Ed's Day Wednesday
Dear FOLKS,
Today we are going to look into the life and family of Tosten and Anna Brekke. Most of this information has been researched by my cousin Ed Ostrom, although I have added to his information from the hints or "shaky leaves" I found on Ancestry.com.
Tosten and Anna were married on 12 May 1878 in Pomme de Terre Township in Grant County, Minnesota where Tosten has purchased a farm two years after arriving in the U.S. from Norway in 1872. He would work the farm as a single man until he became acquainted with an unmarried neighbor girl, Anna Olsdatter Stavaas. Anna had also immigrated from Norway, arriving in the U.S in 1873 and was living with her uncles and brother about two miles north of Tosten's farm.
Our newly married couple would work their farm and raise their seven children until retirement in 1915. Let me share with you some of the information we have learned about their children.
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| IMAGE; The Tosten Brekke family (ca 1905). Standing L to R: Olaus, John, Christina, Andrew. Sitting L to R: Tosten, Anna Tomina, Mary, Anna O. Stavaas. Sitting in front: Ida. From the Edwin J. Ostrom family collection. |
All seven of the Brekke childen were born and grew up on the family farm in Pomme de Terre Township, Grant County, Minnesota. Tosten and Anna's children were:
Andrias "Andrew" H. Brakke - The first born, Andrew, was born on 01 November 1878. As a young man, Andrew would leave Minnesota for Seattle, Washington. The reason that would explain his move so far from Minnesota is not known. The 1910, in Seattle, tells of him being 31 years old, single, a lodger in a boarding home, employed as a street car conductor. It is about this time that Andrew changes the spelling of his last name from Brekke to Brakke. He was known to have told that there was a blacksmith with the same name in town, so our Andrew, wanting to clear up any confusion, changed his name. In Seattle, on 06 August 1912, Andrew married Inga Nicolena Kjarstad, a young maiden who had immigrated from Norway. Andrew and Inga would have four children. Andrew continued being a Seattle street car conductor, until retirement. Andrew died on 05 December 1961, in Redmond, King County, Washington. The Seattle [WA] Times, published 06 December 1961, page 6 printed this obituary, "Andrew Brakke, 83, of Redmond, died yesterday in a hospital. Private memorial services will be at 11 o'clock Saturday in Green's Chapel of the Valley, Redmond. Cremation was held. Born in Minnesota, Mr. Brakke went to Redmond 14 years ago after living here many years. He was a former motorman, conductor and starter for the old Municipal Street Railway. Mr. Brakke was a charter member of Local 587. Street Car Men's Union and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Surviving are his wife Inga N., a daughter, Mrs. Carroll Greenleaf, Edmonds: a son Arne Brakke, Mercer Island and six grandchildren." His and Inga's place of burial are unknown.
Olaus Louis Brakke - Their second son, Olaus was born on 28 May 1880. Like his older brother, Olaus also left Minnesota after he became a young man. In the 1905 Minnesota State Census Olaus is stated as being a nurse. Cousin Ed's notes state that on 20 May 1907, Olaus is a registered Nurse; graduate of Training School for Nurses in Fergus Falls, MN. In the 1910 U.S. Census, Olaus is enumerated in Salem, Marion County, Oregon at the Oregon State Insane Asylum where he is employed as an attendant. His name is registered there as Olaus Brakke. Olaus traveled around Oregon in his free time, but will return home for a visit before he emigrates to Canada. On 03 September 1912, he enters Canada at Portal, North Dakota, his Canadian entry paper says that he is headed for Alsask, Saskatchewan. Then on 14 February 1916, Olaus, a resident of Empress, Alberta enlists in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. Here he signs his name as Olaus Brakke. He agrees to serve one year or for the duration of the war that exists between Great Britain and Germany, plus six months after the end of that war, unless his services are no longer needed. So Olaus enters World War I. He would serve longer than the one year plus six months. Olaus sent a postcard with a photo of the vessel R.M.S. Baltic to Tosten and Anna Brekke dated 05 February 1919. "Dear Father and Mother. Just landed in Halifax this evening. This is the boat I came over on. Olaus." This would appear to be his return trip after his service in the war was over. Military records show he was a laborer in France in WWI building rail lines where he hurt his back and later was denied veteran benefits. After the war he would return to Empress and farm. Olaus would die on 22 February 1943 in Empress, Alberta. In an unidentified, undated newspaper clipping found in his sister Anna Tomina's scrapbook: Former Grant Co. MN Man Dies -- Olaus Brekke, brother of John Brekke of this city [assumes Fergus Falls, MN] dies in Canada. John Brekke, of this city, has received word that his brother, Olaus Brekke of Empress, Alberta, Canada, has passed away Feb. 22. He was born in Grant County sixty two years ago and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Brekke. Mr. Brekke was a graduate nurse of the Fergus Falls State hospital where he was employed fifteen years before going to Canada where he has made his home for the past 20 years. He spent 4 years in the Canadian army in W W I. He leaves to mourn his death, two brothers, John of this city, Andrew of Seattle, Wash, and four sisters, Mrs. Oscar Ostrom and Mrs. Ted Peterson of Woodburn, Oregon, Mrs. Henry Olmstead, Roseau, Minn., and Mrs. Fred Roberts of Douglas, N.D." It is not known where Olaus was buried.
