Hanna (h) Elisa Petersburg

• Although she lived in the fjord country of Norway, she disliked boat travel very much
• When she was of an age to be confirmed, she stayed with the Pastor's family and worked for them while she studied.
• At age 17-18 she took a six-week boat trip to America; was terribly seasick much of the time and had no wish to ever return to Norway for a visit.
• Lived with brother Simon and wife in Medord, Wisconsin and worked for them
• Moved to Fertile, Iowa where he brother's Ole and Ellert were living and obtained work as a cook in a Clear Lake hotel where she met John Nillsen.
• Lived in her own home for nearly twenty years after her husband's death in 1937; this farm was worked by her youngest son Roy Petersburg and his wife Carmen.
• Lived her last years with widowed daughter, Hilda Brunsvold, in Lake Mills, Iowa until she died in September 22, 1957, one month before her 95th birthday.

Sources

• Baptism 1863 - "Hanna Elise" - born October 24, baptised November 15 - parents husmann Erik Simonsen, Gammelsæter, and wife Cathrina Marie Pedersdatter
• Norway census 1865 - "Hanna E. Eriksdatter", about to be 2 years old, Gammelsæter, Tranøy, Troms, Norway