Trudy Lynn EKUM

Other Events and Attributes:

• Confirmation: 1 Jun 1969, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin

Notes:

Graduated from Viroqua High School in 1972. Lived in Viroqua until her death. Never married.



In her obituary, it was noted that Trudy died of a “massive aneurism” and that she was a Sunday School teacher and worked in Viroqua at the time of her death.

The casket-bearers at her funeral were Larry McKittrick, Tom McKittrick, David Fish, Stan Zube, Earl Morkrid, and Leon Primmer.

Buried:
funeral at Immanuel Lutheran Church 7NE4

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bookkeeper, town clerk, farmer
• Social Security Number: 393-10-1662 issued in Wisconsin before 1951

Notes:

Graduated from Ole Torger School in 1927. His wife’s obit said that she and Ernest farmed in the town of Franklin from 1941 until 1990 when they moved to Viroqua.

According to Dorothy Fish Ekum's letter of March, 1983, Ernie, Susanne, and one of Susanne's sons visited Norway and the relatives "five years ago."

In her Christmas card of 1986, Dorothy Fish Ekum tells Cora that Ernest intended to retire from his town clerk job, "and 25 years of aggravation," in the spring of 1987.

Ernest’s obit said that he was a bookkeeper for the Wadhams Oil Co. for 7 years, Clerk for the Town of Franklin for 25 years, a member of ASCS board for 15 years, treasurer for the Ole Torger School Board, a member of the church council at Immanuel Lutheran Church, and a member of the Viroqua Eagles Club.

Not listed in the 1930 census. Was not listed with Albert’s household.

Ernie and Dorothy’s address in the country was Rt. #4, Viroqua 54665. The 1948 Vernon County plat book shows that Ernest owned 160 acres in Section 27: three of the four quarters of the SW corner (Carl owned the SE quarter of that corner) and the SW corner of the NW corner.

In the 1950 census, he and his family lived a couple of farms away from the Carl Nundahl farm in Franklin Twp, Vernon County.

Birth:
date confirmed in SSDI

Died:
date confirmed in SSDI

Buried:
funeral at Immanuel Lutheran Church

Ernest married Dorothy Mae FISH on 16 Oct 1937 in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Dorothy (daughter of Harvey Herb FISH and Erma Furl OSBORN) was born on 8 Nov 1915 in Viroqua Twp, Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 26 Oct 2003 in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried on 29 Oct 2003 in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Social Security Number: 395-14-1345 Issued In WI Before 1951

Notes:

In a letter to Cora in 1983, Dorothy says that she met Cora when she and Ernie took Ernie's folks to Minneapolis in 1939 or 1940 "when our oldest daughter was about a year old."

She goes on to say, in recalling that event, that "they (Caroline and others) had a picnic supper out at a cabin at a lake. We got lost because Geo. forgot the way and we never had our meal until about 10 o'clock that night. We lived in Viroqua - Ernie was a bookeeper for an oil company then."

[Cora describes, in her diary entry for July 27, 1941, a get-together at Lake Minnetonka "to see gang from Viroqua." Susanne would have been 3.]



Dorothy Mae Ekum

VIROQUA, Wis. - Dorothy Mae Ekum, 87, of Norseland Nursing Home in Westby, Wis., and formerly of Viroqua died Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003, at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua.

Dorothy was born in Vernon County to Harvey and Erma (Osborn) Fish on Nov. 8, 1915. On Oct. 16, 1937, she married Ernest Ekum. They farmed in the town of Franklin from 1941 until 1990 when they moved to Viroqua. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church for more than 60 years.

