~ Anderson -Amundson Family Landmarks ~

Places Worth Visiting

Written 1985 by Kay and David Dole

  In the process of trying to update Lester Hansen's genealogy of the family and preparing for the 1985 reunion, a number of locations were visited or revisited which should not "go to waste" insofar as other members of the family are concerned. Some thought had been put to the possibility of including what might be called a "heritage tour" of these Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin locations just preceding or following the reunion itself, but the logistics loomed too large to be merged with the overall plans.

Therefore, a list of these has been compiled, together with directions in locating them and reproduced here so that now or anytime, you may take your own "Heritage Tour" of these U S locations pertinent to the family.

We must relate, however, one special story of the location of the grave of one of the nine children... Andrew. We knew Andrew had located in the general area of Red Wing, Minnesota and had died in 1923. We had asked Floyd Snow, one of Andrew's grandsons, (who celebrates his 85th birthday in 1985), if he knew of the exact location of Andrew's grave. Floyd was not certain, so we tried the county records at Red Wing and there located an account of Andrew's death and gained knowledge that his services had been handled by a firm in Zumbrota. Off we went to Zumbrota... starting to feel like "Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons". (The younger members of the family won't react to that at all, will they?)

The present-day funeral directors in Zumbrota are not many, but none by the name we had. Walking into one on the main street, we asked about their origins and received quick confirmation that indeed they had taken over from the firm we sought but, unfortunately, all the old records had been lost in a fire. Leaving, we returned to our motor home parked across the street and noticed we were almost in front of the Zumbrota newspaper office. In we went, seeking the employee with the longest tenure and memory ... and he led us upstairs to a huge steel vault in which stacks of newspaper-sized books were resting on shelves... one to a year from the old days of the weekly paper.

Wresting book after book off the shelf and checking the year, 1923 seemed to be missing ... but after a bit we found it, out of place in the stacks. Checking the first issue of the paper after Andrew's date of death, we readily found the story... a long column (reproduced in the "Andrew" section of this booklet) concluding with the statement that "interment was made in the Presbyterian Cemetery East of Goodhue."

This startled us a bit, for this was early enough in our development of interest that we assumed most of the family in those days were Lutherans... though we did know that Abel Cathrine had had most of the children baptized by a Methodist pastor and that grandson, Floyd, and his delightful Mayme were Presbyterians. Anyway, back to Goodhue and into the newspaper office there... to try to learn what had happened to the Presbyterian Church... for none is listed in Goodhue today. There, the folks advised that the church had "blown away" in a big storm in 1901, but that the old cemetery still existed... just go East out of town about a mile.

Off we went, and almost to the tenth of a mile exactness, one mile East at the crest of a slow rise on the south side of the road were a few headstones and a couple of monuments nesting in the tallish grass and surrounded by a single wire electrified fence (except along the roadside) to keep back the grazing cattle. We went from stone to stone. Near the back we found a sturdy base with obelisk about three feet high knocked off and almost covered with grass. "Anderson" was legible on the base and "Andrew" could be made out on the eroding side of the obelisk. Back to the motor home I went for flour and water... and pouring the mixture on the side of the obelisk and wiping the surface, the rest of the words came up cleanly: "Arnold Andrew, Apr. 9, 1882 - May 22, 1923 -- Helen, wife of A. A. Anderson, born July 1, 1839 died Oct. 8, 1889".

About this time, a chap came across the highway from a neat new ranch-style home inquiring, "You folks got kin here?" We assured him that we were delighted to say we did and told him the story of our search. He introduced himself as Bernie Diercks and said, "I'm sorry I haven't been over here to spruce up the place yet... try to do it every once in a while. There are several folks who stop here from time to time."

We told Bernie the Goodhue newspaper had mentioned they might do a story about our search and run a picture of the cemetery... and that we had in mind letting grandson Floyd know about the fallen stone with the thought he might get it righted before the paper got a picture. About two weeks later, 8am Monday morning, we received a phone call at home in Des Plaines, Illinois with a cheery voice saying, "Remember me? This is Bernie. Bernie Diercks. Say, this past weekend was nice and I got my son and my nephew over here and we went across the road and mowed the cemetery and got the obelisk back up on the base and straightened okay. I'm sending you a picture. The paper can come ahead and get their picture anytime."

We told Floyd and Mayme about it and they and their daughter, Shirley, and son-in-law, Lyle Stockwell, went over to see the cemetery... and took some of their good S & S Sugarbush maple syrup to Bernie as a "Thank you". We have stopped to see Bernie several times since. He was a fairly recent widower when we first met; has since remarried a friend of years ago, widowed, and they seem very happy. Talk about a present-day Samaritan!

