Book 2 - Nathan, Amy, Madison and Ethan Berga

Nordrum Family
A Journey from Norway
Amy Rochelle Berga

Table of Contents
3. . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction
4. . . . . . . . . . Nordrum Family
5. . . . . . . . . Naming Customs
6. . . . . . . . . . . The Old World
7. . . . . . . . . . Nordsinni Parish
8. . . . . . . . . . . . . C.L. Clausen
9. . . . . . . . . . Pierce Co., Wisc.
13. . . . . . . Grosse Île, Canada
14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Time Line
16. . New Home in Wisconsin
18. . . . . . . . . Johan Mikkelsen
20. . . . . . . . . Martin Nordrum
22. . . . . . . . . . John Nordrum
24. . . . . . . . . . Mary Nordrum
26. . . . . . . . The Nelson Home
28. . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Sisters
32. . . Christ & Hans Nordrum
38. . . . . . . . . Anton Nordrum
39. . . . . . . . Samuel Nordrum
42. . . . . . . . . . Lena Nordrum
46. . . . . . . . . . The Big House
50. . Polio, Gall Stones & T.B.
51. . . . . . . . . . The West Calls
52. . . . . . . . . . Lena’s Children
54. . . . . . . . . The Flood of ‘42
57. . . . . . . . . Memories of S.V.
59. . . . . . . . . Nettie Nordrum
61. . . . . . . . . . . Nettie’s Letter
62. . . . . . Man Killed at Gagen
65. . . . . . . . Fry Kills Johnson
67. . . . . . . Fry Kills Thompson
69. . . . . . . . . . . Fry is Stabbed
70. . . . . . . Fry’s Home Burned
71. . . . . . Who was Jerome Fry
73. . . . . . Memories of Shelton
76. . . . . . . . . Nettie’s Children
79. . . . . . . . . . . Verna’s Letter
81. . . . . . . . Albert’s Testimony
85. . . . . . . . . . . . . Family Tree
86. . . . . . Vanasse Descendants
96. . . . . . Ellison Descendants
96. . . . . Johnson Descendants
102. . . . . . . . Jerome Fry Case
130. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Citations

Acknowledgments
With out the help of many relatives from across the United States, this project would
not be possible. This endeavor began many years ago; collected and compiled by brothers; Theodore
and Victor Vanasse, along with their nephew David Vanasse. Their boxes of notes and pictures
have been made available to me through their wives, and sons; who have graciously answered
questions, scanned photographs, mailed artifacts and documents in a generous spirit. Many of
you indulged me by compiling names and dates of countless relatives, some of you spending your
own time calling family members and recording information. It has been my passion to gather as
much information as possible before it is lost, and put together the story of our ancestor’s lives, as
a gift to our children and their children.
I have tried to be as accurate as possible with the information that was available to me at the time.
Those who come after me may find mistakes; though, I hope that I have been thorough enough
that those mistakes are few. While I have made every attempt to tell this story as it happened, I
have had to speculate on some events.
Amy Rochelle Berga

The Nordrum Family
Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum
born 15 Dec 1820 Torpa, Norway
died 13 Nov 1895 Spring Valley,
Wisconsin
Elisabet Marit Jonsen Aasen
born 18 May 1835 Torpa, Norway
died 7 Apr 1902 Spring Valley,
Wisconsin
Married 24 March 1857 Nordsinni Parish, Norway
Martinus “Martin” Johansen Nordrum
born 14 Nov 1857 Torpa, Norway
died 21 Jun 1943 Renton, Washington
Johannes “John” Johansen Nordrum
born 12 Jun 1860 Torpa, Norway
died 12 Mar 1944 Arthur, Washington
Marit “Mary” Johansdtr Nordrum
born 26 Nov 1862 Torpa, Norway
died 05 Mar 1953 Spring Valley, Wisconsin
married John Larsen Mosveen 29 May 1893 Dunn County, Wisconsin
Christian “Christ” Johansen Nordrum
born 27 Apr 1865 Torpa, Norway
died 08 Mar 1957 Spring Valley, Wisconsin
Hans Johansen Nordrum
born 11 Mar 1868 Torpa, Norway
died 15 Jun 1942 Spring Valley, Wisconsin
Lena Mikkelsen Nordrum
born 31 Oct 1870 Maple Springs, Eau Galle, Wisconsin
died 02 May 1946 Spring Valley, Wisconsin
married William Richard Vanasse 30 Jun 1890 River Falls, Wisconsin
Anton Johansen Nordrum
born 25 Oct 1873 Eau Galle, Wisconsin
died 25 Nov 1952 Maple Valley, Washington
Mina Antonettie Nordrum
born 25 Oct 1873 Eau Galle, Wisconsin
died 06 Feb 1972 Kamilche, Washington
married John Christian Johnson 21 Jun 1896 Dunn County, Wisconsin
married Albert Cunningham Ellison 22 Jan 1910 Seattle, Washington
Samuel Nordrum
born 21 Jul 1876 Eau Galle, Wisconsin
died 03 Mar 1958 Tacoma, Washington
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Norwegian Naming Customs
Since the early 10 th century, Norwegians have
traditionally taken a name associated with their family
farm. Prior to 1860, Danish surnames were not
hereditary; but, changed with each generation. 1 This
meant that a Norwegian son born to Jorgen
Petersen would be known by the surname
Jorgensen, a daughter of Jorgen
would be known as Jorgensdatter. In
many cases, Datter, was shortened
to dtr, becoming Jorgensdtr. In
old Norde, sen, is translated,
the son of. Along with this surname,
a Norwegian added his
farm name; which was the
name of the farm on which he
lived at the time. Farm names
changed according to where
one lived and moved. 2 In our
own Norwegian family, Johan
Mikkelsen Nordrum, the son
of Mikel Amundsen, was born
on the farm named: Nordrum. Johan’s
brother, Amund, lived on the
farm, Brennum; a smaller portion of
the larger Nordrum farm. 3 Amund’s surnames
became; Mikkelsen-Brennum. Johan
Mikkelsen’s sons took the surname Johansen, while
their cousins, the sons of Amund Brennum, took the
surname Amundsen, which was changed to Emerson
once they moved to America. 3
Norwegian women did not change their name with
marriage, until they immigrated to America and took
on the customs of their new country. 2 In the 1870’s
Norwegian legislation was passed which stated that
women should use the masculine form for their patronymic
name. This law put an end to all surnames ending
in “datter.” 2 In 1904, with so many surnames ending
in “sen,” the Norwegian government made steps
to add surnames. 2 This explains why older family
Elisabet Marit Jonsen Aasen Nordrum
1835-1902
documents have “Aasen” as Elisabet’s maiden name,
while American court and county records show her
maiden name as “Johnson.” Her descendants know her
as Elizabeth Nordrum; however, in census records she
gives her name as Mary Mikkelsen. She was
the daughter of Jon, so her surname was
“Jonsen.” Since legislation was passed,
Elisabet used Jonsen rather than Jonsdtr.
She lived on the farm, Aasenberg;
and married into the name,
“Mikkelsen Nordrum;” thus,
Elisabet’s many surnames were
difficult to explain as her name
changed with the customs and
countries she lived in. 5 Adding
to the confusion was the
surname’s tendency to change
once arriving in America: from
Aesen to Auson, Mikkelsen to
Michaelson, Jonsen to Johnson
and Amundsen to Emerson. In
1870, when the Nordrums settled
in Wisconsin, there was a clash of
naming customs. Elisabet did not take
her husband’s surname, nor did any of her
children share her surname, or her husband’s;
or even receive middle names. American customs and
records would change this slowly through the first
Nordrum generation. The Nordrum children slowly
incorporated their new country’s customs over their
life time. For instance, Hans was buried as a Nordrum;
however, all his life he would sign his personal letters,
“Hans Mikkelsen.” 3 When William Vanasse married
Lena, he was surprised to discover that her name was
Lena Nordrum and not Lena Mikkelsen. 3 And finally,
each of the Nordrum boys, in the west, used “J” as
their middle initial, signifying, Johansen which had
been converted to a middle name. 54

The Old World
Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum was born in Torpa/
Nordre Land, in Oppland County, near Lillehammer,
December 15, 1820 4 , to Mikel Amundsen Nordrum
and Marit Hansdatter Fossum. 3,6 His father, Mikel,
was the son of Amund and born in 1768-1833, while
Marit was the daughter of Hans, born on the farm
named Fossum, in 1778-1853. 3,6 Johan was thirtysix
when he married Elisabet Marit Jonsen Aasen, in
Norway in their Lutheran parish; Nordsinni, Østsinni
in Torpa; March 24, 1857. 7 His new wife was 21.
Nilsen gave his estate to his son-in-law, Johan Mikkelsen.
Life would change for Johan, as lands had become
scarce in Norway. Aasenberg could support his family,
but the future of his sons was uncertain. Many of
Elisabet’s brothers had already left and settled in Wisconsin,
3 causing Johan to consider moving his family
as well.
Elisabet Marie (or Marit) was born to Jon Nilsen Aasen
and Kari Mikkelsdatter Støm on May 18, 1835, 4,8
in Torpa/Nordre land, Oppland County, Norway. 27
Hand written records from Nordsinni church document
the children born to Johan and Elisabet; Martinus,
was born on November 14, 1857, 7 followed by
Johan in 1860, Marit, later known as Mary, in 1862,
Christian, who went by Christ, in 1865 and Hans in
1868; all born in Norway. Each of their births carefully
transcribed in the record books of their parish. 7
In 1865, Johan worked as a “Gaardbr og Seveier,”
which is a farmer who owns his own land. 8,10 Not all
Norwegians had this privilege; many leased land from
the “Bønder,” or land owner. 9 Those who leased were
called “Husmænd.” 11 people made their home on Johan’s
farm, named Aasenberg. 8 Johan had two horses,
twelve head of cattle, nineteen sheep, and four goats.
His farm produced rye, barley, mixed grains and potatoes.
8 (Norwegian measurements are given in the
1865 census) Living with the family was a hired hand,
by the name of Johan Olsen; along with a sixteen year
old maid, by the name of Gunnil Andersdatter. Elisabet’s
parents, Jon Nilsen and Kari Mikkelsdatter, lived
with the family. Elisabet’s father, Jon, gave his occupation
as a “Føderaadsmand;” which is a man who is on
“Føderåd,” or simply, one who receives support after
giving his estate to another. 10 It is presumed that Jon
Nordsinni Kirke, Dokka, Oppland, Norway
Photo courtesy of Jostein Øksne/FotoFil.no
The Nordrum’s attended this local Lutheran
church called Nordsinni Kirke. It was built
in the shape a cross and constructed in 1758.
It was moved down into the valley from what is
the current location of Hogne Chapel in 1898.
The first reference to Nordsinni Church, in records,
was from 1311 to 1317. The neighboring
church in Østsinni became the main church for
Nordre Land when the Land’s parishes divided in
1866. 11

Leaving Home
His decision must have been a difficult one.
He had five children and another on the way; He had
watched as many of his neighbors and family had left,
one by one, from their native land in search of a better
life. Their letters from America had inspired many
more to leave their community. Their notifications of
departure made public at the pulpits of the parish, as
heads of state grew more anxious over the epidemic of
“emigrant fever.” 9 The year was 1870, and Johan was
50 years old, his wife pregnant, and his eldest son,
was nearly 13. Anxiety mounted as preparations were
made to leave the familiarity of home. By law, Johan
needed permission to leave the country from his local
parish; set requirements must be met and notification
must be posted. 9 Food would be gathered, enough for
the 100 mile journey south to Oslo, and still more
for the weeks at sea, and the unknown trek across the
new world.
Both Johan and his wife were born in Torpa, living
their entire lives in the mountainous country side.
Yet, the unknown called to them, with promise of a
new life that would out weigh the hardships they were
sure to suffer.
Nordsinni
Parish Records
Above: Nordrum births as they look on the pages of the Parish records.
Right, Johannes’ birth recorded on line 95. Below, Amund Anderson’s
Norwegian Bible printed in 1863

Top Ten Reasons for
Leaving Norway 9
1. The gloomy prospects in Norway for
the future generation.
2. There was not enough land for the
producing and working class.
3. General dissatisfaction with the administration
of Norwegian law, especially
with reference to relations between debtors
and creditors.
4. A general feeling that the state did
too little to promote agriculture and the
welfare of the common people, though
it devoted large sums of money to other
purposes.
5. Dissatisfaction with Norwegian officialdom
and the clergy, which formed a
caste system that looks upon an ordinary
citizen as an inferior.
6. Failure in Norway to realize the freedom
and equality that the constitution of
1814 had promised.
7. The pressure upon the “bøndsman” to
supply poor-relief burdens.
8. The pressure upon the “bøndsman” to
fund the Norwegian road systems.
9. Uncertainty of poor producing crops
and over utilized farm land.
10. Idealization
of America.
A Lutheran pioneer pastor, by the name of
Claus Lauritz Clausen, had arrived at the Muskego
Norwegian settlement in Wisconsin in 1843. 9 C.L.
Clausen was from Ærø in Denmark and had been one
of the first pastors to gain permission to emigrate. By
law, Clausen’s passport was granted him only after he
met the requirements of the state along with gaining
permission from the parish. 9
Early in 1850, Clausen appealed to the governor of
Minnesota Territory, Alexander Ramsey, for information
about the governor’s territory. He wrote,“A large
number of Emigrants who came last season, are now
staying over the winter around here in the settlement,
purposing to lookout in the spring for public lands
to settle upon, but as they are unacquainted with the
country and the language here, it is to be feared that
many of them may be misled to their serious disadvantage,
if left entirely to themselves; or, which is often
worse, to the guidance of interested speculators.” In the
interest of these people, Clausen desired information,
especially about the region in the vicinity of Lake Pepin
and of the St. Croix. “On behalf of the Norwegians,
I now principally write,” he continued, “are generally
poor, but sober, hardy and industrious farmers and mechanics;
but I have received letters from Norway and
Denmark, informing me that several men with considerable
capital, wish to go over here, I can lead them to
places where they can invest their capital profitably, in
improving water powers, erecting mills and other machineries,
and building towns, etc…” 9 Clausen stated
that if the governor’s reply was favorable he proposed
to make a journey to Minnesota to examine the region
for himself. The next summer he set off for Minnesota
Country, his travels taking him to such places as St.
Paul, St. Cloud, and St. Anthony Falls, up the
Minnesota River, and to the vicinity of
C.L. Clausen and
St. Croix Lake, where on the Wisconsin
side, in the neighborhood of Rush River,
he found land that seemed satisfactory
to him. When he returned to Rock Prairie,
his reports aroused the interest of a

Pierce County, Wisconsin
handful of Norwegians, who went north and formed
a colony that later grew to large proportions in St.
Croix and Pierce counties, in Wisconsin. 9
In the spring of 1853 a caravan of forty covered wagons
pulled by oxen, wound it’s way north to Clausen’s
settlement, named St. Ansgar. “The journey lasted
three weeks,” writes a woman who was a member of
the party, “and most of us walked on foot the whole
way, driving the cattle. I can remember that I carried
children across creeks and rivers, where we had to ford
the streams. No settlers were to be found in Mitchell
County when we came there, but at Osage some
had raised tall poles with names on them, to indicate
that they claimed the land.” Returning to Rock Prairie,
Clausen published his journey in the Emigranten
(the first Norwegian newspaper in America). In his
account he described the land on Big Cedar River
as “fertile prairie, with woods along the stream and
numerous other advantages.” A year later, 100 more
families arrived, and it was only the beginning. 9
In the spring of 1858, Laurentius Larsen, pastor at the
Rush River settlement in Pierce County, Wisconsin,
made an extended missionary journey to Minnesota,
visiting settlers and organizing congregations. His report
was published not only in Wisconsin, but also
in the capital of Norway. The letters written and sent
back to Norway, were printed in Norwegian newspapers,
spreading word and lighting a fire within the
emigrant. 9
Back home, Elisabet’s family was directly impacted by
the accounts of pioneer emigrants. One by one, her
brothers left their family’s farm for America. This may
explain why Jon Nilsen passed his land to his son-inlaw;
all his own sons had left for America. Elisabet’s
brother, Nils, emigrated in 1849 3 ; Andreas emigrated
in 1851 3 ; Johannes in 1852 3 ; and Ole emigrated in
1858 3 ; all four settled in Wiota, Wisconsin. Their letters
home may have encouraged Johan and his wife to
follow.
Wisconsin was a principle destination for Norwegian
immigrants. Encouraged by the passage of the Settlement
Act of 1862, which gave away 160 acres to the
heads of families, and the expansion of wheat farming,
Norwegians packed the Rock River Basin. While immigration
slowed briefly following the Panic of 1873,
heavy streams of Norwegians continued to arrive; by
1900, 25% of all Norwegians living in America, lived
in Wisconsin. 1.5 million Norwegians, Danes and
Swedes emigrated between 1870 and 1900 largely due
to a shortage of land in their native countries. With
the exception of Ireland, no other country could contend
with the Netherlands in giving so many of her
people to America and the British colonies. 12
During the 1830’s and 40’s in Norway, there was a
long, stagnate agricultural period, making living conditions
intolerable in some areas. Lands were divided
to the point that patches of farms were too small to
support those who cultivated them. 9 If a farm was too
small to support a growing family, it would be necessary
to seek employment through others; however,
many times this proved difficult. In 1802, there were
79,256 farms in Norway, by 1860, there were more
than 135,000. Although the population was increasing
rapidly, no new lands were available in Norway.
Norwegian land could not produce enough to feed
her people. (The American Immigration Collection pg.167)
In 1838, reports from Telemarken in Norway, spoke
of famine in the region. People were forced to share
the food of their cattle to keep from starving. A local
historian wrote, “That there was terrible need in
many places.” As many as 1/3 rd of the people went
hungry in the late thirties. Johan too may have felt
the forces of hunger; for his family had to survive this
period of lack while Johan was only a teenager; and in
the face of such suffering, reports of boundless, fertile
lands were available for low wages. 9

Our parents were poor and we had to go
out to work at and early age.” said Andreas Langum
“Food and wages were not then what they are now.
I remember at one point where my daily menu was
gruel, and spoiled fish. For supper, pudding made of
flour and water and
a little sour milk.
That time I could not
stand the work and
the diet. I became
very ill, was taken
home and was ill for
a long time. When I
was nineteen, I went
to Lier and hired out
to Torjus Otrevold for
one and a half years.
For one years work I
received as my wages:
a suit of clothes and
seven dollars. From
that place I was apprenticed
to Sjaasta
Baken, a blacksmith, for one and a half years.
For this service I received only my board.” 13
American government land sold for as little as $1.25
an acre. Ole Rynning, founder of the disastrous Beaver
Creek Settlement, sent word back to Norway, praising
the land and her wages; claiming that in America, pay
was 50¢ to a dollar during the winter months, while
they were twice that in the summer. A servant girl in
Telemarken in the late thirties received 8 to 12 spd. a
year; in America a servant girl could make that much
in one day. Rynning’s report, True Account of America
for the Information and Help of Peasant and Commoner,
was published and distributed throughout Norway,
despite the local parish’s disapproval. Rynning’s book
was influential in spreading what the Norwegian government
now saw as a national emigration problem. 9
In 1838, Rynning died along with most of the settlers
in an epidemic; those who survived fled from Beaver
A Typical Bark Rigged Sail Ship.
Courtesy of www.norwayheritage.com
10
Creek. At the time of Rynning’s death, only one man
was well. He chopped down an oak from which he
fashioned a coffin, and in this, Rynning’s body was
buried in an unmarked grave on the prairie in Illinois. 9
Not even this horror could dissuade Norwegians from
emigrating.
In 1840, as many
as three quarters of
Norwegian farms
were under heavy
mortgages and paying
high taxes to the
“kommune.” Many
“gaardsmand” sold
his property for what
he could, and left for
America. Reports of
trials and prosperity
continued to arrive
through letters, written
from America.
Since the first emigrants
left Norway in
1825, a trickle of people turned into a flood, largely in
part to these “American Letters,” which told of lands
and wages that were all to enticing to those left in
Norway. 9 One pioneer writes in 1840, “The nativeborn
Americans are called Yankees.” he continues,
“They have such cold houses that the snow blows into
them. They eat three times a day, always at a decked
table. No matter how simple a working man they may
have with them, they eat at the same table, without
distinction as to persons. These people work daily at
their various tasks, even though they are merchants or
officials.” 9
The reasons for emigrating varied, and it is hard to
know what brought the Nordrums to Wisconsin. Johan’s
farm may not have been adequate to support his
growing sons and their future families, while reports
from family continued to arrive, encouraging the Nordrums
to leave.

Andreas Langum recounts, “When I was 22, my brother
Nils and I decided that we would go to America.
Father paid our fare. May 17 th , 1853, we embarked
on the old boat, “Sjofna.” This was to be our home for
eight weeks and five days.
On this voyage, we passed through two experiences
that might have ended our earthly existence. While
we were on the North
Sea, such a heavy fog descended
upon us that we
could hardly see from
one end of the boat to the
other. The captain feared
that we would encounter
land. He went back and
forth with his telescope
but could see nothing. By
and by the fog lifted a little
and lo, we were steering
directly toward land.
He at once shouted to the
mate who turned the boat
again into the sea and we
were saved.
The other time we were
out on the Atlantic. It
was a pitch dark night. We were sailing with a very
heavy wind. That time, the Lord saved us by a flash
of lightning. Two men were on the lookout. Through a
flash of lightning they thought they saw something and
when it lightened again, they saw a large ship bearing
down upon us. Immediately our boat was turned to
the right and we passed each other safely. Thanks be to
God we were again saved from a wet grave.
Now, we went forward day by day, sometimes there
was too little wind and then again too much. For more
than a week, I was so seasick and miserable that I
wished I was in Norway, no matter where, if it only
was somewhere in Norway on land. There I lay rolling
from one side to the other, for the boat was first on the
crest of a high wave and then in a deep trough. There
was no rest. But everything has an end and finally we
reached land at Quebec, after a journey that lasted
11
eight weeks and five days.
Norwegian add for Anna Delius
Hamar Stiftstidende 19 January 1869.
Courtesy of www.norwayheritage.com
Yes, at last we were in America. Our aim was to reach
Chicago and then Muskegon. A company transported
the passengers on our boat to another. In our boat there
were about 350 people and I suppose about the same
number in the other boat. It went well for a short time
but the steamboat we were on brought us to a miserable
warehouse; much the
same as though we were
cattle. There we all stayed
for a day without food or
drink or any bed to sleep
on, then on again by boat
through a canal. I do not
remember much about
this voyage, only that we
entered large boxes as
it was deep, deep down
and then we were raised
up when we reached the
terminal where we went
on board a train that
brought us to Chicago.
This train was a combination
immigrant and
freight train.” 13
Prior to 1870, sail ships crossed the Atlantic to Quebec
with in an average of 53 days. The length of the
voyage made many emigrants susceptible to disease
and hunger; while one in ten emigrants would die
on the voyage. With the invention of the steamship,
travel was reduced to an average of 12 to 14 days. By
1874 the sail ship was no longer in use as it had become
non-profitable. In 1867 the price for the passage
on a sail ship from Norway to Quebec was about
15 Speciedaler for adults; children, 8 - 14 years old: 8
Spd.; and children between 1 - 8 years old: 5 Spd. The
passengers had to bring their own food. In the same
year the journey from Norway to Quebec via England
by steamship was about 40 Spd. all meals included. 14
Emigrant records show that the Nordrums left Norway
from Oslo, bound for Quebec, on April 28, 1870
on the sail ship, Anna Delius. 15 The cost of this trip

alone was 78 Spd. 15 per person; this would be the
equivalent of 90 dollars for each adult. 14 Johan was
49; Elisabet was 34, and was two months pregnant;
Martinus, 12; Johannes, 9; Marit, 7; Christian, 4; and
Hans was only 1 year old. Johan’s nephew, Martinus
Amundsen, traveled with them, he was 19. 15
The Anna Delius had the capacity to hold 336 emigrants
and a crew of 16. She was built in 1854 at Bremen,
Germany by N.O. Young who was from Christiana,
Norway; she was captained by Neils T. Iversen.
The Anna Delius was 148 ft. in length; her beam was
30.8 ft. with a depth of 20.5 ft. 14 Ship records state: In
1870 the “bark” Anna Delius departed from Christiania
on April 29 th , and arrived at Quebec on June 19 th . She
was sailing in ballast and was carrying 298 steerage passengers.
There was one birth on the voyage, on June 6 th ,
son of Peder Pedersen Rüde. There was also one death, on
June 16 th , Kirstine Ellingsdatter (71) died from dysentery.
Like the year before the ship was mastered by Captain
Neils T. Iversen. She had a crew of 16. 16
The Anna Delius is labeled a “bark” ship because of
the way it is rigged. It has three masts; the fore and
mainmast are square rigged, and the mizzenmast fore
-and-aft rigged. It wasn’t unusual for “barks” to be rerigged
as “ships” or vice-versa. A “bark” rigged vessel,
could sail with fewer crew members than the “ship”
rigged. 14
Young Mikkel Mellum was 10 years old when he
crossed the Atlantic with his family in 1869. His
family traveled across the ice covered lake “Mjøsa”
to “Minne.” The next day they proceeded to “Edsvollbakken”
to take a train to the port in Christiania
(Oslo). While the luggage was taken aboard, Mikkel
and his family had to stay in Christiania; the process
took 3 days. Finally the Anna Delius left her port at
Espa, Norway, on April 17 th 1869. 17 A year later, the
Nordrums would embark on the same journey.
“It was a heartbreaking farewell for the women; they
compared it with a funeral for the living.” Mikkel
wrote of his experience. “It was an old ship named
“Anadelius” and the captain’s name was Iversen. The
ship had space to accommodate 300 passengers, but
they managed to put in 400, as there were a lot of
people that wanted to get on. I can’t remember any
other names than Syverin Hjermestad and Aslak Hellum.
When we had boarded the ship we were shown to
our berths, the only place where we could stay while
we were between decks. There were two berths on top
of each other, and in front of them we had a little
space where we could eat our food. The ship supplied
the passengers with water and wood to burn. One of
the officers handed out rations every day.
The pilot left the ship off Færder lighthouse, and that
was when the ship really started rolling. Many of the
passengers were up on deck to say a last farewell to
Norway. I remember some women full off homesickness
wanting to go back as the mountains sunk into
the ocean. Almost all of the passengers became seasick,
and everywhere people were throwing up. Dad and I
managed quite well, but my mother and brother were
sick.
I had found a lot of new friends to play with, and we
ravaged around. We climbed in the rope ladder, but
we had to be careful that the sailors did not see us.
They would drive us down, but occasionally we would
get up in the mast before they spotted us. But we did
something much more dangerous too. On the outside
of the hull there was a ledge of about 8 inches, we
climbed over the rail and down on it. When we were
standing on it we could just grab on to the rail with
our hands. Then we balanced along the ledge without
holding on with our hands. Of course this was done
when the sea was calm. When I sit her today as an old
man thinking about it, I am shivering. I was dreaming
about becoming a sailor when I grew up. But it
was the prairie for me, not the sea.
We only experienced one storm, and that was in the
mid of the Atlantic. One night as we all were laying
in our berths, some of the sailors came down shouting
that we had to fasten our selves to our berths, as
there was a storm coming. And just as they said this,
the storm hit us with terrible effects. Chests and other
baggage were thrown around, and many of the people
sleeping in the upper berths were also thrown out of
their berths. Luckily it did not last for long, as we were
12

in the periphery of the storm.
A boy died on the Atlantic, and another was born.
I will never forget the funeral. The ship’s carpenter
made a coffin of rough planks, and filled it with sand
in the bottom. Then he bored holes in the side to make
it sink faster. But it did not sink fast, and as the wood
in the coffin had a pale color we could watch it for a
long time as it was slowly sinking.
It was an experience to watch the huge icebergs passing
by. On a distance it would
look as a white thunder sky,
but as we came closer we
could see that it was actually
a mountain of ice.
We had a smooth journey
after the storm, all the way
until we were off Quebec. It
was a narrow entrance and
unfavorable wind. The Captain
then hired a steamer to
take us into the shore. After
that it took some time to unload
the entire luggage, and
to have it transported over to
the railway station. I believe
it took about 2 days to get the
job done. The weather was
warm, and it felt lovely to
have solid ground under our
feet.” 17
First Stop, Grosse Île, Canada
Twenty days had passed since the Anna Delius
left her port in Norway. The first site of land the
immigrants would see was Grosse Île in the center of
the St. Lawrence River. A mandatory quarantine stop,
along with health inspections, would take place before
the ship was allowed entrance into Canada. 18
It is unknown the exact route the Nordrums took from
Grosse-Île, the site of mass tragedy when
Typhoid ravaged hopeful immigrants, ending
the journy abruptly. It is a small island
about 30 miles east of Quebec city, and
Canada’s poignant and visible link with Ireland’s
Great Famine of 1845 -1849. In 1832
the island was designated as a quarantine
stop-over for European immigrants to the
New World. It is estimated there were over
3,226 Irish emigrants who died at Grosse-Île
and a further 2,198 who died on board the
ships. Statistics show a total of 5,424 Irish
people are buried in this place and many
thousands more dying at sea. 18
13
Quebec to Eau Galle, Wisconsin. Mrs. Ole Torgersen,
a pioneer woman from Menomonie wrote of her journey,
“I left Kristiania the 11 th of April 1868, on the
sail-ship “Hanna Par” (Hannah Parr) and sailed for
three weeks, but then a hurricane blew up. The mainmast
and one of the other masts broke right at the deck.
Then a pilot came and conducted us into Limerick, Ireland,
where we remained for 6 weeks while the ship was
repaired. We ate up our traveling food and the captain
had to buy provisions for us before we set to sea again.
Arriving in Quebec, we had to
wait for a while again before
we could go further. The trip
continued partly by train,
which resembled the cattle
cars of our day, and partly by
boat. We landed in La Crosse,
Wisconsin, and continued the
trip up the Mississippi River
to Reed’s Landing, Minnesota.
From there, up the Chippewa
River to Goose Lake, where
Mrs. Torger Oleson and Mrs.
Tore Lund came to lead me to
my destination.” 9
Another pioneer followed a
similar route with this to say
about the train, “This happened
long before the railway
was built down to Menomonie
and long before Menomonie was
a city. There was a mixed train, carrying both people
and cattle and all the goods one needed.” 9 Another,
more probable route was through Muskego. The Nordrums
would have sailed through the Great Lakes,
from Quebec, to Muskego, Wisconsin. Muskego was
the largest, most successful, Norwegian settlement.
Though it was settled on poor soil, it became a rendezvous
point for many immigrants. From Muskego,
many immigrants re-supplied, rested and received
valuable information for the journey ahead. 9

Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum Time Line
1820.
Federal Government offers
land for $1.25 an acre
1837.
Charles Dickens.
Oliver Twist
1848.
Gold is Discovered in
California
1851.
Singer patents.
sewing machine
Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum is born.
15 Dec 1820 Norway
Elisabet Marit Aasen Jonsen is born.
18 May 1835 Norway
Mary, Christ, Lena Nordrum .
sitting: Elisabet & Johan Nordrum
First emigrant
ship leaves .
Norway 1825
Johan and Elisabet .
marry 24 Mar 1857.
Norway
Martin Nordrum.
14 Nov 1857.
John Nordrum.
12 Jun 1860.
Mary .
Nordrum.
26 Nov 1862.
Christ.
Nordrum.
27 Apr
1865.
Hans.
Nordrum.
11 Mar
1868.
1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860
Napoleon
becomes
emperor
1804
John Quincy Adams.
6th president .
March1824
Noah Webster publishes
the Webster
Dictionary 1828
Wisconsin.
becomes a
state 1848
Civil War .
1861-1865
14

1863.
Edouard Manet paints
Luncheon on the Grass
1879.
Thomas Edison invents
incandescent light
1895.
H.G. Wells.
The Time Machine
1908.
GE patents.
electric toaster
Nordrums leave Lena Nordrum .
Norway. 31 Oct 1870
28 Apr 1870
Johan Nordrum Dies.
13 Nov 1895 Wisconsin
Lena marries.
William Vanasse .
30 Jun 1890
Twins, Anton & .
Antonettie 25 Oct 1873 .
Samuel Nordrum.
21 Jul 1876 .
Martin Nordrum.
leaves for .
Washington 1878 .
Mary marries.
John Nelson .
29 May 1893
Elisabet Nordrum Dies.
7 Apr 1902 Wisconsin
Nettie marries.
Albert Ellison.
22 Jan 1910
John .
Nordrum.
leaves for .
Washington
1889 .
1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930
Alexander .
Graham Bell .
patents the .
telephone 1876
Washington
becomes a
state 1889
Pres. McKinley
shot to death
1901
Wright .
Brother’s
flight 1903
Women can
vote 1920
15

New Home in Wisconsin
The first night in America, the Nordrums
slept along a river bank; 3,19 and waited to be taken
across the state; where it is told that they may have
traveled by paddle boat up the Mississippi to Maiden
Rock. 20 Here they would winter in Maple Springs near
Mr. Pettit’s farm. 3 This trip must have been arduous;
for they carried with them heavy trunks and furniture,
one of the items was a large,
writing desk which alone, was
very heavy. 21
If it was not the immigrant train
that brought the Nordrums to
Eau Galle, then it was by covered
wagons in which they would
cross the state to the Mississippi
River. It was early summer when
the Nordrums arrived in Muskego,
16 spring thaw would give
way to dusty, well worn roads,
etched deep with the ruts of the
thousands of immigrants before
them. Their trip, no doubt, had
been planned through the help
of the Norwegian settlers that
had gone before them; and their
pick up, prearranged along the river banks of Wisconsin.
3
“I Jesu Navn gar vi till bords
a spise og drikke pa ditt order
deg gud till aere, oss till gavn
sa far vi mat I Jesu navn.”
- Norwegian prayer author unknown
Courtesy of Joyce Alton Wada
With their log cabin ready to live in, Johan planted
his first crop of potatoes. 19 At least 13 acres of
fields were in use on the farm. 20 The land was not
the best for farming; more than half was woods: Oak,
Elm, Maple, and Black Cherry, along with some wet
lands. 20 The log cabin had one room on the main floor,
along with a smaller room sectioned off for Johan and
Elisabet’s bed. A ladder went upstairs to a loft where
nine children slept. 19 Lena’s daughter
remembers, “I can’t imagine
my mother with eight siblings,
and two parents, living in two
rooms and the loft of their log
house. Whenever we visited the
log house I felt it was very mysterious.
Mother didn’t say anything.”
23
Johan raised sheep; their wool
was washed, carded and spun to
use for clothing. Elisabet knit,
sewed quilts and suits for her
boys, and taught her daughters
how to sew. 19 When Nettie was
Wearily, Johan’s group arrived in Maple Springs,
where Lena was born on October 31, 1870; 4 Elisabet
was 34. They would wait out the winter in the care
of others until the spring. When thaw came and the
snow had gone, Johan choose a spot of land to homestead,
in the township of Cady, along a stream with
rolling wooded hills and pastures. 3 Johan would not
settle long in Cady; for within two years he moved
his family across the county to Eau Galle. 22 It was
here that they built a log structure on 80 acres. His
nephew, Martinus Amundsen, settled the ajoining
80 acres. 20,22
16
The Nordrum’s writing desk from Norway
Photo courtesy of Charles Vanasse

