Note: The Gilbertsons lived about two miles south and a mile east of St. Ansgar, just east of the John Kittleson farm, which was on the bend of the Red Cedar River, south of St. Ansgar.
These diary excerpts provide a fascinating look into rural Iowa life in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Some of the people mentioned in the diaries include:
- Ask, Andrew
- Bentson, Anna
- Bentson, Peter
- Braaten, Miss
- Carlson, J.B.
- Clausen, Rev. Claus
- Colbertson, Colbert J.
- Dammen, Gilbert
- Dahl, Carl
- Dahl, Halvor
- Gilbertson, George
- Gilbertson, Lewis
- Gilbertson, Mina Martina
- Gilbertson, Nellie
- Gilbertson, Oscar
- Groth, Halsten (Holsten)
- Gunderson, Peter
- Halvorson, Herman
- Hansen, Rasmus
- Havig, Ole
- Johnson, George
- Johnson, Hans
- Kittleson, Carl B.
- Kittilsen, Carl Otto
- Kittleson, Charles E.
- Kittleson, Clara
- Kittleson, John
- Kittleson, Julius
- Kittleson, Laura B.
- Kittleson, Louise [Carrie]
- Kittleson, Martin G.
- Lane, Hans
- Larson, Niels [Nels]
- Larson, Peter
- LeBacken, Clifton
- LeBacken, M.O.
- Loftus, Ole
- McKinley, Captain
- Nelson, Christine
- Nelson, Bent
- Nelson, Iver
- Ring, Sam
- Rust, Andrew
- Smedsrud, Ole
- Seaver, Colbern
- Stovern, ______
- Thompson, Tom
- Thursten, _______
- Tittlesland, Ole
- Waldeland, Rev.
Excerpts from diaries of Gilbert J. Gilbertson
born 4 Sept. 1843, Clinton, Rock Co., Wis.
parents were Jens Gilbertson, born 20 Oct 1812,
and Bergit (Kalrud) Gilbertson, born 4 Sep 1813.
------------------------------------------------------------------
[Note: They were still living in Wisconsin and made a trip to Iowa
in the fall. The first ten days describes their trip. Gilbert was
17 years of age.]
1 8 6 0
Sep 18 - We borrowed $40.00 of ole newhouse, we fixed ourselves
ready.
Sep 19 - We started from home, we came to Gulick Springen.
Sep 20 - We went from Gullick to Lars, Mr. Far Bror.
Sep 21 - We went from Lars to tavern.
Sep 22 - We went from tavern to Dodgeville to beint mor bror.
Sep 23 - We staid with Beint, we was out to the blufs, we picked
grapes.
Sep 24 - We went from Beint to tavern.
Sep 25 - We went from tavern to McGregor, we wrote home.
Sep 26 - We went from McGregor to tavern.
Sep 27 - We went from tavern to tavern.
Sep 28 - We went from tavern to our land in Iowa, to
my cousin Gilbert.
Sep 29 - It rained the whole day, we done nothing.
Sep 30 - (Sunday) I and Gilbert picked grapes.
Oct 1 - We did not do much.
Oct 2 - We begun with the cellar.
Oct 3 - We dug on the cellar.
Oct 4 - We dug on the cellar, Gulick Springen and Lars
Far Bror went home again.
Oct 5 - We made a horse stable.
Oct 6 - We quarried stone.
Oct 7 - (Sunday) father was to brake, the trees was almost
leafless.
Oct 8 - We quarried stone.
Oct 9 - We quarried stone.
Oct 10 - We hauled sand, one load.
Oct 11 - A.M. we quarried stone, P.M. father went after lime, I dug
potatoes.
Oct 15 - We walled in the cellar, Gilbert Far Bror was with us.
(Oct 18 thru oct. 23 they laid up stone wall.)
(Oct 24 thru oct. 28 they hewed logs.)
(Oct 29 thru oct. 30 they hauled logs.)
