Olivia Hansdatter Hammerstad

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28177733

1875 https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01052063004572

1881 https://www.digitalarkivet.no/view/8/pe00000000947499

OLIVIA HAMMERSTAD (STANGE) Deceased was born in the beautifully situated district of Stange, Hedmarken, Norway, October 25, 1827. There, near Norway's largest lake, she spent the first fifty-three years of her life. There she married Lars Hammerstad, with whom she had six children, one of whom died in childhood. In 1881, with her husband and five children, she came to U.S. and soon after settled in the Town of Hale, this county. About twenty-nine years ago her husband died and since that time, she has lived with her children-most of the time with her son, Ludwig, in our village. She served as housekeeper and helped him raise his motherless children. When the final call came, May fourth, the community was surprised at her passing for her health and activity had been such that many expected her to reach a still greater age than she did. On the 7th day of May her funeral services were held at Our Savour's church, Rev. Hofstad officiating, and her body laid beside her husband in Hale church cemetery. Three sons survive her, Hans and Andrew in the Town of Hale and our townsman, Ludwig Hammerstad, at whose home she fell asleep. A daughter, Mrs. Simon Freng, and son, Nels Hammerstad, well remembered for his kindly humor passed on before her. Ripe, full of days spent in life's most essential work, she passed to her rest blest and esteemed by all who knew her. Very appropriate was the text used for her funeral sermon - Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in his season. Bud, blossom, fruit, complete ripeness, then the harvest. Life's ever recurring processes found a most perfect exemplification in her life. Apart from the restless, noisy mass she lived the quiet, nature life, building her character and individuality from the material nearest to her hand. Though her years were many the outstanding events of her life were only such as come to most of those who reach old age. Her life was one unusually long routine. Day after day the same tasks and duties over and over again until every act became a part of her nature, performed without conscious volition as easily as the process of breathing. Thus she moved in her narrow orbit guided and controlled by the same laws that govern the circling suns in space. Her toil was garnished with constant cheerfulness and that sweet contentment which comes to all who want only the things which they can rightfully expect. Two years ago, she made a visit to one of her girlhood friends at Onalaska, LaCrosse County. Mrs. Sjolander-the other girl-was ninety-seven, Mrs. Hammerstad only ninety-five. They had not met for nearly sixty years. Both were comparatively well physically, and mentally alive to all the common contacts of life. When they met, there was a real feast. They joked, laughed and figuratively speaking, sang and danced to the echoes of music heard up there on the heights where in the long ago they spent their summers as saeter-maids. They quoted old sayings current in their neighborhood. Helped one another untangle genealogical skeins which concerned their mutual friends in far off years. And as they walked again the ancient paths, strings long silent became vibrant and melodious. Every stile, nook, hill and moor teemed with incidents and forms that sprang from unlocked chambers of memory. If recollections brought tears, the tears became gems in a setting of smiles. Deeply, happily they drank from the fountain of youth and found its water sweet. She never grumbled or complained is what one said who has been very close to her. In other words she avoided one of life's most common poisons. As He wills it so it must be, was the sum and substance of her conception of life. This, with the assurance that He doeth all things for the best, left her no cause for untimely worry. It is beautiful to be young, well-formed and posed for instant action at every call of duty; but it is glorious to have weathered the storms of life for nearly a century and maintained a cheerful disposition, a childlike trust and a faith that whispers in the closing hour: All is well. Written by H.A. Anderson, May 24, 1925 THE WHITEHALL TIMES - DATE UNKNOWN