pages 1-16

"I do not know anything about my ancestors further back than my Grandparents. My father’s father’s name was Torger. He died at a high age about 1850 after a long siege of sickness, being paralyzed and confined to his bed for some 20 years. Of his wife I know nothing. He had several sons: My father Ola T. Hole, Peder T. Lillelien or Wesley, Amund T Dahl, Ole T Olstad, Johannes and perhaps others. And one daughter, Kari Wasrud.

My mother’s father was Elev Langseth. Those of his children that I know anything about were two sons: Even and I believe Niels, also daughters: my mother Ane, and one Einne. His wife I know nothing about.

My father must have been the oldest son seeing he got the farm "Hole" after grandfather got unable to run it. According to law and usage in Norway the oldest son gets the farm by paying his brothers and sisters a certain sum to each according to the appraised value of the farm. The oldest sons right to the farm is called the Odelsret.

My father’s first wife died leaving one child Torger, later known as Torger Helleberg. Father then married my mother Ane E Langseth about 1830. They had 5 sons: Even, Karelius (died in infancy), Christian (died in infancy) Amund and Ole the baby.

Father died before he was 50 years old from what I think was appendicitis but that disease was probably not know by the doctor there at that time. Mother then carried on the farm with hired help for something like 4 years when she got married again to Johan Olsen Solsethhagen. She had one son with him, Berndt. He died in Iola Wis, about 1866, about 19 years old, but I can not find the dates. My step father then carried on the farm Hole for a year or two when he sold the farm to my Uncle Johannes and reserved what they call a "Foderaad": that is a support for self and wife during life and for children till they can support themselves. The Foderaad usually consisted of enough land so they could keep a cow or two, one or two horses, provisions and money to be paid annually. I know father had two horses once. Also houseroom for family and stock, fuel etc according to the value of the farm.

But [step]Father soon got the "American Fever" a complaint that seemed to be quite catching in those days, caused by some favorable reports coming from a few from our Parish (Swadsum in Gausdal-Gudbrandalen-Norway) that had immigrated to America 2 or 3 years earlier. [Note: Probably a reference to the immigration of Tosten Rasmussen, the Winger and Corfeld families in 1845 on the Preciosa.

So in 1847, my stepfather and two neighbors with families commenced to make preparations to emigrate to America. Of those preparations and the journey I will try to give a short history further on. Suffice it to say here that we left home on sleighs, probably in April and reached our destination in the Town of Ixonia, Jefferson Co, Wis. after the wheat was stacked. Supposedly in August, having been 4 months on the way. This was 1848.

We were allowed to stay a short time in the house of one Ole Corfeld, an acquaintance of our folks who had lived there 3 years and had a small beginning for a farm. The next thing was to get a home of our own. So father bought a forty of timbered land with an unfinished log house on and about ½ acre cleared and sowed to winter wheat dragged in without being broke. He also bought a yoke of oxen, one cow, a small cook stove etc. And we moved in.

We were now residents of America and everything should be lovely; but alas, we soon found that we were in a heavy timbered county and swampy part of the county where malarial germs thrive so we, al all other newcomers, soon began to shake, freeze and sweat with the fever and ague. From that we suffered off and on for a couple of years until we got acclimatized.

By chinking and mortaring the openings between the logs we got the house so that we lived in it for 7 years. We suffered much privation in those days having no money only what father earned by working out for from 9 to 13 dollars per month. At the end of seven years we had 7 acres cleared and broke and a small barn and stable built. Had also raised some stock.

So in the spring of 1855 Father sold the forty for $400, rigged up two wagons covered with canvas, regular Prairy Scooners, packed all our Household goods and provisions therein. Hitched one yoke of oxen to each wagon and we started for the Indian Land, taking our cows, sheep and hogs with us. There was three other families along with us viz: Peder Wesley, Christian Kalvild and the Rambek family so there was 5 wagons, quite a few people and quite a drove of stock. So we had quite a pleasant and lively journey that lasted 9 days. May 18^th to 26^th, 1855. Father had previously been up here and located 3 forties of wood land in Town 24 Range 10, now New Hope, Portage Co, Wis.

