Frantz Larsen Raknerud

GEDCOM Note

Capital Times April 16, 1923:

STOUGHTON - Mr. and Mrs. Frank Engelstad, town of Christiana, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their farm home Sunday afternoon with relatives, many neighbors and friends present, who brought along various good things. Rev. G. G. Krostu greeted the couple on behalf of the guests and presented Mr. and Mrs. Engelstad with a gift. They came from Norway about fifty years ago and have always resided in the same locality.

Capital Times July 3, 1928 Kalnes Says column:

Age is no deterrant in tobacco planting time. Frantz engelstad, 78 years old, was helping his son, Bennie, pull plants when I called the other day in the Cambridge territory. He also drove the team on the setter.

Mr. Engelstad's hair is pretty gray, but outside of that, he looks fifteen years younger than he is.

At the time of his death Franz Engelstad's estate was valued at $1,800.

Engelstad Rites Set for Tuesday

Funeral services for Frantz Engelstad, 86, of Cambridge, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Carl Mikkelson, near Deerfield, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mikkleson home and at 2 at the Liberty church, the Rev. A. C. Odden officiating.

Mr. Engelstad was born May 1, 1850 at Helgeoin, Norway. On April 15, 1973, he was married to Johanna Molstad. They lived in norway until 1880, when they immigrated to the United States. Mrs. Engelstad died in 1932.

He is survived by four sons, Ludwig, Deerfield; Bindie, Cambridge; Fred, Madison; and Alvin, Cambridge; five daughters, Mrs. N. G. Nelson, Mrs. S. Rutlin, Mrs. Mikkelson, Deerfield, and Mrs. A. Swain and Mrs. H. Henry Henderson, Cambridge; 31 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

[swain.ftw]

The following was written by Francis (Fritz) Engelstad and distributed to several family members during a family reunion in 1977.

ENGELSTAD FAMILY NOTES

In this age of interest in forebears and family heritage, a fitting opening is that one hundred years ago (1877) the then Engelstad family consisting of Frantz (age 27) and Johanna (age 26) and two children, Agnes (age 4) and Peter (age 2), resided on the island of Helgoy in the lake of Mjosa (60 miles north of Oslo, 40 miles from the Swedish border) at a residence known as Raknerud, pictured below.

(SPACE FOR PHOTOGRAPH OF RAKNERUD)

Raknerud in 1877 was an inn. The first floor was for the public, the upper floor was occupied by two families, the Frantz Engelstad family, and the family of a first cousin of Frantz. It is known that a third child, Ludwig, born later in 1877, was born at Raknerud. The fourth child, Anne, born in 1879, probably also was born at Raknerud.

In 1879, Frantz migrated to the Deerfield, Wisconsin, location. Johanna and the four children followed him to Deerfield about one year later. Their first home in the United States was a one room log cabin on the Rothe farm one mile south of Liberty Church. The cabin was directly south of and about 30 feet across the road from the present home of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Maly.

After a few years Frantz moved to a tenant house located on a farm west of Rockdale. Several years later the family moved to the Howe farm, located one mile west of the Maly home, which they share-cropped for a number of years before buying during the 1910's the farm currently owned by Roger Engelstad. Six other children, Helga, Amelia, Gunda, Bendie, Fred and Alvin, were born in two-year intervals with Helga being born in 1885.

The surname Engelstad is a taken name. In his early years in America, Frantz was known by the name Frantz Larsen (a patronym meaning Frantz, son of Lars). In Norway on birth he was known as Frantz Larsen Sund. Sund being the name of Lar's family residence or farm, were Lars resided at the time Frantz was born. The name Engelstad was supposedly chosen by Johanna. It translate as the Residence of the Angels. I have been told that there was a house on Helgoy known as Engelstad. Frantz and Johanna could possibly have resided in that house in their early married days, liked the name, and took it as the family name. In years gone by people in Norway assumed as their surname, the name of their residence.

Family trees are ever expanding and generally impossible to reconstruct in full beyond several generations. We are the product of many forebears, having in theory 1024 forebears at the tenth preceeding generation, and over a million forebears at the twentieth preceeding generation. A genealogical line back to 1555 is shown below.

Frantz Olsen Skjeve (Nes) Born 1555 | Ole Frandsen Skjeve 1585-1663 |
Erik Olsen Skjeve 1610-1673 Margrite Eilerud |________________________________| |
Frantz Eriksen Skjeve-Eig 1673 (moved to Eig in 1703) |
Povel Frandsen Eig 1703 |
Frantz Povelsen Eig 1741-1820 Kari Hansdatter Kvam 1743 |_____________________________________| |
Anne Frantzdatter Eig 1769 Pedre Bredesen Heggen 1762 |_____________________________________| |
____________|____________ Anders Larsen Sund (Ostre) Brede,Anne,Karl,Ales,Elie Frant,Peter,Anne,Evan,Brede, Frantz,AGNETTE,Anne (Pedre- LARS,Halvor,Kristian,Berte, | sen-Heggen) | Johannes (Andersen Sund) |______________________| _____________|__________ Andrea,Peder,Anders,Anne Anders -- Molstad (Eije-Ness) FRANTZ(5-1-1850),Kristainna (Larsen JOHANNA (2-22-1851) | Sund) | |_______________________________________| ___________________|_____________________________ Agnes (6/1873), Peter, Ludwick (10/2/1877), Anne, Helga, Amelia, Gunda, Bendie, Fred, Alvin

Other genealogical lines could be identified by researching records in Norway or by inquiring with descendents of the earlier lines.

