The Story Of
Helfred Matson & Mary Garson
It is  fall,1881, Syver Madsen and Hellene Olsdtr, and their children are safely in
America and beginning to establish themselves around Eleva and Strum, Wisconsin.  Two
more children are born, David and Martha, and the family settles into life in northern
Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. To my knowledge they never returned to Norway for
any reason.

We don?t know much about what happened during the next eleven years until we see the
first business transaction that is in our possession. David and Martha, their next two and
final children were born, to be sure.  Syver and Hellene arrived in Strum when they were
about thirty-five (35) years old and Syver probably started like everyone else, hard labor
either on homesteaded property or for others.  He may have even joined the crews that
went to northern Wisconsin and other points in the winter to work the woods, we don?t
know.  At some point, however, he and Hellene became the owners of a section of land
just south of Strum.

Syver & Hellene Borrowed to Farm 

It is clear from a review of the documents in possession that Syver and Hellene borrowed
money to keep things going. They have a $300 loan deal with the Ideal Land & Loan
Company to purchase a horse and wagon and a few years later that is assumed by Paul
Holte, their son-in-law, Otilia?s husband.  In 1997, they lease and farm land near Eleva,
again with Ideal Land & Loan. By 1898 Syver and Hellene own the section of land south
of Strum and Syver insures the property, now a farm with live stock of some order.

We have another promisory note is in 1899 for $300.00. Then Syver mortgages some of
his land in return for $600.00 in 1900.  In 1910 Helfred and Mary sell Syver 40 acres of
land that Syver once owned, the section south of Strum.  It is fair to assume that at some
point Helfred and Mary bought this land from Syver. Then in 1913 we see Syver and
Hellene?s youngest daughter come into the picture when she obtains, for $1.00, from
Syver Madson her father, all of the contents on land owned by Syver.  The transaction
makes no mention of land, but we know that Martha continued to live on at least part of
the section of land south of Strum that was at one time owned by Syver.  At this time in
1913, Syver is about 68 years old. We know that Martha owns this land in 1932 because
she insures it from loss.

Sometime around 1901, their youngest son, David died. He was only sixteen. I suspect
that my cousin David Berg was named for him.

Of Syver and Hellene?s children, I knew Helfred and Martha most.  I never met David, of
course, and the other children and their families did not get my attention either.  I suppose
at one time or another I traveled with Dad to see these folks, they all lived in the area.
But I made no connection.  Born in the 1870?s, many of Helfred?s siblings were long gone
by the time I started to pay attention.

Syver & Hellene?s Grandchildren