The Nordrum’s log home in St. Croix county, Wisconsin circa 1873
in her early twenties and divorced, she was a dress
maker to support her mother and young daughter,
Alma. 24
North Rush River’s congregation, was established in
1859, with the church built in 1862, modeled after
the parish in Norway. North Rush River was the first
Norwegian congregation in St. Croix County. The
congregation’s first priest was Ole J. Hagestad of the
Norwegian Synod. 25 It was here, that the Nordrum
children would be confirmed. 26 The women sat separate
from the men, and for several hours, would listen
to the Pastor teach in Norwegian. 19 St. John’s Lutheran
Church was built in Spring Valley. Lena was
a charter member of the Ladies Aid Society. 3 Mary
Nordrum Nelson and her daughters, Iva and Luella,
were also lifetime members; 23,27 Minnie Emerson was
one of the organists. 27
After the church service, Elisabet set out the food that
had been prepared, for the Sabbath, on Saturday. Sitting
around their crude table, Johan would pray in
Norwegian; “In Jesus’ Name to the table we go to eat
and drink according to His Word. To God the honor,
us the gain, so we have food in Jesus Name.” 19
Three years into the Nordrum’s new life in Wisconsin,
twins were born, October 25, 1873. 4 Anton and
Mina Antonettie. Antonettie would be known by
many names in her lifetime. As a young girl she went
by Mina; later she was given the nick name, “Nettie.”
Some called her “Minnie,” and for fun, others called
her “Minnie Antonettie.” At the age of 41, Elisabet
gave birth to her last son, Samuel, born July 21, 1876
in Eau Galle. 4 Although Nettie was a twin, her favorite
sibling would always be Sam. 70
The children would grow to adulthood on this parcel,
in their small, log home. After Elisabet’s death and the
last of the Nordrum children left home, the farm was
rented out before a portion of it was sold, in 1920, to
a family named Solberg. 20 When Christ died, Alma
Hardy inherited the other portion, 65 which she sold
to Irvin Vanasse who remembered, “The farm buildings
consisted of a small log house and a log barn, a
hand pump stood in the yard nearby. (And still can be
seen today) There is a hole where a small basementcellar
was, beneath the log house. About six, old rotten
logs remain of the house, and nothing remains of
the barn.” 20
17

In 1878 Johan Nordrum,
broke allegiance with
a wife and children. Two
sy of the heart. He leaves
the King of Norway and filed
children reside in Washington,
the rest live in the vi-
papers to become a citizen. 28 Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum circa 1880
1820-1895
He saw two daughters marry
cinity of Spring Valley.” 30 His
and the first of his grandchildren;
prayer card reads, “To the memory
of John Nordrum, eternal rest
while saying goodbye to two sons as
they left for the west. 30
grant to him, O Lord, and let perpetual
light shine on him. Absolve, we beseech Thee,
At the age of 75, Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum died
O Lord, the soul of Thy servant, John, that being dead
at the home of his daughter, Lena Vanasse, November
to the world, he may live to Thee, and what ever sins
13, 1895. 4,27 The Baldwin Bulletin printed his obituary,
on November 22, 1895. “John Nordrum died the
he has committed through human frailty, do Thou, of
Thy merciful goodness forgive, through Jesus Christ,
13 th at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. William Vanasse.
Mr. Nordrum was 75 years old, and had been
our Lord Amen. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.” 3
sick about two months with dropsy of the heart. He At the time of his death, Nettie, Anton, and Samuel
leaves a wife and nine children to mourn his loss.” 29 still lived at home. Johan would not live to see his
The River Falls Journal printed the notice of his death daughter, Nettie marry, or his grandchildren grow.
on November 21, 1895. “Died at the home of his Five months after his death, Nettie, would marry
daughter, Mrs. William Vanasse. His age was 75 John Christian Johnson, and set her life on a path that
years. He had been sick about two months with drop-
would take her far away from her family.
18

Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum
Above: Prayer Card for Johan Nordrum
Left: Nov 1 st 1878; Petition to become a
citizen. Notice “M” is used as a middle
initial.
Above Left: Baldwin Bulletin obituary
19

Martin Joha
Martin Nordrum circa 1880
1857-1943
20

Above: Nordrum brothers playing in Washington.
Standing: Anton, Martin; sitting: Sam and John.
nsen Nordrum
John Nordrum (Right) stands with
unknown man, in Everett, Washington.
Property of Maple Valley Historical Society
Martinus was born in Norway, November
14, 1857. 4,7 He was christened December 6, 1857. 7
His name is scribed: “Matias,” on the parish records. 7
His sponsors were John, Mari, Nils, and Ole Aasen;
his mother’s family. 7 Martin was 13 when his family
left Norway. 15 By his late teens, he was already an
experienced pioneer; working alongside his father; he
would have helped in the construction of their log
home; while working to clear land for their crop. In
1878, Martin had taken the challenge of settling the
West in Washington Territory, nearly a decade before
Washington was admitted into the Union as the 42 nd
state: November 11, 1889. He was not yet 20 years
old. 31
It was the beginning of March in 1881, Martin, barely
23; worked as a laborer on a farm to earn the money he
would need to purchase his own land. 32,33 Washington
had much more work in timber than in farming and
wages were worth the effort. At the age of 24, Martin
was hired as a lumberman in Melrose, Washington. 34
Martin must have written home of Washington, with
enthusiasm, for one by one, his younger brothers followed
in his foot steps. John was the first to join his
brother; leaving Wisconsin before 1885. 35 By 1910,
Martin had moved to North Bend where he purchased
his own land, along the Upper Middle Fork Road, in
the Snoqualmie District. His brothers, John, Anton,
and Sam lived down the road. 36 His youngest sister,
Nettie, who had been living with her brothers as their
house keeper, had recently married and moved to Kamilche,
Washington. Martin never married and lived
in King County all of his adult life. At the age of 73
he moved in with a young couple, Edward Olsen of
Sweden and his wife Hilda of Norway. He worked for
the government as the fire warden in Tanner; around
Camp Brown, near the state highway. 37
At his death on the 21 st of June, 1943, 38 a mark was
made in Christ’s Bible, thousands of miles away, in
Wisconsin. 4 Martin would be buried in Maple Valley’s
Hobart Cemetery, he was 85. 38,39 As for those that remained
in Spring Valley, a letter would have arrived,
carrying the news that they had just lost a brother.
Although Nettie and Lena each visited their family’s
homes, and wrote often, there is no record that the
two groups of distant brothers, ever saw each other
again.
21

John Johansen
John Nordrum circa 1880
1860-1944
22

Johannes, known as John, was born in Norway,
June 12, 1860, 4,7 Parish records show that he was
christened, July 22, 1860. 7 His sponsors were Nils
Bjerk; along with Jon, Nils, and Rintune Aasen. 7 At
the age of 10, John made the journey with his parents
to Wisconsin. 15
On November 3 rd , 1882, John filed his first papers in
the process of becoming a citizen of the United States
signing his name in the presence of the clerk, S.J.
Bradford in St. Croix county, stating:
“I, John Nordrum, a native of Norway, age 22, a free
white person, do declare upon oath that it is bona fide
my intention to become a Citizen of the United States of
America, and to renounce all allegiance to every foreign
Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and
more particularly all Allegiance as I may owe to Oscar,
King of Norway and Sweden, of whom I am at present a
subject.” 28
Through the encouragement of his older brother,
John left Spring Valley, in 1889, for Maple Valley. 35 In
1910, at the age of 49, John lived near his brothers,
Anton, Sam, and Martin, in Arthur Precinct in Maple
Valley; working as a cruiser. 41 A timber cruiser would
seek out tracts of land that would be profitable to log,
by estimating the amount of lumber that could be
cut from that area. Eagar and single, young men had
traveled to Washington in awe of the towering trees
that could hold several grown men on their stumps;
some so thick that pioneers found that they did not
have tools large enough, forcing them to bore holes
in the trunks and burn fires in the notches in order to
fell a tree. Thick, old growth forests had opened up to
the timber industry and logging camps lined, up and
down the Puget Sound; men working long shifts in
tent shanties, and often in dangerous situations. 70
Although work in the woods was abundant; John was
destined to farm. John had paid $500 dollars for his
land and owned it out right, in the coming years he
would cultivate his land in Maple Valley. 42 By 1920,
Anton had moved in with the 59 year old. 42 John and
Anton were roommates for a period of about ten years;
after which Anton moved in with Sam, two houses
down from John. During the height of the Great Depression,
John’s land was worth $1,500; and rather
than make a living farming, John worked as a woodsman,
he was 70 years old. 43
During his life, John had traveled from the pastures of
Norway to the thick forests of Washington; over the
Atlantic Ocean; across the North American continent
all the way to the Pacific. He worked as a woodsman,
farmer, and cruiser; he played the fiddle and spoke
his native Norwegian. He never married, choosing
instead to live near his brothers in Maple Valley all
his adult life. He died March 12, 1944, at the age of
84; 4,35 that same year, his sister, Mary would lose her
husband to death. John was buried in Maple Valley’s,
Hobart Cemetery, beside Martin. 35,38
23

Mary Johan
Mary Nordrum circa 1900
1862-1953
24

Above: Mary Nordrum’s Parish
sdtr.
record
Nordrum
of birth and baptism
Middle: Confirmation
Mary Nordrum was the third child born to
Johan and Elisabet on November 26, 1862 4,7 in Norway,
and was christened, December 20, 1862. 7 Mary
was later confirmed in the Christian faith, May 26,
1878 at North Rush River Lutheran Church, on her
sixteenth birthday. 26
Mary was only eight when she left Norway. 15 The
first few years in Wisconsin would be marked with
hard work. She would learn English while attending
school, assist her mother in the daily chores and care
for four more infant siblings as they arrived. On the
29 th of May, 1893 Mary married John Larsen Nilsen
Mosveen, in Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin. 44
She was 31 years old. J.L. Nelson and Mary had two
daughters, Iva Lavine, on October 1, 1897, and Luella
Josephine, July 28, 1899.
John Nelson was born and christened in Nordsinni
parish, in Torpa, Oppland County, Norway, June of
1862. This was the same parish that the Nordrums
belonged to. He came to America with his family in
1883. 45 He was the son of Lars Nilsen Mosveen and
Anne Mathea Syvertsdatter; both emigrated in 1883
and made their home in a Norwegian settlement in
Mary Nordrum
South Dakota, where most of the Nelsons moved after
arriving in America. Once off the ship, John lived with
his older brother, Ole Nelson, in Wilson, St. Croix,
Wisconsin. 45 He started his General Merchandise
store in 1892 in an older building in Spring Valley. 3
25
Above: Mary’s wedding
announcement
In 1893, he had his own building constructed on Akers
Avenue, called J.L. Nelson’s. He carried on the
business until 1929, when Edwin Garlie took over.
Edwin Garlie, had been a life long friend, and hired
hand of John’s. In the early years John Longseth operated
a clock and watch repair shop in the front corner
of the building. The lawyer’s office now stands
on the site. Nelson was also an officer in local lodge
18, “Lnehatten,” Independent Scandinavian Working
men’s Association. 3,27
“His daughter, Iva, worked at the center in the store.
It was a gathering place for the men of the community.
In the center of the store was a large, wood stove - red,
hot in the winter, surrounded by a brass railing. The
men would sit with their feet on the rails, while they
chat and smoked. The store stocked a little bit of everything.
Their homestead was on the side of the hill just
outside of Spring Valley, overlooking the north fork of

the river, where the railroad tracks came into town,
and the road went northwest from downtown Spring
Valley.” Joyce Wada recalls, “We visited them regularly
all of my life, and they curiously enjoyed my children.
They had a small farm before my time; the house
was a ‘museum’ that stayed exactly the same from the
time it was built. The house had an atmosphere of the
old world, high class family. Children were meant to
be seen, not heard; however, the sisters were always
curious about my children and our city life. Conversations
included chatter about the community. Great
Aunt Mary was a woman of few words, quite different
from my Grandma Lena who was gentle and humble.
When Luella and Iva passed away, the house was sold
to it’s second owners [in 77 years] and all the treasures
of the house were removed according to the written
will and testament of the women.” 19
“Mary was a stoic, dignified, Norwegian woman.”
wrote Helen Barnstable, “Neither of her daughters
married. They were the ages of my brother, Earl, and
sister, Mildred, born in the late 1800’s. Luella made
a college career of teaching school in Minot, until her
retirement. Luella was a serious one, and Iva was jolly.”
23
She goes on to say, “I knew Aunt Mary well. I stayed
overnight there many times when I was 13 and younger.
Iva and Luella and my sister, Mildred, were near
in age. Their father had a grocery store in Spring Valley.
Mother visited them at their house often and they
came to our home. Mildred was 14 years older than I.
They always had fun fussing over me as I was small.
My parents were very fine people and so good to us.
Aunt Mary and family were like that too.” 23
The Nelson Home
by Joyce Alton Wada
The Nelson house was located on the northwest
road, on the side of the hill. The front door was
never used, but was open to the north in the summer
with steps leading down a steep, terraced lawn. That
door led from the dining room out onto a porch and
had a smoky, etched-glass window. There were coat
hooks on the dining room wall. The back door went
out from the kitchen, through a sun porch, to a flat
area of lawn, toward the small barn; it was the door
that everyone used. The long sun porch had a row of
windows with curtains on the south side, along with
plants, it was a friendly area. The kitchen had a nice
southern exposure with plants in the windows. A
shelf clock ticked away above the table and chairs. A
glass-door china cabinet was on another wall, and a
bathroom, off the kitchen, was added in later years.
A large, wood stove occupied much of the kitchen,
and sat on the linoleum floor. The girls did all of their
cooking and baking on this stove, summer and winter.
It partially heated the house. A doorway led to a large
pantry with polished wood floor and a trap door into
a cold, dirt cellar. One entire wall of the pantry was
shelving where dishes and pans were stored. A door
led into the dining room as well. There was a large
counter space with a sink near the window. Beside it,
was a doorway that led to a back porch housing an
icebox, hand pump and a garden work area. The ice
man would make his rounds each week.
The dining room was a social room for sitting and
talking. There were various rockers and a long leather
couch under the window. Doorways came from the
kitchen, pantry, the upstairs, the front porch and into
the living room. A large wooden buffet, that matched
the large table and chairs, sat in the corner with the
same glasses and pitcher on it each time I came. There
was also a corner glass cupboard containing old china
and treasures of etched crystal glasses, platters, and
pedestal cake dishes. Two windows on the east looked
across to the neighbor and down the road towards the
Valley. The walls throughout the first floor had wooden
wainscoting half-way around. The kitchen and dining
floors were covered with linoleum. The focus of
the dining room was the very large table and chairs
where everyone was invited to sit for strong Norwegian
coffee, served with real cream, homemade cookies,
cakes, Rosettes and Krumkake. The coffee seemed
just to appear, even though they had no idea we were
coming. They had no phone.
26

The sitting room’s French doors opened revealing a
large unused formal room. It was a special treat to
sit and visit in this room that had a flowered carpet.
The room was usually open only in the summer. A
large window on the
north overlooked the
lawn, hedges and green
valley, and a heavy oak
table sat in front of the
window with a lamp having
colored upper and
lower globes painted with
flowers. Another window
on the west had a huge
fern sitting on a pedestal
table. Between them was
an old, beautiful ebony
piano that no one played.
Occasionally, as a child,
I would be asked to play
and did so, even though it
was horribly out of tune.
The room aired signs of
wealth with its black and
brown leather settees and
chairs. My brother and I
used to sit on the rug and
look through the stereo
glasses at old 3-D picture
cards. The room was always
kept the same, and
always dusted.
An archway in the corner of the “sitting room” emptied
into a guest bedroom, which at one time might have
been the master bedroom. A huge black walnut bed,
dresser and matching vanity filled the room. All the
windows in the house were trimmed with lovely lace
curtains. The bed headboard was approximately eight
to ten feet high with woodcarvings, and small shelves
on the sides to hold candles. The footboard was shorter
but still high and carved – very elegant. The bed
stood off the floor two to three feet with feather mattress,
pillows and quilts made from chicken and geese
down, probably taken from the farm. I slept with my
Mary Nordrum Nelson
Wedding 29 May 1893
27
mother in that bed one time and didn’t wake up until
noon! The high dresser also had shelves on either side
of the tall mirror for candles. The vanity and dresser
had marble tops. The pictures on the wall were of
John and Mary Nelson in
large oval wooden frames
with rounded glass.
A door in the dining room
led to the upstairs bedrooms
where Iva and Luella
slept throughout their
lives. There were probably
three bedrooms upstairs
since John Nelson hired
a handyman to oversee
his property. The upstairs
was heated from the wood
stove by way of a grated
floor opening in the kitchen
called registers. Until the
bathroom was built in the
1960’s an out house was
used, as well as a slop jar
in the bedrooms at night,
emptied each day. There
was no running water until
the bathroom was built.
Water was pumped from a
well off the pantry, from
outside in the yard, and
then heated on the stove.
Only once, was I invited up the narrow stairway into
the hallway to see beautiful lace, embroidered linens
and other things stored in trunks. The trunks came
from Norway. The sisters gave me a set of 12 silver
coffee spoons in later years, and a set of white lace
pillowcases.” 19
John Nelson died in 1944, he was 82. His widow,
continued to live with her daughters in their home
until her death on March 5, 1953; she was 91. Both
are buried in the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery. 4,47

The Nelson Sisters
Iva Lavine & Luella Josephine Nelson
circa 1900, Spring Valley, Wisconsin
28

Iva Lavine & Luella Josephine
We’ve been here all our lives so we don’t
know anyplace else.’ said Iva Nelson. Iva and her sister
Luella, live in a house on County Road B, in Spring
Valley that their family moved into 67 years ago. ‘We
grew up in a grocery store. We lived upstairs until we
moved here in 1912.’ Iva said. Their father owned
the J. L. Nelson General Store, which was located
where attorney Robert Gavic’s office is now. (1980) ‘I
worked in the store until 1948. Then I worked in the
dress shop and the drugstore,’ Iva said. Luella taught
grade school. ‘Most of the time I taught in North Dakota.
I taught in Minot for 20 years. Then I worked in
the store at the Cave for ten years.’ Luella said. ‘Now
we just live, and have done so for many years.’ Luella
plays the piano, ‘Just for my own pleasure once
in a while,’ she said. ‘We both took lessons when we
were kids, now only Luella plays.’ Iva said. They would
like to live downtown, preferring to be within walking
distance of the stores to get away from driving their
car. ‘We used to know a lot of people in town. Now
most of the older people are gone. There are a lot of
May 8, 1980
people we don’t know.’ Iva said. ‘There are no more
people here than when the town was new. There have
always been about 1,000 people, and that’s what
there is now. Of course there are a lot more houses
now. I guess the people have changed.’ She said. 3
(Newspaper clipping from unknown newspaper, May 8, 1980)
Iva worked in her parent’s store along with her cousin,
Minnie Emerson; who lived with them until her marriage
to Chris Owens.
Luella also worked in her father’s store along with
her sister, until she moved to Minot, North Dakota. 49
While in Minot, Luella lived in a boarding home
owned by W.H. Johnson and his wife, Marguerite,
along with sisters: Gertrude and Sarah Acheson. She
paid $50. 00 a month in rent during the thirties. 48 After
twenty years of teaching, Luella retired and moved
back home to live with her mother and sister in Spring
Valley.
After their mother’s death the sisters continued to live
Minnie Emerson
Minnie played the guitar and joined a band that brought together
the talents of five cousins; which incorporated Nettie
Nordrum and her violin, Martin Emerson and his fiddle, Larry
Olson with the base violin, and Anton Nordrum with his
trumpet. The group played for social get-togethers in Spring
Valley. Minnie was a small, thin woman with a crooked spine
and could not stand up straight, leaving her with a limp. She
and her husband did not have children. She continued to play
music all her days; when it wasn’t the guitar, Minnie was the
organist for the Lutheran church; she never allowed her limp
to slow her down. 23
Minnie Emerson
29

in their home. Neither ever married.
Iva’s obituary reads, “Iva Lavine
Nelson, age 89, died suddenly
at her home in Spring Valley
on Wednesday, October
9, 1985. She was born
October 1, 1896 to the
late John L. and Marit
(Nordrum) Nelson, at
Spring Valley. She was
baptized and confirmed
in the Christian
faith and was a
life long member at
St. John’s Lutheran
Church, Spring Valley.
Iva lived and worked
in Spring Valley all her
life. She was a graduate
of the Spring Valley
High School class of 1915.
She had worked at her parent’s
grocery store and also at
circa 1916
Iva Levine Nelson
Bertelson’s drug store, both in
Spring Valley. Iva had been active in
the Circles at St. John’s. Preceding her
in death were her parents. Survivors include
her sister Luella Nelson, Spring Valley, 3 cousins, Ted
Vanasse, Spring Valley, Victor Vanasse, California,
and Helen, Mrs. Lloyd Barnstable, Minneapolis, several
other relatives and friends. Visitation was held
Thursday at the Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley,
with funeral services, Friday, October 11, 1985. At
11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Spring Valley,
Rev. David Larson officiating. Music was provided by
organist Hannah Hardgrave and Mrs. Clarence (Dorla)
Holm. Burial was in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.
Bearers were Harvey Hanson, Ray Gunvalson, Russ
Gunvalson, Dennis Wood, Kent Hurtgen and Gordon
Emerson.” 27,50
Following the death of her sister, Luella
was moved from her home into a
nursing home, where she died
three years later. Her obituary
reads, “Luella Josephine
Nelson, age 90, of Spring
Valley, died Friday, October
28, 1989 at the
Spring Valley Municipal
Nursing Home,
Spring Valley, Wisconsin.
Luella was
born July 29, 1898 to
the late John L. and
Marit (Nordrum)
Nelson at Spring Valley.
She was baptized
and confirmed in the
Christian faith and a
life-long member of St.
John’s Lutheran Church,
Spring Valley. Luella at-
Luella Josephine Nelson
circa 1916
30

tended school at Spring Valley and graduated class of 1917. She attended River Falls Normal School and went
on to teach school. She taught at the Breakside School, Spring Lake Twp. for a short time and then taught for
20 years at Minot, North Dakota. She returned to Spring Valley in the early 1950’s and worked at Crystal Cave
for approximately 15 years. She entered the Spring Valley Municipal Nursing Home in November of 1985.
Preceding her in death were her parents, and sister Iva. Survivors include 4 cousins: Ted Vanasse of Spring
Valley, Victor Vanasse of California and Helen, Mrs. Lloyd Barnstable of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Anton
Ellison of Washington. Visitation was held Sunday afternoon at the Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley with
funeral services Monday, October 31, 1988 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rev. Ted Nelson officiating.
Music was provided by organist Mrs. Hanna Hardgrave and vocalists Mrs. Dorla Holm. Burial was in
the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Spring Valley. Bearers were Stephen Langer, Raymond Gunvalson, Gordon
Emerson, Harvey Hanson, Dennis Wood and Allan Geving.” 27,52
31

Christ Johansen
Hans Jo
Christian Nordrum
1865-1957
Hans Nordrum
1868-1942
32

Christian was born the 27 th of April, 1865 in
Norway. 4 He was christened June 5 th 1865 at his parish
in Nordsinni. 7 His sponsors were, Anne Nelsen,
Nils Ragebeth and Nicouler Larsen. 7 (These names
are hard to read and may be miss-spelled) Christian,
who went by Christ, was only five when his family
made their Trans-Atlantic trip. 15 During his youth he
worked for various farms until 1889; 27 when he and
his brother Hans begun a general merchandise store
Nordrum
hansen Nordrum
on Spring Valley’s East Side. 51
Hans was born March 11, 1868 4 in Norway,
and christened April 5, 1868. 7 His sponsors were,
Mari Aasen, Nils and Andreai Botran 7 (author’s note:
Andreai’s surname is very difficult to read) He was
later confirmed in the Christian faith the 15 th of June
1884, at the age of 16, at North Rush River Lutheran
Church in Wisconsin. 26 Christ and Hans were the
only two brothers who did not move west to Washington;
choosing instead to go into business together
in Spring Valley, and later in Elmwood.
The brothers lived in Spring Lake township in 1895.
Their sister, Nettie, lived with them for a while before
her marriage, to another of Spring Lake’s residents:
J.C. Johnson. Their friend, Ole Vold lived next door. 53
Once the new store was built in Elmwood, the brothers
moved into the apartment above the store. 3
Albert Anderson; they broke allegiance to Oscar the
2 nd ; King of Norway and Sweden. Christ was 41, and
Hans was 38. 54
Elmwood, Wisconsin is located east of Spring Valley,
near Eau Galle, where the Nordrums first settled. The
road winds along the river valley, displaying a beautiful
scenic drive. They built a three story general store;
one of its’ kind that closed in the 40’s. 19 Joyce Wada
remembers visiting the brother’s store in her youth,
“My dad took me for a ride to visit the brothers. Walking
into the store was like walking into another world.
Everything was exactly as it had been in the late 1800
to early 1900’s. I recall the stylish clothes, women’s
high button, leather shoes, beautiful hair combs along
with the many common products in a general store.
Everything, exactly in the place it had always been.
The first floor was actually two floors high. The shelving
went to the ceiling and a large movable ladder,
fastened to a rail on the wall, could be moved around
the room to reach the goods up high. As my father and
Great Uncle Christ talked on, I drifted away to explore
steps that led to another room up higher. The steps
continued up, but I did not continue on. There were
racks and racks of men’s heavy coats with felt hats sitting
on shelves above them. Everything was gray with
dust. The two men lived in one room in the rear of
the store on ground level with an outdoor bathroom.
25 years later we learned what misers they were. They
trusted no one, especially bankers.” 19 Lena’s daughter,
Helen Barnstable remembers, “Chris and Hans had a
big store and sold everything from groceries to clothing,
shoes and fabric in Elmwood, 8 miles from Spring
Valley. My family would drive there twice a year to
shop.” 23
Spring Valley is built along the Eau Galle River; and
during the floods of both 1894 and 1904; the brother’s
store suffered great damage. With the damage of
the latter flood, Christ, who was the business man
of the two, had enough. They sold the store to Frank
Curtis, and began to build in Elmwood in 1905. 3 In
September 1906, both Hans and Christ, finalized
their citizenship papers, in the witness of Matt and
Robert Vanasse wrote, “I remember as a young lad in
the 1930s and 1940s, spending much time with the
family in Wisconsin. And we visited other Nordrum
relatives [Chris] who lived in Elmwood, and owned
an old fashioned, dry goods store that was fun to tour,
and see the high buttoned shoes.” 49
Hans died the 15 th of June 1942. 4 He was 74 years
33

old. The brothers had been friends and business partners
their entire adult lives. With his death, Christ
now lived alone in his apartment in Elmwood. Christ
would live 15 more years before becoming too ill; when
he was taken to Menomonie. Before Christ passed
away, he confided in his nephew, Earl Vanasse, regarding
his financial affairs. “The family later learned the
two men owned a greater portion of St. Paul, Minnesota
in real estate. Not only that, cream cans were
lowered into their backyard containing coins, including
many gold coins. All of this wealth was managed
by an attorney at that point and divided among living
relatives, one of whom was my mother. At the time she
received it, she needed that security and considered it
a blessing.” 19
Charles Vanasse would visit Christ often, “When I used
to visit Christ with my father, he lived in this building.
Christ wearing his galoshes was photographed inside.
I remember being inside here [his apartment)]more
clearly than in the store, which was no longer open for
business at the time.” 21
carried. In 1942 he closed the store with the stock on
hand, intact, and retired. In 1946 the entire stock and
building were sold to William Bergemen and Oscar
Chillstrom. They sold the stock at a sale which gained
nation-wide publicity because so much of the stock was
pre-war, hard to get – items. Mr. Nordrum remained
in good health despite his advanced years until about
a year ago. Last Friday he was taken to Memorial hospital
and passed away the following morning at the
age of 92 years. Two sisters and four brothers preceded
him in death. Left to mourn his passing, are a brother,
Samuel of Maple Valley, Washington and a sister, Nettie
Ellison of Shelton, Washington, besides a host of
other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held
Tuesday, May 7 th , at the Elmwood Methodist Church,
at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Otas M. Botts officiating.
Internment was in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in
Spring Valley.” 27 Neither man married.
Christ died on the 8 th of March 1957. 4 Both brothers
were buried in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery. 47
Christ and Hans’ names are penciled in his Bible. It
was given to Angus Cummings Ellison on a visit to
Wisconsin during the 50’s. It is now with his widow,
Verna Ellison, in Kamilche, Washington (2007). His
obituary reads, “Chris Nordrum, one of Elmwood’s
early business men, died May 4 at Memorial hospital
in Menomonie. Mr. Nordrum was born in Norway on
April 27, 1865, the son of John and Mary Nordrum.
He came to the United States in 1870 with his parents
and settled in the town of Eau Galle where they remained
for a year before moving to a farm northwest
of Spring Valley. He grew to young manhood in that
community and was employed on farms until 1889.
At that time he went into the clothing and grocery
business in Spring Valley, Which he operated until
1905. In 1906 he and his brother, Hans, opened the
Nordrum Brothers Store in Elmwood. It was the largest
store of it’s kind for may years and was well-known
for both the quantity and quality of goods which was
34

Looking inside Christ & Hans store in Spring Valley before 1905. Christ standing on right
Nordrum Brother’s Store in Spring Valley
Left; Nordrum Brother’s general store on the east side.
The photographer would have been standing near
John D. Francisco’s house, who was the first settler in
Spring Valley, in that section of town. Frank Curtis,
another very early settler on the east side of town,
is pictured in the buggy. The Nordrums, Hans and
Christ came to Spring Valley about 1892 and built
the pictured store. After being exposed to the adjacent
Eau Galle River’s flood waters too many times, they
left for a safer location in Elmwood in 1905. By 1910,
Frank Curtis was doing a general merchandise business
in this store. Incidentally, this store is also shown
on several of the flood pictures of August 18, 1907. 3
08 August 1907, Looking across the flooded Eau
Galle River to the Nordrum’s first store in
Spring Valley, Wisconsin. 3
35

Christ Nordrum with his Star automobile about 1926
1905
The Nordrum Bros. are putting up a store
building a little way out of the village
of Elmwood, and when it is done they
will move their stock of goods down.
Therefore the store has been one of the
landmarks of Spring Valley since before
the village started and will be missed.
Nordrum’s store stood about where
(Omer Sandow’s residence now stands.)
News paper clipping, September 1905
1906
Chris Nordrum was up from Elmwood
last week, fitting up his buildings on
East River Street. The Nordrum Brothers
came to Spring Valley in the 1880’s
and started a general merchandise
business on what was referred to as
‘the East Side,’ After inheriting much
damage from the 1894 and 1904 floods,
they moved to Elmwood in 1905 to
avoid any future water damage.
News paper clipping, September 1906
36

Nordrum Brother’s Store in Elmwood
A view of the outside of the store in Elmwood,
Christ is standing in the doorway.
From the Nordrum Brother’s store.
A typical store in Pierce County. 72
37

From the pages of Christ Nordrum’s Bible
Nordrum Brothers
Anton was born with his twin sister, Mina Antonettie,
on October 25, 1873 in Eau Galle, Wisconsin.
4 In 1901, Anton joined his brothers, John and
Martin in Washington. 55 In 1910, Anton worked as
a faller in the logging camp in Renton, Washington;
he lived alone in his home on Meadow Avenue, with
his brothers nearby. 56 On September 12, 1918, Anton
filled out the WWI draft registration card; listing
himself as medium height, a stout build, gray eyes
and dark brown hair. Anton worked as a carpenter for
Frank Connely in Snoqualmie, Washington. He was
44 years old. 57
With the close of the Great War, Anton moved in with
his brother John in Maple Valley’s Arthur precinct.
John worked his farm; while Anton worked for a contractor
in construction. 58 Ten years later, in 1930,
Anton had purchased his own land, worth $500,
which neighbored his brother, John. Anton worked as
a woodsman in the logging industry; while Sam was
employed as a section foreman with the electric railroad.
Most of their neighbors worked in the timber
industry, many working at the local lumber mill, even
John had given up farming to work as a woodsman. 59
Anton died at the age of 79; the 25 th of November,
1952. 4,38,39,55 He is buried in Maple Valley’s Hobart
Cemetery.
38

Hans & Christian Nordrum
Hans, Anton & Samuel; sitting: Christian & John
Samuel was born the last of nine children in
Eau Galle, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, on July 21,
1876. 4 Sam was nineteen when his father died.
On April 7, 1902 68 his mother’s cancerous tumor had
finally taken it’s toll on her life and she was buried in
St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery beside her husband. 47
After her death, Nettie joined her brothers in Maple
Valley, Washington, but Sam, who was 26, continued
to live, alone, on the farm next to Larry Olsen. 60 He
eventually rented the farm and moved to Maple Valley
in 1910. 20 Sam worked in the timber industry; 61 it was
while working in the woods that a tree limb caught
him in the eye, blinding him. Later, Sam would find
work as a laborer for the railroad; which he would
continue to do through WWI. On September 12,
1918, Sam described himself on his draft card, “medium
build and height, with brown eyes and dark hair;
lost one eye.” Sam was 42. 57 Later in his life his great
nieces, Juanita Meier and Marolyn Matson, would
remember when Sam came to visit they were always
warned to pick up their toys and to be careful of Sam’s
blind eye.” 62,63
After the war, Sam rented a home on North Mill Street
in Renton, Washington, and worked in a car factory.
Most of the residents on North Mill Street worked as
laborers with the Pacific Car and Foundry Company.
39

During the depression, Sam moved in with Anton,
down the road from John. Sam found work as a section
foreman with the electric railway. He was 54. 64
After the deaths of his brothers, Sam continued to
live in Maple Valley; but as he aged, he began to have
problems with his tenants, and a roommate, who was
stealing from him. His niece, Alma decided that Sam
should come live with her in Tacoma; while she helped
to sort out Sam’s troubles. Sam moved in, November
1, 1957; he died March 3, 1958. 4,65,66
Alma, had married Charles Earl Hardy of Michigan
on the 28 th of February, 1922. 65 They had met when
her step-father, Albert Ellison, hired him to work on
his dairy farm in 1919. 65 They made their home in Tacoma,
and together they had six children; Albert, Nettie
Louise, Alice, Frances, Charlotte and David. Sam
was warm and friendly, with many friends; and an
animated story teller. Alma’s daughter, Nettie Louise
loved to listen to him. Nettie would come by to visit
often, and Nettie Louise would sit and listen to her
grandmother talk with Sam about their childhood.
They shared with Nettie Louise, the history of their
last name; laughing, brother and sister talked about
how their father came home from work one evening,
and put his hat on the table. He began to tear up little
pieces of paper and wrote names on them. Placing the
pieces of paper in his hat, he stirred them up - even
shook them a little. When he was satisfied with his
shuffle, he reached into the hat and pulled out one
torn piece and read, “Nordrum” then he said, “I am
tired of going to work in the morning and having
people say, ‘Good morning Mr. Mikkelsen.’ It seems
like everyone in this town is named Mikkelsen!” So
he changed their name to Nordrum. Sam and Nettie
went on to tell Nettie Louise, that in all the places
they traveled, they would always check to see if there
were others with the name “Nordrum;” they never
found anyone. 65
Standing: Anton Nordrum, Alfred & Melvin () Emerson
Sitting: Minnie Emerson, Larry Olsen & Nettie Nordrum circa 1895
T.J. Carney
Spring Valley’s Photographer
T.J. Carney was Spring Valley’s first
photographer from 1893-1897. He was
found dead in October of 1897. His
body was shipped home to
New Brunswick, Canada.
His studio was on Main Street. 3
Sam had many rental properties. He once told Nettie
Louise that his money was not going into his bank
account. After telling her parents, Charles took Sam
40

