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Subject: Diary of Elisabeth Koren - 97-105
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 09:33:16 -0700
Acknowledgment
The following selection is taken from "The Diary of Elisabeth Koren"
translated and edited by David T. Nelson and published by the
Norwegian-American Historical Association (NAHA) in 1955. The Volume is
still in print and available from NAHA at http://www.naha.stolaf.edu
where you will also find the first 33 volumes of Studies and Records
online as well as Theodore C. Blegen's 2 volumes on Norwegian Migration
to America. This chapter is published with the kind permission of NAHA.
The book this selection is drawn from is under copyright and permission
has been granted for educational purposes and it is not to be used in any
way for commercial purposes.
7 A Log Cabin Far Inland
Wednesday, December 21, 1853. It was probably close to six in the evening
when we reached the first Norwegian house in Iowa. With Mr. Johnson in
the lead, we set out as on parade, over stump and stubble. I have never
seen such a road. All went well for a time; Mr. Johnson was sometimes
ahead, sometimes alongside, talking to us. I was freezing and the others
were, too, I suspect. Vilhelm raised himself to get my buffalo robe
better about me, but thereby lost his sou'wester and got off to look for
it. We continued up and down the slippery hills until I asked the driver
to stop and wait for Vilhelm; it took a while, but at last he came, quite
breathless from running after his sou'wester, which he had lost several
times.
We went on again until we came to a house where our guide went in to get
the man of the house to accompany us farther; his name was Erik Egge. {1}
Our Scot made a place for him on a chest by his side, and the expedition
again got under way. I thought to myself that these were two long miles
indeed; but they ended, without other misfortune than Vilhelm's loss of
one mitten. We were not shaken out of the wagon, Erik did not fall from
his unsteady seat, and we all came safe and sound to Katterud's house.
Vilhelm went in to find out whether they could put us up and came back
immediately with the man of the house and a chair to help me down from my
high seat.
We came into a room that did not look very attractive. It was a fairly
good-sized room with a large stove in the center. The floor was wet; a
girl with a mop was busy swabbing one end of the room, which was
partitioned off partly by a thin wall and partly by a curtain, behind
which one caught a glimpse of a bed --- all very simple and plain. Log
walls cemented with clay, as usual. We were very kindly received by an
elderly man, an even older wife, and the daughter, who helped me off with
my things, made excuses because it was so untidy --- they had washed
clothes --- and drew a rocking chair up to the fire for me.
Nils and his family appeared very happy at having this pastor, for whom
they had long waited in vain, so suddenly saddled on them. They brought
forth the best the house offered, and on the whole were so friendly that
we soon felt at home and chatted away a couple of hours very pleasantly,
until at last, tired and sleepy, we went to our bedroom, that is to say,
up to the loft, where in addition to us, were a sister-in-law of Nils and
three children who had also recently come to this country. {2} It was a
good warm bed and we slept well, but it was cold getting up in the
morning. [December 22.] We had recognized the smell of fried pork, the
usual meat for all meals, and hurried down, where we found everything
looking better than on the evening before. A neat breakfast table was
set, to which V., Nils, and I sat down first, thereafter the wife and
daughter.
Nils is a small man with an odd face set off by fairly long, light hair
and a pair of twinkling and smiling bright eyes; he talks slowly with a
very broad East Norwegian accent and no doubt passes for a wit in his
family, who laugh at anything he says. He is a kind, friendly man. His
wife looks old, trembles considerably, is kind and good, and always
manages to get in her say. The daughter does not talk much, but
accomplishes so much the more; she has a pleasing manner. {3} There is a
wholesome relation between the family and the sister-in law who is there,
and I like the whole group very well.
Nils had to go up to Thrond Lommen's, he said, to announce the arrival of
the pastor. {4}Vilhelm wished to go along; so in the forenoon they set
off afoot and I was left alone with the women. We spent the time as best
we could. I asked for and received information about all sorts of things.
