Recalling Early School in New Solum Township

Marshall County, Minnesota 1895.




"My sister, Ida, then seven, accompanied me. I was five. Other children were from the Sevalson, Udby, Haugen, Strader, Ranum, Mork, Thompson and Krogstad families.

When the teacher, Frank Mattson, opened the door, we rushed in to get our choice of seats. Being smallest, I was last and there was no seat left for me. But Clara and Ed Udby, brother and sister, had a double seat. They made a place for me.

After some explanation, the teacher looked his charges over briefly, then announced "First — class, stand." We stood. Then a second command: "Pass." We marched to the seats kept vacant in front and sat down.



"Say after me," the teacher ordered. He sounded the letter "p", and with his pointer indicated p on the blackboard. We all said pin unison. Then "I" and "g . "Pig," he said, and we repeated the word. Thus the lesson progressed.

Later, in penmanship class, we used slates, since tablets cost too much. The older girls had provided moist'cloths to clean the slates, but we boys were more direct: we spit on our slates, and wiped them with our sleeves.

Mr. Mattson was young and well dressed, with white starched shirt, tie and a prominent gold watch chain. Previous teachers had been paid $20.00 per month, but he was getting $25.00. He stayed with one of the neighbors, paying about $8.00 per month for board, room and washing.

We kids were always barefoot in summer. Shoes were too expensive to wear, except in cold weather. I had a new straw hat costing 25 cents; a gingham shirt made by my mother and knee pants made of any salvaged cloth she could find. We wore no underclothes".


Written by Edwin C. Stengelsen

We know from tracing the plat map that Stengelsen, Ranum, Mork, Thompson, and Krogstad all lived in sections 28 and 29.

New Solum District 34 was organized in 1886. The first building was located near where the Soo Line Railroad track and the Lilac Ridge Road are now. Half of the school year was held in this building and the other half was held in the Tollof Groseth homestead cabin in Section 28 (Thompson Place).

District 34 was comprised of Sections 28,29,30,31, 32, 33 and 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in the Strip.

A new school was built in the southwest corner of Section 28 in the summer of 1896 at a cost of about $200.00, with several donations of material and labor. Robert Anderson was the carpenter. The new building was located to the west of the present building and served until the summer of 1923, when it was sold. No sign of this building remains, although Roger Anderson came across the stone foundation when cleaning up the land in the late seventies. The present building was built in 1923 by Benhard Ranum and Ted Thompson at the total cost of $2,800.00. It was financed with State Bonds for $2,400.00 and the remaining $400.00 was borrowed from John Halvorson.

Ted Thompson and Benhard Ranum remained friends throughout their lives. I wonder if they talked about their early school years together when they worked side by side building the Columbus School?

Children of Knute and Siri Ranum who may have attended that first school are:

Karl 1876

Alfred 1878

Benhard 1879

Edward 1880

Bennie 1882

Karina 1884

Kasper 1885

Oskar 1887

John 1888

Sanfred 1890

Freeman 1891

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Early Pioneers of New Solum Township

Let's think about the early settlers. I am trying to think about how this is best accomplished. I would like to list in numerically according to section but I think what is most important is what was settled first. Once we get the first settler's determined, then we can better understand how the village was founded.

If you have printed the New Solum map, you may wish to fill in who was granted government land and where. I think the dates are more important that the names, it gives one a feel for where the best land, (ridge land) may have been. MAY HAVE BEEN. I read somewhere that one man went to Crookston in the winter and picked out his land during a snowstorm and had no idea what he got until spring! We do know the ridge land was considered THE BEST! I am giving the first date on the map although others settled in the same section of land on a later date. Think about the swamps when you look at the map. Remember the map was made later, therefore it includes roads and railroads, churches and schools. At the time it was settled there was none of these. Remember the land grant was for 160 acres, so mulitple settlers were in some of the sections.

Let's review how townships are measured. Townships are approximately 6 miles on each side and contain approximately 23,040 acres. The sections are numbered to identify a tract of land, usually 1 mile square, within a township. Most townships contain 36 sections. Standard sections contain 640 acres. A section number identifies each section within a township. A section contains 640 acres,- a half section contains 320 acres,- a quarter section contains 160 acres,- a half of a quarter contains 80 acres, and a quarter of a quarter contains 40 acres. That means that on multiple homesteading a section of 640 acres may be shared by four people to get a full land share of 160 acres. What we learn as we look at later land plats of New Solum Township is, a grantee may have 120 acres in one portion and 40 in another. The ancestors are underlined.

