Ole Aanonsen Klungeland

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In 1859 Ole Aanenson Klongland (1789-1870) and his wife, Anna Maria (1795-1877) left Haegebostad Sogn and sailed to America. Three of their daughters accompanying them on this trip were: Ingeborg (Mrs. Simon Berkeland), Thorbjorg (later married to Hans J. Olson) and Oline (later married to Aanen Severson). A fourth daughter Aaselena Naglestad, whose first husband died in Decorah, (and who later married Peder Garvey or Gilbertson), joined the group in Decorah. A fifth daughter, Vesla Anna (Mrs. Ola Bakken Monen), came in 1885 after the first settlers were established in Centennial Township. Their sixth daughter, Mrs. Store Anna Eilevstad, remained in Norway.

One can well imagine the courage and resourcefulness such a move must have taken, for the father was 70 and his wife 64-quite an advanced age for stepping into the unknown in coming to America. They settled in Winneshiek County, Iowa and remained there for ten years. During this time they worked as farmers with one aim in mind: to earn enough money to buy necessities for the westward trek. This became a reality in 1869 when three of their daughters and their families, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Berkeland, Mr. and Mrs. Hans J. Olson Naglestad, and Mr. and Mrs. Aanen Severson, together with the Ole Sorensons, Anders Thorsons, Thorsten Korstads and Peder Korstad organized the that first caravan and left for Lyon County, Iowa. The journey took two months as they lost their way and traveled some distance into Minnesota and South Dakota. However, they finally reached their destination - the fertile prairie land on the Iowa side of the Big Sioux River.

The elderly Klongelands shared space on the wagon train as well as living quarters with their children. These arrangements made possible for them what normally was attempted only by younger people. In October 1869 Mr. and Mrs. Peder Garvey or Gilbertson and her children, Andrew and Gurina Naglestad made the journey to Lyon County. In 1885 Mr. and Mrs. Ola Bakken Monen and their daughter and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Ole Scotheien, joined the family group in Centennial Township. Thus the Berkelands, Olsons, Garveys, Monens, Naglestads, Seversons, and Scotheiens are direct descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Klongeland, who were the first people buried in Our Savior's Cemetery. He was the first white person buried in Centennial Township."

Berkeland: Simon Tobiason Berkeland was born in 1833 at Berkeland in Kvaas Sogn, Norway. He married Ingeborg Klongeland who was born about 1829 at Berkeland in Haegebostad Sogn. By 1859 they had two sons, Tobias (Simonson), 1856, and Ole (Tobiason), 1858. With other members of their family they migrated to America in 1859. They settled between Ossian and Decorah, Iowa. Simon worked on farms, did some farming and acquired some livestock. Two more sons were born to them in Winneshiek Co. Jacob (Berkeland), 1861, and Andrew (Tobiason), 1864. They joined that first caravan that settled in Centennial Township, Lyon County, Iowa in 1869.

Enroute Ingeborg solved the problem of crossing the river in spite of a broken-down ferry. The wagons could cross but they couldn't get the cattle across. Ingeborg asked the ferryman to take her across in a boat while the cattle were rounded up on the bank of the river. When she reached the opposite shore she called her pet cow, "Kom kjyra mi, kom Terna". It worked! Terna rushed across and the other cattle followed.

Simon filed claim to the northeast quarter, section 26 in Centennial Township. They lived in a dugout until spring. Here Lars was born on August 2, 1869. The following summer they moved into their 18 x 20 ft. sod house which was the home for their family of seven for three years yet there was room for more when one night seven strangers caught in a storm found shelter there.

Breaking prairie land, fighting prairie fires, and grasshoppers, helping organize local government, establishing a church and building better houses required patience, endurance, but above all, faith in God.

On May 6, 1893, Simon died, nine days after the death of his youngest son Lars. Ingeborg died May 12, 1905. Their son Jacob married to Olena Scotheien, then acquired the homestead. Now their sons Lawrence and Marvin, and daughter, Elma, reside on the homestead. Thus after 100 years it is home to descendants of the original homesteader.