We had pork sausage, bread and butter, and coffee, which takes the place
of soup here, and fired the stove steadily. Outside it was snowing and
blowing; our walkers were having bad weather.
In the afternoon the wife of Suckow, the shoemaker, came for a visit, and
later Knud Aarthun, who stayed until the others came back. {5} They
returned just after we had lit the lamp. Knud, who must be a very fine
man, stayed and helped eat the flødegrød which Nil's wife served, and
afterwards remained until late in the evening talking with Vilhelm. {6} I
went to bed early in the loft, where I sleep just as well as in the most
splendid chamber, except that it is so cold mornings and evenings; it
happens to be unusually cold these days. This was the twenty-second,
Vilhelm's birthday. Last year on this day he came to Larvik to visit me,
and today we are sitting in a log cabin far inland in America!
Friday, December 23. I was awakened today, too, by the smell of fried
pork and coffee, hurried to dress, got a basin of water, went outside the
house to brush my teeth, and then sat down to the pork, which, curiously
enough, tastes just as good to me every time I eat it; that is, morning,
noon, and night. The weather has been delightful today, but fairly cold.
Nils and Knud are trying to find us another lodging, for it is too
crowded to remain here. They would like to place us with the Ingebret
Sørlands, who have the most room, but do not seem eager to take us in. I
hope that something will be decided soon, so that Vilhelm may have some
quiet for study. {7}
He studied this forenoon; I took my knitting and visited with the family
until dinnertime. When we had eaten, Vilhelm and I took a walk. First we
went to Ingebret, who was very friendly and seemed to be quite willing to
receive us in his home; but his wife said very frankly that she was
afraid there would be too much for her to do. It is very nice there; in
that respect we certainly could not get a better arrangement. But it is
better, I think, to have crowded quarters than to be received with
reluctance. From there we made our way across the fields and thought of
going over to Knud Aarthun's, but we sensibly gave that up, for we did
not know the way and wandered into a wood which we soon had to get out
of. It was not passable for me with my long skirts --- any more than the
hazel brush through which we did force our way later; Vilhelm always
plunges into the very midst of the hazel brush. When we got out of that,
we found the tracks of a deer; eventually we reached home without
encountering anything more unusual.
In the evening Knud came and said it had been decided that we were to
live with the Erik Egges, and could move when we pleased. He stayed for
the evening; a couple of other farmers were here for a time, too. Vilhelm
would have liked to sit up part of the night to study, but the cold
became so biting that it was impossible. Ugh! how cold it was to go to
bed that night in the breezy loft where, besides us, Nils's
sister-in-law, Kari, and her three children are sleeping! The space that
is not taken by the beds is filled with the family's clothes, chests of
drawers, meal sacks, etc. Such was the appearance of our first bedroom in
our new home.
Christmas Eve, 1853. This was a strange Christmas Eve, indeed; so
different from any I have ever known before. Here we sat, Vilhelm and I,
separated for the first time from relatives and friends, in a little log
cabin far inland in America. For supper we had spareribs and coffee. As
we sit here now, we get a little light from a lead dish in which there
are tallow scraps and a little rag for a wick, placed on an overturned
salt container. {8} Vilhelm is studying his sermon for tomorrow. We are
expecting Erik back from Decorah any moment; he is bringing the bed in
which we are to sleep, as well as some candles.
After dinner today, Nils hitched up his oxen. We said farewell to our
friendly hosts, promised to visit them often, and seated ourselves in the
sleigh, Vilhelm on the chest in back, I on the one in front, holding on
as best we could, for the road was not what you would call smooth. Nils
walked at the side with a long stick, thrust at the oxen, spoke his "Ha!"
and "Gee!" and talked with us. At last, right side up, we halted the oxen
outside Erik's house, and entered a room which, though clean, did not
have the most pleasing odor, because it had just been scrubbed by Helene,
mistress of the house.
