Meikle, Louis and Dora (Miller)

(IvaNell Lang)

Louis Meikle was born 4 Sep 1863 in Delafieid, Wl. He married Dora Miller who was born 8 Sep 1866 in Ludlow Twp, Allamakee Co., IA. Louis died 16 Aug 1918 in Frankville, lAand Dora died 28 Jul 1929 in Frankville. Louis and Doris had 2 children: Hazel (m. Eldo Lang) and Ruth (m. Hans Stegen).

Hazel attended Waukon High School. She taught country school in Winneshiek Co. After her marriage to Eldo Lang and the birth of their son Forrest she gave up teaching. In 1961 after many years of farming Hazel and Eldo retired and moved to Decorah. Hazel died 12 May 1983 at age 84 and Eldo died at age 69, both in Decorah.

Melaas, Hans O. and Maren (Haga) and Marie (Bakken)

(Helen Haga Erickson)

Hans Melaas family

Left to right: Clara (Engen), Lars, Gilbert, Ole and Helena (Bakken). Second row: Marie (Anderson), Hans and Maren Melaas, Olena (Hovden) and Christine (Engen).

Hans O. Melaas, born 4 Jun 1848 in Hadeland, Norway, was the son of Ole Gulbrandson Melaas and Elene C. Heyer. He came to America with his parents to Bluffton Twp., Winneshiek Co. He died 22 Apr 1935 in Ridgeway and is buried in the Madison Lutheran Cemetery. Hans married Maren Haga, born 13 Mar 1853 near Drammen, Norway, the daughter of Lars and Mari (Tweiten) Haga. Maren died 6 Jan 1902.

Hans and Maren had 7 children: Helena, Maria, Lars, Gilbert, Clara, Ole and Christine. Helena (2 Apr 1874-6 Dec 1911) married Gustav Bakken, a Madison Twp. farmer. They had 2 children, Ida and Ole. Maria fb. 3 Sep 1877-12 Mar 1943) married Anon Anderson, a farmer in Orleans Twp. Their children were Herbert, Spencer, Hannah and Agnes. Lars (2 Apr 1879-15 Jul 1951) farmed in IA and then in 1915 moved to a farm near Maddock, ND where he married Mathilda Westby 4 Feb 1912. She was the daughter of Ole and Maren (Christensen) Westby of Ridgeway, IA. Mathilda was born 20 Feb 1884 and died 23 May 1970. She and Lars are buried near Maddock. Their children are Minerva, Ona, Leonard, Bernard, Burton and Grace. Gilbert (12 Feb 1881-21 Oct 1924) was married 14 Mar 1906 to Gustina Gilbertson (1 Feb 1883-2 May 1936), the daughter of Ole and Aase (Hovden) Gilbertson, farmers in Lincoln Twp., north of Ridgeway. Their children are Ove and Myrtle. Clara (31 Oct 1883-31 Oct 1963) married Theodore Engen (25 Dec 1880-13 Apr 1939), the son of Soren and Birgette (Hotvedt) Engen. They farmed in Madison Twp. where they had 4 children: Morris, Truman, and twin sons who died soon after birth. Ole (19 Apr 1886-2 Dec 1957) farmed the home farm in Lincoln Twp. He married Inga Fulsaas (27 Apr 1886-30 Apr 1935) on 7 Oct 1914, the daughter of John and Marie Fulsaas. Their children were Marlys and lla. Ole married again 26 Oct 1952 to Sophie Kvale (8 Aug 1891-21 Oct 1980). Christine (31 May 1891 -25 Oct 1934) married Alert Engen (12 Nov 1885-2 Dec 1964), the son of Soren and Bergitte Engen on 17 Feb. 1915. He was a cream hauler and farmer in Madison Twp. His children were Florence, Spencer, Lester, Gordon and Merlin.

Hans’s brother Gulbrand was in the Civil War. When he returned Gulbrand married Maren Haga. Shortly after their daughter Olena was born 14 Nov 1871, Gulbrand died (14 Mar 1872). According to Norwegian tradition, Gulbrand's brother Hans married Maren to care for her and Olena. Olena was thus raised by her mother and uncle/step-father. Olena married John G. Hovden (9 Sep 1866-8 Dec 1926) on 24 Mar 1892. John was the son of Guttorm Hovden. John and Olena farmed in Madison Twp. Section 6, the farm Olena had inherited from her father Gulbrand. Their children were Henry, Rudie and Martin who died at age 2 1/2.

After Maren’s death Hans married Marie Bakken, daughter of Andrew and Bertha (Engen) Bakken on 2 Jun 1905. Marie was born 9 Nov 1866 and died 22 Dec 1942. She and Hans farmed in Madison Twp. and later in Lincoln Twp. When they retired they moved to Ridgeway where they spent their later years.

Melaas, Ole Gulbrandson and Elene (Heyer)

(Helen M. Erickson)

Three brothers, Ole, Hans and Johannes Melaas, left Hadeland, Oppland, Norway and came to America in 1853. All became farmers in Bluffton Twp., Winneshiek Co. after a brief stay in Wl.

Ole Gulbrandson Melaas (13 Jul 1812-10 Aug 1865) was the son of Gulbrand Olson and Randi Hansdtr Melaas. He married Elene C. Heyer (26 Apr 1817-17 Oct 1907) 15 Apr 1837 in Norway. Ole and Elene are buried at Void, East Madison Cemetery. Their children were Gulbrand, Peder, Marit, Hans, Randi, Anna, Ingeborg and Kari. Gulbrand (30 Mar 1838 in Norway-14 Mar 1872) served in the Civil War. After the war he married Maren Haga (13 Mar 1853-6 Jan 1902) 15 Mar 1871. She was the daughter of Lars Knutson and Mari Helgesdtr (Tweiten) Haga. They had one daughter Olena. Peder (23 Oct 1840 in Norway-3 Jan 1928) was married 22 Dec 1869 in Winneshiek Co. to Martha Iversdtr Heier, daughter of Anna (Rostad) Heier. Peder and Martha homesteaded in Grant Co., MN. Their children were Ole, Anna, Iver, Eline,