Dorothy is survived by a daughter, Susanne Wedwick of Westby; a son, Leland (Lynn) Ekum of Viroqua; four grandchildren, Brad (Annette) Wedwick and Craig (Roxy) Wedwick all of Westby, Lance (Lora) Ekum of Wales, Wis., and Amy (Brian) Weaver of Winona, Minn.; seven great-grandchildren, Justin Wedwick, Abbey Wedwick, Jakob, Rebekah and Cameron Ekum and Ethan and Erik Weaver; two sisters, Agnes (Martin) Morkrid of Viroqua and Rae Hope (Bill) Pace of Clinton; two brothers, Clinton Fish of Viroqua and Dale (Mary) Fish of La Farge, Wis.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest on Dec. 24, 1995; one daughter, Trudy Ekum in 1982; two grandchildren, Kurt Wedwick in 1996 and Brian Ekum in 1967; one brother, Norman Fish; and two sisters, Merle Primmer and Fern Morkrid.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Viroqua. The Rev. Alice Hamm will officiate, with burial in the Viroqua Cemetery. Friends may call at Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m., and at the church on Wednesday after 10 a.m.


Dorothy’s obit in the Winona Daily News:

Dorothy Mae Ekum


Dorothy Mae Ekum, age 87 of the Norseland Nursing Home in Westby and formerly of Viroqua, died Sunday, October 26, 2003 at Vernon Memorial Hospital in Viroqua.

Dorothy was born in Vernon County to Harvey and Erma (Osborn) Fish on November 8, 1915. On October 16, 1937 she married Ernest Ekum. They farmed in Franklin Township from 1941 until 1990 when they moved to Viroqua. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church for over 60 years.

Dorothy is survived by a daughter, Susanne Wedwick of Westby; a son, Leland (Lynn) Ekum of Viroqua; four grandchildren, Brad (Annette) Wedwick and Craig (Roxy) Wedwick, all of Westby, Lance (Lora) Ekum of Wales, Wisconsin and Amy (Brian) Weaver of Winona, Minnesota; seven great-grandchildren, Justin Wedwick, Abbey Wedwick, Jakob, Rebekah and Cameron Ekum and Ethan and Erik Weaver; two sisters, Agnes (Martin) Morkrid of Viroqua and Rae Hope (Bill) Pace of Clinton; two brothers, Clinton Fish of Viroqua and Dale (Mary) Fish of La Farge.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest on December 24, 1995; a daughter, Trudy Ekum in 1982; two grandchildren, Kurt Wedwick in 1996 and Brian Ekum in 1967; a brother Norman Fish; and two sisters, Merle Primmer and Fern Morkrid.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, October 29, 2003 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Viroqua. The Rev. Alice Hamm officiated with burial in the Viroqua Cemetery. Friends called at the Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua Tuesday evening and at the church on Wednesday before the time of the services.

In her March 3, 1983, letter to Cora, Dorothy Fish Ekum describes the spring house. "You mentioned about the 'spring' down on the farm. They have built that house up in the ravine behind the spring house. I knew about the other spring, too, as the old road still shows in some places. It is so pretty along the old road in the spring when the leaves on the trees first come out. "

In a March 25, 1986, letter to Cora, Dorothy writes: "I don't know if I told you before but they have built another house in the ravine back of the spring. It's practically in the woods. It was for Mrs. Ottoson's dad. He passed away a short while ago and now they rent the house. This in on your home place Cora.”

Dorothy was apparently associated with the Vernon Memorial Hospital, perhaps as a member of the Auxiliary. She was the donor of many memorial donations and she was the memorialized subject of many donations.

Buried:
funeral through Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rev. Alice Hamm officiating

Notes:

Married:
“Saturday afternoon at the Methodist circuit parsonage.”

Other Events and Attributes:

• Vernon County Death Index: V24, P559 As Albert M. Ekum

Notes:

Perhaps named for his little aunt Albertina who may have died at about the time he was born. Albertine had probably been named for her brother Albert Bowe who died while Albertine was in utero.

It’s possible that his middle name was Mons.

He placed the following advertisement in the Vernon County Censor, 9 Aug 1911 edition, and for two more weeks after that: For Sale: My stock and tobacco farm of 86 acres located 3 miles west of Readstown, known as the Hendrickson farm. Albert Munson Ekum, Readstown, Route No. 2. The Kickapoo Scout’s 4 May 1916 edition noted that Albert Ekum had sold his farm to Adolph Anderson.

