Marit Tobiasdatter Rasmussen

Citation: http://www.dxhansen.com/SS2Hansen-o/p1.htm#i4

FROM A CONVERSATION WITH OUR MOTHER

MAY THOMPSON HANSEN WICK (MARIT TOBIASDATTER)

ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1979

Mother was born in Steivang, Norway, on August 13, 1887. For some reason her mother used August 12 as her birth date and Mother has continued to use this date. She was the youngest of nine brothers and sisters. Most of her brothers and sisters had left the home place by the time she was born. It was hard to support a big family and was not unusual when a child was eight years old or so that they were taken in by neighboring families to work for room and board while they went to school.

Their home was a simple log cabin. All cooking was done in the fireplace. They ate mostly potatoes, herring and fish - very little meat. They had a vegetable garden and a cow. Her mother baked bread in a pan under the fireplace. They had to walk seven miles each way to Lille elvedalen to buy staples like coffee, sugar, etc. Her father didn't have much steady work. He worked at a mine - not a miner but something to do with tools.

Mother doesn't remember having any special toys as a child. She had rag dolls made of yarn and material. She did have a cat which she called Pisse - which means female cat in Norwegian. She was a loving cat, loved Mother and Mother loved her. Pisse slept with her all the time. She got under the covers and was nice and warm - Mother was cold sometimes. Mother's bed was under her mother's - a trundle bed. They ate at a table that could be raised up and fastened against the wall. Mother's place was on what was probably the brace against the wall and raised her up even with the table - really above it. The room was small. Her mother had a weave stool. She spun the yarn and wove material for everything they wore. They didn't have any sheep - probably traded with others for the wool. She remembers when she went to school she had two dresses, both alike, both green. One was for Sunday, the other for everyday.

When Mother was about six years old her father became very sick with cancer of the mouth. The doctor wanted him to move closer to him so he could see him oftener. So they moved to Lille elvedalen where her father got work making harnesses. He lived only a year or so after that. Her mother owed the doctor a lot of money. The doctor wasn't married, and to help pay him she went to worked for him, cooked and kept house, and Mother, of course, could be with her. All the other children were still with other families or married. In fact her sister Judith had gone to America when Mother was a baby, and her brother Andrew left for there when she was about tow. They went to America to make a living - there wasn't much chance for them in Norway.

Her mother always had hand work. Whenever she went out she carried her knitting with her, with the yarn pinned to the waist of her dress. She made gloves and mittens with beautiful embroidery on them. When the doctor got married his wife had her make her a skirt for skiing. She knit the whole skirt out of black yarn with this beautiful embroidery all around. Her mother was pretty smart but didn't have much chance - couldn't write very much as she hadn't had much schooling.

When Mother was about twelve years old they moved to Hamar, which was a fairly large city. They went there because Mother's sister Sigrid was there. Sigrid was a very good dressmaker and her husband was a locomotive engineer. They had a nice apartment and there was an extra room in the building for them.

Later her brother Johannes came and lived there too. It wasn't an apartment building like we have here. There was one bathroom for all the people in the building. Her mother got work for a doctor and minister, doing washing and ironing and keeping house. She supported them that way. She was so well liked and people were awfully good to them. They were poor but Mother can't ever remember being unhappy. Mother got hand-me-down clothes from the children of the people her mother worked for.

Mother was confirmed in the state church in Hamar. She finished grade school and her teacher wanted her to learn more and helped her to get free tuition to what was called continuation school. She went to that one year. It was like high school. She also got a three month course in bookkeeping and arithmetic. Arithmetic was her favorite subject and she was good at it.

Her mother saved money for them to go to America. It cost $50 for them to go from Norway to Stanley, Wisconsin. That was a lot of money then. Mother's sister Bertina, her husband, and their six month old baby, Connie, came with them. Mother was sixteen years old. This was in 1903. In their trunk was her mother's spinning wheel. Also the Singer sewing machine, a hand machine which Sigrid had bought and which might probably still be in use someplace!

She and her mother lived with Mother's sister Judith in Stanley, Wisconsin.

Her mother helped midwives and took care of new babies - she was good at that. Everybody wanted her so she always had places to go. Judith was a fine dressmaker but a terrible housekeeper. Mother got busy and made the beds, swept and scrubbed the kitchen because she thought it looked just awful. But Judith was so well liked, so jolly, and people came in all the time to see her. Everyone wanted her to sew for them. She was very good.