1882

John Halvorson - 1882 - Section 30
Nels Melve - 1882 - Section 7
Iverson - 1882 - Section 28

1883
John Sor - 1883 - Section 3 Strip
John Hellquist - Spring 1883 - Sections 3 and 4 Strip
Fredrick Blomberg - 1883 - Section 35
Thorinus Mellem - Fall 1883 - Section 3 Strip
Gilbert Haugen - 1883 - Section 4 Strip
Andrew Larson - 1883 - Section 32
Albert Paulson - 1883 - Section 2 Strip
Reinhart C. M. Nelson -1883 - Section 8
Ole Silverness - 1883 - Section 3
Louis Thompson - 1883 - Section 28
Edik P. Stengelson - 1883 - Section 29
H. M. Mork - 1883 - Section 29

1884
John Forsberg - 1884 - Section 8
Carl Hanson - 1884 - Section 19
Rasmus Nelson - 1884 - Section 9
Andrew Opseth - 1884 - Section 10 Strip
Knut Ranum - 1884 - Section 29
Ole Dahl - 1884 - Section 22

1885

Hans Stromsmoe - 1885 - Section 11
Even Anderson - 1885 - Section 3 Strip
Sorenson Brothers, Peder, John and Sam, and aged father, Sor en - 1886 - Section

1886

Lars Loseth - 1886 - Section 13

Fredrick Styrlund - 1886 - Section 34

John Sjolsvold - 1886 - Section 11

John Carlson - and Paul T. Olson - -Section 3

Knut Lappegaard - and Sven Johnson - -Section 4

John Nordhagen - and Martin Nordhagen - -Section

Ole Nyhus - -Section 27

Erick Braaten - -Section 5

Amund Remmem - -Section 5 Strip

Ole Nesha -Gunelius, Edward. Ole Seines , and Retsius Nelson - -Section 9

Axel Larson - -Section 3 Strip

E.O. Setness - -Section 9 Strip

Ole Hanson - -Section 19

Hans Hanson - -Section 19

Peder Evenson and Charles Rasmusson - -Section 8

Gunder Vigen - -Section 3

What does it mean when it says STRIP behind the name? It means that is the parcel of land that was not surveyed and was later added to Marshall County.

Wildwood Cemetery, Rosewood, Minnesota

We have learned the first minutes in the Wildwood Cemetery Book are dated July 20th 1909. The last paragraph states, "The land on which this cemetery is located was donated by John Sor free of charge to the association". There was additional land sold to the association for $1.00 by Joel E. Shoberg. That deed was recorded on Dec 22, 1944.

"As far as I can find, states the source, Alma Bloom was the first burial on May 17 1914. I went through all the permits for burial and that was the first one I found".

Who is Alma Bloom? She is the sister of Carl Bloom, their parents were John and Lotte Bloom. His name is listed as Johannes in the cemetery book and on the death certificate. Why are these people important to us?

Carl Bloom is the second husband of Nina Mellem Anderson. He was the step father to Lloyd and Newell. Olaf Anderson, Lloyd's birth father, died in October, when Lloyd was six and Newell, his older brother, would turn eight in December. We know that Andrew died in August of 1908 and is buried in the Rindal Cemetery. The question of why Andrew was buried at Rindal was a question for us until we learned the Wildwood Cemetery was not founded until 1909.

I would like to offer a caution to all of you regarding the Internet searches for cemeteries of your loved ones. I found one date of 1893 and another pointed to 1912 both for Wildwood Cemetery. We are fortunate that someone in the family actually has the books and could give us the begin date.

Our source for information didn't unroll the plat sheet stating, "It is so old and yellow." Therefore we do not have the lots and plots. However, as you walk into the cemetery, Mellem's and Bloom's are to the right. Olaf Anderson, Lois Arlene Anderson, and Newell Anderson share a headstone. Nina Mellem Anderson Bloom and Carl Bloom are back further on the right side. As are Alma and Arthur Bloom, and Thorinus and Pauline Mellem.

On the left side of the gate, in the second row, Julia Olette Olson Rye, Henry Rye, Murvin Rye, and Oliver N Rye are buried. The next row in this area is where Lloyd Paul Anderson is buried, (third row from the fence).

We know that John Sor sold the land to the Wildwood Cemetery Association. We know John Sor was at 'rest' on May 20, 1921. What we didn't know was how did Joel Sjoberg or Shoberg as it was later changed to, was involved in the land, because, according the the minutes in the cemetery burial book, he gave land to the Wildwood Cemetery in 1944.

Read on for the answer:

With the passing away of John Johnson Sor last Wednesday evening goes one of the very first Swedish pioneer settlers in this community, he having been a resident of this place for 88 years. He homesteaded the quarter section of land which had been his home ever since. Obviously the obituary has an error. He was 79 when he died.