Christina Brekke - The family's first daughter was born on 29 June 1882. The 1905 Minnesota State Census states her occupation is farm laborer; she is living at home with her parents. Christina would travel to Ward County, North Dakota to help her sister Anna Tomine during the birth of Anna's first child, Clifford Martin Ostrom on 08 December 1908. It is here in Ward County that she meets a neighboring homesteader, Fred "Barney" Roberts, who began to prove his own homestead in 1905. On 01 March 1909, Christina would marry Fred in a ceremony officiated by a county judge in Minot, the county seat of Ward County. Christine and Fred would have two sons. Christine continues to be the midwife to the childbirths her sister Anna would have. These two sisters would live on neighboring farms and continued to be very close. The older Ostrom children knew that when Auntie Christine showed up with her satchel that a new baby would soon join their family. Christine would die in the Trinity Hospital in Minot, on 26 February 1945. She and Fred were both buried in the Spring Lake Church Cemetery, three miles northeast of Douglas, North Dakota. Here is an unidentified, undated newspaper clipping,
"Funeral Services: ROBERTS—Douglas, N. D— Funeral services for Mrs. Fred Roberts, 62, of Douglas, who died early Sunday in a Minot hospital, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Spring Lake Lutheran church near here.
The Rev. C. M. Fosmark will officiate and burial will be in the Spring Lake cemetery. The Thomas funeral chapel, Minot, has charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Roberts was born June 29, 1882, in Grant county, Minn. She was married here and the couple homesteaded near here in 1908.
Surviving are her husband, two sons, Raymond of Tacoma, Wash., and Harvey of Woodburn, Ore.; three brothers, Olaus Brekke, living in Canada; Andrew of Seattle, Wash.; and John of Fergus Falls, Minn.; three sisters, Mrs. Theodore Peterson and Mrs. Oscar Ostrum [sic], both of Woodburn, Ore., and Mrs. Harry Omstad [sic], Roseau, Minn.; and five grand-children."
John T. Brekke - The middle child, John, was born on 05 August 1884. He would continue to live in Pomme de Terre Township a number of years. On 14 November 1912 he married Sophia Austin and they would have six children. Through the 1910, 1920 and 1930 U.S. Federal Census reports we find John is a farmer in Pomme de Terre Township, Grant County, MN. It is not known exactly which section he farmed in and the various plat maps offer nothing conclusive. Between 1930 and 1936 John, Sophia and their younger children would move to Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. By 1940 John appears to have retired, while Sophia is still housekeeping at a private home other than her own. Then on 20 March 1957, John passes away there in Fergus Falls. He and Sophia were buried in the Knollwood Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fergus Falls.
Mary Brekke - Daughter Mary was born on 05 April 1887. She would marry Arthur "Harry" Harrison Olmstead on 01 January 1907, in Elbow Lake, Minnesota. It is possible that the ceremony was held on her parent's farm. Mary and Harry would have nine children. Harry was a farmer and he worked in the nearby woods. They would continue to live their lives in rural Roseau County, Minnesota, not far from the Canadian border. During World War II, Harry worked in the naval shipyard in Portland, Oregon. It is not known if Mary and the children joined him there. Then after the war the family remained in Roseau County. Their family would treat this couple to a celebration on their 50th wedding anniversary. Here is an unidentified, undated newspaper clipping that was shared with cousin Ed. It reads:
"HARRY AND MARY (BREKKE) OLMSTEAD
50th Wedding anniversary 1-1-1957
Harry was born in Dodge City, Iowa, on July 24, 1888, to Charles and Emma Olmstead. He passed away April 18, 1974.
Mary was born in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, on April 5, 1887 to Tosten and Anna Brekke.
Harry and Mary were married January 1, 1907, in Elbow Lake, Minnesota. They came to Roseau County in 1916. Mary was a homemaker all her life. Harry worked in the woods as a log cutter and skidder, also worked in a sawmill. During World War II, he worked in Portland, Oregon shipyard. He farmed in Malung Township. They had nine children, five of whom are deceased."