The house is fourteen by sixteen feet, divided by curtains of calico into
two rooms, one of which affords space for two beds, which extend along
one wall of the house and are separated from each other by a second
curtain. Nils put our things in the loft, said "Go 'long!" to the oxen,
and drove home again. Helene, who appears to be a kind, friendly woman,
brought out beer and fattigmandsbakkels for us; after that, accompanied
by Per and Kari, three and four years old, we went up to the loft to put
our things somewhat in order. {9} I cannot imagine how Vilhelm will get
any quiet for study here, it will be so crowded.
What a contrast between this evening and a year ago! I am happy and
content that we are here in time for the Christmas festival --- there is
such joy over the pastor's coming --- but it grieves me to think of
Father and the others whom I miss, for the first time, on this Christmas
Eve. Vilhelm took a walk with me. The evening is lovely; it was good to
get outside a little. Oh, how beautiful the sky is! The stars are much
brighter and seem larger than at home.
Now Erik and Knud have come back loaded with all sorts of things. There
has been a great to-do to get the bed up. Knud has just left and Erik and
Helene have gone to bed, so that it is quiet and peaceful for Vilhelm,
who no doubt will sit up a long time. I am weary and am going to bed.
First Christmas Day Evening. Today, before a large group of listeners,
Vilhelm preached his first sermon. The service was held in the largest
room they could find, at the home of Thorgrim Busness. {10} When the
service was over, I talked with several people --- as many as I could,
for it was so crowded that one could not move. It pleases and interests
me to see and talk to all these different people, our Norwegian farm
folk, with whom I have had so little acquaintance up to this time. I find
many of them attractive; I like those best who have no city flourish
about them, but come up, take me by the hand and say, "Well, we wish you
welcome to America!" Then, generally, a number of questions follow.
"Where do you come from? Have you parents and relatives? There was great
sorrow when you were to leave, I imagine?" Also at times, "My, that is a
lovely brooch you have there!" followed by careful examination and
admiration of what I am wearing.
When we came home we found guests, several of Helene's relatives. Dinner
was waiting for us. It snowed and the weather was bad, so we remained
quietly inside. The two young girls stayed here over night. Suckow, the
shoemaker, came over for a couple of hours. The conversation turned upon
sectarians and hymn melodies until after supper; then Suckow left.
{11}Vilhelm studied for the following day and I read Elisa. {12} Tomorrow
I expect to go with him five miles into the country, where services are
to be held. Nils K. is to drive us.
Second Christmas Day. We came back a little while ago from Ingebret
Haugen's. {13} I am very glad I went; otherwise I should have missed an
enjoyable day. At eight-thirty Nils stopped outside the door with his two
daughters, who were to go with us. There was a cold wind. Helene had lent
me a good heavy coat, so I was warm enough to enjoy the beautiful drive.
The road went up and down hill, through a long, narrow, unusual valley,
where there were rocks like those near the high ridges along the
Wisconsin River. When we had passed through the valley, we saw the Little
Iowa River, along the banks of which, as everywhere along the rivers
here, it was very beautiful, though only sparsely settled. Not far from
there lies Decorah, which looks at least more imposing than Milton and
has a pretty location. {14} A couple of miles beyond Decorah is
Ingebret's house, where the service was to be held that day; it is on the
edge of a large wood where there is said to be an abundance of wild
grapes and other fruit.
We came into a good-sized room with two beds, one above the other, along
the wall; in the lower of these lay the husband, who had been sickly for
a long time. The remaining furniture of the room consisted of a large
motley-painted cupboard and a second one of black walnut, a wood which is
beautiful for furniture (though the farmers much prefer fir painted in
gaudy colors), a table, chairs, the usual stove --- in the center of one
wall --- and a hole in the ceiling, through which a stairway leads up to
the loft; the rest of the room was filled with rough planks laid upon
blocks cut from trees, upon which some members of the congregation had
already taken seats.
