke kom efter, som vi ventet. Det duskregnet, og regnet frøs til is paa bakken. Ikke fik vi gjort op ild, og vaate var vi som kraaker, som man sier. Vi la os ned, men naar vi hadde ligget en kort stund, maatte vi op igjen og springe frem og tilbake paa øen for at holde litt varme i kroppen. Naar man hadde været paa de gyngende og rullende tømmerstokker hele dagen, saa syntes landjorden at gynge under føttene, naar man om aftenen kom tillands igjen. | I did then, as most of the boys in the settlement; went off to the logging woods. I spent five or six years as a log worker, log-driver and "riverman", as they say, one that is along to float the lumber rafts and fleets down the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, sometimes all the way down to St. Louis in Missouri. I was along so far as St. Louis just one time. From Wausau in Wisconsin to St. Louis in Missouri is a distance of 1,000 miles. It was a strenuous job and also dangerous, both in the woods and on the river; because many lost their lives in the woods when branches and trees fell down on them, and many drowned in the dangerous rapids and falls in the Wisconsin River. I remember a night, while I was on a log drive, where we had to overnight on a small island in the river, when "Wannigan", the boat that the provisions and bedclothes was carried on, was blocked, so it didn't follow with us, as we expected. It drizzled, and the rain froze to ice on the ground. We didn't get a fire going, and we were as wet as crows, as one says. We laid down, but when we had lain a short while, we had to get up again and run back and forth on the island to hold a little warmth in our body. When one had been on the rocking and rolling logs all day, solid ground seemed to rock under the feet, when one came ashore in the evening again. |
| Det var daarlig med mange av de kjække "pineri" gutter og "rivermen"; ti de sørget sjelden for den dag imorgen, men levet i sus og dus naar de var ledig, saalænge pengene varte; siden var det at dra tilskogs eller paa elven og begynde paa ny frisk. | It was rough for many of the brave "pinery" boys and "rivermen"; because they seldom thought about the morning, but lived it up when they were off duty, as long as the money held up; then it was to go to the woods or to the river and start all over again. |
| Der var prægtige tømmerskoge i Wisconsin dengang. Ja, hvor mange millioner fot tømmer laa ikke og raadnet eller blev rov for skogbranden; ti man tok bare den bedste del av træet, og lot toppen ligge, om man saa kunde faat baade en og to stokker av den, om end noget kvist paa dem. Grunden var nok den at det ikke lønnet sig at ta dem med; ti lumberen var billig dengang. | There were impressive log forests in Wisconsin at that time. Yes, how many million feet of lumber was not taken and rotted or became fuel for forest fire; because one took only the best part of the tree, and let the top lay, even if one could get one or two logs from it, and still some branches on it. The reason was surely that it didn't pay to take them with; because lumber was cheap at that time. |
| Det er nu mange aar siden den sidste "raft" seilet nedad gamle Wisconsin og Mississippi elvene; ti man fragter nu lumberen paa jernbaner. Det er med vemod jeg ofte tar frem en liten bok, som min svoger, Halvor Brua, forærte mig. Det er en bok med fotografier av lumberflaaterne, fra "cryb"en bygges og forbindes med andre til en "rapids piece", og disses sammenføining igjen til "raft" og siden til en "Mississippi fleet", og fotografier av arbeidet hele veien, baade paa Wisconsin og Mississippi elevene. Jeg vilde ikke miste boken for en liten formue. | It is now many years since the last "raft" sailed down the old Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers; because one now transports lumber on the railroad. It is with melancholy I often take out a little book, that my brother-in-law, Halvor Brua, presented me. It is a book with photographs of the lumber floats, from the "Crib" is built and bound with others into a "Rapids Piece", and these joined again to a "Raft" and then to a "Mississippi Fleet", and photographs of the work the whole way, both on the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. I would not part with the book for a small fortune. |