Oct 31 - We put up logs on house.
Nov 1 - We sawed black walnut for shingles.
Nov 8 and 9 - we shingled.
Nov 12 - We started for Wisconsin, we came to Howard Center.
Nov 13 - We went from Howard Center to Ossian.
Nov 14 - We went from Ossian to Ole.
Nov 15 - We went from Ole to Ole Tittlesland.
Nov 16 - We went from Ole Tittlesland to Soren.
Nov 17 - We went from Soren to tavern, 19 miles this side of
Mississippi.
Nov 18 - We went fom tavern to Vingvill.
Nov 19 - We went from vingvill to Bent Nelson.
Nov 20 - We went from Bent Nelson to Fayette.
Nov 21 - We went from Fayette to Lars Far Bror.
Nov 22 - We went from Lars to Ole Loftus.
Nov 23 - We came home. [to Wisconsin home]
1 8 6 1
Jun 22 - We started from Jefferson Prairie to Iowa, we came to
Gunder Springen.
Jun 23 - We stayed to Gunder Springen at Rock Prairie.
Jun 24 - We travelled from Rock Prairie.
Jun 25 - We travelled to Lars, our far riper, we got a shower.
Jun 26 - We travelled from uncle Lars to Lafayette.
Jun 27 - We went from Lafayette to 1-mile this side of Dodgeville.
Jun 28 - We travelled from Dodgeville to Filmore Grove.
Jun 29 - We travelled to one mile this side of Wisconsin bridge.
Jun 30 - We went to Wisconsin bridge to 2-miles on east side of
Mississippi.
Jul 1 - We went from there to 7 miles from McGregor.
Jul 2 - We went 27 miles.
Jul 3 - We went 27 miles. we was over at Ole Betken at 9 til
12 o'clock.
Jul 4 - We went 28 miles.
Jul 5 - We went 22 miles and came here at 5 o'clock, we put our
things in the house.
Jul 6 - The Irish came with our dry goods, we tightened our house.
Jul 13 - We was north in the timber and hauled some saw logs to the
mill.
1 8 6 3
Oct 29 - We quarried stone for church.4
Nov 2 - We quarried stone for church.
Nov 3 - We quarried stone for church.
1 8 6 4
Mar 1 - We cut logs to be hewn for church.
Mar 9 - We had meeting for purpose of letting the job for building
church.
Mar 16 - We hauled logs to church site.
Mar 17 thru mar. 22 - we hewed logs for church.
May 18 - A prairie fire burned up much of uncles fans.
May 19 - We dug where granery should stand.
May 20 - We started on spring house.
May 24 - We finished spring house.
May 27 - We dug 2 cords of stone for church.
Jun 13 - We cut a black walnut tree for church
Sep 16 - We quarried rock for church.
Sep thru Oct. they built on granery.
Oct 13 - We hauled stone to church.
Oct 14 - I hauled sand to church.
1 8 6 5
Feb 23 - We cut stakes for church.
Apr 20 - Mechanic came to take contract on church.
May 30 - We cut some rails for church yard.
Jul 28 - Mechanics came from Wisconsin to build church.
Sep 19 - I worked on church.
Oct 6 - We raised on steeple for church.
1 8 6 6
May 13 - It was confirmation in the new church.
Jun 12 - We started work on barn foundation.
Jun 24 - Mother was over to new comers, Peter Gundersons.
Jul 23 - Received word mothers sister was killed by cannon ball.
Nov 15 thru nov 24 - We hauled timber and hewed logs for barn.
Nov 25 - I and cousin Gilbert G. looked after the railroad route
which was recently surveyed.
1 8 6 7
May 4 - We raised barn, 31 or 32 people were present.
1 8 6 8
Sep 4 - I was married.
1 8 6 9
May 5 - Yesterday they commenced to work on road north of
of St. Ansgar. [must have referred to railroad].
May 13 - We walled over to John Kittelson.