It is to be noted that the lines identified in the family tree sketch are limited to SKJEVE, EIG, KVAM, HEGGEN, SUND, and MOLSTAD. These are all resident-farms mostly within stones-throw distances from each other. From this we can conclude that people in Norway had very little mobility in ages past, and that through marriages between members of nearby families; we are probably related to most of the people on the island of Helgoy. A sketch of the island with a few significant place names follows.

(SPACE FOR SKETCH OF THE ISLAND OF HELGOY)

The island of Helgoy is triangular, 3 to 4 miles on a side, about 8 square miles in size. Until 1959, when the bridge connecting with the village of Nes was built, the island was accessible only by boat or over the frozen lake during winter. The lake is about 60 miles long (N-S) and was probably an important avenue of commerce and movement in days of antiquity. For those of you who have read the book Kirsten Lavrensdatter, by Sigrud Undseth, you might remember that a setting for part of the story was the frozen surface of lake Mjosa. On the southern tip of the island is a smaller several acre size island, Holmen, known in folklore as the burial place of the chieftians.

In addition to our descent from the Engelstads of Helgoy, we Engelstads in America are mostly descendents of other families from Helgoy or of families from Voss, a city in the western Norway fjord country. The Anton Swain (Svenn) amd Melia (Staff) Engelstad ancestoral family homes are on Helgoy. Anton's probably the Svenn location noted on the foregoing map and Melia's being the Staff location on the map. Earlier in America, the Swain family was known also in terms of Prestegaard (the minister's rural enclave). With this in mind, it might be that the Swains (Svenns) lived on Prestegaard, the church farm noted on the map at the small village of Nes prior to comig to America.

Nels Nelson, Anna Engelstad,Henry Henderson, and Julia Engelstad have roots back through to families in the Voss area. Nels Nelson's mother's (Martha Gilderhus) father was from the Giljarhus farm located on the north side of the lake Vangs Vatnet, outside of Voss. Anna (Appleton) Engelstad's father, Nels, and mother (Bertina Gjerme) were from farms adjoining the Giljarhus farm. Julia (Spilde) Engelstad's mother was a Grimastad from a farm about two miles away on the southwest end of the lake. Marion Hub had visited relatives in the Voss area. The Rutlin family is from the Sogne area. The Mikkelson family is from the area.

As to Frantz's brothers and sisters, Andrea and Anne remained spinsters and did nurses-aid type work; Peter as a bachelor served as a manager of the Eig farm for his second cousin; Anders married, migrated to the Deerfield area, and is grandfather of Willard and Anfin Christianson and their sisters; and Kristianna migrated to Chicago with a Dr. Meyers from Oslo and served in their home through-out her life.

On the Johanna Molstad side, a brother located in Stoughton, and some of his descendents probably live there; and a sister married and settled in Deerfield, was the grandmother of the Albert Nelson children through their mother. Several other sisters and brothers remained in Norway with no known descendents.

Other close relatives in the Deerfield area include George Peterson, a grandson (probably) of Peter Andersen Sund, and Hazel Mikkelson and her sisters, who probably are great grandchildren of one of Johanna's uncles or aunts. Johnnie Bredesen was probably the grandson of either Brede Andersen Sund or Brede Peterosn Heggen.

Our closest known relative in Norway is Mrs. Ulseth of Raknerud, a granddaughter of the people who occupied Raknerud together with the Frantz Engelstad family 100 years ago. Her daughter, Inger Marit, age 27, worked in Baltimore for a year in 1969 and visited at our house in Washington on several occasions although at that time we did not knoow that we were related. Another known relative is Nils Christian Stabe Eig, a fourth cousin at the Roger, George, and Fritz Engelstad level. He is in his 70's and resides on the Eig farm. His daughter, Marthe, came to the United States about a dozen years ago as the bride of George Bean, and lives in Orlando, Florida.

A short description of how some of the foregoing information, particularly as it relates to Norway, was gathered might be of interest to those of you who are interested in family genealogy. Many of you are probably in the same position that I was in prior to 1963 when I had virtually no knowledge about the family beyond that Frantz Engelstad and family migrated to the United States in about 1880.

In the summer of 1963 we took a two-week vacation trip from Frankfort, Germany, through Denmark and southern Sweden and Norway. Just prior to the trip, Anne Henderson sent us the names of two lady cousins that she had written to from time to time and the name of a gentleman, Bernhard Moen, supplied to her by uncle Fred. Bernhard was the brother of a Mr. Gus Moen, then living in Cambridge and one of Fred's good friends.

Two weeks was really too short a period of time for the trip, so we had to schedule our time very closely, allowing two nights and one day in the Helgoy-Hamar area. At about 9:00 PM the first evening, Michael, Peter and I arrived at Nes to inquire about the people whose names Anne had supplied (the rest of the family were back a the motel). The only person in view in Nes, a village about the size of Utica, was the storekeeper hurrying to lock his doors for the day. In curt response he told us that he did not know of the ladies, but Bernhard Moen lived in the second house on the Sterud farm about a mile down the road.