| For nogen aar siden tok jeg mig en tur til mit gamle hjem i New Hope, Wis., og da traf det sig saa, at der skulde være en "Old Settlers' Reunion", og jeg maatte da følge min fortræffelige gamle ven Lars L. Løberg til festen. Der var mange mennesker forsamlet, og en hyggelig fest blev det.Jeg traf en mængde av mine skolekamerater, slegtninger, venner og bekjendte. Jeg maatte da ogsaa op og holde en tale for dem, og det er en av de lykkeligste dage i mit liv; ti foran mig paa bænkene og staaende saa jeg barndoms kamerater, med hvem jeg hade lekt, nu adstadige familiefædre og mødre; mange som var i sin kraftigste alder da jeg forlot hjemmet, nu med graanende lokker, men alle lyttet med spændt opmerksomhet til min tale, og da den var endt, høstet jeg et rungende bifald. Hvor jeg vendte mig hen, møtte mig velvillige ansigter. Mange av settlerne fortalte om sin kamp og strid i nybyggerlivets første tider, og deres beretninger fulgtes med dypfølt interesse. Saaledes svandt dagen med taler, sang, musik og samtaler. Jeg blev budt til middag av den ovenomtalte lærerinde og hendes hyggelige mand, Mr. Anders Brekke, og om aftenen fulgte jeg min gamle ven Lars L. Løberg hjem. I sandhet en hyggelig dag! | Some years ago I took a trip to my old home in New Hope, Wis., and it happened like this, that there was to be an "Old Settlers' Reunion", and I went with my excellent old friend Lars L. Løberg to the celebration. There were many people gathered, and a cheerful party it was. I met a lot of my schoolmates, relatives, friends and acquaintances. I also had to get up and give a speech for them, and it is one of the happiest days of my life; because in front of me on the benches and standing I saw childhood companions, with whom I had played, now sedate family fathers and mothers; many who were in there strongest years when I left home, now with graying locks, but all listened with close attention to my speech, and when it was over, I received a resounding applause. No matter where I turned, I met friendly faces. Many of the settlers told about their fight and struggle in the early times of pioneer-life, and their accounts were followed with deep-felt interest. In this way the day passed-by with speeches, songs, music and conversation. I was invited to dinner by the aforementioned teacher and her nice husband, Mr. Anders Brekke, and in the evening I went home with my old friend Lars L. Løberg. In all honesty a happy day! |
| Seks aar gammel blev jeg totalavholdsmand. Det gik til paa følgende maate: Nogen unge mænd kom til vort hjem og vilde ha mine søstre med til et danselag hos en av naboerne. Guttene hadde, som de fleste i de dage, lommeflasker; ti "common whisky" kostet vare 40 cents pr. gallon. Disse galninger hadde da ogsaa moro av at skjænke "veslegutten". Mor var ikke hjemme; ti hen fungerte som jordemor i de dage, og far var heller ikke hjemme. "Veslegutten" lot sig ikke nøte, men drak av hjertens lyst, og følgerne uteblev ikke. Jeg blev skrækkelig syk, og tok den beslutning aldrig at smake saadant mer, og den beslutning har staat fast til denne dag. | At six years of age I became a teetotaler. It happened in the following way: Some young men came to our home and wanted to take my sisters to a dance at one of the neighbors. The boys had, as most in those days, pocket-flasks; because "common whisky" cost only 40 cents a gallon. These lunatics also had fun serving "the little boy". Mom was not home; because she acted as a midwife in those days, and dad was not home either. "The little boy" didn't allow himself go thirsty, but drank to his hearts content, and the following happened without fail. I got frighteningly sick, and made a resolution never to taste such things again, and this resolution has stood fast to this day. |