May 14 - I walled for under John Kittelson's kitchen.
Sep 15 - Wife was sick.
Sep 16 - Wife gave birth to a child [Louise].
[NOTE: M.O. (Matthias Olsen) Lebacken is Gilbert's son-in-law,
the husband of the first daughter, Louise Gilbertson., born
in 18698]
1 8 7 0
May 2 - I staked out where parents house should stand.
May 3 and May 4 - we dug on cellar.
Oct 30 - Andreas, John Kittleson's boy, over 1 year old died P.M.
Nov 15 - Parents moved into their new house.
1 8 7 1
Jun 29 - Got the 60 acres north of our field and pasture enclosed
with Hume's land. Railroad Co. have just fenced.
Nov 4 - Was to Osage and brought home a $46.00 Fairbanks scale.
Nov 6 - Wife gave birth [Mina Martina]
Dec 26 - Had many guests, dance in evening.
1 8 7 2
Nov 10 - Was to St. Ansgar in company with John Kittleson
and got drunk.
Nov 15 - Iver Nelson moved into his new house.
1 8 7 3
Apr 10 - I bought a corn planter.
Jun 2 - A band of robbers was to John Kittleson.5
1 8 7 4
Jan 15 - Wife came down with a daughter [Nellie8] at 2 o'clock.
1 8 7 5
Aug 5 - Went to Osage and bought a Marsh harvester for $180.00.
1 8 7 6
Jun 25 - At 1 A.M. family increased with a boy. [James]
1 8 7 7
Jan 29 - I and Peter Bentson went to Minneapolis, he to buy lumber
for school house, I to buy for dwelling house.
Feb 13 - Came home from Minneapolis.
Mar 3 - Clausen came here from Virginia for visit.
Mar 21 - Clausen preached and took money for his travelling
expenses to Virginia.
May 26 - Bought corn plow for $29.00.
Jun 2 - Scraped out for cellar for new house.
Jun 13 - Hauled sand for house.
Jun 19 - Went to Mitchell for lime.
Jun 20 - Hauled stone for house.
Jun 22 thru June 30 - Laid stone wall for cellar.
Jul 6 - I was to Osage after doors and sash.
Aug 14 - Ole Smedsrud and Ole Havig commenced to work with house.
Aug 28 - Frame for my house was mostly raised.
1 8 7 8
Apr 13 - Was to Colbern Seaver and raised barn.
May 10 - Was in St. Paul and bought 160 acres land.
May 15 thru may 28 - Plastered house.
Jun 5 - Was to Iver Nelson and raised barn.
1 8 7 9
Mar 25 - Hauled load of lumber for John Kittleson.
Mar 26 - Hauled 3 loads lumber for John Kittleson.
Apr 14 - Was to Osage and bought buggy and harness for $54.00.
May 9 - Was to John Kittleson and raised barn, 40 by 50.
May 15 - I laid carpet in dining room.
May 17 - Was to St. Ansgar to try to start Farmers Mutual Insurance
Company.
Aug 25 - At 11 a.m. got another boy. [George]
1 8 8 0
Jan 13 - I made candles.
Feb 17 - Was to Osage and insured in Mitchell County Mutual Fire
Ins. Co. for $3,000.00.
Mar 7 - G. T. Gilbertson came here to work my farm on shares.
Apr 30 - I started for Norway.
May 25 - Got to Liverpool.
Oct 1 - Left Norway.
Oct 7 - Started on Atlantic voyage from Liverpool.
Oct 16 - Arrived New York City.
1 8 8 1
Feb 28 - Commenced selling cream to Mitchell Co. Creamery.
Mar 7 - Iver Nelson and I went to St. Ansgar after creamery cans.
Apr 5 - Was to St. Ansgar and had contract written in regard to
renting land to J.B. Carlson.
Apr 8 - Fixed place in spring house for creamery cans.
Apr 12 - Hans Johnson commenced to paint my house.