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Now a "tour" has to have a start, and for the purpose of this one, we are assuming you are approaching Minneapolis from the West on US 212 from Watertown, South Dakota. Should you try this from another direction, you'll have to rearrange the pieces, but the details will still hold. Of course, we cannot guarantee that the roads may not be under construction, closed off, etc. (As we write, Goodhue (Minn) County 9 is being worked on... but you'll be able to find your way around it!

This suggested "Heritage Tour" might include: 

Pioneer Village - Montevideo, Minnesota

Coming in to Montevideo on US 212 watch for the intersection of US #59 and Minn #7. Right there in the narrow corner of the intersection, is "Chippewa City" Pioneer Village and smack on the corner is a neat white steepled church. When Abel Anderson reached his longest pastoral assignment it was in Montevideo. The church he served there merged with Our Saviour's in 1917 and Abel retired and moved to Minneapolis to be near his daughters, Tryphena Anderson and Lydia Turner. His original church building was "retired" and finally moved to Pioneer Village much as it was when he served it.

Rev. Abel and Mary Anderson's gravesite - Minneapolis, Minnesota

In Minneapolis, which you approach on Minn #7 from Montevideo, you round the north end of Lake Calhoun shortly after you actually get into the city limits at France Avenue. After skirting the lake, the route heads due East on Lake Street. A half-dozen blocks and you reach Hennepin Avenue. Turn right (South) and go six blocks to 36th street and straight ahead are the gates to enter Lakewood Cemetery. In Lakewood, follow the second right turn to the West and then work your way, generally West and a bit South and down grade, to the lake at the southwest corner of Lakewood. Go counter-clockwise around the lake starting at it's West side.

Just about twenty yards after you start down the West side, stop. To your right, approximately fifty feet to the right of the roadway you should find a rectangular monument (it's front and back sides are a right angles to the road so you have to be either before or after it to read "Anderson" on one side and "Turner" on the other. Here, Rev. Abel and his Mary, together with their son, Walther and their daughters, Tryphena and Lydia and Lydia's husband, Joseph Vernon Turner.

(If you are at Lakewood at the right time of year you'll be amazed at the beautiful black and white swans dotting the lake. Don't stop to feed them. It is not allowed - particularly because the swans are styrofoam un-decoys... placed there to prevent Canadian geese from landing and soiling the lawns about the lake. It works, too?)

Andrew and Helen Anderson's homesite - Goodhue, Minnesota

From Minneapolis, head East on the southern outer circle highway, I-494. After crossing over the Minnesota/Mississippi river bottom you rise to meet Minn #55 and then US #52. Take US #52 South until you pass Cannon Falls. Go about another nine miles and then take (Goodhue) County #9 to the left (East). This road comes in from the West, from Northfield, thru Dennison and Sogn and runs East to Goodhue. When you reach Goodhue, turn South on Minn #58 (running between Red Wing on the north and Zumbrota on the South) and go three miles to a county road. The road will be rising on an easy grade when you reach the county road. Turn right (West) and go to the first farmhouse ... 1/4 mile.    It's the Bolin place today, but this is the old Andrew Anderson place.

Andrew and Helen Anderson's gravesite - Goodhue, Minnesota

Then retrace your steps to Goodhue (north on Minn #58) and when you reach Co. #9 again turn right (East). Proceed 1 1/2 miles to the top of a rise. There, on the right (southside) is Bernie Diercks nice home and across the street is the old Presbyterian graveyard where you will find Andrew's and Helen's graves... as well as those of several of their children.

Elizabeth Anderson and Hans Henry Danielson's homesite - Goodhue, Minnesota

Continue East on Co. #9 for 4 miles. Watch on the left (north) side (you'll be on a slight downgrade) for the remains of an old unoccupied weather-beaten house just at the edge of the road. About 100 feet before you reach it is the hint of an old farm road (in grass) leaving Co. #9.  It goes for maybe twenty feet and then splits... the left trail running northwestish upgrade and into the trees.       Back in those trees a short block at the top of the hill are the remains of the Danielson home.  Just beyond the split in the trail and on the right is the site of Hans Danielson's workshop... the one from which he ran the wire with a sheet of tin on it as a message sender between home and shop. There are a few remains of barns, etc. further back on the right-hand trail.

Elizabeth Anderson and Hans Henry Danielson's gravesite - Belvedere, Minnesota

Continue East on Co. #9 until you intersect the north-south road County ,#2 where, if you turned South, you would go to Bellchester. Instead, turn left (north). Go exactly one mile and you'll see a small building (it used to be a town hall) on the northeast corner of an intersection. At that point, turn left (West) and go a mile and a half. Heading downgrade, stop when you see, on the left (South) side, a wrought-iron gate with overhead framework "Methodist Cemetery". Back in this "Belevedere" cemetery you will find the graves of Elizabeth and Hans and two of their children.