Mother's brother Andrew lived in Enderlin, North Dakota. She hadn't seen him since she was two years old. He came to Stanley and because she would have a chance to got to school she went back with him to Enderlin. Her sister Judith was very upset that Andrew was going to take Mother away from her. She would miss the housework that she had been doing. They had come to Stanley in May and it was maybe a couple of months later that she left with Andrew for North Dakota.

Mother got in with a family of Norwegian descent, very nice. He was the mayor. Mother did all kinds of housework. She went to school one full year and part of another, starting in first grade. The kids said: "Sixteen years old and in first grade!" She moved through the grades quickly and finished in seventh grade. She didn't have to take a lot of subjects. What she wanted most was to learn the language. Her teacher was of Norwegian descent also so she was able to help her. She stayed in with Mother at recess to do this. She was very good to her.

In Norway her name was Tobiasdatter, her brother in Stanley, Wisconsin, took the name Steivang, and Andrew took the name Thompson - close to Tobiasson, his name in Norway. Andrew had her take the name Thompson, like his, and because she didn't like the name Mary, which her real name Marit was close to, she took the name May. So from then on she was May Thompson.

Mother decided to go back to Stanley, Wisconsin. She got work in the General Store there. She had a relative in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, a second cousin, Christine Hokenson, who was going to Minneapolis to work. She had been there before. Mother decided to go with her. She didn't have a job or anything in sight, but they went and she was happy. Her mother was still in Stanley, staying with Mother's sister Bertina now. She supported herself, took care of Bertina's children, and then helped other women. There were always a lot of new babies.

Mother first worked in a private boarding house when she came to Minneapolis, as a dining room girl. She got the job through Christine Hokenson. She waited on table, brought the food out, etc. It was at 1117 Hawthorne Avenue - all automobile places now. It was a private boarding house, had office people, real nice people. Everyone was so nice to her. Later she worked in the piece goods department at Powers Department Store.

Mother did have many boyfriends. One of them was a jeweler. He gave her a bracelet and he wanted to marry her. In the meantime, however, she met our father. He had come from Norway in 1907. Then between the two she didn't know which one she like the best, so she decided she wasn't going to marry anyone! But she did marry our father - and she was never sorry.

Before they were married and while she was working at Powers Department Store, she had a room with another girl. One day the landlady called her at work and said: "There's a sewing machine delivered to you - it has your name." Mother told her no, she didn't order a sewing machine and that it must be a mistake. But it was a gift from our father. She made good use of it. She made all the pillow cases, sheets and curtains for their future home, and of course sewed all her dresses too. In grade school in Norway children were taught to sew, knit, crochet, embroider, etc.

Their first home was in the upstairs of a home at 2909 Bloomington Avenue South in Minneapolis. She did not work after they were married because to stay home and keep house was what you were supposed to do. She was a housewife for a full year. Mother thinks now that was so "dumb" as they could have been saving towards their own home and other things they wanted. She just didn't have enough to do at home and decided to go back to Powers and see if she could work there again. The superintendent was a funny guy, Mother said - he was always chewing his tongue! - and immediately he asked her - "Oh, is something wrong!" A married woman wanting to work again must have trouble with her marriage!

Our Father was born in Nordland, Norway. He had come to America in 1907. He had several sisters, one brother. His sister, Laura, and brother, Rolf, had also come to America. In Norway the family living was made from fishing, which he didn't like. He didn't like to go on the ocean. After his compulsory military service he went to school and learned the tailoring trade.

This was his work in America. In those days there was piece work. Some tailors made coats, some vests, others pants, etc. He was a coatmaker and learned so much for each coat. He taught Mother how to make buttonholes and she was able to help him.

They built their first home before Evelyn was born. Our Father worried about building this home when they found out a baby was coming. They had been married about four years then. But they got along fine. They had started the home with only $200 cash. This was at 3613 - 16th Avenue South in Minneapolis. Evelyn was born there in 1914. At this time they asked Mother's mother to come and live with them. Bertina's husband (Brandvold) had died and because her mother did not have much work now she didn't feel she should stay with her any longer. She was with them until she died seven years later.

They lived in this first house from 1913 to 1918 when they sold it and built the house at 4025 - 17th Avenue South, Minneapolis, when Winston was born. They had bought the lot from our Father's sister, Laura. The house cost something like $3000 - a little more. They had it all paid for in just a few years.

