MAAKESTAD, Gjoa Olsdatter Aaren 1831-1855

OLSDATTER, AAREN, MAAKESTAD, PEDERSEN, SJURSEN

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 2/11/2012 at 15:22:14

Gjoa Olsdatter Aaren Pedersen (Maakestad) was born April 18, 1831 at Stana, Odda, Hordaland, Norway to Ole Sjursen and Brithe Olsdatter.

Gjoa married Johannes Moa Pedersen (Maakestad or Mokestad) on July 21, 1851 at Ullensvang, Hordaland, Norway. They had three children while living in Norway:
Peder Johannesen Maakestad (born abt. 1851, died abt 1852 at Hordaland, Norway);

Peder Johannesen Maakestad (II) (born August 9, 1852, Hordaland, Norway, died before 1856 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa); and Guro Johannesdatter Maakestad (born March 14, 1854 Hordaland, Norway, died before 1856 U.S.A.).

The couple and their two children left Hordaland, Ullensvang, Norway on March 30, 1854 with a large group of friends and relatives to emigrate to America, settling at a Norwegian settlement in Illinois after 10 1/2 weeks of travel. Due to much illness, the family did not stay in Illinois long and moved west to settle at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa 1855. It may be that their daughter, Guro died in Illinois.

Believe Gjoa gave birth to twins, Olai and Peder (III) on August 28, 1855 at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa. She died the following day, August 29th, 1855 from complications of childbirth. Gjoa was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Newburg Township, Mitchell County, Iowa.

From the 1911 Mitchell County Atlas, section 2, page 18:
Mrs. John Pedersen Maakestad was one of the earliest funerals in Cedar township, after dying on August 28, (should be 29) 1855. She was buried on the west side of Cedar River, in Newburg Township. The service was conducted by Rev. C. L. Clauson. This funeral occurred before Cedar Township had its' own cemetery.

From the booklet "Meroa", written 1977 by Gertrude Crowell, page 64:
Johannes' wife died in August after their arrival to Mitchell County, Iowa. Hers was the first funeral in the township. Of their four children, only one son, Peter, grew to manhood. He moved to North Dakota, dying there a wealthy man.

From the 1989 Mitchell History Book, pg 352:
Olai and Peder Maakestad were born August 28, 1855. Their mother died the following day. Olai died the next year (1856) and Peder grew to adulthood.