Friends & Family in Spring Valley
Minnie B. Emerson
Born October 1880 to Martinus Amundsen Brennum Emerson and Marit “Mariah”
Finsrud Vold in Spring Valley, Wisconsin. She was the second of five children.
Alfred 1875; Minnie, 1880; Melvin Frank, 1888; Rose, 1892-1895 and finally,
Rosella, 1898-1899. Minnie married Christopher Owens, who was born in 1869.
Minnie played the guitar with her cousins and the organ at church. “I remember
she was short and cripple, hobbled when she walked , but was always happy and
quick thinking. She married Chris Owens and lived in a house close to the Nelsons.
They did not have children. My mother stayed with Minnie at times when
mother was in high school and the weather was to bad to go home to the farm.
She was like a sister to the Nelson girls and spent much time at the Nelson home.
Minnie sewed for people and was the organist at St. John’s Lutheran Church.”
Joyce Alton Wada
Alfred Emerson
Alfred married Ella Mellberg of Sweden, born 1879. The couple had two children that I
know of, Faith, born in 1903 and died in 1919, she was 16; and Joseph, born in November of
1904 and died in 1924 at the age of 20. Alfred also died young in 1907, he was 32.
Melvin Frank Emerson
Melvin married Hazel Manda Gaorden who was born in Wisconsin, the first of
July 1894. They had one son, that I could find, Gordon M. Emerson, born August 8, 1924.
Melvin died in 1924, while his wife died in 1984.
Larry Olsen
Larry was born to Ole Ulvesveen and wife, Mattie Johnson, on December 27,
1865, in Orre Snertingdalem, Norway. In August of 1884 he came to America,
settling first in Menomonie, where he worked for the Knapp Stout Company.
from Hudson to Cady. In 1892 he purchased land in Eau Galle and began farming.
On January 22, 1898, he married Bina Marie Anderson, of Cady. Five years
later, she died on July 6, 1903; Larry lived on his farm until 1920, then moved to
Spring Valley. In 1925. With the company of his friend, Ole Anderson, he made
a trip to Norway, where he visited his two brothers. Upon his return, on October
6, 1928, he married Cora Waller of Spring Valley.
About a year ago, Mr Olson’s health began to fail, and although at times he
seemed to improve, it became evident that his days were numbered. Though he
must have suffered a great deal at times, he never complained, but bore it all with
patience and Christian fortitude. With his strength gone, death came to his relief
Saturday morning, January 9. In his death his widow lost a most faithful and
devoted husband. He will be missed by his many friends in the St. John’s Lutheran
congregation of which he was a loyal member for about 40 years, the last five he
had served as treasurer.
The funeral was held on January 12, with the Rev. Berven officiating, Mrs.
Christ Owens (Minnie Emerson) at the piano, and Melvin Emerson as one of
the pallbearers. A $5.00 gift was given to the Norwegian Lutheran Church by
the widow.
(From the collection of Theodore Vanasse; portions of Mr. Olson’s obituary.)
down to his bank to question them over the problem,
only to find that Sam’s money was going into Anton’s
account! 65
Sam had a trunk that he guarded with his life; it was
all he brought with him when he moved in with Alma.
Sam had trouble with a roommate who continually
stole from him. The roommate had once taken his
electric heater; Charles Hardy spoke with the roommate,
and persuaded him to return the heater to Sam.
Sam also had trouble with his tenants, who did not
pay rent. Charles Hardy stepped in and sorted out
the renters, securing Sam’s money. Before Sam moved
to Tacoma, he visited his sister, in Kamilche. During
his visit, Sam had left his trunk, home, unprotected.
When Charles came to pick him up, Sam was waiting
outside his home, sitting on his trunk, with hat
in hand. Once Sam arrived in Tacoma; the Hardys
bought him new clothes and set him up in his room,
thinking that his trunk held his worldly belongings,
they did not question him as to what could be inside.
Nettie Louise recalls that after Sam’s death, they
opened the trunk only to find one pair of underwear.
It was then that they realized Sam’s roommate had
made off with his clothes as well! Alma and Charles
wished that they had been involved in Sam’s affairs
earlier. 65
Notice of Sam’s death was sent back to Spring Valley;
his obituary read, “Sam Nordrum, 81, a former
Spring Valley resident, died at his home in Tacoma,
Washington, the latter part of March. He left Spring
Valley in 1915. 90 He is survived by one sister, Mrs.
Nettie Ellison of Shelton, Washington, and the following
nieces and nephews; Mrs. Helen Favorite and Victor
Vanasse of Minnesota, Ted and Earl Vanasse and
Misses Iva and Luella Nelson of Spring Valley.” Sam
was buried in Maple Valley’s Hobart Cemetery beside
his three brothers. 4,38,65,66
41

Lena Mikkelson
Nordrum
Lena Nordrum Vanasse 1870-1946
42

“My parents were married in 1890
and my father, William Vanasse, with
his father, Peter Vanasse, built a logtype
house on the homestead property
where the house stands today. It was
built near a lumber mill owned by the
family, and employed several men. My
mother, Lena, as a young lady cooked
for the crew at the same time birthing
my sister Mildred and brother Earl.
William moved them to a house in
Spring Valley (the house on the hill)
where Victor, Ted and I were born. It
was during this time my father, Peter,
and my brothers Earl began building
the existing large house.”
Helen Vanasse Barnstable
Lena was born October 31, 1870; 4 just a few
months after her family arrived in Wisconsin. 14 She
was born on Mr. Pettit’s farm, in Maple Springs. 3,21
She was confirmed in the Christian faith, October 31,
1885 on her sixteenth birthday at North Rush River
Lutheran Church by Pastor Krug. 26
When she was still young, her family moved from
Cady to Eau Galle, in St. Croix County; where a new
home was built on 80 acres. 22 As a young girl, Lena
probably walked to school in Wildwood. 3 In her teen
age years, Lena worked for the Adams family in Wildwood,
as their housekeeper. From there, she found
work in a sanitarium in Hudson, on 3 rd Street, until
she married William Richard Vanasse, June 30,
1890 in River Falls, Wisconsin, at the age of 20. 3,44,67
43
Lena Nordrum & William Vanasse 30 June 1890
Together, they would have five children, Richard Earl,
Mildred Virginia, Victor Lloyd, Theodore Carl, and
Helen Fern. Once married, Lena moved into a small
home built from the lumber at the saw mill which her
new husband had started with his father, Peter. The
surprise of her marriage came when she learned that
she was to be the cook for the mill employees! 3
William Richard Vanasse was born March 25, 1867
in Spring Valley to Peter Vanasse, and Virginia Akers.
William’s father, Peter was born March 4, 1840, at
Three Rivers, in Quebec, Canada. At the age of 16,
he left home to stay a year with an older brother. He
walked to the Great Lakes where he boarded a ship
and worked along side the crew for passage. Once he
disembarked in Wisconsin, he made his way on foot

to Menomonie, where he worked about a year for a
lumber company before leaving for St. Louis, Missouri.
Some time later he returned to Eau Galle, and
accepted a position with Carson & Rand, for whom
he worked about six years. In the year 1866, he moved
to the town of Gilman, Wisconsin; where he bought
the farm now owned by Frank Carpenter, and that
same year he married Virginia Agnes Akers. Jennie
Akers’ family was from Kentucky and of Irish descent.
Her father started the first Post Office in Spring Valley
in which he served for 25 years. Jennie established the
“Until the age of ten, my family and I lived
in Spring Valley, about three miles from
my grandmother. It was always a treat to
have her come from the country for the day.
She was needed on the farm to cook for the
men, but would prepared in advance for
them so she could spend time talking with
my mother. The men were often too busy to
give her a ride. They expected diligence and
promptness, needed someone they could
trust to help them in their labors. The men
were up milking before 5 a.m., and she had
breakfast ready for them when they were
finished.” Joyce Alton Wada
first and only school in the area. Together, the couple
had seven children; William Richard, Mary Josephine,
George, Thomas, Luther Victor, John Leonard, and Julie.
Their marriage, however, was not what it seemed.
Jennie left Peter; but, not before venting her anger
and burning down his barn. She took the children,
those who were still living at home, and left for Seattle,
never to return. She never remarried, and at 69,
she lived with her son, Luther, and his wife, Mable, in
Meyers Falls, Stevens County, Washington. 68
44
Alone, Peter was left in his large, elegant home which
he had built for his family. He moved in with his oldest
son, William Richard and his wife, Lena. Will and
Peter began a lumber mill on the homestead property.
They built a small log home in Gilman, before
they moved into a house in northern Spring Valley,
which was completed in 1898. The Iron Smelter rose
up across the river from the Vanasse home, and Will
became an engineer at the Smelter. Once it was decided
to build a new home, the old house was moved
closer to where construction began on their new
home, which was finished in 1919. 3,19,23 Helen Barnstable
wrote of her home, “My father wanted a nice
house for the family. Mother wanted a small house
- the house on the hill- to be enlarged, instead of the
debt of the huge, new house. She did not believe in the
debt of the new home and farm. However, my father’s
ideas were in place. The house, with electric and water
systems, was built for $7,000, which was a lot of
money in those days. But the house was handy and
really was needed for the many things happening there
through the years. The house included a large upstairs
back porch where Mildred stayed when she was home
from the sanitarium.” 23
Peter, William, and Earl built the first house in the
area that came equipped with a second-floor bathroom.
A farm was begun; with a dairy cows, horses,
chickens, pigs, and a field of corn to harvest. After the
family moved into the big house the old house was
used as a work shop. It had a small upstairs where
buggy trappings and bear quilts, used for the sleigh/
cutter and buggy, were stored. On the ground floor,
the anvil, buggy and cutter were kept. In later years,
Theodore remodeled the old house into a museum for
his collections of rocks and butterflies. It became a
place in which locals enjoyed visiting. 19
Lena owned a gentle horse named Maud whose task
was given to drive her covered buggy into town on
occasions. On one such trip Lena and Helen were riding
home when they became caught suddenly by a descending
storm. Rains and winds pounded the small
buggy and horse. “Fortunately the horse didn’t turn
her rear end to the storm, as horses do.” wrote Ted
Vanasse. The women returned home safely, but the
protections of the canvas did not prevent them from
getting wet. 3

Lena Vanasse
1. Lena walked two to three miles to church on Sunday; she walked to ladies aid
meetings, which she was a charter member; and often walked to see her sister,
Mary Nelson.
2. Maids of honor at her wedding: Sarah A. Watson & Lily Watson.
3. Before her marriage, William knew her as Lena Mikkelsen, after they married,
he found that her last name was Nordrum.
4. Suffered from “sick headaches” due to William’s tobacco smoke.
5. Lena wore her hair in a pug, skirts that fell near her ankles, dresses and aprons
of tiny flowers which were always ironed with care.
6. Spoke with a soft Norwegian accent.
“I remember her as a quiet, very peaceful
person. In spite of difficult times, there
was never any anxiety shown. Everything
was always done in this peaceful way. She
would talk to me at bedtime while combing
her long, gray hair. When I was small
she taught me how to pray, and about her
family and parents. I always felt secure
with her. She would sit in her rocker in
the bedroom and read the big Bible. Many
times when I did not see her around, I
would find her in her room with her
Bible.” Helen Vanasse Barnstable
Lena Vanasse standing on left
Peter lived with his son, and daughter-in-law, until
his death. Saturday, January 31, 1925, he fell down a
few steps of the basement stairway, fracturing his hip,
his obituary states, “Owning to his advanced age the
shock proved too much for his feeble body. He grew
steadily weaker until death came to his relief Monday,
February 23. Funeral services were held at the home
and at Spring Valley Lutheran church, Saturday, Rev.
Berven officiating. Special singing was furnished by
a trio composed of Miss Jessie Gaarden and Rev. and
Mrs. Berven, with Mrs. Christ Owens [Minnie] at
the organ. The body was laid to rest in the Spring Valley
Cemetery. Besides his children, he is survived by
17 grandchildren and 7 great grand children. None
of his children living in Washington were able to attend
the funeral. The death of Mr. Vanasse marks the
passing of another of Pierce County’s pioneers, whose
ranks are now almost depleted. It is due, in great extent,
to their industry that this region, which was then
a solid, unbroken forest, has been transformed into
numerous fertile and well-improved farms. Deceased
was a kind gentleman, ever thoughtful for any favor
that was shown him, his kindly face will be miss, not
only in the family circle but also by his many friends
far and near.” 27
45

The Big House
written by Joyce Alton Wada
The back porch was the entry into the house
for everyone. Summer produce from the garden was
gathered and sorted in the fall. Inside the house was
a hallway with jacket hooks and a place for boots. A
door opened into the kitchen from the hallway.
The small kitchen was a hub of activity for Lena
many hours each day. Lena was a master of the old
iron wood-stove and accustomed to cooking without
a temperature gauge. Everything she cooked was perfection.
She put several loaves of bread pans on the
shelf on the top of the stove to rise twice a week. They
were uniformly perfect. The smell of yeast filled the
house. Until there was plumbing, a small pump near
the sink was used to drain the water from the sink.
A mirror was above the sink
where the men shaved and
combed their hair.
The top of the iron stove
was used for heating water
for all purposes. Hot,
steamy water was used to
do laundry in the kitchen
on a scrub board and hung
in the second floor porch to
freeze. Later when the wringerwasher
was added in the basement, along with the hot
water heater, the clothes were hung there to dry. In
the summer the laundry was carried up stairs from the
basement and hung outside on ropes between trees.
Laundry was not done frequently, and less frequently
in the winter. Heavy iron flats with wooden handles
were heated on the stove to iron clothes. Doing laundry
would take all day and was an arduous chore.
Lena was very resourceful and grew a large vegetable
garden near the apple orchard, where she picked apples
for her pies. During threshing season as many as
a dozen neighbor men were fed each day around the
dining room table. Coffee was taken to them in the
fields between meals. The men traveled from one farm
“I never heard a cross word from either of my
parents. No rough language, not a mean word,
nor swearing. It was a constant peacefulness
and never complaining about anything. I really
value this. My brothers and grandfather
were always like that.” Helen Barnstable
46
to the other using William’s Threshing machine which
was driven by a belt.
Breakfast consisted of pancakes, bacon, hash brown
potatoes, hot cereal, toast, and other stout foods, especially
in the very cold winter. William’s cereal bowl
was always filled to the top with oatmeal, barely leaving
room for the cream.
The small pantry off the kitchen stored pans, dishes,
and food. The shelves went from floor to ceiling. There
were leftovers, such as small, white cookies, left over
pancakes, homemade jams, and other snacks, plus a
pitcher of milk. Small family meals were served in the
kitchen.
The dining room was a glorious
room with its’ Maple
flooring, door and window
casings. The door from the
kitchen, the alcove from the
living room, the open archway
to the stairway, and
another archway into William’s
room, gave the room
a feeling of grandness. A
large window in the dining
room looked out to the back yard. A window seat,
spanning three windows, occupied the long western
wall, with a view across the driveway and toward the
old house, garden and fields. Between these windows,
in the corner, was the heavy, wooden buffet where
the good dishes were kept. The clock, with its’ small
Marble columns sat on the top shelf of the buffet. At
the same time each week, William, would wind the
clock. The sweet, soft chimes would delicately tell the
hour and half-hour throughout the house. Along the
opposite wall was the heavy, wooden black-leather
settee. Near William’s room was a glider-rocker. On
Sunday, The focal point of this dining room, was the
huge, heavy wooden, oval table with matching high
back wooden chairs. On the table spread a long,
white table cloth, white cloth napkins, white dishes,

and small stemmed –ware containing William’s red,
raspberry sauce. Lena’s basic meal consisted of fried
chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy along with home
made bread served with fresh vegetables.
Lena’s plants occupied the window in William’s room.
A large Christmas Cactus sat nearby on a pedestal.
Every Christmas the plant would bloom red flowers.
There were bookshelves and a large rocker where William
sat at the end of the day to read and smoke his
pipe. This room had a closet and at one time was used
as a bedroom with curtains separating it from the dining
room.
The beautiful, maple stairway to the second floor could
be seen through the dining room entrance into the
parlor. The stairway had two flights with a spindled
railing and sturdy banister. At the landing between
the floors a small window viewed the east fields. At
the bottom of the stairs, in the alcove between the
dining room and parlor, hung large oval pictures of
Lena’s parents. When the house was new the stairs
were carpeted, however, later uncovered to reveal the
original wood.
The front porch was as wide as the house and extended
several feet out from the house with pillars between
the roof and ledge half way up from the floor. There
were wide steps leading to the grass. It was seldom
used because the family members and company used
the back entrance. On warm days the front door and
windows were opened to the porch.
The house was very large and required constant work.
The spring and fall housecleaning was a major activity.
Braided rugs were hung outside, on the rope lines,
and beaten to remove dust. Joyce Wada remembers
helping her grandmother dust the stairs and furniture,
shaking out the dust cloth and rugs from the secondfloor
bedroom window that opened up like a door.
The four bedrooms on the second floor each had large
closets. Each bedroom had a large double bed with
handmade quilts and feather pillows. The feathers for
the pillows came from the chickens and geese raised
on the farm. Lena had braided small rugs for the bedrooms,
and made the curtains.
The large front bedroom was on the northwest corner
of the house with windows facing north, looking
into the woods. There was a large walk-in closet, and
window-door combination for shaking rugs outside.
A large bed sat under the front window that matched
the very high dresser with drawers, a tall mirror and
small shelves on either side of the tall mirror for candles.
The room also contained Lena’s well used treadle
Singer Sewing Machine.
The large desk that sat in the bedroom had been
brought from Norway. It had a top section with glass
doors that were removed before they boarded the ship.
William had it brought from the Nordrum’s log cabin.
There had been several rat holes chewed through;
so he pieced it back together and varnished it. The
desk opened up for writing, with small compartments
inside and drawers in the bottom. Important papers
were kept there as well with the old, leather books
that came with the Nordrums, written in Norwegian.
The second front bedroom was nearly identical to the
large one with a large walk-in closet. This was Ted’s
room, and maybe Earl’s when he was home. There was
a matching dresser to the bed that sat under the front
window and another window was on the east side over
looking the flower garden and fields.
The small bedroom, near the large front room on the
west side was long and skinny with a window over
looking the driveway. This was Helen’s room with a
twin bed. The commode (small chest of drawers) was
painted white each spring, eventually covering up the
beautiful carved etchings on the drawers. It had small
white glass knobs and casters. William used it for
clothing, Lena’s Bible and kerosene lamp sat on top.
There were also hooks on the wall for clothing.
Victor’s room was across from the bathroom. The window
overlooked the west, a double bed and dresser sat
47

eneath. This was also where Peter slept when he lived
with his son. Both Peter and Lena would pass away in
this room.
The large bathroom was made with modern plumbing
and first-of-a-kind in that area. It had a walk-in
cedar closet, a bathtub, sink and stool. The window
by the tub looked out over the garden and fields to the
east. The cistern in the basement pumped water to the
bathroom, and a drain field, in the field to the east of
the house, managed waste. The outhouse continued
to be used in the good weather.
The large sleeping porch was the width of the back of
the house, having windows on three sides. It was built
for Mildred to sleep in fresh air when she was home
from the Sanitarium. This room was large and used
for Ted’s scientific and biological studies and work.
The view out of the south window over looking the
barnyard that included the horse and cow barn, corn
bin, pig barn, granary and chicken coop, and a windmill
that pumped water into the cistern in the cellar.
In the distance beyond the field the Maple woods and
the maple syrup pan could be seen
The attic stairs from the hallway leading to the third
floor attic were very narrow. Sometimes Lena and
Joyce visited the curios from the past in the trunks
that had come from Norway on the ship. There were
“switches” of loose hair gathered into bunches to fasten
to adorn their hair. Among them was the lovely auburn
hair switch that had belonged to Mildred. There
were handmade hats, stick pins, high-button leather
shoes, clothes, blankets, pictures and more. The attic
was full of antiques and family history.
The side door came in from the garden on the east to
the landing. One stair case went into the kitchen and
the other down past the cistern into the basement. The
wood box for the kitchen stove, was just inside. Lena
fed the birds in the winter and the cats just out side
this door. Twice a day Ted and William would bring
milk into the cellar to be separated before taking it to
the creamery downtown. The men always used this
door to enter the house with their work clothes. The
coal for heating the house was delivered into a “bin”
through a shoot from the outside. The cellar was also
used to store Lena’s home-canned food. In the cellar,
William made skies at his workbench by soaking the
wood to shape the curve. He stained and varnished
them. Ted did his carving there, and the laundry was
done there as well.
The cellar floor was cold, part cement and part dirt.
Lena had a root cellar in the basement corner where
potatoes, squash, and other foods from the garden
were stored for winter. She kept her jellies and jams
on shelves, along the wall, with the homemade maple
“when I stayed at Grandma’s
house, I generally would sleep
in the front bedroom which
faced the Grove. The wind in
the tall trees about the house,
made an awesome whispering
sound. The birds, going to sleep
at dusk, were very busy with a
noise that died away with the
sun as it went down and slept.”
Joyce Alton Wada
“My father made me a little
red table, On the bottom of
the table is the date, 1914. I
was four years old. It was varnished
and shiny. I remember
finding it beside the Christmas
tree. Mother said I put it
by my trundle bed that night.”
Helen Barnstable
“I did wonder at times if anyone
liked me. Being the youngest,
everyone else was older and
busy. Many nice, kind things
were done for me. Mother had
a very respectful attitude for every
one and was known for this.
My friends who came to visit
me always liked my mother
and said so. She lived her faith
in every way. When she spoke
we listened because she was not
one to repeat her words. There
was always this perfect peace in
the house. I realized most people
were not like that.”
Memories
Helen Barnstable
48

syrup. Will’s father, Peter, began the “Sugar Bush” in
the Maple woods on the homestead before the turn
of the century. Will and Ted continued to use it over
a span of nearly 90 years. The Sugar Bush is where
maple syrup was made. A fire was built in the middle
of a circle of large rocks, with a large pan placed
over the rocks. In the spring when the days warmed
and nights where cool, the sap ran in the Maple trees.
Small holes were made in the tree trunk for a small
spout to be inserted. The pail was hung on the spouts
and the sap dripped slowly and steadily into the pails.
The pails were checked frequently on warmer days.
When the sap was full in the pails, it was poured into
the large pans on the fire and boiled until most of the
water in the sap was gone. After it was cooked down
it was poured into cream cans, carried across the pasture
by wagon or tractor, and cooked on the kitchen
stove, then bottled. This process went on for several
weeks each spring. It took a lot of sap to make a small
amount of syrup.
Outside the side door was a beautiful flower garden
that Lena had designed and built. It was a special
project for her that carried over for many years, and
drew many visitors from all around. William and Ted
helped her find the stones for
the flower beds, and William
built various kinds of birdhouses
for a variety of birds, mainly the large Martin
and the small Wren. There was a large Elm tree that
shaded the garden from the hot south sun, and the
house shaded it from the west. In the morning the
birds sang, dew sparked on the flowers and the garden
was in splendor. In the evening when the temperature
dropped the perfume from the flowers filled the air.
Under the tree was a bench that William had made
for Lena. She would sit on her bench with her granddaughter,
silently watching the birds and smelling
the sweet aroma of the morning mixed with Lena’s
perfume. There was a sweet solace. Across from the
bench, on the other side of the garden, was a large rain
barrel that collected rain water from the down spout
for use in the garden, but was also good for washing
hair. William had built a fence around the garden
with gates on the side leading to the front Grove, near
the rain barrel, as well as leading to the back yard.
William had designed the garden to be gently slanting
down and away from the house. The birdhouses were
on poles along the back fence with roses and other
flowering bushes under them. One rose bush was
brought from Kentucky to Wisconsin with William’s
mother, Jennie. Under the plants and bushes was a
“My sister, Mildred Virginia Vanasse, was a lovely
person. She was Valedictorian when she graduated
from High School. She was offered a job in a
bank and in 3 years got T.B. She quit and was at
home a lot and in Sanitariums, dying at home at
24 years, when I was 10. She was talented, played
concert music and taught piano. She made beautiful
lace, drew and painted pictures, made great
fudge, and her own dresses. The whole town loved
her. When she died at home, we were all there
that day. She was a very refined person, brown
auburn hair, done up, never cut, brown eyes. She
had mother’s eyes. She was 14 years older than me.”
Helen Barnstable
School Play 1910
Mildred Vanasse stands in center, cousin Luella Nelson is to the left.
49

Polio, Gall Stones & Tuberculosis
tiny bucket where the frogs gathered to sing their
melodies. Several feet out from the house the ground
was grassy with flat rock steps leading down into the
flower beds. The beds were kidney-shaped and lined
with beautiful, sparkling quartz and crystal rocks in
various colors, each one picked for its specialty. They
were fit tightly together to make the bed about 3x5
feet. There were probably 12 beds in all. Inside each
bed she worked good dirt and planted perennials that
came up year after year. Other flowers she started from
seed in trays on the upstairs porch. The beds had different
kinds of flowering plants and greens graduated
in size, each with its own personality. Around each
bed she made paths of flat rocks. People came from
many miles to see her Rock Garden. It was a source of
contentment for her. Her favorite hymn speaks well of
her faith; her life, and her garden. 19
I come to the garden alone, while the dew
is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
the Son of God discloses.
He speaks and the sound of His voice is so
sweet, the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
within my heart is ringing.
I’d stay in the garden with Him through
the night around me be falling;
He bids me go; through the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.
And He walks with me, and He talks
with me, and He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
none other has ever known.
Lena, still haunted by the way her own mother
had died, continued to worry over her health. 3 The
pains that she experienced only contributed to her
mounting fear. Her son, Theodore said, “For years my
mother, had gall bladder pains caused by stones. She
assumed that she too had a cancer. She would stand
looking out the window, rubbing her side, belching
often. One day she had me take a bottle of her urine to
Dr. Conway; for she refused to see a doctor, so strong
was her belief that her cancer was terminal. In the
middle of that night dad told me to go down and rouse
out Dr. John because mother was very sick. The Doctor
was not too pleased, but came any way. Her diagnosis
was that her gall bladder had burst and she had
general peritonitis. He gave her a massive dose of sulfanilamide,
the only sulfa drug available at that time.
He said that, if she could keep the drug down, she had
about one chance in 1000 of recovery. I sat with him
in the kitchen and regret to this day that I didn’t know
enough to give him coffee, or even make his breakfast.
(I didn’t know how really) At daylight he went home
and, when he returned, we loaded mother into his car
on a stretcher that had her head next to him and her
feet toward the rear. In the meantime I woke Vic out
of a troubled sleep for that morning he was to leave
for a new job with the company in Kansas City, Missouri.
When he came down the stairs, his former boss,
Lena’s Rock Garden
50

L.D. Veltum, was waiting to take him to Kansas City.
Mother was taken to St. John’s hospital, in St. Paul.
There they waited ten days to build up her strength
before operating. When I took dad to the hospital to
see her, his chewing tobacco made her sick and we had
to leave. This confirms Helen’s statement that most of
her earlier ‘sick headaches’ were caused by his tobacco
when he came home.” 3
Mildred’s T.B. had taken her from the family. She was
placed in the sanitarium to await her death, which
took her as a young lady on the second of March, 1921.
Her sister, Helen said, “Mildred’s illness was difficult
for mother, and my father.” 23 After Mildred’s death,
Lena was very worried that she would lose another of
her children to Tuberculosis, her fear was substantiated
by the fate of other families having the disease;
the Volds, Emersons, Parks; and eventually the Ellisons
in Washington; for both Lena and Nettie would
lose a daughter to the disease. Lena’s precautions are
credited to saving the other members in her family. 3
Helen had contracted polio as a teenager. Her surgery
left her weak for several years, limiting her activities.
23
“When in college in River Falls, every person was
required to have a chest x-ray. My photo showed
a spot on my right, upper lung and I was required
to have regular large x-ray photos made. Dr. H.P.
Conway gave me the required shot in the arm, but
scoffed at the idea that TB was present. Mildred,
then, was the only fatality in the family.”
Theodore Vanasse
“Grandpa Will was a man of few words
and ate large onions like apples; he loved
to fish in quiet boats, was up at 4:30 a.m.
and to bed when the sun went down.
Following Lena’s death he was a lonely
man and died two years later. Their marriage
was strong and with purpose, no
complaining, and always welcoming to
family.” Joyce Alton Wada
The West Calls
There was a time when the west called to William;
and almost claimed him, were it not for Lena’s
refusal to leave her home. 3 William left home to work
in North Dakota threshing grain; and in Washington
with Lena’s brothers, in the logging camps. Victor
said, “Dad made a down payment on rent for a house
in Washington. Mother refused to go because she had
enough of pioneering.” 3
Lena would write Nettie for years and remained close.
Helen remembers a visit in which Lena brought her
51
children to Nettie’s home in Kamilche, Washington.
“My mother and Nettie wrote to each other for a long
time, when I was young. The time we went to Washington
long ago, Nettie bought me a gift – a little
jacket – lavender in color. We had a good time and
laughed a lot.” 23
“I am certain that while Lena worked in the garden,
she spoke to the Lord in prayer. Many of her worries
and concerns were buried deep in the dirt and left
there. She was refreshed as the Lord ministered His

Lena’s Children
1
Earl was born 01 Aug 1894. He served in the United States Navy from April 18, 1917 to June 11, 1919 as
E3c (G), on board the following ships: NTS great Lakes, IL, R.F. at Puget Sound, USS Great Northern, R.S. at
Philadelphia, U.S. Naval Base 17, U.S. Receiving Ship at Liverpool and R.S. at New York. He married Carrie
Mathilda Ray in 1922 and made his home in Spring Valley. The couple had seven boys: Wendell Oliver,
Donald Merlyn, Richard Calvin, Leonard William, Bryce Jonathan, David Cordell, & Irvin Franklin.
Earl died 07 Apr 1982, his wife died 20 May 1993.
Richard “Earl” Vanasse 1894-1982
2
Mildred was born 15 Dec. 1896 in Spring Valley, Wisconsin. Mildred was confirmed in November
1911; she contracted Tuberculosis at a young age and died 02 Mar 1921. She never
married.
Mildred Virginia Vanasse 1896-1921
3
Victor was born 03 Apr 1900. He graduated from Minneapolis School of Business and married Alice
Amelia Lundgren 30 Jun 1923. They had one son, Robert William in 1932 in Minneapolis. Victor
worked most of his life for General Mills, and died 26 Dec 1990 in California; his wife died 28 May
1995. Their son, Robert, was a professor at such schools as California State University and University
of Minneapolis; together with his wife, Alma Boettcher they had 3 children; Laura Jean, Amy Lynn
and Thomas James.
Victor Lloyd Vanasse 1900-1990
4
Theodore was born 02 Mar 1906. He went to Pennsylvania where he graduated from art
school and learned the printing trade, which he taught his brother-in-law, Lloyd Alton, and
worked at The Sun. Theodore was a school teacher, farmer, historian and town clerk. He
married Thelma Lucile Hovde 14 Jun1938. The couple made their home in Spring Valley
and had one son, Charles Vanasse 09 Feb 1949, who would receive a degree in Anthropology
from UCLA in Los Angeles, California, and became a specialized professional carpenter.
Together Charles and his wife, Sandra Soares, live in Spring Valley, on the Vanasse family
farm.
Theodore Clyde Vanasse 1906-1999
5
Helen was born 31 Jul 1910. She survived complications from Polio, and Meningitis during childhood, leaving her
very weak for several years. She married Lloyd Harry Alton 30 Sep 1930. Together they had two children, Joyce
Yvonne & Gerald Lloyd. Lloyd was a printer for the Spring Valley Sun. The family moved to Minnesota after the
flood destroyed their home in 1942. Lloyd died of a heart attack while on vacation 24 Jun 1949. Helen went to
beauty school and graduated at 50. She continues to live in Minnesota with her husband Lloyd Harry Barnstable,
whom she married 01 Mar 1963.
Helen Fern Vanasse Alton Barnstable 1910-
52

love and grace to her peaceful soul. Lena was 62 years
old when I was born; and died when I was 14. I look
at her life as one richly endowed by God for her faith
in him, having created a legacy of her own in this life,
in her place and time.” 19
Joyce Alton Wada continues, “As she and I sat on
the large front porch one very warm, sunny, summer
afternoon, we chatted about things in soft voices, such
as the wind in the trees, the men in the field, and the
flowers. One day she picked some Holly hocks, green
moss, and by using a purse-size mirror she began telling
me the story of the lovely ladies in their ballroom
gowns, like the turned over Holly hocks in her hands,
dancing on the carpet of moss, around the lovely lake,
the mirror. This was a very unusual time with Grandma,
she took time from her tasks to sit with me. Her
softness and sweetness was shown in gentle ways, and
will never be forgotten. There was a deep reverence
within her that shone outward, speaking good, rightness,
diligence and holiness. She spoke of honesty and
gracefulness, which was so becoming. There would be
times when she would slip me a clove from her purse
and say, ‘Put this in your mouth. It will freshen your
breath.’ And there were other quiet times I watched
her comb and brush her long hair at bedtime while
her dark brown eyes smiled.
As I look back, I often wish that she could have shared
more about her family, life, and her faith in Jesus
Christ, taught me some Norwegian words, and some
recipes. I remember how I loved to please her when
I was with her. Her life was one continuous change
from the old world to the new world, and from the
hard, rough life of a settler to beauty and convenience
in her time. William was a good provider for his family;
there were very few words exchanged between him
and Lena. However, there was a deep enduring commitment
of love to death. They were a team, coming
from two different worlds, and successfully achieving
their goals for their family.” 19
Her obituary reads: Lena Nordrum was born to
Johan and Elizabeth Marie Nordrum on October
31, 1870, at Maple Springs, Dunn County, Wisconsin.
When she was an infant when her parents
moved to the present Nordrum farm in the town
of Eau Galle, St. Croix County. On June 30, 1890,
she married William Vanasse and lived in Spring
Valley and on the farm in Gilman.
“How privileged I have been to love her, to have her
love me, and to remember her quiet influence in my
life.” 19
Helen recalls the day that Lena died.“When she had
a small stroke at 73 years old, I went to her and she
still was peaceful and encouraged me. The last stroke
was severe and she lived one week. Victor’s wife, Alyce,
and I took care of her. She never came to. It was
a very quiet suffering for my father, as he sat by her
for hours; but, she quietly left us in 1946. Much could
be learned from this peaceful way Mother had in spite
of everything that happened. I often look back on
this and appreciate living that way. God was always
53