The Kickapoo Scout’s 22 Jun 1916 edition noted that Albert Ekum had traveled to Minneapolis for medical treatment.

Registered for the draft on September 12, 1918, as Albert Ekum. He listed his home address as Route 4, Viroqua. He claimed to be 35 and born on November 26, 1882. His occupation is illegible. His nearest relative is listed as Bertha Ekum. Albert is described as of medium height and slender build with blue eyes and light hair.

The Kickapoo Scout’s 14 Nov 1918 edition noted that Albert Ekum had started to build his large store buildings in Liberty Pole and would soon start to sell all sorts of things that the people in the area needed. Albert advertised in the 26 Mar 1919 edition of the Vernon County Censor that he has opened up his new store in Liberty Pole and had on hand a full line of groceries.

The Vernon County Censor’s 9 Jul 1919 edition had a For Sale advertisment from Albert: My property at Liberty Pole consisting of 3½ acres of good tobacco land, garden and orchard, good house and barn, new store building, blacksmith shop.

The 27 August 1919 edition of the Censor had a brief article entitled A New City on the Hill: Albert Ekum, who has conducted a grocery at Liberty Pole, will take a change of base. He has purchased two acres of land from Ole B. Fortney and founded a new hamlet, which is christened “Mason City”, named for the early owner of the Mason farm. The store and residence is in course of erection on the country site, opposite the farm residence of Solfest Solverson, in the Franklin area.

The Censor’s 5 Nov 1919 edition said: Six miles south of Viroqua, on the Readstown state trunk highway, nearly opposite that farm home of Sylvester Solverson, looms up a fine combined business structure and dwelling. The place also has a full basement. It will open for business Saturday, November 8. At this favorable location, Albert Ekum has established a new trading place where he will dispense general merchandise to the people, carrying a complete stock. He invites all within his territory to call and inspect his goods, assuring them of new and good purchases at live and let live prices. A gasoline tank is established. Mr. Ekum is well known and has experience. The favorable location ought to insure success to the new merchant.

The Censor’s 9 Feb 1921 edition noted that Albert Ekum had hired a tutor to instruct him in the method of driving his new flivver.

Changed name to Ekum because, according to Dorothy's family stories, there were so many Munsons in the area (after they moved back in 1907) that delivering mail was confusing. Some relatives in northern Wisconsin convinced Albert and other members of the family to change their name to Ekum, similar to the original family name in Norway.

Albert and Bertha ran a grocery store and cabins many years in Mason City, "a small place south of Viroqua." They moved to Viroqua in 1946. After moving to Viroqua, Albert sold corn and was a janitor of Immanuel Church until he died in 1952.

In his obit, it was noted that Albert was the proprietor of a Mason City store for 27 years, an assessor for the Town of Franklin for 22 consecutive years, and treasurer of Immanuel Church for 12 years.

Not shown as living with his mother at the time of the 1900 census (June 12th). He and his father and sister Caroline had gone to California by that time and were living in Butte Township, Siskiyou County. Albert had a job as a laborer in a box factory.

The 1920 census-taker was Douglas Nelson who found the Ekum family on January 21st:

Albert, 31, home-owner but with a mortgage, store-keeper of a general store working on own account. Bertha, 28, born in Norway and immigrated in 1908 or 1909, naturalized in 1911, can read and write (probably Norwegian) but cannot speak English. {Which may be why her age is incorrect.} Children: Earnest T, 6, who has attended school, Selma Margaret, age 4 years and some months, Theresa Caroline, age 2 years and some months, and Archie Bennet age 1 year and some months or less.