Jun 14 - I and father went to Osage after sofa, 6 chairs and 2
rocking chairs.
Jul 2 - Heard Garfield was shot.
Sep 20 - Heard President Garfield died.
Dec 20 - Wife gave birth to a boy. [Lewis]
1 8 8 2
Jun 27 - I was to St. Ansgar and voted for the amendment to the
constitution to prohibit sale and manufacture of
spiritous liquor.
Oct 10 - I, wife, mother, father and Aase Hagerud attended the
dedication of St. Ansgar Seminary.
(Apparently he paid transportation from Norway for Aase
Hagerud, and Aase worked for them for nearly three years
at $1.00, $1.50, and $1.75 per week to pay off the debt.)
Dec 11 - We tore down the old house.
1 8 8 3
Jul 31 - P. Bentsen commenced harvesting my wheat with self binder.
Oct 29 - Father traded land with John Kittelson.
1 8 8 4
Nov 6 - A little girl [Annie8] was born to us at 6 in morning.
1 8 8 5
Apr 9 - Christine Nelson was married to Halvor Dahl.
Jun 22 - I traded for new self-binder.
Oct 2,3,5 - Hauled brick for St. Ansgar Seminary.
(This year I raised 1132 bu. wheat, 347 bu. oats, corn
was 32 bu. per acre)
1 8 8 6
Jan 11 - I shoveled snow at Hansen's ford.
Apr 28 - We planted pine trees.
1 8 8 7
Mar 22 - Capt. McKinley was here and took away a load of corn.
Mar 26 - Capt. McKinley was here and got corn.
Apr 12 - Was to G.G. Gilbertson and got 80 pines.
May 15 - Hans Lane was here and bought land, 18 and 83-hundredths
acre.
May 19 - I and Halvor Dahl was to Lyle, I bought a corn plow.
1 8 8 8
Mar 29 - I hauled a load of goods for halvor dahl, he moved to town.
May 10 - I bought a corn planter.
1 8 8 9
Apr 10 - I was to town and got lumber for summer kitchen.
May 20 - I and Hans Lane put hay track in barn.
Jul 21 - We were down looking at new bridge.
Oct 25 - Louise was to town to meet Lebacken but he did not come.
Oct 28 - I and wife was to town, Mr. Lebacken came home with us.
1 8 9 0
Sep 9 - I and Nellie was to Minneapolis looking for Dr. Bockman.
Sep 10 - Was to Dr. Bockman, Nellie was examined.
Sep 20 - Brought home an organ bought in Minneapolis.
1 8 9 1
Apr 4 - Nellie is to get 2nd grade certificate.
Apr 13 - Nellie commenced to teach in our district.
Jun 22 - I bought a McCormick mower for $48.00 and old mower.
1 8 9 2
May 3 - I bought a check-rower from Schulte at Mitchell.
Jun 22 - Early this morning lightning struck down in parents house
and the tree close by, it splintered the bedstead post,
tore up the floor and carpet.
Jun 30 - I footed to town and bought a 10 foot horse rake.
Oct - Built wagon house.
1 8 9 4
Sep 22 - I and Ring was to Holsten Groth and Andrew Rust and saw
their house was demolished by cyclone.
1 8 9 6
May 17 - Anniversary celebration at Smedsruds, Mr. and Mrs.
Smedsrud having been married 23 years.
Aug 7 - George went on wheel to great bicycle meet at Osage.
Sep 25 - George started on wheel to Mason City to Buffalo Bill Show.
Nov 3 - I and father was to town and voted for McKinley for
president.
Dec 29 - Father died at 9 a.m. today.
Dec 31 - Father's funeral.
1 8 9 7
Jan 31 - Wardall the scientist had a meeting here.
Feb 21 - Christian Science meeting here.6
May 11 - I brought a load of stones to the grave yard.
May 13 - I was to town and helped Rusley set up a monument over
father's grave.