truly present. Nothing else
could have made it like
this. Faith is very strong
and valuable.” 23
Her obituary reads, “On
April 24 she suffered a severe
stroke and paralysis
that resulted in her death
on Thursday morning,
May 2, 1946. She reached
the age of 75 years, six
months and two days. She
was preceded in death,
in 1921 by her daughter
Mildred; and is survived
by her husband and four
sons and daughter, Earl,
of Gilman; Victor, of
Minneapolis; Theodore, of
Gilman; and Helen (Mrs.
Lloyd Alton), of Minneapolis.
She is also survived
by 10 grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Nelson,
of Spring Valley, and Mrs. Albert Ellison, of Shelton,
Washington; and three brothers, Christ Nordrum, of
Elmwood; and Sam and Anton Nordrum, of Maple
Valley, Washington Funeral services were conducted
on Saturday, May 4, at her home in Gilman and at
the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. The
Reverend S. Berven officiated. Special singing was
furnished by Russell Aamodt, with Mrs. H.M.Waller
as pianist. Interment was made in the St. John’s cemetery,
in Spring Valley.” 27
William Richard Vanasse was left alone. He died,
“September 26, 1947 at the age of 80 years. Six
months and one day, after a six month illness that
began with a stroke. His wife preceded him in death
by about a year and five months. He is survived by
three sons and a daughter, all of his brothers and
sisters: George Vanasse,
of Spring Valley; Thomas
and John Vanasse, of Seattle,
Wash.; Mrs. Josie
Keller, of Meyers Falls,
Wash.; and Luther Vanasse,
of Celville, Washington;
by ten grandchildren;
and one great grandson,
Paul Vanasse, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Wendell Vanasse,
of Eau Claire. The funeral
was held from the Geving
Funeral home and the St.
John’s Lutheran church
in Spring Valley Monday,
September 29, Rev. Berven
officiating. Special singing
was furnished by Mr.
Russell Aamodt, with Mrs.
H.M. Waller as accompanist.
Burial was made in
the Spring Valley Cemetery.
In his memory the Spring Valley Aid made a gift of
$5.00 to the home mission of the Evangelical Lutheran
church. Other gifts to the amount of $50.25 were
given in his memory.” 27
The Flood of 1942
by Joyce Alton Wada
The Valley was a typical Midwestern, small
town; like the TV program, Mayberry RFD. In my
childhood everyone knew everyone, the man at the
filling station, filled the gas tank and washed the car
windows; people sat talking in the restaurant while
drinking coffee, high school band concerts were held
on the school lawn on Saturday night, people went
54

egularly to church, and businesses were closed on
Sundays. It was a safe and simple place to live.
Floods had come and gone. Nearly every spring and
fall the two small rivers, one northwest and one southwest,
moved easterly to merge with the Eau Galle
River which then meandered through the valley and
onward toward Elmwood. They usually swelled to the
point of going into the streets; however, the Eau Galle
River was deep and held it’s waters. My mother tells
of the flood of 1932, when I was born; dad carried me
above his head, wading in the water, moving to higher
ground. Because of the hills surrounding the Valley,
snow collected and blew down into the Valley, flooding
was common, and not usually dangerous, but it
was conversation. No one moved away.
On September 15, 1942, the rain began, and it poured
as though the clouds were bursting, night and day.
On September 17 th , dad came home for lunch and
told us the water would probably crest that day. He
would need to help his employer stack paper on top of
the large presses. Mother, my brother Jerry, who was
five, and I, ate supper quietly with out him. Mother
cleaned up the kitchen. The Angel Food cake, she had
made for my tenth birthday, on the 18 th , sat on the
cupboard. Mother was very still and sat quietly in the
living room, while Jerry and I played on the floor with
the blocks that Dad had made us; a favorite past time
of ours. There was no phone call from Dad. Mother
thought we should go to the Johnson house next door
as the water was rising into the street. She gave me
the new raincoat and boots that I would have gotten
on my birthday; turned out the lights and we left. She
carried Jerry and I followed holding her hand.
Two years before dad had professionals move our
house a few blocks away from higher ground to lower.
The government had given notice a new highway
and bridge would be built where our house stood. A
new full basement had been built in the new location
where mother stored her canned fruit, and did the
laundry. The front door came into the living room.
Straight ahead was an open stairway to the second
floor. The arch in the living room opened to the large
dining room. Off that room there was a door to the
screened porch, the bathroom, the master bedroom
and kitchen. On the south side was a set of small windows,
where mother had a Strawberry Begonia and
made curtains with ball-fringe. Before the house was
moved, a screen porch was built onto the house on
the west, south and east sides. It had to be removed
when the house was moved. The kitchen looked to
the east, and it was the usual place our family ate. The
upstairs had two bedrooms with closets and storage
space under the eves. From the front sidewalk was a
small step up into our yard and several steps up to the
front door.
Mother, Jerry, and I went down the steps from our
house to the sidewalk, that was covered with water
from curb to curb, and creeping up on the lawn fast.
Johnson’s house sat up on a grassy slope, higher off the
street than our house, and was a much larger house.
Mrs. Johnson greeted us on the porch. There were several
other neighbors gathered together and everyone
quietly waited.
A few hours went buy, and although it was bedtime,
no one was thinking of sleeping. Before midnight we
saw the water coming up on Johnson’s front porch,
several feet higher than street level. The group decided
to go upstairs in different bedrooms, huddling together.
There was no longer any electricity or phones, so
we used candles. No one spoke.
The telephone poles stored at the north end of town
began floating with everything else, swirling between
buildings, and banging on the sides of houses. The
noise was frightening. The lightning was fierce and we
could see houses, cars, and many other things floating
in the water in swift currents. I saw our house surrounded
by huge swells, the window glass was missing
and the curtains mother had made were swirling
in the water. It was very frightening to me. We had
no idea where dad was, or if we would see him again.
Mother took Jerry and me into the bathroom to pray,
asking God to care for dad and us. We stayed there,
huddled together, in our own privacy for a while. The
night went on, and we waited, listening to the banging
noises, thunder, seeing the lightening, with pouring
rain coming from the heavens. The water began
55

ising in the living room below us.
The week before the flood a Fair was going on in town.
Some prize animals were kept in the Ford Motor Garage
to be judged for ribbons. There were many exciting
events planned. We learned later that these animals
swam away with the flood waters like everything else.
I don’t know if they were ever found. Later on it was
reported that personal belongings, store fixtures, cars,
building and dead animals hanging from trees, were
seen throughout the Eau Galle River Valley towards
Elmwood and beyond. The water had occupied the
huge valley from bank to bank taking farms and livestock
with it. In the first sign of
daylight the water was gone
- totally disappeared. The
entire ground was covered
with thick, brown mud that
was contaminated. The sun
came out and baked the mud
into everything. The mud
was mixed with feed from
the grain elevator, groceries
from stores, personal property,
and whatever else could
float or had been removed by
the power of the water. The
water mark on the inside of
our house was nearly to the
second floor.
As I stood at the top of the
stairway, where we had spent
the night, dad appeared in
the door way of Johnson’s
house looking for us. He was
white as a sheet and without expression,
totally exhausted. We were so thankful to see
him. He had walked through the streets in the mud
not knowing where we were. We were told the Red
Cross had arrived in the church on the hill with fresh
drinking water, food and clothing. The four of us went
there to receive help.
My father told his story of stacking paper on top of the
presses as fast as he and Mr. Lowater could move. At
Pierce County Population 1900
Baldwin .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 631
Eau Galle.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
El Paso.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Elmwood.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Ellsworth.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,052
Maiden Rock.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Martel .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Menomonie.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,655
Prescott .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,002
Rock Elm.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Spring Valley.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,021
Woodsville.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Roberts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Hammond.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404
Hudson .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,259
Amery .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905
Somerset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Glenwood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,789
River Falls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,008
56
the same time the muddy water climbed higher on the
large, front glass window. They knew their only escape
was on top of the press, but it appeared they had to go
further up to the roof. They abandoned the paper job,
stood on top of the press, and as fast they could began
to cut holes in the plywood ceiling with their Jack
knives. It took some time. Amazingly they finished
nearly at the same time the window let go and everything
that was not fastened to the floor, including the
back wall, went out. They had raised themselves up
into the holes by their elbows and crunched into the
false, small attic. With the water rushing below them,
they kicked the tarred boards on the roof lose and
crawled out into the darkness.
They were not certain the
building would hold. Finally
able to get through the roof,
they helped others out of the
building. My father did not
swim. They remained on the
roof, watching the flood recede
and then, walked home.
The Red Cross had come
over a hill on the west side of
town to the church that was
safe from the flood. Dad was
able to clean up, and rest.
We walked through sunny
downtown where storekeepers
were shoveling food and
other contents from the store
into the street. Immediately,
big trucks came and removed
everything from the streets.
We pried our way into our house,
full of mud. The water had circled around taking furniture
into its grasp and piled it in the middle of the
room. Everything was solid mud. The windows were
out, the upright piano was face down in the mud, it
had been mother’s sister’s piano, given to mother, and
moved to our house from Lena’s farm. Nothing could
be moved. It was as though it were glued together.
The birthday cake mother had made for me, lay in
the mud on the floor. The entire new back wall of our

Memories of Spring Valley, Wisconsin
McCardle Grocery Store was the closest to
our house, and mother, Helen, would send me there
on errands. My dad’s newspaper, The Sun’s office was
about midway on Main Street and between our house
and the school. There was a municipal building near
the school where Santa came at Christmas and kids
were treated to a movie and candy. The telephone
office was in operation, but not everyone had a telephone
in the 30’s, including my Grandma Lena’s
farm. They didn’t have electricity at that time either.
Churches were well represented: Lutheran, Catholic
and Congregational. The Lutheran pastor, Berven,
served Spring Valley, Gilman and Spring Lake congregation,
with Spring Valley being the largest. The
Congregational Church was built on the west hill.
Cement tracks were built in the drive up the hill to
help the cars. It was frightfully steep and no place
to turn around. At the top of the hill, the road went
in each direction, north and south. Several of the
wealthier families lived there. I gathered wildflowers
there for May baskets, afraid of the banker’s big
dog!
At the bottom of the hill the train pulled in next
to the Grain Elevator before going across the trestle
down through the valley to Elmwood. Next to the
trestle was the second largest, black iron bridge for
walking and passenger cars. My brother, Jerry, and I
would occasionally walk the train trestle on our way
to church. The first black iron bridge was at the other
end of town near where Mother grew up, and where
the “Ice Man,” Mr. Zimmer, lived. The frozen water
in the river was cut and stored in a large barn in
heavy sawdust, to be used in iceboxes in area homes.
During the summer, Mother, and her brother, Ted,
would dive from the top of the bridge into the river.
The water was deep then.
Highway 29 followed along the valley from Baldwin
east through Spring Valley, past the two cemeteries
to Elmwood. It was tradition to meet family and
friends while decorating the cemetery on Memorial
Day. The winter snow would dump over the hills
into the valley. When the snow was piled up next to
the downtown street it would be as high as the first
floor outside the stores. We would walk on the top
to school, above the cars. In the spring the ditches
beside the roads were full of yellow Buttercups. The
village had special days like Farmer’s Day with a parade.
My mother made costumes for Jerry and I to
wear in the parade. Saturday nights in the summer
the farmers came to town to shop, talk and listen
to the school band. It was a peaceful existence and
people were respectful. 19
May 1914: The oldest building in the
village, a former schoolhouse and social
center built about 1870, was torn down to
make room for the approach to a wagon
bridge over Eau Galle River. It was a log
building; 12x16 feet. Former teachers
were: J.A. Martin, Mrs. Alvah Matteson,
B.J. Thompson, Wm. D. Akers, Mrs. H.B.
Irish, Mrs. M.L. Maxgood, Frank Lawrence,
Ira Carpenter, and Ella Carpenter. 3
Dec., 1905: News has been received here of
the death of Wm. D. Akers at Meyers Falls.
Akers retired in February of 1896 after
serving as Postmaster for Spring Lake
Twp., and later for Spring Valley, since
1870. The first post office in town, owned
by Akers, was the former George Wentland
home. It was torn down in 1973. 3
57

asement was gone and everything in the basement
with it.
My dad made a decision to leave the Valley altogether.
He was tired of floods and loss. Many of his friends
thought he was deserting them. It was a major decision.
My Uncle Victor, living in Minneapolis, encouraged
him to leave. Dad left as soon as possible to find
work, knowing there were jobs available because of
WWII. He lived with my Aunt and Uncle during this
time.
The men in the family moved what could be salvaged
to Grandmother’s farm. Everything that could be
washed and dried was hung outside. A large amount
of our things could not be saved. Mother, Jerry and I
stayed on the farm for six weeks. I walked two miles
across the dew saturated fields in my uncle’s large
boots, to attend South-Hill Country School. I would
leave the boots on the porch of the original Vanasse
house to walk the country road to the school. I wore
them home every day. It was not an easy adjustment.
I was the only person in third grade, in the one-room
school house. Several boy cousins attended with me.
Everyone starred at me because I was from “town.”
Looking back, I think the loss of my home, my dad
being away, and knowing a big move was ahead, at ten
years old, was enough without attending a new school
for six weeks.
Dad returned to tell us he was working on a machine
he had never seen before, making armaments for the
war and it was going well. He was ready to take us
to the city. Mother, Jerry, and I, boarded a bus to the
city. Dad hired a man, with an old truck, to carry our
things to the house which he had rented for us. We did
not own a car. Neither Dad, nor the truck driver, saw
the signs forbidding trucks on Minnehaha Parkway;
and drove straight along the entire distance, arriving
safely. Even though the relatives offered to build us a
house in Spring Valley, Dad stuck to his decision saying,
“No more floods!” Dad didn’t listen to people telling
him he was a “quitter.” Some Valley people moved
to the country. Some country people moved to town.
Businessmen raised the floors in their building to
avert high water, but did not avoid it until the Earthen
Dam was built twenty years later. The lake behind
the dam became a recreational area connected with a
golf course. Ironically, the dam was located across the
road from where my mother was born. The landmark
of the Iron Smelter’s red, brick chimney, where my
grandfather was an engineer in 1900, still stood tall.
Nearby was where Mr. Zimmer cut ice for refrigerators
fifty years earlier.
It was difficult for my parents to leave family and
friends and move to a large city. Because of the war,
food rations and other restrictions were in place. Our
family experienced new things: cereal in cardboard
boxes, trolley cars, black people, and a much larger
school and church. The large, loud military planes
barley missed our roof before landing at the Base.
We could see the detail of the underside of the planes
from our house. Dad was scheduled for a physical
and possible call to action when the war ended. He
was 35. Beginning in November of 1942, I listened
to President Roosevelt on the radio, did the grocery
shopping for my family, skated on frozen Minnehaha
creek, played the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers on the
piano for school assembly, built a winter ice house in
the back yard with my friends, cooked pancakes on
a coffee can in the alley as a result of what I learned
in Camp-Fire Girls, ate fresh plums from the tree in
our yard in the summer, took piano lessons from the
lady next door, played movie stars with my friends,
and enjoyed rebuilding my life; until we moved three
years later to a new house in the suburbs. I was always
glad Dad had made the decision he did. About
every other week we rode with my Uncle Vic, Aunt Alice,
and Cousin Bob, to grandma’s house near Spring
Valley for chicken dinner. It was always special and
I never wanted to leave. Grandma came on the bus
to visit us once. Many years later when my children
were growing up, we made a tradition of driving to
the coolie in Spring Valley on Memorial Day, to enjoy
a picnic where our names were written in the walls of
the caves and the spring water bubbled through the
country side. 19
58

Mina Antonettie
Nordrum
Mina Antonettie Nordrum
1873-1972
59

Mina Antonettie was born a twin, on October
25, 1873 4 in Eau Galle, St. Croix, Wisconsin. Nettie
was born three years into a pioneer family’s struggle
to carve out their life in Wisconsin. She would be no
stranger to hard work and primitive conditions. Most
of her life, as in her youth, she would pioneer new
places which would take her far west into the remote
woods of Washington.
Months after her father’s death,
Nettie married John Christian
Johnson of Spring Lake, Wisconsin
on June 21, 1896 in
Menomonie, Dunn County.
She was 22. 44 J.C. Johnson
was the son of Tollef and Ingeborg
Jonsen. Tollef was
born June 16, 1849; and Ingeborg
on January 24, 1847,
both in Norway. 65 Tollef was
killed September 26, 1901.
His wife, died May 27, 1908.
Both are buried in the Spring
Lake Cemetery.
Alma Josephine Johnson was
born to Nettie and John C.
Johnson February 27, 1897. 65
Their marriage was short,
ending in divorce when Alma
was about 3 years old. Nettie
moved home with her mother
and Sam. 24,65 Nettie worked as
a dress maker until her mother became too sick and
in 1902, was moved to St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Paul
Minnesota. Alma was sent to stay with her aunt Mary
Nelson. 65 On a visit to see her mother in the hospital,
Nettie wrote her sister, Lena, of the unsuccessful operation.
71
With much pain, Elisabet died April 7, 1902. It was
not long after her mother died that Nettie received
word, by telegram, that J.C. Johnson was killed; she
was 29.
60
On September 28, 1903, 84 her estranged husband was
killed near Rhinelander, in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
With her mother dead, both sisters married, and
her brothers out west; it would seem the perfect opportunity
to take the invitation 65 to live with John and
Anton as their housekeeper in Maple Valley. Helen
said, “My mother told me that the Nordrum brothers
had gone out there and asked Nettie and little Alma to
come out there to keep house for
them, so they went.” 23
Died-On Monday morning at 5 o’clock,
April 7 th , Mrs. Maria Nordrum age 67
years. Mrs. Nordrum was born in Torpa,
Nordre Land, Norway. Nine children, all
of whom are living, namely, Matt, John,
and Anton who reside in Washington;
Chris, Hans and Samuel who are living
here; Mrs. J.L. Nelson, Mrs. Wm. Vanasse
and Mrs. J.C. Johnson of this place are
left to mourn her departure. The funeral
took place Tuesday afternoon, services
being conducted by Rev. W.A. Whitcomb.
The remains were interred in the village
cemetery. The News joins in extending
sympathy to the bereaved family.
She left her home in Wisconsin;
only to return once
for a visit fifty years later.
Neither Lena, nor Mary
wanted Nettie to take Alma,
west. Sam later confessed
that Nettie’s siblings wanted
Alma to stay with the Nelsons,
and not take her west. 65
They were afraid that Nettie
would not treat Alma right.
Sam remembered a girl who
didn’t have adequate clothes
to wear; Nettie took Alma’s
best clothes and gave them
to the girl. Bothered, Mary
bought Alma a new set of
clothes. Sam said, “That is
the way Nettie was.” 65
Despite her sibling’s disapproval,
Nettie left with Alma
for Maple Valley. They lived with the bachelor brothers
for seven years. Nettie and Anton continued to
play their music at the local grange and dance halls.
Her life seemed far from that of her sisters back in
Spring Valley. Living with two men and raising her
daughter alone; left little time for courtship.
Albert Cunningham Ellison, was born to an Irishman
by the name of Joseph Ellison; and a Scottish-
Canadian, mother, Mary Cummings, in Ontario,
Canada, December 10, 1869. 73 He was the fifth born

St. Paul Minnesota
St. Luke’s Hospital
Dear sister Lena,
As I know you are curious to hear how mother is, I thought I would write
you a few lines and tell how she is getting along after the operation, she was
quite uneasy after it. I set up with her last night and she seemed to suffer
pretty bad. Well, the doctor said, after the operation, she would be (uneasy)
the rest of that day and night, so, I hope she will be better today, I felt quite
lonesome after Christ left. He left last night. Well, I am sorry that the
operation didn’t do no good. It was a cancer tumor and it connected with her
inside parts so much that they couldn’t, nor, didn’t dare touch it. He thought
she would be able to come home in a week to ten days. I tell you it is no fun
to be around here now days. She is pretty ornery of course. She don’t know,
but (that) she will be all right, and I hope she didn’t find out different, as
long as she is here. I am afraid she will mistrust after being stronger so she
will be trying to find out from me, but I wont tell her that they didn’t dare
to touch it after being operated. I wish Mary would come out and stay the
last of our 3 days that we are here, but I suppose she can’t come so, I will
have to tough it out with her alone. Well, how is Alma I miss here pretty
bad to. I hope she is good where she is right now; and tell me about her and
the rest so I won’t feel quit so uneasy. 3
61

of six children; Mary Elizabeth, James, Robert, David,
and Norman. With a promise of better land in
the American West; the Ellison family traveled on the
emigrant train to San Francisco in 1880. 74 Young Albert
was only 11, roughly the same age as his father
when he was placed on a coffin ship bound for Quebec,
Canada; alone, to escape the Irish famine. From
California, the family took a boat up the Puget Sound
to the Kamilche Valley. It was at Hardscrabble Hill,
that Albert met his oldest brother, James, who was
then 17. James had been sent ahead to find work; and
with a borrowed wagon, he took the family to their
new homestead in Kamilche. Until he was 13, Albert
worked for a farmer, who grew barley for beer. After
which, Albert went to work, greasing skids working
along side his older brothers, as a skidder. Tony recalls
his father’s job, “My dad went to work greasing
skids for a logging team. The logging town was in
Kamilche right by where the house was then. When he
was thirteen he got a job working in the woods - in the
ol’ bunk houses - greasing skids. They would take a fir
tree and peel it, you know, and then put them in like
Man is Killed at Gagen
New north newspaper; front page
Thursday, October 10, 1903, rhinelander, Wisconsin
John C. Johnson a Saloon keeper at Gagen is Murdered
by Jerome Fry, a Railroad Section Boss.
A “hurried” call for medical aid was received here the
first of the week from Gagen, a small station on the
Soo and North-Western Rail Road, in the eastern part
of the county, where it was reported that a man lay
dying.
The bearer of the news, A Soo Line section foreman
named Jerome Fry, gave himself up to the officers after
informing them that J.C. Johnson, a saloon keeper,
was dead. He was taken in charge by Acting Coroner
Mason, and back to Gagen by that officer to give testimony
at the inquest. Two inquests were held, the
last taking in expert testimony as to the cause of death
by Doctors Garner and Hogan whose services were
required by the coroner. It developed that the man’s
skull had been fractured in two places, the fractures
evidently having been caused by a fall as both were
located at the back of the head and extended up toward
the top of the skull. There were three contusions
on top of the head, evidently made by a club or heavy
stick but it was not thought that these in themselves
would have been fatal.
The jury, after viewing the remains, rendered a verdict
that the man came to his death
from the effects of a stroke, or
strokes from an ax handle in
the hands of one, Jerome Fry,
given during a fight in the saloon
of said Johnson on the
afternoon of September 28,
1903.
From what can be learned the
affair resulted during a quarrel
over the payment of board
by Johnson. Fry alleging that
he had tried to collect the account
but had always failed.
The saloon where the murder
occurred presented a terrible
sight as blood and matted
hair were in plain evidence
on the walls and floor. Fry’s preliminary hearing took
place before Judge Brown and the case was continued
until October 8, at 10 o’clock a.m. He was remanded
to jail without bonds. 75
62

The Spring Valley Sun
Left to Right: Luella Nelson, Alma Johnson,
John Johnson, Iva Nelson
circa 1902, Spring Valley, Wisconsin
John C. Johnson, who is well known here,
died at Rhinelander, Tuesday, and his
brothers here were informed by telegram.
He has two brothers here, Ole T. and Ben,
and one in Utah. His wife obtained a divorce
some time ago. John was a son of Tollef
Johnson, who was killed, and whose farm
had been mortgaged for nearly all it was
worth to help John out of difficulties, the
other boys now have this mortgage almost
paid up. The daily papers say that he was
killed by a blow on the head with a bottle. 85
Spring Valley Sun; October 1, 1903, front page Vol XI, No. 43
Nettie & Alma Johnson 1900
63

ties. Then they would use an ox team to pull the logs;
Albert would take grease and go along and grease them.
They would pull those logs out of the woods, easy on
those grease skids you see. They had a main skid row…
they would roll them onto them skids and hook a big ox
team on, I don’t remember how many teams there were,
probably six to eight ox teams. They would drag the
logs out then, they’d run a railroad in and roll the logs
onto that. They’d take ‘em down to Kamilche and dump
them in the bay. There was a saw mill up in Tacoma
then - ‘course Buckley had a saw mill up in Tacoma -
they’d hall, raft ‘em and tow them up to Tacoma to cut
‘em up.” 70
STATE VS. JEROME FRY
Jerome gives his testimony
Jerome Fry, being first duly sworn on his
own behalf, testified as follows:
Q. You are the Defendant, Mr. Fry
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You may begin at the beginning and state
how this matter occurred
Oxen dragging fallen logs on the skid row
Logging was not without its’ dangers. While using his
ax, James Ellison was killed, when a piece of metal flew
off the handle and pierced his lung. He was 25. Many
such stories can be told throughout Washington.
Early life in Kamilche required discipline and hard work,
women were scarce, and logging camps dominated the
landscape. A traveling circuit-preacher made a stop in
Kamilche. During his infrequent visits, services would
be held, and marriages would be preformed. One visit
to Kamilche, the preacher encountered a woman who
wanted to get married, but was not yet engaged. The
64
A. Well, I went down to
the saloon on the 26 th , in
the afternoon, to see Mr.
Johnson...He had been
boarding with me...I took
it [a check] down and
gave it to him and I said,
‘There is the check that
I got for you and I want
you to endorse it,’ and he
took it and looked at it
and put it in his pocket...
I said, ‘Give me back my
check.’ ...And I struck at
him with the axe handle. He grabbed a bottle
and a glass and struck at me...I gave up trying
to get my checks then; he was too much
for me and I thought I would let my checks
go...he went after me and he struck me and
I picked up a piece of board he had for kindling
and I struck at him two or three times
with that... 90
Continued on page 72 Read the entire trial on page 102

Jerome Fry Kills Johnson
Killed By A Blow From A Bottle
Ashland Daily Press
Tuesday, September 29, 1903; Front Page
Rhinelander, September 28. Jerome Fry, a section
foreman, had a dispute with John C. Johnson, a
saloon keeper, over a bill, which Johnson owed for
board. A quarrel ensued, in which Johnson was
struck over the head with a bottle, dying some hours
later. The quarrel occurred at Gagen, a small station
near this city. Fry gave himself up. He will plead
self-defense. Johnson was unmarried and 33 years
of age. Fry is 35 and has a wife and two children. 75
Wisconsin Saloon Keeper Killed
Ashland Daily Press
Wednesday, September 30, 1903
Rhinelander, September 28. The body of John C.
Johnson, a saloon keeper of Gagen, was brought
here last night. His death resulted from blows delivered
by Jerome Fry, a Soo Line section foreman,
with whom Johnson boarded at Gagen. Fry is now
in custody, having given himself up. The assault is
said to be due to non-payment of board by Johnson.
75
The Fry Murder Case
New North News
Tuesday, October 15, 1903
Jerome Fry of Gagen is Held For Trial at the Next
Session of the Circuit Court-Bonds Furnished
The case of the state against Jerome Fry, the section
foreman, charged with the murder of John C.
Johnson, proprietor of a saloon at Gagen, Saturday,
September 26, was brought up before the Municipal
Judge last Thursday, District Attorney Sam S. Miller,
looking after the state’s interests and Attorney
A.W. Shelton, appearing for the defendant. Johnson
died from the effects of fractures to the skull and
his head bore witness to the fact that he had been
struck three blows with a club or stake.
Fry had given himself up to the officers here owning
to a fight he had with Johnson in the latter’s
saloon.
Fry testified on his own behalf, as did his brother,
E.M. Fry, Frank Wheeler the Road Master, and
Jerry O’Connor of the Soo Line, who saw part of
the fracas in the saloon. The burden of the testimony
was that Fry acted in self defense, protecting
himself from attacks by Johnson. It appears that the
trouble started over some money matters between
the two men, Fry claiming that Johnson owed
him, and that he wanted him to endorse a railroad
time check over to him, to apply on account. The
check had been given to Fry to hand to Johnson
and at the latter’s refusal to endorse it over to Fry,
the trouble began that ended in Johnson’s death.
A number of blows were struck but Fry did not apprehend
serious results at the time. When he saw
that Johnson’s condition was serious he came here
for a doctor and upon the man’s death, gave himself
up to the law.
O. A. Hilgermann, Arthur Taylor, and Justice F. M.
Mason testified on behalf of the state and discussed
the appearance of the building after the fight, also
as to the condition of Johnson’s body. Doctors Hogan
and Garner gave medical testimony as to the
probable cause of Johnson’s death and regarding the
wounds on the head and fractures to the skull. The
judge, after hearing the arguments of the counsel
and testimony of witnesses, bound the defendant
over to the November term of the Circuit Court on
a charge of man-slaughter. Bail was fixed at $1,000,
which was furnished by I.G. Fry of Richland County,
Wisconsin, the father of the accused. 75
65

A Shocking Tragedy
Richland Rustic, September 11, 1897 88
“Deck” Thompson was almost instantly killed by Jerome
Fry at the home of the latter in the town of Willow
about 12 miles northwest of this city, last Saturday
evening at about 7 o’clock. 88
The killing of Thompson was the sequel to a quarrel
and fight which occurred at a public sale at the farm
of Ed Stevenson on Buck Creek, Saturday
afternoon, with Dexter J. Thompson, better
known as “Deck,” and his brother Lew, on
one side, and Jerome Fry on the other. 88
TWO AGAINST ONE
But Thompson was not ready to let the trouble drop
and hunted up his brother, Deck, who was lying asleep
and intoxicated nearby. The brothers assumed the offensive
at once, one or both being armed with a club.
Fry seized a buggy neck-yoke with which to keep his
assailants off, and struck Deck a blow on the shoulder.
The brothers pressed him closely and he sought the
vantage of the porch of Stevenson’s house. Here he
made a desperate swing with the neck-yoke at Lew
Thompson who was probably saved, a whole skull, by
After the sale of Stevenson’s personal property,
a large number of the men present
remained for some time, discussing farm
matters and visiting. After a while the
conversation turned to ring wrestling, and
wrestling in general, among the athletic
inclined younger fellows. Lew Thompson
was among them and he offered to bet five
dollars that he could throw any man in the
crowd. Jerome Fry, a husky young farmer,
was lying on the grass near the crowd, and
he remarked, “I don’t know about that,
there are some pretty good men here.” He
declined to bet, however, and was told by
Thompson to keep his mouth shut. This appeared to
nettle Fry a little and said that his mouth was his own
and that he would talk when he wanted to. Impassioned
words followed and culminated in Thompson
throwing himself onto Fry, who still reclined on the
ground, and endeavoring to choke him. Fry raised up
with his opponent and threw him off and struck him
two or three light blows. Then several men intervened
and the fighters were separated. 88
Jerome Fry standing; courtesy of Lori Dollevoet 86
the prompt action of a bystander, who pulled him out
of harm’s way. At this juncture, George Hines, who
had sold off the property that afternoon, and was
greatly disgusted over the disgraceful scene, stepped
out onto the porch from the house and endeavored
to pacify the combatants, inducing Fry to enter the
house. He advised Fry to go home and avoid further
trouble. Fry took the advice kindly, stood the neckyoke
in a corner of the room and left the house by the
back door, went up over the hill and home which is
three miles from Stevenson’s. Deck Thompson soon
afterward entered the house to look for Fry and not
finding him, concluded that he had gone home. 88
66

