Hans Fredrik Christiansen Shoger was born on February 1, 1841 on the Røbergeie farm in Land prestigjeld, Christians Amt, (now Nordre Land, Oppland county), Norway. His parents were Christian Fransen Øvre Schiager and Anne Olsdatter Komperud. He was baptized on February 21, 1841 at the Gaarder church in Land prestigjeld, Christians Amt, Norway.

Hans F. Shoger

According to the baptism records, Hans was born on the Røbergeie farm, so it is most likely this farm that he lived on with his parents and younger siblings – Olaus Christiansen and Karen Martea Christiansdatter. It is said by family that Hans had red hair.

Ellen R. (Knutson) Shoger

Hans immigrated to America with his parents, brother, Olaus and sister Karen leaving their homeland on June 12, 1850. According to family stories, the journey across the Atlantic Ocean took 13 weeks. The family settled on a farm in Iowa county, Wisconsin, near Dodgeville. The family is listed in the 1860 Federal Census living in Wyoming township, Iowa county, Wisconsin. Their surname was spelled “Schager” in this census. For a time, they spelled the surname as “Schjager”, possibly changing it to “Schager”, then later to “Shager” and finally to “Schoger” and “Shoger”.

Hans grew to manhood on the farm in Iowa county, Wisconsin. He attended rural country school near his home and it is said that he Americanized his name to John Fredrick Shager. Over the years, he signed his name on land records as Hans F. Shager, John F. Shager, Hans F. Shoger and John F. Shoger.

In 1863, John (Hans) traveled with his father and a small group of neighbors, including Hovel Hovelsen and Erik Ericksen, to South Dakota where they took claims to homestead. John purchased land near the junction of the James and Missouri rivers near the town of Yankton, South Dakota. The families moved to their homesteads a year later (1864) after selling their farms in Iowa county, Wisconsin. A year later, John and his parents and siblings and the Hovelsen and Ericksen families decided to move back east because of hardships such as grasshoppers and Indian scares. On their way back to Wisconsin, they encamped near Mitchell, Mitchell county, Iowa where they were approached by land agents. The land agents persuaded John’s father and Hovel Hovelsen to purchase land near their encampment. So Christian Shager and Hovel Hovelson each bought 160 acres of land on section 24 of Rock township in Mitchell county. Mr. Hovelson bought the SW quarter and Mr. Shager bought the adjoining SE quarter of land.

Cornelius E. Shoger

This new farm was located six miles west of Osage on Highway #9 where a steel windmill still stands today (2006). A log cabin was built and a shed and barn were later added.

John’s father passed away in October 1866, his brother, Olaus, passed away in July 1867, and his mother passed away in January 1870. This left John as head of household, living on the 160 acre Rock township farm with his younger sister, Caroline (Karen), and younger brothers, Andrew and Julian. John was appointed as legal guardian of Andrew and Julian by the court of Mitchell county because they were both minors.

John Schoger was united in marriage to Miss Ellen R. Knudson on May 18, 1871 at his farm home in Rock township by Rev. Alva Bush. They became the parents of five children – Cornelia Andrene (died at 9 months of age); Cornelius Edward; Ella Augustina – Mrs. Sever K. Klemesrud; Henry Julius and Anton Oscar.

Ellen Knutson was born on December 9, 1854 in Cedar township, Mitchell county, Iowa and was given the name of Ellia Ragnilda Knutson. She was born in a covered wagon and was the first white girl born in the township. Her parents were Engebrigt Knutsen Vik and Kari Ivarsdatter Aure. According to church records, she was baptized by her father on February 18, 1855 at the Norwegian Evangelical church (now known as First Lutheran church) in St. Ansgar, Iowa. Witnesses at the baptism were Niels Johnson, Hans Halvorsen, Brita Gulbrandsdatter and Ranny Gulbrandsdatter.

Ellia grew up on a farm located on section 20 of Cedar township, Mitchell county, Iowa and later on a farm located on section 1 of Rock township, Mitchell county where she attended country school. She had four older brothers – Knut E.(married Anna Dahley), Iver E.(married Anna Seim), Nels E.(married Ellen Iverson), and Jacob E. (married Ida Hardman/Emma Herbster). When she became of age, she changed her name to Ellen Ragnhild Knutson. She was only 16 years old when she married John F. Shoger who was 30 years old and was a very well respected farmer in the community.

Syver, Kinley and Ella (Shoger) Klemesrud

John and Ellen began their married life together on the Shoger farm (section 24) in Rock township, Mitchell county, Iowa. Also living on the farm were John’s sister, Caroline, and their brothers, Andrew and Julian. By the late 1870’s, John had improved his farm by building a new house and barn, corn cribs and a large shed. They also were parents of two children – Cornelius (married Nettie Johnson) and Ella (Mrs. Syver Klemesrud). Their first born, Cornelia, died at 9 months of age prior to Cornelius’ birth.

In 1880, John was faced with a rather large financial problem. He had co-signed a land mortgage for his brother-in-law, Knut E. Knutson, of which Knut was not able to make payments. John sold his father’s 160 acre farm in Rock township and was able to purchase Knut’s 320 acre farm on section 15 of Cedar township, Mitchell county, Iowa. John also purchased an 80 acre farm in Lincoln township, Worth county, Iowa for Knut and his family. This 320 acre farm was a rather large farm, so John had several hired farm hands, one of whom was Ole Iversen Dahley who was a brother to Knut E. Knutson’s wife and another was his brother-in-law Jacob E. Knutson and his youngest brother, Julian Shoger.

John and Ellen were blessed with two sons – Henry and Anton – born on their Cedar township farm. John died unexpectedly in a farming accident on August 22, 1884. He was stacking hay and slipped and fell backwards onto a wooden posted used to support the pile of hay. It is not clear if he died instantly or not. He was laid to rest on August 25, 1884 at Riverview cemetery located on section 1, Rock township, Mitchell county, Iowa next to his little daughter, Cornelia.

Henry J. Shoger

Ellen and her four children, Cornelius, age 9; Ella, age 7; Henry, age 4; and Anton, age 1, remained on the farm.

On December 24, 1886, Ellen married Ole Iversen Dahley at the Rock Creek Norwegian Lutheran church in Meroa, (Cedar township), Mitchell county, Iowa. They became the parents of four children – Ira William (married Vina Gray); Elmer Obed (married Ida Torblaa); Adella Elizabeth (married Sigurd H. Norby/John Kerr); and Klara Isabella (or Cora Emelia). The youngest child died in infancy.

Ole and Ellen remained on the farm until 1912, when they moved to Nora Springs, Floyd county, Iowa where they lived the rest of their lives. They sold the 200 acre farm to their son, Elmer O. Dahley in 1937. In 1898, Ellen had given 61 acres of the farm to her son, Cornelius Shoger, 61 acres to her daughter, Ella Shoger, and 40 acres to her son, Henry Shoger.

Ellen passed away on April 11, 1941 at her home in Nora Springs. She was buried at Rock Creek Lutheran cemetery. Ole passed away on January 29, 1950 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Adella Norby, in Nora Springs, Iowa. He was buried next to his wife at Rock Creek Lutheran cemetery.