There being no neighbors that could house us we had to live in the wagons while father with a little hired help built the first house 14 x16 feet, built of Popple Logs and covered with Birch bark with dirt on top to keep the birch bark from curling up. Peder Wesley and Chr. Kalvil parted company with us at Scandinavia. They settled in Town of St. Lawence. The Rambek family came with us to New Hope and located 2 miles east from us. We were now 5 in the family, my oldest brother Even staying behind in Oconomowoc. There were also two unmarried women along with us from the "Rock River" settlement viz: Randine, later married to Olaus Rambek and Karen Olstad, later married to Ole Fjelbod. There two soon found employment at Steven’s Point.

Our stock had been on the move so long that they would not stay long anywhere so I was duly elected shepherd and I and my trusty dog Tige herded the cattle, sheep and hogs all summer. Soon Landseekers began to come up from the Rock River Settlement and as we lived on the outskirts of civilization and knew them all they naturally came to us, and we housed and boarded them all while they hunted up their land. How we all got along in our little house is hard to imagine but where there is a will there is a way.

The most of them located land and settlers began to comin so we soon got neighbors. We had brought a new Breaking Plow along from below so by changing work with somebody we soon had a breaking team a going and broke 15 acres the first summer. Part of the land being prairie, they called it the School Praiery because is was on Section 16 and every Sec 16 was School land and belong to the state. We also had a lot of Popple rails cut wherewith we fenced in quite a large field the next spring. Thus we got quite a farm started but we had to live in the first house with a little addition build to it about 3 years when we build a solid log house 20 x 30 feet. And had the largest house in the neighborhood and could accommodate both religious and all other kinds of meetings.

Brother Amund soon went back to Oncomowoc to seek employment. He came back in 1861 and settled ¾ miles north of us where he lived till he died. (at Winnebago Hospital) January 11^th, 1915.

In the early spring of 1860 I was laid up with Lung Fever or Pneumonia, that left me too weak to do much hard work for more than 2 years. So in the fall of 1860 I went to Oconomowoc where I stayed with m brother Ed (Even) til next spring when I came back to the Indian Land.

Then stayed at or about our home for 2 years when I hired out as clerk in John Enelick Store, "The New Hope Grocery" later known as Benson’s Corner where I stayed two years. While there my boss died , also his father- in- law Mr. Puqwalson, a young son of Mr. Enelick and a daughter of C Zwickey Sr. (My mother also died in the same house in May 1882). Pa and Ma were running the same store at the time. In the fall of 1865 I went in partnership with one Lasse Larson Eric (Louis Lewison) a soldier in the 8^th Wis. Battery, just home from the war. He had saved up $1000. I had less than $50 from a friend and we rented an empty store building from A.K.Osborn in Iola and started a store there, and done fairly well.

I also got married the same fall, (Oct 8^th) to Elize Marie Gunderson of New Hope. 4 children were born to us viz: Clara Josephine, died Jan 31 1867, age 5 mos and 4 days. Oliver Anton, died July 9m, 1871, age 1 yr, 9 mos, 18 days.

About 1867 father sold his farm in New Hope and moved to Iola, bought out my partner and went in company with me. All went well for 3 or 4 years. I bought me a house to live in of A.K.Osborn and father bought one of the S.S. Chandler Sr. Mine cost $400 for the house and 4 lots and I was to pay in installments. "when I had the money". Mr. Osborn made the remark that he would wait on me" till hell froze over" so I don’t think it is due yet but I had it all paid inside the stipulated time of 4 years.

I concluded that one boss in the store business would be better than two so I induced father to buy me out, which he did and after that I clerked for him for $500 per year. I got appointed Postmaster so we had the Post Office in the store a year or two. I also served as Town Clerk one year and justice of the peace for two years but found that Town Offices besides my duties in the store was rather too much of a good thing so I begged to be excused but got the appointment as Notary Public so I could write and acknowledge legal documents of which I had a good many to execute--notes, mortgages, deeds, contracts, and pension vouchers of which last there were a good many at that time just after the war. My 3 first born children were born at Iola and the two first above named and my ½ brother Berndt died there, all were buried at the New Hope cemetery. And that is where my first wife , my mother, my stepfather Johan O. Hole, and brother Amund are buried too.

