HILDE, Hans and Sarah
HILDE, HALL
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/22/2010 at 13:29:41
Hans Hilde came from Norway in 1879 as a young man. He was born in Hilde, Norway in 1861, (a town founded by his ancestors in the 16th century). Hans came to the Lyle area after a few years in South Dakota and stayed with the Hans Ashley family who were relatives. He worked on farms in the area, but went to Selby, South Dakota again to stake a claim.
He married Syverine (Sarah) Hall in Westby, Wisconsin on February 27, 1899. They returned to Selby, South Dakota to homestead. While there Rhoda was born July 9, 1903. They came to Lyle around 1910 and bought the farm in Mitchell County. Rhoda attended school in Mona until they moved to Lyle around 1918. She attended high school in Lyle and graduated in 1923. She attended Winona State Teacher's College for one year in 1923-1924. She taught country school in the London and Myrtle area for six years. She met Clifford Schroeder while teaching in that area. They were married December 7, 1929. They moved onto the Mitchell County farm a few years later. Clifford Hans was born there in May 1932.
Hans died that same year and Sarah came to live on the farm. She lived with the family the rest of her years, until she died in November 1945.
During the thirties and forties the farm was a busy place. As all small farms did in those days, there were lots to care for, Dairy cows to feed and milk twice a day, chickens to feed and gather eggs from. The egg money was used by the wife to operate the household. They usually had around 12 milking Brown Swiss cows, plus the younger heifers & steers. Summer was planting time, haying always in the hottest weather, threshing the grain, planting and harvesting corn & other crops. Since there was a creek on the land, there were always fences washed out or needing rapir. Threshing affairs were big events ont he farm. As many as six or seven hay racks and many farmers all came and helped eachother out. One farmer owned the threshing rig and they went from farm to farm. This meant a lot of work for the women on each place. They had to provide a lunch in the morning, a big meal at noon and a lunch again in the afternoon. Each farm wife tried to outdo the other in what she provided to eat!
During those years the whole family was involved in both church and school. Rhoda taught Sunday School for many years - 1936 until the early 1960s. She was superintendent of the Primary Dept., many of these years - during which she had the devotions, played the piano, led singing, and taught a class. She was active in Women's group also. Cliff Sr. was active in church, holding various offices and singing in choirs and men's groups. He also drove a school bus for Lyle many years. The family was involved in 4-H and attended and participated in many school activities.
Cliff Sr. had health problem in the middle 60's and died in October 1968. Rhoda spend many winters after that with her two sons, Cliff Jr., in Kenyon and Blooming Prairie and Ralph in the Chicago area. She died in September 1981. The farm since that time has been Cliff and Marlyn's and Ralph's.
By Clifford Schroeder
[MITCHELL COUNTY HISTORY, pub. 1989, p 422]
Mitchell Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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