Sanford, Josephine Olsen (1864-1953)

SANFORD, OLSEN, THORESON, LINDEBAK, HOF, THOMPSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/5/2015 at 12:54:54

Daily Freeman Journal, Monday, January 5, 1953

Mrs. Josephine Sanford, 88, died Sunday morning at 4 o'clock at the Johnson nursing home in Fort Dodge. She had been an invalid the past three years following a mishap in which she had suffered a fractured hip.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at the Union church at 2 o'clock, the Robbins funeral home in charge with the Rev. C. J. Naglestad officiating. Burial will be in Homewood cemetery.

Survivors are two sons and two daughters: Frank Sanford of Badger, Iowa; Archie Sanford of Kelley, Iowa; Mrs. Jesse Lindebak of Luverne and Mrs. Arthur Hof of Humboldt; 20 grandchildren and 29 greatgrandchildren.

Mrs. Sanford was a member of the Lutheran church at Ellsworth and was one of the first settlers of the community, moving there from Callanan, located at that time southwest of Ellsworth. She operated a millinery and dress shop before her marriage to Chilson Sanford, March 12, 1887.

{Josephine Olsen Sanford was the oldest child of Thea Thoreson Olsen and Lars Olsen. She was born April 27, 1864 on a farm named "Trygstad", 5 miles from Oslo, Norway. She received her education with religious instruction and later worked in a school of special handwork and sewing in Norway. She was confirmed in Norway. On July 4, 1880 Josephine with her parents landed in Quebec, Canada, after the voyage from Norway. And in 1881 they came by rail to Callanan, Iowa, where they lived until the Northwestern railroad laid tracks and Ellsworth was established. Josephine and her parents then moved to Ellsworth, being among the first to settle in this community. She did housework for people in the community until she learned the language; and later she established a millinery and dress shop in Ellsworth.

At the age of 23 years Josephine was married to Chilson C. Sanford on March 12, 1887. To this union there were born five children, two boys and three girls. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Mamie (Mrs. Thomas) Thompson.]