| The Story Of Helfred Matson & Mary Garson |
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| Kari (b. 1856) and the youngest of the children, also came to America. She married a man whose last name was Martinson. Whether this took place in Norway or in America, we do not know. They had at least one child and his name was Olaf Martinson. We have a picture of him as a young man, taken by L. B. Bunce of Eleva, Wisconsin. This suggests that Kari and her husband or at least Olaf, lived in the Eleva, northern Trempealeau County, area for a while. Perhaps Olaf is an ancestor of the Martinson family that currently lives around Eleva. Helfred Matson?s Siblings Syver, of course, grew up and married Hellene Olsdtr who we have come to know as Hellene Hansen Bjerkebakken, and they had six children: Ragnhild, Ottelia, Olianne, Helfred, David, and Martha. The first four were born in Norway. All of these children, when in America, lived their lives in northern Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. Helfred is my grandfather. We have documented parish birth records for each of the children that were born in Norway. Ragna - born 19 June 1870, baptized 14 August 1870; Ottilia - born 19 April 1873, baptized 1 June 1873; Olianna Marie - born 4 March 1876, baptized 23 April 1876; Helfred - born 31 July 1879, baptized 24 August 1879. And the children born in America were: David - born 30 June 1885, died when sixteen years ago. Martha - born 25 October 1887, died in the 1960s. Helfred?s Father, Syver Madsen as a Young Man in Norway Some years after his birth, Syver, then age 21, is spotted on the ALFSTED NEDRE farm in Østre Toten. This 1865 census record finds him single, obviously now in Østre- and not Vestre Toten, and is listed as a Tjenestedreng (male employee). Seven people live on this farm and Syver?s birth year is 1844. His name is spelled: Syver Johannes Madsen. There appear to be no relatives on this farm, but time may prove otherwise. It is interesting to note that two of the residents of this farm are from North Ourdal in Oppland County. Helfred?s Father and Mother in Norway We see Syver again, and now also with his wife, Hellene, in the 1875 Norwegian census. They are found on MOLLERSTUEN af BERG farm in Østre Toen. Syver, Hellene and three children reside here, no more. The children are Ragna Syversen (b.1870), Ottillia Syversen (b.1873) and Petter Olaf Olsen (b.1874). The first two children take the patronymic name of their father, Syver. These two are children of Syver and Hellene. |