| Fars farm var liten og daarlig, saa utsigtene som farmer der paa stedet var mindre lyse. Tiderne var ogsaa daarlige paa grund av "Resumption"-akten, og der var ogsaa andre aarsaker, derfor besluttet jeg at reise til Minnesota og ta land paa homestead. Tre og tyve aar gammel drog jeg da avsted, men uerfaren som jeg var, og med bare nogen faa dalere i lommen, tok jeg bare 80 acres; det var alt man kunde faa dengang inden "railroad limits". Det var i Pomme de Terre township jeg tok homestead, i Grant county, Minnesota. Fik sat op en "shanty", og da følte jeg mig saa stolt som en spanier, og kunde med digteren si: | Dad's farm was small and poor, so the outlook as a farmer there on that place was not so bright. The times were also bad because of the "Resumption" act, and there were also other reasons, therefore I decided to travel to Minnesota and take land as homestead. At twenty three years old I took off, but inexperienced as I was, and with only a few dollars in my pocket, I took only 80 acres; it was all one could get then within "railroad limits". It was in Pomme de Terre Township I took homestead, in Grant County, Minnesota. Got a "shanty" set up, and then I felt as proud as a Spaniard, and could with poetry say: |
| "Mit hus er lavt, men mit det er, min egen tomt det bærer." |
"My house is lowly, but mine it is, my own lot it bears it." |
| Efter at ha levet som "bachelor" en tid, kunde jeg ogsaa passende synge: | After having lived as a bachelor a while, I could also appropriately sing: |
| "I'm looking rather seedy now, while holding down my claim, And my victuals are not always served the best, And the mice play slyly 'round me as I nestle down to sleep In my little old claim-shanty in the west!" |
"I'm looking rather seedy now, while holding down my claim, And my victuals are not always served the best, And the mice play slyly 'round me as I nestle down to sleep In my little old claim-shanty in the west!" |
| Det var om vaaren i 1878 jeg tok land. Som ovenfor fortalt, reiste jeg hver høft i tre aar tilbake og arbeidet i tømmerskogene, men slog mig siden til ro her. | It was in the spring of 1878 I took land. As I said previously, I traveled every fall for three years back and worked in the logging woods, but then I settled down here. |
| I 1882 blev jeg gift med piken Nekkoline Bratlien, datter av Niels og Gudbjørg Bratlien fra Lands prestegjeld i Norge. De bodde ogsaa i Pomme de Terre, hvor min svigerfar hadde tat land i 1871. Jeg kjøpte siden noget mere land i Pomme de Terre, men da syv aar var forløbet, solgte jeg min farm og vi flyttet til nabotownet, Stony Brook, som ogsaa er i Grant county, hvor jeg hadde kjøpt land, og hvor vi har bodd siden. Jeg blev valgt til town clerk og Justice of the Peace, mens vi bodde i Pomme de Terre, og indehadde begge embeder i tr aar, til vi flyttet til Story Brook, hvor jeg ogsaa straks blev valgt til nævnte embeder og indehadde dem i mange aar. Tjente ogsaa som distriktsskole-clerk i mange aar. Sønnen Oluf Nicolai blev født i Pomme de Terre. I Stony Brook fødtes siden Gustave Justinian, Clara Elvira og Royden Vincent. | In 1882 I got married to Nekkoline Bratlien, daughter of Niels and Gudbjørg Bratlien from Lands parish in Norway. They also lived in Pomme de Terre, where my father in law had taken land in 1871. I later bought some more land in Pomme de Terre, but after seven years had passed, I sold my farm and we moved to the neighbor township, Stony Brook, which is also in Grant County, where I had bought land, and where we have lived since. I was elected to town clerk and Justice of the Peace, while we lived in Pomme de Terre, and held both positions for three years, until we moved to Stony Brook, where I was also immediately elected to the same positions and held them for many years. I served also as district school clerk for many years. Our son Oluf Nicolai was born in Pomme de Terre. Born later in Stony Brook were Gustave Justinian, Clara Elvira, and Roydon Vincent. |
| Det var smaat stel og mange tunge tak i førstningen. Avlingen slog tildels feil, dog aldrig totalt, og penger var vanskelige at faa tak i, saa jeg maatte betale op til 35 procent i renter for nogen av de laante penger. Kjøpte omsider mere land, saa at jeg engang, førend en del solgtes og 240 acres utdeltes til mine sønner, hadde 1000 acres. Nu har jeg 600 acres med godt land og har nogenlunde bra bygninger, de fleste av dem. | It was slow going and many heavy efforts at first. The crop would somewhat fail, although never totally, and money was difficult to get hold of, so I had to pay up to 35 percent in interest for some of the borrowed money. I eventually bought more land, so that I one time, before I sold some and divided 240 acres each to my sons, had 1000 acres. Now I have 600 acres of good land and have more or less good buildings, the most of them. |
