Amund married Guri Johannesdtr Kjorlien (1814-11 Mar 1900) in 1839. Guri was the daughter of Johannes Gunnarson O Rogn (1765-1834) and Berit Embriksdtr Belseim (1779-1873). Johannes and Berit were married in 1810. Johannes's first wife died in 1809. Guri had one sister Anne (1812-1904).

Amund and Guri had 9 children: Berit (1839-1920) married Thrond Ingvaldson (1841-1915); Marit (1841); Endre (1842-1864); Ingebjorg (1844-1926) married Knute Aakre; Johannes (18 Dec 1846-25 Aug 1916) married Synneve Dybevik 21 May 1875; Gunnar (2 May 1850-18 Jul 1936) married Beret Halverson 8 Jul 1888; Ivar (1853-15 May 1901); Amund (1855); and Berit (1859).

Pictured, front row from left: Marit, Berit, Guri, Amund. Back row: Betsy, Amund Jr., Johannes, Gunder, Ivor and Ingeborg.

Amund and Guri left their home near Vang in the spring of 1864 and came to Winneshiek Co., IA. They purchased land in Glenwood Twp. I6 Apr 1866 and began building the house and barn.

The small farm they owned in Norway is still known as Tveitamoen South. Tveitamoen South was owned by Jen Kristofferson Borhus (Secretary of State Warren Christopher's great grandfather) from 1837-1851. Amund bought the place in 1856 and sold it in 1864 when he came to America. Their son Endre immigrated to America in 1861. He was paid $300 to take another man’s place in the Union Army and was killed during Sherman’s March from Atlanta to the sea in Nov 1864.

Sometime after Amund’s death in 1884 Guri left the Decorah area to live with her son Ivar (who had never married) so she could be closer to her youngest daughter Berit and son Gunder who had moved to the Badger, MN area to homestead land. Although Amund was buried at Washington Prairie, when Guri died she was buried in the Roseland Cemetery near Badger. The writer of Guri’s obituary in the Roseau County paper said that “up until the time of her fatal illness Guri was strong, healthy and vigorous, and was of such a kindly disposition as to be greatly respected and loved by all who knew her.”

The writer of this story has had the privilege of visiting the Tveitamoen farm in Norway twice (1969 and 1993). The log house that Amund and his family lived in is still standing. The present owner of the farm visited Decorah in Sep 1995 and stayed with the Kenneth Moen family for a few days.

Moen, August and Marie (Bakke)

(Kenneth Moen)

August Eliam Moen was born in Winneshiek Co., IA 29 May 1895 to Johannes A. and Synneva (Dybevik) Moen. Johannes was born in Vang, Valdres, Norway 18 Dec 1846 and Synneva was born in Fresvik, Sogn, Norway 28 Jan 1852. Johannes and Synneva were married 21 May 1875 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Decorah. Johannes immigrated to America with his family in 1864 and Synneva immigrated with her family in 1861. August’s brothers and sisters were: Gustine (Mar 1876-1911); John (16 Nov 1877-26 Jan 1967); Albert (8 Nov 1879-24 Jul 1965); Minnie (Dec 1882-1938); Selma (Mar 1884-1917); Andrew (Sep 1886-1917); Carl (15 Mar 1889-6 Jun 1980); and William (24 Aug 1891-16 Apr 1957).

Left to right: John, August, Marie, James, Elsie and Kenneth.

August married Marie Juliet Bakke 24 Nov 1924 at Decorah. Marie was born 6 Jun 1897 to John Peter and Martha (Aakre) Bakke. John was born 15 Mar 1866 in Winneshiek Co. and Martha was born 20 Oct 1868 in Stoughton, Wl. John and Martha were married 8 Apr 1891 in Stoughton. Marie’s brothers and sisters were: Idelia A. (1 Jan 1892-1 Mar 1983); Percy E. (8 Nov 1893-10 Jun 1911); Henry O. (22 Oct 1895-27 Apr 1968); Milo B. (7 Jan 1902-9 Feb 1961) and Aaker E. (21 Mar 1906-19 Jun 1917).

August and Marie had 4 children; Kenneth, Elsie (m. Merlin Rosendahl), John and James. (See family histo-