Connecting with the Past: The Larson Dahl Family

 Before we meet the grandparents of Grandma Hazel (I think that makes this entry about our great great grandparents, part 2)- I wanted to pause just briefly to share what I've learned about the Norwegian naming customs.  

Because honestly- were they the Dahl family or the Larson family- or both?    I recall hearing both names used on occasion and now that I'm poking around on genealogical sites- I'm even more confused than when I started.

Fortunately- YouTube is here to help us out.  

• It wasn't until the 1920s- that Norwegian law required families to follow certain guidelines when selecting surnames.   Prior to that- it seemed a bit like a free-for-all.  Nah- not really-even if at times it feels that way. 
• Norwegians would have a permanent first name assigned at Baptism.  Now sometimes that name would be a default of Ingeborg if it was a female.   I'm not clear why that was-but it explains why on the document created by the Penn family they list the wife of Hans as Ingeborg- but no where on any of the genealogy sites is that name used again.
• The 2nd name would also be permanent and follow the patronymic style- That's where they use the father's first name and add "son/sen" or "datter" depending on the gender.   Now it's starting to make sense why there are so many Olsons (as in Ole's son)
• The 3rd name used is more of an address- reflecting the farm name or possibly parish where the family lived.   This name could and would change over time- whenever a family moved to another farm or community.     I think that's where several of the names that we are familiar with came from.

Anyways- let's get this story started.

Meet the Larsons...

No date noted- but I'm guessing early 1890s

as Oscar is noted to have been born in 1883- 

and Marthinius died in 1884

Standing- Left to Right

Lena Larson Volla, Betha Larson Berg, Louis Larson, Minnie Larson Jostad, Ida Larson Gellium

Seated

Grandma Dahl Larson (aka Helena Dahl), Grandpa Marthinius Larson and Oscar Larson

On the Dahl Larson porch- where Mrs. Emma Romskog now lives*

Lena Larson Volla, Ida Larson Gellien

seated is Uncle Oscar and a neighbor- Chris Larson 

and the family dog Tousher

*-no idea who Emma is- but it's what Grandma Hazel wrote on the back of the picture

In the  Penn document-  it is reported that Helene and Marthinus were both born and raised on a small farm in Halfway Creek- near the Maple Shade farm.  I'm not sure that is accurate- as the online geneology sites all indicate the couple was born in Norway-  in Biri, Gjøvik, Oppland, Norway.   

I also recall that  in Richard's diary of his travels to Norway- he visited the Biri parish and had seen where the Dahl's had farmed as he commented on seeing the family farm.  

Larson Dahl sisters- Lena and Bertha

circa late 1890s.

Either way- the couple would have 6 children in total.   Unlike the descendants of Hans Volla- the Dahl Larson family would take different paths than continuing in the farming tradition.

• Louis Larson- (b. 1868, d 1963) would receive a law degree from the University of WI and would work for International Harvester Company in Regina Canada.  He would retire in the Los Angeles area (that makes me chuckle- as these days- who would retire in LA?!).  One of his daughter's, Blanche, would be a name I recall Grandma Hazel talking about.
• Oscar Larson (b. 1882 d. 1972) would marry Lulu Weverstad and he along with his brother-in-law Christian would run the hardware and implement store in Holmen.
• Ida Larson (b. 1880 d. 1925) would marry Gustave Gellien.   In the Penn document, they report that she received a degree in English from LaCrosse and would travel to Canada to teach.   She would marry and later return to Lacrosse.   She died of pneumonia only about 8 years after she'd married and the couple had no children.
• Minnie (or Mina) Larson Dahl (b. 1871 d. 1958)  would marry Mathinius Andreasson Jostad and they would be one of only two Larson-Dahl children that would continue in the farming tradition of their ancestors.   Their farm, was only a 1/2 mile up the Jostad Coulee, near the Maple Shade School (more on that in a later entry).  
• Jostad is a name we often heard Richard and Hazel mention.   In poking around the Family Search website- I now understand why.   Minnie's husband came from a large family, and together they had a large family (8+ kids, if the website is to be trusted).
• Marie Bertina "Bertha" Larson Dahl (b. 1874 d. 1937) would marry Christian Berg.    The couple along with younger brother Oscar would run the hardware and implement store in Holmen until the "business burned out in the late 1920s".   The family was considered to be very close to the Martin Volla family and it's interesting to note- in the few photos saved from this era- one such photo is from Bertha's wedding.   

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Berg-1897

"Aunt Bertha" written in Grandma Hazel's distinctive handwriting

And finally- the star of the family story-

Lena Larson- shown here with her favorite sister Bertha

Great grandma Larson was born in 1876 in Onalaska Wisconsin.   She was the middle child and not a lot is reported in the Penn document other than the family was considered very poor.   It was written that "Once she had to work for the neighbors when she was only 8-9 years old- all summer just for a dress".

Oh so many questions rise from this- what type of work- was she paid or was after her work she was gifted a hand-me-down as payment?   Inquiring descendants want to know!

So- what did I learn after spending time with these relatives?

• With all the duplicate names- it's hard to know who is who.   This last picture is labeled "By the ocean at Long Beach, California" 3.2.1930
• On the back it says "Easter Greetings to Martin Volla and family from Berg's Galesville Wisconsin, 4.19.1930.   
• Ok- so are these relatives?   friends?   Who knows- but it is a pretty cool picture- and when you put it against what we know was happening in the country in the late 1920s- these folks must have had some success in order to travel to California so soon after the Depression.

Uff da- and I promised myself I wouldn't get too invested in the family history!

Stay tuned- as the next entry is when I'll start to recap the history of Lena Larson Dahl and Martin Volla.

You know- that special couple  that would gift us with this little darling...

Grandma Hazel-