| Blev i 1886 valgt til Judge of Probate, hvilket embede indehaddes til 1894, da jeg blev valgt til medlem av legislaturen; gjenvalgtes i 1896 og 1898, men negtet at stille mig til valg i 1900. Har siden forsøkt at bli valgt til statssenator, men blev slagen. Blandt nogen av de vigtigste lovforslag som jeg fik vedtat i legislaturen, var en "graduated and progressive tax on inheritances" (arveskatloven). Den blev omstøtt av statens høiesteret paa grund av et amendment som blev tilføiet i Senatet; men siden er en saadan lov blit vedtat, væsentlig i samme form som den jeg fik vedtat, og den er grundlovsmæssig. | In 1886 I was elected to Judge of Probate, which position I held until 1894, when I was elected a member of the legislature; reelected in 1896 and 1898, but I declined to run in 1900. I have since attempted to run for state senator, but was defeated. Among some of the most important bills that I got passed in the legislature, was a "graduated and progressive tax on inheritances". It was ruled invalid by the state Supreme Court because of an amendment that was attached in the Senate; but later a similar law was passed, essentially in the same form as the one I got passed, and it is constitutional. |
| Har i politiken været republikaner og har været valgt som delegat til mange county og statskonventioner. | In politics I have been a republican and have been elected as a delegate to many county and state conventions. |
| Jeg spenderte omkring $1000 i en kamp mot et amendment til statens konstitution, kjendt under navnet "the wide-open tax amendment". Sendte cirkulærer til alle town clerks og village recorders i 63 av statens countier, og ved valget var uten tvil amendmentet forkastet, men ved at bruke knep eller av vanvare blev amendmenterne ombyttet, saa at "good Roads" amendmentet, som var populært, blev paa optællingslistene sat paa det sted hvor skatteamendmentet skulde staa, og vice versa, og det blev derfor av "the canvassing board" erklæret, at skatteamendmentet var vedtat og "Good Roads" amendmentet forkastet. Contest blev begyngt, og underretten erklærte at skatteamendmentet var blit forkastet. Der blev appelert til høiesteret, men denne tok det ikke under behandling førend efter valget, da der igjen skulde stemmes over skatteamendmentet, som legislaturen hadde forelagt folket til avstemning. Jeg arbeidet ufortrødent imot det ogsaa denne gang, og det blev forkastet med stor majoritet, men "tyskeren gjere mangt for pengar", sa telemarkingen da han saa apekatten. Høiesteret erklærte at amendmentet var blit vedtat første gang, og nu er det en del av vor grundlov, og under dets beskyttende vinge er fem hundrede millioner værd av personlig eiendom tat av skattelistene. | I spent around $1000 in a fight against an amendment to the state's constitution, known by the name "the wide-open tax amendment". I sent circulars to all the town clerks and village recorders in 63 of the states counties, and at the election the amendment was rejected without a doubt, but by use of a trick or by accident the amendments were switched, so that the "Good Roads" amendment, which was popular, was put on the ballot in the place where the tax amendment should be, and vice versa, and therefore "the canvassing board" declared that the tax amendment passed and the "Good Roads" amendment was rejected. A contest was begun, and a lower court declared that the tax amendment was rejected. It was appealed to the Supreme Court, but they didn't take it under consideration until after the election, when again it was to vote over the tax amendment, which the legislature had submitted to the people for a vote. I worked tirelessly against it this time also, and it was rejected with a large majority, but "the German does a lot for money", said the Telemarking when he saw the monkey. The Supreme Court declared that the amendment had been passed the first time, and now it is a part of our laws, and under it's protective wings five hundred million worth of personal property is taken off the tax lists. |