Shown as Albert Elsum in the 1930 census index. According to the census, Albert and his family were living on the “Viroqua and Readstown Road” in Franklin Twp, Vernon County, in a $2500 house that Albert owned and that was not a farm. They did not have a radio. The household consisted of Albert, 47, Bertha, 38, Theresa, 12, Archie, 10, Walter, 8, Dorothy, 4+, Selma, 2+, and Thomas, 3 months. (Ernest is not listed.) Albert and Bertha were 29 and 20, respectively, when they were first married. Bertha emigrated in 1909. Albert’s occupation is shown as “Merchant, Country Store.” Albert was not a veteran.

Albert’s store and filling station was robbed in September of 1939 by a “gang” of three Minneapolis men who had staged several other holdups in the area. The three were captured in Michigan. They had raided Albert’s cash register for about $15.

In the 1940 census, Albert, Bertha, and their six youngest children, lived in Franklin Twp. Albert was the operator of a rural store.

In the 1950 census, Albert and Bertha lived 419 S Washington in Viroqua. Albert is a janitor at a church as well as a seed salesman. Living with them at the same address is the Adrian Sherry family.

An article in the December 19, 1951, edition of the La Crosse Tribune:

Viroquans Mark 40th Anniversary

“Friends and relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ekum, 419 S. Washington Ave., honored them on their 40th wedding anniversary December 16th. A reception was held at Immanuel Lutheran Church parlors. Mrs. Ekum, the former Bertha Oren, came to this country from Norway when she was 17. She was 20 when she was married to Albert Ekum at Readstown by the Rev. L. C. Jacobson, then Immanuel Lutheran pastor. Their attendants were Mrs. Ida Anderson and Martin Ekum, sister and brother of the couple. Both were at the Sunday reception.

“In a brief program, the Rev. Peder Nordsletten, Immanuel pastor, reviewed the lives of the celebrants. Daughters of the couple participated in devotions and the reading of anniversary poems.

“Before coming to Viroqua to reside in 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Ekum operated a general store and tourist camp at Mason City on Highway 14 between Readstown and Viroqua for 26 years.

“Their children are Mrs. Floyd Clements, Mrs. Arnold McKittrick, Mrs. Adrian Sherry, all of this vicinity; Ernest, Mason City; Arch, Birmingham, England; Tomas, U.S. Army stationed in Virginia; Walter, Monroe, Wisconsin.

“Mr. and Mrs. Ekum never have seen the two children of Arch, who served overseas during World War II and married an English girl. Nor have they seen a grandchild living in the south. The other six grandchildren are in the area.”

In his World War II draft registration, he gave his address as Route 5, Viroqua. He was self-employed.

Ernest Ekum, in the Vernon County 150 years book, wrote:

“In the year of 1920, Albert Ekum bought two acres of land from Mr. Ole B. Fortney to build a grocery store and living quarters combined. They moved to the store from Liberty Pole on October 31, 1920. Behind the store on the north side were hitching posts for the customers’ horses.

“They sold groceries and later added clothing such as jackets, shirts, gloves, shoes, etc.

“There was no electricity then so they used two aladdin lamps to light their store.

“For a time, they bought fresh cream from the farmers around for Swift & Co. who came and picked it up.

“Later, when people started buying cars and there were better roads, the Ekums tore the porch off the front and put in gasoline pumps. They also tore out the hitching posts and built a place to drain oil from cars.

“The Ekums then built a few tourist cabins which was a good business.

“In 1946, the Ekums sold their store to Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Olson of Madison and they then moved to the city of Viroqua.

“The store was then run by the Olsons until the roads got better and the people were shopping more elsewhere. Later the state road was rerouted from the store location and the Olsons closed their store and business.”

According to the obit in the La Crosse paper, he died suddenly at his home in Viroqua on Tuesday afternoon, March 4th. Visitation was at the home on March 7th, and the funeral on the 8th was from the home and at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

That obit also says: “Before coming to Viroqua six years ago, Ekum operated the Mason City general store and tourist cabins in the Township of Franklin, Vernon County, for 27 years. He held many township offices including assessor, and was treasurer of the Franklin Lutheran Church for many years. He remained active in church work in Viroqua.”