We called on Bernhard, and at the conclusion of a short visit, he told us that he would meet us in Nes in the morning and take us to a lady living on the island who would know about the Engelstad family. However, in talking to Bernhard we did learn that he had spent 40 years in the States, mostly farming in the Red River Valley area in North Dakota, and had returned to his home farm in retirement. He, of course, spoke English like we do. He told us that he was a 2nd cousin of Frantz, knowing this because Frantz had told hm so when Bernhard first arrived in the States as a "newcomer" in the early 1900's. The setting for that exchange was when Bernhard showed up in a field on the Howe farm, a distinguished gentleman, Frantz, commanded "Bring the newcomer to me, I want to meet him, he is my second cousin." It also turned out that Bernhard had spent a couple of nights at our farm home early in the 1920's on the occasion of his bringing a couple of carloads of western broncos from the Dakotas to Deerfield for auction.

The next morning Bernhard took us to the home of Bertha Ross (Roste) on Helgoy. It turned out that Bertha had also spent 40 or more years in the States and had returned to her home farm to reside in retirement, so she too spoke English like we do. After talking to Bertha for a while, she said "I'll take you to my sister who will know all about your family." Bertha's sister, a sprightly spinster in her 90's also lived on the home farm in a small 2nd house. With Bertha translating, her sister spoke only Norwegian, the sister dug into her picture basket, tossed an old print on the table and said "This is a picture of your grand uncle (Peter-Per Larsen) and your grand aunts (Andrea and Anne)." We found people who knew of our family. Bertha's sister gave me the picture.

Bertha's sister was the same age as Aunt Agnes (Mrs. Nels Nelson), and had recollections of knowing Agnes, then about 6 years old when they left for America. Although we were in a hurry to move along because time was short, Bertha insisted that we visit the Eig farm, where Per Larsen had spent his life. Not until later through correspondence did we find out that the gentleman we visited with, Nels Stabo-Eig, was my 4th cousin, and that my granmother's grandmother was born in the house we visited.

Bertha told us that as a small child she was the favorite little girl of Per Larsen, and that whenever he returned from trips to the city, he always brought her small presents. We later found out that Mr. Stabo had in his house furniture (a table and a desk) hand made by Frantz' father, Lars Andersen Sund. Lars apparently was a skilled cabinet maker. Peter Engelstad has since seen the furniture and has taken pictures of the items.

Several years after our visit, Mr. Stabo sent to me a New Testament book of Per Larsen that had been on the Stabo book shelves these many years. Again another several years later, Mr. Stabo forwarded to me another Testament book of Per Larsen's which Mr. Stabo explained had recently been sent to him by a resident of Gjovik. That person had discovered the book in his possession, noted that the name page showed Per Larsen Eig, and forwarded it to Mr. Stabo with the thought that it was an Eig family item. Mr. Stabo thought it was fitting to send it on to closer relatives.

Too, the Frantz Engelstad family bible, presently kept by Ruth Hoiby, appears to have its earlier inscriptions in terms of Per Larsen. It would therefore appear that Per might have given his own personal bible to his younger brother Frantz as a token of esteem on Frantz's departure to America.

As to the Raknerud connection, it was by pure coincidence that I took a picture of the house during our visit to Helgoy in 1963. I took the picture because I thought the house looked very Norske. It wasn't until just several months ago, or nearly 14 years later that I found out that my father, Ludwick (Ludwig) was born there, and that the occupants of the house were among my closest relatives in Norway. In the meantime, several interesting happenings occured.

First, through the encouragement of Bertha Ross, Eva, the younger Ulseth-Raknerud daughter exchanged a few letters and greeting cards with my sons Peter and Paul about 10 years ago. However, at that age, 13, Peter and Paul couldn't be bothered with girls and the correspondence tapered off. Then in the late 1960's, Inger Marit (Mary), the older sister, then 19, spent some months working for a family in Baltimore. Through encouragement again by Bertha Ross, who we had stayed in correspondence with, Mary visited our home in Washington D.C. on several occasions. In talking to Mary and finding out where she lived, I told her that perhaps I had a picture of her house. Mary was then a somewhat shy young girl. When she was shown in America a picture of her home in Norway, she was quite pleased and surprised. Mary later returned to her home in Norway to continue her education and become a school teacher.

Several years ago, Peter spent several days enjoying the hospitality of the Ulseths at Raknerud while on a summer vacation backpacking tour of Europe. In June 1976 he again spent several enjoyable days at Ulseths and was told by Mr. Stabo that one of his grandfathers had lived at Raknerud, but the precise information was not exchanged, or percieved.

It was at this past New Years time that Raknerud-Engelstad relationships first became known to us. At New Years time Paul, in a study-work stay at Oslo, spent several holiday days with Mary and Eva and their husbands. On that occasion he learned positively that Mary and Eva were his fourth cousins, and that his grandfather, Ludwig, first saw the light of day in their home 100 years earlier. He was thrilled by the revelation.