Jun 13 - Bertine was to Thompson's school house attending Christian
Science meeting.
1 8 9 8
Jan 5 - Martin Kittleson died in Texas or New Mexico.
Jan 10 - Martin Kittleson was brought home in a coffin.
Jan 11 - Funeral for Martin Kittleson.
Feb 14 - George went to town to attend the lumber co. annual
meeting. The company was dissolved.
May 24 - P.M. John Kittleson died about 5 o'clock.
May 26 - Funeral of John Kittleson.
Sep 23 - I and Peter Larsen started for Omaha exposition.
Oct 1 - Miss Louise Kittleson was married at her home to a Mr.
Kittleson [Kittilsen] from Texas, we were all invited.
Dec 26 - Heard that Mrs. Iver Nelson was dead.
1 8 9 9
Feb 1 - Mr. Walker was here and insured my property in Mitchell
Co. Mutual for $4,500.00.
Apr 4 - Hans Johnson and Lewis was to auction at Anton Ask.
Apr 26 - Ole Smedsrud died.
May 19 - Lewis went to Osage to attend bicycle race.
Jun 1 - Jim, George, and Lewis was to Osage and bought bicycle
clothing.
Jul 25 - Boys hauled wild hay, 4 loads.
Jul 29 - George started for lawler on bike.
Aug 4 - George came home from lawler.
Aug 18 - Woolner started on wheel for Langdon, N. Dakota, having
staid here 5 weeks.
Sep 11 - Nellie started for Duluth to teach school.
Sep 25 - George and Lewis started for Austin to see the "Buffalo
Wild West Show."
Nov 6 - George went to seminary at Osage to start on a business
course of 19 weeks.
Nov 18 - We tried the new ice cream freezer.
Nov 19 - We are going to eat ice cream. did.
Nov 24 - Lewis went to Osage to see football play.
1 9 0 0
Jan 16 - George came home with sore eyes, he is going to quit
school in Osage.
Feb 10 - George and Lewis was to town and bought a cutter for $21.00.
Jun 29 - George and Lewis was to Osage to bicycle race. George
gained a $3.00 sweater. Lewis had a fall and broke one
rib.
Aug 23 - I received a telegram from M.O. Lebacken stating that
their baby had died [Jay Eddie Lebacken8].
[NOTE: Matthias, Louise and Jay Eddie are buried in the
Americus township, Grand Forks county, N.D. cemetery8].
Nov 23 - George traded cutters.
Dec 26 - George went to town to get 90 rods of 26 inch woven wire
but did not get it, but got 1150 lbs of barbed wire
from Montgomery Ward & Co.
1 9 0 1
Mar 22 - Hans Lane had big auction.
Mar 31 - I sold 1 1/2 acres of timber to C.E. Kittleson.
Jun 29 - Telephone wire was stretched to our house.
Jul 1 - Martin Moe put up the telephone.
Jul 8 - George bought and brought home a deering binder.
Sep 4 - James went to osage to work in a barber shop.
Sep 17 - C. E. Kittleson received a little boy. [Julius]
Oct 9 - Mother and wife visited at Kittleson's new house in town.
1 9 0 2
Feb 2 - C.J. Colbertson was here and wanted me to buy a part of his
farm.
Mar 16 - Jim come home from Osage, he is not going back, had no more
use for him at the barber shop. Has been there about 8
months.
May 25 - Louise or Mrs. Kittleson come here to stay while her husband
is in Alaska.
Jun 10 - I and wife was to town and signed deed to C. J. Colbertson.
Jun 18 - Mrs. Louise Kittleson's mother in law was here.7
Jun 22 - Surprise party to Mrs. John Kittleson at her son Charley's
home.
Jul 13 - Mrs. John Kittleson and daughter is going to Wisconsin soon.
Sep 28 - Wife went to church to hear Rev. Waldeland.
Nov 1 - Louise Kittleson and her husband come here on his way from
Alaska.
