Good-bye to Anna O. Brekke (1853-1931)

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

Welcome to this week's telling of family history. Of late, we have been learning about Anna Olsdatter Brekke née Stavaas, who was born on 27 July 1853 in Sauland, Hjartdal, Telemark, Norway. I am pleased to share my late cousin Ed Ostrom's family history research with you. Anna was one of  Ed's great-grandmothers, his father's mother's mother's mother.

Anna we have learned that Anna traveled to America at the age of 20, along with her younger brother Ole Olsen who was only 17 and we learned that they had to make it from New York to Minnesota on their own. Possibly working their way along, earning a few dollars to provide for food and the next portion of travel.

After their arrival, Anna would first settle in by helping her uncles, Johannes and Hans Johnson who
Had arrived from Norway many years earlier. She then met and married another immigrant from Norway, Tosten Andreassen Brekke and they had seven children.

Soon the children would be old enough to attend school and the following photographs are of the school their children attended.

IMAGE: The schoolhouse that the Brekke and Ostrom
children attended. It is located in Pomme de Terre
Township, Grant County, Minnesota. Photos taken
on two different trips to MN. From Ed Ostrom's files.

Even though both Anna and Tosten each travelled all the way from Norway, they apparently preferred to stay at home. There is no evidence that they left their immediate area to take a trip, but they were pleased to have folks come visit. Those that came to visit included Anna's brothers John Stavos, Ole Stavos and Hans Stavaas and their families as well. As you may have noticed, there were variations between these siblings on how they would spell Stav??s. Again it is thought that their name came from Stavå [Stavaa] Creek, a small creek that ran near their home in Norway.

IMAGE: Anna O. Brekke is standing in the middle. Her
dress is a little darker than the others. Those standing
with her are unknown. I thought this photo had some
interesting details... including the little boy wearing
the straw hat. If anyone can help name folks, please
let me know. Again from Ed Ostrom's collection.

IMAGE: "Main Street - Elbow Lake, Minn." ca. 1918-1919.
Digital image of post card from Ed Ostrom's files.

In 1915 they sold their farm and retired. They would purchase a house in Elbow Lake, the town nearest them and enjoy the activities of living in town and visits made by family and friends.

IMAGE: Parade in Elbow Lake, MN. The Grant
County Courthouse is the large building on the top-
right. Possibly celebrating the 4th of July or
the end of World War I. Tosten Brekke stands
on sidewalk above the "X" marked on the grass.
From Ed Ostrom's collection.

Sometime in 1926, Anna had a stroke that left her disabled and then on 03 March 1931, she passed away from an apparent heart attack. Here is her obituary and notice of her funeral. It is a transcription
of an unidentified, undated news article... thought to be from the "Grant County Herald," printed in Elbow Lake, MN.

  Anna Stavos — Mrs. Tosten A.  Brekke died Tuesday, March 3rd, 1931, at the age of seventy-seven years, seven months and six days.  She had been ill about a week with heart trouble.  Her mind was clear and bright all the time.  Mrs. Brekke never recovered fully from a stroke that she suffered five years ago but she was always cheerful and had a sunny disposition.

     Anna O. Stavos was born at Sauland, Telemark, Norway, July 27th, 1853.  She emigrated to this country in 1873 and lived with her brother, Ole Stavos, on a farm in Otter Tail county.  On May 12th, 1878 she was married to Tosten A. Brekke.  They made their home on a farm in Pomme de Terre township.  In 1915 they sold their farm and moved to Elbow Lake where they have since made their home.

     She is survived by her husband, four daughters, three sons and one brother, Ole Stavos of Dalton.  The daughters are:  Christina, Mrs. Fred Roberts,  Anna, Mrs. Oscar Ostrom and Ida, Mrs. Ted Peterson, all of Douglas, N.D., and Mary,  Mrs. Harry Olmstead of Pencer.  The sons are:  Andrew of Seattle, Wash., Olaus of Empress, Canada and John of Fergus Falls.  Thirty-three grandchildren and two great grand-children survive her. 

     Mrs. Brekke was a member of the Ness Lutheran church and was a faithful worker of the ladies' aid.  She leaves a wide circle of friends who mourn her death.

     The funeral will be held Tuesday March 10th, one o'clock at the house and two o'clock at the Ness church, Rev. O.G.  Aasen officiating.  Burial will be made at the Hjerdal cemetery.  Ervin and Sylvester Brekke, Carl and Oscar Johnson, Alvin Stavos and Orlin Moebius are pall bearers.

A week later Anna's funeral was held and her remains were buried at the Hjerdal Cemetery in Pomme de Terre Township, not far from the location of the farm they once owned. Nine years later, her husband, Tosten would be buried next to her. There are no small headstones for either Anna or Tosten, but there is a large "family" stone.

IMAGE: An engraved polished stone
sign for Hjerdal Cemetery that was
established in 1889. From the Ed Ostrom
 photo collection.

IMAGE: Family stones in the Hjerdal Cemetery. Front - "Brekke" stone,
in the background, the "Stavos" stone. Photos were taken on two
different trips to Minnesota. Photographs from Ed Ostrom's collection.

Time now to end our story of Anna; I am sure that all of her descendents would like to leave her this wish, "Hvil i fred Bestemor," .... Rest in peace Grandma.

For next week, I plan to introduce another one of cousin Ed Ostrom's ancestors. Let me thank you for stopping by today and I hope you week is going well.

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