But until Paul reads this, he probably is not aware that his stay at Raknerud may have marked the exact 100 years anniversary of his grandfather's conception in that same house. Ludwig was born on October 2, 1877. Allowing the usual 9-month gestation period, he would have been concieved on, January 2, 1877. Paul spent only one night at Raknerud, the night of January 1-2, 1977. January 2, 1877, to January 2, 1977 -- exactly 100 years to the day. What a coincidence.

I hope that someday some of you will have the opportunity to visit the old family sites in Norway and that you will find these notes helpful in getting acquainted there. I also hope that if such opportunity will be afforded you, you will get as much enjoyment out of re-establishing roots as I have received from our slight penetration into the ages past.

Francis (Fritz) Engelstad8/7/77

From Ancestors and Descendants of Frantz Larsen Engelstad (1850-1936 and Johanne Andersdatter Engelstad (1851-1932) of Hedemarken County, Norway and Dane County, Wisconsin by Judith Engelstad Gambrel, 2004:

In April, 1880 Frantz and Johanne were signed out of the Church at Nes with the intention of moving to America. Johanne and the children were unable to leave with Frantz, possibly due to one of the children being ill.

On April 16, 1880 Frantz was issued a passport in Oslo showing his destination as Edgerton, Wisconsin. His fare was 178.40 kroner. He traveled with other people from Nes including Peter Larsen Hoel and his wife Agnette who were destined for LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Frantz sailed April 16 on the SS Angelo (drawing and information on the ship later in this chapter).

On September 2, 1880, Johanne Andersen Simenstad and her four children (Agnette, Peter, Ludvig and Anna) were issued passports in Oslo showing their destination as Edgerton, Wisconsin. Johannes final destination was the home of her uncle, Borre Simenstad in Stoughton, WI; the reason she assumed the surname Simenstad. The fare had been prepaid (presumably by Frantz). Johanne sailed September 3, 1880, on the SS Hero.

Son Ludvig told his family that they sailed to Philadelphia (probably arriving the first week of October but no record was located at the National Archives in Washington, DC. A search of Indexes to Passenger Lists arriving at Philadelphia 1800-1906 (at the National Archives in Washington, DC in the summer of 2000) did not result in locating Johannes arrival under the names Simenstad, Hoel or Anderson. There are no indexes for the port of New York and many Norwegians entered through this port. Judy Engelstad Gambrel (compiler of this book) also searched, line by line, the arrivals at the port of New York between May 1 and June 16, 1880, and did not find a record of Frantz arrival. Some of these arrival records are incomplete.

Frantz Engelstad (using the name Hoel) left Norway for Hull, England, on April 16, 1880, on the following ship:

SS Angelo

The "Angelo (1)" was built in 1874 by Humphry & Pearson Shipbuilding in Hull for the Wilson Line. Tonnage was 1,536 tons gross, 1,057 under deck and 993 net. Her dimensions were 258.8 feet long with a 33.6 foot beam and holds 18.2 feet deep, poop 385 tons, forecastle 32 tons and house on deck 73 tons. Rigging: iron construction, single screw, three masts steam schooner, two deck, one of iron, four bulkheads and one partial bulkhead. Propulsion: compound engine with two inverted cylinders of 37 and 72 inches diameter respectively, stroke 42 inches, delivering 300 horsepower. The engine was built by the same company as was the hull.

December 31, 1875, census for Frantz Larsens father, Lars Andersen Sund shows that the family was living on the Engelstad farm. Residents of the dwelling were: Lars Andersen (Husfader or husband and widower), Anders (son), Alis Nilsdatter (Kone or wife of Anders) and Adolf Hansen (Aliss son). It shows their respective birth dates as 1816, 1845, 1841 and 1867. It also shows their occupations (Lars was a carpenter and Anders was a shoemaker) and where they were born. Lars Andersens wife died in 1865. Lars was tenant.

The 1865 Census is on one page and shows the residents on the Engelstad farm as Lars Andersen, age 50; and his children Anders Larsen, age 21, shoemaker; and Anne Larsdatter, age 18. Lars was a widower, a carpenter and owned the house himself.

Frantz Larsen Engelstad Siblings

Frantz was one of six children born to Lars Andersen Sund and Agnette Pedersdatter Heggen. Baptism records show the following:

Peder Larsen, born October 8, 1843 at the Raknerud farm Anders Larsen, born July 4, 1845 at the Ragnerud farm Anne Larsdatter, born August 5, 1847 at the Ragnerud farm Frantz Larsen, born May 1, 1850 at the Ragnerud farm Andrea Larsdatter, born June 13, 1851 at the Sund farm Kristiane Larsdatter, born June 10, 1852 at the Sund farm ( Raknerud and Ragnerud are the same farm)

Andrea (Agnethe), Anne and Peder never married and remained in Norway. Andrea and Anne did household and seamstress work .

Peder worked on the Eik farm for cousins who owned the farm. Peders grandmother was Anne Frantsdatter Eik who was born in 1768, the same year her father, Frants Poulsen, took title to the Eik farm from his father.

Peder Larsen appears on the 1865 and 1875 census for Helgoya, Nes, Hedemarken County, Norway working on the Eik farm.