Died:
Died at 2:30 PM according to Cora’s diary. Died suddenly at his home on South Washington Avenue according to La Crosse obit.

Buried:
Rev. Borgen conducted the funeral according to one source, Rev. Peder Nordsletten according to another.

Albert married Brita Eriksdatter (Bertha Malina) ØREN on 19 Dec 1911 in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Brita (daughter of Erik Pedersen NUNDAL and Malene Ovesdatter ØREN) was born on 21 Dec 1891 in Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died on 11 Feb 1960 in Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Vernon County Death Index: V29, P152 As Bertha Malina Ekum

Notes:

The Bergen departure records show her (Britha Eriksdtr Øren) as leaving for the U.S. on November 2, 1908. Her reason for leaving was to better her living condition. She was to meet family in Madison, Wisconsin.

Bertha Øren Ekum's youngest sister and her granddaughter were scheduled to visit Ernest and Dorothy from Norway in the summer of 1983. Bertha's youngest sister is only one year older than Ernest, had already been over to the U.S. twice (as of March, 1983), and couldn't speak English.

The 1910 census shows Bertha as an 18 year old housemaid servant girl employed by Clause Bowe. She arrived in this country in 1909 and wasn’t yet able to speak English.

Cora’s address list shows an address for Bertha Ekum at or around 1957 as 419 South Washington in Viroqua.

Bertha’s only sibling in the U.S., at least living at the time of Bertha’s death, was, apparently, her sister Ida (“Mrs. Ida Anderson”). According to Bertha’s obit, she had 2 brothers and four sisters still living in Norway.

Died:
“in a Viroqua hospital after an illness of one week”

Buried:
1NO25

Notes:

Married:
Date per obit in the Viroqua paper. They celebrated their 40th anniversary on December 16, 1951, with a reception at the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer

Notes:

Harvey’s mother was born in Ohio.
Not a veteran.

He registered for the draft in Viroqua on June 5, 1917. At that time, he was married and had three children. He was described as of medium height and build with grey eyes and black hair.

In the 1930 census, he was a farmer in Viroqua Twp.

In the 1940 census, indexed properly in Family Search, he and his family lived in Viroqua Twp. He was a log hauler for a saw mill. Living at home were Agnes, Norman, Clinton, Rae Hope, and Eugene.

Harvey married Erma Furl OSBORN on 30 Jul 1910 in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Erma was born on 18 Apr 1895 in Kickapoo Center, Kickapoo Twp, Vernon County, Wisconsin; died on 10 Oct 1971 in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 6 Oct 1850, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway
• Confirmation: 18 Jun 1865, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

Shown as Tomas Monssen, 16 years old, in the 1865 census, a “tjenestekarl” living on the Eikum indre farm with Mons Monssen and Kari Larsdatter.

Raised by Nels (d. 11 Oct 1890) and Rognild (d. 10 Oct 1880) Bolstad. {Neither of these deaths are included in the index of Vernon County deaths, either as Bolstad or as Ekum (see below).} Came to the U.S. when he was a year-and-a-half old. {No. See below.} There were several Bolstads shown in the Town of Franklin in the 1910 census but none in the 1870 census. Neither Thomas Munson nor Nels Bolstad is shown in the 1870 census for Wisconsin.

A Niels Sjursen Ekum, age 50, of Hafslo, and a Ragnhilde Ekum, age 48, also of Hafslo were on the boat “Claus Heftye” that sailed from Bergen on April 23, 1867, and arrived in Quebec on May 28, 1867. Thomas Monsen Eikum, age 17, of Lyster, was also on that boat. In the 1865 census, Niels Sjurssen, 50, husmand med jord, and Ragnilde Botolfsdatter, 48, were the only two people on Eikum indre bakken.

