Olsen-Christopher Connection:Double Cousins

Ole Kristian Olsen and Mina Kristine Olsdatter
Married January 2 1874 in Hurdal Norway

Ole and Mina came to America in 1883. They came first to St. Ansgar,

Mitchell County, Iowa;then to High Lake Township, Emmet County, Iowa;

then to Graettinger, Palo Alto County, Iowa; then to Pequot Lakes, Crow Wing 

County, Minnesota.

TO EXPLAIN OUR CONNECTION: 
Focus on the two children on the back left row

Back row..Karl Gustav, Inga Lydia, Oscar Marinus, Hjalmer Laurentius
Center row: Klara Naomi, Ole Kristian, Mina Kristine, Ragna Marie.
Front row: John Alfred Mina Christine
Insert : Robert William Arthur Fritjoph

...

                                                               
                                                                 

Focus on Karl and Brieta  and then Carl and Inga on the first row of adult children of Ole and Mina Olsen

Both the Christopher Family and the Olsen Family lived in Iowa (1880-1900)

Bessie Christopher and Gus Olsen married in Graettinger  Iowa
October 5  1898

After their marriage, Gus and Bessie Olsen moved to
Pequot Lakes, Minnesota where their first two children 
were born. They moved on  to Medina, North Dakota 
in 1902 where their next 5 children were born. 
Their last 2 children were born in Havre, Montana.



                                                                     

Brieta and Karl (Gus) Olsen adult family members

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Aamund and Ingeborg Christopher's adult children and spouses

                                                                           

Amund Christopher married  1875 in
Graettinger, Iowa  (2nd marriage)

Kjestina  Ingeborg Davis
(2nd marriage)

Carl Christopher and Inga Olsen Married in Pequot  Lakes, Minnesota March 31 1902

After their marriage date, Carl and Inga Christopher moved to Medina, North Dakota , 1902 where all of the 11 children were born. They moved back to Pequot Lakes for a short time in 1933 and settled in Arlee, Montana from 1938 on.

Carl and Inga's adult children

.

 From 1903 to about 1916 the Olsen/Christopher children

 grew up as double cousins in Medina, Peterson Township

 area of  North Dakota.

Carl Christopher built his first tiny house on the ND plain in 1903 probably with the help of

Gus Olsen.  The photo below shows Carl holding a rifle, or maybe a shovel. Inga is in front of the doorway and probably pregnant with her first child while Alvin Olsen is in front of her with the dog

Bessie Olsen is holding Thelma in front of the window. Gus was probably taking the photo.

By 1915 Carl and Inga had built a much bigger house for his 7 children at the time..and 4 more children joined the family after the photo below:

                                                                     

Photos in those days were few a far between but we have a few of the Christopher children:

Clifford and Glen Christopher

Ruth and Roy ( possibly)

The twins Lester and Lauren

And the last two Don and Doris

And below  are most of the Olsen cousins when they were young:

Bessie,  Alvin, Gus and baby Thelma 

Olive

Harold

Elmer, Gus and Thelma...check on Elmer's outfit ..same as the one above on cousin Roy







So we know the 2 families shared clothes, work, and fun through the years.

Gus Olsen  homesteaded a few miles north of Medina and Carl homesteaded the acreage right next to him. He improved on his property raising stock and crops but within a year moved into town and began a real estate business then later built a general store business.  He also became the credit manager at the local Medina bank. In 1917 he family moved to Havre Montana where Gus became the credit manager of the Havre National Bank.  The family later moved to Oregon, and at last  Oakland, California where he operated a small convenience store.

Bessie raised the children with a wonderfully  happy attitude.  She enjoyed singing around the house as she cooked the many meals for the family, including Lefse.  She was known to love birds so much she could mimic bird calls and could name them all by sight. She loved feeding the birds and just being outside around them. 

Carl and Inga homesteaded a few miles north of Medina in Peterson Township, built their "camp" with several outbuildings, barns, etc,. and raised all sorts of stock from cattle, sheep, ducks, to chickens, turkeys, and geese.  They even kept rabbits and skunks to sell for their furs.  In the 1920's Carl wrote the news of the Peterson Township for the local paper called the Medina Citizen.  His sense of humor came through in his writing style. They sold the homestead and moved back to the Olsen family Homestead in Pequot Lakes in 1933.They finally settled in the Arlee/ Jocko,  Montana area in 1938.  

Raising children and helping with the farm kept Inga very busy, yet she maintained her very calm and quiet manner.  She never complained or criticized.  She loved to sew quilts and make rugs. She suffered from a knee injury during much of her life.  In fact she was on crutches for 14 years while raising their children..  She also wore a brace for a time, but this didn't seem to stop her as she still went everywhere to help the neighbors and friends around them.  Inga and Carl took many trips back to Rochester, Minnesota to the Mayo Clinic for medical help and surgery on her leg. They also visited their Olsen relatives still in Pequot Lakes when they were in the Minnesota area.