Peder Larsens mother had a brother named Brede Pedersen Heggen. Bredes son was Ole Bredesen Heggen -- a first cousin to Peder Larsen. The following photo shows Peder with his Heggen cousins. Ole is the man with the white beard in the center in the first row. Peder is the man wearing the black hat in the first row at the right. (arrow)

Frantz Larsens other siblings, Anders Larsen and Kristiane Larsen came to the United States. Anders resided in Deerfield, Wisconsin, with his family. Kristiane never married and was a servant for a doctor in Chicago, Illinois.

There were many cousins in Wisconsin in the Deerfield area that were descended from brothers and sisters of Lars Andersen Sund. They were the Halvorsens, Bredesens, Evensens (Fritz Engelstad knew Conrad Evensen).

Frantz Larsen was born May 1, 1850, and baptized July 14, 1850, in the Lutheran Church of Nes, Hedemarken County, Norway. His baptism record shows his mother was Agnethe Pedersdatter. His father was Lars Andersen Ragnerud (Raknerud) that would indicate Lars was living on the Ragnerud (Raknerud) farm at the time.

Raknerud is located on the island of Helgoya in Lake Mjosa situated approximately 60 miles north of Oslo and approximately 40 miles from the Swedish border.

The Census in Norway was taken in 1801, 1865 and 1875. Frantz was not in Helgoya in 1865. He was confirmed in 1864 and it was customary to leave home for work then. In 1875 Frantz Larsen (born 1850) and Johanne Andersdatter (born 1851) were living on the Moen farm with their daughter, Agnet Frandsdatter (born 1873), and their son, Peter Frandssen (born 1875). (When the letter s is adjacent to another s, the second one is written f.)

A census taker who prepared at least three sheets of paper visited each home. The first page showed the location of the home, the second page showed the names of the residents. Frantz is listed as the Husfader or head of the household and Johanne is listed as Kone, his wife. Agnet is shown as Datter and Peter is shown as Son. The third page shows the years of birth for the residents.

Frants Larsen, born 1850, was the farm worker in 1875. Agnete was born in 1873 at Molstad, Peter was born in 1875 at Solvsberg (Sokne-Moen), Ludvig was born in 1877 at Hoel and Anna was born in 1879 at Hoels-eie.

Frantz and Johanne chose the name "Engelstad in 1885, five years after coming to America. This was determined by analyzing Frantzs Bible and the Wisconsin State Census for 1885. The Bible shows that daughter Helgas surname was Larsen when she was born April 25, 1885. The 1885 Wisconsin census was taken about two months later on June 20, 1885, and Frantz used the surname Engelstad. Engelstad was the name of a farm with a family connection. Frantzs father, Lars Andersen, was the lessee tenant farmer of the place called Engelstad in 1865 and 1875 according to Norwegian census records. In Norwegian, Engelstad means Residence of the angels.

Frantz and Johannes Children

Frantz and Johanne Engelstad had ten children: Agnette (Agnes), Peter, Ludvig (Ludwig), Anna, Gunda, Amelia, Helga, Bendi (Bendie), Fred and Alvin. The first four children were born in Norway and the other six were born in Wisconsin.

First Four Children Born in Norway

Four children were born to Frantz and Johanne while they lived in Norway: Agnes born June 9, 1873; Peter born April 11, 1875; Ludvig born October 2, 1877 and Anna born September 17, 1879.

Family lore had it that the four children born in Norway were born at Raknerud. In 1877 Raknerud was an inn. The first floor was for the public, the upper floor was occupied by two families, the Frantz Engelstad family and the family of a first cousin of Frantz. The Norwegian church records, however, question that theory. When Frantz and Johanne married on April 15, 1873, Frantzs residence was shown as Raknerud. However, the baptism records of the four children show different residences.

Please note the different surnames assumed by Frantz Larsen:

Agnes was born June 9, 1873, to Frantz Larsen Molstad-eie (Johannes parents resided at Molstad and she may have had the baby there herself or she and Frantz may have resided there at the time).

Peter was born April 11, 1875, and his father was Frantz Larsen Solvsbergs-eie.

Ludvig was born November 18, 1877, and his father was Frantz Larsen Hoel. It is interesting to note that Ludvigs godfather was Peter Larsen Hoel. When Frantz later left for America, he traveled with Peter Larsen Hoel. I can find no family connection to Peter Larsen Hoel.

Anna was born September 17, 1879, and her father was Frants Larsen Hoel-eie.

Frantz Engelstads Bible

The youngest six children of Frantz and Johanne were born in Wisconsin and their births were recorded in Frantz Engelstads Bible. The laws in Wisconsin did not require registering births and deaths with the county until 1907. Gunda Larsen, born July 13, 1881 Amelia Larsen, born September 29, 1883 Helga Larsen, born March 20, 1885 Bendi L. Larsen, born January 16, 1887 Fred Jony Engelstad, born September 28, 1889 Alvin Christian Engelstad, born July 22, 1891

The Bible belonging to Frantz was passed down to his eldest daughter, Agnette (Agnes) Engelstad Nelson. Agnes passed the Bible down to her daughter, Julia Engelstad Birkrem. Julia passed the Bible down to her daughter, Grace Birkrem Dahl. In July 2000 Grace gave the Bible to Paul Engelstad (grandson of Ludvig, son of Fritz) because of Pauls great interest in family history. (Paul is descended from Ludvig, the eldest son with descendants.)