FRY IS FOLLOWED HOME
Soon afterwards the crowd began to disperse and
it was thought, by most of those present, that the
trouble was over; but, the worst was to follow. The
Thompson brothers were still in an ugly mood and
seemed determined to force the matter to a decisive
end. They started in a wagon for Fry’s home. (On the
way Lew lost his hat and went back to get it, Deck
driving on. Coming to the home of Wm. Cunningham,
Deck stopped to ask where Fry lived and was
told that he lived on the next place. At the request of
Thompson, Cunningham accompanied
him over to Fry’s. On the
way they talked about the sale, and
Cunningham broached the subject
of the trouble his companion had
with Fry at the sale. Thompson
denied having had any trouble but
said that his brother Lew had, and
that he (Deck) had come up to see
what it was about. The two men
found Fry near the latter’s watering
trough and Thompson at once
engaged him in conversation. 88
CUNNINGHAM’S
TESTIMONY
“I was acquainted with the deceased, D.J. Thompson.
Saw him at my place in the town of Willow between six
and seven o’clock on the evening of Saturday, September
4 th . He came up the road with a whip in his hand
and asked me to go over to Fry’s with him. I told him I
would if he waited until I watered my horses. I put the
horses in the stable and we started over to Fry’s. I said
to him, ‘I heard you had some trouble with Fry down
at the sale.’ He said, ‘I don’t know a thing about it.’ I
said, ‘You’re not going over there to have any fuss with
him tonight, are you’ He replied, ‘No, I am going over
to see what it was about.’ We then talked about the sale
until we got to Fry’s watering trough. Thompson asked
Fry if he was the man who struck him over the head
Jerome Fry Kills Thompson
“Don’t you throw
that, or I will put
a hole through
you.” Fry turned
around and said
to his wife, “Oty,
go in and get my
gun!”
with the neck-yoke and Fry replied that he supposed he
was. Thompson then struck at Fry twice with the butt
end of the whip. Fry had a monkey wrench, I think, and
raised it in an attitude to strike Thompson. Thompson
stepped back, put his hand in his right hip pocket and
said, ‘Don’t you throw that or I will put a hole through
you.’ Fry turned around and said to his wife who was
standing near, ‘Oty, go in and get my gun.’ Fry followed
her. The next thing I heard was the report of a revolver
from the inside of the house. I think it was fired through
a crack in the side of the house. After the report, I saw
smoke near a crack in the side of the house. I said to
Thompson, ‘Deck, you had better
get away from here; he will kill you.’
He replied, ‘I am not afraid of the--
--, he won’t shoot.’ I left Thompson
and went up to the door where Fry
and wife were standing. Fry was in
the main part of the house near the
door. He was loading a shot gun
when I went up to him. I told him
I did not want him to blame me as
I knew nothing about it. He said,
‘That’s all right, but I am going
to defend myself.’ I went to where
Thompson was standing and told
him to go with me, or Fry would
kill him. He said he wasn’t afraid.
Fry came to the door and said, ‘Get
off the place is all I ask of you.’ Thompson was standing
by the water trough. I took hold of him and led him
eight or ten rods toward my place, and tried to persuade
him to go with me, but he choked me and pushed me
away and started back toward Fry’s house. As he walked
back he called Fry all kinds of vile names and said he
would lick him. Fry again told Thompson to get off the
place. The next thing I knew, Fry shot Thompson who
was about five rods from him. When Fry shot he said,
‘Now take that, and if you don’t get out, you’ll get the
other barrel.’ After the shot was fired, Thompson turned
and walked just twenty-five steps toward where I was
standing and laid down. He did not speak that I know
of after he was shot. I started toward home, but Fry
67

came out and called to me. I met him in the field and
said, ‘Fry, you have killed him.’ He replied, ‘I can’t
help it, I had to defend myself. I want you to go to
the Center with me, I am going down to give myself
up.’ I told him I could not do it as I had to notify
the neighbors. I then left, and in about ten minutes
returned in company with Chas. Williams, Peter Orr
and Hugh Scallion. When we returned we thought
him dead. Did not see deceased have any weapon except
the whip. Know of no one being present at time of
shooting except Fry and wife, deceased and myself. Do
not think deceased was nearer than four rods to the
house at any time.” 88
FRY GIVES HIMSELF UP
Immediately after the shooting, Fry hitched up his
horses and drove to this city and reported the affair
to District Attorney Miner. He was locked up in jail
and Deputy Sheriff O.P. Potts was sent to the scene of
the tragedy to take charge of the body of Thompson
and gather what facts he could. Justice Monroe Eastland,
of Willow, had empanelled a jury which viewed
the corpse and adjourned to a later day to take testimony.
Deputy Potts had Thompson’s remains taken
to the home of his mother, Mrs. Nancy Thompson, on
Buck Creek, Saturday night and on the following day,
County Coroner J.W. Smith held an inquest over the
remains, the jury selected being composed of the following
named gentlemen: S.H. Rose, E.D. Cosgrove,
Chas. Williams, Joel Ekleberry, George Jones, and
Ira Hyde. Only two witnesses were sworn, William
Cunningham and Dr. F.W. McKee, who examined the
body and testified what he found thereon four bullet
wounds, one in the right groin, one about the middle
of the left collarbone, one in the right chest, two inches
below the collar bone, and one in the left arm. 88
JURY’S VERDICT
An inquest taken at the residence of Nancy A. Thompson
in the town of Rockbridge, in the county of Richland,
on the 5 th day of September, 1897, before J.W.
Smith, coroner of said county, upon the view of the
body of D.J. Thompson, there dead, by the jurors
who’s names are here unto subscribed, who, being
duly sworn to inquire, on behalf of this state, when
in what manner, and by what means the said D.J.
Thompson came to his death, upon their oaths, do
say that we believe that the deceased D. J. Thompson,
came to his death by a shot gun in the hand of Jerome
Fry in self defense. 88
THE COLORED WITNESS
No time has been set for a preliminary hearing for Fry.
He desired an examination, believing that he will be
vindicated by the testimony. He has been under arrest
at no time since the tragedy and remained voluntarily
in jail until Wednesday afternoon, when he left for
the home of his father on Little Willow. The district
attorney has temporarily suspended proceedings in
order to ascertain the where-abouts of one Ironmonger,
a colored man who worked for Fry and who was
seen disappearing into the woods from the direction
of Fry’s house immediately after the first shot was
fired. He appeared to be badly scared and the officers
have not been able to locate him since the shooting.
Whether he saw the shooting is not known, but it is
thought that he was hiding near the house during the
time of the conversation between Fry and Thompson
and ran at the first smell of powder. His testimony
may have an important bearing on the matter. 88
SLAYER AND VICTIM
Jerome Fry is about 30 years old, is a married man and
a farmer. He was raised in the town of Eagle, where
his folks resided for some years, later removing to the
Manley farm, on Willow Creek, where they reside at
present. Jerome has been living on a farm in the town
of Willow, owned by Hugh Scallion, and where the
tragedy occurred. Fry was mixed up in a stabbing affray
in the town of Eagle some years ago and received some
knife wounds. The man who stabbed him was tried for
it, and acquitted. Dexter J. Thompson was about 33
years old and had resided in the town of Rockbridge
nearly all his life. He was next to the youngest of six
brothers. He was a hard-working farmer and had a
home nearly paid for. He married Miss Ettie Long,
68

daughter of E.J. Long, in 1880 and to this union were
born four children, the oldest of whom is 10, and the
youngest, four years old. He was a good neighbor and
well liked and only when under the influence of liquor,
which was rarely, was he unreasonable. 88
THE FUNERAL
The funeral occurred Tuesday forenoon from the home
of the deceased’s mother, Mrs. Nancy Thompson, and
was one of the largest attended funerals ever held in the
county. It is estimated that 1000 people were present.
The casket, containing the remains, was taken out under
the trees in the yard where the funeral sermon was
preached by the Rev. S.B. Loomis, the casket being surrounded
by sorrowing relatives of the dead man. The
burial took place in Richland Center Cemetery and it is
said that over 200 teams were in the procession. 88
JEROME FRY IS STABBED
Richland Rustic, September 1, 1888
During a dispute at the camp meeting at
Dawson’s Grove, last Sunday night, between
Jerome Fry and Elmer Williams,
the latter stabbed Fry in the breast with a
knife, causing a serious wound.
Richland Observer
September 1, 1897 86
Jerome Fry Shoots and Kills
Dexter Thompson
A shocking tragedy occurred last Saturday evening in
the town of Willow, at the home of Jerome Fry, about
four miles northeast of the Buck Creek Post office,
which was the outcome of a quarrel between Lewis
and Dexter Thompson and Jerome Fry, started at an
auction sale at the residence of E.J. Stevenson on Buck
Creek in the afternoon and resulting in the fatal shooting
of Dexter (familiarly known as Deck) Thompson
at about seven o’clock in the evening.
The particulars of the unfortunate affair, as near as we
can ascertain by careful inquiry and as brought out at
the coroner’s inquest, are as follows:
The participants in the affray met at the sale and
Lewis Thompson, who became anxious to display his
ability as a wrestler, offered to wager five dollars that
he could “down” any man present, making particular
69
reference to Fry. The latter, who was reclining on the
grass, declared that he did not care to do any betting,
but remarked that there might be some pretty good
men present. This angered Thompson and he told Fry
to “shut his mouth.” The latter replied that he would
talk if he wanted to. There upon Thompson jumped
upon him and endeavored to choke him into silence.
A lively tussle ensued, Fry proving too much for his
adversary, pummeling him until spectators interfered.
In a short time Dexter, the deceased, who had been
asleep near by, became informed of the affair and the
two brothers renewed the fight. Fry armed himself
with a neck-yoke and stood his ground. Spectators
again interfered and Fry, wishing to avoid further
trouble started for home, two miles distant.
The trouble was generally thought to be over, but the
Thompsons, not being satisfied to let the matter drop,
soon started for Fry’s home with the evident intention
of reviewing the fight. On the way, Lewis lost his
hat and started back in search of it, while his brother

continued on his way. At the home of William Cunningham,
Dexter inquired where Fry’s home was.
Suspecting that all was not right, Mr. Cunningham
accompanied him.
THE FUNERAL
The funeral occurred Tuesday fore-noon from the
house of the mother of the unfortunate man on Buck
Creek, and was the largest ever seen in that community.
It was sad and pathetic in the extreme. The
casket was placed in the front yard under the shade
of the trees and was surrounded by the prostrate wife,
sorrowing mother and brothers, and a great number
of friends and neighbors who were present to give expression
to their deep sympathy with the stricken family.
Rev. S.B. Loomis conducted the funeral service in
an impressive manner. The remains were interred in
the Richland Center Cemetery.
THE DEAD MAN
Dexter J. Thompson was born in this city January 20,
1864. When he was quite young the family removed
to the town of Rockbridge, where he has since resided
and followed the avocation of a farmer. He was
married to Miss Ettie Long at Cazenovia, January 23,
1886. They have four children, the eldest ten and the
youngest four years old. Except occasionally when
he had been drinking, which is said to have been the
case on the occasion of the tragedy, Thompson was a
peaceable and industrious citizen and a kind and indulgent
husband and father.
THE MAN WHO KILLED
Jerome Fry was born in the town of Eagle and is twenty-nine
years of age. He is a farmer and has lived in
the neighborhood where the tragedy occurred but a
few years and has always been considered an inoffensive
citizen. He is a married man and has four children.
FRY NOT YET ARRESTED
Fry was allowed to return to his home Tuesday evening.
Papers will be made out and he will be arrested
on the charge of murder. It is the general opinion that
he will be acquitted. The ugly feature of the affair is
the long distance, some ninety feet, at which he shot
Thompson. L.H. Bancroft has been retained by Fry
as his attorney. 87,86
JEROME FRY’S PROPERTY BURNED
The fire occurred early in the morning and
while the Fry’s were Away.
Richland Rustic, September 25, 1897
At about 6 o’clock, Sunday morning some of the neighbors
of Jerome Fry, who has been living on the farm of
Hugh Scallion in the town of Willow, discovered Fry’s
home to be on fire. The neighbors attempted to save
some of the property, but only succeeded in saving an
organ. The house, barn and some other buildings and
a quantity of grain were destroyed. Fry was staying at
his father’s place on Little Willow at the time of the
fire. He is the man who recently shot and killed Deck
Thompson the fire is believed to be of incendiary origins.
The loss of the building is partially covered by
insurance. 88
JEROME FRY ARRESTED
The Slayer of Deck Thompson is
Taken Into Custody.
Richland Rustic, October 2, 1897
A warrant charging Jerome Fry with the murder of
Deck Thompson was issued by Justice Curtis last
Tuesday and on the following day was served by Sheriff
Snyder at Richland City, Fry desires an examination
on the charge made and therefore has not attempted
to avoid arrest. The examination will be held next
Thursday at the court house, before Justice Curtis unless
a change of venue is taken to some other justice.
Fry is at liberty on his own recognizances .88
70

Who was Jerome Fry
Jerome Fry was born to Isaac Gabriel Fry and Harriet
Athelene Cole in Eagle, Richland County, Wisconsin on
June 14, 1868. His father, Isaac Gabriel, was born in Tennessee,
June 7, 1845 to George Washington Fry and Barbara
Ann Smelcer. He married Harriet Athelene Cole November
23, 1865. Harriet was born November 2, 1848 and died
April 23, 1906. Isaac Gabriel died, November 5, 1921.
September 1, 1888, Jerome was stabbed in the chest by
Elmer Williams. Jerome was 20. On March 7, 1892, Jerome
married Ida Arnetta Griffen. The couple had three
children, Anthony, Orin, and Buford, who was born January
11, 1896. The couple divorced four months later to the
day. 4 months after that, Jerome married Otie Kuykendall,
August 16, 1896. Otie was the daughter of Jacob, born in
February of 1876 in Wisconsin. A year after their marriage,
in September of 1897, Jerome shot Dexter Thompson. After
the inquiry, and acquittal, Jerome took his family to
live with his father. Two weeks later, their home in Willow,
caught on fire, destroying everything but their organ. By
1900, the Frys lived in Fairview, and Topeka, Kansas.
Northern Wisconsin was heavily wooded, with many lumber
camps. The logs were moved by train, making the rail
road in Oneida County crucial for commerce and industry. 92
It was here, in Gagen, near Rhinelander, that Jerome Fry
would cross paths with John Johnson. Jerome had returned
from Kansas to worked with his brother Edgar Milton on
the rail road. His son, Theron, was born in Wisconsin April
13 th . Jerome and his family boarded John Johnson who was
the saloon keeper at Gagen. John Johnson had moved to
the area sometime after his divorce from Nettie in 1900.
Once again, Jerome found himself at the center of a murder
trial, after a deadly fight with Johnson on September
3, 1903. Jerome’s self defense plea acquitted him, allowing
him to keep his job with the rail road. In 1905, he moved
his family to Amber, Wisconsin, in Marinette County. Two
more children were born to the couple; Frank in 1907,
Pearl in 1909. Jerome once again left Wisconsin, this time
for Flint Rock, South Dakota, in Perkins County. A daughter,
Cecil, was born in 1913 in Wisconsin. After the couple
divorced, Jerome lived with relatives; the Privette family,
in the town of Howard. The Privette family employed servants,
one of which was Cecelia Krause, a young mother
with two daughters. In 1930, Jerome lived with them; marrying
her shortly after. He was 61, she was 31.
Jerome died on February 6, 1948 and was buried in his
family’s plot in Appleton, Wisconsin. Otie died in September
of that year.
Incidentally, Jerome’s son, Frank, became a police officer.
In 1969, he was kidnapped & murdered during a motel
robbery in Appleton, Wisconsin. His body was found along
side the road, after his kidnappers dumped him and fled.
No one has been brought to trial in this case. 86
Ironically, Jerome’s sister, Rachel Fry, married her second
husband, James Peter Gorich, and settled in Shelton, Washington
in 1940, right down the road from Nettie Nordrum,
the same Nettie, whose first husband was killed by Rachel’s
brother. Rachel had lived in Northern Wisconsin, with her
first husband, Edgar Reagle and their 7 children. Edgar left
the family regularly. He finally married a young immigrant
farm girl and moved to western Montana; when she died
several years later, he returned to the same family and married
the sister, again returning west. 86,92
Rachel Fry Gorich lived in Shelton to the end of her life,
and was buried in Shelton Memorial Cemetery in 1970. 87,92
Two years later, Nettie would be interned in the same cemetery.
There is no evidence that these women knew one
another, as both their last names had changed. Real life is
stranger than fiction.
photo courtesy of Lori Dollevoet 86
71

Continued from page 64
circuit rider called out to the gathering crowd, “Any
one here wanna get married to her today” From the
back of the crowd came a shout, “I do!” The couple
were married that day; for one never knew when the
minister would pass through again. 70
Albert’s favorite leisure past-time was dancing at the
local grange. Annie Marie Krise, a local Squaxon Indian,
a great dancer, and a fine woman, caught Albert’s
eye. She agreed to Albert’s request for a date. However,
Albert would not marry her, since he believed that
an Indian would not make a good farmer. 70 Albert’s
log shanty was primitive and his work was
never ending. Still, he knew he needed a
wife to help run the farm; and children
to continue it. Annie proved him wrong,
marrying David Henry Whitener and
rearing five children on her farm in Kamilche.
Annie’s son, Don, would later
marry Albert’s son’s sister-in-law.
For a 37 year old widow, and a bachelor
of 45 to meet out west; could only
be arranged. Tony remembers the arrangement,
“A guy moved right next to
my dad’s farm, and told Albert about
this widow that lived up near Seattle
in Maple Valley. He volunteered to go
up and introduce them, and then they
got married. She come from Wisconsin
and lived with her brother, I guess it was
kinda hard for a widow to find somebody
then, but there was such a shortage
of white women over here, she came over lookin’ for a
husband.” 70
Albert hitched up his team and rode to Seattle, where
he married Nettie, January 22, 1910. Pioneer life was
difficult for even the best, and a widow in Nettie’s
time could not be so picky in whom she married. It
is doubtful that the couple had much of a courtship.
As with many unions in the West, this one may have
been out of necessity.
Nettie packed her things into her wooden trunk. which
carried her belongings from Wisconsin several years
72

Memories of Shelton, Washington
(1) Joyce Ellison (2) Marshall & Juanita Ellison (3) Christine & Tony Ellison 1946 (4) Verna, Gus, Marolyn Ellison 1947 (5) Marolyn, Gus & Carolyn Ellison
Shelton, once a booming timber town, by the
50’s, had settled into a quiet community. False
fronts of older brick buildings, along Main Street,
had been redesigned to the architectural style of the
times; side walks cut cleanly past large store-front,
picture windows, before turning sharply up the
hill past Rayonier Pulp Mill leaving town, towards
Olympia. Along this corner was an ice cream drivethru,
popular with the Ellisons for its 5¢ cones. Further
up the hill, toward Hillcrest, was the Log Cabin
Tavern, and a small grocery store. Christine Ellison’s
widowed mother lived in a small, white house on
the way out of town, and after school the Ellison
children would walk through the streets, up the hill,
to her home where she would be watching her black
and white television set.
Tony & Gus’ children rode a small, yellow school
bus to Kamilche Elementary. During the early 60’s,
Kamilche’s 6 th grade class reported on their teacher,
Mr. Stockton, telling their parents that he was a
communist, after which he was fired.
The annual Forest Festival Parade, boasted ornate
floats topped with little princesses, from each elementary
school. Paul Bunyan rode his logging
truck, and Shelton High School paraded their elected
princess to adorn her own float. The Forest Festival
Parade was a spectacular community event.
Shelton’s local gossip column reported on everyone,
and what the newspaper didn’t cover, telephone party
lines finished the job.
During the Christmas season, the Ellisons drove
their pick up to the local Christmas Tree Farms and
selected their favorite, while at home; Christine Ellisons
fumbled with the tangled string of bubblelights.
Shelton High Choir preformed for the season;
one time driving to Seattle to sing on television,
decked out in pink satin.
Shelton was named for David Shelton,
who homesteaded the area in 1853. A former
fur trapper, Indian fighter, and gold
prospector.
73

earlier and still had, “Washington Territory” stamped
on it. 63 She said a tearful goodbye to her brother, Sam
and joined Albert in the wagon. 91 The only father Alma
had known was her Uncle Sam; it must have been difficult
to leave the familiar boundaries of Maple Valley
for the unknown in Kamilche. A quiet, nervous tension
filled the wagon as Alma rode in the back, bouncing
along the pot marked
road for fifty-one miles
to her new home. What
a site awaited them when
they arrived. The team
turned off the main, dirt
road and quickened their
pace down a narrow lane
made evident only by the
ruts of the wagon wheels.
To the left towered a
dense forest of Fir, coated
in ivy; the forest floor was
a thick glen of briars and
underbrush. To the right
opened up to reveal a pasture
pale in color from
the morning frost. A
brook, swollen with winter’s
melt, passed lively
under a low bridge, made
only of planks laid over
beams which stretched
out above the current.
Further up the lane the
wagon creaked over the
rail road tracks which
cut through Albert’s land
joining Shelton with
Olympia. With an abrupt stop, the lane ended and a
small, log home, graying with the weather, stood before
them. This was to be the bride’s home for the next
twenty-five years. Alma and Nettie set out to tidy up
their new home and to unpack. Curtains needed to be
made; quilts spread out over the beds, braided rugs,
which Nettie made, to cover the floor and a garden
to be planted when the weather warmed. A year later,
a daughter, Verna Geneva, was born, May 9, 1911;
74
Alma had a new baby sister, she was 15.
That same year John Tornow entered into the woods
behind Nettie’s home as a fugitive, suspected murdering
of his twin nephews. He became known as the
Wild Man of Wynoochee. Sheriff Ed Payette offered a
$500 dollar reward to anyone who brought in Tornow
for questioning. For the next two years Tornow
stalked through the woods
between Matlock and Shelton.
Local residents were
fearful and built his legend
by attributing small nuisances
to the Wild Man.
A local Posse hunted in
vain. Two deputies were
killed while on the trail;
both Colin McKenzie and
Al Elmer were found in a
shallow “T” shaped grave.
The man hunt intensified
and the reward was raised
to $5,000 dollars. A number
of trappers and hunters
went into the forest never
to be heard from again.
Official posses of deputies
kept coming back emptyhanded.
Area farmers reported
that supplies occasionally
disappeared from
their farms, with deer meat
left in exchange. Finally in
Albert Ellison and Nettie (Nordrum) Johnson April 1913, Tornow found
married January 22, 1910.
that he was cornered in
his forest hide-away, and
was killed in the ensuring gunfight. “Deputy Louis
Blair died instantly, a bullet through the chest, before
deputies knew they had found Tornow. Deputy Charley
Lathrop, from behind a tree, exchanged rifle shots
with Tornow. Lathrop was wounded so badly he fell
into the open and was killed. Deputy Giles Quimby
separated from the others, approaching Tornow from
the opposite side of the shooting. He began firing, and
Tornow fired back. Finally, with the last bullet in his

Verna & Nettie Ellison
Circa 1913
Alma Johnson, Verna Ellison & Nettie Ellison
1911
hand, he was trembling so badly, he couldn’t reload
– he shot Tornow through the neck and wrote the end
to the legend.” 77 Such are the stories of early life in
Kamilche.
There was hardly time on the Kamilche farm to breathe
a sigh of relief after hearing of Tornow’s death; since
with spring came added chores. Nettie had a toddler
to watch over; so Alma did extra chores after school. 63
That summer, Nettie found out she was pregnant with
twins. The family doctor was called to their home to
help deliver, Anton Edgar and Angus Cummings, February
14, 1914, in their home. Nettie was 41. 70
Alma went to school in McCleary and graduated from
high school before her siblings even entered school.
All three Ellison children walked to the Callow school,
which was a one room school house heated by a wood
stove. A man, by the name of Hall, was hired to teach
at a salary of $40 a month. Mr. Hall and Mr. Campbell
built the desks and seats. School started April 1 st ,
but the weather was so cold, they closed the school
when all the kids came down with colds. School resumed
May 1 st . Mr. Campbell bought an extra length
of pipe, and brought in good, dry wood; a fire was
built and the students were kept warm. School closed
July 23 rd , so that the children could help out on their
father’s farms. In those days money was scarce, but
the Forbes School District had the sum of $47. 90 in
the school fund. The treasurer, E.L. Willey loaned to
each family with need, to be paid back with interest.
It was in this way that the pioneer families kept one
another. 78
Anton was left handed. This was looked on as something
that needed to be corrected; and, his teacher
made sure that Anton would only use his right hand
in class. As a result, his penmanship, with either hand,
was forced and under developed. Even as an adult,
Anton did not like to write. 70
75

Nettie’s Children
1
Alma was born February 27, 1897, in Spring Valley, Wisconsin. Her father was J.C. Johnson who was killed by Jerome Fry.
She was raised by her uncle Sam and mother in Maple Valley, Washington, until her mother married Albert Ellison in
1910; when she moved to Kamilche, Washington. She married Charles Earl Hardy February 28, 1922 in Olympia, Washington.
Charles was born February 16, 1900 in Pontiac, Michigan. Charles was employed on Albert Ellison’s Dairy farm in
1917, which is how they met. They had six children together: Albert William who they called “Buster”,” born in 1922,
Nettie Louise, 1925; Alice Lorraine 1927; Frances June, 1930; Charlotte May, 1931; & David Earl, 1934; all in Tacoma,
Washington where the couple made their home. Alma died November 19, 1977 in Puyallup, Pierce, Washington. Charles
Hardy died December 17, 1986 in Tacoma, Washington.
Alma Josephine Johnson 1897-1977
2
Verna was born May 9, 1911 to, newly married, Nettie and Albert Ellison on the farm in Kamilche, Washington.
Verna spent at least one year in Lakeview in a hospital due to Tuberculosis. She was later moved to a
sanitarium in Elma, Washington, where she died August 5, 1943. She never married. She was 32 years old.
Verna Ellison is buried in Shelton Memorial Cemetery.
Verna Geneva Ellison 1911-1943
3
Anton Edgar Ellison 1914-
Tony was born with his twin brother, Angus, February 7, 1914 on his parent’s farm in Kamilche, Washington. While
storing hay in the silo, he inhaled the gases, and became deathly ill. For over a year, Tony battled his mysterious illness.
He was healed miraculously and joined the Navy in his brother’s place, stationed on Swan Island, off the Oregon Coast.
He was trained as an electrician and worked to demagnetize ships. July 5, 1946 he married, Mary Christine Marshall,
also a twin. Tony called her “Crit.” Their marriage was a clandestine attempt to avoid Christine’s x-boyfriend, who had
been committed after their break-up, when he threatened suicide. His recent release had the newly weds nervous. Christine
was born September 2, 1921 in Poyen, Arkansas and had traveled with her family to Shelton during the depression.
The couple had three children: Marshall Anton, born in 1947, Juanita Christine, born in 1950, and Joyce Corine, born
in 1958. Anton sold his portion of the farm in the 60’s and moved to New Kamilche. He worked for Simpson Lumber
Company until his retirement. Christine died November 9, 1990 and Tony moved near his son in Olympia. He suffered
a stroke in June of 2006; and now lives at Olympic Manor Nursing Home.
4
Angus Cummings Ellison 1914-1971
Gus was born with his twin brother, Anton, February 7, 1914 on his parent’s farm in Kamilche, Washington. He
worked his father’s farm all his life. He married Verna Beatrice Marie Abbott on November 11, 1946. The couple
had four daughters: Marolyn Ann, born in 1947, Carolyn Marie, born in 1949, and twins, Darlene Josephine &
Arlene Elinore in 1951. Gus died of a heart attack March 11, 1971, and is buried at Shelton Memorial Cemetery.
His widow continues to live on the farm in Kamilche next to her daughter, Marolyn Matson.
76

Nettie’s New Home
Albert believed farming was the only reliable vocation
- land meant everything to him. He did not put
stock in education, and as the demands of the farm
grew, he pulled his sons out of the eighth grade, to
work along side him. Albert had survived the Great
Depression because of his farm and its’ continual
food source; he was certain that farming would never
go away since, “Everyone needs their bread to eat.” 70
The boys woke before sunrise every morning to milk
the cows and feed the chickens. They worked until
noon, when lunch was served. Through the afternoon
they kept busy by working the ground; trailing behind
the horse and plow. The boys worked hard; one time
even driving a horse to it’s death. Even with the boys
help, hired hands were needed; they lived and ate with
the family. A typically silent meal was always livened
up with excited conversation when Norwegian speaking
travelers, or hired hands, were present. 70 Nettie
and Verna worked from sun-up to sun-down preparing
meals, to feed the men, while tending to the house
and garden.
Albert lived on 360 acres of dense wooded forest on a
gentle slope. Half of Albert’s land was in timber while
the other half was pasture. 70 A path for a horse and
buggy, wound its way past vast farms and cleared pastures,
dotted with grazing cattle. On either side of this
road shot up towering Fir and Douglas trees, blanketed
in dense under growth. Clearing such land was
a job for many men and oxen. It was Albert who first
helped carve out the road that the State of Washington
would eventually plot out for the highway. 62 He
wanted to make sure that this highway would not cut
through his land, as the rail road already did. The trip
for supplies was taken by horse and wagon to Olympia,
where Tony remembers riding in the wagon to
buy supplies at Talcott’s Variety Store, on Olympia’s
Main street. Albert had purchased a 1914 Model T
Ford; however, since the roads were built for the horse
and buggy, it was impractical to drive on most roads.
If their Ford attempted to climb a steep hill, the engine
would die when all the gas slopped to the back
of the tank with gravity. Early automobiles were also
difficult to navigate after the rains had deteriorated
Built in 1936; Kamilche, Washington
the roads. Spring and winter were too cold for the
machines, and roads made impossible with mud from
the rains and winter’s snow. Besides, Albert preferred
his horse.
Albert did not trust banks. Family legend tells that
he buried his money in cans. Many of his coins dated
back to the Civil War era. Albert never retrieved them
and after his death, Tony rented a back hoe, to dig
up a portion of his property in a vain attempt to find
Albert’s buried treasure. 70 To this day, no one in the
family has ever been able to find the coins. Tony suspects
that Albert’s neighbor may have seen the buried
hiding place, and returned later to steal the money.
While the boys were still young, Alma helped Albert
milk cows, feed calves, separate the milk, sell cream,
feed pigs, tend chicken, sell their eggs, and worked
in the large garden. Waking early, Alma would get up
and milk the cows, feed the calves and chickens before
she went to school. Albert wanted to buy another 60
acres, giving him 420 acres, Alma is credited for helping
to raise the money for it’s purchase. Albert said,
“Alma was a real hard worker and would get out there
and work like a man, and I couldn’t have done it with
out her.” 63 After school she would come home and
start work again with cleaning barns or what ever she
saw that had to be done. Albert kept about 40 head of
cattle, and with time he accumulated 900 laying hens,
along with the horses and pigs. It is said that Albert
had children to work his farm; and they worked very
hard.
Their home was a small and primitive, log structure.
The main part of the house was divided for into two
77

edrooms, Alma and Verna shared a room below; and
the boys slept in the loft. Nettie and her daughters
fetched their water from a nearby spring and carried
it back to their wash basins. There was no electricity
until 1925, when Albert bought a 32 volt generator.
70 There was no plumbing. Albert was not one to
care for frivolities, but his sons became more vocal
about their need for a better home; they were embarrassed
by their living conditions. When Albert retired
in 1936, he began building a new home; converting
their old home into the chicken shed. With the help
of a hired hand, they dug the basement by hand, and
built a two story home, complete with an attic. The
hired help was paid $6. 00 a day, plus meals. Angus was
first put on the job, but the hired man proved difficult
to work with. After hearing too many complaints, Albert
pulled his son off the job and put Anton to work.
“I helped build it, we had an ol’ carpenter; he as up
in years then; and he come out and built this house
for my dad. He was hot tempered, but he liked me. He
was the kinda guy that would let you know when he
was mad, and Gus didn’t like to work with him, so he
(Gus) would do the farm work and I would work with
him. (Carpenter) He would tell me, ‘You know there
is only two ways to do a thing,’ he’d say, ‘a right way
and a wrong way, and how come you always do it the
wrong way!’ (Chuckle) But then he would go out and
brag to everybody about what a good guy I was. 70
while keeping the most beautiful items to decorate his
own home. 70
Albert’s retirement was only in theory; for he was never
able to fully hand over his farm to his sons. In the
40’s, American involvement in the war was immanent
and the draft board came to Olympia, all able men of
age were to register. Albert petitioned to keep his sons
away from war; but soon it was learned through Frank
Carr, the mail carrier, and cousin to the Ellisons, that
Angus was to be drafted. Anton had spent the last
year and a half, sick, after he had been poisoned by
silo gasses. He had nearly died; and only by a miracle
did he regain his health. With his strength renewed,
he wanted to join the war in his brother’s place, which
the board allowed. Anton signed up for the Navy and
was sent to Swan Island, off Portland, Oregon, where
he trained as an electrician.
It was while Tony was in the service that Verna finally
succumbed to her Tuberculosis. She had been in the
sanitarium in Lakeview, Washington since her quarantine.
She wrote her brother Tony, Friday, September
11, 1942. 79
With labor and supplies, their home cost $3,000. The
plumbing was a drainage ditch that was dug to meet
the nearby stream and popular swimming hole. Cedar
boards ran the length of the ditch to cover it from visibility;
eventually, so did the vegetation. Their home
was heated with a wood furnace in the basement. The
basement also housed the laundry facility. Later, an
electric clothes wringer was set beside the basement
door, with a clothes line outside, for easy access. The
attic door opened at the top of a narrow stair case;
where many of Nettie’s belongings sat collecting dust.
After Nettie’s death this home was remodeled and reduced
to a single level home. Most of the antiques
in the attic were given to a swindler pastor who took
the items under false pretenses. It was later discovered
that he was selling them and pocketing the money;
78
Above: Verna
Ellison sick with
T.B. 1943
The radio
was a gift to
Verna, from her
brother, Tony
Ellison during
his service in
WWII.
Verna Ellison

Dear Tony and all:
Well, I am fine. The Dr. made rounds Thursday and he told me he was going to start giving
me “air” in my left side. So I imagine he will start next Tuesday. He was very good
natured. I didn’t ask him about the x-ray. He is usually in a hurry and I guess he doesn’t
like to be bothered with questions. Sometime when you are out here, you could talk to him
if you would like to hear all about it. He may tell me about it later too. I was glad to hear
what you told me. I wonder how the Welfare office found out that I may not have to be
here very long. They must have called up the Dr. and asked or something. Well, I sure hope
I don’t have to stay too long. I’m still trusting the Lord though, so I know He’s going to see
me through this. He has healed more than one person of T.B. so I know He can heal me
too, if it’s His will, and I’m sure it is! I still cough some from that last cold I had but it’s
getting better. They all cough quite a lot. There is a new girl in that middle bed here now.
She hasn’t got hardly any trouble but she coughs quite a bit. She said the Dr. told her she
just had one spot on her lung so I guess I can expect to cough a little with all the spots I
have. This Mrs. Westfall had a cavity clear through her lung and she has been here ten
months. The Dr. told her that she is well now and free from germs, but he is going to keep
her here for about three months longer till the scar tissues are healed, I guess. She has
taken air since she came here and still is.
Alma and Charles and Buster were here again Wednesday night. They are all fine. They
brought me some apples and pears and a quart jar full of fresh strawberries just picked.
They also brought me a bottle of Listerine. It’s an antiseptic for throat gargle and mouth
wash. I don’t know how she happened to think of that. She probably thought it would help
to keep me from catching a cold. I was glad she did get it, as I can keep washing my tooth
brush in it to kill the germs. She said the bath robe she sent for hadn’t come yet but she’s
expecting it any time. I suppose they will be out here with it some time soon. They always
ask me if there’s anything I need, and when I tell them “no”, they think up something to
79

ing anyway. I was sure surprised to hear that Roy is preaching at Shelton now. I know
that Dale left, but I thought Bressler was coming back. Was also surprised to hear about
Rev. Price leaving Elma, Washington, and was sure glad to hear about the arrangements.
It sure looks like the Lord is working things out for the meetings. I’ve sure been expecting
some kind of a break though there. I suppose it seemed like Home walking into the Tabernacle
again. I’m anxious to hear about the meetings.
The weather is beginning to feel like fall here. It is kind of chilly especially nights and
early in the morning. Those ankle socks sure come in handy. If it keeps getting colder, I’ll
have to start using my good old hot water bottle to keep warm. These open air porches sure
must get cold in the middle of the winter. I guess they’ll put some windows in though in a
month or so from now, I hope.
I have been getting up twice a day lately, but I guess I’ll have to stay in bed all the time
when I start taking “air”, at least for a while. I don’t know how much I weigh now. They
don’t let me get weighed. I don’t know why it is, but he lets some get weighted every Saturday.
My appetite is good though so I guess I’m holding my own. The food is usually good.
The other day we got roast pork, mashed potatoes, and gravy and dressing and boiled onions.
That was the best dinner we had gotten. Usually the cooking is very plain and no fancy
stuff. We get ice cream once and sometimes twice a week.
Well, I was kind of surprised they changed your classification, but I guess you can expect
most anything now. I’m sure that we can trust the Lord to work it out so you won’t have to
go if it’s His will for you to stay home. I’ve been praying about it. If it’s His will for you to
be in the army, that ‘s the place to be; for His way is always best. He is able to protect us
no matter where He puts us.
Well, I can’t think of any news to write so I guess I’ll quit for now. Oh, yes I want to tell
you; you won’t need to send me the Shelton Journal for a while as Mrs. Westfal gets it
80

every week and she says I can read hers. Be sure to save the Elma papers though. I got
the papers you sent me, and was glad to get them. I suppose you heard about Mr. Brewer
of Elma being killed in the auto accident. I read it in the Tacoma Tribune. How is Lionel
Have you seen any of the Lemans lately. I saw about Lionel in the Shelton paper
last week. I hadn’t seen the last one yet but Mrs.Westfall got it so I’ll see it today.
Albert Ellison’s Testimony
Verna died one year later,
August 5, 1943 81 in the Lake
View Sanitarium in Elma,
Washington. She was 32; and
due to her illness, she never
married. Tony was given leave
from the military base in Swan
Island on November 10, 1943
for seven days, although the
funeral had passed. Verna was
buried in Shelton Memorial
Cemetery. 82,83
Nettie did not take her children
to church; her faith lost
during her youth. She had married
an Irish-Canadian, who was reared in a home with
a Catholic father, and a Presbyterian mother, both attending
their own churches on Sunday. Albert did not
Albert & Nettie Ellison
81
care for any church and was
hostile to the faith. When his
three children were saved at the
Union Gospel Mission’s tent
revival in the late 30’s; Albert
was so angry that he left the
house for a few days to “blow
off steam.” Once he returned,
he refused to talk about it; he
thought that his children had
lost their mind. 70 Yet, his son,
Tony, continued to pray for
his father and mother, and the
tree siblings only strengthened
their new faith. Tony remembers,
“My dad lived a hard life;
he rejected the Lord all his life; raised in a logging
camp – he went to dances every Saturday night; and
lived rough. When his children got saved, why, he

Nettie Ellison
Nettie died in her sleep; this letter was found by her bed
the next morning. It is unfinished.
nearly had a nervous break down. He always thought
his children had gone off their rockers.” 70
In 1950, there was a revival meeting and the pastor
came to visit Albert and his family. Albert was angry
that he had stopped by and practically ordered him
out. A short while later, Tom Hepworth, from Elma,
drove down to visit Albert, who had become very ill,
and bed ridden. Albert respected Tom, even though
he was a Christian. Tom was a hard working farmer
and a good man, and would later start a church in
Elma.
Tony noticed Tom’s car parked outside their home,
and was curious, “After Tom’s visit; I went in to see
my dad. He asked me if I would pray, before I left, so
I did; and there seemed to be such a change in him.”
Tony prayed with his father and left the room, “Right
afterward, Tom Hepworth called me down to his home
to tell me what had happened.”
That morning Tom had told his wife that he needed
to get the hay in and cut, since the weather promised
rain. As Tom was out in the field bringing in the hay,
he heard a voice. Tony recalled,“There he was, out in
the middle of his field when he actually heard a voice!
‘Go talk to Mr. Ellison.’ He thought, this is crazy, but
he told me, ‘I just got to think’en, I know I heard that
voice!’ he argued with it, he said, ‘I gotta get this hay
in, so I can’t do it.’ But, the more he thought about it,
the more he knew he heard that voice. So he stuck his
pitch fork in the ground and walked in and told his
wife, ‘I’m gonna go down and talk to Mr. Ellison.’” 70
With out explanation, he left the hay and a perplexed
wife, and drove down to the Ellison home. “He said
that my dad seemed kinda glad to see him.” Tony remembered.
Tom listened to Albert as he grumbled
over politics; he was upset about the elections, he
thought all the Christians were voting for the wrong
man. Finally, Tom, stopped him, and began to tell Albert
of the things that would come to pass. He asked
him if he wanted to accept the Lord, and Albert said,
“Yes.” Tom prayed with Albert, and left.
When Tony went to check on Albert, his father said,
82

