| Summary: | ERIK ERIKSON BJERKE was born June 2, 1818, in Hadeland, Norway and married Berthe Maria Hagen there in 1846. She was born Sept. 28, 1825. They had eleven children: Andreas, Peter, Ole, Julius, Syver, Anne, Lauris, Edward and Mathia. The first Ole and Mathias died in Norway. Andreas, Peter and Ole left Norway in 1872 and came to Brown County near New Ulm, Minnesota. They worked until they had enough money to send tickets to Norway to bring their parents, brothers and sisters to Minnesota in 1877. Andrew, Peter and Ole then came to Beaver Creek in 1879 and homesteaded on their land. In 1881 they sent for the rest of the family from Minnesota. Erik died Oct. 18, 1907. Berthe Maria died Feb. 9, 1920 at 95 years of age. JENS HOLMEN was born Jan. 27, 1856, near Christiania, Norway. Thea Hanson was born in 1854 in Odalen, Norway. They were married in Norway and four of the children were born there. Jens came to America first and he liked it so well he sent for his family. They came to Mayville in 1888 and lived there about a year before coming to Beaver Creek. Jens was a blacksmith by trade and had his shop on his homestead and did blacksmithing for the people in the community. They had 8 children: Nels, Hjalmar, Jennie (Mrs. Fred Holter), Thorval, Gunda (Mrs. Alfred Holter), Georgen, Clifford, and Bernt. Jens died Jan. 19, 1910 and Thea died Dec. 19, 1938. Orville Holmen now owns the homestead. EDWARD BJERKE was born in Hadeland, Norway, May 25, 1870. He married Caroline Norgaard on Oct. 28, 1894. She was born in Iowa Oct. 20, 1874. They had 9 children: Oscar, Benard, Edgar, Anton, Arthur, Theodore, Mable (Mrs. Obert Berg), Cora (Mrs. Clifford Schnebley) and a son Alfred who died in infancy. Edward came with his parents to Beaver Creek when he was eleven years old. Caroline died June 18, 1924. Edward is an invalid at the Northwood Hospital. Edgar, a son, now owns the home farm. ANDREW HOLMEN, brother of Jens Holmen, had a blacksmith shop in Beaver Creek on section 7 SE quarter, in the early 1800's and moved to Northwood when the railroad came through and had a blacksmith shop there for many years. He married Annie Bale and they had five children. Mabel, Edith (Mrs. Simonson) and Stella (Mrs. Kringlie). The others died young. GUSTAV BJERKE was born Sept. 1, 1866, in Norway of parents Daniel and Johanna Bjerke. They came to Madison, Wis., in 1871 and to Beaver Creek in 1882. He was married to Christine Tolen Feb. 27, 1900, by Rev. Tollefson at the Daniel Berke home. Christine was born in Enger Township Dec. 9, 1878 of parents Mr. and Mrs. Olaf Tolen. They had eleven children: Daniel, Cora (Mrs. Petter Bakken), Daniel, Melvin, Agnes, Walter, George, Roy, Carl, Norman and George. Gust died June 2, 1954. Mrs. Bjerke resides in California. Leroy Peterson now owns the farm. DANIEL BJERKE was born in Vermeland, Sweden, Feb. 20, 1826. He married Johanne Fuglerud, March 23, 1861, in Risoer Kirke, Norway. Johanne was born Jan. 26, 1838, in Naes Romerike, Norway. Daniel came to Madison, Wis., in 1868, and his family in 1871. They came to Beaver Creek in 1882. Daniel died July 28, 1904 and Johanne died April 12, 1912. They had seven children: Anna (Mrs. Andrew Gunderson), John, Gust, Carl, Daniel, Albert and William. 59 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited in Multi-page TIFF Editor.
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