(Nellie did not return to Duluth in fall of 1902).
dec 31 - County superintendent was here to see Nellie about our
school.
1 9 0 3
Jan 1 - Wife and mina went to our church.
Jan 10 - Iver Nelson died alone in bed last night.
Mar 31 - I bought a Victor stock and wagon scale for $50.00
Apr 6 - Mrs. Colbern Seaver died.
Apr 21 - Had a big crowd planting evergreens for wind break.
Apr 25 - At 12 last night Andrew Tollefson died.
Apr 26 - Sam Ring died yesterday at 2 p.m.
May 5 - I and George put up a gate between my farm and Kittleson's.
May 14 - Mr. Kittleson and wife Louise visited here on their way to
Alaska.
Jun 6 - I and Hans Johnson and george raised corn crib scale.
Aug 17 - Wife went to Kittleson where they received a little boy.
[Carl]
Dec 19 - George, Lewis and Oscar G. brought a new $400.00 piano
from town.
1 9 0 4
Jan 2 - Nellie started for Duluth to teach for 6 months school.
Jan 6 - Niels Larsen came here to visit.
Jul 17 - Jim has been working in Lyle last week.
Sep 1 - Hans Johnson went away to build a barn for Gilbert Dammen,
32-60.
Sep 7 - Jim was to Osage on bike to get a position as barber, did
not get any.
Oct 10 - Nels Larson went to Osage to get license and went home.
Oct 11 - Nels Larson hauled a load of furniture over to Manly.
Oct 15 - Nels Larson and Mina were married. p.m. Nels and Mina went
to Manly.
1 9 0 5
Apr 24 - Nels Larson rented Colbert Colbertson's farm for 5 years
from next year.
Jun 27 - George went to Lyle with wagon and came back with a dam hay
loader.
Jul 10 - George and Lewis started their new hay loader.
Jul 12 - Today James went to Valley City, N.D. to work in a barber
shop.
Sep 20 - Louise Kittleson started for Alaska today.
Dec 14 - Heard that James had come back from Dakota and was at
Miller's. He had been away 5 months and 2 days.
(Gilbert cut down around 30 trees in door yard during summer
1905).
1 9 0 6
Jan 2 - Nellie commenced to teach in this district.
Mar 23 - At about 11 a.m. Mina gave birth to a girl.
Mar 28 - At 3 a.m. Mina's baby died.
May 30 - Boys bought 2 row corn plow in Mitchell.
Jun 8 - Looked for to buy house in Kathryn, N.D.
Jun 12 - Bought a lot in Kathryn, N.D.
Jul 3 - Mrs. C. Kittleson gave birth to a girl. [Clara]
Jul 4 - Mr. Dan Nack's barn and 2 other houses burned down.
Dec 28 - Lewis started for Ames to school.
1 9 0 7
Jan 12 - At. 9:35 a.m. mother died.
Jan 14 - Mother's funeral. All went to church except me and hired
man.
Jan 24 - Colbert come down to deed a farm to Nels.
Jan 25 - I have not seen Colbert. He went away without giving deed.
Feb 2 - Lebacken came here, livery rig brought him from town.
Apr 1 - Tom Thompson went to work for Hansen boys.
Apr 3 - Carl Dahl commenced to work for George and Lewis.
Apr 22 - Stovern and Kittleson commenced to drill well by the east
and west road.
May 22 - Windmill was set up, George and Lewis helped.
Sep 2 - Carl Dahl has worked the time he hired out to boys. in
evening they brought him home. He is to go to N. Dakota to
work a farm.
Oct 7 - Colbert Colbertson and George laid water pipe from ram.3
We tried the water ingine, it worked.
Nov 26 - I and Wife was to town and signed a deed on a lot in
Kathryn, N.D.
1 9 0 8
Jan 30 - Received $500.00 draft from Kathryn, N.D.