Deceased was born in Norra Finfallet, Sweden on May 9, 1842. He immigrated to this country in 1881 and lived until 1883 at Ishpeming, Michigan, when he came to Marshall County. He was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Johnson of Kopparberg in 1864 who survives. Surviving also are one daughter, Mary Shoberg, and grandson, Joel Shoberg. Their daughter, Mary was buried at Wildwood in 1935, as is her mother, Johanna who died in 1933 at the age of 98.

Mr. Sor was ill only four days and the direct cause of his death was heart failure due to the infirmities of old age. He was of a religious nature and a strong supporter of the Swedish Mission Church. Burial took place at the Wildwood Cemetery, located on his farm, on Friday afternoon with Rev. Verner Drotts of Viking conducting the ceremony. The body was escorted to its last resting place by about 75 friends and neighbors.

I did not find a government land grant for section 3, township 155 which is were the Sor property was. I do think there is an error in the keyboarding, as everything adds up except it states section two instead of three. It also has the correct time frame for working the land and living on it and making improvements before he would receive his land grants.

For those of you familiar with the area, you know where the road in and out of Rosewood is AND where the cemetery is. The Sor land is where the Copeland's lived AND there is a triangle of land connected to this acreage which is on the east side of the road. That is where the Wildwood Cemetery is.

It makes sense that if Joel Sjoberg was a grand son of John Sor, he would be involved in the property mentioned as being sold to the Wildwood Cemetery. It is my guess that when it was surveyed the numbers were off. Remember Olaf Opseth had big feet when he surveyed the land.

Joel Shoberg inherited the farm, this, I believe, is where Lloyd and Ella lived when they were first married. It is the place the rats would steal the chicken off the table.

I think before we move away from the history of the cemetery, we need to talk about some of the other pioneers who lived in this area.

Happy Birthday to Juanita Dawn Watne!!!

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Columbus School revisited

Look how well this school has been cared for! It is, as we have learned, the town hall of New Solum Township. Rosebank became the 4H meeting hall. Both are well cared for.

A question has plagued me about Lloyd Anderson attending Columbus School. As far as we knew, he lived across the road from the Opseth's on the south side of Rosewood.

The answer to the question of Carl Bloom, Lloyd's step father, being on the school board of Columbus and Lloyd attending school there lies in a plat map.

If you go back to the map, you will see that section 33 is across the road from the school. The markers for the school turned town hall stated Lilac Road and County Road 8.

It appears the township as inner boundary lines and it is sectioned into quarters, each quarter having a school. Or at least loose boundaries; remember in the early days there were lots of swamps and no roads. Without looking at the land, I can't understand the ridges and swamps. Can you stretch your mind enough to take all the roads out, see the paths from farm house to farm house on which horses or oxen with buggies or wagons traveled?

My great grandparents moved to the Rosewood area in about 1882 or when my grandfather was three. I am going to try to reconstruct his early education. Wish me luck!

Might want to take a look your families homesteaded area on Goggle Earth and try to get a feel for it. It is a lot different that standing on the seat of my yellow truck with my head out the moon roof looking across the prairie!

Someone I know needs a major hug, are you willing to share?

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August 13 Sunrise and Moonshine

1897

Thief River Falls already had seven saloons, the one shown was active in 1895. Look at the spittoons! Must have chewed a lot of tobacco, too! The saloons were not supposed to be open on Sunday. The religious leaders of the community did not want any entertainment establishments open on the Sabbath that even included ice skating!

Sheriff Krata stated, "If any saloon is open next Sunday, there will be an arrest made the next day". All of the saloons will be closed up tight on Sundays hereafter and any violation of the law will not be allowed.

1909

If the new law limiting one saloon for every 500 people goes into effect, it will hit Ogema hard. The village has six saloons and 47 people.

Government will close up saloons in the White Earth Indian Reservation. Mahnomen, Callaway, Ogema, Waubun, and Bijou counties are affected.

They must be closed within 30 days. The recent murder at Ogema between two drunken Indians is given as one of the reasons for the actions.


All saloons in Becker and Hubbard counties ordered to quit business. Earlier Cass and Mahnomen were closed. When they close a county, the Indians just go to another county. It is feared that the Indians will come to TRF to secure liquor and if they do and the saloons here sell to them the same order will be issued.

Liquor found in slot machines under wood piles, in teapots, water kettles, flour barrels, and stove pipes during raids

1910
New order is given. Secretary Ballinger reverses policy and suspends all former orders. Saloons can be run in all towns in northern Minnesota now.

1915
Saloons close

1919
War orders rescinded; saloons to open in Red Lake Falls.
Plummer Saloons to open

ADVERTISEMENT Hills Double Chloride of Gold Tablets for curing the tobacco, drunkenness, or morphine habit. At your drugstore for $1.00 a package

According to the Marshall County Banner, the way to get a person over drunkenness is to lock him in a shed and set the shed on fire!

