MAAKESTAD, Syver Johann (Johnson) 1868-1956

DOCKEN, JOHNSON, MAAKESTAD, QVISLE, NELSON

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 10/2/2014 at 10:55:00

Syver Johan Maakestad was born February 20, 1868 at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa to Ole Johnsen Maakestad and Kjersti Engebritsdatter Qvisle Nelson, the third of their seven children.

Syver was baptized on March 18, 1868 at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church at Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa and confirmed at RCLC on June 8, 1884. Syver (or Sever) was kicked by a horse in the head when he was a young boy. There was not a doctor available so his sister threaded a needle and sewed up her brother's injured ear. She recalled that she "cried as she sewed." He first attended a rural country school and then later went to the Cedar Valley Seminary.

Found in the 1870 - 1885 censuses at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa using his father's surname of Johnson:

1870: Ole Johnson 45, Christy Johnson 34, Martha Johnson 7, Isabel Johnson 4, Lever Johnson 2, Peter Leverson 21, Ingbert Nelson 70.

1880: Ole O. Johnson 53, Christie Johnson 46, Martha Johnson 17, Isabel Johnson 14, Siever Johnson 12, Oliena Johnson 8, Anna Johnson 5, Tom Johnson 19, John Levan 27, Ingebret Nelson 80.

1885: Oley M Johnson 58, Christe Johnson 50, Martha Johnson 21, Isabelle Johnson 19, Sever Johnson 17, Lena Johnson 12, Anna Johnson 9, Peter Motland 24, Tunis Johnson 23.

Syver married Antonette Docken on November 9, 1890 at the First Lutheran Church at St Ansgar, Mitchell, Iowa. The couple lived on the farm that had been his father's.

The couple had six children:
Oliver (1890-1972);
Gertie Clarinda (1891-1991);
Johan Theodore (1894-1958);
Stella Antonetta (1896-1900);
Ingvald Myron (1898-1991) and
Stella Antonetta (1892-1977).

They built an entirely new set of buildings to replace the old ones on the farm. There is a photo of Syver's family in the 1911 Mitchell County Atlas, Sec. 3, page 30.

Found in the 1895 - 1930 censuses living at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa:
1895: Syver Maakestad age 26.

1900: Syver J Maahestad 32, Antonete Maahestad 30, Oliver Maahestad 9, Gertie C Maahestad 8, Johan J Maahestad 5, Stella A Maahestad 4, Ingvald M Maahestad 1, Chrestafer Brenden 31, Aslak Arno 32.

1910: Syon J Maakestad 42, Antonetta Maakestad 40, Oliver Maakestad 19, Gertie C Maakestad 18, Theodus Maakestad 15, Myron Maakestad 11, Stella A Maakestad 7, Rady H Brenden 21.

1915: Syver Maakestad age 46.

1920: Syver J 51, Antonette 50, Oliver 29, John 25, Ingvald 21, Stella A 17.

1925: Syver J Maakestad 56, Nettie Maakestad 55, Oliver Maakestad 34, John T Maakestad 30, Stella A Maakestad 22.

1930: Syner J Maakestad 62, Antonette Maakestad 60, Oliver Maakestad 39[34], J Theodore Maakestad 35.

In 1940, they retired and moved to Osage, Iowa. Syver and Antonette sold the farm to Carl Norby in the early 1940's. The house was occupied by many different tenants who served as hired men, also. The Rudy Guttman family lived there and worked for Kenneth and Herbert Norby, while Kenneth Norby was in the service. Herbert rented the land while Kenneth was in service. (From the booklet "Meroa" by Gertrude Crowell).

Syver Johan Maakestad died July 21, 1956 at Osage, Mitchell, Iowa and is buried at the Rock Creek Lutheran Cemetery, Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa.

There is a memorial for him at Find a Grave #49697578.