Then our Father contracted encephalitis (sleeping sickness they called it).

Mother says there was a lot of it at that time. The doctor (Dr. Tingdale) had her call a specialist. He couldn't predict the outcome so couldn't give much hope. It was a difficult time as Mother was pregnant. Father lived less than a year, and Alfred Maynard, named for him, was born five months later. Mother was thankful the house was paid for before he died. They had planned after that to buy a piano for Evelyn (they didn't buy anything until they had the money). But they didn't get to do it. (Mother did buy one several years later).

Mother used the $2000 insurance money she received to make a very nice apartment out of the roomy attic in the house. With income from that, plus piece-work making buttonholes for a tailor and piece work embroidery of baby dresses, she was able to support the three children and herself. For a time she also took in two newcomers from Sweden as roomers. Later she acquired a rug weaving loom and for many years she wove rag rugs. Through word of mouth and an occasional ad she had many customers who brought their bags or boxes of rolled up balls or rag strips for her to make into nice rugs for them. The loom was in the basement and she spent many many hours down there. She worked hard.

Alfred Maynard contracted diptheria when he was three years old. Mother also did and when this little son died Mother couldn't even attend his funeral.

Notes made by May Wick

(Marit Tobiasdatter, Steivang, Thompson, Hansen, Wick)

about her brothers and sisters:

Information on Family of Tobias Embretsen and Ragnhild Marie Johnsdatter

Tobias died of cancer about 1893

Ragnhild died of cancer about 1918

They had 9 children:

1. Judith emigrated to U.S. about 1889 - Lived in Stanley Wis. Got

married and lived there, they had 10 children all born U.S.A. Moved

to Coeur d'Alene Idaho; later to Spokane Washington where both died

leaving all children in that area.

2. Andrew Embret emigrated to U.S. in 1889. Settled in Enderlin N.D.

Married, had 3 children, the son lives in Portland Oreg. he died in ?

2 daughters live in Minneapolis. Hazel, Betty, Raymond.

3. Sigrid lived in Oslo, left a family of 9 children; several one died,

4 living. Live in Oslo, have several children. She married O.J.

Dahl. She died in ?

4. Johannes (John) married to Gusta Granberg lived in Stanley, where

they both died having 10 children, all married and living in diff.

states.

5. Bertine (U.S. in 1903) lived in Stanley all the time, married twice,

had 8 children. She died in 19 ? Paul died, Elroy is the only one in

Stanley. Elroy, Connie, (?) May, Raymond, Norman in Mpls. Also

Connie. Melvin in Montana.

6. Fredrikke married in Mpls. 3 children. Flo, Harry, and May. 2 in

Mpls. May in (?)

7. Tobine married lived in Mpls. and Monticello died in 1975, had 2

children, Illene and Eugene. They live in Monticello.

8. Ragnhild came to Stanley. Married, died in ? 3 daughters, only one

living in Seattle Wash.

9. That's me Marit Steivang, Thompson, Hansen, Wick. 2 ch. living, one

died. Alfred Maynard 2 1/2 yrs. old.

That's all the family

Information Provided by Joyce Brandvold:

OLE JOHNSEN, born ??, of Tosthaug (also believe this is a suburb of

Brandvold) Norway, married:

MARI OLSDATTER

Their children are:

1. JON (John) OLSEN, born 2 February 1817, Tosthaug Norway (birth

record states parents from Brandvold but all other records

list Tosthaug) 2. Peder Olsen

3. Ole Olsen, born ??, of Tosthaug 4. Sivert Olsen, born ??, of

Tosthaug

(Note: These, other than Jon, are not verified as their

children as yet - must search more and will send added

information later. Years and town about right.)