In the late 1800s land was scarce in Norway and many Norwegians immigrated to America in hope of fulfilling their dream of owning land. Frantz and Johanne dreamt of going to America to earn enough money to return to Norway and buy their own land. They fulfilled their dream to own land - but it was in America, not Norway.

Johanne and the children were unable to leave with Frantz possibly due to one of the children being ill.

On April 16, 1880 Frantz was issued a passport in Oslo showing his destination as Edgerton, Wisconsin. (See #76 below) His fare was 178.40 kroner. He traveled with other people from Nes, including Peter Larsen Hoel and his wife Agnette who were destined for LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Frantz sailed April 16 on the SS Angelo (information on the ship in the chapter titled By Ship - Norway to America. The Emigrants Experience).

On September 2, 1880, Johanne Andersen Simenstad and her four children (Agnette, Peter, Ludvig and Anna) were issued passports in Oslo showing their destination as Edgerton, Wisconsin. Their fare had been prepaid (presumably by Frantz). Johanne sailed September 3, 1880, on the SS Hero. Son Ludvig told his family that they arrived in Philadelphia (probably arriving the first week of October but no record was located at the National Archives in Washington, DC. Johannes final destination was the home of her uncle, Borre Simenstad in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Borre later returned to Norway.

Emigrants leaving Norway usually sailed to Hull, England, then took a train to Liverpool, from which they sailed to America. The total trip took about three weeks. Family lore is that Johanne arrived in Philadelphia. A search of Indexes to Passenger Lists Arriving at Philadelphia 1800-1906 (at the National Archives in Washington, DC in the summer of 2000) did not result in locating Johannes arrival under the names Simenstad, Hoel or Andersen. There are no indexes for the port of New York and many Norwegians entered through this port. Another search, line by line, of arrivals at the port of New York between May 1 and June 16, 1880 did not yield a record of Frantz arrival. Some of these arrival records are incomplete.

Mabel Nelson (daughter of Johannes eldest daughter, Agnes) told the story that Johanne was angry with Frantz when he met her at Edgerton, Wisconsin after their trip from Norway. Frantz did not wear his best suit.

Frantz and Johanne settled in Deerfield, Wisconsin, and later moved to Cambridge, Wisconsin.

1885 Wisconsin State Census

F. L. Engelstad is listed on the 1885 census (taken June 20) for Deerfield Township, Dane County, Wisconsin. He is shown as having four white males and seven white females in his household. Three were shown as being born in the United States and eight were born in Scandinavia. The H. B. Howe family is listed just below Frantz listing. For many years Frantz farmed the Howe farm.

1895 Wisconsin State Census

Frantz Engelstad is listed on the 1895 census (taken June 20) for Deerfield Township, Dane County, Wisconsin. He is shown as having six males and six females in the household, six born in the United States and six born in Scandinavia. Henry Howe is also listed on the same page.

1900 United States Census

On June 18, 1900, Frantz and Johanne Engelstad and their children were living in Deerfield Township, Dane County, Wisconsin. This census shows the people living in the household, their relationship, their race, sex, month and year of birth, age, marital status, number of years married, number of children born to the mother and number of children living, birthplace of each person and birthplace of their father and mother, year they immigrated to America, number of years in America and naturalization information (PA means Frantz filed his Declaration of Intent to become a citizen), occupation, whether the person was in school, whether the person can read, write and speak English (note Frantz and all the children could speak English but Johanne could not). The last section of this census shows whether they own or rent, if owned, free of mortgage, whether a farm or home and number on farm schedule (agricultural census).

Note that Frantz and Johanne had been married 27 years, that Johanne had borne 10 children and all were still living, that they had been in America 20 years that Frantz was a farmer and his eldest son Peter was a farm laborer. The household included daughter Agnes, age 20, and her daughter Julia, age two. Family lore is that Agnes had been a servant in the home of a local man who was Julias father. They did not marry. Other residents were their children: daughters Gunda, age 18; Amali, age 16; Helga, age 15, and sons Bendi, age 13; Fred, age 10, and Alvin, age eight. Ludvig lived elsewhere.

1905 Wisconsin State Census

On June 1, 1905, Frantz (shown as Frank) and Johanne were listed in the census for Deerfield Township, Dane County, Wisconsin. Living with them were their daughters Agnes, Anna, Amelia and Helga and sons Peter F., Ludvig, Bendix (Bendie), Frederick and Alvin. Also included in the household was Agnes daughter, Julia R., age seven. Frantz was renting a farm. 1910 United States Census

On May 20, 1910, Frantz (now using the name Frank), age 60, and Johanne Engelstad, age 59, were living in Deerfield Township, Dane County, Wisconsin with their children: Helga, age 25; Bendie, age 23; Fred, age 20; Alvin, age 18, and granddaughter, Julia, age 12. Also on this page on line 57 was Arthur Skolas who was a nephew of Nels Nelsons (husband of Agnes Engelstad). Arthur is included in many photographs of the Engelstad family.