Apr 22 - Clarence Smedsrud (Halvorson) worked in field, plowed.
May 15 - Mina, Nellie and Lewis came back, having been gone 15 days
studying Christian Science in Minneapolis.
Jun 11 - Herman Halvorson, his brother and George Johnson worked on
barn shingling.
Jul 27 - Julius Kittleson fell and broke an arm.
Sep 22 - George and Lewis was to town 2 times and they bought a
motorcycle.
Nov 3 - I voted for Taft for president and Cummins for U.S. Senator.
Dec 1 - Last day of Nellies 6 weeks teaching our school.
1 9 0 9
Feb 3 - 2 men with gasoline engine was here and sawed wood.
May 31 - I laid in hammock as usual.
Jun 22 - Charley Kittleson came back from N. Dakota, had bought 160
acres land.2
Aug 6 - George and Lewis brought the new boat "Delphin" from
Mitchell and down to the river.
Aug 30 - George and Lewis brought 2 new motorcycles from town.
Sep 22 - Boys was to Rasmus Hansen's auction.
1 9 1 0
Jan 23 - Came a new baby girl at Kittleson's. [Laura]
Feb 24 - George and Lewis bought 2 horses at auction for $500.00
May 3 - Heard that Louise [Gilbertson] is dead.
May 4 - Nellie, Lewis and Mina went to Louise's funeral.
May 9 - Nellie, Mina, Lewis and Lebacken with 3 children came here
from Reynolds, N. Dakota.
May 16 - Lebacken started for home.
May 31 - Lebacken came here this morning.
Jun 1 - George and Lewis made some cement1 posts.
Jun 11 - Clifton Lebacken came here to stay a few weeks.
[Note: Clifton Lebacken is Gilbert's grandson, the oldest
child of Matthias and Louise8.]
[Matthias and Louise were married on July 6, 1889 in Traill
County, North Dakota8.]
Jul 9 - Nels has bought a farm on the other side of the river.
Jul 19 - Heard that Lebacken was coming down here and he and Nellie
to take children to Reynolds.
Jul 29 - Lebacken, his 3 children and Nellie started for Reynolds.
Aug 6 - Nellie came home from Reynolds.
sep 15 - Had Old Settlers meeting in St. Ansgar, had much fun
there.
Oct 16 - Last night at 9:30 sister died.
1 9 1 1
Jan 23 - Miss Braaten moved onto her brother's farm.
Apr 13 - Cyclone last evening overturned privy and broke hay racks
and blew down many trees and moved hay racks many rods.
Jun 11 - G. G. Gilbertson brought me and Lewis to town to see his
ginseng beds, also brought us home again.
Aug 16 - George talked about buying Thursten farm.
Sep 5 - Boys hauled corn fodder for silo.
(Dec. - Colbert Colbertson and George put in heating plant. Cost
$370.58.)
1 9 1 2
Mar 6 - Anna Bentson died. [Mrs. P. J. Bentson]
---------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:
1. The Gilbertsons were known to use cement fence posts all around
the farm, and many may still be visible.
2. Charles Kittleson must have sold the land in North Dakota fairly
soon, because as far as is known he never farmed it.
3. In the 1960's the ram still worked, and could be heard working in
the "spring house" as about every 30 seconds it would go "ca-chunk" and
send a squirt of water up to a small water tower close to the house.
4. The church would be the First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar, then
probably known as the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church.
5. There is a small chance that the robbers in question were the Jesse
James Gang, perhaps heading to Northfield, Minnesota. No one knows
anything else about the incident at the Kittleson farm. It is believed
that an old stage coach road used to go along the river, through what
is the Kittleson farm.
6. Nellie Gilbertson became a Christian Scientist, as did Louise (Carrie)
Kittleson Kittilsen; who married Carl Otto Kittilsen.
7. Refers to Anne Holton Kittilsen of Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin.
8. Information supplied by Jan Docka, April 2005, jdocka@ameritech.net.