Sarrah (Stoehlvig/Stelswig) Eklund (1823-1907)

STOEHLVIG, STELSWIG, EKLUND, SKARTVEDT, THOMPSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/23/2023 at 18:08:26

From The Slater News January 31, 1907 (page 1)

AGED LADY DIES SOUTH OF HUXLEY

Mrs. Eklund Passes Away After a Weeks Illness with Pneumonia. Funeral on Friday

The death of Mrs. Sarah Eklund occurred at the old Eklund homestead south of Huxley last Tuesday, Jan. 29, 1907 at one o'clock p. m. Mrs. Eklund has been a sufferer from asthma for many years. About two weeks ago she was taken down with pneumonia which was the immediate cause of death.

Deceased reached the advanced age of almost 84 years and had passed through many trying experiences in the course of her life as a brief resume of her career will indicate. She was born at Vikedal, Norway, Apr. 8, 1823. At the age of 27 she was married to Osmund Skartvedt with whom she came to America in 1854. Tis was at the time when cholera had full sway in this country and when human life was very uncertain in a different sense than that expression is usually used. The immigrants in whose company deceased found herself were attacked by the dread disease on their arrival in Chicago and Mr. Skartvedt soon fell its victim. The widow, thus bereft as a stranger in a strange land, removed to Racine, Wis., where she remained for a brief period of 6 or 8 months. She then moved to Iowa and purchased a farm in Winneshiek county. In 1856, having disposed of her farm, she went to Goodhue county, Minn., where she took a homestead. Two years later she married Nels P. Eklund. In June 1865 they arrived in Story county and settled down on a farm south of Huxley. This continued to be their home during the four years between 1872 and 1876 which time they were residents of Des Moines, where Mr. Eklund died, leaving Mrs. Eklund again a widow. Deceased had three sons, but two of these died at an early age leaving the third, Alfred, as the only surviving heir. Besides her son, she leaves one sister, Mrs. Mary Thompson and some more distant relatives to mourn her demise. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 11:00 a. m. from the home after which interment will be made in the Palestine cemetery.