To view scenes of harvesting grain in the 1920's click Thrashing
T0 view a picture of Jonas as a young man click Jonas the
teenager.
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To view a picture of the ship that brought Jonas and his twin sister and parents
to America click S.S. Parisian
To view a picture of Jonas's Family about 1914 click Jonas
To View a picture of our neighbors and best friends click Henry
Sivertson
To View a Family Picture click Family
To View a picture of more neighbors click Olaf Froseth
T0 view a picture of Teresa Utgaard with her two future sisters-in-law click Teresa
To View a picture of a family reunion click Reunion
To View a picture of the Barn construction click Barn
To View a picture of effects of a tornado on the barn click Tornado
Jonas Dravland
Teresa Utgaard
Ted’s Recollections
Growing Old in The Thirties
More about Jonas and Teresa
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(TOC)
Jonas Dravland (b. August
26, 1882 d. March 22, 1963) was born in Norway to Anna Edrika Holem and Ole
Andreas Dravland. He was only six years old when his parents moved to America.
Dad told about when he first came to America he wore long pants, which was not
the American style in those days. The other kids teased him and called him
"long pants".
He was the oldest of seven
children. His twin sister Anna and two brothers Arne and Albert died in a flu
epidemic in Duluth where they lived during their first two years in America.
The youngest children were Albert Benedick who was born just before they moved
to the new homestead (April 7, 1893), Olga (April 6, 1895) and Mabel (October.
26, 1897).
Ole with his wife Anna and
his father Gammle Jonas went back to Norway in 1899 to retire. He had
just received title to the land and I suppose felt quite prosperous. My father,
the one they called Little Jonas, was 17 years old at the time and stayed in
America. Ole and his wife decided to return to North Dakota shortly after
arriving in Norway. Gammle Jonas stayed in Norway. I'm sure it was
during this trip to Norway that Ole hired Teresa Utgaard to be a maid on the
farm. This very proud man, who was from the lower class in Norway, got a lot of
satisfaction, I'm sure, to be able to hire as a maid this young lady from the
upper class.
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The following is the story we beleived as children. Our parents did not talk about how they came to America. Alice believed this story to be true.Ozzie believed she came directly to Deoraine, Man. and she picked up there by Ole. Be sure to read the real story after this first paragraph.
Teresa Utgaard (b. May 9,1886 - d. July 25, 1944) was a beautiful young woman
born in Trondel, Norway to
Thora Bartnes and Issac Utgaard. She had two brothers in Norway Olav and Arne
and a brother Peter and a sister Dina in North Dakota. She came to Canada via
Halifax when she was only 16 years old. She spent here first winter in Estevan
with her cousin Peter Brovold. In the spring of 1903 she left Estevan in a
single buggy and pony to go to her new place of employment at the Ole Dravland
farm. The east wing to the house had been built by this time so she would have
her own room; very likely the north bedroom. She said the pony ran every step
of the way. There was no way she could get him to walk. The 130-mile trip would
have taken about six to seven days. There are six custom offices along the
border between Estevan and Carbury. N. Dak. On the average they were spaced one
days buggy ride apart.
According to research done by Dr. Jonas Eric Dravland, grandson of Jonas Ole Dravland,
Teresa came on the steamship Tunisia to Montreal, Canada. She and several others with
the destination of Bottineau, North Dakota took the train from Montreal to Winnipeg.
They took another train from there, very likely via Grandforks and Rugby, to Bottineau.
To View a picture of the Tunisia click Tunisia
Jonas was only 21 years old
when this beautiful young woman came to the farm. I will leave it to your
imagination the feelings and emotions these two young people had when they
first met. Hardly a year later (June 3, 1904) they were married. Ten children
were born of this marriage. Mrs. Jennie Myhr, the postmistress in Carbury, said Teresa was the most beautiful bride
she had ever seen. There was a large reception at the farm following the
wedding at The Turtle Mountain Lutheran Church, which is about two miles
northwest of Carbury, North Dakota. For a picture of the gathering at the
reception click on
Jonas and Teresa
Jonas and Teresa lived with
Grandpa and Grandma for a while. Alfred was born at the farm December 1, 1905.
Ted, the third child, recalls that before Ozzie remodeled the kitchen, there
were three screw holes in the ceiling where a swing had been attached that
Alfred used as a baby. They lived on the Aasheim farm (Berg Farm) when Osvald
Ingolf 'Ozzie' was born on August 1, 1907.Jonas and Teresa bought the Udvig
farm where they lived in a two room log cabin. The Berg farm was one mile
northwest and the Udvig farm was one mile east from the homestead. The log
cabin on the Udvig place was about two hundred yards west of the shop on what
is now the park behind Carbury Dam. The bed in, the kitchen of, the log cabin
was hoisted to the ceiling during the day. Theodore {Ted} was born, at the
Udvig farm, December 23, 1909.