Although Grandpa Benhard was never set on fire for drinking, he did tell me that he was told he was going to die with scarlet fever. He locked himself in a hotel room and stayed drunk for several days. He got well and never drank in access after. On a hot day in the summer, my grandparents would share a beer and they made chokecherry wine to be used as a toast at Christmas.

As we all know, morphine and alcohol were available over the counter at drugstores for a variety of illnesses. Although it may have promoted addiction, for the most part it was just for one's affliction.

Alcohol consumption ran rapid in the Opseth and Ranum family. Perhaps you don't see it as a disease, like cancer or TB but for me, it is an illness. I don't know how far back the family was afflicted, I do know that Gust, the brilliant go getter who built houses, schools, and barns died in a hospital where he was placed because of his illness. His brother, Olaf, the reader and quiet one, also has alcohol listed as a secondary cause of death. Stanley didn't drink until his mid thirties and was in recovery for the last twelve years of his life. And then, there is my brother and two first cousins.

I had a friend in junior high who's grandparents lived in a remote area near Bemidji, Minnesota. They did not have running water but they did have lights, strung from place to place with single light bulbs. In the stream behind their house, home made brew cooled. It was BAD TASTING.

As I said, my grandparents made chokecherry wine for Christmas. One year my brother switched the 'strong wine' for the adults with the 'weak wine' for the kids. I actually did not know what the buzz was until Mother shook me and said, "YOU'RE DRUNK"!

As high school students, it was the thing to do. Get a six pack of Country Club, find a country road and get buzzed and pee on the snow on the road. OR go to a party in the country and since the sheriff sat on the road waiting for all the under age kids to leave, stay until the sheriff left. After high school, it didn't have the fun. I can count on one hand how many times I have been inebriated since. Do I have an alcoholic personality? I don't know, I watched too many others suffer with it and decided it was not the life long struggle I wanted.

This post is not intended to make judgement calls; it is simply a way of sharing that liquor has been around for a long time and some of the folks are going to be affected by it. It is also important to realize that even when Thief River Falls and Prohibition shut down the saloons, someone was making moonshine and selling it for a great profit. A couple of high school students went to school drunk; some farmer, they said, had given them home brew.

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August 12 Rosebank Revisited

This picture was taken shortly after the school was built by Gust and Olaf Opseth using block from Gust's block factory in Rosewood. There is no storm porch, which gives all of us an opportunity to see the finished product as it was intended. My grandmother was pregnant with her first son, Harry, when this school was being built. She hauled the blocks in a wagon to the construction site.

In my daughter's blog, she posted a picture of herself and a group of friends. The quality of the picture was not excellent; just as the one of Rosebank School is not excellent. She asked the readers to comment on whether or not they would use a blurry photograph. I answered I would.

His name was Krogstad. He lived in New Solum. He bought a camera and a processing kit from a mail order catalog. He may have taken this photo as well as several others which have been shared. The pictures which appear to be taken on winter gloomy days all have that same look. In today's standards, with digital cameras or phones, we would reset a camera and take another of a still object. We might even be able to wait for the right lighting, as Ryen did as he rested on the grass at the apartment waiting for the lightening to explode in the sky.

Sometimes the moment has passed by the time we try another snap. That is why I have hundreds of pictures of loons and may be blessed with one-a-summer good picture. It reminds me of an on-line bud from a decade ago. Jim went to California to see the whales. Since he had a camera which required processing, he sent the film out to be developed. Meanwhile, Jim I/Med me to tell me about his trip and his whale watching. It was fun to read his experience. A week or so later, I got a picture in the mail. On the back there was a note, "Well, I thought it would show up bigger". On the front was water with a mini dot of a whale.

May I encourage all of you to take pictures anyway. Try to get snapshots of people doing things or pictures that tell a story. Perhaps many of you lament at the quality of the old pictures as I have. How fortunate we are to have any pictures AT ALL!

Happy Birthday, Lynelle!

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Rindal Revisited

Just a quick note about Rindal Church. In the post dated, August 5, Rindal Church, it states the church was moved. Okay, so it was moved. From where to where and why? How?

As genealogists, we know we find pieces of puzzles and like little beams the light is shown on tidbits of information for us to pounce upon.

No, you are not in a fog, this a repeat photograph. The church now faces east and sits on Trysil Ridge; the ridge was named for a place in Norway. Previously it faced west before being moved onto a new foundation which was built by Charlie Sagmoen and sons. The church was surrounded by timber, which since has been cleared, exposing the church, making it a dominant feature on the landscape.

That means that when the foundation and probably when the basement was dug, the church was turned around! And when they say timber, they mean poplar trees which are abundant in the area. It is possible they used the rolling log method to move it much like Benhard Ranum and Ted Thompson moved the school across the prairie using horses, mules, or oxen.

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