Gertrude Hovda Osher, 1847-1932

OSHER, HOVDA

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/1/2009 at 10:45:48

COUNTY PIONEER BURIED SAT'DAY

Mrs. B. N. Osher Came to Wallingford in 1869

Funeral services for Mrs. B. N. Osher, 84, who died last Wednesday at her home near Wallingford of the infirmities of old age, were held Saturday from Riverside church and interment made there. Rev. T. Hansen of Lakefield, Minn., the former pastor, preached the main sermon. Rev. S. Strand and Rev. Peder Nordsletten also spoke. The choir sang three numbers during the services at the church and also sang at the grave. The large attendance and beautiful floral offerings were evidence of the high esteem in which Mrs. Osher was held in the community.

Six sons of the deceased woman, Lewis, Ed, John, Oliver, Gilbert and William acted as pall bearers.

Mrs. Osher, whose maiden name was Gertrude Hovda, was born in Voss, Norway, on Dec. 24, 1847. As a little girl, seven years old, in 1854 and in company with her parents and sisters, Mrs.Osher came to America. by the way of the Erie canal with its 72 locks, the long trip was made by boat from Norway to Milwaukee, Wis. The voyage across the Atlantic was made by sailboat.

From Milwaukee, the family proceeded to Dane Co., Wis., which was their destination and where they settled down. It was at this place that Mrs. Osher lived the remaining years of hr girlhood and grew to maidenhood.

On July 25, 1868, Mrs. Osher, at the age of 20, married Mr. B. N. Osher at Hammond in St. Croix county, Wis. During the following year, 1869, Mr. and Mrs. Osher, as a young sturdy married couple, decided to share in the the settling of Emmet county, Iowa, the settlers then being few and scattered. They made their tedious journey in a covered wagon which was pulled by oxen. As early pioneers, their means of livelihood were very scant and their household commodities were very primitive. But they gradually forged ahead. Economy, thrift, and toil were the traits that were found in the lives of those early settlers.

Mr. and Mrs. Osher lived for 30 years on a farm in Twelve Mile Lake township, where I. G. Maaland and family live today. From that place, in 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Osher moved to a farm farther east which is located 4 miles south of Wallingford, the farm which is now farmed by one of the sons of the family, Oliver.

As advanced age began to make itself felt, Mr. and Mrs. Osher decided to move off the farm and to live more quietly during the declining years of their lives. Therefore, after having farmed for almost 50 years, they moved on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918, from their farm south of Wallingford to their newly-built home near the town of Wallingford.

Mr. Osher passed away on Oct. 23, 1930, aged eighty-three and one-half years. As a married couple they shared 62 years together of joys and sorrows.

The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Osher was blessed with eleven children. They are all living to mourn the lost of a mother who was patient and good.

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: Estherville Daily News, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa; April 27, 1932.