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Anyone having more memories and /or photos of the Christopher/Olsen double cousins,(first generation) please share by sending them to lana.rankin@yahoo.com and I will add them to the next blog.  Any corrections, additional stories/facts you want to share send them along also. 

To keep the connection going, the Minnesota Olsens have a family reunion every year on the second Saturday in August in Pequot Lakes at Kevin Olsen's place.  The  Gus Olsen children's families have a reunion in June every other year in Volcano, California at Jim Olsen's place.  The Carl Christopher children's families meet in the Missoula/Arlee area almost every year on the 1st or 2nd Sunday in August.   Dates and times for all of these events will be sent out on this blogpost once the exact times are announced.   

I'm now gathering information and photos of present day double cousins..so send in any you want to share on this blog.

2019 New Year Greetings

New Year Greetings to all Olsen cousins! I am sharing here a little about my recent experiences          in learning more about our common Norwegian heritage.

I have joined the Sons of Norway organization and attended my first meeting, where I learned about the Norwegian Resistance during World War II.  Some fantastic videos on YouTube can be found here for your information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3jSWSa6aBM
or website: https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-two/resistance-movements/the-norwegian-resistance/  or 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_resistance_movement

I also went to their Christmas Bazaar where I heard the local "SCANDI BANDI" playing Norwegian music, visited their many craft booths, and enjoyed Norwegian foods of all kinds.

Alpaca booth

Rosemaling booth

Woodcarving booth

I learned about  hats that the Norwegian women made during WWII.  I had to buy one ..not only because I love the look, but because of the history behind it. This 100% wool hat called "LUE" originated in Norway during the cold hard winters of WWII when everything was re-used two or three times.  The original "LUE" was lined with flannel often from an farmer's old shirt.  The decorations were made from scraps and represented Hope, Peace and Spring. The ideas was to support the hope for Peace in the coming spring. These new handmade hats are made from wool,       but lined with fleece.

Handmade gnomes, slippers, jewelry and hats

AND THE GNOME I BOUGHT

This is the hat I bought

Rosemaling candlestick ...

and wooden apple I bought

Rosemaling artist from Norway

Also at the Sons of Norway meeting I met Ingre...she is a native of Norway and can speak and read Norwegian.  She graciously translated for me a letter from the Olsen Round Robin Letter Series. This letter was written in Norwegian from great grandmother Mina Olsen on February 20, 1932.  I've looked for years for some way to translate it and Ingre was willing.  She said some
of the wording sounds strange, but it is the best she could figure out.  I am including both the Norwegian and the English transcription here for you.

Ingre

Ingre and friends 

ForestHome Farm February 20, 1932

Dear Bessie and all yours and a heartfelt greeting. 

It is strange sometimes with thoughts that come and go as I have come aware of since Gustav’s death.  I think it is so hard to think about him being gone.  But we must keep in mind that God

sends us to our rest. I have been thinking about the thick forest that was at our place when you and Gustav came to see us the first time, and so these thoughts come—have they made the forest such—you then have the sense that the forest has green on.   Also, I have sound again by the house, of the old trees.  Also, I have the new trees that were planted when we were together.

These things are such happy memories for me, so it came to me that I should call my place SKOGHEIM.(ForestHome)  It was Gustav and his father who did the first heavy work in the forest here that first winter. When I am reminded of those who are now gone, who struggled to make a home, it is impossible to leave the home before God calls me to my heavenly home.  I will try to

hold on if I must pay all expenditures that go with having my place. I cannot tolerate seeing my

home destroyed.

Under God’s service, I have a blessed life and health, and I will live and die in the forest. I am in good health and have God to thank for nearing the 80’s.  As such I cannot likely expect much hereafter. Though when spring comes, I shall be stronger, so I can work a little outside. 

Clara has moved back to her place since her husband has returned.  I hope they have found themselves a home that is good.  In the world the best that God has given us is nicely a home.

So, greetings to all from mother, Mrs. Christ Olson

This letter  might also explains these photos passed down from the Alvin Olsen family.

Gus in back with hand on hat Bessie is in the center holding Alvin
I'm guessing it's Christ on the far left and Clara on the  far right
Also guessing the man holding the saw is Elmer and the girl way back could be Mary.
Mina is probably taking the photo!

These children (also in the photo above) are the last 4 children of Mina and Christ Olsen plus their first grandchild, Alvin

The writing on the photo may set the date for the above photos and letter

 For some of the details of Mina and Christ Olsen's life and ancestry, search the OLDER POSTS at the end of this blogpost.  Go to 8/14 called "2014 Olsen Review" on this blogpost. Since 2014, I have been gathering photos and facts about their children's families which I will begin to share on future blogposts.

Please feel free to make comments, additions/corrections to facts or send photos/family stories to me at lana.rankin@yahoo.com and I will use them in the next blog updates. Many THANKS to the Olsen cousins who have contributed photos and information to this blog post so we can ALL enjoy
our heritage.