Peder/Peter Gustave Tjernagel (1865-1932)

TJERNAGEL, OLSON, HARSTAD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/9/2024 at 16:53:35

From Story City Herald April 21, 1932 (page 4)

PETER TJERNAGEL BORN IN HAMILTON COUNTY IN 1865

Well Known Citizen Had Lived on Same Farm All His Life

Four p.m. April 9th it was flashed over the wires that P. G. Tjernagel passed beyond at the hospital in New Hampton.

About two months ago he had the Flu, but seemed to get over that in fine shape, but it left him with a very bad case of what seemed to be earache. He suffered intensely from that but it developed into funning of the ears and together with skillful treatment he seemed to get better.

March 27 his brother Gustav came down from Sumner for a Sunday visit and when he returned, Mr. Tjernagel went with him for a visit and for further treatment. He enjoyed the visit very much and was improving wonderfully. But on Tuesday night, April 5th, he was suddenly worse and seemed to have had a light stroke. However, in the morning he was much better. In the afternoon of Wednesday he was again very much worse and a message came for his wife and as many as could to come. When they arrived it is doubtful if he recognized them.

A specialist from Minneapolis was called in for consultation and his advice was that he immediately be taken to the nearest hospital for an operation to remove a gathering that had formed in his head. Thursday morning he was taken to the New Hampton hospital and the very able doctors there decided it was too late. The body was saturated with poison from the gathering and they gave no encouragement for his recovery.

Peter G. Tjernaagel was born on the pioneer farm, afterwards called Follinglo Farm, May 17, 1865. His parents were O. A. L. Tjernagel and Martha. He grew to manhood on this farm and later became one of the owners. He lived here all his life.

He married Johanna Olson of Duncombe, Iowa, Aug. 31, 1895. To this union 11 children were born, nine of whom are living: Otto, Herman, Elisabeth (Mrs. Christian Olson) of St. Peter, Minn., Erling, Alfred, Martha (Mrs. Adolph Harstad) of Madison, Wis., Olof, Peter and Sigurd. A boy, Peter Julius, died when he was six weeks old. A little girl, Margarette "Madit" died in 1910 and was three years old. Besides the above he leaves three grandchildren, and five brothers: Lewis J., Nehemias, Henry, Martin, Gustav, and one sister, Bertha.

Mr. Tjernagel was very active in the musical line. He was one of the charter members of the Riverside Band, which was organized in 1883 and which acquired considerable renown over the state.

It was last summer that Mr. Tjernagel worked up a re-union of the old Riverside Band members at the Follinglo Farm together with their children and grandchildren. This reunion will always be remembered as one of the great events for them.

Mr. Tjernagel was perhaps the prime moving spirit in the Sheldahl School association which is the only one in the state of its kind.

Mr. Tjernagel was the promoter and main support of the Follinglo Farm Orchestra, the members of which were his children and his brother, M. O. Tjernagel. The hope is now that Peter J. will practice up on his instrument, the cello, and that the orchestra will "carry on." It would be a great loss to the community if the Follinglo Orchestra should pass, together with its promoter.

Mr. Tjernagel was an active member in the Lutheran church and was one of the charter members of the re-organization of the Norwegian Synod in 1918, of which he has been one of the trustees ever since. He was a member of Bethany congregation, and very much interested in the Christian Day school of the congregation.

In all things for the betterment and improvement of the community and state he was vitally interested and did more than his share of the work.

The funeral took place Wednesday, April 13 from Bethany church, Rev. Torgerson, the pastor of the congregation officiating, assisted by Rev. Ingebritson. During the services the children of the Christian Day school sang "O Bread of Life from Heaven," conducted by Miss Jordahl, with Rev. A. Harstad at the organ. Also during the services Christian Olson sang "Madit," a song composed by N. Tjernagel in memory of Margarette, the little daughter of the deceased who died in 1911. The pall bearers were six sons of the deceased: Otto, Herman, Erling, Alfred, Olaf and Peter. The seventh son, Sigurd, escorted his mother. Members of the old Riverside Band were honorary pall bearers.

Interment took place at the Mamrelund cemetery, where so many of his relatives are resting.

It can truly be said that P. G. Tjernagel will be greatly missed in the community. A neighbor said, "Our community pillar is gone." The deceased was a law abiding citizen, and men of his class are always a loss to community, state and country. It is men like him who make our country worth while.