Garvey Mr. and Mrs. Peder Garvey or Gilbertson (Aaselena Klongeland Naglestad) weren't in the first caravan as they hadn't sold their farm in Winneshiek County, but in late October 1869 they joined the others in Centennial Township. The trip took them only three weeks as there was now a trail to follow. Andrew Nagelstad, a step son of Peder Garvey or Gilbertson, remembered the trip well, as he had to herd the cows down the trail. Gurina (Mrs Ole T. Monen), his sister was also along on the trip.

The first business was to file a homestead claim on the S. E. quarter section 35 in Centennial Township. It was now too late to get a house built so they lived with Aanen Severson family that first winter. It was a hard winter and the three day snowstorm was a never to be forgotten experience.

In the spring they moved into their own new house. The Peder Garvey family prospered and grew. Gustav, Ole and Martina, (Mrs. Joe Snartemo), were born and reared in Centennial Township. Peder and Aaselina and their family are buried in Out Saviour's Cemetery.

ARTICLE FROM NEWSPAPER: KLONGELAND, BAKKEN, MONEN, NAGLESTAD, GARVEY, BERKLAND, SEVERSON, OLSON, EILESTAD, EIESLAND, SEVERSON

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall (email) Date: 8/28/2005 at 07:58:59

This is not a 'true' biography, but it seems appropriate to post it on this board. ______________________________________________ Couple Born in 18th Century Buried in Lyon

Klongeland's Came With 1869 Caravan From Eastern Iowa

Ole Klongeland did find a grave in Lyon county, as did his wife, and so far as can now be found out, they are the only people buried in Lyon county, whose grave markers indicate they were born in the eighteenth century.

Born in Norway. The Klongelands were born in Norway. Ole was born in 1789 and his wife Anna was born in 1795. They, with their children came to America in 1859, and they settled in Winneshiek county, which was then one of the leading centers for the Norweigan settlers who were landing in the United States.

Ten years later their married daughters with their families were planning to go to that new area in Iowa which was to be settled -- Lyon county. The Klongelands decided they wanted to stay with their daughters and so they put their belongings into a prairie schooner and made the long overland trip to this area.

In this group, one of the very first groups of permanent settlers to come to Lyon county, were six families. They were the Klongelands, their daughters and families -- Mr. and Mrs. Ole Bakken (later known as Monen), Mr. and Mrs. (Aasalene) Ole Naglestad (later Aaselene was married to a man by the name of Garvey); Mr. and Mrs. (Ingeborg) Simon Berkland; Mr. and Mrs. (Oline) Aanen (Amos) Severson; and Mr. and Mrs. (Torborg) Hans J. Olson Naglestad. (The Naglestads later dropped their last name and were known as the Hans J. Olsons).

Settle in Centennial. The group liked the western part of Lyon county and settled there. Mr. and Mrs. Klongeland and Mr. and Mrs. Hans Olson built a common cabin on a line between two quarter sections, and homesteaded the two sections. These farms, known as the Naglestad farm and the Olson farm, are still in the hands of their descendants. As well as several other farms in the area which are still in the hands of descendants of this group.

Their other daughter (Anna) Mrs. Eilestad, remained in Norway.

Mr. Ole Klongestad died the year after he came to the county and was buried in what is now Our Savior's cemetery, northwest of Inwood. He was 81 years of age. Mrs. Klongestad lived until 1877, when at the age of 82, she died and was buried beside her husband.

Built church. One of the first things that the new settlers started planning was the construction of a church in their new community. They held irregular and then regular church services and in 1889 they built Our Savior's church. This church building some 20 years ago, was moved across the road and remodeled, and is still in regular use.

Some 300 descendants of the Klongelands have been located. Many of their descendants live in the Inwood area. Among this group are Herbert Eiesland, who lives in the same section in which the cemetery is located, in which his great grandparents are buried. Also in the area is Miss Dena Naglestad, a daughter of A.O. Naglestad, who has kept family records and supplied much of this information.

From this group of settlers who came to Lyon county in 1869 came many of the early leaders of the county. Two early day supervisors who were outstanding leaders were Hans J. Olson and Amos Severson, both descendants of the Klongelands. _____________________________________________ -source: 'Sheldon Mail' newspaper, O'Brien co. Iowa, October 12, 1955

-transcribed for Lyon co. IAGenWeb by the submitter (submitter is not related to anyone in this newspaper article & has no further information)