Tosten A Brekke (1853-1940) in America

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

We are continuing to learn about Tosten Andreassen Brekke, who was born on 4 January 1853 on the Brekke Farm in Flåm, Aurland, Sogn Og Fjordane, Norway. He was the youngest child of Andreas Collin Årvott and Kirstine Adamsdatter Brekke. Tosten was my cousin Ed Ostrom's great grandfather, his father's mother's father.

Tosten was a gentleman, including having a calling card that would help introduce him to others. Calling cards were quite appropriate to use in the late 1800s and early 1900s and used much like business cards are used today. Here is are digital files of Tosten's card. The front is a nice graphic and the back contains his name, printed in a artistic font.

IMAGE: Graphic side of Tosten's calling card. It contains:

"May ev'ry blessing

Gød can give

Bring peace around you

while you live!"

IMAGE: Name side of Tosten's calling card.
"Tosten A Broekke"
Digital files in Edwin's J. Ostrom's collection.

Records in Norway tells us that Tosten left there for America on April 20, 1875. Unfortunately the name of the ship that he boarded is still unknown. But that search continues; archives in Canada continue to add more passenger lists all the time.

We understand that he then spent about two years in Goodhue County. I have found an entry in the 1875 Minnesota State Census that I am confident is Tosten. It tells that he was staying with a Nils A. Flom family in Holden Township, Goodhue County. While this census gathering was to begin on May 1, 1875, the assigned enumerator didn't receive the needed forms until May 5 and returned them on July 19, 1875. This allowed enough time for Tosten to be included after his travels.

IMAGE: 1875 MN State Census
page 403, Tosten's entry is highlighted.
From Ancestry.com. [1]

IMAGE: Snippet of Holden Township, Goodhue
County. Family #57.

The 1875 census shows:

* Line 14 - Family 57, Nils A. Flom -- age  36, male, white, born in Norway, both parents born in Norway.  [head of household]

* Line 15 - Anna A. Flom -- age 45, female, white, born in Norway, both parents born in Norway. [from other census reports I have learned Anna was Nils' sister.]

* Line 16 - Anna F. Indertin [??] -- age 33, female, white, born in Norway, both parents born in Norway. [Likely would become Nils wife; born 1 Oct 1841, died 7 Aug 1878.]

* Line 17 - Tosten A. Brakke -- age 22, male, white, born in Norway, both parents born in Norway.

After two years of hard work and saving, Tosten was able to purchase a 160-acre quarter section in Pomme de Terre Township, Grant County, Minnesota. Why did he choose this area? It is thought that he had visited his brother Johannes A. Brekke, who came to America in 1872 and was farming in Tumuli Township, Ottertail County; just across the county line from what would become Tosten's farm. Brothers were neighbors, but the county line obscures that fact. Also too is a nearby neighbor whose name is Nils B. Brekke, perhaps these three fellows were all acquainted and possibly extended family from Flåm, Norway. 

IMAGE; Pomme de Terre plat map
with Tosten Brekke's acreage
highlighted, in green, near north border.
From Ancestry.com.[2]

In 1878, Tosten would meet and marry Anna Stavaas, who was born in Norway and had immigrated to the United States in 1873. And  then in 1888 Tosten decided to become a United States citizen and filed a Declaration of Intention with the District Court in Grant County. Cousin Ed was able to transcribe this original document for us:

-------- transcription starts --------

No. 175 Declaration of Intention and Clerk’s Certificate.

PIONEER PRESS CO., PRINTER, STATIONERS AND LEGAL BLANKS, ST. PAUL, MINN.

United States of America
State of Minnesota
District Court
county of Grant

Tosten A Brekke personally appeared before the subscriber, the Clerk of the District Court of the 16th Judicial District for said State of Minnesota, being a Court of Record, and made oath that he was born in   Norway  on and about the year eighteen hundred and  fifty three; that he emigrated to the United States and landed at the port of   Quebec   on or about the month of    May   in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-five; that it is bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the King of Norway whereof he is a subject.

            Tosten A. Brekke

Subscribed and Sworn to this 6th  

day of Nov. A. D. 188 8

            Luis J. Hauge  Clerk.

United States of America,

STATE OF MINNESOTA.

County of Grant

I, Louis J. Hauge Clerk of the District Court of the 16th Judicial District for the State of Minnesota, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a copy of a Record now in my office.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said District Court, this 6th day of Nov. 188 8

                                 

Louis J. Hauge    

                    Clerk

-------- transcription ends --------

Various census records tells us that Tosten and his wife Anna remained at the farm. He was a successful farmer and was able to build a new home for his family.

IMAGE: Anna and Tosten Brekke standing at the front
of the home they purchased in 1915 when they
moved into Elbow Lake from the farm. From
the collection of Edwin J. Ostrom.

We also know that Tosten was musically inclined. He enjoyed playing an accordion. Although we don't know what he started to and perhaps he taught some of his children how to play it too. Here we have photos of Tosten with his accordion and his daughter Anna Tomine Brekke Ostrom each of them with their accordion. It is interesting to note that their accordions as different, yet similar.

IMAGE: (L) Tosten A. Brekke and his accordion.
(R) Anna T. Ostrom and her accordion. Father
& daughter enjoying similar musical instruments.
Images from the collection of Edwin J. Ostrom.

In 1915, Tosten and Anna would move from the farm and purchase a house within the town of Elbow Lake. Here they enjoyed their flower beds and having  their children and grandchildren come to visit.

Unfortunately Anna would die in 1931, leaving Tosten a widower sooner than expected. He would continue in their home there in Elbow Lake, until he had a debilitating stroke in December 1939. From that point he had to have a caregiver help him with his meals, dressing, keeping the house warm. It is not known if his caregiver was one of his children. But according to a write up on the back of his death certificate that the caregiver had left him about midnight and he died sometime during the early morning hours of 2 April 1940.

Tosten's obituary, printed 06 April 1940 in the Grant County Herald, Elbow Lake, MN said:

"Tosten A. Brekke passed away at his home in Elbow Lake Tuesday morning, April 2, 1940 at 4 o'clock at the age of 87 years.  He had been quite helpless since December of last year.   Mr. Brekke was born in Sogn, Norway, on January 6, 1853.  He emigrated to America in 1871 coming to Goodhue county where he resided for about two years before coming to Grant county.   On May 12, 1878 he was united in marriage to Anna O. Stavos who preceded him in death.  They made their home on a farm in Pomme de Terre township until 1915 when they sold their farm and moved to Elbow Lake.

       He is survived by four daughters and three sons, namely, (Christina) Mrs. Fred Roberts of Douglas, N.D., (Anna) Mrs. Oscar Ostrom of Woodburn, Oregon, (Ida) Mrs. Ted Peterson of Douglas, N.D., (Mary)  Mrs. Harry Olmstead of Roseau, Andrew Brekke of Seattle, Wash., Olaus of Empress, Canada and John Brekke of Fergus Falls.   Funeral Services will be held at Erickson's funeral parlors in Elbow Lake Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. O.G. Aasen officiating.  Burial will be made in the Hjerdal cemetery."

So it is time to say "Hvil i fred bestefar." [Rest In Peace Grandpa.] Tosten A. Brekke, a hard-working man, who lived a long life, who as a young man to came to America where he did well, worked hard, provided for his family and was an all around good person.

Please join me next week when I'll introduce another member of my cousin Ed's family. I hope you have a great week.

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