| Jeg er medlem av den Norsk Lutherske Kirke. Skrev inkorporationsartiklene da menigheten reorganisertes, og hjalp til paa andre maater. Her hentydes til Rock Prairie menighet. Var med og organiserte den første lokale "Farmers' Alliance" i Pomme de Terre og valgtes som sekrtær, men da den nationale organisation var i favør av frihandel og at regjeringen skulde eie jernbanerne, gik jeg ut. Er en motstander av socialismen og alle radikale organistioner, og har flere ganger debattert offentlig med ledere av det socialistiske parti; engang med Van Lear, som nylig var mayor av Minneapolis, men det var førend han blev valgt til mayor; engang med Thormodson og engang med Downing, begge sakførere. | I am a member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. I wrote the incorporation articles when the church reorganized, and helped out in other ways. Referred to here is the Rock Prairie Church. I was in on organizing the first local "Farmers Alliance" in Pomme de Terre and was elected secretary, but when the national organization was in favor of free trade and that the government should own the railroads, I got out. I am against socialism and all radical organizations, and have several times debated often with leaders of the socialist party; once with Van Lear, who recently was mayor of Minneapolis, but it was before he was elected to mayor; once with Thormodson and once with Downing, both lawyers. |
| I 1904 organisertes Farmers' Elevator and Supply Company of Wendell, Minn.; blev valgt til president og indehadde stillingen til vi i 1919 solgte elevatoren til Equity Co-operative Exchange | In 1904 the Farmers' Elevator and Supply Company of Wendell, Minn. was organized; I was elected as president and held the position until we sold the elevator in 1919 to Equity Co-operative Exchange. |
| Har hat mer end tyve dødsboer til behandling, som executor og administrator, og har været formynder for en sindssvak person og en "incompetent". | I have handled more than twenty decedent's estates, as executor and administrator, and have been guardian for one insane person and one "incompetent". |
| Har altid hat stor lyst til læsning og til at samle kundskaper. Mens mine kamerater i lumberkampene spillet kort eller fortalte skrøner, sat jeg og læste, hvis der var bøker eller aviser at faa tak i. Har ved selvstudium tilegnet mig kjendskap til det franske og tyske sprog saavidt at jeg forstaar godt hvad jeg læser i begge sprog. Har skrevet brever paa fransk til Paris efter bøker, og til andre steder. Har ogsaa korrespondert paa tysk med forskjellige personer og firmaer. Begyndte at studere tysk mens jeg var i Wisconsin, og fik litt undervisning av min skolekamerat, nu Rev. Carl J. Moen, og av en tysker som hette Henry Joseph; men fransk forstod jeg ikke et ord av førend min ankomst til Minnesota. Holder og har holdt i længere tid et fransk dagblad, "La Bresse", som utkommer i Montreal, Canada. Holder ogsaa og har holdt i mange aar et tysk ukeblad, "Vorvärts", det er et socialistblad utgit i Milwaukee, Wis.; holder det for at se hvorledes de gaar tilverks med sin aldrig hvilende propaganda. Blev forundret nogen tid siden, da bladet kom med en oversættlse til tysk av Per Sivles vakre digt, "Thormod Kolbrunarskald". Læser ogsaa litt spansk, men er ikke langt kommet med det. Har en liten boksamling av noget over et tusen bind i det norske, svaenske, danske, tyske, spanske, franske og latinske sprog, og har ogsaa ordbøker i det russiske, polske og græske sprog, men forstaar næsten intet av de tre sidstnævnte. Har noget av verdens bedste literatur baade i originalsprogene og i oversættelser. "Encyclopædia Britannica" skatter jeg høit. Har ogsaa en del lovbøker, iblandt dem en som jeg holder meget av, Blackstone's "Commentaries on the Laws of England", det fundamentale verk baade for Englands og vor lovgivning. Snorre Sturlasons verk skatter jeg ogsaa meget høit. ønsket at faa kjøpt det vakre episke digt "Kalevala" (finsk) og "Nibelungen Lied", samt Eddaerne, og prof. R. B. Anderson hjalp mig til at faa dem, det første i engelsk oversættelse, det andet i oringinalsproget, og den ældre Edda paa norsk oversættelse og den yngre paa engelsk, for