The lady of the house, Ingrid, a neat, active farm woman who still wears
part of her national costume, helped me off with my wraps, got me a seat,
offered me something to drink, and showed her friendliness in many ways.
We had planned, as soon as the service was over, to drive back with Nils;
but this was not to be thought of. Mother Ingrid wanted us to eat dinner,
and even to remain for the night; this we could not do, so she had to
content herself with having us for dinner this time.
I enjoyed being there and talking with people; there were many
openhearted, fine folk. A young, handsome woman from Valdres (Ola Bergan
was her husband's name, I think) won my heart especially. I also met both
the sisters of Pastor Brandt and their husbands, friendly people who have
retained their Valdres dialect; they pressed us to visit them when
services are to be held in their neighborhood. I also enjoyed talking
with an old woman from Valdres who knew Christie when he was pastor there
and who was very eager to get news of all his children. {15}
At length they gradually left, each for his home, with the exception of
Anne Aarthun and Mari Sørland, with whom it was now my lot to converse
and to hear Anne chide Mari because she had not given us lodging. {16} At
the front of the room Vilhelm was talking with the men; at the back
Ingrid kept on with her affairs and was busy beyond all measure. She is
an active, capable woman, and how nicely she manages everything! It was a
pleasure to watch her.
First she brought out homemade wild grape wine and fattigmandsbakkels,
leading one person after another to the table and urging him to eat and
drink. "Why, come now, you must not be bashful; drink all of it, this
will not harm you." At last she had her table loaded with fried pork,
spareribs, sausage, bread, butter, cakes, and excellent coffee. Mother
[Anne] Aarthun took it upon herself to look after me, and gave orders
right and left. "Knud, give me the potatoes for the pastor's wife.
Ingrid, will you pour some coffee for the missus?" At last, well
fortified, we had to think of going home. Knud invited us to drive with
him, as his sleigh was supposed to be warmer than the wagon, and so
indeed it proved to be.
<1> Erik P. Egge (1826-1905) came to the United States from Hadeland,
Norway, in 1848, and to Winneshiek County in 1851, where he took land in
the south. west quarter of Section 6, Frankville Township. He, his wife
Helene (1824-1902), and Helene's two children by a former marriage shared
their cabin with the Korens from December 24, 1853 until March 10, 1854.
The original cabin has been preserved and is a part of the outdoor museum
on the campus of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The Egge farm was about
five miles southeast of Decorah and three quarters of a mile south of
Iowa highway 9. See E. C. Bailey, Past and Present of Winneshiek County,
Iowa, 2:307 (Chicago, 1913).
<2> The sister-in-law was Kari, wife of Ola Katterud. She and her three
children were staying temporarily with Nils Katterud; V. Koren, in Symra,
25 (1905).
<3> The daughter, Mari Katterud, was, at the age of fifteen, the first
public-school teacher in Winneshiek County. This school, located on Ole
Gjermund Johnson Hedalen's farm, the southwest quarter of Section 31,
Glenwood Township, was built in 1852. The first confirmation in the
settlement was held there in 1855. Mari later married Lt. Ole A.
Anderson, a veteran of the Civil War who was a nephew of the Reverend
Nils O. Brandt. See A. Jacobsen, "Reminiscences of Pioneer Norwegians,"
in G. W. Anderson and 1. B. Goodwin, Atlas of Winneshiek County, Iowa,
sec. 2, p. 11 (Davenport, Iowa, 1905). Linnevold, in Decorah-posten, June
14, 1929.
<4> Thrond Lommen (1792-1856) of Valdres, Norway, and his son, Gudbrand
T. Lommen settled on Section 33, Decorah Township, Winneshiek County, in
1851. Gudbrand T. Lommen later married Elizabeth Lomen, sister of the
Reverend Nils O. Brandt and widow of Jørgen Lomen; W. E. Alexander,
History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 132 (Sioux City,
Iowa, 1882); and a personal interview with Professor S. S. Reque of
Decorah, Iowa, a grandson of Pastor Brandt.
