Cornelius Edward Shoger was born on February 17, 1875 in a log cabin on a farm in Rock township (section 24), Mitchell county, located 5 miles west of Osage, Iowa. His parents were Hans Fredrik and Ellen Ragnhild (Knutson) Shoger. He was baptized at Rock Creek Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church in Meroa, Iowa on May 2, 1875.

(l to r) Nettie & Cornelius Shoger and Mr & Mrs. Sorlie taken about 1925 on the Shoger farm southwest of Osage

His siblings were Cornelia Andrene Shoger; Ella Augustina Shoger - Mrs. Syver Klemesrud; Henry Julius Shoger; and Anton Oscar Shoger.

Cornelius spent his first five years growing up on the 160 acre farm his grandpa, Christian Frantsen Shoger purchased in 1865. In 1880, he moved with his parents and younger sister, Ella, to a 320 acre farm in Cedar township (section 15), Mitchell county, located eight miles west and 4 miles south of Osage, Iowa. Cornelius grew to manhood on this farm. He attended country school (Cedar #4 – known as the Dahley School) and the Nora Springs Seminary. He was confirmed at Rock Creek Norwegian Lutheran church at Meroa, on June 8, 1890.

When Cornelius was ten years old, his father died in a farming accident, leaving his mother to raise four little children - Cornelius, age 10; Ella, age 8; Henry, age 4; and Oscar, age 1. Two years later, his mother remarried to Ole Iversen Dahley, who was working for Cornelius’ father prior to his

Cornelius Edward Shoger taken in Decorah, Iowa in 1898

death as a hired farm hand. Ole was also the youngest brother of Cornelius’ aunt, Anna – Mrs. Knut E. Knutson. Because of this marriage, Cornelius, had two half-brothers, Elmer Obed Dahley and Ira William Dahley and two half-sisters, Adella Elizabeth Dahley – Mrs. S.H. Norby and Cora Emelia Dahley.

When Cornelius was a young man, he enjoyed attending barn dances and it is claimed he was a very good dancer. He also worked very hard helping his step-father farm the large 320 acre farm that his father had purchased in 1880 from his uncle, Knut E. Knutson. Cornelius purchased 61 acres of land on section 15, Cedar township, Mitchell county in 1896 from his sister,

Wedding Day Cornelius E. Shoger and Nettie Johnson

Ella. This was the western most part of his father’s 320 acre farm. He immediately began improving the buildings on the farm. In 1900, he purchased the adjoining east 61 acres of land.

On Sunday, March 10, 1901, Cornelius was joined in marriage to Miss Nettie Johnson at the Rock Creek Norwegian Lutheran church in Meroa, Iowa. Their wedding attendants were John Johnson, Clara Shoger, Henry Shoger, and Agnes Johnson. According to the newspaper, the wedding was performed immediately after church services. Afterwards, the relatives went to the bride’s parent’s farm in Rock township for dinner and in they evening there was a reception at the groom’s parent’s farm where there was a large number of invited friends.

Wedding Day Back Row (l to r) – Henry Shoger (brother of groom), Agnes Johnson (sister of bride), John Johnson (brother of bride), Clara Schoger (first cousin of groom) Seated (l to r) Nettie (Johnson) and Cornelius Shoger

Nettie Johnson was born on August 1, 1883 on a farm located 6 miles west and ˝ a mile south of Osage (section 25, Rock township, Mitchell county), Iowa. She was baptized on August 26, 1883 at Rock Creek Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church in Meroa, Iowa. Her parents were Jens and Ingeborg (Gulbrandson) Johnson. Her siblings were John Gustav Johnson; Anna Agnethe (Agnes) – Mrs. John Christianson/Herman Klemesrud; Jennie Johnson – Mrs. Martin Oursland; Mathias Johnson, Anton Oscar Johnson; Matilda – Mrs. Julius Anderson; and Alfred Lawrence Johnson. Nettie grew up on her father’s farm in Rock township and she attended country school near her home. She was confirmed at Rock Creek Norwegian Lutheran church on June 13, 1897.

Nettie Johnson

Cornelius and Nettie had planned on marrying a year earlier, however, Cornelius, was very ill that year, so the wedding was postponed for a year. This illness was the beginning of his life long struggle with rheumatism.

C.E. Shoger family (1910) (l to r) Effie, Cornelius, Cliff (front center), James (back center), Nettie, Fred

After their marriage, Cornelius and Nettie, established a notable home on the 122 acre farm that Cornelius purchased from the Estate of his father, Hans F. Shoger. Many family relatives have stated that their farm was always very neat in appearance and the buildings were painted every year. Cornelius helped his step-father with his adjoining farm until 1917 when his step-father and mother moved into a house in Nora Springs, Iowa. Cornelius helped his step-brother, Elmer Dahley, farm the Ole I. Dahley farm for many years. Cornelius also shelled corn for his neighbors. Cornelius and Nettie lived on this farm for thirty two years. In 1933, Cornelius and Nettie moved into a house on Pleasant Street in Osage, Iowa.

Confirmation Day (1916) James Ormal Shoger

The year prior, their youngest son, Clifford, and his wife, joined them on the farm. Cornelius had a weaving loom which he used to make rugs until his health no longer allowed him to do so.

Cornelius and Nettie were the parents of four children – James Ormal

Confirmation Day (1918) Fred Irving Shoger

Shoger, Freddie Irving Shoger, Effie Irene Shoger – Mrs. Alvin McKee, and Clifford Nathan Shoger.

Norwegian was spoken in the home and at church on most occasions, however the younger two children were not forced to learn Norwegian. Cornelius’ father was an immigrant from Norway and Nettie’s parents were also Norwegian immigrants.

Cornelius and Nettie were life long members of the Rock Creek Lutheran church in Meroa, Iowa. For many years, Cornelius served as treasurer.

Since 1908, Cornelius was in poor health, suffering tremendously from rheumatism. His knees were the most affected joints in his body and because

Confirmation Day (1920) Effie Irene Shoger

of that he always walked with a limp. In the late 1920s, he was forced to use crutches to help get around. In 1931, he became an invalid being forced to use a wheel chair. The last six weeks of his life, he was confined to his bed. His oldest son, James Shoger, said that every night his mother spent time putting heated water bottles and irons under the blankets for his father to help reduce the pain in his legs. His knees had so much

Confirmation Day (1923) Clifford Nathan Shoger

calcium built up on them that they had to hollow out the casket so they could put him in it.

Cornelius passed away at the age of 63 on Sunday morning, September 11, 1938 at his home in Osage, Iowa. Funeral services were held at Rock Creek Lutheran church.

Nettie continued to live at the house on Pleasant Street in Osage for nearly 38 years. In April of 1971, she suffered a stroke. After which, she became a resident of Faith Lutheran Home in Osage. She passed away on Tuesday, December 7, 1971 at the age of 88. Funeral services were held at Rock Creek Lutheran church.

Cornelius and Nettie are buried at the Rock Creek Lutheran church cemetery in Meroa, Iowa – southwest of Osage.

C.E. Shoger family (1936) Back row (l to r) – Cliff Shoger (holding Marvin Shoger), Lulu (Carter) Shoger (holding Ardis Shoger), James Shoger (holding Lynn Shoger), Ruth (Potter) Shoger, Gladys (Olson) Shoger (holding Darlene Shoger), Fred Shoger Middle row (l to r) – Alvin McKee, Effie (Shoger) McKee, Cornelius Shoger, Nettie (Johnson) Shoger Front row (l to r) – Dale Shoger, Audrey McKee, Verle McKee, Marlys Shoger, Merlin Shoger