Ted remembers one day he
made a remark to his mother that they shouldn't move to the Hagen Farm until
Allen learns to walk. The Hagen farm was by Landa, North Dakota. She scolded
Ted and said "that is a bunch of nonsense!". Ted didn't remember if
Allen learned to walk before they moved.
Viola Evelyn (Vi) (b.
September 9,1921) was born on the Hagen farm. She was called "Lis
Mor" as a youngster, which means little mother. Vernon (b. April 29, 1924)
was born on the Albertson farm. The Albertson farm was also near Landa. One
report list Aunt Dina as midwife when Vernon was born; however, his birth
certificate lists his father Jonas as midwife. There is another possible error
on Vernon's birth certificate. It indicates eight children of this mother and
six children of this mother now living. It should have been nine and eight
respectively.
Jonas and Teresa were very
proud people. During the Great Depression in the 1930s when so many people were
getting welfare, they would not accept any help; they just managed with what
they had. Vernon remembers seeing a small sack of flour, about ten pounds, laying on the floor in the entry. On the
label was the statement "NOT TO BE SOLD". It was handed out by the
Department of Agriculture for welfare. It seemed like it was there for years
and never used.
There was an other incident
a few years later. Vernon went into Carbury to pick up the mail. It was a
dark and stormy night It was a very strange evening with continuous
lightning and dark clouds covering the western sky. John and Milo Shelton were
taking pictures down by the railroad tracks at the western end of Main Street, because the sky was so unusual.
When he arrived home Vernon went to bed but Ozzie seemed to be nervous. He was
looking out the upstairs west bedroom window
when he said, "the barn went". Vernon got up like a shot and
followed Ozzie downstairs where Mother and Dad were already up and in the
living room. There were about sixty tornadoes that went through Bottineau
County that night and as many barns that were destroyed. The barn, tool shed
and windmill were demolished.
Ole had canceled the
insurance just the year before. Jonas did not know that this had been done so
it was quite a loss. People from the Red Cross came around to offer help and
dad refused. They returned many times encouraging, practically begging, him to
take some help. Finally after about the sixth visit he accepted a windmill,
which still stands on the farm today. Accepting the windmill did not stop the
Red Cross visits. Every year after that, as long as dad farmed, they came to
the farm asking for big donations. They were very quick to remind him of the
help they had given in the form of the windmill. After every visit he felt
humiliated, being reminded of taking welfare, and he paid for that windmill
many times over.
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In those days very few
people had health insurance. When Aunt Dina and Uncle Sivert Langness's health
began to fail, Teresa went to Landa to stay with them. Dina was Teresa's
sister. When their health did not improve they came to live with us at the
farm. Grandpa Ole and Uncle Sivert would often get in arguments about politics.
We had a couch in the front room with a built in pillow or rise at one end
similar to the proverbial psychiatrist couch. One day Ole and Sivert were
having their regular argument. Sivert was lying on the couch and Ole was
sitting in a chair pulled up beside the couch. All of a sudden Sivert quit
talking and got a blank look on his face. Ole called Teresa and they made plans
to get Sivert to the hospital in Bottineau. Mother asked Vernon to run over to
Ihlas and ask Myrtle to come over to stay with Ole. Fueled by the emotions of
the moment, Vernon ran all the way and, for some time, was too 'out of breath'
to give them the news and ask Myrtle Ihla for help. The Ihla farm was about one
half mile southeast of the Dravland farm.
Ole was about 80 years old
and mother did not want to leave him alone. Dina had been in the hospital a
while by this time. Sivert died that fall and Dina the next spring. Ole felt
very bad and believed that he was at least part of the cause of Siverts stroke.
Grandpa Ole's health began
to fail soon after the Langness's were gone. Grandpa was a hero for us younger
kids but it was a different story for our mother. He did not treat her very
well and was very demanding. He spent most of his time at the Farm except for a
week or two at his daughters each year. Ole died in 1941.
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According to The Turtle
Mountain Lutheran Church records Jonas and Teresa were married June 3, 1905.
Their attendants were Karen Sem, Martha Horjem, Gustaf Berge, and Anna Auseth.
Our parents always showed a
great deal of respect for each other. Dad had the same routine every morning.
He would get up before anyone else and start the fire in the cook stove. He
would make a pot of coffee and bring a cup to mother. He would sit on the edge
of the bed and have a visit while they enjoyed their first cup of coffee for
the day.
Mother and dad learned to
speak and write English very well. Neither had gone to school in America; but
mom would write letters to each of us as we left home. She was especially
faithful writing to Vernon and Allen in the service during World War 11.
Both mom and dad worked very
hard. It must have been especially difficult for dad because of his bleeding
ulcers. He suffered from this for many years before he made a trip to Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in the late 30's. A new operation for ulcers had
just been developed where the affected part of the stomach was removed. Dad’s
condition was considered appropriate for this surgery. One of the Roosevelt
brothers was there at the same time as Dad. When they were discharged the
hospital gave Dad a bill for $300.00. Mr. Roosevelt gave them a check for $10,000.