By 1910 Johanne was also able to speak English and Frantz had become a citizen of the United States. They rented a farm and Frantz was listed as a farmer and his sons Bendie, Fred and Alvin were shown as laborers on a home farm. Helga had no occupation and probably assisted Johanne in running the home.

Frantz and Johanne - American Citizens

Immigrants to America could file a Declaration of Intent that they intended to become citizens after residing in America for two years. This allowed the immigrant the right to vote. Residency in America for five years was required before an immigrant could become a citizen. Wives automatically became citizens when their husbands were naturalized. Frantz Engelstad and his brother, Anders Andrew Engelstad, became citizens on the same day. Frantz Engelstad became an American citizen on September 20, 1906, 26 years after coming to America from Norway.

Frantz and Johanne, Lutherans

Life was easier in Wisconsin for immigrants from Norway because of the Lutheran church. The area in which Frantz and Johanne settled was populated by many Norwegians, most of whom were Lutheran. Social life often revolved around church activities, and friendships were formed because of common interests and common language.

St Pauls Lutheran Church on Liberty Prairie in Deerfield conducted services in Norwegian. Frantz and Johanne and many of their descendants attended this church. They were also very active in the church. Engelstad family reunions have been held there for many years.

Their first home in the United States was a one-room log cabin on the Rothe farm one mile south of St. Pauls Liberty Lutheran Church in Deerfield, Wisconsin. The cabin was directly south of and about 30 feet across the road from the present home of Mrs. Gladys Maly.

After a few years, Frantz moved to a tenant house located on a farm west of Rockdale. Several years later the family moved to the Howe farm, located one mile west of the Maly home, which they share-cropped for a number of years.

The land records of Dane County, Wisconsin show several transactions involving Frantz Engelstad:

Mortgage assigned to Frantz L. Engelstad: No. 238841a On April 12, 1901, Anton Anderson and Antonette Anderson, his wife, of Deerfield, Wisconsin, signed a mortgage in the amount of $1,400.00 to be held by Gunhild Anderson of Deerfield, Wisconsin, due and payable five years from April 12, 1901, with interest thereon at the rate of five percent per annum. The mortgage covered the following property:

The west half (1/2) of the South west quarter (1/4) of south west quarter (1/4) of section number thirty two (32) Township number seven (7) north, range twelve (12) East and said to contain twenty acres more or less.

On April 4, 1912 Gunhild Anderson assigned the above mortgage to Frantz L. Engelstad as follows: No 318121a FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION of Twelve hundred ($1,200.00) dollars to me in hand paid, I Gunhild Anderson of the City of Stoughton, County of Dane and State of Wisconsin do hereby grant, bargain, sell, assign and set over unto Frantz L. Engelstad of the Town of Deerfield, County of Dane and State of Wisconsin, a certain Indenture of Mortgage executed by Anton Anderson and Antonette Anderson, his wife, of Deerfield, County of Dane, State of Wisconsin and dated the 12th day of April 1901 to the said Gunhild Anderson on certain lands in the County and State aforesaid, together with the note therein referred to, and which said mortgage is recorded in Volume 153 of Mortgages, on page 202 in the Office of the Register of Deeds in the County of Dane in the State of Wisconsin.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said note and mortgage, and the debt thereby secured, and all the interest conveyed by the Mortgage in and to the lands therein described, to the said Frantz L. Engelstad, his heirs, executors, and assigns forever; for his and their use and benefit, I in no way being personally liable for said indebtedness.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of April 1912.

· Gunhild (her mark) Anderson

On May 16, 1914, Frantz Engelstad assigned the mortgage to Frank Howe. Frantz had lived on the Howe farm for many years.

Landowners at Last

Warranty Deed: On March 23, 1914, Iver E. Bendickson of the town of Christiana, Dane County, granted a warranty deed to Frantz L. Engelstad of the town of Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin as follows:

No. 334736a THIS INDENTURE, made this twenty-first (21st) day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand, nine hundred and fourteen (1914) between Iver E. Bendickson of the town of Christiana, Dane County, Wisconsin, a widower, party of the first part, and Frantz L. Engelstad of the town of Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin, party of the second part,

WITNESSETH, That the said party of the first part, for an in consideration of the sum of One ($1$) Dollar and other good and sufficient considerations to him in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and acknowledged, has given, granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, aliened, conveyed and confirmed, and by these presents does give, grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien, convey and confirm unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, the following described Real Estate, situate in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, to-wit:

