Opdahl, Lorentz 1866-1940 & #2 Julia Thompson Family

OPDAHL, THOMPSON, GERTSDATTER, RICHARDSON, SJURSON, DALVA, TORGERSEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/14/2023 at 16:59:33

Opdahl, Lorentz Christian 1866-1940 & #2 Julia Thompson Family

This story was taken from pages 443-444 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). Author family member unknown. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg .

On Feb. 7, 1866, Lorentz Kristian Opdahl was born on Tysnes, an island near Bergen, Norway. He was the first child born to Ole and Anne Opdahl. Following the wave of Norwegian emigration at that time, the family set sail from Bergen for America on May 17, 1869. Passenger fare ranged from $25 to $38 per person. Children under fourteen paid half fare and under one year went free. Passengers provided their own bedding and brought along a 10 to 12 week food supply. The voyage claimed the life of Lorentz’s ten month old sister, Guriane, and she was buried at sea.

The family arrived in Quebec on July 4, 1869. From there they sailed down the St. Lawrence River to Montreal, where they boarded a train for Lodi, Wi. They stayed there a short time with Anne’s brother, Nils Opdahl. The family then headed west, probably by rail, to Story Co,. Ia. Story Co. was the largest and one of the more famous Norwegian settlements in Iowa. Settling there, the family could be near Ole’s two sisters and their families who had immigrated in 1864.

Ole and Anne moved to a farm south of Huxley. The family grew with the addition of a daughter and two sons, one son dying in infancy. In Norway, Ole had been a ship builder. In America, he would farm for the remainder of his life. The beginning of a new way of life in America brought about a trend for many immigrants to change their name. The spelling of the name Opdal was changed to include an “h”.

Lorentz grew up on the family farm and attended country school. Later he took classes at Brookings, S.D. in the winter, while staying with his uncle Nils Opdahl at Volga. He was also employed for a time building bridges in Sioux Co.

On Feb. 8, 1893, he married Helen Richardson. They lived on Ole’s farm south of Huxley and had one son, Adolph, and one daughter, Anna. Adolph served in the Navy in WWI and later married Holdora Barnes. They had one son and three daughters. Anna married Lyndon Durling and they had two sons.

Helen Opdahl died in 1902 and was buried near Huxley. Lorentz’s brother, Andrew, died the same year.

On Jan. 31, 1903, Lorentz married Julia Thompson at her parents’ home near Huxley. Julia was born Mar. 1, 1880 near Alleman, Ia. She spent her childhood in Polk Co., where she attended country school.

Shortly after their marriage Lorentz and Julia purchased a 326 acre farm in Center Twp., later known as “Stock Farm.” Lorentz chose to live in Sioux Co. to be near his sister, Julia, who had married Anfin Richardson. Lorentz and Julia raised seven children on that farm. they are listed below

1-Arthur lived all his life near Ireton and farmed in partnership with his brother Norman. Now deceased.
2-Earling married Gertrude Robinson. They had one son and two daughters. He farmed until retiring in 1969.
3-Clara married Carl Valin and they had three sons. She worked for many years as a registered nurse in Des Moines. Now deceased.
4-Norman served in the army in WWII. Following a tour of duty in the Hawaiian Islands, he participated in the invasion of Okinawa and was assigned to duty in the Philippines. Now deceased.
5-Florence married George Johnson and they had a son and a daughter. She lives in Hawarden.
6-Mildred married Gustave Holzmueller and they had two sons. She lived in Des Moines and now Hawarden.
7-Lorentz, Jr. married Fern Muth. They had one son and three daughters. They live at Canton, S.D.

Lorentz Opdahl, Sr. was actively involved in community affairs. He was one of the first members of the Farm Bureau. He was also an advocate of the TB testing program for cattle, introduced in the 1920’s. For many years, he served as president of the Farmer’s Cooperative Association of Ireton.

Lorentz was a strong believer in education and most of his children attended high school, which was unusual for farm children at that time. For many years he was director of the Center Twp. Dist. 4 school.

