DOCKEN, Gunhild (Asleson) 1840-1924
ASLESON, DOCKEN, BRAGER, IVERSON, MAAKESTAD
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/22/2010 at 10:54:25
#1:
Mrs. Gunhild Docken, one of the oldest residents of Rock Creek township, passed away at her farm home yesterday evening at 6 o'clock. She was 83 years of age, but had been in good health until recently. Her husband passed away some yeras ago, but she and her son, Gabriel, and her youngest daughter operated the farm.
She is survived by, besides these two children, her daughters, Mrs. G.O. Brager, Mrs. Anton Iverson and Mrs. Sever Maakestad.
Funeral services will be held at the Rock Creek Church on Friday at 2 o'clock and interment made beside her husband in the cemetery.
MITCHELL COUNTY PRESS - Jan. 28, 1924
(KK)
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#2:Gunhild (Asleson) Docken, 1840-1924
Gunhild Asleson Docken was born in Hedalen, Valdres, Norway on April 10, 1840. In the spring of 1858 she came to America and located in Cedar Township, Mitchell County, Iowa. In the summer of the same year she entered into the holy state of matrimony with Tidemand Docken, to whom she was betrothed in her native country and who also accompanied her on her journey to America. Shortly after their marriage they located on their farm in Cedar Township. On this place she continued to live until the time of her death.
Her husband preceded her in death on June 20, 1887.
In their wedlock eleven children were born. Of these, the following survive: O.T. Docken of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Mrs. G.O. Brager and Mrs. Anton Iverson, both of Osage, Iowa; Elvin Docken of Long Beach, California; Mrs. S.J. (Antonette) Maakestad, Mrs. Nick (Olava) Peterson, Gabriel Docken, and Miss Thea Docken, all of Cedar Township, Mitchell County, Iowa. The last two mentioned children have remained at home and tenderly and creditably taken care of their old mother during her declining years. Twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren also survive.
"Mother Docken" and her husband were among the first settlers of Cedar Township and experienced the hardships of pioneer days. Their home has served as a place of refuge for the many Norwegian "newcomers" of the earlier days. Originally it was not a palatial home, but a small log cabin of few rooms and of primitive construction. But nevertheless three or four homeless families for months at a time found shelter under its roof and enjoyed its kindness and hospitality and there were never any complaints about crowded conditions.
Mrs. Docken has been a very active woman, not only in her church and Ladies Aid society, in both of which she was a charter member. She also served as a midwife, being called to hundreds of homes in the earlier days of this community and responded at both early and late hours. She had been an exceptionally strong woman and enjoyed good health until the last few years, in which old age began to show its weakening effects. She died January 22, 1924, old age with its usual complications being the cause.
Funeral services were conducted in the Rock Creek Lutheran Church, which had been her beloved spiritual home since its erection. Rev. O.C. Myhre officiated and interment was made beside her husband and deceased children in the Rock Creek cemetery on January 25, 1924.
Submitted to IaGenWeb 2005, Steve Norby
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#3:The Rock Creek Lutheran Cemetery listing on IaGenWeb shows:
Docken, Gunhild Aslesdtr. 10 APR 1840 - 22 JAN 1924
Docken, Tideman Tidemansen 29 APR 1821 - 20 JUN 1887
(KK)
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#4:Gunhild (Julia) Aslesdatter born April 10, 1840 Hedalen, Valdres, Oppland, Norway.
She emigrated 1858 and married in September 1858 at St Ansgar to a Thidemand Thidemandsen but the family later used the surname Thompson and eventually Docken.
NOTES:
She was born as Aslesdatter, married and used Thidemandsen, Thomason, Thompson, and eventually Dokken, Docken....it's no wonder a newbie at genealogy gets frustrated trying to do research.
(Credit: D. Badker)
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#5:Census information:
Found in the 1860, 1870, 1880 (surname Thidemandsen), 1885, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1915, 1920 censuses at Cedar, Mitchell, IA:
1860: Thompson Thomason 40, Julia Thomason 19, Gousie (Guri) Thomason 1.
1870: Thomas Thompson 35, Julia Thompson 30, Julia Thompson 12, Ole Thompson 10, Caroline Thompson 8, Martha Thompson 6, Antonett Thompson 1.
1880: Tiedemas Tiedemanson 60, Julia Tiedemanson 36, Ole Tiedemanson 19, Martha Tiedemanson 13, Antonetta Tiedemanson 11, Oleva Tiedemanson 8, Gabriel Tiedemanson 5, Ingwer Tiedemanson 2.
1885: Tediman Thompson 64, Julia Thompson 45, Mattie Thompson 18, Nettie Thompson 15, Olias Thompson 12, Theodore Thompson 8, Mary Thompson 7, Teach Thompson 1.
1900: Gunhild Docken 60, Gabriel I Docken 25, Olava Docken 28, Chrestine G Docken 19, Thea Docken 16, Elvin J Docken 13.
1910: Granvil (Gunhild) Dokken 70, Gabriel Dokken 34, Christine Dokken 29, Thea Dokken 21[26], Alvin Dokken 22.
1915: Mrs. Ganil Docken 75.
1920: Gabriel T Docken 44, Gunile Docken 79, Ellef J Docken 33, Thera J Docken 36.
(Credit: D. Badker)
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#6:Gunhild and Thidemand had 11 children who were all born at the Shady Nook Farm, north of Meroa in Cedar Township, Mitchell County, Iowa:
1. Guri (born August 13, 1859, married Julian Christian Schoger 1880 Grand Forks, North Dakota, died March 9, 1921 Osage, Iowa).
2. Ole (born abt 1860, no death date found).
3. Karine (born August 1864, married Guud Olsen Brager December 16, 1883 Meroa, Iowa, died January 20, 1932 Osage).
4. Mathea (born December 1865, married Anton Iverson 1886 Meroa, Iowa, died December 26, 1932 Osage.
5. Antonette (born December 18, 1869, married Syver Johan Maakestad November 9, 1890 St Ansgar, Iowa, died September 19, 1966 Osage).
6. Olava P. (born May 3, 1872, married Nicholai Fagrebakken Pedersen June 28, 1908 Meroa, Iowa, died September 24, 1965 Osage).
7. Gabriel Theodore (born May 13, 1875, never married, died July 23, 1950 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa).
8. Inger Marie (born August 3, 1878, never married, died 1898 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa).
9. Christine Guilliana (born October 28, 1880, never married, died February 12, 1911 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa.
10. Thea J. (born July 11, 1883, never married, died May 8, 1953 Nora Springs, Floyd, Iowa).
11. Elvin Julius (born December 19, 1886, married Olga Mathilda Odden September 19, 1923 Meroa, Iowa, died February 27, 1964 Osage, Iowa).
(Credit: Deidre Badker)
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#7:Photo of Gunhild from Deidre Badker.
Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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