The north half (N1/2) of the South East quarter (SE1/4); and the Southwest quarter (SW ¼) of the South East quarter (SE ¼); and also a parcel in the South East corner of the South West quarter (SW ¼) of the North East quarter (NE ¼) bounded as follows: Beginning at a point in the East line of said South West quarter (SW ¼) of the North east quarter (NE ¼) two (2) rods north from the South East corner thereof, thence west parallel with the South line thereof Twenty (20) rods, thence west of said South East corner, thence East along said South line about twenty-two (22) rods west of said South East corner, thence north on said East line two (2) rods to place of beginning, continuing forth-two (42) square rods, all being in Section Three (3) of Township Six (6) North of Range Twelve (12) East, also the north nineteen and one-half (19-1/2) acres of the North west quarter (NW ¼) of the South west quarter (SW ¼) of section Thirty four (34) of Township Seven (7) north of Range Twelve (12) East, and also a strip of land two (2) rods wide along the west line of said last above described, quarter quarter, bounded as follows: Beginning at the South west corner thereof, thence North on said west line thereof to said 19-1/2 acres, two (2) rods, thence at right angles south parallel with said west line forth (40) rods more or less to the south line of said quarter quarter, thence west on said south line two (2) rods to place of beginning in said section thirty-four (34) Township Seven (7) North Range Twelve (12) East, and being in all 140-1/4 acres of land hereby conveyed be it more or less according to government survey thereof.

Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereto belonging, or in any guise appertaining; and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim or demand whatsoever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, either in possession or expectancy of, in and to the above bargained premises and their hereditaments and appurtenances, to have and to hold the said premises as above described, with the hereditaments and appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part and to his heirs and assigns forever.

AND THE SAID grantor Iver E. Bendickson for himself and his heirs, executors and administrators, does covenant, grant, bargain and agree to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and delivery of these presents he is well seized of the premises above described, as of good, sure, perfect, absolute and indefeasible estate of inheritance in the law, in fee simple, and that the same are clear and free from all encumbrances whatever and that the above bargained premises, in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part; his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming the whole or any part thereof he will forever Warrant and Defend.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The said party of the first part has hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written. (s)Iver E. Bendickson

Mortgage by Frantz and Johanne Engelstad to Iver Bendickson: On March 21, 1914, Frantz and Johanne signed a mortgage to Iver Bendickson in the amount of $12,000.00 at the rate of five and one half percent. The Estate of Iver Bendickson released the mortgage on January 29, 1935.

Mortgage by Frantz Engelstad to Federal Land Bank: On August 1, 1934, Frantz executed a mortgage in the amount of $4,800.00 payable over 36 years at 5% interest with payments at the rate of $144.00 every six months. The mortgage was released on August 9, 1957.

Mortgage by Frantz Engelstad to Federal Land Bank: Also on August 1, 1934 Frantz executed a mortgage in the amount of $4,700.00 at 5% interest payable in 40 equal semi-annual installments of $117.50 each. The mortgage was released on February 8, 1946.

Deeds to Son, Bendie Engelstad:

Frantz, a widower, died without a Will on May 8, 1936, and left his estate to his nine surviving children.

In the spring and summer of 1955 eight of those children executed quit claim deeds turning the farm over to the ninth child, Bendie Engelstad: Agnes Nelson Engelstad, Anna Engelstad Henderson, Amelia Engelstad Swain and Helga Engelstad Mikkelson signed one quit claim on May 4, 1955 Fred Engelstad Heirs of Ludwig Engelstad: widow Anna and son Fritz Heir of Ludwig Engelstad: son Lester Heir of Ludwig Engelstad: son Julian Heirs of Gunda Engelstad Rutlin Heir of Alvin Engelstad: widow Amelia Heirs of Alvin Engelstad: sons Howard and George

Bendies son, Roger Engelstad, now owns the farm. It is now in the third generation of ownership by Engelstads. More information about the farm (along with photos) is in the chapter of this book on Bendie.

Frantz and Johanne - Gone but Not Forgotten

Frantzs Death

Frantz L. (Larsen) Engelstad died at the age of 86 on May 8, 1936, in the Township of Deerfield, County of Dane, Wisconsin. Cause of death was chronic myocarditis chronic arterio sclerosis. Frantzs father is shown on the certificate as Lars Engelstad but his name was Lars Andersen Sund.

Frantz and Johanne (and their son, Peter) are buried at St. Pauls Liberty Lutheran Church Cemetery in Deerfield, Wisconsin.

Frantz died intestate (leaving no will). His son, Bendie, filed a Petition for Administration with the written consent of all ten children that Fred Engelstad be appointed administrator of the Estate.

Final expenses for Frantz included:

Dr. Karl Amundson, Cambridge, for 11 visits and medicine$ 21.50 (including one at the Nelsons on 5/31/35) St. Pauls Liberty Lutheran Church Cemetery Association, Deerfield For perpetual care and upkeep of one lot, No. 24, north side, owned by said deceased in the cemetery of the above association duly incorporated. 100.00

After payment of all expenses, the estate had a cash value of $1,882.13. There were nine heirs: Agnes, Ludvig, Anna, Gunda, Amelia, Helga, Bendie, Fred and Alvin. Peter was deceased at the time, leaving no children. Each heir received a 1/9th share or $209.12.

Peter Engelstad's postcards:

Aug 5, 1909To Petter Engelstad, Hawley, Minnesota (posted at Deerfield, Wisconsin). Post card of University Buildings from Boat House, Madison, Wisconsin. Written in Norwegian by Frantz L. Engelstad (father)

Sept 2, 1909To Petter Engelstad, Hawley, Minnesota (posted at Deerfield, Wisconsin). Post card of Ravine in Ringerike, Norway Written in Norwegian by F. L. Engelstad (father Frantz)