I lived in Iola a little over 10 years. Then in the fall of 1875 I was elected Register of Deeds and had to move to the county seat-Waupaca. After living in a rented house in Waupaca two years, I bought a house and two lots, each 4 x8 rods for

$600. In that house my youngest son, Berndt S. [Severin] was born and my wife died there Aug. 31, 1887, leaving me with two boys: one 6, the other 16 years old. This was the hardest blow that had hit me so far but I had learned by this time to accept with patience whatever sorrow and adversity the Lord may see fit to send us, knowing that it is all for our best interest if we only look at it in the right light and let it remind us that we are not here to stay always but can expect to again meet our departed loved ones when our time to go comes.

Miss Sophia Larson, a niece of my wife, kept house for me until I married my second wife so I managed to have a home for myself and my youngest son. My son Adolph soon went to an aunt in Dakota and there worked for farmers off and on for 3 years when he enlisted for 3 years in the 20^th Reg. Regular Army US Infantry and served at the Fr. Assinaboine, Montana, and at Ft Leavenworth Kansas and got an honorable discharge.

Well I held the office of Register of Deeds 4 years being reelected in 1867, serving till Jan 1880, and that was about the end of my political career. I only served two years as Alderman from the 3^rd Ward since, always preferring private life.

On Sept 23, 1889, I married Marie Anderson, widow of Nels Anderson of Scandinavia. She had 3 daughters, Anna Petronille, born Nov 12, 1883. Nellie Ellevine, born Feb 27^th, 1885, and Bessie Marie, born Aug 14^th 1886.

So with the 3 girls and my one boy at home it made quite a jolly family, and later they had all had the children’s diseases-measles, mumps and whooping cough etc, everything was lovely.

Then in the fall of 1880, I went in partnership with Anton Johnson and we opened a small general store in a rather small building belonging to him on Main Street, Waupaca, and we run that a year or more when we moved into a larger building further north on the street, belonging to one J.J Harrison. This was a new building and the rent was low, only $200 per year for all the first story and basement.

The partnership lasted 15 years when we divided the goods and I moved into a building just south of the courthouse that my wife had bought and Mr. Johnson stayed in the old place. I only stayed about two years when that building was sold for a good price and I had to move again. There was an old church building just moved over to main street, 24 x40 ft. , 17 ft from floor to ceiling. The only vacant building on Main St. so I took that at $300 per year. The owner built me a wood shed, a new chimney and I had shelving, counter and other store furniture and fixings. So I was soon doing business again, though not at the old stand. I thought that would be the last time I had to move the store but I moved once more. In 1891 my wife bought with her own money a house and lot 15x8 rods of Rev. J. P Osterfaard on Outlok 114 Waupaca, and later, a lot adjoining on west side of same, making in all a lot of about 1 ½ acres. So we moved there and I sold my house on Division St. to D.F.Burnham for $1,100. This enabled me to pay a debt of several hundred dollars and add some to my stock of merchandise. Well I carried on the business in the old church building for 3 years when I concluded to close out and retire. I did not like the location nor the building.

But I soon found that closing out was easier said than done, so I rented a room in the back part of the Waupaca Co. Bank Building , now old Nat Bank, and they built me a brick addition 9 x28 feet for a warehouse and some room in the basement I could use. I moved in there Oct 11^th, 1906 and stayed till May 1915, when I sold the goods, what I had left to S.J.Danielson for a little less than $800 and threw in the furniture and fixtures which was all old and of little value. I was then past 74 years old and did not feel able to carry on the business any longer. Having then worked around the counter 47 years.