<5> Lars Johan Suckow and his wife Sigrid (Siri) lived about three
quarters of a mile east of the present Washington Prairie Church. A son,
Christopher Suckow, attended Luther College, 1863-64, and died in the
Civil War; information from William Linnevold, see also Gisle Bothne, Det
norske Luther College, 1861-1897, 360 (Decorah, 1897).
<6> Flødegrød is a dish made by slowly cooking thick sour cream, to which
flour and milk are added. It may be served with sugar and cinnamon or
with raspberry juice.
<7> Ingebret (Embret) Gulbrandson Sørland (1824-1901) settled on Section
1, Springfield Township, Winneshiek County, in 1851. He was married to
Eli Clement Skaarlia (1826-1879). The family now goes under the name of
Soland; Alexander, Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, 629; markers in the
Washington Prairie cemetery.
<8> The container was possibly a small wooden keg or box in which salt
was usually kept.
<9> Fattigmandsbakkels, literally "poor man's cakes," are a favorite
Norwegian pastry. Kari and Per were Helene's children by her first
husband, Anders Egge. Kari later married Embret Clement Skaarlia;
information received from William Linnevold.
<10> Thorgrim Busness settled on the northeast quarter of Section 7 in
Frankville Township, Winneshiek County, in 1851; his farm was about a
mile and a quarter east of the site of the Washington Prairie Church, and
is now occupied by Howard Viste. The original cabin still stands, but has
been used as a chicken coop; Linnevold in Decorah-posten, June 14, 1929,
and in a personal interview with the editor.
<11> "In all parts of the frontier, Norwegian immigrants were influenced
to a greater or less degree by the powerful, friendly, and aggressively
zealous American churches." The story "involves, among others, the
Quakers, the Baptists, the Mormons, the Methodists, and the
Episcopalians"; Blegen, American Transition, l03, 105. The term
"sectarians" was rather loosely applied to any non-Lutheran group and at
times even to those within the Lutheran fold.
<12> Friedrich Wilhelm Krummacher, Elisa (Elberfeld, Germany, 1837-41)
<13> Ingebret Peterson Haugen is said to have bought the Henry M. Rice
trading post situated on the northwest quarter of Section 31, Decorah
Township, Winneshiek County, in 1849. Rice was later United States
senator from Minnesota. In Haugen's home was formulated and signed, in
October, 1852, the letter of call that eventually resulted in Pastor
Koren's coming to America; Alexander, Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties,
185, 187.
<14> The Little Iowa is the Upper Iowa River, which flows through Howard,
Winneshiek, and Allamakee counties, to empty into the Mississippi.
Decorah, by 1854, had expanded from the three cabins that were there in
1851 to "a little village of fifteen to twenty buildings, counting
hotels, stores, stables, shops, and buildings of all kinds." Bailey,
Winneshiek County, 2:190.
<15> Ola Bergan and his wife Kari lived in Section 2, Springfield
Township, Winneshiek County. One of Pastor Brandt's sisters was Elizabeth
(Mrs. Jørgen) Lomen, who, after Lomen's death, married Gudbrand T.
Lommen. The other was Mrs. Ivar J. Ringestad, who with her husband
settled on the south half of Section 29, Madison Township, Winneshiek
County; interview with Professor S. S. Reque of Decorah, Iowa; A.
Bredesen, "Pastor Nils Brandts erindrindringer," in Symra, 99 (1907);
Charles H. Sparks, History of Winneshiek County with Biographical
Sketches of Its Eminent Men, 28 (Decorah, 1877). The Reverend Edvard
Christie (1770-1847) was a cousin of Pastor Koren's grandfather; Johnson,
Slekten Koren, 1:41.
<16> "Mari Sørland" is no doubt an error for "Eli Sørland." Eli Skaarlia
married Ingebret Sørland in 1850.
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