Mary was born in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, on April 5, 1887 to Tosten and Anna Brekke.
Harry and Mary were married January 1, 1907, in Elbow Lake, Minnesota. They came to Roseau County in 1916. Mary was a homemaker all her life. Harry worked in the woods as a log cutter and skidder, also worked in a sawmill. During World War II, he worked in Portland, Oregon shipyard. He farmed in Malung Township. They had nine children, five of whom are deceased."
Mary would die on 14 February 1969 in Roseau. She and Harry were buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Roseau, Roseau County, Minnesota.
Anna Tomina Brekke - Anna Tomina was born on 15 November 1890. She would meet and marry from the local area, Oscar Ostrom, whose family also farmed in Pomme de Terre Township in nearby section 34, while her parent's farm was in section 5. On 09 July 1908 Anna T, and Oscar's wedding ceremony was held at her parent's farmhouse and soon after the newlyweds would travel to their new homestead that Oscar was trying to prove near Douglas, Ward County, North Dakota. Anna T. and Oscar would have nine children, all born on their Spring Lake Township homestead. Anna T and Oscar would decide to move to Woodburn, Marion County, Oregon, where Oscar had earlier purchased some land just a short distance out of town. The midwestern drought and the depression of the 1930's seemed to have had less impact there in Oregon. So they made their move in 1936. In 1965 Oscar and Anna would retire and move into the town of Woodburn. They had sold their farm to one of their daughters. Anna would die on 29 July 1972 in Woodburn. She and Oscar would be buried at the Belle Passi Cemetery on the outskirts of Woodburn. Anna Tomina Brekke Ostrom was my cousin Ed's father's mother... Ed's grandmother. There are a number of articles already written about the life and stories of Anna and Oscar. You might want to visit these. Here is a link to the article where I introduced Anna T., click here.
Ida Helen Brekke - The youngest child, Ida was born on 13 October 1894. Ida was also very close to her sisters Christine and Anna. She would visit them near Douglas, Ward County, North Dakota. On one of these visits she was introduced to Theodore "Ted" Peterson, who was born in Iowa and he must has seemed so different not being a farmer. Ida and Ted were married on 29 November 1916 with the ceremony being held in Douglas. They would make their home there within Douglas and they would have two children. Ted worked as a grocer, then own a meat market. There are stories of how the Ostrom children loved to visit Uncle Ted's store. He also worked for the local Creamer's Association. The 1940 US Federal Census shows that Ted was now a carpenter, building homes. In 1942 Ida and Ted would recognize the opportunities that were available in Oregon and they too would move to Marion County, Oregon, where they lived not very far from Ida's sister Anna T. It states in Ted's obituary that he was a carpenter, so this tells us that after their move to Oregon, he would continue to work in the building trade. On 13 May 1982 Ida would die in Woodburn. She and Ted are buried in Belle Passi Cemetery located on the outskirt of Woodburn, Oregon and only a few steps from where the Ostroms are buried.
Thank you for stopping by today and letting me once again share with you what we have learned about the Brekke family. As always if you have additions of changes that can help tell this story, please let me know. I hope you have a good week.
Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. Thank you.
Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens
Ida Helen Brekke - The youngest child, Ida was born on 13 October 1894. Ida was also very close to her sisters Christine and Anna. She would visit them near Douglas, Ward County, North Dakota. On one of these visits she was introduced to Theodore "Ted" Peterson, who was born in Iowa and he must has seemed so different not being a farmer. Ida and Ted were married on 29 November 1916 with the ceremony being held in Douglas. They would make their home there within Douglas and they would have two children. Ted worked as a grocer, then own a meat market. There are stories of how the Ostrom children loved to visit Uncle Ted's store. He also worked for the local Creamer's Association. The 1940 US Federal Census shows that Ted was now a carpenter, building homes. In 1942 Ida and Ted would recognize the opportunities that were available in Oregon and they too would move to Marion County, Oregon, where they lived not very far from Ida's sister Anna T. It states in Ted's obituary that he was a carpenter, so this tells us that after their move to Oregon, he would continue to work in the building trade. On 13 May 1982 Ida would die in Woodburn. She and Ted are buried in Belle Passi Cemetery located on the outskirt of Woodburn, Oregon and only a few steps from where the Ostroms are buried.
Thank you for stopping by today and letting me once again share with you what we have learned about the Brekke family. As always if you have additions of changes that can help tell this story, please let me know. I hope you have a good week.
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Copyright (c) 2017, Darlene M. Steffens
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