Olof Enerson

PIONEER SETTLER LAID TO REST ON TUESDAY OLAF ENERSON

RESIDENT OF HILL RIVER SINCE 1883, PASSED AWAY ON SATURDAY

Funeral services for Olaf Enerson, 88, who passed away, Saturday, August 6, 1938 from complications of old age, were held from the Asphult Lutheran Church on Tuesday afternoon, August 9. Rev. G.W. Sanstead officiated at the services using the text II Kings 20:1, and interment was made in the Asphult cemetery. Mrs. Peter Sampson presented the solo, "Shall we Meet at the River". The pallbearers were Axel Enerson, Ener Enerson, Edward Enerson, and Carl Enerson.

Olaf Enerson was born in Mortjok, Brakne, Hoby, Blekinge, Sweden, to Ener and Botilda Swenson on March 25, 1850. On July 6, 1882, he arrived in the United States and came to live at Grafton, N. D. A year later, in 1883, he came by ox team to Hill River and filed a claim, and he had lived on that homestead since. Mr. Enerson was married twice, the first wife, Eling Monson, the second wife Caroline Kulman, both of whom preceded him in death.

When Mr. Enerson came to Minnesota from Grafton, he had just his ox team and $78 in cash. The money he lost as he was fording the Hill river, but he borrowed enough from friends and neighbors to file a claim. For more than 50 years, Mr. Enerson had been in the threshing business. He started first with a flail, then horse power thresher and straw bucker.

Mr. Enerson was preceded in death by his wives and four children, John, Minnie, Martin and Tina, and is survived by seven children, Oliva, Mrs. Andrew Peterson, Sven Enerson, Axel Enerson, Victor Enerson, Ener Enerson, and Ed Enerson all of McIntosh, and Thilda, Mrs. Carl Newton of Trail, twenty-six grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

Those from out of town at the funeral included Mr. and Mrs. Carl Enerson and family of Indianapolis, Indiana, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Enerson, Niagra, N. Dak., Mr. and Mrs. Earl Boe and Mr. and Mrs. Lorentz.

"Mea" was hired girl of his who took care of Olof when he was small. Olof was born in Mortjuk Brakne Hoby Sweden - 25 March 1850. He came to America in 1882, staying a year at Grafton, ND. In 1883 he came to Polk Co., MN and filed a homestead in Hill River township. He had $18.00 in his pocket when he came, but that he lost while fording Hill River close to his homestead, forcing him to borrow money to pay for filing expenses. The trip from Grafton was made by oxen. Before a homestead shanty could be built, the wagon box had to serve as a shelter. There were roads or bridges, the country was a wilderness, but he was possessed with unusual vigor and willingness to work and was Soon in possession of several sections of rich farm land. He reared a large family and had the assistance of several sons in his farming and threshing operations. He was a thresher for more than fifty years. He used to flail in Sweden and threshed his first by this method. He threshed many years with horsepower and used straw bucker to remove the straw from the machine.

Olof Enarsson slept under the wagon box the first time they were building their first log house about 1881. Their present log house (the 3rd) was built about 1887. It was not uncommon for moose and deer to appear at dusk and the wolves kept up a steady howling.

Great Grandfather Olof was married twice. His first wife Ellen died 15 July 1903. In 1906 he made a visit to Sweden and brought back a second wife - Karoline Svensson Kullman. He visited Sweden again in 1924 with his youngest son - Einar, when he remained and farmed for a year, returning in May 1925. During his last years he lived with Einar and his wife Karella.

Olof crossed the ocean 7 times to visit relatives there.

In Polk Co in 1886. It listed Olaf Enerson selling 106 bushels of wheat and 220 bushels of barley for $10.84!!!

Each son received a parcel of land and the girls got money.