Lien, Elmer and Grace (Borness)

(Grace Lien)

Grace and Elmer Lien family. Back row, left to right: Harold Lien, Helen Thune, Robert Lien and Ray Lien. Front row: Celia Stoen, Grace and Elmer Lien and Viola Linderbaum.

Elmer H. Lien was born 2 Jun 1895 in Springfield Twp. He was the son of Christopher and Christine (Gullickson) Lien. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was wounded in action in France and was still hospitalized there at the time the war ended on 11 Nov 1918 (at 11 o'clock). Elmer farmed with his father on the family farm.

On 4 Jun 1931 he was married to Grace Borness (daughter of Engvold and CeCelia Borness) at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. In 1935 they bought the Lien farm from his father Christopher. This land was homesteaded by Elmer's grandfather Gullick K. Lien in 1854 and still remains in the family with their son Robert owning it. He and his son Gary and wife Patty and family farm it at this time. Gary’s children are the sixth generation of Lien's to live there.

Elmer and Grace were the parents of six children: Raymond D., now living in Orlando, FL; Viola, married to Conley Linderbaum and farming south of Ossian; Celia, married to Harold Stoen and farming in Highland Twp.; Robert E., married to Marlys Wilkens lives in Decorah but Robert continues to help Gary on the farm; Harold N., married to Janice Linderbaum and lives near Rochester, MN and is retired from IBM; Helen, married to Dean Thune and lives in Davenport, IA where she is a school secretary.

In October 1959 Elmer and Grace moved to Ossian and were members of Springfield Lutheran Church. Elmer’s main interest was farming. Grace enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting and handwork.

Elmer passed away on 31 Aug 1983 and is buried at Springfield Lutheran Cemetery. Grace just recently moved into an apartment in Decorah. She enjoys sewing, baking and visiting with relatives and friends.

Lien, Gulick K. and Berit (Ostrem)

(Grace Lien)

Gulick K. Lien was born 15 Feb 1815 in Valdres, Norway. He married Berit Ostrem (29 Sep 1826), the daughter of Knut Evenson Ostrem and his wife Kari. They were from Vang, Valdres, Norway. In 1850, they left Norway to come to Wisconsin. They came in a sailship called Omen Eagle. They were nine weeks on the ocean. They then came up the Erie Canal in a canal boat drawn by a mule. They followed the usual immigration route through Freeport, Galena, and Dubuque to Decorah. It was 16 weeks from the time they left Valdres until they reached Decorah. They came to Springfield Twp. in 1851 and homesteaded a farm near Springfield Lutheran Church in 1854. They lived in a dugout (or sod) house in the side of a hill near where the Springfield Lutheran Church Cemetery now is. After moving from the dugout, they built a log house, then a brick house. Later, Christopher (son of Gulick) built a wooden structure that was added to the brick house. Indians were said to walk just north of the existing home in the shade of the oak trees. Arrowheads were picked up some years later by Gulick and Berit’s grandchildren, Elmer and Anna and their brothers and sisters.

Gulick and Berit were the parents of 14 children: Kari, Marit, Kjersti, Berit (Bertha), Ingebor, Ole, Gertrude, Christopher, Anna, Guri, Christine, Ella, Sarah and Knut. Gulick passed away 12 Apr 1903 and Berit died 22 Mar 1904. They and some of their children are buried at the Spring-field Lutheran Cemetery. After Gulick passed away, Berit lived on the Lien farm in a house by the lilac tree. She had milked her cow and later was found dead on the floor of her home.

Christopher (25 Feb 1864), youngest son of Gulick and Berit, married Anna Christine Gullickson (19 Dec 1868) on 21 Jun 1892. They were the parents of six children: Gulick, Elmer, Beatrice, Carl, Anna and Clifford who died as a small child. Christopher and Anna Christine lived on the farm their entire lives. Christopher died 27 Nov 1942 and Anna Christine died 20 Aug 1910. They are both buried at the Springfield Cemetery.

In 1935, Christopher sold the farm to one of his sons, Elmer and wife, Grace (Borness) where they continued the farming. They also were the parents of six children. In 1965, their son, Robert and his wife, Marlys (Wilkens) bought the farm from Robert’s parents. At this time, their son, Gary and his wife, Patty, are in partnership with Robert and Marlys. Robert and Marlys now live in Decorah and Gary and Patty, along with their four children are living at the farm, making them the sixth generation at the Lien farm.

Lien, Gullick and Anna (Droserud)

(Grace Lien)

Gullick Godfrey Lien was the first son of Christopher G. Lien and Anna Christine Gullickson Lien. He was born in the family farm home near Springfield Twp.. Winneshiek Co., IA 1 Apr 1894.

He was baptized, confirmed and a life-long member of the Springfield Lutheran Church. His namesake Gullick Knutson Lien was a charter member of that church.

Gullick received his education at the nearby Nerlie School and attended several winter sessions at Waldorf College in Forest City, IA.