Martha Anderson and Lewis Johnson's gravesite - Red Wing, Minnesota

Retrace your steps East again to the little town hall, turn left (north) and again go a mile... turn left (West) again on the blacktop county road and continue until you are back at Minn #58 again. Turn right (north) and follow it until you reach US #61, turn right (East) and go into Red Wing. Almost at the center of town, turn right (South) on West Avenue and go to 7th Street. There turn left (East) and go one block to East Avenue. There turn right and continue up hill to the entrance to Oakwood Cemetery.  It is high on a hill you climb after you pass the gates. At the crest, the main roadway turns to the left and in about a short block there is a manager's office on the right. Ask there if they can lead you to the Lewis and Martha Johnson gravesite (interment 1927 and 1930). There are several turns to reach it and we cannot recall each turn.

S & S Sugarbush - Ellsworth, Wisconsin

While you are on this "tour" and are now about to head to Madison, Wisconsin, you might just as well make a very slight detour and stop by your cousins, the Stockwells, South of Ellsworth. Retrace your steps from the Red Wing Cemetery to the center of town; go straight down East Avenue (you can go down on it, but can't come up it!) all the way to town; pick up and follow US #63 north across the Mississippi. About seven miles north, US #63 intersects an east-west County road V. Take this to the right (East) and continue three miles to the intersection of County road C. There, on the southwest corner of the intersection is a church and directly across the street on your left is the attractive hame of Shirley and Lyle Stockwell. Stop in and purchase some good S & S Sugarbush maple syrup... the price can't be beat and the product is excellent.

Shirley's dad and mom, Floyd (Andrew Anderson's grandson) and Mayme Snow, live just a bit South from that corner on County C, first house on the right after the church at the top of the hill.

The Memorial Terrace, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin

Go north on County C toward Ellsworth, and go right (East) on US #10 to Osseo and pick up I-94. Take this to the right (South). We quite often stop at Jermoos at Oakdale (first exit after I-90 and I-94 merge South of Tomah) for a respite, a snack or meal and browsing the gift shop. (Kay likes their good but inexpensive line of greeting cards!)

Northeast of Madison you will intersect US #151. Take it to the right (southwest) and follow it until, in town, you approach Capital Square. US #151 turns left a couple of blocks before the Square... but you go straight ahead to the square... where all traffic goes around counter clockwise. Turn right and go the one block to that corner of the Square... then do not turn, just go straight ahead on Pinckney Street for three more blocks... edging your way to the left until you reach Gorham. At Gorham, turn left (it is a one way street) and follow it six blocks until it "V's". There you turn slightly to the right and you are on University Avenue. Four more blocks will put you at Park Street... turn right and go to Langdon Avenue, the equivalent of three blocks. Just before Langdon Avenue comes in from the right you will pass the Wisconsin Historical Society's building where literally dozens of boxes of Rasmus B. Anderson materials are stored.

Just after Langdon Avenue canes in from the right a road takes off to the left.  It is Observatory Drive and as you follow its curves uphill, just before you get to the top, off on the right (and looking a bit backwards from the then position of your car) notice a walk out to a bluff-like area. That is the Memorial Terrace. Park wherever permitted as close as you can and walk back. Among other memorabilia there you will find the "viking ship-shaped stone" which once rested as a carriage mount-dismount step in front of Rasmus B. Anderson's "Aasgaard" home in Madison. It bears an appropriate small bronze plaque of description.

Rasmus and Karina Anderson's gravesete - Cambridge, Wisconsin

We will leave you to extricate yourself from the streets of the campus and from Madison the best you can, but in any event, head southeast from Madison on US #12 to Cambridge. Pass through the center of Cambridge (US #12 is called Main Street in town) and go about one-half mile to where the Lake Ripley Country Club is on your right. On your left is a road, Park Street. Turn left into Park and go about 3/10ths of a mile until you reach a road on the right which, in less than a block, brings you to the entrance of Lake Ripley Cemetery.  You will have to search a bit to find Rasmus' and Karina's graves.  If you park outside the cemetery and walk in, go straight up from the road (as though it were extended without a curve straight into the cemetery). Go up and over the hill until you come to the lake.  There, perhaps a bit to your right, along the outer edge of the cemetery and overlooking the lake, are the two headstones; no monument.