“Would you say a few words before you go”
not wanting his son to leave just yet. “I knew
what he meant, so I just prayed for him. From
then on, until he died, which was about a week
or two after that, you could tell he really gotten
saved.” 70 After Albert’s death, Nettie’s own
faith was renewed.
Albert died at the age of 80, August 16, 1950, and
was buried in Shelton Memorial Cemetery. 83 His sons
took the farm, dividing the land between themselves.
Gus had built a home next to Nettie’s house where
Tony lived with his wife and children.
Living near her sons and their families, Nettie watched
her grandchildren grow to young adults, she collected
rocks, and was known for her beautiful braided
rugs. She was a thin, small woman, who spoke with a
Norwegian accent; pronouncing her grand-daughter,
Juanita’s name, “Van-ita.”
Nettie appeared in her local paper when she exhibited
her braided rugs in the Fair, “Handiwork for the
Mason County
Fair will be coming
through the efforts of
many people. Mrs. Nettie Ellison
is a 90 year old, long-time resident
of Mason County who will be
contributing her share to this county
show. Mrs. Ellison has lived in the
Kamilche area since 1910. Her hands never tire doing
braided rugs and tied quilts. She is still active in
garden work and her neighbor, Mrs. Richard Kelly,
attests to her ability at wild blackberry picking. Bread
making will be another skill shown in the entries at
the fair. Mrs. Ellison is the mother of Angus and Tony,
twin sons also residing in the Kamilche area.” 76
Nettie died in her sleep, February 6, 1972. She was 99
years old. When her family found her the next morning;
laid out on her night stand, Nettie had written
Above, Nettie Ellison’s Sewing Machine; courtesy of Juanita (Ellison) Meier
83

Nettie Nordrum Dies 1972
a prayer of rejoicing and thankfulness
with an expectation
that she would soon see her
Savior’s face. She quoted Revelations
21:3-4; “And God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes and
there shall be no more death neither sorrow,
nor crying neither shall there be any more pain,
for the former things are passed away.”
Nettie was buried beside her husband in the Shelton
Memorial Cemetery. 83 Her obituary was printed in
Spring Valley; “Mrs. Nettie (Nordrum) Ellison – The
Misses Iva and Luella Nelson received word Monday
of the death of their aunt, Mrs. Nettie (Nordrum) Ellison,
99, of Shelton, Washington, on Feb. 6, 1972.
She was the sister of the late Mrs.
John Nelson and Mrs. William
Vanasse of Spring Valley, also of
the Nordrum brothers of Elmwood
and lived in Spring Valley at one
time.” 27
The death of Nettie, in 1972, brought an
end to the pioneer generation. The Nordrum
family had traveled great lengths to begin
a life full of unknowns; language, and customs,
church and family; leaving their impression on this
land and the people they encountered along the way.
We are living reminders of the Nordrum family and
their pioneering spirit. The mark that they left, can
be found in us, their descendants.
Above, Nettie Ellison’s Spectacles; courtesy of Juanita (Ellison) Meier
84

Amund Mikkelson Nordrum
b. 1773, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
d. 1795, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
Mikkel Amundsen Nordrum
b. 1768, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
m. 1798, Nordsinni Parish, Lands, Norway
d. 1883, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
Johan Mikkelsen Aasen
b. 15 Dec 1820, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
m. 24 Mar 1857 Nordsinni Parish, Lands, Norway
d. 13 Nov 1895, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin
Hans
b.
d.
Mina Antonettie Nordrum
b. 25 Oct 1873, Eau Galle, St. Croix, Wisconsin
d. 06 Feb 1972, Kamilche, Mason, Washington
Marit Hansdatter Fossum
b. 1779, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
d. 1853, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
Lena Mikkelson Nordrum
b. 31 Oct 1870, Maple Springs, Saint Croix, WI
d. 02 May 1946, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin
Jon Nilsen Bjørke
b. 1794, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
m. 1823, Nordsinni Parish, Lands, Norway
d. 1882, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
Elisabet Marit Jonsen Aasen
b. 18 May 1835, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
d. 07 Apr 1902, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin
Mikel
b.
d.
Kari Mikkelsdatter Støm
b. 1800, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
d. 1886, Torpa, Oppland, Norway
Lisa Røste
b.
d.
85

Descendants of Lena Nordrum Vanasse
Generation No. 1
1. WILLIAM RICHARD 3 VANASSE (PETER 2 , JEAN FRANCOIS “REGIS” 1 ) was born 25 Mar
1867 in Gilman, Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 27 Sep 1947 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
He married LENA MIKKELSON NORDRUM 30 Jun 1890 in River Falls, Pierce, Wisconsin,
daughter of JOHAN NORDRUM and ELISABET AASEN. She was born 31 Oct 1870 in
Maple Springs Farm, Eau Galle, Saint Croix, Wisconsin, and died 02 May 1946 in Spring Valley,
Pierce, Wisconsin. William was the son of Peter Vanasse and Virginia Agnes Akers, who married
17 Jun 1866 in Spring Valley, Wisconsin. They divorced in 1906.
Children of WILLIAM VANASSE and LENA NORDRUM are:
i. RICHARD “EARL” 4 VANASSE, b. 01 Aug 1894, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
d. 07 Apr 1982, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
ii. MILDRED VIRGINIA VANASSE, b. 15 Dec 1896, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
d. 02 Mar 1921, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin; she never married.
iii. VICTOR LLOYD VANASSE, b. 03 Apr 1900, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
d. 26 Dec 1990, Laguna Beach, Orange, California; South Coast Hospital.
iv. THEODORE CLYDE VANASSE, b. 02 Mar 1906, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
d. 22 Sep 1999, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
v. HELEN FERN VANASSE, b. 31 Jul 1910, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
Generation No. 2
2. RICHARD “EARL” 5 VANASSE (LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 ,
MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 01 Aug 1894 in Spring Valley,
Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 07 Apr 1982 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin. He married CAR-
RIE MATHILDE RAY 1922 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin. She was born 13 Nov 1895 in
Pierce Co., Wisconsin, and died 20 May 1993 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
Children of RICHARD VANASSE and CARRIE RAY are:
i. WENDELL OLIVER 6 VANASSE, b. 24 Sep 1922, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
d. 08 Apr 1996, Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee.
ii. DONALD MERLYN VANASSE, b. 09 Jun 1924, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
d. 18 Dec 1980, Chippewa Falls, Chippewa, Wisconsin; NEVER MARRIED.
iii. RICHARD CALVIN “DICK” VANASSE, b. 13 Nov 1926,
Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
iv. LEONARD WILLIAM VANASSE, b. 24 Aug 1930, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
d. 05 Aug 2002, Milltown, Polk, Wisconsin.
86

v. BRYCE JONATHAN VANASSE, b. 23 Jul 1932, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
d. 28 Nov 2003, Roberts, Saint Croix, Wisconsin.
vi. DAVID CORDELL VANASSE, b. 06 Sep 1934, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
d. 20 Mar 2005, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
vii. IRVIN FRANKLIN VANASSE, b. 06 Oct 1936, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
3. VICTOR LLOYD 5 VANASSE (LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 ,
MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 03 Apr 1900 in Spring Valley,
Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 26 Dec 1990 in Laguna Beach, Orange, California; South Coast
Hospital. He married ALYCE AMELIA LUNDGREN 30 Jun 1923 in Minneapolis, Hennepin,
Minnesota, daughter of SWAN LUNDGREN and JULIA PETERSON. She was born 27 Jul
1902 in Willmar, Kandiyohi, Minnesota, and died 28 May 1995 in Irvine, Orange, California.
Child of VICTOR VANASSE and ALYCE LUNDGREN is:
i. ROBERT WILLIAM 6 VANASSE, b. 30 Jan 1932, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota.
4. THEODORE CLYDE 5 VANASSE (LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIK-
KELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 02 Mar 1906 in Spring
Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 22 Sep 1999 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin. He married
THELMA LUCILE HOVDE 14 Jun 1938 in Wisconsin, daughter of EDWARD HOVDE and
ANNA BLESINER. She was born 24 Feb 1908 in Gilman, Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 31 Dec
1987 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
Child of THEODORE VANASSE and THELMA HOVDE is:
i. CHARLES “CHUCK” 6 VANASSE, b. 01 Oct 1947, Wisconsin;
m. SANDRA SOARES; b. California.
5. HELEN FERN5 VANASSE (LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 ,
MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 31 Jul 1910 in Spring Valley,
Pierce, Wisconsin. She married (1) LLOYD HARRY ALTON 30 Sep 1930 in Spring Valley,
Pierce, Wisconsin, son of HARRY ALTON and NANCY CORMICAN. He was born 11 Jan
1907 in Wisconsin, and died 24 Jun 1949 in Wright, Minnesota. She married (2) WALTER B.
FAVORITE Abt. 1950 in Minnesota, son of CINCOTTA. He was born 09 Feb 1912, and died
12 Nov 1995 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. She married (3) LLOYD HARRY “BAR-
NEY” BARNSTABLE 01 Mar 1963 in Hennepin, Minnesota, son of AMOS BARNSTABLE
and JULIA BARNSTABLE. He was born 13 Feb 1919 in North Dakota.
Children of HELEN VANASSE and LLOYD ALTON are:
i. JOYCE YVONNE 6 ALTON, b. 18 Sep 1932, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
ii. GERALD LLOYD “JERRY” ALTON, b. 11 Jun 1936,
Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
87

Generation No. 3
6. WENDELL OLIVER 6 VANASSE (RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM,
JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 24 Sep
1922 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 08 Apr 1996 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford,
Tennessee. He married LORETTA MARGARET KRUEGER Oct 1946 in Wisconsin, daughter
of WALTER KRUEGER and MARY KARASTES. She was born 03 Jan 1928 in Wilson, St.
Croix County, Wiscon.
Children of WENDELL VANASSE and LORETTA KRUEGER are:
i. PAUL EARL 7 VANASSE, b. 01 Apr 1947, Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.
ii. LORELEI LEA VANASSE, b. 22 Feb 1951, River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin.
iii. NANCY MARGARET VANASSE, b. 06 Jun 1954,
River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin.
iv. DOUGLAS WENDALL VANASSE, b. 07 Dec 1956,
Menominee, Dunn Co., Wisconsin; d. 09 Feb 1958, St. Paul, Minnesota.
v. FAYE ANN VANASSE, b. 26 Feb 1959, Menominee, Dunn Co., Wisconsin.
vi. WILLIAM MICHAEL VANASSE, b. 16 Nov 1960,
Menominee, Dunn Co., Wisconsin.
7. RICHARD CALVIN “DICK” 6 VANASSE (RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4 NOR-
DRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born
13 Nov 1926 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin. He married GLADYS OLSON 03 Jun 1950,
daughter of OSCAR OLSON and GENA NELSON. She was born 23 Nov 1927.
Children of RICHARD VANASSE and GLADYS OLSON are:
i. RICHARD G. “RICKY” 7 VANASSE, b. 16 Aug 1950,
River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin; d. 27 Dec 1994, Wilson, St. Croix, Wisconsin.
ii. GREGORY WILLIAM VANASSE, b. 19 Sep 1951,
River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin.
iii. STEVEN MARK VANASSE, b. 05 Sep 1953, River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin.
iv. DANIEL LEE VANASSE, b. 20 Sep 1959, River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin.
8. LEONARD WILLIAM 6 VANASSE (RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM,
JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 24 Aug
1930 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 05 Aug 2002 in Milltown, Polk, Wisconsin.
He married MARLYS JUDITH SORENSON 29 Oct 1960 in Spring MM, Orange Co., North
Carolina, daughter of HENRY SORENSON and MYRTLE BOARDSON. She was born 17 Jan
1939.
88

Children of LEONARD VANASSE and MARLYS SORENSON are:
i. PETER SCOTT 7 VANASSE, b. 16 Dec 1962.
ii. JULIE ANN VANASSE, b. 05 Apr 1964.
iii. JASON MATTHEW VANASSE, b. 13 Dec 1970.
iv. MARK WILLIAM VANASSE, died 4 days old.
9. BRYCE JONATHAN 6 VANASSE (RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM,
JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 23 Jul
1932 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 28 Nov 2003 in Roberts, Saint Croix, Wisconsin.
He married HELEN CONLEY 27 Jun 1964 in Bethel Luthern, Hudson, Wisconsin,
daughter of LYMAN CONLEY and ELLEN UNKNOWN. She was born 08 Apr 1944.
Children of BRYCE VANASSE and HELEN CONLEY are:
i. BRADLEY JAMES 7 VANASSE, b. 10 Mar 1968, Hudson, St Croix Co., Wisconsin.
ii. JILL RENEE VANASSE, b. 07 Mar 1969, Hudson, St Croix Co., Wisconsin.
iii. CHRISTOPHER JOHN VANASSE, b. 10 May 1973,
Hudson, St Croix Co., Wisconsin.
10. DAVID CORDELL 6 VANASSE (RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM,
JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 06 Sep
1934 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 20 Mar 2005 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
He married MARY JEAN HOWE 30 Jul 1960 in Janesville, Wisconsin, daughter of
EDWARD HOWE and CECELLIA EISENBART. She was born 08 Jan 1937.
Children of DAVID VANASSE and MARY HOWE are:
i. LINDA JEAN 7 VANASSE, b. 06 Feb 1961, Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin.
ii. THOMAS DAVID VANASSE, b. 10 Oct 1962, Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin.
iii. SUSAN ANN VANASSE, b. 03 Mar 1964, Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin.
iv. SCOTT ALLAN VANASSE, b. 26 Nov 1965, Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin.
v. ERIC JAMES VANASSE, b. 08 Apr 1971,
Menomonie, Dunn Co., Wisconsin; m. HOLLY SUCKOW, 1996, Gilman Lutheran
Church, Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
11. IRVIN FRANKLIN 6 VANASSE (RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM,
JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 06 Oct
1936 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin. He married EVELYN FAY SPENCE 08 Feb 1958 in
Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, daughter of VERNON SPENCE and EUNICE FRISK. She
was born 31 Jan 1939 in Faribault, Minnesota.
89

Children of IRVIN VANASSE and EVELYN SPENCE are:
i. VERNON EARL 7 VANASSE, b. 30 Dec 1958, Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin.
ii. JEFFERY FRANKLIN VANASSE, b. 27 Feb 1960, River Falls, Wisconsin.
iii. VICKI LYNN VANASSE, b. 24 Sep 1961, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin.
iv. JAMES CURTIS VANASSE, b. 23 Apr 1972, Rochester, Minnesota.
12. ROBERT WILLIAM 6 VANASSE (VICTOR LLOYD 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM,
JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 30 Jan
1932 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. He married ALMA BOETTCHER 11 Jul 1953 in
Arlington, Virginia. She was born 15 Feb 1933 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Children of ROBERT VANASSE and ALMA BOETTCHER are:
i. LAURA JEAN 7 VANASSE, b. 11 Jul 1957, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota.
ii. AMY LYNN VANASSE, b. 31 May 1959,
Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota; d. 19 May 1981, Fullerton, California.
iii. THOMAS JAMES VANASSE, b. 16 Jul 1965,
Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota.
13. JOYCE YVONNE 6 ALTON (HELEN FERN 5 VANASSE, LENA MIKKELSON 4 NOR-
DRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was
born 18 Sep 1932 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin. She married (1) ALLAN MARTIN
ROADFELDT 27 Jun 1953 in Hennepin, Minnesota. He was born 06 Jan 1928. She married
(2) YASUSHI DAVID WADA 11 May 1974 in Hennipen, Wisconsin. He was born 10 Sep 1921
in Tokoyo, Japan, and died 14 Sep 2005 in Bellevue, King, Washington.
Children of JOYCE ALTON and ALLAN ROADFELDT are:
i. BETH LEANN 7 ROADFELDT, b. 15 Apr 1953, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota.
ii. SCOTT ALLEN ROADFELDT, b. 27 Dec 1955, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota.
iii. LAURA JEAN ROADFELDT, b. 11 Feb 1962, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota.
14. GERALD LLOYD “JERRY” 6 ALTON (HELEN FERN 5 VANASSE, LENA MIKKELSON 4
NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 )
was born 11 Jun 1936 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin. He married (1) GRACE EVERSON
1954. He married (2) KATHLEEN KLICK 1966.
Children of GERALD ALTON and GRACE EVERSON are:
i. SUSAN ELIZABETH 7 ALTON, b. 06 Aug 1956.
ii. STEVEN GERALD ALTON, b. 30 Jul 1962.
90

iii. DENISE DELORAS (LORI) ALTON, b. 03 Apr 1963.
Generation No. 4
15. PAUL EARL 7 VANASSE (WENDELL OLIVER 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKEL-
SON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 )
was born 01 Apr 1947 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. He married MILDRED
“ELLA” GASPERSZ 10 Mar 1972 in Jakarta, Indonesia, daughter of EDWARD GASPERCE
and LUCY UNKNOWN. She was born 12 Aug 1953 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Children of PAUL VANASSE and MILDRED GASPERSZ are:
i. CARIE LORETTA 8 VANASSE, b. 15 Dec 1972, Jakarta, Indonesia.
ii. BRUCE EDWARD VANASSE, b. 19 Dec 1979, Murfreesboro, Tenneesee.
iii. JESSE WILLIAMS VANASSE, b. 30 Oct 1982, Cincinatti, Ohio.
16. LORELEI LEA 7 VANASSE (WENDELL OLIVER 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKEL-
SON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 )
was born 22 Feb 1951 in River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin. She married (1) CHARLES
“CHAS” MAXWELL in Arizona. She married (2) RONALD BLACK in Arizona. She married
(3) JOHN WILLIAM PRINGLE 26 Jun 1988 in Santa Maria, California.
Child of LORELEI VANASSE and CHARLES MAXWELL is:
i. INGRID LEA 8 MAXWELL, b. 11 Nov 1969,
Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona; m. PETER ROBINSON, 1994.
Child of LORELEI VANASSE and RONALD BLACK is:
ii. LYNETTE DORE “LYN” 8 BLACK, b. 19 Oct 1976,
Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona.
17. NANCY MARGARET 7 VANASSE (WENDELL OLIVER 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA
MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIK-
KELSON 1 ) was born 06 Jun 1954 in River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin. She married (1)
GREG HOLLAND 15 Apr 1971 in Pheonix, Arizona. He was born Jun 1950. She married (2)
JOHN DAVENPORT Sep 1983. He was born in Tennessee.
Children of NANCY VANASSE and JOHN DAVENPORT are:
i. LINDSEY ELAINE 8 DAVENPORT, b. 07 Aug 1990, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
ii. MATTHEW ELLIOT DAVENPORT, b. 07 Aug 1990, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
iii. SARAH THERESA DAVENPORT, b. 07 Aug 1990, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
18. FAYE ANN 7 VANASSE (WENDELL OLIVER 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4
NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was
born 26 Feb 1959 in Menominee, Dunn Co.,Wisconsin. She married (1) DENNIS KADO
91

1977, son of LEONARD KADO and JUNE UNKNOWN. She married (2) LARRY DAHLING
1990.
Child of FAYE VANASSE and DENNIS KADO is:
i. JACOB WENDELL 8 KADO, b. 29 Mar 1979, Spring Valley, Pierce Co., Wisconsin.
Child of FAYE VANASSE and LARRY DAHLING is:
ii. GAGE WILLIAM 8 DAHLING-VANASSE, b. 25 Nov 1994, Nashville, Tennessee.
19. WILLIAM MICHAEL7 VANASSE (WENDELL OLIVER 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA
MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIK-
KELSON 1 ) was born 16 Nov 1960 in Menominee, Dunn Co.,Wisconsin. He married LINDA
HOPS 09 Jul 1989.
Children of WILLIAM VANASSE and LINDA HOPS are:
i. VALERIE MARIE 8 VANASSE, b. 11 Jan 1989, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
ii. JESSICA ANN VANASSE, b. 10 Dec 1994, Manchester, Tennessee.
20. GREGORY WILLIAM 7 VANASSE (RICHARD CALVIN “DICK” 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 ,
LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND
MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 19 Sep 1951 in River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin. He married
DARLENE ELLEFSON in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin.
Children of GREGORY VANASSE and DARLENE ELLEFSON are:
i. PAUL 8 VANASSE, b. 22 Dec 1989.
ii. KATIE VANASSE, b. 22 May 1992.
21. STEVEN MARK 7 VANASSE (RICHARD CALVIN “DICK” 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA
MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIK-
KELSON 1 ) was born 05 Sep 1953 in River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin. He married DEBBIE
LARSON.
Children of STEVEN VANASSE and DEBBIE LARSON are:
i. TANYA 8 VANASSE, b. 01 Dec 1975.
ii. MARK VANASSE, b. 30 Oct 1976.
iii. THERESA VANASSE, b. 07 Aug 1978.
iv. TAMMY VANASSE, b. 19 Jan 1980.
v. TINA VANASSE, b. 07 Jun 1982.
22. DANIEL LEE 7 VANASSE (RICHARD CALVIN “DICK” 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIK-
KELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKEL-
92

SON 1 ) was born 20 Sep 1959 in River Falls, St. Croix Co., Wisconsin. He married JOANNE
KANNEL, daughter of RICHARD KANNEL and UNA UNKNOWN.
Children of DANIEL VANASSE and JOANNE KANNEL are:
i. TERRENCE JOHN 8 VANASSE, b. 21 Mar 1988.
ii. ASELIA MARIE VANASSE, b. 23 Aug 1994.
23. PETER SCOTT 7 VANASSE (LEONARD WILLIAM 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIK-
KELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKEL-
SON 1 ) was born 16 Dec 1962. He married TARI FRANCK 20 Jun 1987 in Hudson, Wisconsin,
daughter of GENE FRANCK.
Children of PETER VANASSE and TARI FRANCK are:
i. RYAN 8 VANASSE, b. 05 Dec 1987.
ii. MICHAEL VANASSE, b. 15 May 1990.
iii. ALEC VANASSE, b. 13 Aug 1994.
24. JULIE ANN7 VANASSE (LEONARD WILLIAM 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKEL-
SON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 )
was born 05 Apr 1964. She married ROY ROSE 18 Dec 1981 in Hudson, Wisconsin.
Children of JULIE VANASSE and ROY ROSE are:
i. BETHANY 8 ROSE, b. 19 Mar 1982.
ii. TIFFANY ROSE, b. 24 Feb 1989.
iii. BRITTNEY ROSE, b. 04 Nov 1991.
iv. ROBERT ROSE, b. 13 May 1994.
25. BRADLEY JAMES 7 VANASSE (BRYCE JONATHAN 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIK-
KELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIK-
KELSON 1 ) was born 10 Mar 1968 in Hudson, St Croix Co., Wisconsin. He married CARMEN
LEE REEVE 30 May 1992 in River Falls, Wisconsin, daughter of MR. REEVE and HARRIET
ROLFE. She was born 16 Aug 1969.
Children of BRADLEY VANASSE and CARMEN REEVE are:
i. KYLE DENNIS 8 VANASSE, b. 06 May 1987, Hayward, Wisconsin.
ii. NICHOLAS SCOTT VANASSE, b. 03 Mar 1993,
Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.
26. LINDA JEAN 7 VANASSE (DAVID CORDELL 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4
NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was
93

orn 06 Feb 1961 in Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin. She married RUSSELL MICHAEL ATTER
03 May 1990 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, son of DUANE ATTER and JEAN LANCOR. He was
born 07 Nov 1970 in Boyd, Wisconsin.
Children of LINDA VANASSE and RUSSELL ATTER are:
i. MICHAEL DAVID 8 ATTER, b. 28 Apr 1992, Wisconsin; d. 28 Apr 1992, Wisconsin.
ii. ALYSSA JEAN ATTER, b. 28 Jun 1995, Wisconsin.
27. THOMAS DAVID 7 VANASSE (DAVID CORDELL 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIK-
KELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIK-
KELSON 1 ) was born 10 Oct 1962 in Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin. He married CINTHIA
MAE GEURKINK 21 Jul 1989 in Ellsworth, Pierce Co., Wisconsin, daughter of MYRON
GERUKINK and WILMA ANDERSON. She was born 13 Jul 1967 in Baldwin, St. Croix, Wisconsin.
Children of THOMAS VANASSE and CINTHIA GEURKINK are:
i. CARRIE MAE 8 VANASSE, b. 08 Mar 1990, Baldwin, Wisconsin.
ii. LUKE THOMAS VANASSE, b. 30 Dec 1991, Baldwin, Wisconsin.
iii. MARIAH KAY VANASSE, b. 05 Jul 1993, Baldwin, Wisconsin.
28. SUSAN ANN 7 VANASSE (DAVID CORDELL 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4
NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was
born 03 Mar 1964 in Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin. She married (1) LEROY JOHNSON 05
Jun 1982 in Elmwood, Wisconsin, son of LEROY SR. and DIANE SEBION. He was born 03
Aug 1960. She married (2) TIM ORMSON 08 Mar 1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada, son of DEAN
ORMSON and DOROTHY SICWERT.
Children of SUSAN VANASSE and LEROY JOHNSON are:
i. BRANDON JAMES 8 JOHNSON, b. 07 Mar 1984, Menomonie, Wisconsin.
ii. JESSE RYAN JOHNSON, b. 22 Jun 1986, Menomonie, Wisconsin.
iii. MICHELLE NICOLE JOHNSON, b. 13 Nov 1988, Baldwin, Wisconsin.
29. SCOTT ALLAN 7 VANASSE (DAVID CORDELL 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKEL-
SON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 )
was born 26 Nov 1965 in Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin. He married LISA MARIE HEISE 25
Jun 1994, daughter of CARL HEISE and JUDITH HERMAN.
Child of SCOTT VANASSE and LISA HEISE is:
i. ABIGAIL MARIE 8 VANASSE, b. 19 Sep 1996.
30. VERNON EARL 7 VANASSE (IRVIN FRANKLIN 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKEL-
SON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 )
94

was born 30 Dec 1958 in Hudson, St. Croix, Wisconsin. He married SHERYL OLSON 29 Jul
1978 in Kasson, Minnesota, daughter of ROBERT OLSON and ESTHER LECHNER. She was
born in Kasten, Minnesota.
Children of VERNON VANASSE and SHERYL OLSON are:
i. MITCHELL 8 VANASSE, b. 22 Jan 1980.
ii. MICHAEL VANASSE, b. 03 Jul 1982.
31. JEFFERY FRANKLIN 7 VANASSE (IRVIN FRANKLIN 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIK-
KELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKEL-
SON 1 ) was born 27 Feb 1960 in River Falls, Wisconsin. He married KRISTI RINGNELL 09
Jun 1984 in Welcome, Minnesota, daughter of LESTER RINGNELL and EVERYL.
Children of JEFFERY VANASSE and KRISTI RINGNELL are:
i. CODY JAMES 8 VANASSE, b. 04 Sep 1990, Fairmont, Minnesota.
ii. SARAH RAE VANASSE, b. 21 Mar 1992, Fairmont, Minnesota.
iii. NICHOLAS JOHN VANASSE, b. 30 Apr 1996, Fairmont, Minnesota.
32. VICKI LYNN 7 VANASSE (IRVIN FRANKLIN 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4
NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was
born 24 Sep 1961 in St. Croix Co., Wisconsin. She married CARL MILLER 25 Sep 1982 in
Kasson, Minnesota, son of KEN MILLER and BARB UNKNOWN.
Children of VICKI VANASSE and CARL MILLER are:
i. DYLAN EARL 8 MILLER, b. 17 Mar 1986, Rochester, Minnesota.
ii. CANDACE FAY MILLER, b. 03 May 1988, Rochester, Minnesota.
iii. CARLEY VANASSE MILLER, b. 04 Sep 1996, Rochester, Minnesota.
33. LAURA JEAN 7 VANASSE (ROBERT WILLIAM 6 , VICTOR LLOYD 5 , LENA MIKKEL-
SON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKEL-
SON 1 ) was born 11 Jul 1957 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota. She married CHRIS-
TOPHER STEPHAN CROSSON 07 Apr 1979. He was born 16 Oct 1958 in Santa Monica,
Los Angeles, California.
Children of LAURA VANASSE and CHRISTOPHER CROSSON are:
i. CHRISTINE ELIZABETH 8 CROSSON, b. 07 Jan 1986, Newport Beach, California.
ii. STEPHANIE DIANE CROSSON, b. 05 May 1988, Newport Beach, California.
iii. CHRISTOPHER CAMERON CROSSON, b. 05 Jan 1993,
Newport Beach, California.
95

34. SCOTT ALLEN 7 ROADFELDT (JOYCE YVONNE 6 ALTON, HELEN FERN 5 VANASSE,
LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN2, AMUND
MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 27 Dec 1955 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota. He married DI-
ANA KAYE LONG 18 Aug 1979 in Hennepin, Minnesota.
Child of SCOTT ROADFELDT and DIANA LONG is:
i. ERIK SCOTT 8 ROADFELDT, b. 16 Feb 1981, Hennepin, Minnesota.
35. SUSAN ELIZABETH 7 ALTON (GERALD LLOYD “JERRY” 6 , HELEN FERN 5 VA-
NASSE, LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 ,
AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 06 Aug 1956. She married DAVID PITZS.
Child of SUSAN ALTON and DAVID PITZS is:
i. JEFFEREY LAURENCE 8 PITZS, b. 07 Jul 1976.
Generation No. 5
36. CARIE LORETTA 8 VANASSE (PAUL EARL 7 , WENDELL OLIVER 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 ,
LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND
MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 15 Dec 1972 in Jakarta, Indonesia. She married (1) BRAD WHITE
in Owensboro, Kentucky. She married (2) GENE BRUMFIELD 07 Nov 1993 in Guam. He was
born in Gatlinburn, Tennessee.
Child of CARIE VANASSE and BRAD WHITE is:
i. GRACE 9 WHITE, b. 14 Mar 2006, Owensboro, Kentucky.
37. JESSE WILLIAMS 8 VANASSE (PAUL EARL 7 , WENDELL OLIVER 6 , RICHARD “EARL” 5 ,
LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND
MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 30 Oct 1982 in Cincinatti, Ohio. He married PATRICIA PORTU-
GAL 2005 in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana. She was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Child of JESSE VANASSE and PATRICIA PORTUGAL is:
i. ISABELLA PORTUGAL 9 VANASSE, b. 24 Mar 2008.
38. LYNETTE DORE “LYN” 8 BLACK (LORELEI LEA 7 VANASSE, WENDELL OLIVER 6 ,
RICHARD “EARL” 5 , LENA MIKKELSON 4 NORDRUM, JOHAN MIKKELSEN 3 , MIKKEL
AMUNDSEN 2 , AMUND MIKKELSON 1 ) was born 19 Oct 1976 in Phoenix, Maricopa Co.,
Arizona. She married GREGORY DAVID STONE 1995 in Maricopa Co., Arizona.
Children of LYNETTE BLACK and GREGORY STONE are:
i. ERIC COLBY 9 STONE, b. 04 Apr 1997, Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona.
ii. MELANIE NICOLE STONE, b. 01 Dec 1999, Pinetop, Arizona.
96

Descendants of Nettie Nordrum Johnson Ellison
Generation No. 1
1. MINA ANTONETTIE 2 NORDRUM (Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 )was born 25 Oct 1873in
Eau Galle, Saint Croix, Wisconsin, and died 06 Feb 1972 in Kamilche, Mason, Washington.
She married (1) John Christian Johnson in 21 Jun 1896 in Menomonie, Dunn, Wisconsin.
John Christian Johnson was born to Tollef and Ingeborg Jonsen on 24 Mar 1871, Spring Valley,
Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 28 Sep 1903, Rhinelander, Oneida, Wisconsin. She married (2) Albert
Cunningham Ellison, the son of Joseph Ellison and Mary Cummings, and was born 10 Dec
1865 in Grey District, Ontario, Canada, and died 16 Aug 1950 in Shelton, Mason, Washington.
Albert and Nettie married 22 Jan 1910 in Seattle, King, Washington
Children of JOHN CHRISTIAN JOHNSON and NETTIE NORDRUM are:
i. ALMA JOSEPHINE 3 JOHNSON,
born 27 Feb 1897 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin;
died 19 Nov 1977 in Puyallup, Pierce, Washington.
Children of ALBERT CUNNINGHAM ELLISON and NETTIE NORDRUM are:
ii. VERNA GENEVA 3 ELLISON, born 09 May 1911 in Kamilche, Mason, Washington;
died 05 Aug 1943 in Elma, Grays Harbor, Washington. She never married.
iii. ANGUS CUMMINGS ELLISON,
born 07 Feb 1914 in Kamilche, Mason, Washington;
died 11 Mar 1971 in Shelton, Mason, Washington.
iv. ANTON EDGAR ELLISON, born 07 Feb 1914 in Kamilche, Mason, Washington.
Generation No. 2
2. ALMA JOSEPHINE 3 JOHNSON (Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 )
was born 27 Feb 1897 in Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin, and died 19 Nov 1977 in Puyallup,
Pierce, Washington. She married Charles Earl Hardy 28 Feb 1922 in Olympia, Thurston, Washington,
son of Albert Hardy and Amanda Lupien. He was born 16 Feb 1900 in Pontiac, Oakland,
Michigan, and died 17 Dec 1986 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington.
Children of ALMA JOHNSON and CHARLES HARDY are:
i. ALBERT WILLIAM “BUSTER” 4 HARDY, born 28 Dec 1922 in Tacoma, Pierce,
Washington; died 26 Aug 1978 in Cour’de lene, Sanoma, Idaho.
ii. NETTIE LOUISE HARDY, born 09 Jul 1925 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington.
She never married.
iii. ALICE LORAINE HARDY, born 01 Mar 1927 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington;
died 29 May 2007 in Bellingham, Washington. She never married.
98

iv. FRANSIS JUNE HARDY, born 21 Jun 1930 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington.
v. CHARLOTTE MAY HARDY, born 24 Oct 1931 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington;
died 18 Jan 1998 in Gig Harbor, Pierce, Washington.
vi. DAVID EARL HARDY, born 20 Aug 1934 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington;
died 10 Jan 1999 in Puyallup, Pierce, Washington. He married
(1) ELAINE V. BECKMAN 03 Aug 1977 in Puyallup, Pierce, Washington;
born 30 Dec 1913; died 04 Feb 1990 in Puyallup, Pierce, Washington. Divorced.
He married (2) ALMA HARDEN.
4. ANGUS CUMMINGS 3 ELLISON (Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 )
was born 07 Feb 1914 in Kamilche, Mason, Washington, and died 11 Mar 1971 in Shelton,
Mason, Washington. He married Verna Beatrice Marie Abbott 11 Nov 1946 in Shelton, Mason,
Washington. She was born 17 Feb 1915 in Tenio, Washington.
Children of ANGUS ELLISON and VERNA ABBOTT are:
i. MAROLYN ANN 4 ELLISON, born 09 Aug 1947 in Shelton, Mason, Washington.
ii. CAROLYN MARIE ELLISON, born 19 Jul 1949 in Shelton, Mason, Washington.
iii. DARLENE JOSEPHINE ELLISON, born 14 Dec 1951 in Shelton, Washington.
iv. ARLENE ELINORE ELLISON, born 14 Dec 1951 in Shelton, Mason, Washington.
5. ANTON EDGAR 3 ELLISON (Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) was
born 07 Feb 1914 in Kamilche, Mason, Washington. He married Mary “Christine” Marshall 05
Jul 1946 in Matlock, Mason, Washington, daughter of John Marshall and Mabel Powers. She
was born 02 Sep 1921 in Poyen, Grant, Arkansas, and died 09 Nov 1990 in Tacoma, Pierce,
Washington.
Children of ANTON ELLISON and CHRISTINE MARSHALL are:
i. MARSHALL ANTON 4 ELLISON, born 09 Jun 1947 in Shelton, Mason, Washington.
ii. JUANITA CHRISTINE ELLISON, born 22 Aug 1950 in Shelton, Washington.
iii. JOYCE CORINE ELLISON, born 29 Apr 1958 in Shelton, Mason, Washington.
Generation No. 3
6. ALBERT WILLIAM “BUSTER” 4 HARDY (Alma Josephine 3 Johnson, Mina Antonettie Nordrum
2 , Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum 1) was born 28 Dec 1922 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, and
died 26 Aug 1978 in Cour’de lene, Sanoma, Idaho. He married (1) MAUREEN INGERLEE
HOLE 17 Oct 1953. She was born 31 Jan 1931 in New York City, New York; and died 31 Jul
1977 in West Covina, Los Angeles, California. She was the daughter of an immigrant, JOHAN
HOLE and JULE MIKKELSON of Norway. Divorced. He married (2) PHYLLIS about 1960.
Children of ALBERT HARDY and MAUREEN HOLE (pronounced Hu-la) are:
i. DEBRA ANN 5 HARDY, born 27 Jul 1955 in New York City, New York.
ii. LAUREN JOY HARDY, born 20 Mar 1958 in California.
99

