Oakland, Amos 1849-1923 & Anna Scherie/Scheie Family

OAKLAND, SCHERIE, SCHEIE, SVENDSDATTER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/10/2021 at 16:11:31

Oakland, Amos (1849-1923) and Anna Scherie/Scheie Family

This story was taken from the ‘Rock Valley Records & Recollections’ book written about 1976 in honor of the two hundredth birthday of our nation. It was a revision of the history written by Lottie Thomas in 1955. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and some research notes were added.

The Oakland farm, located one mile west and one mile south of Rock Valley, was homesteaded by Amos Oakland in 1872. When the government issued a call for settlers for this part of Iowa, a group of young men, including Mr. Oakland, came from Decorah, Iowa, in a covered wagon pulled by oxen to stake their claim for 160 acres. They were allowed to select their own acreage and then file their claim with the government, which was granted provided the necessary requirements were met.

The claimant was to live six months of each year for five years making the improvements required, such as breaking sod, planting trees, and building fences. But first to be done was to build a shelter for themselves, their oxen and horses, dig wells and many other necessities.

They endured many hardships as all pioneers did, which included grasshoppers, drought, and blizzards. It was so far to go to get supplies since the nearest towns at that time were LeMars and Sibley, which took several days or more to make the trip.

When the five years had expired and government requirements were met, he received the deed in 1878 signed by President Rutherford B. Hayes, and he then became the owner of 160 acres, described as the northwest quarter of Section 32 in Rock Township.

He remained here for several years making improvements as best he could, since he decided to make this his home. His first task was to build a house, which he built from logs cut from trees along the river; other material such as doors, windows, and flooring were bought either at LeMars or Sibley to complete the two room cabin.

In 1880 when Rock Valley was just coming into existence, he went to O’Neill, Nebraska, and in 1881 was married to Miss Anna Seberie; in November 1882, they and an infant daughter arrived here by covered wagon to make their future home. A few years later one room was added to the cabin, and in 1896 a new home was built. This house is still being used. Ten of the eleven children were born on this farm. The farm remained in the Oakland family until 1968 when it was sold. Henry Oakland, son of the Amos Oakland’s was living on the farm at the time of the sale. Henry now resides in Rock Valley. Douglas Kooima now lives on what was the Oakland farm.

(A revision of the 1975 history)

OBITUARY OF AMOS OAKLAND
From the Rock Valley Bee, April 27, 1923:
PIONEER SETTLER PASSES ON
Amos Oakland died at his home southwest of Rock Valley, where he had spent more than fifty years of his life, Friday afternoon, after a lingering illness of several months duration. He had not been well for two years or more, and he gradually failed until death came to relieve him.
Mr. Oakland was born in Oakland, Norway, Sept. 14, 1849, and had attained the age of 73 years, nine months and six days. His boyhood life was spent in his native land Norway, where he grew to young manhood. At the age of 21 years, in 1870, he came to this country and lived a year at Decorah, Iowa, coming from there to Sioux County in 1873, where he homesteaded on a farm one mile west and one mile south of Rock Valley, where he spent the rest of his life, passing through all the hardships incident to pioneer life. He saw the country develop and prosper and Mr. Oakland who was an industrious, hardworking man, prospered accordingly.
He was a man who was highly respected and esteemed by all who knew him. He was kind and thoughtful of others, was a fond and loving husband and father, an obliging neighbor and his friends were numbered by his acquaintances. The entire neighborhood mourns his departure, and extends heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.
"For were everyone for whom he did a loving kindness, to bring a flower to his grave, he would sleep tonight under a wilderness of flowers, for there was no nobler man." His faith in God was unbounded, and as he lived so he died.
Mr. Oakland was united in marriage to Miss Anna Scheie (or Seberie) in 1881. To this union, eleven children were born, all of whom are living and are highly regarded men and women, and all were here to attend the funeral of their father. The children are Mrs. Mary Suter, Sibley, Iowa; Mrs. Elizabeth Leonard, Sanford, Florida; Oliver and Albert, Canton, S.D.; Mrs. Emma Tripp, Porter, Minn.; Miss Ruby, Boone, Iowa; Mrs. Clara Shupe, Rolla, Mo.; Lauris, Henry, Esther, and Lucile, of Rock Valley. He also leaves his wife, and two brothers, Andrew, of Luverne, Minn. and Tobias, Oakland, Norway; besides fifteen grand children.
Funeral services were held at the home Friday morning at 10:00 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Thorsen, of the Lutheran church at Inwood, and the remains were taken to the Inwood cemetery for burial.