hvilket jeg er professoren meget taknemmilig. Men dette faar være nok om bøkerne. | I have always had great desire for reading and for gathering knowledge. While my comrades in the lumber camps played cards or told jokes, I sat and read, if there were books or newspapers to get a hold of. I have by self-study acquired a familiarity to the French and German language enough that I understand well what I read in both languages. I have written letters in French to Paris to get books, and to other places. I have also corresponded in German with different people and firms. I began to study German while I was in Wisconsin, and got a little instruction from my school-mate, now Rev. Carl J. Moen, and from a German named Henry Joseph; but French I did not understand a word of before my arrival in Minnesota. I have held a subscription for a long time to a French daily paper, "La Bresse", that is printed in Montreal, Canada. I have also held a subscription for many years to a German weekly paper, "Vorvärts", it is a socialist paper printed in Milwaukee, Wis.; I get it to see how it goes with their never tiring manufacture of propaganda. I was astonished a while ago, when the paper came with a translation to German of Per Sivles beautiful poem, "Thormod Kolbrunarskald". I also read a little Spanish, but I have not come very far with it. I have a little book collection of some over a thousand books in the Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, German, Spanish, French, and Latin languages, and I also have dictionaries in the Russian, Polish, and Greek languages, but I understand almost nothing of the last three mentioned. I have some of the world's best literature both in the original language and in translations. "The Encyclopedia Britannica" I prize highly. I also have a few law books, among them one that I am quite fond of, Blackstone's "Commentaries on the Laws of England", the fundamental work both for England's and our legislation. Snorre Sturlason's work I also treasure very high. I wished to purchase the beautiful epic poem "Kalevala" (Finnish) and "Nibelungen Lied", together with the Eddas, and prof. R.B. Anderson helped me to get them, the first in an English translation, the second in the original language, and the Elder Edda in a Norwegian translation and the Younger in English, for which I am very thankful to the professor. But this will have to be enough about books. |
| Holder foruten de to ovennævnte franske og tyske, et svensk ukeblad, et dansk, tre norske ukeblade og to halvukentilge, samt omkring tyve dagblade, ukeblade of to halvukentlige, samt omkring tyve dagblade, ukeblade og maanedsskrifter i det engelske sprog. | I subscribe in addition to the two previously named French and German, a Swedish weekly paper, a Danish, three Norwegian weekly papers and two bi-weekly papers, along with about twenty daily papers, weekly papers and monthly magazines in the English language. |
| Har ogsaa forsøkt en smule som forfatter. Har skrevet en liten roman paa norsk, "Rivalinderne", og "Hisory of Stony Brook Township", det town hvor jeg bor, skrevet i det engelske sprog; den er hos boktrykkeren og blir vel færdig engang i vinter. Har ogsaa skrevet en anden bok paa norsk, men den er ikke trykt, og uvist er det om den blir trykt. Har skrevet mange artikler baade i det norske og engelske sprog, som har været trykt i avisene. Har ogsaa begaat nogen vers, som har været trykt i avisene, baade norske og engelske. | I have also made a small attempt as an author. I wrote a small novel in Norwegian, "Rivalinderne", and "History of Stony Brook Township", the town where I live, written in the English language; it is at the book publisher and should be ready some time this winter. I have also written another book in Norwegian, but it is not published, and it's unknown if it will be published. I have written many articles both in the Norwegian and English languages, that have been published in the newspapers. I have also done some poetry, which has been published in the newspapers, both in Norwegian and English. |
