Johanna Andersdatter Molstad

GEDCOM Note

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:

The December 31, 1875, census for Anders Evensen shows that the family was living on the Molstadmoen farm. Residents of the dwelling were: Anders Evensen (Husfader or husband), Pernille Gulbrandsdatter (Husmuder or mother), and their children: Helene Andersdatter and Otto Andersen. It shows their respective birth dates as 1816, 1825, 1864 and 1867. It also shows their occupation and place of birth

The 1865 census is on two pages and shows the residents on the Molstad farm as Anders Evensen, age 49; his wife, Pernille Gulbrandsdatter, age 40; and their children: Johanne Andersdatter, age 15; Elise Andersdatter, age 13; Gulbrand Andersen, age 10; Andreas Andersen, son age 8; and Helene Andersdatter, age 1. It also shows that all members of the family were born in Nes.

Johanne was one of eight children born to Anders Evensen Molstad and Pernille Gulbrandsdatter.

Gine Andersdatter, born June 7, 1848, at the Staff farm Gine married Ole Jensen Dahlsmoen and died 1878;

Johanne Andersdatter, born Feb. 22, 1851, at the Molstad-eie farm

Elise Andersdatter, born May 7, 1853, at the Molstad-eie farm

Gulbrand Andersen, born March 15, 1856, at the Molstad-eie farm

Andreas Andersen, born October 3, 1858, at the Molstad-eie farm

Halvor Andersen born March 12, 1862, at the Molstad-eie farm Halvor Andersen died in Norway in 1864 at age two.

Helene Andersdatter, born July 13, 1865, at the Molstad-eie farm

Otto Andersen, born October 1, 1868, at the Molstad-eie farm

Johanne Andersdatter was born February 22, 1851, and baptized March 16, 1851, in the Lutheran Church of Nes, Hedemarken County, Norway. Her baptism record shows her father was Anders Evensen and her mother was Pernille Gulbrandsdatter. Sponsors were Ole Nilsen Molstadmoen and wife Anne Gulbrandsdtter Stav, Agnete Evensdatter Skredderstuen; all relatives.

Frantz was confirmed on October 9, 1864, and his home at the time was Raknerud. Johanne was confirmed on October 1, 1864, and her home at the time was Molstadmoen.

Frantz´s family lived on the island of Helgoya and Johanne´s family lived on the mainland just north of the town of Nes.

On April 15, 1873, Frantz Larsen, age 23, of Raknerud and Johanne Andersdatter, age 22, of Molstad were married in Nes, Hedemarken County, Norway.

Frantz Larsen resided in this home at the time of his marriage to Johanne Andersdatter on April 15, 1873. Family legend is that the family lived in the home in 1877, at which time Raknerud was an inn. The first floor was for the public and the upper floor was occupied by two families: the Frantz Larsen family and the family of a first cousin of Frantz. This cannot be verified, however, because when son Ludvig was born November 18, 1877 Frantz was using the name Hoel which indicated that he resided on the Hoel farm at the time of Ludvig´s birth.

Frantz and Johanne - Gone but Not Forgotten

Johanne Molstad Engelstad died at the age of 81 on May 20, 1932, in the Township of Christiana, County of Dane, Wisconsin. Cause of death was partial intestinal obstruction, enlarged ovaries and pneumonia complicated by diabetes. The certificate shows her father was Anders Andersen Molstad but his name was Anders Evensen Molstad.

Johanne Remembered By Marian Henderson Hub Granddaughter of Frantz and Johanne Daughter of Anna Engelstad Henderson

This story was written at the request of Paul Engelstad (grandson of Ludvig Engelstad, son of Fritz Engelstad).

In the first place I believe that she must have been very strong to say farewell to her parents and her relatives and pack together everything with four children ages seven, five, three and one year old and whatever they needed to leave Norway and to cross the rough Atlantic. Can you think to have had babies on the boat five to six weeks? Did they get baths? How did they wash the diapers and the clothes? I know that you all (Paul Engelstad) have grandmother´s food box and she had to pack the dry food for the trip. You know that Uncle Peter lived with us on the farm. He used to tell me the story of that boat trip. The weather had been bad and most of the children had been really seasick or had diarrhea. You know it was the times in the 1870s and 1880s years when people traveled to America to try to put together a better life. They believed that it was really easy to just put your fork out and you would get a piece of cooked pig. Grandfather Frantz met them at the train station in Stoughton WI. He took them to a little wooden hut. Originally they thought that they would only be here four or five years and then take their money back to Norway and buy a little farm there. That time never came. They never were rich with money but they had a big family rich with children. They had 10 children in all, five boys and five girls. Agnes married early so Anna, the next oldest daughter, had to stay home and help mother. She therefore received very little schooling. Grandmother Engelstad was extremely intelligent and very clever. She could be strict, reserved or quiet and she must have just constantly been tired and worn out.

Grandmother spun all the wool that she needed and then she wove the material. She knitted socks, gloves, and sweaters. She also sewed and starched all the clothes. She baked, she made sugar, had a big garden, cooked and was always working as a housewife and taking care of the house. She only was free when she was going to church. She made Norwegian food and simple meals and really liked fruit soup. Grandfather worked also constantly and had to until he was exhausted. They made their own soap and their own fruit wine. Their needs were small. They were good neighbors and one time she said to me love your neighbor as yourself´´ and your next love begins at home.´´

Another time we were talking about people and she said, if you want a friend so must you be one.´´ She taught children to be happy about nature and she was really clever to predict the weather. She taught my mother different signs on how the weather was going to be.

Grandmother spoke English to some of her grandchildren. Your father (Fritz) said that he never had sat on her lap. Well after having 10 children and taking care of all of them I don´t believe that she really wanted to have 30 grandchildren climbing up on her lap. But I loved her and told her that and therefore I often crawled up on her lap and put my arms around her. Her lap was not so big for she was a little plump. My sister, Ruth, and I were used to going up there in the summertime and sleep over the night. It was very special to sleep there. I used to plead with her to smile more because when she smiled I said I could see into her heart. She was always friendly and kind and thankful and she didn´t complain ever. She missed Norway, her family, and her friends but she said we are here now and we must make the best of it. She always got up with the sunrise and she liked to look at the view with the sun going down. Then she got a certain look in her eye. I asked her one time how far could she see. She replied very far´´ So that I asked Can you see Norway.´´ Then she put her arm around me and said yes I see my homeland just as I left it and I miss it very much but I´m here and have you all but we can all dream. When grandmother and grandfather Engelstad moved from the farm all the children helped them with food, clothes and a little money. We all missed them when they died. Frantz and Johanne have a large family after them in America.

The Engelstad Farm (Now in its third generation: Frantz, Bendie, Roger)

At age 13 Bendie lived on the home farm owned by his parents and is so listed on the 1900 United States Census. He also appears at age 23 on the 1910 United States Census with his parents. On the 1920 United States Census Benjamin´´(age 32) and his wife, Julia (age 24) lived with his parents.

Bendie took over the home farm from his parents who had purchased it from Iver E. Bendicksen (Fjerestad).