Albert and Clara Amundson's gravesete - Cambridge, Wisconsin

Leaving Rasmus' grave, walk back towards your car until you came to the first path... it is hardly a roadway... turn left and walk about 150 feet up and over the rise. Looking to your right, you should spot two monuments with the name "AMUNDSON" on them. One (closer and rougher-hewn) is that of Albert and Clara and the other that of their sons, Alvin and Karl and their wives.

Albert and Clara Amundson's homesite - Cambridge, Wisconsin

As you head back into Cambridge, watch for Albert & Clara's home on your right; on the North side of Main street and the east side of Simonson Street. It is situated cattycorner from the Presbyterian Church - about five blocks east of the center of town.

R. B. A. Monument - Rockdale, Wisconsin

Continue West on US #12 and watch for and take County Road 6 which runs South. Follow this for about three miles until you came into Rockdale. There, right in the center of town, on a slight triangle made by the roads, is an obelisk monument to Rasmus, erected by his friends in his memory.

The East Koshkonong Church - Cambridge, Wisconsin

(Though Rockdale is closer, local reference to the next 5 items is Cambridge.) Continuing on County Road B thru Rockdale, when you have climbed a hill and turned to the right (West) on curve, you intersect Hillside Road going off to the left (South). Take it perhaps less than a half-mile to Church Street and turn right. One longish block up grade are both the new and the old East Koshkonong churches. Both are beautiful examples of their era and the cemetery between them has a historic marker on it well worth your reading. It is this church (they are both owned by the same congregation) which has the eternal care of the Anderson-Amundson Cemetery.

Sanford Anderson farm - Cambridge, Wisconsin

Leave the East Koshkonong churches and return to Hillside Road, turning right (South) when you reach it. Again about a half-mile further it intersects County Road A and right there where you then are is Hillside Corners. Turn left and go less than a mile and turn in, on the right (South) side, to the farmyard road of the Sanford Anderson farm. Sanford's great grandfather, Amund, came to Koshkonong at the same time as did Bjørn Anderson though they were no relation.  It was on Sanford's farm that the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was founded and there is an impressive monument there marking the occasion.

The "Anderson-Amundson" cemetery at Hillside Corners - Cambridge, Wisconsin

Leaving Sanford's farm, retrace your path to Hillside Corners and turn left (South)... going up the road only to the crest of the hill... pull off the road on the right (West) side and stop at the cemetery. In October of 1985 a bronze plaque is to be installed on the cemetery providing the background and explaining the well-cared for, concrete and railing-walled cemetery.

Do not hesitate to step inside the railing (the gate does not open) to inspect the obelisk and its markings. There buried are Abel Cathrine, Bjørn and Ingebrigt plus young Bruun (we know the obelisk identifies him as "Brun") and the infant daughter of Rasmus, Hannah Burena.

The Mickelson Farm - Cambridge, Wisconsin

The Anderson-Amundson Cemetery is located in the northeast corner of Bjørn and Abel Cathrine's second farm at Koshkonong. The original homesite was down by the stream southeast of the present Sanford Anderson farmhouse.  Bjørn n made some kind of a swap or extension of his land to this location. The farm went from Abel Cathrine to Rasmus who sold it to a Martin Hollo (one of Abel Cathrine's pallbearers). Mrs. Ted Mickelson was a Hollo.  If you continue past the Mickelson farmhouse, South of the cemetery, the next house is that of Ted Mickelson's son. Just before you reach his home, to the right (West), well back from the road and to the South of a good sized barn, you will see a little one-story masonry building. This is the remains of the home built for Abel Cathrine after Bjørn's death and in which she lived with Ingebrigt Amundson and the family after their marriage. It was, at one time, a two-storied dwelling when the Hollo's lived there.

The C. A. Preus homesite - Cambridge, Wisconsin

Backtracking north go back to County B, where you first turned into Hillside Road. There turn left (West) and continue until you see the underpass of I-90 ahead. The last home on the right (north side) was the home, though doubtless at least enlarged if not rebuilt, of Pastor C. A. Preus, whose wife was a von Krogh cousin by marriage of Abel Cathrine and where Rasmus was sent to obtain tutoring along with some of the Preus children.

The West Koshkonong churches - Utica, Wisconsin

Continuing West on County B until you reach Utica. The crossroad there is County road W. Turn right (north) and in about three/fourths of a mile you will come to Koshkonong Road (it is just before County W intersects (but doesn't connect to) I-90. Turn left (West) and in a short bit you will come to the two West Koshkonong churches. As a result of the pre-destination controversy in the 1880's, both the East and West Koshkonong congregations split, resulting in four congregations in place of the former two. The merger of three Norwegian church bodies in 1917 largely restored spiritual unity to the Koshkonong community, but the older of the two West Koshkonong churches still belongs to what is called the "Little Synod" while the newer one and the East church are members of the American Lutheran Church denomination..