They refused the check and told him they will make out there own bills.
They gave him a bill for $25,000.00. Dad felt very well, as far as his stomach was
concerned, for many years after the operation, but he had to eat much more
often.
A tragedy struck dad in
1940. He and Allen were bringing the cows home from the west pasture when a
drunk driving in a pick up truck ran over dad and kept on going. Dad was in a lot of pain and spent most of that
summer in St. Andrews Hospital in Bottineau. When he was able to be home again
the neighbors threw a party for him and took a collection to help with the
bills. Dad refused to press charges against this man who lived just two miles
south from the farm.
Mother died from Equine
Encephalitis at the very young age of 58 years on July 25, 1944. Vernon
embarked from Charleston, South Carolina on the hospital ship USAHS
Dogwood ~ July 20th. It was decided
that it would be more appropriate not to tell him until he returned to
Charleston about the second week of September. Vernon received a letter from
Alice about mothers’ death and was
devastated. He isolated himself for a couple hours until his very good friend,
John Plank, located him and asked what happened. John helped him to get back on
track again and offered to loan him money to get home.
To get a furlough was very
difficult because we did not know how long the ship would be in dock. Vernon
was able to get two three-day passes and a weekend pass. He had his first
airline flight and was able to be home for a few days. Dad and Ann met him in
Minot. The most difficult part of losing mother was not being able to see her
in death and this affected Vernon for many years. It was maybe more difficult
for Allen since he could not get home even for a short visit.
Dad was a very lonely man
after mother died. He was very hard of hearing and was so used to mothers voice
that he could hear her much better than any one else. She also had the patience
to tell him everything and repeat things if she had to.
Dad spent his last years
between the farm with Ozzie and Alice and Neil Sivertson one mile west of the
farm. He spent most of his time with Alice and Neil. Dad died on March 22, 1963
when his kidneys refused to work after surgery. Many people said he was the
kindest man they had ever known.
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Ted recalls when he was a
little boy, Alfred and Ozzie had been to the fair in Bottineau and seen a
demonstration of a hot air balloon. After they arrived home they were going to
try their hand at it. They went behind the barn and lit a fire. Ted got in on
this as a helper. Ted held the burlap sack over the fire while Al and Ozzie
manipulated the bottom end. It wasn't long before the sack caught fire and it
"went up" --- in smoke. This brought a quick end to the experiment.
Ted recalls that Mrs. Ole
Eli was called during the night but dad took her home again in the morning
because the baby(Vernon) didn't come. Later Ted noticed that his mother was
holding her side and appeared to be in pain. Aunt Dina was on the phone calling
Dr. Johnson so Ted decided to get out of there. Ted went out to the shop and
was on his hands and knees working on something when Aunt Dina came out to tell
him he had a new brother. He wouldn't even look up and Aunt Dina left in
disgust because of his lack of response.
Dr. Johnson never did get
there. Vernon was named after Vernon Fuerhelm, a teacher, in a nearby
country school. Ted said our neighbors, the Hegdahls, thought that Vernon was a
terrible name to put on a newborn baby. They must have learned to like it, Ted
says, because several years later they named their youngest son Vernon.
Ole’s wife, Grandma Anna,
died (July 7, 1926). Ole invited Jonas and Teresa to take over the farm. They
moved seven children to the Carbury farm in the fall of 1926. It was previous
to this time that Alfred moved to Duluth Their last child Ann Adeline (Anna)
was born January 13, 1927. Mrs. Bacon in Bottineau took in maternity cases and
since mother was overdue she stayed there until the baby was born. Ted
remembers that they were sitting around the kitchen table playing whist when
the phone rang. Alice answered the phone and was told there was a baby girl in
Bottineau. Grandpa Ole said "Ja nu har Anna comme tilbake"
(Now Anna has come back), referring to his wife Anna. He was very elated that
the baby was named after his wife. Ann was always his favorite.
Alice Julian Thornberg (b.
March 30, 1912-d. December 17, 1985) was born at Grandpa Ole's while the new
house was being built on the Udvig place. The first Sidney (b.1914- d.1915) was
born in the new house. He lived a bit over one year. Years later Ole said to
Teresa it was a good thing he didn't have to live through these tough times.
Teresa was very upset with him for saying that. Sidney Daniel (b. October
3,1916) was born at the Udvig farm.
Because of poor crops and
possibly other factors Jonas lost the Udvig farm. This happened shortly after
the Bottineau County Bank closed. According to Albert Benedick's widow Lillian
Fagerle, Ole lost twenty thousand dollars in that closure. Albert’s Grandson
Paul has done considerable research on this bank. He was not able to prove the
story but excerpts from his very interesting report is included in the last
chapter of this book.
Jonas bought some feed at
the elevator for several dollars a sack and the horses wouldn't eat it. He
thought it must have been sweepings from the elevator floor. After harvest one
year Albert said the wheat bore only one and one half bushels per acre.
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