| Er medlem av Numedalslaget og har endog hat den ære at bli valgt til næstformand et par ganger. Har hat megen hygge av laget og har undertiden talt litt ved møterne. Maatte laget florere og bestaa i en lang tid fremover! | I am a member of the Numedalslag and have even had the honor to be elected vice president a couple of times. I have had a lot of enjoyment from the lag and have now and then spoken a little at the meetings. I hope the Lag will flourish and continue for a long time into the future. |
| Vore barn er alle gifte. Oluf med Kjersti Sund, en lærerinde i engelsk, en datter av Ole og Marit Sund. De har to barn, Louis Norin og Ole Martin. Oluf har farm selv, men bor hos sine svigerforældre; ti de har bare den ene datter. | Our children are all married. Oluf to Kjersti Sund, an English teacher, a daughter of Ole and Marit Sund. They have two children, Louis Norin and Ole Martin. Oluf has a farm, but lives with his in-laws; because they have just the one daughter. |
| Gustav er gift med Alice Thunshelle, en datter av Ole og Ali Thunshelle. De var blandt de tidlige settlere i Town of Tumuli, Otter Tail county, Minn. Gustav har farm selv. De har en søn, Lloyd Olin. | Gustave is married to Alice Thunselle, a daughter of Ole and Ali Thunselle. They were among the early settlers in the town of Tumuli, Otter Tail County, Minn. Gustave has a farm. They have one son, Lloyd Olin. |
| Clara Elvira er gift med Joseph Harstad, søn av Lauritz K. Harstad og Elise Harstad. De har en søn, Leonard Lyndon. Joseph har farm selv. | Clara Elvira is married to Joseph Harstad, son of Lauritz K. Harstad and Elise Harstad. They have one son, Leonard Lyndon. Joseph has a farm. |
| Roydon Vincent bor hos os; han blev nylig gift med Myrtle Melaas, en datter av Ole og Thea Melaas, hvis hjem er i Aastad, Otter Tail county, Minn. Roydon har vært formand i driften av vor farm i nogen tid og skal vedbli med det. | Roydon Vincent lives with us; he was recently married to Myrtle Melaas, a daughter of Ole and Thea Melaas, who's home is in Aastad, Otter Tail County, Minn. Roydon has been foreman of the operation of our farm for some time and shall continue with it. |
| Da min svoger Halvor Hanson Brua døde, tok jeg far og mor til mig; de hadde bodd hos sin datter og svigersøn, efterat de hadde solgt farmen. De kom til os i 1904. Efter et par aars tid blev mor sengeliggende og maatte holde sengen i fem og et halvt aar. Hun led iblandt av store smerter, men hun var meget taalmodig. Min snilde og dygtige hustru tok vare paa og pleiet de gamle med venlighet og taalmodighet. Hendes far, Niels N. Bratlien, bodde ogsaa has os i tre aar, saa vi hadde tre gamle, men han ogsaa var taalmodig of snild, og det var far. Min svigerfar døde i vort hjem i 1910. Mor og far døde i 1911, mor i den høie alder av 97 og far 95 aar. Far var syk bare tre uker. Sidstpaa vilde mine forældre ikke ha andre end min hustru og mig rundt sig. Jeg lukket begges øine. Mor mistet bevisstheten nogen timer før hun døde, men far talte til mig et halvt minut før han døde; hand bad mig vende ham i sengen; det gjorde jeg, og saa var det slut. Begge mine forældre var i besiddelse av sine fulde aandsevner til det sidste. De er begravet paa Rock Prairie kirkegaard. Min svigermor døde for mange aar siden. Baade min svigerfar og svigermor var retskafne og strævsomme mennesker. De var av "de stille i landet". Far og mor var ogsaa strævsomme og vindskibelige mennesker. Mor var en begavet kvinde med en lys forstand og prægtige aandsevner. Arbeide maatte hun saalænge det gik an. Hun bandt tvibandsvotter, meget pene. Har endnu et par, som jeg skatter meget høit. Alle fire gamle var gode egtefæller og snilde og kjærlige forældre; holdt sig alle til boken og var en hygge for sine omgivelser. Fred med deres støv, velsignet være deres minde! | When my brother-in-law Halvor Hanson Brua died, I took in my mother and father; they had lived with their daughter and son-in-law, after they sold the farm. They came to us in 1904. After a couple years mom became bedridden and lay in bed for five and a half years. She suffered at times from large sores, but she was very patient. My nice and able wife took care of and nursed the old ones with friendliness and patience. Her father, Niels N. Bratlien, lived with us also for three years, so we had three old people, but he was also patient and nice, and