The following excerpt, written by Herb Hatlestad, is from the book "Historical Collections: Deuel County"
"The parents of Sarah K. Peterson came to York, Fillmore County, Minnesota, from Numedal, Norway when Sarah was one year old. The parents of Ole J. Gronna came from Hallendal, Norway, when he was just a young boy. Sarah and Ole were married in 1878. They decided to seek their fortune in a new world. They left Minnesota with Ole's brother and wife and started for the territory of South Dakota. In Goodhue County, Minnesota they met the family of Mathias M. Thompson, their son-in-law Thomas Hattlestad, and their daughter Martha, who were a newly married couple. This was in the early spring of 1878. With oxen and horses they crossed the state of Minnesota. By late May they had arrived at their destination in Dueul County. Close to one another they selected their building sites. Sod and stone and hard labor made their first homes. Gronna's homestead was in Section Six. After getting shelter they left for Sioux Falls with an oxen team to file for homestead rights in the Dakota Territory. For a time Ole worked in the granite works at Sioux Falls to get enough money for seed to be used the next spring and also supplies for the winter.
The stormy winter passed and spring came. In the fall when the grain was ripe he hauled some to New Ulm. The money was used for the next winters supplies and seed.
Sarah was lonely when Ole had to leave. One day Ole took his wagon to Lake Poinsett and caught a wagon load of fish. He hauled them to Canby and with the money bought Sarah a clock. The clock is still on the mantle at his daughter's. The clock's ticking relieved some of the loneliness. Sarah always worried that the Indians might come. If she heard the sound of hoof beats she would take the children and run to Grandma Thompson. Grandma Thompson delivered all Sarah's children.
After some time the Gronnas moved to their tree claim on Section four. He planted ash trees, which have survived now for almost a hundred years. Ole's brother Knute found the farming too difficult and sold his claim to Ole, so that is the home place now where Ole built his big beautiful white house. It is so well built that now in the process of restoration they find the insulation and walls stable.
October 1, 1901; Ole was chosen to serve on the "National Farmers Congress" in Sioux Falls.
Disaster and sadness came to this great family. In 1902 the family was stricken with typhoid fever. Some said it was the water but Sarah insisted it was a "carrier" from a farm hand. Father Ole died on October 3, 1902. Two weeks later 15 year old beautiful Clara Annetta also was gone. Sarah almost did not survive. Her wonderful sons Julius, Carl, Albert, Walter, and Oliver, and her daughter Georgie helped her along. Sarah stayed on the farm until 1907, when she moved next door to Georgie and Gilbert's in Toronto. Lili was a baby mostly, sitting under a table through this turmoil. Sarah loved her old neighbors. Often she would hitch up Polly and drive to Estelline.
Lili Gronna graduated from Toronto High School and the Uni- versity of South Dakota in Home Economics and Chemistry. She met Carl Rice who later became a well known and respected breast surgeon. They live in Minneapolis. The Rices have one daughter and several grandchildren. The also own the Gronna homestead and on May 29, 1976 celebrated their 100 years of ownership. The farm has been restored into a lovely weekend retreat for the family.
In 1977 the Gronna Rice residence was part of the Extension annual home tour.
-by Lili Gronna Rice"
Contributor: MAMc (51102268)
"The parents of Sarah K. Peterson came to York, Fillmore County, Minnesota, from Numedal, Norway when Sarah was one year old. The parents of Ole J. Gronna came from Hallendal, Norway, when he was just a young boy. Sarah and Ole were married in 1878. They decided to seek their fortune in a new world. They left Minnesota with Ole's brother and wife and started for the territory of South Dakota. In Goodhue County, Minnesota they met the family of Mathias M. Thompson, their son-in-law Thomas Hattlestad, and their daughter Martha, who were a newly married couple. This was in the early spring of 1878. With oxen and horses they crossed the state of Minnesota. By late May they had arrived at their destination in Dueul County. Close to one another they selected their building sites. Sod and stone and hard labor made their first homes. Gronna's homestead was in Section Six. After getting shelter they left for Sioux Falls with an oxen team to file for homestead rights in the Dakota Territory. For a time Ole worked in the granite works at Sioux Falls to get enough money for seed to be used the next spring and also supplies for the winter.