9. FRANCIS JUNE 4 HARDY (Alma Josephine 3 Johnson, Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan Mikkelsen
Nordrum 1 ) was born 21 Jun 1930 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington. She married CLAR-
ENCE “NORMAN” KRIG 12 Jun 1953 in Seattle, King, Washington. He died 28 Jul 1992 in
Pleasant Hills, California.
Children of FRANCIS HARDY and NORMAN KRIG are:
i. SHERYL RENEE 5 KRIG, born 03 Sep 1954 in Seattle, King, Washington.
She married DAVID GABOR.
ii. KAREN JOYCE KRIG, born 20 Dec 1955 in Seattle, King, Washington.
She never married. KAREN died July 2007 in California
iii. GARY NORMAN KRIG, born 05 Mar 1958 in Yakima, Washington.
iv. JANET LYNN KRIG, born 11 Oct 1960 in Yakima, Washington.
She married MR. CHIERICHETTI.
v. DIANE MARIE KRIG, born 06 Aug 1961 in Yakima, Washington.
She married MR. CRAWFORD.
vi. DENISE KRIG, born 06 Aug 1961 in Yakima, Washington; died 4 days later.
vii. BRADLEY OWEN KRIG, born 15 Apr 1963 in Yakima, Washington.
10. CHARLOTTE MAY 4 HARDY (Alma Josephine 3 Johnson, Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan
Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) was born 24 Oct 1931 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, and died 18 Jan
1998 in Gig Harbor, Pierce, Washington. She married (1) LOUIS MARSH 29 May 1952 in Seattle,
King, Washington. He was born in Houston, Texas. She married (2) BARNEY DOUGLAS
05 Mar 1966. He was born 28 Oct 1934.
Children of CHARLOTTE HARDY and LOUIS MARSH are:
i. GRANT WILLIAM 5 MARSH, born 23 Apr 1955 in Seattle, King, Washington.
ii. GLEN ALLEN MARSH, born 23 Jan 1958 in Pasadena, Harris, Texas.
He married JOAN.
iii. CATHY ANN MARSH, born 11 Oct 1963 in Pasadena, Harris, Texas.
12. MAROLYN ANN 4 ELLIISON (Angus Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan Mikkelsen
Nordrum 1 ) was born 09 Aug 1947 in Shelton, Mason, Washington. She married Gary Richard
Matson.
Children of MAROLYN ELLISON and GARY MATSON are:
i. CATHY ANN 5 MATSON, born 1970.
ii. MICHELLE ROSE ANN MATSON, born 1972.
13. CAROLYN MARIE 4 ELLISON (Angus Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan Mikkelsen
Nordrum 1 ) was born 19 Jul 1949 in Shelton, Mason, Washington. She married DALE WIL-
LARD MATSON. He was born 1950.
Children of CAROLYN ELLISON and DALE MATSON are:
100

i. LORA DAWN 5 MATSON, born 1975.
ii. JOSHUA KEITH MATSON, born 1978.
iii. CALEB ANGUS RICHARD MATSON, born 1988.
14. DARLENE JOSEPHINE 4 ELLISON (Angus Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan
Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) was born 14 Dec 1951 in Shelton, Mason, Washington. She married ER-
NIE KUNZ.
Children of DARLENE ELLISON and ERNIE KUNZ are:
i. TOBIN 5 KUNZ.
ii. LUCAS KUNZ.
iii. SHELINA KUNZ, born 1988.
15. ARLENE ELINORE 4 ELLISON (Angus Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan Mikkelsen
Nordrum 1 ) was born 14 Dec 1951 in Shelton, Mason, Washington. She married JAMES
GILBERT.
Children of ARLENE ELLISON and JAMES GILBERT are:
i. ERIC 5 GILBERT.
ii. SHANNON GILBERT.
16. MARSHALL ANTON 4 ELLISON (Anton Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan
Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) was born 09 Jun 1947 in Shelton, Mason, Washington. He married (1)
CONNIE LOU HALL 24 Jan 1970 in Newport, Oregon. Divorced. (2) Married GERALDINE
DORIS HUSSEY GALLIPEO 30 Oct 1982 in Anchorage, Alaska. GERRY was born 28 Apr
1955 in Sindai, Japan.
Child of MARSHALL ELLISON and CONNIE HALL is:
i. APRYL CARMEN 5 ELLISON, born 19 Nov 1971 in Stuttgart, Germany.
17. JUANITA CHRISTINE 4 ELLISON (Anton Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan Mikkelsen
Nordrum 1 ) was born 22 Aug 1950 in Shelton, Mason, Washington. She married RANDY
ALLEN MEIER 15 Sep 1970 in Kamilche, Mason, Washington, son of LEO HENRY MEIER
and HELEN ISABELLE MATSON. He was born 14 Sep 1951 in Vancouver, Clark, Washington.
Children of JUANITA MEIER and RANDY MEIER are:
i. AMY ROCHELLE 5 MEIER, born 08 Oct 1976 in Anchorage, Alaska.
She married NATHAN ANDREW BERGA 13 Aug 1999 in Nampa, Canyon, Idaho.
He was born 29 May 1977 in Lanstahl, Germany,
to PETER KRIS BERGA & ROBERTA HELD.
ii. MINDY NICOLE MEIER, born 03 Oct 1979 in Anchorage, Alaska.
iii. RYAN ALLEN MEIER, born 19 Aug 1982 in Anchorage, Alaska.
101

He married ADRIENNE NICOLE MADDIX 03 Jun 2007 in Nampa, Canyon,
Idaho. She was born 04 Apr 1986 in Lexington, Kentucky.
18. JOYCE CORINE 4 ELLISON (Anton Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan Mikkelsen
Nordrum 1 ) was born 29 Apr 1958 in Shelton, Mason, Washington. She married DAVID
RENNER MOLINARO 20 Aug 1983 in Lacey, Washington. He was born 12 Nov 1954 in
Washington DC.
Children of JOYCE ELLISON and DAVID MOLINARO are:
i. KRISTEN MARIE 5 MOLINARO, born 18 Nov 1984 in Olympia, Washington.
ii. GABRIEL JOSEPH MOLINARO, born 03 Aug 1987 in Olympia, Washington.
Generation No. 4
19. DEBRA ANN HARDY 7 DAWSON (Albert William “Buster” 6 Hardy, Alma Josephine 5 Johnson,
Mina Antonettie “Nettie” 4 Nordrum, Johan Mikkelsen 3 , Mikkel Amundsen 2 , Amund Mikkelson
1 ) was born 27 Jul 1955 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. She married MR. WASSER-
MANN.
Children of DEBRA DAWSON and MR. WASSERMANN are:
i. GARY 8 WASSERMANN, born 26 Oct 1979 in Chico, California.
ii. TRAVIS BLAKE WASSERMANN, born 01 Sep 1981 in Chico, California.
iii. KELSEY WASSERMANN, born 13 Sep 1985 in Chico, California.
20. LAUREN JOY HARDY 7 DAWSON (Albert William “Buster” 6 Hardy, Alma Josephine 5 Johnson,
Mina Antonettie “Nettie” 4 Nordrum, Johan Mikkelsen 3 , Mikkel Amundsen 2 , Amund Mikkelson
1 ) was born 20 Mar 1958 in San Jose, California. She married MR. O’NEILL.
Children of LAUREN DAWSON and MR. O’NEILL are:
i. KEVIN CHASE 8 O’NEILL, born 01 Mar 1987 in Montgomery,
Alabama Airforce Base Hospital.
ii. MICHAEL SEAN O’NEILL, born 29 Dec 1991 in Tacoma,
Washington Army Hospital.
iii. MAUREEN CARA O’NEILL, born 22 Feb 1993 in Bethesda,
Maryland Navy Hosptial.
32. MICHELLE ROSE ANN 5 MATSON (Marolyn Ann 4 Ellison, Angus Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie
2 , Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) was born 1972. She married MICHAEL HEALY.
Child of MICHELLE MATSON and MICHAEL HEALY is:
i. ASHLEY 6 HEALY.
33. LORA DAWN 5 MATSON (Carolyn Marie 4 Ellison, Angus Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie 2 , Johan
Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) was born 1975.
Children of LORA DAWN MATSON are:
102

i. JOSHUA 6 MATSON.
ii. CALEB MATSON.
39. ERIC 5 GILBERT (Arlene Ellison 4 Ellison, Angus Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan
Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) He married CHRYSTAL.
Children of ERIC GILBERT and CHRYSTAL are:
i. BRANDON 6 GILBERT.
ii. DEVON GILBERT.
40. SHANNON 5 GILBERT (Arlene Ellison 4 , Angus Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan
Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) She married JOHN MACHTEMES.
Child of SHANNON GILBERT and JOHN MACHTEMES is:
i. ELISE 6 MACHTEMES.
41. APRYL CARMEN 5 ELLISON (Marshall Ellison 4 , Anton Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum
2 , Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) was born 19 Nov 1971 in Stuttgart, Germany. She married
JOHN PATRICK DELCLOS. He was born 03 Feb 1969 in Rockville, Conneticut.
Children of APRYL ELLISON and JOHN DELCLOS are:
i. AYSA JORDAN 6 DELCLOS, born 11 Jan 2002 in Boulder, Colorado.
ii. JANSEN CASH DELCLOS, born 08 October 2007 in Boulder, Colorado
42. AMY ROCHELLE 5 MEIER (Juanita Ellison 4 , Anton Ellison 3 , Mina Antonettie Nordrum 2 , Johan
Mikkelsen Nordrum 1 ) was born 08 Oct 1976 in Anchorage, Alaska. She married NATHAN
ANDREW BERGA 13 Aug 1999 in Nampa, Canyon, Idaho, son of PETER KRIS BERGA and
ROBERTA HELD. He was born 29 May 1977 in Landstuhl, Germany.
Children of AMY MEIER and NATHAN BERGA are:
i. MADISON ANN 6 BERGA, born 21 Mar 2003 in Nampa, Canyon, Idaho.
ii. ETHAN ANDREW BERGA, born 06 Apr 2005 in Anchorage, Alaska.
103

Testimony in the case
against Jerome Fry
Dr. J.M. Hogan
Dr. J. M. Hogan, being first duly sworn on
behalf of the State, testified as follows:
Q. You live in Rhinelander, Doctor
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You are a regular practicing physician
and surgeon
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And practicing here in Rhinelander
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Were you called to attend professionally
John C. Johnson at Gagen
A. Yes Sir, I was.
Q. Do you remember what day that was
A. I think it was the 27 th of September.
Q. Do you remember the day of the week
A. Sunday.
Q. How did you go there
A. I went there by hand car.
Q. Where did you find Mr. Johnson
A. I found him in his saloon building at
Gagen.
Q. You may state what condition you
found him in at that time
104
A. When I arrived there he was in an unconscious
condition, and his condition was
fairly good, that is, his general condition:
his pulse was fairly good but his breathing
was bad at times, and he cold not be roused
at that time from his unconsciousness. At
that time I found three scalp wounds on
the median line of the exterior part of the
scalp, one wound about an inch and a half
above the ear on both sides. He showed
evidence of considerable hemorrhage from
the right ear and the left eyelid was swollen,
closing the eye. That was about all that
could be detected at that time. We could
not detect any fracture of the skull on that
examination.
Q. Did you prescribe for him at that time
A. Yes Sir. I left some medicine for him.
Q. How long did you stay at that time
A. I should judge I was there about an hour
and a half or two hours. I dressed the scalp
wounds and cleaned him up as much as
possible.
Q. Was he unconscious during all the time
you were there
A. Yes, he was.
Q. You did not get him back to consciousness
A. No sir.
Q. Did you see him after that
A. No, I did not.
Q. Were you present at the time of the
inquest on his body
A. Yes Sir.

Q. Did you make an autopsy at that time
side.
A. Yes, we did: not a complete one, however.
Q. What did you do in the way of making
a post-mortem
A. We incised the scalp so as to bare the
skull, first cleaning off the anterior part:
we could not detect any fracture there. On
the posterior we detected a fracture beginning
about the median line and extending
downward towards the ear.
Q. What was there
A. A fracture of the skull extending across
the median line down ward and forward to
what is called the aqueous portion of the
temporal bone.
Q. Was it visible from the outside
A. No sir.
Q. You detected that on removing the scalp
portion of the skull
A. Yes. There were two lines of fractures,
one going anterior and the other running
downward to the auditory canal. There was
no abrasion of the scalp over the line of
fracture.
Q. Were you able to determine what produced
that fracture
A. No sir, not positively.
Q. It could not have been fractured from
the inside could it
A. It might have been produced by a counterstroke,
that is, a stroke on one side of
the scalp producing a fracture on the other
105
Q. Where were the other wounds
A. One on the median line in front and
one on the other side of the ear.
Q. What was the cause of these abrasions
that you found
A. They were caused, I suppose, by coming
in contact forcibly with some object.
Q. What did you find to be the cause of
death of Mr. Johnson
A. Pressure of the brain caused by Hemorrhage.
Q. Where was this hemorrhage found
A. It occurred at the base of the brain.
Q. Was this state of unconsciousness that
you found a symptom of this hemorrhage
of the brain
A. Yes sir; in all probability it was from a
vein, because he was around for some time
after. It was a slow Hemorrhage.
Q. It was probably caused by this fracture
that you found in the skull
A. Yes Sir.
Q. From your examination, Doctor, did
you determine whether the blows that were
received were forcible blows, that is, were
they delivered with force against his head
A. They were delivered with enough force
to injure the scalp so that the bone was
exposed.
Q. What do you call this fracture
A. I do not understand.

Q. What caused it
A. It could be caused by a counterstroke, a
blow on one part producing a fracture on
another part.
Cross-examination.
Q. This hemorrhage, I gather, Doctor,
was caused by the rough edges of the bone
where it was a fractured lacerating the
small vessels
A. Yes, that is probably the way it was
caused.
Q. Now, you spoke of hemorrhage from
the ear That hemorrhage came from the
ear drum, I suppose
A. Well, the fracture extended down
through the canal of the ear.
Q. So that, in your judgment, when the
fracture was made the canal of the ear was
lacerated and hemorrhage would occur immediately
A. Yes.
Q. It would be the best of your judgment
that the hemorrhage took place immediately
after the fracture of the skull
A. Yes.
Q. So that at a point about an inch and
a half above the ear two lines of fractures
started, one running forward and the other
downward striking the canal of the ear
Q. Now, Doctor, I suppose your knowledge
of injuries of this kind is largely what the
books tell you. You have not had much
experience with fractures of the skull
A. I never saw one just like this.
Q. What I want to get at is, what is the
probability of a fracture of this nature,
with two or three lines running from a
point, what is the probability of a fracture
of that kind coming from a counterstroke
A. It depends entirely upon the part received
and the instrument delivering the
stroke.
Q The point I am getting at is this: where
you find a radiating fracture is it not usually
caused by a blow at that point
A. Yes sir, it is.
Q. And if there had been an abrasion over
that spot where the fracture radiated you
would say unhesitatedly that it was caused
by a blow at that point
A. Yes Sir.
Q. These blows in front of the skull cut the
scalp
A. Yes.
Q. And I suppose you could not judge of
how heavy the blow was unless you knew
what the instrument was
A. No.
A. Yes Sir.
Q. The long line of fracture was about four
inches
A. I should judge about that.
106
Q. In your judgment, from your experience
and reading would not a blow sufficient to
cause such a fracture as that from a counterstroke
produce temporary unconsciousness,
or, to be more vulgar, to knock a man

out
A. Yes, I think it would.
Q. This part where the blow was received is
the hard part of the skull
A. Yes.
Q. And does not spring much
A. No.
Q. And thus would not be as likely to produce
a counterstroke
A. No.
Q. So that the great probability would
be that a blow on the top of the skull, in
front, sufficient to produce a fracture like
that, would knock a man unconscious, just
from the effects of the blow
A. Yes.
Q. What is the condition that produces
that temporary unconsciousness
A. It is a sort of concussion. Our equilibrium
is destroyed by a blow being received
and destroying the fluid in the canal of the
ear. The will causes us to lose our equilibrium
and any shock will cause that.
Q. So that the falling is not so much a
matter of loss of sensibility as a loss of sensibility
to control the muscles
A. Yes.
Q. Would a case, Doctor, where a man had
his skull fractured and continued about
his affairs without complaint for about
five hours and then died from the fracture,
would that be a usual case at all
107
A. Such cases occur, but not very frequently.
Q. I judge from what you have said would
be because the hemorrhage was slow
A. Yes sir, either that or the blood escapes
from the fracture and the flow stops the
pressure.
Q. Now, this man, what would you say
as to whether or not he must have experience
acute pain at once after receiving that
injury
A. Well, I really could not say as to that.
I would seem to me with that laceration
there the pain must have been acute. (Last
sentence is “x” out)
Q. And he would have a severe headache at
once
A. Well, he probably would have considerable
pain.
Q. Well, the pain that a man would suffer
from this fracture would be very much
greater probably than the pain he would
suffer from scalp wounds
A. No, I don’t think it would.
Q. You think scalp would be more painful
A. Yes.
Redirect
Q. What time on Sunday did you get
there
A. About half past two, I think. A little
before half past two.
Q. And you learned there, I suppose, about
what time the injury occurred

A. Sometime on Saturday afternoon. I do
not know just what time.
Q. You don’t know how long he had been
unconscious before you got there
A. No, but I think it was sometime during
the night.
By the Court: Q. How large a man was
this man that was killed: A. He as a very
large, muscular, heavy man. I should judge
he would weigh over two hundred pounds.
Q. Could you tell from your examination
whether he had been drinking A. No, I
could not. Q. Would a blow such as you
consider this one was on a man who was
very angry, with blood vessels extended,
or who was intoxicated, be more liable to
result fatally than if he were in a normal
condition A. It would be liable to result
fatally in any case.
Frank Wheeler
Frank Wheeler, being duly sworn on behalf
of State, testified as follows:
Q. Where are you living now, Mr. Wheeler
A. Well, I was living at Iron Mountain.
Q. Where are you living now
A. I am stopping here at Rhineland now.
Q. Do you remember the time you were
stopping at Gagen on the 26 th day of September
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What were you doing there
A. Working on the section.
Q. Who for
A. Mr. Fry.
Q. Mr. Fry was section foreman, was he
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Where you boarding at Mr. Fry’s house
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And did you know Mr. John C. Johnson
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What was he doing
A. Keeping a saloon.
Q. How far from Mr. Fry’s house
A. About a hundred feet or more.
Q. Do you know whether he had sold out
his saloon about that time
A. Yes Sir, he did. He sold it to Mr. Hilgermann.
Q. You were there the Saturday night Mr.
Johnson got hurt, were you
A. Yes Sir.
Q. About what time was it
A. I think it was about one or two o’clock.
Q. One or two o’clock in the afternoon
A. Some time about that.
Q. where you out on the section that afternoon
A. No Sir.
Q. You were not working on the section
108

that afternoon
A. No Sir.
Q. Did you go to this saloon that afternoon,
Mr. Wheeler
A. Yes Sir.
Q. About what time did you go there
A. I was there before any one was in the
saloon at all.
Q. About what time was that
A. About noon.
Q. Was Mr. Johnson there
A. Yes Sir.
Q. But no one but Mr. Johnson
A. No Sir.
Q. Were you there again that afternoon
A. Yes Sir.
Q. About what time was that
A. About half past one, I think.
Q. Who was there at that time
A. This beer man.
Q. Mr. Hilgermann
A. Yes Sir.
Q. How long did you stay there then
A. I stayed maybe twenty-five minutes.
Q. Was there anything happened at that
time
A. No sir.
109
Q. Did you go there again that afternoon
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What time was that About what time
A. About two o’clock I think it was.
Q. Who was there at that time
A. there was two strangers: I don’t know
who they were.
Q. Did you stay there long at that time
A. Yes, I stayed quite a little while.
Q. Was Mr. Johnson there at that time
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Was he drinking then at that time
A. Yes Sir.
Q. With these strangers
A. No, not with them.
Q. Drinking by himself
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Where was Mr. Fry at this time
A. He was over home at his own place.
Q. Now, how long was it before you were
there again, Mr. Wheeler
A. I don’t just remember: I was in after the
two started.
Q. You heard some trouble, did you
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What was the nature of this trouble
What did you hear from the outside
A. I heard tumbling around, and men go-

ing around as if shuffling their feet on the
floor.
Q. Scuffling
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You went in, did you
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Who was there at that time
A. Mr. Fry and the saloon keeper.
Q. State what you saw when you first went
in
A. When I first went in they were in a
clinch at the far end of the ice box. They
scuffled there for quite a while, and Mr. Fry
downed him, and he kind of broke away
from him again, and Johnson caught his
arm and they went at it again, and just as
soon as Mr. Fry turned around, his back
had been towards me, and just as he turned
around a pail of water fell, and some
checks, five, I think, and he said, “Pick
up my checks: I want to get out of here.”
And at that time they went at it again and
Mr. Fry broke loose and he went to get his
checks from the floor, and Mr. Johnson was
after him, and he tried to get at the door
and Mr. Johnson after him.
Q. Where were you
A. Right at the door: I had my foot on it,
and Johnson locked the door.
Q. That left him alone
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Did you see anything of an axe handle
there
110
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Where was it
A. Behind the bar.
Q. When did you see it behind the bar
A. It was lying there two or three weeks.
Q. Did you see it when you went in there
A. Yes.
Q. Where was it then
A. They both had a hold of it, in a clinch.
Q. Did you see anybody strike with the axe
handle
A. No Sir.
Q. There was no striking when you went in
there
A. No Sir.
Q. Just clinch and scuffling
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Was Mr. Johnson bleeding at all
A. I did not notice: his eye was black. I was
kind of excited.
Q. Did you see any blood on the floor
A. Not until after the door was locked. He
was bleeding then.
Q. What time of the afternoon was this
A. I don’t remember.
Q. Was it before supper or after supper
A. Before supper.
Q. Would you say it was before four

o’clock
A. Yes Sir: it was.
Q. Did you see Mr. Johnson after that
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What time was that
A. About half past five.
Q. Where was he going then
A. He was going from the back end of the
saloon out to the shed.
Q. Do you know whether he went back
into the saloon again
A. Yes Sir.
Q. When
A. Just in about two or three minutes.
Q. Did you see him again after that
A. No Sir, I did not see him again after he
was outdoors, not until after the Doctor
came.
Q. And that was the next day
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Is there anything more that you know
about that trouble that you saw that you
have not testified to
A. No Sir: not that I remember.
Cross-examination
Q. How long was it after Fry went down to
the saloon before you heard this scuffling
in there
A. It might have been ten minutes.
111
Q. Did there appear to be anything the
matter with him when this scuffling was
going on
A. Not that I could see: he was drunk.
Q. Was he able to handle himself all right
and put up a pretty good fight
A. Yes, he could put up a pretty good fight.
Q. You were not in the saloon after the
scuffle
A. No Sir, I was not.
Q. And could you say from what you
saw looking in there that there was blood
around the saloon at that time
A. There was blood on the floor and on a
couple of glasses he was using at that time.
Q. Where was this blood on the floor
A. Right from the back end of the saloon
to where he ran to the door and on the
floor where he put his hands.
Q. This blood that came to the door was
blood that came from Johnson as he went
towards the door
A. Yes Sir.
Q. He was bleeding then
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And his hands were bloody
A. Yes.
Q. You say that as soon as Fry saw you he
asked you to help him away
A. Yes, he asked me to pick up the checks
first, and I told him I would not have any-

thing to do with it.
Q. You did not see him before he died
Q. How did they have hold of each other as
you saw them first
A. Johnson had him around the neck and
Fry had him around the waist.
Q. And Johnson had a hold of this axe
handle with this left hand
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And Fry with his right or left
A. Left.
Dr. H.L. Garner
Dr. H.L. Garner, being first duly sworn on
behalf of State, testified as follows:
Q. You live in Rhinelander, Doctor
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You are a regularly admitted practicing
physician and surgeon
A. Yes Sir.
Q. How long have you been practicing here
in Rhinelander
A. About a year and a half.
Q. Where you at Gagen on or about the
27 th day of September
A. Yes Sir, I think that was the day.
Q. Did you see a man there by the name of
Johnson, do you remember
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Was he dead when you saw him
A. Yes Sir.
112
A. No Sir.
Q. Did you assist in making a post mortem
autopsy on the body of Mr. Johnson
A. Yes Sir.
Q. At what place
A. In Gagen.
Q. Where was he at that time
A. The body was in the saloon building.
Q. About how large a room was that, Doctor
A. About the same size room as this, I
should think.
Q. Is there any back room did you notice
A. I think there is
Q. But the body was in the saloon part
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You may state now to the Court what
you did in making that autopsy.
A. On external examination we found abrasion
above the right and left eyes and one
below the left eye. On the scalp we found
three large incised wounds, one was located
on the left side about two inches above the
ear, about two inches in length, and then
there was one on the median line that ran
back about two inches. They were each of
them going down to the bone. Then there
was one on the right side about the same
distance from the ear as the one on the
left. They were about two inches in length.
After removing the scalp, there were no

indications beneath the scalp wounds
of a fracture on the skull adjacent to the
wounds, but after dissecting the scalp
down to the neck we found a fracture. The
fracture started on the median line posteriorly,
about half an inches above the occipital
protuberance, running about half an
inch above the occipital sinus downward
and outward towards the orifice of the ear.
About half an inch above the orifice of
the ear there was also a fracture extending
about an inch and a half anterior towards
the eye. This fracture also extended
through the petrous portion of the temporal
bone. The total length of the fracture
was about seven or eight inches.
Q. Did you remove any portion of the
skull at all
A. No Sir, the fracture was complete going
through both tables, and the blood coming
from the internal ear shows that there was
fracture on the base of the brain.
Q. From your examination did you determine
what was the cause of the death of
Mr. Johnson
A. The cause was a fracture: the cause was
the wounds on the head. The fracture
could be causes in two ways: it might be
caused by a blow on the front of the head
being transmitted to the other side or by a
fall.
Q. As I understand you found no abrasion
on the scalp over the fracture
A. None whatever.
Q. Would that not indicated that it was
not caused by falling
113
A. the scalp as a whole had blood clots
beneath it. After receding the scalp there is
blood all over, but no abrasion.
By the Court:
Q. Could that have been occasioned by a
fall A. It could have been. Q. That is, you
would say if he was knocked down by a
blow on the front of the head it might have
been caused in that way or the blow itself
might have caused it A. Yes Sir.
Cross examination.
Q. Would that fact that there was a radiating
fracture would there be any indication
as to whether it was caused by a fall or
caused by a blow on the top of the head
A. I don’t think it would.
Q. You don’t think there would be any
difference between the nature of a fracture
caused by a blow on the top of the head
and a facture caused by a blow at the point
of it
A. It would depend upon what instrument
struck the head.
Q. Now would a rupture of the ear be any
indication
A. That would be an indication: that just
indicates a fracture: that is all.
Q. You think a fracture at the ear would be
just as likely to be caused by a blow at the
other side of the head
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Is it usual, Doctor, where death results
from a fracture of the skull that the deceased
would go about his business for five
or six hours after that

A. It is very frequent.
Q. You live in Rhinelander, Mr. Hilgermann
Q. Where a fracture is caused by a blow on
the opposite side of the skull from where
the fracture happens what would you say as
to the force being sufficient to knock a man
down and make him unconscious
A. It might not be.
Q. Ordinarily a man’s skull could be fractured
as Johnson’s was by a blow on the
top of the head on the opposite side of the
head from where the fracture happens and
he would not be knocked down or affected
by it in any way
A. It would be possible.
Q. Would it be probable
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And which of these blows, Doctor, in
your judgment produced the fracture
A. I think the blow on the right side of the
head.
Q. The fracture was on the right side
A. Yes Sir.
Q. How far was that scalp wound from the
fracture
A. About two inches.
Q. And was it parallel with the fracture
A. Yes Sir.
O.A. Hilgermann
O.A. Hilgermann, being first duly sworn
on behalf of State testified as follows:
114
A. I do.
Q. You are in the business of conducting a
brewery
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And did you know Mr. Johnson, of Gagen
in his life time
A. Not much: I seen him only about a
couple of times.
Q. Did you have any business with him
about the 26 th of September
A. I don’t know whether that was the day
or not: I know it was on Saturday. Two
weeks ago last Saturday, I think it was.
Q. What was the transaction you had with
him
A. All the transaction I had with him as he
owed me $38.00 and I went out to collect
the bill, and he told me he had no money
and I said, “No money, no business.”
Q. What time of day were you there
A. I just got in there when the train got
in, about two o’clock in the afternoon. As
soon as the train got there, I went in there.
I told him I would not do any business that
way, and I told him if he could not make
it pay we better settle up. I told him the
license is worth about seventy-five dollars
and I give you thirty-seven dollars more
and we call it square, and I told him he
could stay until the first of the month and
then get out.
Q. Now, what was his condition at that
time

A. I could not say he was drunk: he only
had two glasses of beer when I was there.
There were five of us and I spent half a dollar
on beer.
Q. You say you paid him thirty-seven dollars
A. Yes sir: I gave him $21.00 in paper
money and $6.00 in money and the rest an
express money order.
Q. You don’t remember how long you
stayed there that time
A. No, that I would not say. I know I did
not stay very long. I know it would not
exceed half an hour.
Q. Where did you go then
A. I went up to the little mill there. I
wanted to see Joe Ritz in the meantime I
saw John Ridge, a fellow that used to be in
there. I asked him where Joe Ritz was, and
he said he left last night for town, and I
did not see anybody else around so I went
right back again.
Q. Did you see Mr. Johnson after you got
back again
A. When I came back to the crossing I
heard a fight, it was in full blast.
Q. Now, the crossing was how far from the
saloon
A. It might be a hundred feet, but I don’t
think it is that much.
Q. You say you heard the fight. What do
you mean by that
A. I heard the sound of the club pounding.
115
Q. Where was the fight
A. It was in the saloon building.
Q. What did you do then
A. I walked a little farther up and when
I got near the door, Mr. Fry said, “God
Damn son of a bitch, I want my time book
and my checks!” and at the same time Fry
came out the door.
Q. Did you go up to the saloon after that
A. Yes, but Mr. Johnson locked the door.
Q. Did you see him inside or look through
the window
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What was he doing
A. He was wiping himself.
Q. Was he bleeding
A. Yes.
Q. Whereabouts as near as you can tell
A. He was bleeding right under the ear.
Q. Did you have any farther talk with Mr.
Fry
A. Yes.
Q. Was it in regard to the trouble there
A. Yes.
Q. State what that was.
A. I stayed outside the door after Johnson
lock the door. Fry was gone, and I sat
around there for about five minutes and
looked around. I saw Johnson did not
open the door, and Mr. Fry motioned me

that I should go up to the section house
and I went up there, and he showed me
the checks. He said, “These are the checks
he took away from me.” I think there was
four, one $50.00, one $49.50, and two, I
think, was $1.50 each. He said he had another
one, but the check was made out in
Johnson’s name, so of course I said if it is
in his name he could not take it away from
him, although I did not think the trouble
was as severe as it turned out afterwards.
The checks were all wet, as if they had been
washed. I said they might go through all
right. Fry said, “He owes me fifty-one days
for board.” I advised him that he could be
arrested for his board, and I advised him
to have him arrested for the board, because
I like to see a man pay his bills. He said
he would have to lock him up and pay
his board. Well, says I, it won’t amount
to much: he could be glad to get out and
pay his bills if he has got any money. Mr.
Fry said he was afraid of the law. He did
not want to do it, because he fired the first
stroke. He hit him first.
Q. Hit who first
A. He said he hit him first. I said you do
not need to tell that: arrest him and get
your money. Of course I did not think
that case was as severe as it is. Then, afterwards
I went over to the saloon. I rapped
on the door and I called Johnson to come
and open the door. He opened the door so
I told him to give me a glass of beer and
take one himself. I took another one, but
I helped myself at the faucet because the
glasses were full of blood, and I did not
want it that way. He had a glass of beer
and I had two, and I gave him a quarter.
I finally says you had better go and wash
116
yourself in cold water and stop the blood;
and I would go and see a Doctor: you look
pretty bad. He said, “That son of a bitch
struck me three times over the head with
the axe handle.” He was always wiping the
blood off his face. The ice box and the floor
and the door was covered with blood.
Q. Was the blood in the room high up on
the walls
A. That I would not say. I know there was
some on the ice box, on the counter and on
the floor and on the door there.
Q. Was anybody else in while you were in
this last time
A. No Sir.
Cross examination
Q. How long were you in there the last
time
A. I don’t think I was in there over fifteen
minutes.
Q. When did you leave Gagen
A. I went up to the Northwestern section
house there, the tool house. The fellows
lived there and there was four of the train
crew of the North western and a special
came along from Eagle River, and I said I
will go along, and they said they would not
let me on. I said pass me as one of the train
crew, so I got on and went to Monico.
Q. Did you notice when you left the saloon
whether Johnson locked the door again
A. I could not say.
Q. Did he say anything more about the
fight

A. That is all he said. I said, “You better go
and see a Doctor.” And he did not answer
to that.
Q. He took two beers
A. He took two and I took three, small
snits.
Arthur Taylor
Arthur Taylor, being first duly sworn on
behalf of the State, testified as follows:
Q. You live in Rhinelander, Mr. Taylor
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And engaged in the bottling business
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Do you know where Gagen is
A. I do.
Q. In Oneida County
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Do you know John Johnson who kept a
saloon there
A. Slightly, I met him twice. Once at his
place in Gagen and once at Rhinelander.
Q. You know where his place is in Gagen
A. Yes sir, I have been there frequently.
Q. Were you there on Tuesday after Mr.
Johnson was killed
A. I was.
Q. There in the saloon
A. Yes Sir.
Q. About how large a building is the saloon
building
A. To guess, I should judge eighteen or
twenty feet wide by thirty or thirty-five
feet long.
Q. that is the whole building: there is only
one room
A. There is a small closet in one corner,
probably 4x6 ft.
Q. Which corner was that in
A. The North-east corner, at the back of
the building.
Q. The building faces south then
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Where was the bar in the saloon
A. At the back of the building running to
the ice box at the back of the building on
the West side, running north.
Q. Was there any opening between the bar
and the front of the building
A. No.
Q. The bar went right up to the end of the
building
A. Yes Sir.
Q. About how high was the bar
A. About my breast high.
Q. Could you state about how long it was
A. I should judge it was 12 or 14 feet long.
Q. Now, where was the ice box located
with reference to the bar
117