Little Norway - Mt. Horeb & Blue Mounds, Wisconsin

At the West Koshkonong churches, the newer building is on Koshkonong Road and the older one on a road which, at that point, runs to the right (north) only. Leaving there, continue north on this latter, passing under I-90, until you reach US #12 8 #18. Here turn left (West) on US #18 across the South side of metropolitan Madison and continue to Mt. Horeb. Just a few miles West you will find the road down to the right into the pleasant valley of Little Norway. Plan a couple hours stop here and take the tour of the buildings and grounds... appreciating what life lived in Norway years ago was really like. Among other attractions, they have a very nice Stave Church there as a museum and among their artifacts are a desk and other memorabilia of Rasmus.

The "Nordic Fest" - Decorah, Iowa

Next we suggest you keep straight West on US #18 to Prairie du Chein and on, via Iowa's #76 north from Marquette to the intersection with Iowa #9 and then straight West to Decorah. If you time it right you can take in their ever-popular "Nordic Fest"... always the last full weekend in July.

Cecelia Anderson and Stryk Reque's gravesite - Spring Grove, Minnesota

US #52 north from Decorah into Minnesota and then Minn #44 East about 18 miles brings you to Spring Grove. Just before you enter the town there is a cemetery on the left (north) side of the road. Turn in. About 150 feet in on the right are several trees and nestled just past them is the monument and headstones for Pastor Styrk and Cecelia.

Brown and Caroline Anderson's gravesite - Spring Grove, Minnesota

In the same cemetery, further in and on the left are the headstones and a monument for Brown Anderson.

Brown Anderson's store - Spring Grove, Minnesota

Continue East on Minn #44 into Spring Grove and drive toward the church just past the center of town. In the second block before you get to the church, watch for Solberg's Grocery on the right side of the road. This building was for years Brown Anderson's store and restaurant.

Brown and Caroline Anderson's homesite - Spring Grove, Minnesota

Passing the store, take the first right (South) turn on Division Street. Continue to 300 South Division... just where a street comes in from the left. This, quite changed from when they lived there, was the home of Brown and Caroline Anderson.

Cecelia Anderson and Stryk Reque's homesite - Spring Grove, Minnesota

Returning north to Minn #44, turn right (East) and continue to the church. Turn left (north) just in front of the church and drive one block. Roughly straight ahead across the road is the present manse for the church and this is the home that was built for Cecelia and Stryk Reque... modernized a bit but not materially changed.

Dina Anderson and Torger Torgerson's gravesite - Northwood, Iowa

Take Minn #44 back West again to U S #52, follow #52 north to US #16. Follow #16 West until you meet I-90. Go West on I-90 to I-35. Take I-35 South to Iowa #105 and Iowa #105 West again. Stay with Iowa #105 until you have completed both a left and a right turn in the highway; then turn left at the second road. It is gravel to the left and black-top to the right. You take the gravel. The first church you come to, it is on your left, the east side of the road, is Sion Lutheran and is the church of which T. A. Torgerson was pastor. Both T. A. and Dina Anderson, his wife, are buried in the churchyard just South of the building.

A short distance further on, this road dead-ends at a cross road. If you take the crossroad to the right, you will shortly come to the Somber church where T.A.'s son, A. J. was pastor.

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Norway, Illinois

Not a part of the preceding tour, but a point of interest to Norwegians is the town of Norway, Illinois... on Illinois #71 South of U S #52 near Ottawa. It was originally called Mission, but when it became the site of the first permanent Norwegian settlement in this land it subsequently had its name changed. The settlement was really established in 1834 by members of the "Slooper" party who emigrated on the ship Restauration in 1825. There are several memorials at Norway: the small church of Elling Eielson who arrived there in 1839 is now a museum. The State of Illinois celebrated the founding of Norway at its centennial in 1934 by placing a plaque on a large boulder calling attention to this event. The Sesquicentennial of the sailing of the Sloopers on the ship, Restauration, was celebrated in 1975 and at this time a small park was developed with a permanent setting for a number of plaques telling the complete history.

In the Fall of 1837, Abel Cathrine, Bjørn, Andrew and Bruun arrived here in time for the birth of Elizabeth and, more than two years later, Cecelia. At first they lived with Kari Nelson, widowed sister of Cleng Peerson. Later, Bjørn built a cabin on Endre Dahl's land which served them until they moved to the permanent homeland of Koshkonong Prairie in 1841.