The stormy winter passed and spring came. In the fall when the grain was ripe he hauled some to New Ulm. The money was used for the next winters supplies and seed.
Sarah was lonely when Ole had to leave. One day Ole took his wagon to Lake Poinsett and caught a wagon load of fish. He hauled them to Canby and with the money bought Sarah a clock. The clock is still on the mantle at his daughter's. The clock's ticking relieved some of the loneliness. Sarah always worried that the Indians might come. If she heard the sound of hoof beats she would take the children and run to Grandma Thompson. Grandma Thompson delivered all Sarah's children.
After some time the Gronnas moved to their tree claim on Section four. He planted ash trees, which have survived now for almost a hundred years. Ole's brother Knute found the farming too difficult and sold his claim to Ole, so that is the home place now where Ole built his big beautiful white house. It is so well built that now in the process of restoration they find the insulation and walls stable.
October 1, 1901; Ole was chosen to serve on the "National Farmers Congress" in Sioux Falls.
Disaster and sadness came to this great family. In 1902 the family was stricken with typhoid fever. Some said it was the water but Sarah insisted it was a "carrier" from a farm hand. Father Ole died on October 3, 1902. Two weeks later 15 year old beautiful Clara Annetta also was gone. Sarah almost did not survive. Her wonderful sons Julius, Carl, Albert, Walter, and Oliver, and her daughter Georgie helped her along. Sarah stayed on the farm until 1907, when she moved next door to Georgie and Gilbert's in Toronto. Lili was a baby mostly, sitting under a table through this turmoil. Sarah loved her old neighbors. Often she would hitch up Polly and drive to Estelline.
Lili Gronna graduated from Toronto High School and the Uni- versity of South Dakota in Home Economics and Chemistry. She met Carl Rice who later became a well known and respected breast surgeon. They live in Minneapolis. The Rices have one daughter and several grandchildren. The also own the Gronna homestead and on May 29, 1976 celebrated their 100 years of ownership. The farm has been restored into a lovely weekend retreat for the family.
In 1977 the Gronna Rice residence was part of the Extension annual home tour.
-by Lili Gronna Rice"
Contributor: MAMc (51102268)
The following excerpt, written by Herb Hatlestad, is from the book "Historical Collections: Deuel County"
"The parents of Sarah K. Peterson came to York, Fillmore County, Minnesota, from Numedal, Norway when Sarah was one year old. The parents of Ole J. Gronna came from Hallendal, Norway, when he was just a young boy. Sarah and Ole were married in 1878. They decided to seek their fortune in a new world. They left Minnesota with Ole's brother and wife and started for the territory of South Dakota. In Goodhue County, Minnesota they met the family of Mathias M. Thompson, their son-in-law Thomas Hattlestad, and their daughter Martha, who were a newly married couple. This was in the early spring of 1878. With oxen and horses they crossed the state of Minnesota. By late May they had arrived at their destination in Dueul County. Close to one another they selected their building sites. Sod and stone and hard labor made their first homes. Gronna's homestead was in Section Six. After getting shelter they left for Sioux Falls with an oxen team to file for homestead rights in the Dakota Territory. For a time Ole worked in the granite works at Sioux Falls to get enough money for seed to be used the next spring and also supplies for the winter.
The stormy winter passed and spring came. In the fall when the grain was ripe he hauled some to New Ulm. The money was used for the next winters supplies and seed.
Sarah was lonely when Ole had to leave. One day Ole took his wagon to Lake Poinsett and caught a wagon load of fish. He hauled them to Canby and with the money bought Sarah a clock. The clock is still on the mantle at his daughter's. The clock's ticking relieved some of the loneliness. Sarah always worried that the Indians might come. If she heard the sound of hoof beats she would take the children and run to Grandma Thompson. Grandma Thompson delivered all Sarah's children.
After some time the Gronnas moved to their tree claim on Section four. He planted ash trees, which have survived now for almost a hundred years. Ole's brother Knute found the farming too difficult and sold his claim to Ole, so that is the home place now where Ole built his big beautiful white house. It is so well built that now in the process of restoration they find the insulation and walls stable.
October 1, 1901; Ole was chosen to serve on the "National Farmers Congress" in Sioux Falls.