From the Sogn og Fjordane emigration records, we learn that four people from the Eikjum indre farm in Haflso moved out of Haflso, destination Amerika, on April 4, 1867. Those four were Nils Sjurssen, b. 1819; his wife Ragnhilde Botolphsdatter, b. 1819; Thomas Monssen, b. 1850; and Anne Monsdatter, b. 1844. (The date for the Bowes is April 9th.) Also leaving on April 4th were Andrea Johannesdatter Vadvig, age 19. (Andrea was born 31 Jan 1848 to the unmarried Johannes Christophersen Bjørno or Bjørnethune and Sophie Monsdatter Eikum.)

In the 1865 census, Niels Sjurssen, 50, and Ragnilde Botolfsdatter, 48, were the only two people living on the Eikum indre Bakken farm in Hafslo. Both were born in Luster. Niels was a husmand with land.

Thomas and Susan were married in a civil ceremony witnessed by J. H. Layne and Claus Bowe.

In the 1895 Wisconsin state census, Thomas Monson and family live in the town of Franklin, Vernon County. The household consists of seven people, five of whom were born in Wisconsin and 2 in Scandinavia. Four are males, 3 are females.

Thomas moved his family, which included six (?) children, to California because of his health. He died in California and his two surviving sons went to work in a factory making fruit boxes to make a living for the family. (The story says that Albert was 17 and Martin was 10 at that time. But that would put the date at about 1899, well before Tom died. Albert may well have started at the box factory in 1899.)

Because Susan and family is living with her parents in the 1900 census, Thomas had moved to California by that time and sent for his family later. In the 1900 census, Caroline, Albert and Tom “Munston” were living in Butte Township, Siskiyou County. Caroline was in school. Albert was working in a box factory, Tom had no occupation listed.

While they were living in northern California near Mt. Shasta, the family experienced an earthquake in 1906. This was probably the great San Francisco earthquake on April 18th. "They could feel it but weren't damaged by it too much." The family moved back to Wisconsin in either 1907 or 1909.

According to Dorothy's family story, Tom brought a bible with him from Norway, dated 1848, that Martin kept.

Census-taker O.K. Fortney visited the Munson farm in the Town of Franklin, Vernon County, on June 6, 1880, and found Thomas, age 29, and Susan B, wife, age 19. No children at that time, apparently.

In the 1896 Vernon County plat book index, Thomas’s land is listed as being record #3415 in Franklin 12, Section 31, R4.

Couldn’t find a separate Thomas Munson or Monson household in the 1885 Wisconsin census. The Thomas Monson household in the 1895 Wisconsin census consisted of 4 males and 3 females, of which 5 were born in the U.S. and 2 in Scandinavia. That mix is not consistent with other family information.

Died:
Date from the California Death Index images on FS. Thomas died in county #47, age 55, state file number 12258 for 1905.

Buried:
As Thomas M Ekum. He shares a gravestone with his daughter Theresa. CW block 31, lot 3, space 5.

Thomas married Susanna Clausdatter (Susan) BOWE on 8 Mar 1880 in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Susanna (daughter of Claus Sjursen BØE (BOWE) and Kari Andersdatter MAREIM) was born on 18 Dec 1860 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; was christened on 30 Dec 1860 in Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; died on 9 Aug 1943 in Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin; was buried on 12 Aug 1943 in Viroqua Cemetery, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Vernon County Death Index: V20, P472 As Susan Ekum
• Baptism: 30 Dec 1860, Hafslo, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

Shown as illegitimate in her baptism record. The first daughter yet not named after her paternal grandmother because of the rule to name first children after dead spouses. Thus, she was named after Claus’s first wife.

Sponsors for her baptism were: Torbjørn Andersen Kleiven, Anders Andersen Mareim, Marthe Pedersdatter Kleiven, Sophie Pedersdatter Kleiven, Anna Pedersdatter Heidshammer.

Shown in the 1865 Norwegian census as Susanna Clausdatter, born in 1860 in Hafslo.

Was 4 feet, 10 inches tall but "a great woman, always jolly," according to Cora.

Lived in California for awhile with her five (?) children. Susan’s obit says that she spent 11 years in California but this doesn’t seem possible because she is shown to be in Franklin Township in the 1900 and 1910 censuses.