dad was too. My father-in-law died in our home in 1910. Mom and dad died in 1911, mom at the high age of 97 and dad at 95 years. Dad was only sick for three weeks. At the end my parents didn't want more than my wife and I around them. I closed both of their eyes. Mom lost consciousness a few hours before her death, but dad spoke to me a half minute before he died; he asked me to turn him in the bed; I did that, and then it was over. Both my parents were in possession of their full mental ability to the end. They are buried at Rock Prairie cemetery. My mother-in-law died many years ago. Both my father-in-law and mother-in-law were upright and hardworking people. They were of "the quiet in the country". Dad and mom were also hardworking and diligent people. Mom was a gifted woman with a bright understanding and excellent mental capacity. She worked as long as she could go on. She made double banded mittens, very nice. I still have a pair which I highly cherish. All four of the old people were good spouses and nice and loving parents; all held themselves to the book and were a comfort for their surroundings. Peace be with their dust, blessed be their memory! |
| Alle mine sønner og min svigersøn var paa draftlistene, men paa grund av at tre av dem var gifte og eiet farme, blev de sat i fjerde klasse, og min yngste søn, som var formand paa min farm, blev sat i tredje klasse, saa ingen av dem blev utkaldt. | All of my sons and my son-in-law were on the draft list, but because three of them were married and owned farms, they were rated forth class, and my youngest son, who was the foreman on my farm, was rated third class, so none of them were called up. |
| Far uttjente sin vernepligt i Norge. Han var for gammel til at delta i borgerkrigen her. | Dad served his military duty in Norway. He was too old to partake in the Civil War here. |
| Under stjernebanneret er jeg født, og under dette frihetens symbol ønsker jeg at lukke mine øine, men kan allikevel med dyp erkjendtlighet og beundring ære og agte det lille klippeland hvor mine fædres vugge stod, og fra hvilket saa meget stort og godt er utgaat. | I was born under the stars and stripes, and under it's freedom's symbol I wish to shut my eyes, but I can nevertheless with deep gratitude and admiration honor and respect the little rocky country where my parents' cradle stood, and from which so much great and good has come. |
| Hermed vil jeg slutte min simple og uinteressante (?) livsskildring, bedende om undskyldning fordi jeg optar saa meget av aarbokens rum, og med ønsket om, at "the Stars and Stripes" maa altid vaie her i landet over et frit, selvstændig og loyalt folk til dagenes ende. | With this I will end my simple and uninteresting (?) life's description, begging your pardon because I took up so much space in the year-book, and with the wish that the "the Stars and Stripes" will always wave here in this country over a free, independent and loyal people to the end of the days. |
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| A n m. Redaktionen vil faa uttale sin tak til hr. Foss for hans greie skisse av sit indholdsrike liv. Fortællingen om en norsk guts sukces, fra ringe stand og ved egen hjælp at svinge sig op til at bli en velholden og oplyst mand, der tilsidst av sine medborgere vælges til de mest anbetrodde stillinger; en mand der paa samme tid som han fremfor alt er en patriotisk amerikansk borger, dog elsker sit moderlands folk og kultur, - er noget av det mest interessante man kan byde aarbokens læsere, just den slags brobyggerarbeide vi ønsker at fremme. | A.n.m. The editors would like to say thank you to Mr. Foss for his straightforward outline of his interesting and eventful life. The story of a Norwegian boy's success, from humble standings and by his own help to swing himself up to become a prosperous and informed man, and finally elected to the most entrusted positions by his fellow citizens; a man who while he is a above all a patriotic American citizen, still loves his motherlands people and culture, - is some of the most interesting one can offer the year-book's readers, exactly the type of bridge building work we wish to promote. |
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