OLE EMBRETSEN, born ??, of Ryhaugen, Foldalen Norway, son of Embret

__?, married:

RAGNHILD JORGENSDATTER, born ??, daughter of Jorgen Olsen

They had:

1. Embret Olsen, born 11 November 1816, Ryhaugen, Norway

2. SIGRID OLSDATTER, born 26 July 1818, Ryhaugen, Norway

3. Jorgen Olsen, born 9 July 1821, Ryhaugen, Norway

4. Ole Olsen, born 23 November, 1823, Ryhaugen, Norway

5. Lars Olsen, born 4 September 1825, Ryhaugen, Norway

JON OLSEN, born 2 February 1817, Brandvold (Tosthaug) Norway, died 2

July 1885, Tosthaug, Norway. Son of OLE JOHNSON and MARI OLESDATTER

(above) of Brandvold Norway, married (on 13 April 1844):

SIGRID OLESDATTER, born 26 July 1818, Ryehaug Norway, daughter of

Ole Embretsen and Ragnhild Jorgensdatter of Ryehaug Norway. He was

a farmer.

They had:

1. Barbara Jonsdatter, born 3 September 1843, Ryehaug, Foldalen,

Norway

2. RAGNHILD MARIA JONSDATTER, born 21 May 1845, Einnenbakken,

Norway

3. Maret Jonsdatter, born 3 (or 9) August 1847, Einnenbakken,

Norway

4. Elisabet Jonsdatter, born 18 September 1855, Gjedryglien,

Norway

5. Oline Jonsdatter, born 25 March 1859, Gjedryglien, Foldal,

Norway

6. Sigrid Jonsdatter, born 28 November, 1860, Gjedryglien, Foldal

Norway

7. Maria Jonsdatter, born 27 February 1863, Gjedryglien, Foldal,

Norway

Notes: Barbara, 1st born was illegitimate as was Jon's last

daughter:

8. Maret Jonsdatter, born 20 December 1880, Foloien Norway. Her

father was Jon Oleson of Gjedryglien Norway and her mother was

Berte Jakabsdatter, born 1839, of Purtitnies of Sell, a widow.

Jon a widowman; Maret died 13 November 1884 in Kveberghaug

Norway of diptheria. Berte was a housekeeper by trade.

EMBRET THORBERGSEN, born about 1795 of Galten, (Gjelten) and

Flatnanger, Rendalen, Norway. On 25 September 1823 married:

JUDITTA FREDRICKSDATTER (sometimes used Skanike as surname), born

about 1804, in Dreujomoen Norway. She was the daughter of Fredrick

__?

They had these children:

1. Beret Embretsdatter, born 10 June 1823

2. Peder Embretsen

3. Ragnhild Embretsdatter, born 18 June 1828

4. Juditta Embretsdatter, born 9 September 1830

5. Engbret Embretsen, born 5 May 1832, died same day

6. TOBIAS EMBRETSEN, born 20 February 1836, died 4 November 1895

in Drevjohytte, Steine, Norway

7. Thorberg Embretsen, born about 1839

Note: These are not all verified as to being their actual

children, but all are listed in the godparents of following

generations so assume they are of this set of parents. Ages also

make it seem so - will send along corrections if I find otherwise.

Must now go through a film on the Rendalen area of Norway for

further information.

TOBIAS EMBRETSON, born 20 February 1836 in Drevjohytte, Norway and

died 4 November 1895 (nosebleed) in Steivang, Norway. He was the

son of EMBRET THORBERGSEN and JUDITTA FREDRICKSDATTER (Skanike) of

Galten (Gjelten) Norway. Married:

RAGNHILD MARIA JONSDATTER, born 21 May 1845, of Einnenbakken,

Norway. She died 5 December 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She

was the daughter of JON OLSEN and SIGRID OLSDATTER of Tosthaug and

Ryehaugen, Norway.

They were married 10 November 1870 in the Lille elvedalen area of

Norway; now called Alvdal, and had these children. Ragnhild took

the place name of Steivang as her family surname in the United

States.

1. Juditta Tobiasdatter, born 30 September 1870, Lille elvedalen,

Norway

2. Embret Tobiasson, born 20 March, 1872, Lille elvedalen, Norway

3. Sigrid Tobiasdatter, born 7 October 1874, Gjedryglien, Norway

4. Johannes Tobiasson, born 5 February 1876, Gjedryglien, Norway

5. Ragnhild Bertine Tobiasdatter, born 7 April 1879, Gjedryglien,

Norway

6. Freddrikke Tobiasdatter, born 29 January 1881, Steivang,

Norway

7. Ragnhild Tobine Tobiasdatter, born 8 November 1882, Steivang,

Norway

8. Ragnhild Tobiasdatter, born 19 June 1885, Steivang, Norway

9. MARIT TOBIASDATTER, born 13 August 1887, Steivang, Norway