Disaster and sadness came to this great family. In 1902 the family was stricken with typhoid fever. Some said it was the water but Sarah insisted it was a "carrier" from a farm hand. Father Ole died on October 3, 1902. Two weeks later 15 year old beautiful Clara Annetta also was gone. Sarah almost did not survive. Her wonderful sons Julius, Carl, Albert, Walter, and Oliver, and her daughter Georgie helped her along. Sarah stayed on the farm until 1907, when she moved next door to Georgie and Gilbert's in Toronto. Lili was a baby mostly, sitting under a table through this turmoil. Sarah loved her old neighbors. Often she would hitch up Polly and drive to Estelline.
Lili Gronna graduated from Toronto High School and the Uni- versity of South Dakota in Home Economics and Chemistry. She met Carl Rice who later became a well known and respected breast surgeon. They live in Minneapolis. The Rices have one daughter and several grandchildren. The also own the Gronna homestead and on May 29, 1976 celebrated their 100 years of ownership. The farm has been restored into a lovely weekend retreat for the family.
In 1977 the Gronna Rice residence was part of the Extension annual home tour.
-by Lili Gronna Rice"
Contributor: MAMc (51102268)
"The parents of Sarah K. Peterson came to York, Fillmore County, Minnesota, from Numedal, Norway when Sarah was one year old. The parents of Ole J. Gronna came from Hallendal, Norway, when he was just a young boy. Sarah and Ole were married in 1878. They decided to seek their fortune in a new world. They left Minnesota with Ole's brother and wife and started for the territory of South Dakota. In Goodhue County, Minnesota they met the family of Mathias M. Thompson, their son-in-law Thomas Hattlestad, and their daughter Martha, who were a newly married couple. This was in the early spring of 1878. With oxen and horses they crossed the state of Minnesota. By late May they had arrived at their destination in Dueul County. Close to one another they selected their building sites. Sod and stone and hard labor made their first homes. Gronna's homestead was in Section Six. After getting shelter they left for Sioux Falls with an oxen team to file for homestead rights in the Dakota Territory. For a time Ole worked in the granite works at Sioux Falls to get enough money for seed to be used the next spring and also supplies for the winter.
The stormy winter passed and spring came. In the fall when the grain was ripe he hauled some to New Ulm. The money was used for the next winters supplies and seed.
Sarah was lonely when Ole had to leave. One day Ole took his wagon to Lake Poinsett and caught a wagon load of fish. He hauled them to Canby and with the money bought Sarah a clock. The clock is still on the mantle at his daughter's. The clock's ticking relieved some of the loneliness. Sarah always worried that the Indians might come. If she heard the sound of hoof beats she would take the children and run to Grandma Thompson. Grandma Thompson delivered all Sarah's children.
After some time the Gronnas moved to their tree claim on Section four. He planted ash trees, which have survived now for almost a hundred years. Ole's brother Knute found the farming too difficult and sold his claim to Ole, so that is the home place now where Ole built his big beautiful white house. It is so well built that now in the process of restoration they find the insulation and walls stable.
October 1, 1901; Ole was chosen to serve on the "National Farmers Congress" in Sioux Falls.
Disaster and sadness came to this great family. In 1902 the family was stricken with typhoid fever. Some said it was the water but Sarah insisted it was a "carrier" from a farm hand. Father Ole died on October 3, 1902. Two weeks later 15 year old beautiful Clara Annetta also was gone. Sarah almost did not survive. Her wonderful sons Julius, Carl, Albert, Walter, and Oliver, and her daughter Georgie helped her along. Sarah stayed on the farm until 1907, when she moved next door to Georgie and Gilbert's in Toronto. Lili was a baby mostly, sitting under a table through this turmoil. Sarah loved her old neighbors. Often she would hitch up Polly and drive to Estelline.
Lili Gronna graduated from Toronto High School and the Uni- versity of South Dakota in Home Economics and Chemistry. She met Carl Rice who later became a well known and respected breast surgeon. They live in Minneapolis. The Rices have one daughter and several grandchildren. The also own the Gronna homestead and on May 29, 1976 celebrated their 100 years of ownership. The farm has been restored into a lovely weekend retreat for the family.
In 1977 the Gronna Rice residence was part of the Extension annual home tour.
-by Lili Gronna Rice"
Contributor: MAMc (51102268)
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