Lorentz and Julia and their children were active members of the Rock River Lutheran Church. Declining membership coupled with the hard times forced the closing of the church in the 1930’s.

Lorentz was an extensive cattlefeeder, shipping cattle to Sioux City and Chicago. On these occasions Lorentz and his sons drove the cattle on foot or on horseback to Ireton to be loaded on rail cars. It would take about two hours to travel the five miles to town. Lorentz also owned a threshing machine and was the head of a neighborhood threshing ring.

Before her marriage, Julia Opdahl held a domestic position. With money earned from this job she bought herself an organ. After her marriage she acquired a piano. Julia was an accomplished seamstress and quilt maker. In her late 70’s she started doing cutwork embroidery and continued that into her 80’s.

Lorentz passed away at his home on Dec. 22, 1940. Julia outlived her husband by 27 years. Arthur and Norman resided with their mother, Julia, in her later years. She enjoyed baking and keeping house for them until ill health forced her to move to the nursing home in Hawarden. She died there on Apr. 22, 1968. Lorentz and Julia are both buried at the Highland Cemetery.

RESEARCH NOTES: Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg From a family report on ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other family members. Obits for most of the children can be found on this page at www.iagenweb.org/sioux go to obits.

Lorentz Chris ‘Kristian’ Opdahl Olai born 7 Feb 1866 Tysnes, Hordaland county, Norway died 22 Dec 1940 Ireton, Sioux, Iowa. He was the son of Ole Mikkelsen Opdahl 1840-1895 and Anna Gertsdatter 1838-1875 His first wife was Helen Richardson.

Wife #1. Helen Richardson born 9 Apr 1867 Story County, IA and died 12 May 1902 Story County IA. They were married 8 Feb 1893 Palestine, Story, Iowa. She was the daughter of John S. Richardson 1831-1887 and Anna Sjurson 1833. Lorentz and Helen had two children

Children of Lorentz and Helan:
1. Adolph John Opdahl Nov 16 1893 Polk Co.IA – Jul 1969 Fulda MN Wife Haldora Barnes 4 children
2. Anna Olive Opdahl Aug 4,1895- Dec 26, 1988 Lansing MI Husb: Lyndon Durling One son Harlan

Wife #2 Gurine ‘Julia’ Thompson born 1 Mar 1880 Huxley Story Iowa died 22 Apr 1968 Hawarden IA. Her parents were Thomas Soeboe Thompson (Torgersen) 1847-1916 and Ingeborg ‘Isabella’ Kristensdatter Dalva 1846-1926. She was married to Lorentz Opdahl 31 Jan 1903 Des Moines Huxley Stater Iowa.
They were the parents of children listed in the narrative from the Ireton Centennial book above. Listed on ancestry.com’s report as:

Children of Lorentz and Julia:
3. Arthur Heleen Opdahl born 14 Oct 1903- Sep1972 Ireton IA
4. Earling Opdahl born 2 May1905 – 15 Mar 1998 Ireton IA wife Gertrude Martha Robinson 2 children
5. Clara Voila Opdahl born 2 Jan 1907- 11 Feb 1976 Des Moines IA. Husb: Carl Valin – Three children
6. Norman Harold Opdahl born 25 Aug 1908 – 25 Aug 1975 Hawarden IA
7. Florence Mirands Opdahl 2 Mar 1910- 25 May 2009 Hawarden Husb: George Johnson– 2 Children
8. Infant daughter Opdahl born 25 Dec 1911- 7 Jan 1912 Ireton IA
9. Mildred Eleanor Opdahl born 6 Feb 1913- 23 May 1914
10. Mildred E. Opdahl born 12 Mar 1916- 21 Mar 1984 Hawarden. Husb: Gustav Holzmueller – 2 children
11. Lorentz Christian Opdahl 17 Mar 1919- 20 Feb 1920 Ireton IA
12. Lorentz Gilmore Opdahl born 12 Oct 1923- 18 Mar 2003 Hawarden IA Wife: Fern Muth – 4 children