A. Immediately North of the bar.
Q. What time of day were you there on
Tuesday
A. I should judge about half past eight:
I think the train left Rhinelander about
twenty or twenty-five minutes late.
Q. Were you in this building that you
speak of that morning
A. Oh, yes.
Q. Did you notice any blood there in the
building
A. Yes, there was blood on the front door,
on the insides of the front door and on the
end of the ice box next the end of the bar
and my recollection is that the calendar on
the end of the bar had some on.
Q. Was there any behind the bar
A. I don’t think so, unless at the ice box.
On the floor there was some scattered
around but the largest splashes were on the
ice box and on the doors, front and back.
Q. Was there any broken glass
A. the greater portion of it had been picked
up and thrown in a box, but it had not
been swept and there were small pieces of
glass both on the bar and in the bar room.
Q. Was Johnson’s body there at that time
A. It was.
Q. Where
A. It lay on a wire wove mattress on the
South end of the building, but near the
center of the room.
No cross.
F.M. Mason
F.M. Mason, being first duly sworn on
behalf of State, testified as follows:
Q. You live in Rhinelander, Mr. Mason
A. I do.
Q. And what office do you hold
A. Justice of the Peace.
Q. Were you called upon to hold an inquest
over the body of John Johnson at
Gagen
A. I was.
Q. Do you remember the day of the month
you held that inquest
A. I don’t remember now, just definitely.
Q. Was it the last Monday of September
A. I think it was.
Q. Was it Monday or Tuesday
A. Well, it was Monday and Tuesday both.
Q. Did you go to Gagen for that purpose
A. I did.
Q. When you arrived there what did you
find
A. I found the body of John C. Johnson in
the saloon.
Q. There was a post mortem examination
made
A. There was, the next day, on Tuesday.
118

Q. You went there Monday
A. I went there on Monday.
Q. Did you make any examination of the
body at that time yourself
A. I did.
Q. What did you see on the body in the
way of wounds
A. I saw three scalp wounds on the head.
That is as far as I examined the body.
Q. What was the condition of the room at
that time
A. The room had the appearance of a very
severe fight.
Q. How about blood
A. There was blood over the floor and
blood on the walls and blood on the ice
box and blood on the front door.
Q. How about glass and the glassware
A. At that time there was but very little
glass on the floor. I was told by these parties
that stayed with Mr. Johnson before
his death and after his death that the glass
had been picked up and thrown out the
back door.
Q. Did you see and axe handle there, Mr.
Mason
A. I did.
Q. Do you know what became of that
A. I gave it in charge of the Under Sheriff,
and he brought it to Rhinelander.
Q. Where was it when you first saw it
A. When I first saw it, it was in the hands
of one of the man who was there. I don’t
remember which one.
Q. Was it a common axe handle
A. I judge it to be for a double bitten axe.
Q. Straight
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What did you find as the belongings of
Mr. Johnson
A. I found some change that had been
taken from his pockets and in his pockets
some checks, two of them, I think, checks
from the “Soo” Railway Co. and one as a
check from the Western Express Co.
Q. Did you find any torn or mutilated
checks
A. One check for $13.50 was mutilated
and covered with blood. That I passed back
to the Agent at Rhinelander, and asked
him to send it in to the Company and have
a check drawn to my favor, and he done so,
to the account of John C. Johnson.
Q. The original check was drawn to
John C. Johnson
A. Yes Sir.
Q. How much change did you say there
was
A. Between seven and eight dollars that I
received.
Q. Was there any other money found
A. None by me, and none in the saloon. I
searched and had other people look also.
119

Q. Do you know of any persons who were
with him before his death
A. Mr. Fry, I think he told me he was with
him before his death.
Q Do you mean the Defendant
A. No, a brother of the Defendant.
Cross examination.
State rests.
Frank Wheeler
Frank Wheeler, recalled on behalf of Defendant,
testified as follows:
Q. Mr. Hilgermann who was on the stand
a little while ago testified that as he was
going up to the saloon during the fight he
heard Mr. Fry say, “Give me my time book
and my checks.” And Mr. Hilgermann said
that was just before he came out of the
room. Your testimony was that Mr. Fry
asked you to get his book and his checks
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Where was the book and the checks at
that time
A. On the floor and in the water.
Q. About how far from the door
A. I should judge about 12 feet.
Q. Did you see Mr. Hilgermann as he came
over from the crossing to the saloon
A. No sir, I did not.
Q. You were probably standing looking in
at the door at that time
A. I was inside at that time.
120
Q. You testified that when you looked in
there the two men were at the back end of
the saloon clinching, and that each had a
hold of the axe handle
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Which end of the handle did Johnson
have hold of
A. The round end of the handle.
Q. And which end did Fry have hold of
A. The end that was broken off.
Q. Had you seen the axe handle before
A. Yes Sir, behind the bar.
Q. How long had it been there
A. I can remember three weeks that I am
sure of.
Q. Kept behind the bar all the time
A. Well, every time I was in the salon, off
and on three or four times every week.
Cross examination
Q. Take the axe handle and let us see how
it lay behind the bar
A. It just stood like that right against the
wall.
Q. Which end did Fry have hold of
A. This broken end.
Q. They were clinched pretty close together
then
A. Yes Sir, wrestling you might say.
Q. And it stood behind the bar broken end
up

A. Yes Sir.
Jerome Fry
Jerome Fry, being first duly sworn on his
own behalf, testified as follows:
Q. You are the Defendant, Mr. Fry
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You may begin at the beginning and
state how this matter occurred
A. Well, I went down to the saloon on the
26 th . In the afternoon to see Mr. Johnson,
to see if he would help me a little on his
board bill. He had been boarding with me
and he had run a little account with the
boys that are working on the section with
me, and he told me if I would send in the
bill to be collected for him that he would
turn it on the board that he owed me, so
I turned it in and got a check, and I took
it down and gave it to him and I said,
‘There is the check that I got for you and
I want you to endorse it,’ and he took it
and looked at it and put it in his pocket.
I had the time book in my hand, and he
took up the axe handle. I said, ‘Give me
back my checks.’ And I struck at him with
the axe handle. He grabbed a bottle and
a glass and struck at me and clinched me
and took the handle away from me at the
door, and I tried to get out then. I gave up
trying to get my checks then; he was too
much for me and I thought I would let my
checks go. He kept me from getting out
and I started for the back door and he went
after me and he struck me and I picked up
a piece of board he had for kindling and I
struck at him two or three times with that.
I think I struck him on the head and we
121
clinched, and after we clinched, Wheeler
came in the door and I said to Wheeler,
‘Come in and pick up my checks and help
me to get out.’ And he said, ‘No, I don’t
want to have anything to do with it.’ We
scuffled up and down there and finally I
saw a chance to get loose of him and I ran
for the front door. He slipped and fell and
I saw my checks in a pail of water and I
grabbed them and ran. He followed me
and closed the door.
Q. You heard Mr. Hildermann’s testimony
with regard to your making a statement
at the house to the effect that you did not
want to bring any proceedings against him
to collect your bill because you struck the
first blow. What was the facts about that
A. We did not talk about that. I talked
about the axe handle, I said, I struck him
the first blow with the axe handle.
Q. Who was there when you talked with
Mr. Hilgermann
A. My wife, my brother’s wife, Frank
Wheeler.
Q. How long had you known Johnson
A. I have known him since the first of August.
Q. You say he had boarded with you
A. Yes sir, he boarded with me all the time
until we had the trouble.
Q. What had been his habit during that
time as to drinking
A. Well, that man was what I consider a
pretty heavy drinker. I had to lead him to
the table and up and down to keep him

from breaking dishes and hurting the
children. I have seen him so full that he
could not get into the saloon when he went
back after supper. He would fall down and
I would go and get him to lock the door to
keep him from losing his change.
Q. Where did he sleep
A. In the saloon.
Q. Had you ever seen this axe handle before
A. Yes.
Q. Where had you seen it
A. He had it behind the bar. I have seen
him have it in this hand and in the window
and I have seen it behind the bar.
Q. You came in to get a Doctor
A. I did and four men who were working
for me.
Q. On a hand car
A. Yes Sir.
A. Never.
Q. That was the first trouble you ever had
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Did he ever have any trouble with anyone
you know of there
A. I could not say that he had any trouble
really, only a little trouble he had with Mr.
Riggs. They had some talk together. Of
course, that was nothing to me. They did
not fight.
Q. This check, do you remember how
much it was for
A. $13.50
Q. That was the one that was coming to
Johnson for goods against the mentioned
men
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And that is the one he had agreed to let
you have on that board bill
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You may state how you were arrested
A. I had made arrangements to bring him
to Rhinelander and had a stretcher and was
all ready to take him on the train, and they
said he had died, so I came to Rhinelander
and gave myself up.
Cross examination
Q. You say you have known Johnson since
about the first of August
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Did you ever have any trouble with him
before
122
Q. Now, when you first went into that
saloon where was Mr. Johnson
A. At the table on the east side of the
building.
Q. Towards the front of the saloon
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What did you say when you first went
in
A. I just walked up to the bar, and he went
behind the bar.
Q. Then you took out your time book and

checks and placed them on the bar
A. I handed him this one: I had my time
book on the bar.
Q. And what did you say to him
A. I said there is your check; I thought I
would come down and give it to you and
see if you would help me a little on my
board bill.
Q. What did he say
A. He said, “Not by a damned sight.”
Q. And what did he do
A. He took it up and folded it up and put
it in his pocket.
Q. What pocket
A. I could not say.
Q. Did you see the check again after that
A. No Sir.
Q. Did you use the check again after that
A. No Sir.
Q. What did you do after that
A. He said, “What is those” I said, “Those
are my checks.” And he grabbed them and
hit me right on the face.
Q. Had you not said anything to him
A. No Sir, we had not talked at all.
Q. With out saying anything to you, he
struck you in the face
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What did he strike you with
A. His hand.
Q. What did you do then
A. I stepped back to keep him from hitting
me and he took up the axe handle and
raised it to strike me, and I rose up and
took it out of his hand.
Q. What did you do then Did you hit
him
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Where
A. I could not say as to that.
Q. Where was he; behind the bar
A. Yes.
Q. You had the axe handle
A. Yes sir, after I took it away from him.
Q. How far were you from the door
A. About four or five feet.
Q. What happened after that
A. He grabbed a glass and a bottle and
went after me again.
Q. What kind of glass
A. A beer glass.
Q. And what kind of bottle
A. A beer bottle, and he came round to the
end of the bar.
Q. What were you doing in the meantime
A. I stepped up to the door.
Q. Which door
123

A. The front door.
Q. Did you wait there until he came up
and struck you with this bottle
A. He did not strike me.
Q. Then you started for the back door
A. Yes Sir.
Q. When you started to go out the back
door, did he hit you again
Q. You had the axe handle
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What were you doing
A. I had it in my hands and was using it to
keep him from striking me.
Q. Did he throw the bottle at you
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And the glass
A. Yes Sir.
Q. He did not hit you with those
A. No Sir, I dodged those.
Q. And after he threw those you clinched
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And then you got this piece of wood
you spoke of
A. No Sir, I was standing at the door and
he took the handle away and I tried to get
out of the door.
Q. That is the back door
A. No Sir, the front door.
Q. He had got between you and the door
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Had either of you been knocked down
A. No Sir.
124
A. He struck at me. He had the axe handle
and he crowded me so close I see I had to
do something.
Q. What did you do then
A. I picked up a piece of wood.
Q. Where did you strike him
A. I could not say exactly, but I suppose
somewhere on the head.
Q. He fell down
A. No Sir.
Q. What did he do
A. We clinched, and after we were clinched
I noticed Wheeler at the door, and I said,
“Come and help me get my checks and
help me out.” And he said, “No, I don’t
want to have anything to do with it.”
Q. What had you done with the kindling
wood
A. It had got out of my hand entirely. We
struggled over the axe handle then. We
were scuffling there.
Q. You threw him down finally
A. I had him down once and he had me
down. We were both down.
Q. That was after you struck him
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Now, do you know how many times you

hit him on the head with the axe handle
when he hit you on the face
A. I could not say, I don’t think I struck
him with it only when he was behind the
counter.
Q. How often did you strike him with the
board
A. I think three or four times. When I got
away from him he fell and he fell against
some beer cases there.
Q. At that time, did he fall down hard
A. I think it was hard. I had time to pick
up my checks and get away.
Q. Was he lying in the corner when you
went out
A. No, he followed me to the door.
Q. How long did you have this fight
A. A pretty short time; it did not seem to
me to be more than two or three minutes.
Q. Now, when he picked up his check and
put it in his pocket were you not pretty
mad about that
A. I didn’t get mad; I thought it was funny.
Q. You did not try to get the check
A. No Sir.
Q. There was no struggle between you and
him for that check
A. No sir, there was not.
Q. Did you notice that Johnson was bleeding
after this struggle
A. Yes, he was bleeding some.
Q. Now, the only time he struck you was
125
A. He struck at me two or three times.
Q. You had no abrasion of the face
A. Just a little bit there, (pointing)
Q. That is the only wound you had on your
person that you know of
A. Of course he kicked me on the side
when we were down on the floor, but it did
not make any mark.
Q. After that when was your attention next
called to Johnson
A. I see him come to the window and look
out when I came in on the train.
Q. Did you come to Rhinelander on the
next train
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Did you come for a Doctor
A. No sir, I did not think he was hurt to
amount to anything.
Q. What time did you get back home
A. It was somewhere about ten o’clock, I
think; between ten and eleven.
Q. Did you know anything more about
Johnson that night
A. No, I did not go near him at all. I went
home and went to bed.
Q. What time next morning did you first
have your attention called to him
A. I should think about nine o’clock.
Q. What took place then

A. The boys came and said he was not able
to be up and around, and I said if he is in
that bad shape something ought to be done
for him. He seemed to be unconscious and
I told the boys that we better get a Doctor,
so I got a hand car and started for Three
Lakes. We were nearly there when I remembered
there was only one Doctor and
he might be away so I turned and came to
Rhinelander and got Dr. Hogen and took
him up.
Q. When Johnson started to go around the
end of the bar, the bar is about twelve feet
long
A. It is something like that, I should say.
Q. You had the axe handle at that time
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Did you make any attempt to get out of
the door
A. No, not them. I was watching him to
keep him from hitting me.
Redirecting
Q. He had your time book and checks at
that time
A. I suppose he had, I did not see them
after that, they were lying on the floor.
Q. Did you see them when they fell
A. No Sir.
Recross
Q. When did you first see them again after
he grabbed them
A. After we were clinched towards the
stove.
126
Q. Where were they then
A. Right by the ice box, close to where we
were.
Q. Where they scattered on the floor
A. Yes sir, lying in some water that was
spilled there.
E.M. Fry
E. M. Fry, being duly sworn on behalf of
Defendant testified as follows:
Q. You are the brother of the Defendant
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You work on the section out there in
Gagen
A. Yes Sir.
Q. You were not around there at the time
this fight took place
A. No Sir.
Q. When did you come in
A. I came in about six o’clock.
Q. Did you see anything of Johnson
A. I saw him looking out of the window as
we came in on the hand car.
Q. Was there anyone around his place that
evening
A. There was two strangers that was all I
saw.
Q. Did you see Johnson again later in the
evening
A. I saw him about half past nine. Some of
the section boys went and tried to get in,

so I thought he was kind of had and went
down with a lantern and looked through
the front window of the saloon, and as
soon as the light shone on the bed he got
up.
Q. Who was with you at the time
A. There were four fellows with me.
Q. What was their names
A. I could not tell, they had such funny
names; one was called Big John.
Q. You saw Johnson get up
A. I could not say; he stunk of whiskey.
Q. Did he say anything about this fight
A. No, he did not say a word about the
fight. He called one or two of us by name
and we left him.
Cross examination
Q. Did you see him again
A. Next morning. I took care of him until
his death. The boys went back I think
twice after that to see that he was in bed all
right.
A. Yes Sir.
Q. What happened then
A. He went half way to the door and then
fell down.
Q. How did he fall
A. He fell as if he were dead.
Q. Did he strike the floor
A. Yes Sir.
Q. How did he strike the floor
A. On the back of his head.
Q. What did you do then
A. He tried to get up. He wheeled himself
half way around and I said something will
have to be done for him and they said, “We
better force the front door,” and I said,
“No, the back door is fastened with some
nails and we can easily get in.” and we
opened it and went in and put him to bed.
Q. What would you say as to his being
drunk or sober
127
Q. When you went back on Sunday morning
what condition was he in
A. He was unconscious. He seemed to be
dry and I gave him a glass of water and
built a fire and took his shoes off and tried
to warm him up.
Frank Wheeler
Frank Wheeler, recalled on behalf of Defendant,
testified as follows:
Q. Were you present at Fry’s house when
he had the talk with Hilgermann
A. Yes sir, I was there.
Q. What was said about who struck the
first blow
A. I was not paying much attention. I was
playing with the children, and thought it
was no business of mine.
Q. You are unable to say then what was
said
A. Yes Sir.

him then.
Jerry O’Connor
Jerry O’Connor, being first duly sworn on
behalf of defendant, testified as follows:
Q. you are road master on the “Soo” road
A. Yes Sir.
Q. And the Defendant is employed by you
A. Yes Sir.
Q. How long have you known him
A. Something over a year; I could not say
just how long.
Q. Can you state what his general reputation
has been as to whether he was a peaceable
or quarrelsome man
A. Yes. Since last April, he was employed at
Pembine, transferring freight. During my
whole acquaintance with him I have known
him to be strictly sober and industrious.
Q. And how as to being a peaceable or
quarrelsome man
A. I never saw him have any trouble, in
fact, I saw him once in Rhinelander when
he tried to avoid trouble down at the “Soo”
depot. I was present and so was the night
policeman.
Q. Do you know anything about Johnson’s
reputation
A. I never knew Johnson until he went
to Gagen; I met him a short time after
he went there. I only know what I heard
before that, Mr. Dolan told me he had to
beat him to get $40.00; he said he beat
Q. You heard Mr. Fry’s testimony with
reference to a check of Johnson’s
A. Yes; I made a check on August 28 th , as
near as I remember. I got a letter from Mr.
Fry with a number of small amounts for
men that worked for him, amounting in all
to $13.80, or some such amount. The letter
was a request to make this payable to Johnson.
This was unusual, but Fry said that
Johnson had not paid him any board for
a month and if we could do it to do so, as
Johnson had been robbed twice. Through
his request, I made the deduction and
marked it “store,” although it was really a
saloon bill. This occurred, I think, about
a week or ten days before this happened.
Mr. Fry told me he did not want to board
Johnson any more if he could help it, as he
had not paid anything and was repeatedly
drunk. I met Mr. Hilgermann here on the
street, and I told him that evening that I
would not make any more deductions in
Johnson’s favor on account of his being too
much of a drunkard. Mr. Hilgermann also
told me he had not paid him anything, and
he was going to get rid of him.
Case adjourned until October 9 th , at Nine
o’clock.
Case Called October 9 th , 1903, at Nine
o’clock a.m. All parties present.
Dr. C.D. Packard
Dr. C.D. Packard, being first duly sworn
on behalf of Defendant, testified as follows:
Q. Doctor, you are a regular graduated
practicing and qualified physician and
128

surgeon
A. I am.
Q. Practicing in Rhinelander
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Your practice has been to a considerable
extent surgery
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Assuming that a man received a fracture
of the skull, the longest line of fracture
running from the median line at the back,
around towards the front, about one and
a half inches above the ear and about four
inches in length and a small line starting
from this line and running from one to one
and a half inches downward and forward
towards the ear, and this entire fracture is
complete, so that the bone moves freely
back and forth past each other at the line
of fracture, would it be possible for a man
to receive such a fracture without falling
and having a temporary period of unconsciousness
A. No Sir, it would not.
Q. Assuming that after a man is dead, a
fracture of the skull is found the longest
line from the median line on the back
around toward the front and about four
inches in length and a smaller line starting
from this line and running from one to one
and a half inches downward and forward
towards the ear, and this entire fracture is
complete, so that the bones move freely
back and forth past each other on the line
of fracture, and assuming that the man before
his death was engaged in a fight about
thirty hours preceding his death and in
129
such fight received three blow from a club
on the top of the head and not at the point
of fracture, that such blow did not knock
him down nor render him in any degree
unconscious, that he continued to fight
vigorously for a considerable time after the
last of such blows were struck and acted
as usual there after without any period of
unconsciousness for a considerable time
after the fight, that about seven hours after
the fight, and while walking, he fell on
the floor striking his head violently on the
floor, that after such fall he was unable to
rise and was at least partially unconscious,
what would you say was the cause of his
death
A. I should say the fracture that was sustained
at the time he fell.
Cross examination
Q. Supposing that he did not strike his
head at all at that time against anything
A. In that case he could not have sustained
the fracture in that place.
Q. It is possible, I suppose, to hit a man on
the top of the head and have him injured
in some other part of the skull from where
the blow is struck
A. Yes sir, that is quite a common occurrence.
Q. What kind of a blow would you call
that
A. It is called a fracture by contra-coup.
That is, it injures the skull by the impact;
the blow at the spot causes pressure to tear
the skull apart at the opposite side.
Q. In the questions that were asked you

in which the assumption is made that the
fracture is complete, what do you mean
A. I understand that the skull is fractured
clear through.
Q. That is that the fracture extended
through the whole thickness of the bone
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Is it usual in cases of fractured of the
skull that the patient becomes unconscious
at once
A. I think the patient is invariably unconscious
at the time; he may regain consciousness
later, but a blow that would
make a fracture of that nature would cause
unconsciousness. He might recover consciousness
afterwards and go about his
business and be apparently as usual for a
time.
Q. Is a man or a person in walking across a
floor and falling down without any apparent
cause likely to sustain a fracture of that
severity
A. It would depend upon how hard he fell.
Q. I mean just walking across the floor, not
running, just walking
A. If he struck his head against the floor he
might sustain such a fracture.
Q. On the back of the head
A. Yes Sir.
Q. A boy skating on ice when he falls does
not usually sustain such a fracture
A. Not usually.
Redirect
130
Q. How long would this period of unconsciousness,
following a fracture like this,
how long would it last
A. It might be of very short duration, but it
would be apt to last for sometime.
Q. Now, if this fracture occurs from a
contra-coup would the shock producing
the fracture be more or less severe than the
shock producing a blow direct
A. I would not necessarily be any more of a
shock.
Jerome Fry
Jerome Fry, recalled on his own behalf,
testified as follows:
Q. During the time that you were struggling
with Johnson in the saloon, was there
any time during that struggle that he was
not conscious and could not fight.
A. No Sir, there was not.
Defendant rests.
F.M. Mason
F.M. Mason, recalled for rebuttal, testified
as follows:
Q. Do you remember, Mr. Mason, the
$13.50 check
A. The $13.50 check, yes sir.
Q. And that is the one you testified you
sent in to the Company
A. Yes Sir.
Q. Describe to the Court the shape that
check was in

A. It was in three pieces when I got it; it
was torn in two twice. Each of the pieces
was torn somewhat and it was bloody.
Q. How was it as to being double up
A. It was all doubled in a bunch.
Cross examination
Q. Did it have the appearance of being
thoroughly wet
A. Yes sir, it had.
Q. Pretty thoroughly wet
A. Yes Sir.
Testimony closed. 90
May 8, 1904
Circuit Court Oneida County
The State of Wisconsin Vs. Jerome Fry, Defendant.
We the jury, sworn to try the above entitled action, do find the defendant, not guilty.
Jurors:
1. John Smith
2. Lorral Lago
3. H.G. Fields
4. Grant Hamilton
5. Wm. Locy
6. W.H. Durkee
7. S.D. Nelson
8. Fred Roman
9. James Cairnes
10. James Cannon
11. Wm. Morris
12. Chas Schwarty 90
131

Sources: (1) “Naming Practices of Norwegians” by John Føllesdal; digital article: www.rootsweb.com/norway (2) “Norwegian Naming Practices” by Johan I. Borgos;
digital article: www.nndata.no/hom/jborgos/names.htm (3) The research data, notes and photographs of Theodore Vanasse; private collection, courtesy of Charles Vanasse,
Wisconsin (4) Christ Nordrum’s Bible Record: birth & death dates; in custody of Marolyn Matson, Kamilche, Washington (5) For clarity, this author will refer
to her as Elisabet Nordrum, the name that she gives herself in the 1880 census (6) 1801 Norwegian Federal Census; County District: Christians, Lands Parish, Nordrum
Farm #0536; Norwegian National Archives (7) Parish Records; Nordsinni Kirke, Oppland, Torpa, Norway; Norwegian National Archives: www.digialarkivet.uib.no (8)
1865 Norwegian Federal Census; Norwegian Historical Data Center (NHDC) at University of Tromsø: www.rhd.uit.no; also found at Digitalarkivet; 1865 telling for
0536 Land: www.digitalarkivet.uib.no (9) “Norwegian Migration to America 1825-1850” by Theodore C. Blegen; published 1969 (10) “Norwegian America Dictionary”
by Otto Jorgensen ©1995-2007; digital dictionary:http://home.online.no/-otjoergo/files/word.htm (11) Nordsinni Kirke, Dokka, Oppland; photo courtesy of Jostein
Øksne, used by permission via email 2007 (12) “Norwegian Immigration” digital article; Wisconsin Historical Society: www.wisconsinhistory.org (13) “An Autobiography
of an Early Settler” by Andreas Langum of Spring Valley, in custody of Rickhert Hertzenberg; used with permission from Rick Hertzenberg as per his email dated
October 23, 2007 (14) Anna Delius ship’s records 1870: www.norwayheritage.com (15) Norwegian Emigration Records 1870; Norwegian National Archives: www.
digitalarkivet.uib.no (16) Anna Delius ship’s log; April 28-June 19, 1870: www.norwayheritage.com (17) “Account of the Voyage on Anna Delius,” by Mikkel A. Mellum,
from an article by B.E. Lund; printed in “Gammelt frå Stange og Romedal” issued by Stange Historielag 1975; www.norwayheritage.com (18) “Grosse Ile and the Irish
Memorial National Site of Canada” digital article: www.pc.gc.ca (19) Taken from the written history, memories and family trees of Joyce Alton Wada, and used with her
written permission (20) emails from Irvin Vanasse (21) emails of Charles Vanasse & Sandra Soares (22) County Plat Maps for Cady & Eau Galle, Wisconsin, 1895;
from the collection of Theodore Vanasse (23) written account and memories by Helen Vanasse Barnstable and used with her written permission (24) 1900 United States
Federal Census: Eau Galle, Saint Croix, Wisconsin; Roll: T623 1815; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 143 (25) North Rush River Church History, digital article, www.
wisconsinhistory.org (26) Confirmation Certificates for: Mary, Lena and Hans Nordrum; from Marolyn Matson, Washington; Mary Vanasse, Wisconsin and Charles
Vanasse, Wisconsin (27) Obituaries for William Vanasse, Lena Vanasse, Peter Vanasse, Christ Nordrum, Sam Nordrum, Nettie Ellison, Mary Nordrum; given by Vanasse
family members, from their private collections with the exception of Albert & Nettie, provided by Shelton Historical Museum; and Johan Mikkelsen Nordrum,
provided for by Chalmer Daviess Library, Wisconsin (28) Petition of Intent “first papers,” St. Croix Circuit Court, for John Jr. Nordrum, November 3, 1882; Martinus
Emerson, November 3, 1882, John M. Nordrum, November 1, 1878. (29) Baldwin Bulletin, November 22, 1895; Johan Nordrum’s obituary: Chalmer Daviess Library
microfilm collection (30) River Falls Journal, November 21, 1895; Johan Nordrum’s obituary: Chalmer Daviess Library microfilm collection (31) Obituary for Martin
Nordrum & Tombstone Photo; Maple Valley Historical Society, Washington (32) Washington State Territorial Census, King County 1857-1892; Washington State
Archives: Line 6; Roll: V228-4 (33) Washington State Territorial Census, King County 1857-1892; Washington State Archives: Line 7; Roll: V228-5 (34) Washington
State Territorial Census, Melrose & Houghton County 1857-1892; Washington State Archives: Line 7; Roll: V228-5 (35) John Nordrum Obituary & Tombstone
photo; Maple Valley Historical Society, Washington (36) 1910 United States Federal Census: Bend, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1657; Page: 3B; Enumeration
District: 47; Image: 911 (37) 1930 United States Federal Census: Tanner, King, Washington; Roll: 2505; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 376; Image: 936.0 (38) www.
findagrave.com; all four Nordrum brothers have tombstone pictures posted on this website (39) Washington Death Index, 1940-1996; Washington Department of
Health; microfilmed copy of index obtained by Washington State Archives and www.ancestry.com (40) Anton Nordrum Obituary & Tombstone photo; Maple Valley
Historical Society, Washington (41) 1910 United States Federal Census: Arthur, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1657; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 10; Image: 89
(42) 1920 United States Federal Census: Arthur, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1924; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 5; Image: 106 (43) 1930 United States Federal
Census: Arthur, King, Washington; Roll: 2489; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 230; Image: 667.0 (44) Wisconsin State pre-1907 Vital Records: www.wisconsonhistory.org/vitalrecords/
this index has the marriage records of Nettie & J.C. Johnson, and Mary & J.L. Nelson; and Lena & Wm. Vanasse (45) The Family Tree of J.
L.Nelson Mosveen by Erik Hove of Norway (46) Erik Hove of Norway; who shares the ancestor with J.L. Nelson Mosveen and Anders Strom; he has generously done
look-ups and checked within Parish records and Norwegian family trees, and has been instrumental in my Norwegian research. (47) Index of St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery,
Spring Valley, Wisconsin: Chalmer Daviess Library, Wisconsin (48) 1930 United States Federal Census: Minot, Ward, North Dakota; Roll: 1744; Page: 1A;
Enumeration District: 76; Image: 1047.0 (49) Emails of Robert Vanasse (50) Social Security Death Index digital database: www.ancestry.com, 395-28-2644 before 1951
(51) 1900 United States Federal Census: Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin; Roll: T326 1811; Page: 2B; ED: 118 (52) Social Security Death Index digital database: www.
ancestry.com, 398-01-6612 before 1951 (53) 1895 Wisconsin State Census:Line: 41; Roll CSUSAWI1905_22 (54) State of Wisconsin Circuit Court, St. Croix
County, Naturalization papers for Hans J. Nordrum, September 1, 1906; one of many documents which use “J” as a middle name (55) Obituary and Tombstone &
Photo for Anton Nordrum; Maple Valley Historical Society, Washington (56) 1910 United States Federal Census: Renton, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1657; Page:
27A; ED: 52; Image: 106 (57) Registration; King Co.; Roll: 1991651; Draft Board 2: digital database www.ancestry.com (58) 1920 United States Federal Census: Arthur,
King, Washington; Roll: T625_1924; Page: 9A, ED: 5; Image 106 (59) 1930 United States Federal Census: Arthur, King, Washington; Roll: 2489; Page: 1B, ED:
230; Image 667.0 (60) Wisconsin State Census, 1895 Microfilm, 10 reels. Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin (61) 1920 United States Federal Census: Renton,
King, Washington; Roll: T625_1925; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 58; Image: 344 (62) emails from Marolyn Matson 2006-2007 (63) Written memories of
Juanita Ellison-Meier (64) 1930 United States Federal Census: Arthur, King, Washington; Roll: 2489; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 230; Image: 667.0 (65) Letters
from Nettie Louise Hardy (66) Obituary & Tombstone Photo: Maple Valley Historical Society, Washington (67) River Falls Journal, July 3, 1890; Vanasse wedding
announcement; Chalmer Daviess Library microfilm collection; & Pierce County Herald, July 9, 1890; Vanasse wedding announcement Chalmer Daviess Library microfilm
collection; Marriage Certificate in private collection of Charles Vanasse (68) Death Record – Registration of Death, 1862-1907 for Elizabeth Marie Nordrum &
Wisconsin State Death Certificate for Elizabeth Marie Nordrum: Chalmer Daviess Library, Wisconsin (69) The Vanasse Family Tree; compiled & published by David
Vanasse, in custody of his wife, Mary (70) Anton Ellison’s memories, recorded on cassette and transcribed by Amy Berga (71) Original letter in custody of Charles
Vanasse (72) I cannot confirm that this is the inside of the Elmwood Store; similarities to store, led me to this conclusion. This picture came from the Wisconsin State
Archives. (73) Washington State Death Certificate for Joseph Ellison: County Clerk Office; Mason Co., Washington (74) Reach For The Sky, by Diane Ellison & Margaret
Elley Felt ©1986; ISBN#0-89288-177-8 (75) New North News & Ashland Daily Press articles courtesy of the Oneida County Historical Society; microfilm (76)
Marriage Certificate for Nettie Johnson & Albert Ellison, and news paper clippings: private collection of Tony Ellison (77) “The Matlock Mystery,” The Olympian News
by Lorrine Thompson date unknown: in private collection of Tony Ellison (78) Typed speech given by Mrs. Taylor: Mason County Historical Society & collection of
Tony Ellison (79) Original letter in custody of Tony Ellison,Washington (80) Washington State Births, 1907-1919 digital database: www.ancetry.com; Original data:
Washington State Department of Health. Washington State Births 1907-1919. Washington, USA: Department of Health. (81) Washington Death Index, 1940-1996
digital database: www.ancestry.com; Original data: Index created by: Washington State Department of Health. Microfilmed copy of index obtained from: Washington
State Archives. (82) Military Records showing leave of absence dates in private collection of Tony Ellison (83) Shelton Memorial Cemetery, Mason County, Washington:
Tombstone Photos taken by Amy Berga (84) J.C. Johnson Death Certificate; Oneida County Register of Deeds (85) Spring Valley Sun; Oct. 1, 1903: Chalmer Daviess
Library, Wisconsin (86) Lori Dollevoet, descendant of Jerome Fry, has generously provided photos & newspaper articles as well as family names and dates. (87) Information
on Rachel Reagle Gorich courtesy of descendant, Rebecca Reagle Fosnacht (88) Richland Rustic newspaper articles; Richland Co. Wisconsin, Brewer Public Library,
Richland Center, Wisconsin. (89) This is incorrect; 1910 census places Sam in Maple Valley, Washington. (90) State of Wisconsin Circut Court Case against Jerome Fry;
transcribed from original microfilm; Onieda County Court House held with the County Clerk; who searched through their records and made copies. (91) According
to the Maple Valley Historical Society, per phone conversation, there was no direct train route from Maple Valley to Shelton in 1910. Daily trains ran from Maple Valley
to Seattle. Through an indirect route, a train did run from Seattle to Shelton; it is probable that Nettie and Alma went by train, due to the time of year they were
traveling; however, Tony Ellison remembers riding in the back of the wagon during their supply trips to Olympia, Washington, suggesting that a wagon was commonly
used. (92) Rose Gorham; descendant of Rachel (Fry) Gorich, has graciously provided information on the Fry family.
Source used but not cited:
Boka Om Land; Utvandringen Til Amerika Fra Nordre Og Sondre Land 1839-1915 by Avrid Sandaker; published 1973 Utgitt Av LandsMuseum
132

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