Raphael Gravaas Scheflo

http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&siden...

    DIS: Census year: 1865, Municipality: Stod, Municipality number: 1734, Name of domicile: Holte med Brekke, Number of persons in this domicile: 9

Raphael was one of 13 Norwegian emigrants on the ship Heimdal in 1884.

    Arrival Date: 16 Feb 1884. Estimated Birth Year: abt 1859. Age: 25. Gender: Male. Port of Departure: Copenhagen, Denmark [This is Incorrect; is Christiania (Oslo].  Destination: United States of America. Place of Origin: Norway. Ship Name: Heimal (Heimdal, Thingvalla Line). Port of Arrival: New York. Country: United States  Line: 25. Microfilm Serial: M237. Microfilm Roll: 473. List Number: 152. 

ASPVIK, FINSTAD AND SCHEFLO book (Marilyn Myers, 2007)- p. 201, p.411

    Rapheal Gravaas Svendsen Scheflo(Svend Rasmussen, Rasmus Svendsen, Svend Rassmussen, Rasmus Svendsen, Svend Mortensen) was born on 7 April 1859 in Fossum, near Stenkjer, Norway. He was the oldest son of Anne Andreasdatter and Svend Rasmussen Fossum. According to church records, he left for Sweden in March 1877; like most young men of his time, he had to serve in the Swedish Army for a couple of years. They moved to the Skjaflo farm and his father died in 1882. In 1884, RS and his mother immigrated to United States and settled in Starbuck, Pope County, Minnesota. They arrived at the port of New York during February of that year. On his Intent to become a Citizen of the United States, he signed his name, Rafel S. Sheflo. Other legal documents, he signed Rapheal, Rafel or RS Scheflo. Later that year, RS’s brother, Anton and sisters, Gyda and Ellen joined him and his mother in Starbuck, Pope County, Minnesota. On July 10, Anton, Gyda and Ellen left from Trondheim on the ship “Hero” which took them to England where they boarded a larger ship, the Parisian, for Quebec, Canada, then to Chicago, Illinois arriving in Starbuck, Minnesota.

    Jette and RS were married on 14 March 1889 in Starbuck, Pope County, Minnesota. The Glenwood Herald of 1 January 1896 states that Starbuck “built in the midst of very fertile farming country, it is one of the best trading centers in Pope County” and included in the business places was “Meats sold by R. Scheflo.” RS was proprietor of a meat market for eight years prior to moving to North Dakota. Five children were born to them in Minnesota; Sverre M (30 November 1889): Hazel Alida (2 January 1892); Josephine (4 November 1893); Rudolph (24 November 1895); Joseph (29 January 1898). They made their home in Starbuck until 1897 when they homesteaded in Starbuck. p.202 In 1911, RS went to Norway to settle some of his mother's business. During World War II, he would put his ear close to the radio to be able to hear what was happening in the war and then mark the locations on a map. RS would store the dried Lutefisk close to the chimney on a flat part or shelf near the stairway. Thus, the children could sample each time they went downstairs. At the age of 80, RS still helped shingle the granary. He had a silver watch which had been handed down from father to oldest son since Ragvald (Rasmus): Ragvald (Rasmus) to Svend Ramussen, to Rasmus Svendsen to Svend Rasmuseen to RS who handed down to his oldest son, Sverre who passed it on to his oldest son, S. Alex.

    In 1924, they "moved into a new house they built in Bottineau" where they lived out the rest of their lives. Jette passed away on 8 July 1939 of a coronary thrombosis. "Mrs. Scheflo was a loving wife and mother and a devoted friend. She bore her illness patiently and cheerfully and died in the faith of her Lord and Savior on Saturday." RS passed away on 22 December 1943 of broncho pneumonia, secondary to influenza, "after a ten day illness. He was 85 years, 8 1/2 months old." They had two services, a Norwegian service at home and another one at the Lutheran church. Both are buried in the Oak Creek Cemetery.

Per Marilyn Myers' book: He left for Sweden in March 1877 to serve in the Swedish Army as was required of most young men. The family had moved to the Scheflo farm north of Steinkjer. After his father died in 1882, Raphael and his mother emmigrated to United States and settled in Starbuck, Pope County, Minnesota. They arrived at the port of New York during February of that year. On his Intent to become a citizen of the United States, he signed his name, Rafel S. Sheflo. Other legal documents, he signed Rapheal, Rafel or RS Scheflo. Later that year, RS’s brother, Anton and sisters, Gyda and Ellen joined him and his mother in Starbuck, Pope County, Minnesota. On July 10, Anton, Gyda and Ellen left from Trondheim on the ship “Hero” which took them to England where they boarded a larger ship, the Parisian, for Quebec, Canada, then to Chicago, Illinois arriving in Starbuck, Minnesota.

He married Jette Finstad 14 March 1889 in Starbuck, Pope County, Minnesota. The Glenwood Herald of 1 January 1896 states that Starbuck “built in the midst of very fertile farming country, it is one of the best trading centers in Pope County” and included in the business places was “Meats sold by R. Scheflo.” Rafael was proprietor of a meat market for eight years prior to moving to North Dakota. Five children were born to them in Minnesota; Sverre M (30 November 1889): Hazel Alida (2 January 1892); Josephine (4 November 1893); Rudolph (24 November 1895); Joseph (29 January 1898). Raphael and Jette homesteaded in Starbuck until 1897.

In 1911, RS went to Norway to settle some of his mother's business. During World War II, he would put his ear close to the radio to be able to hear what was happening in the war and then mark the locations on a map. RS would store the dried Lutefisk close to the chimney on a flat part or shelf near the stairway. Thus, the children could sample each time they went downstairs. At the age of 80, RS still helped shingle the granary. He had a silver watch which had been handed down from father to oldest son since Ragvald (Rasmus): Ragvald (Rasmus) to Svend Ramussen, to Rasmus Svendsen to Svend Rasmuseen to RS who handed down to his oldest son, Sverre who passed it on to his oldest son, S. Alex. In 1924, they "moved into a new house they built in Bottineau" where they lived out the rest of their lives. Jette passed away on 8 July 1939 of a coronary thrombosis. "Mrs. Scheflo was a loving wife and mother and a devoted friend. She bore her illness patiently and cheerfully and died in the faith of her Lord and Savior on Saturday." RS passed away on 22 December 1943 of broncho pneumonia, secondary to influenza, "after a ten day illness. He was 85 years, 8 1/2 months old." They had two services, a Norwegian service at home and another one at the Lutheran church. Both are buried in the Oak Creek Cemetery. Quotes: 1-The People of Bottineau County 2-Bottineau Courant, Bottineau, ND July, 1939 3- Bottineau Courant, Bottineau, ND December, 1943