OBITUARY OF ANNA SEBERIE OAKLAND
Source: Sioux Center News (10-30-1947)
Birth: August 10, 1863
Death: October 23, 1947
Rock Valley--Mrs. Anna Oakland passed away at her home Thursday morning, October 23, 1947 at the age of 84 years, two months and 13 days, twenty-four years after the death of her husband.
Anna Olena Scheie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.O. Scheie, was born in Decorah, Iowa in Winneshiek County, August 10, 1863. She came with her parents in 1865 to Northwest Iowa settling near Inwood. At an early age she, with her parents, moved to O'Neill, Nebraska where she lived until her marriage in 1881 to Amos Oakland. A year later with their infant daughter they came to Rock Valley and settled on the old homestead which has been her home since.
Eleven children were born to them as follows: Mary (Mrs. W.H. Suter) of Sibley, Iowa; Elizabeth (Mrs. N.B. Leonard); Lauris and Henry T. at home; Emma (Mrs. Will Tripp), Porter, Minnesota; Oliver and Albert, Canton, South Dakota; Ruby of Chicago, Illinois; Clara (Mrs. Walter Schupe), Afton, New York; Esther (Mrs. Paul Hauser), Inwood; Lucille (Mrs. Le Roy Johnson), Red Wing, Minnesota There are 33 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren. She also leaves two sisters and two brothers: S.L. Scheie, Newport, Nebraska, I.P. Scheie, Warren, Minnesota; and Mrs. F.L. Bullman of Wisconsin and Mrs. C.H. Knutsen of North Dakota.
Mrs. Oakland lived a very simple unpretentious life on the farm content with her home duties and her family affairs. The interest of her children, the grandchildren, her neighbors and friends contributed much to her happiness and contentment.
A very devout person, she believed in doing her bit in the cause of the church and to Children's Orphan Homes and institutions for old people to which she gave generously. She will be long remembered by her family and friends for her devotion and her friendliness.
Funeral services were conducted by Reverend M.L. Jones at the Methodist Church at 1:30 at the family home and at 3:00 o'clock at the Methodist Church on Saturday afternoon.
Mrs. Edward De Haas and Mrs. M.L. Jones sang "Face to Face" with Miss Lois Roorda as accompanist. Six grandsons acted as pallbearers to carry her to her last resting place in the family plot at Inwood. Many floral tributes marked the honor in which she was held.

RESEACH NOTES: by Wilma J. Vande Berg
From a family history posted on ancestry by other family lists:
Aanen ‘Amos’ Oakland born 1865 Wisconsin died 20 Apr 1923 Iowa,
Son of Osmund Aanensen Oakland 1832-1905 and Madli ‘Malinda’ Svendsdatter 1836-1903.
He married Anna Olena Scheie born Aug 10, 1863 Decorah, Winneshiek, Iowa died 23 Oct 1947 Rock Valley, Iowa. Parents Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Scheie.
The children listed were:
Mary 1882-1950, Elizabeth 1884-1973, Oliver 1885-1973, Emma 1888-1960, Louis 1890, Albert 1891-1963, Henry 1893-1977, Ruby 1895-1968, Clara 1898, Esther 1900 – 1992, Hazel 1903-1996.

No picture was readily found, if anyone has a picture of the couple or of the family please contact our page coordinator so that it can be added to this BIOS.