Ole Rasmusen (Tysdahl) (1831-1909)

RASMUSEN, ASKE, MICHAELSON, HENDERSON, GRINDEM, TYSDAHL

Posted By: Alan Nicholson
Date: 4/23/2010 at 23:24:51

Roland Record
8 April 1909

Pioneer Resident Passes into Great Beyond Yesterday

Ole Rasmusen (Tysdall) died at his home in Roland yesterday morning after a few weeks sickness. Mr. Rasmusen has lived in this community for a number of years and is one of the pioneers of Howard township. Funeral will be held Saturday at two o'clock from Bergen church. A full obituary will be given in next weeks issue of the Record.

Roland Record
15 April 1909

Aged Pioneer Laid To Rest

Ole Rasmusen, One of The First Norwegian Settlers of Howard Township Dies at An Advanced Age

Ole Rasmusen (Tysdahl) was born in Norway, Europe, July 13, 1831 and died at his home in Roland on Tuesday, April 6, 1909, being 77 years, 8 months and 23 days old, when called by the Angel of Death. When still a young man, he left Norway to seek a new home in the hew country and he came to Lisbon, Ill., where he lived a few years. It was at this place that he was married to Anna Aske by Rev. Rasmussen April 22, 1854, to which union eleven children were born, nine of whom survive their father. They are, Mrs. Malinda K. Michaelson of Rushville, Neb.; B. M. Rasmusen, United States Consul at Stavanger, Norway; H. M. and Andrew, of this place; Mrs. Mattie Henderson, of Story City; R. O. Rasmusen, Mrs. Rancy Grindem, J. V. and S. T. Rasmusen, all of this place. All the children were at his bedside when death claimed him, except B. M. and H. M. Rasmusen.

In the death of Mr. Rasmusen, the older citizens of our community recall some of the early history of the township of which the deceased took a share. In 1854, a few families moved from Fox River, Ill. to Huxley, Iowa, where they formed the first Norwegian colony in Story County. The people living around Lisbon, Ill., hearing of what these people had found, decided that they too wanted homes of their own, where land was cheap, and so in the spring of 1855, they sent eight men to Iowa to investigate and to purchase land for several of these men if they found the country suitable. The men who made this trip were Jonas Duea, Mons Grove, Jacob E. Aske, John N. Tarvestad, Paul Thompson, Lars Sheldahl, Ole Eino and John Mehuus. These men went about twenty miles north of Cambridge, where they found land that suited them and they proceeded at once to buy farms. These men returned at once to their homes, told their neighbors about the fertile land that could be had at $1.25 per acre. The same fall, two men, Lars Sheldahl and Thor Hegland, and their families moved to Howard township and to them belongs the honor of being the first Norwegian settlers in the township. The next spring, a large number left Illinois to find homes in the far west and among these were Mr. and Mrs. Rasmusen. The others in company were Jacob E. Aske, Rasmus E. Aske, Jonas Duea, A. B. Jacobson, Lars Ness, Mikkel E. Aske, Sjur Britson, Lars Hegland, Jacob Meling, Hertha Ness, Hans Pederson, Erick Sheldahl, Torkel Opstvedt, Hans Twedt, John N. Tarvestad, Rasmus Sheldahl, Erick Sokten, Hover Thompson and Rasmus Tungesvig.

Mr. and Mrs. Rasmusen settled on the farm which they bought and lived there until nine years ago when they moved to Roland to enjoy the fruits of the labors. Only a few now remain of the first company who moved here that year. They are as follows as far as we have been able to learn: Mr. and Mrs. Erick Sheldahl, Mesdames Ole Rasmusen, John N. Tarvestad and Torkel Opstvedt and Messrs Jonas Duea and Lars Hegland, and of course the children of many of the above people. Since these people came here, they have seen the country transformed, so that there is no resemblance to what it was when they settled here.

The funeral of Mr. Rasmusen was held from Bergen church last Saturday afternoon, a large number of people being present to pay a last tribute to a friend and old settler. Rev. G. Smedal preached the funeral sermon after which the remains were laid to rest in the Roland cemetery. The sorrowing family are extended the sincere sympathy of their friends in the hour of their bereavement.