The Story Of
Helfred Matson & Mary Garson

Nils Garson?s Siblings: Nils (b. 13 November 1855 in Norway) had five siblings: Olaus;
Fredrika Christ; Edvard; Even; and Antonetta. 

Edvard held on to the Nordbraaten name, in part, and became Edvard Norby.  We know
he had at least three descendants: Jesse, Audhild, and Gullav.  Edvard?s family is a whole
other story, one probably already written by relatives in the Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
area.

Edvard?s and Nil?s brother Olaus spent time around Strum, if not only for pictures he is in. 

Clara Frodahl?s Siblings: Clara (b. 26 June 1858 in Norway) had eleven (11) siblings:
Martha (b. 13 January 1856); Toale Nickolai (b. 6 Mary 1873); Peder (b. 20 February
1851); Siri (b. 21 September 1853); Hans; Martin Sigvart; Carl Johan (b. 1863); Otillie;
Uston (b. 1871); Bertha (b. 1857); and Julianne (b. 26 June 1858).

Julianne was a twin of Clara?s and she, Julianne, died at birth. Bertha, whom we know
little about, is included on some records, and not others.

All of these children, except Uston (Justin), came to Strum, Wisconsin from Norway.
Uston died a young man in Norway.

Clara and Martha, about the same age, were inseparable. Clara married Nils Garson in
Strum, and Martha married Christian Finstad-Berg on October 4, 1888. Both of these
families, Clara?s and Martha?s, and their descendants became standard names around
Strum.

Peter Hanson Frodalen Bonkrud came to America and Strum. He added Bonkrud
perhaps on coming to America  Peter married Johanne Rognlien. This man and his family
later moved to Dallas, Wisconsin, but they lived for some time in Strum where he was the
Blacksmith. 

The Bonkrud name sticks in my mind because I can recall Bonkruds coming to a number
of family events.  I only knew then that they seemed to know Uncle Erling Nymo the best.
The Bonkrud name was neither Matson, Nymo nor Berg so I wasn?t at all sure where it
fit.  In my family research I concluded correctly that this same family, then in Dallas, had a
huge impact on my uncle Erling Nymo becoming part of our family. 

Siri married Johannes Klavestad, perhaps in Norway, and came to Strum in 1906. She died
in 1915.  Hans, born in Toten, Norway, moved to Canada in 1907. Martin Sigvart came to
Strum, married Ingre Christiansen, either in Strum or Norway, and Martin died and is
buried in Strum, Wisconsin. Carl, born in 1863 in Toten, Norway, moved to Canada either
from Norway or from America, died and is buried in England during World War I in 1918.
He married Caroline Crave.