There is but little more to tell about myself. Ma and I are still occupying the homestead by the river and our children are all away from home only calling here once in a year or two. The girls are all married: Anna married to Dr. R.O. Peterson, now of Racine Wis. Nellie to George Nygaard of Orland, Calif. And Bessie to Alfred Peterson, at present. (January 1917) living with us, having sold out their drug business in Manawa Wi. My oldest son Adolph follows the theater business and call Waupaca his home tho he is seldom here. And the youngest boy, B.S. Hole at present teaching the High School at San Diego Calif. It seemed quite natural that he should become a teacher because there had most always been a teacher among his ancestors. I would probably have been a teacher myself if I had had the necessary education, but education was rather a scarce commodity in our pioneer life, and I got but little of it, but I have tried to make good use of what little I got. Our children got about what education they need-especially the youngest boy, and they are all doing fairly well and seem to enjoy life. The daughters have one child each but my boys are not married. Having lived in Wisconsin over 68 years I have seen the country settled up from the east part of this state to California. Seen small village or no villages at all, grow to large cities and other great changes made too numerous to mention here, so I think I can truly say "I came west to grow up with the country" as Horace Greeley said.

[EMMIGRATION on the Erek Boreson]

Pages 17-32

"Well I said in the first part of this that I would try and give a short history of our preparations and journey to America so here it is. It may not be very interesting reading for others but it is quite interesting to me. It was no small task to get a family of 6 persons ready for such a journey in them days. There was clothes to be made, Provision to be provided, chests or Trunks to be made etc. etc.

And finally an auction held to dispose of what we could not take along. So the Tailor came to the farm and made our clothes. Shoemakers to make our shoes-from home tanned leather. Tailors to make our clothes, mostly from homespun and home woved cloth. A cooper to make two large barrels to hold the bread and not to forget a Baker woman to bake enough of the indispensable "Flat Bread" to fill the two large barrels. Then other provisions were provided sufficient for 3 or 4 months. Then a man was sent to the coast to engage passage for us and the other two families that were going. [NOTE: includes Peder Wesley family.] And finally the auction and then we were ready to go to the coast, and about 130 English miles.

We left home on sleighs but as we came further south we had to exchange those for wagons. The conveyance was furnished at certain stations along the road, also lodgings, according to an old Norwegian system.

We finally came to the city of Drammen from which port we were to sail in a one masted sail ship fro Hamburg, at which port we expected to take passage to New York by larger ships that made regular trips to New York.

This being in April or May 1848 and the war between Denmark and Germany broke out about that time and the Danish Men of War blockaded the port of Hamburg so we could not go that way. The little "one mast" did not sail. There was only 3 other ships to leave for New York that season with passengers from Norway but they were all full. So there we were trapped. There was a 2 masted ship being built over in Sweden for a Co in Drammen and the Co. concluded to rig it out for passengers and take a trip to New York if we would wait. The Ship soon came to Drammen ballasted with sand and no bunks. So the sand had to be removed and in its place a ballast of Iron Bars put in. Also rude bunks put up-two in height.

In order to save time the emigrants took hold and helped. After a stay of 6 weeks in Drammen the ship was so far ready that we could go aboard. Other emigrants from up the country had come so there were about 200 of us and it filled the ship full. Now every family’s provisions was examined and weighed to see if we had enough to last for a long journey. And as many families had been living on their own grub for sometime, it naturally fell short and we all had to replenish by buying. Then several large casks on the deck were pumped full of River water for our use and the anchor was weighed and we could say goodbye to Drammen but not to Norway yet for a couple of days or more.

We stopped several hours at Swelvig, also at the Salt Works further out the Fjord and finally at Horten where some of the boys went ashore and bought a Violin, having discovered that we had a "Fidler" aboard, so we could have a little music and dancing in the calm weather. They danced now and then on the deck.

Now when the sails were spread we made for the open North Sea and the wind made our little vessel pitch and roll. That made most of the passengers Sea Sick. I will never forget how their stomachs discharged the last meal they had eaten and more too. It liked to get me too but some boys from Christiania dragged me, as feeble as I was, up on deck to play and I forgot all about my seasickness and had no more of it all the way.