OBITUARY OF LORENTZ CHRISTIAN OPDAHL
Hawarden Independent January 2, 1941
L. C. Opdahl laid to rest.
Funeral services for L. C. Opdahl, who passed away at his home a few miles north of town Sunday, Dec. 22nd were held Thursday at the St. Pauls’ Lutheran church with Rev. H. W. Krieger in charge. The funeral was very largely attended by this relatives, friends and neighbors. Interment was made in Highland cemetery. Paul bearers included John Vlotho Jr., Martin Moeller, Oscar Vander Hamm, A. M Richardson, Philip Treiber and Alfred Hemmingson.
Lorentz Christian Opdahl was born near Bergen, Norway, February 7, 1866. He left his native Norway on May 17, 1869, when he was only a little more than three years old, coming to Milwaukee, where he- arrived on July 4, 1869. One of the features of his leaving his native country was that the day he left Norway, May 17th, was Independence day for that country, and the day he arrived in Milwaukee, July 4th, is Independence day in the United States. In 1870 the family settled in Polk county, Iowa.
He married Miss Helen Richardson on February 8, 1892, to which union two children were born, Adolph and Anna. His wife died on May 12, 1902. On January 31, 1903, he married Miss Julia Thomson and eleven children were born to them, four of which passed away in infancy and seven who are still living—Arthur, Earling, Clara, Norman, Florence, Mildred and Lorentz. Mr. Opdahl was baptized, confirmed, and was always a loyal member of the Lutheran faith.
Mr. Opdahl has been a prominent farmer and for 37 years he has lived in this vicinity where his influence, his rugged honesty, and his principles were well known. He had not been in good health for some time and the last few weeks he had failed rapidly, heart complications causing his death. He was greatly interested in farming, and took the lead in many of its organizations. A firm believer in cooperatives, for many years he was an officer and leader in the Farmers Cooperative Association in Ireton. His views on politics and issues of the day were never hidden as he had his beliefs and he expressed them freely, although granting to others their own views and convictions. He was a man of physical power in his younger days and the work ‘shirk’ was not in his vocabulary.
Besides his widow and children, six grandchildren mourn his death. He is also survived by a sister, Mrs. A. J. Richardson of Kingsley, and Many relatives and friends.

OBITUARY OF HELEN OPDAHL No obituary was found.
Information from Ancestry.com public member trees submitted by others. And Historical Records/Family Search
Helen Opdahl, Wife, U.S. Census 1900 Birth, April 1867, Iowa, United States
Spouse, Lorenze C. Opdahl
See in in the above Research Notes information on Helen Richardson Opdahl

OBITUARY OF JULIA OPDAHL
Hawarden Independent April 25, 1968
Funeral services for Mrs. Lorentz Opdahl, 88 will be held at 1:30 p. m. Friday, April 26, at St. Paul's Lutheran church in Ireton with Rev. Arthur Anacker officiating. Casket bearers will be Larry Opdahl, John Holzmueller, Paul Johnson, Gustave Holzmueller, George Opdahl, and Lawrence Valin. St. Paul's quartet will sing two hymns, accompanied by Mrs. Vernon Eilts, organist. Burial will be in Highland cemetery north of Ireton with Dow Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Opdahl died Monday, April 22, at a Hawarden nursing home. Formerly Julia Thompson, she was born March 1, 1880, at Huxley, Iowa. She was married on January 31, 1903, and the same year moved to Ireton. Her husband died December 22, 1940.
Survivors include four sons, Arthur, Earling, and Norman, all of Ireton, and Lorentz of Hawarden; -three daughters, Mrs. Carl Valin of Des Moines, Mrs. Gustave Holzmueller and Mrs. George Johnson, both of Hawarden; a step-daughter, Mrs. Linda Durling of Jackson, Minnesota; a step-son, Adolph
Opdahl of Fulda, Minnesota; a sister, Mrs. Tollis Holland of Story City, Iowa; a brother, Richard Thompson of Huxley, Iowa; 19 grandchildren.

This picture was taken from the Ireton Centennial book 1882-1982 page 444.

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