Census-taker Torge Berge visited the Claus Bowe farm on June 13, 1900. The family consisted of Claus, 67 (born in June 1833), Carrie, 66 (born in Sept 1833), Sever, 34 (born May 1866), Louisa, 22 (born April 1878), Nils, step-son, widower, 46 (born Sep 1853), Andrew, adopted son, 37 (born Sep 1862), Susanna Monson, married, 39 (born December 1860), Martin, 10 (born March 1890), Clara, 7 (born May 1893), and Rhody, 4 (born May 1896). Louisa and Susan’s kids are shown as born in Wisconsin, everyone else was born in Norway. Claus, Carrie, Sever, Nils, Andrew, and Susanna emigrated in 1867. Carrie is shown as having borne 10 children, 7 still living. Susanna is shown as having borne 8 children, 5 still living.

Susan’s husband Thomas “Munston”, along with their son Albert and daughter Caroline (“Carrie”), are in Butte Township, Siskiyou County, California at the time (June 12) of the 1900 census. Thomas doesn’t have an occupation shown but Albert is already working in a box factory and Carrie is in school.

In the 1910 census, Susan and her family are back in Vernon County in Kickapoo Township. Albert Munson is the head of family (so he hadn’t changed his name to Ekum yet). Albert is 27, Susana is 47 and widowed, Martin is 20, Clara is 16, and Rhoda is 14. They own their farm but it is mortgaged. Martin is shown as a laborer, “working out.” Susana is shown has having emigrated in 1866. There are no entries for the number of children Susan has had.

In the 1915 Vernon County plat book, the family is in Kickapoo Twp, just over the line from Franklin Twp, on the road to Readstown. Albert Ekum is shown as the owner of 77.34 acres (85 in the Farmers’ Directory). Martin Ekum is shown as owning 80 acres in the Farmers’ Directory but he is not shown on the plat map so it probably means that he and Albert jointly own the same 80.

Census-taker Douglas Nelson visited the Anderson/Nundahl/Ekum farms (they were contiguous, apparently, which is consistent with Cora’s memory) on January 11, 1920, and found:

Martin Ekum, 29, owner of mortgaged property, farmer in general farming, an employer. Susan, mother, 51, [59? 61?] widow, immigrated in 1870, naturalized but no date shown. Rhoda, sister, 24, single, born in Wisconsin, no occupation.

In the 1930 census, Susan and Rhoda and Martin lived at 165 West Maple in Viroqua in a house that Martin owned.

In the 1940 census (indexed as Ekrem), Susan and Rhoda and Martin live at 165 West Maple Street. Susan is shown as the owner of the house, worth $400. She had a sixth grade education.

“Susan Ekum” on her death record in Vernon County.

Birth:
Fedt subparish

Christened:
Fedt

Baptism:
in Fedt

Buried:
Rev. D.T. Borgen, of Immanueal Church, conducted funeral

Notes:

Married:
“Thomas Munson, Susan Bowe” Vol 2, p. 439. Wisconsin Marriages on FS says 28 March.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Husmand m J, Arbeider med Jordbrugsarbeide
• Baptism: 11 Aug 1867, Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Notes:

According to Digitalarkivet, the family was living on the “Osene” farm in Aardal at the time of the 1900 census. Erik was a tenant farmer and farm laborer. Living with the family was Malina’s mother, Brita Øren born in 1837.

Died:
A brief article in the June 14, 1935, edition of the La Crosse Tribune noted that Bertha and Ida had just received word of the death of their father in Norway.

Erik married Malene Ovesdatter ØREN. Malene (daughter of Ove Thomasson HAREID and Brita Jonsdatter ØREN) was born on 23 Nov 1867 in Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Husmandskone beskjf. med Hus- og Kreaturstel
• Baptism: 26 Apr 1868

Notes:

May not have been baptized in Årdal. Over the baptism date in the church book entry for her is “Stadf.”