The third day we passed near enough to the cost of Scotland, (or the Orkney Islands) so we could see land and Fishermen came alongside and sold us fish. We had just one passenger aboard that could speak a little English and he served as interpreter for the rest. There was one small cook Shanty on the deck with a rough Fireplace in it and there all the passengers done their cooking. Not much Cake or Pie baked there I tell you, a little hot water for coffee and now then a Pea Soup was about all.

Now we had the open Atlantic before us and our little two masted proved quite Sea worthy. The "invalides" began to recover all but 2 or 3 old women that kept the bed all through. One little child died on the way and was buried in the Ocean. A hymn was sung and a prayer said, the captain serving as minister and that I believe was the only religious service we had on the ship.

Now all went well and we finally got near enough to America to see land once more to our great joy. And when we heard a rooster crow on land one man remarked that the rooster at least spoke the Norwegian language. So after about 7 ½ weeks on the ocean we came to the pier in New York City. There all empty provision boxes and barrels were thrown over board to save space and we were all stowed into a canal boat to go up the Erie Canal to Buffalo city.

We were taken in tow by a Steamboat that had 13 other canal boats in tow and there we were tow to Albany. From there we were towed up the Erie Canal by Horse Teams. The team being changed quite often. A long cable was fastened to the boat and the other end to the team. The boat was kept in the canal by the man at the helm while the horses walked ahead on the shore, on a well beaten road. When we came to the brides the man at the helm would call out "Bridge ahead". That meant: get down flat on the deck or you may be swept overboard.

Some places where there was a bend in the canal that boat would rub against the shore and some of our men would step ashore and walk till we got to next bend or a low bridge. Sometimes while ashore they would visit the farmers apple orchards and help themselves to apples. Some emigrants that came later stole a yellow pumpkin, thinking they had found something very delicious but changed their mind when they tried to eat it raw.

We were about 2 weeks from New York to Buffalo. Waited there 2 or 3 days and got onto a large Lake Steamer that took us to Milwaukee, another 3 day journey. There father hired a man with Team and wagon for Ten Dollars to take us to our destination in the Rock River Settlement about 40 miles from Milwaukee. And thus ended our long and tedious journey of 4 months or more, and although we found the country much less inviting then we had anticipated, we were glad to get a rest.

Incidents in Our Pioneer Life

While living at Rock River a og church was built about two miles from our place and Lutheran ministers from different parts of the state would come and hold services there now and then . After some time the Rev Nels Brandt came from Norway, just out of school there and took charge. He proved to be the right man in the right place. He started to Sunday school and taught it himself at first. There was also a school house built about 2 ½ miles from us, school 3 months per year; but we children had but little time to attend the common school.

I read for confirmation at Rock River but was confirmed at Ashippun Church because Rev. Brandt had the 3 congregations: Ashippun, Rock River and Pine Lake. I stood #1 in a class of 24 from Rock River. Not because I deserved that place but because the others were not better than I was. This was the spring of 1885.

That same spring we moved up here on the Indian Land. [Portage Co.] The Scandinavia church was being built at that time and they had a minister the Rev. O. F. Duus. But as that church was some 10 miles from us we seldom got there, but different ministers would come and preach in the farmer’s houses now the then til the New Hope church was built in 1864-5. As for common school we had none till about 1857 when the Town was divided into 4 school districts and school started in Farm houses. Of our Teachers I remember a Miss Allen and later Amund Mikkelson (later the Rev A Mikkelson). A cemetery was laid out and dedicated about 1856 on our neighbors (Hans Kankruds) land and I conveyed the first corpse that was buried there, with our oxen and a lumber wagon with some loose boards for a wagon box.

Later there were several others buried there and when they came to build a church they built it about 2 miles S.E. from there and laid out the cemetery right by the church. The church has been moved across the road off from the cemetery now. (Most of the corpses were moved to the new cemetery and first ground plowed up and tilled) .

The second winter (1856-1857) when nearly all the deer up in the woods was killed off. The hunters would skip along on "Skis" (Skees). We had two yokes of oxen in our stable and still hauled our wood home on Hand Sled, there being a strong crust on the top of the snow a long time and not strong enough for the wild deer to walk on without slipping through. I was too young to take part in the hunting sport that winter. I only killed One Deer while I live in New Hope and one at Iola, But I done considerable fishing at both places.

