Book 2 - Nathan, Amy, Madison and Ethan Berga

“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