Speaking of Fishing: Our Men Folks and some of the sailors fished with Hook and Line from the ship on or near, the Newfoundland Banks on our way coming over and caught some find cod Fish so we had fresh fish for a change of diet a few days. The name of our ship was Briggen "Erik Boresen" and our captain, Capt. Hesselberg.

At Rock River settlement we had the Ashippun River running through our land and many a fine string of fish did I and my brother Amund catch in that little stream, all we could carry sometimes. At New Hope, we had several small lakes near by and fishing was good for a while.

Here in Waupaca we have the chain of Lakes and some trout creeks but fishing is over done and consequently not very good. There was lots of wild deer in Portage and Waupaca counties in 1855 to 1860 and as there was no law to protect them they were hunted and killed by Indians and white men at all seasons so we could buy venison most anytime for 3 cents per lb. It is worth ten times that much now. If the white hunters had none to sell, we bought it of the Indians. They were friendly and always willing to "swap" for cash. Still we were a little afraid of them at first, especially when we met a half dozen or more of them, all armed with gun on their shoulder, Bowie Knife and Hatchet in their belt and sometimes had red stripes painted on their face. They looked savage enough to scare most anybody.

[Indians and settlers]

I remember one time I was a little scared. It must have been the first or second summer we lived in T.24 R 10 (New Hope) we saw two or three Indians sitting in the grass only a little ways from our house and mother sent me out to see if they had any venison to sell. When I came near to them several half- starved dogs met me with such a noise that I thought they would eat me up. Then up jumped two or three Indians, each with a ramrod in his hand. They also came towards me but it was not I, but the dogs that got a taste of the ramrod. I then discovered that instead of two or three Indians there were nearer a dozen of them, all well equipped. They were apparently out on a hunting trip and had stopped there to rest and for a rendezvous.

Well I presume I would preferred to be at home with mother about that time but concluded that it was not proper for a descendant of the Vikings to show the white feather although only armed with a dull pack knife and only weighing 100 lbs and 15 years of age. So I asked them as calmly as I could if they had any venison to sell. Yes they had but it was some ways off. We soon struck a bargain for a quarter of venison and they sent a young fellow off to get it. When I started to go back to the house the whole crew–dogs and all-followed me. That I did not like as there was only my mother and another woman, also a little boy, at home and I was afraid they would go right into the house and steal or take whatever they might take a fancy to. But when they came to the fence in front of the house, they all stopped to wait for the "buck" with the venison.

They soon discovered that we had a grindstone so they gathered around that to sharpen their bowie knives and hatchets. That looked a little threatening too. They did not seem to know what the crank was for, they rubbed their tools on the stone as many at a time as could get to it. The grindstone stood outside the fence. In due time the young "buck" returned so we got our venison and they got their money and went off just as quietly as they came; but we missed an old cap that happened to be within their reach.

That was about the only Indian scare we had until the time of the Civil War when the Sioux Indians in Minnesota went on the warpath. Then there were lots of wild rumors about the Indians coming to massacre the settlers in northern Wisconsin. At that time most everybody had a loaded rifle or shotgun hung up over head and a sharp axe standing near the bed. Perhaps a pitchfork or two in the house too. There were also home guard companies started here and there but as they had no arms to speak of they were not very dangerous and soon disbanded. We started such a co. in New Hope too but it was short lived. We met to drill a couple of times, but as we had no man with military experience to give commands and no arms, we made but little headway.

The Indians here were mostly Winnebagos and Chippewas, all supposed to be friendly to the whites. And we soon found that they were nearly as much scared as we were, so to avoid trouble with the whites they would leave their rifles at the Wig Wam when they came into the settlement.

There are still some Indians living on their Reservation in Shawano Co. and on the Oneida Reservation near Green Bay; but they are getting civilized and educated and support themselves by farming and working for the white people. Some of them come here every fall to dig potatoes and pick cranberries. Bucks, Squaws and Papoose. They are all experts at that kind of work.

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