Mikkel Iversen Bakken

  Research Notes:

Summary: Mikkel Iversen Bakken, 1886-1920, was my 8th cousin, so our family relationship is quite distant. His great-father was John Johnsen Moen, 1822-1912, and his great-great grandfather was John Ingebretsen Moen, 1791-1866. However, John Ingebretsen Moen was my half 1st cousin 5 times removed. The ancestor line is through my 3rd great grandmother ancestor maternal ancestor line - Beret Sofie Mikkelsdatter Midtdal, born in 1830 [she was married to Lars Mikkelson, b 1830].

As indicated in John Midtal's book, "Tufsingdalen ....", Mikkel Iversen Bakken had lived in Montana for awhile. But prior to going to Montana, he had gone to the area around Falun, Alberta, Canada - west of Wetaskiwin. He had obtained a homestead on SE¼ Sec 2-46-27-W4, with a homestead entry on 21 Feb 1906. He received the patent for this homestead quarter in Oct 1909. Note at that time he was single. Also note that in his statement for the patent for the above homestead quarter, Mikkel Iversen Bakken notes he had made 2 other homestead enteries, but he had abandoned both of them. The first abandoned entry was likely in the summer of 1904, and the second abandoned entry was in Nov 1905 - see below for more detail.

From the 1st abandoned homestead entry, we can be certain that Mikkel Bakken was in the Wetaskiwin area as early as the summer of 1904. Note that his cousin [half-4th cousin, once removed] was Ole Olsen Moen, b 1875. Ole Olsen Moen had homesteaded in the Falun/Westerose area east of Wetaskwin, with homestead entry on 21 Mar 1906. Ole Olsen Moen had left Norway in 1903, first going to an uncle of his [Mikkel Olsen Moen] in the Kittson Co, MN area.

When did Mikkel Iversen Bakken first leave Norway and emigrate? This has been a bit difficult to determine, since he had gone back to Norway around 1910 and then he and his wife, Marie, had left Norway in 1913 going to Montana. I continued to search and I then found him recorded on a Passenger List on arriving in New York on 21 Oct 1902 at the age of 17. He was traveling with a group of people from the Tolga parish area, a group of eight. It seems that the most of the group were traveling with Amund A Røsten and his wife, most likely to his farm at Minnehaha Co, South Dakota. Three or four of the group were related to Amund Røsten, where the rest were traveling with him.

From the Passenger List record [previous paragraph], we now know that Mikkel Iversen Bakken first arrived in the US in Oct of 1902. He may have stayed with Amund A Røsten or it is also possible that he went a first cousin, John Olsen Moen [1853-1919]. John Olsen Moen had land in Lien Twp, Roberts Co, South Dakota. John had left Norway in 1874, first going to Sweden and then from there he emigrated to the US in 1882. John O Moen first going to the area in Grant Co, MN south of Fergus Falls and then in the early 1890s he and his family had moved to the northern parts of Roberts Co - this was about 275 kms north of Benton Twp, Minneheha Co, SD [farm of Amund A Røsten].

Given the time frame there was likely little homestead land available in MN, IA, or SD. However, there was likely some homestead land still available in ND and MT in the early 1900s. I'm not sure why Mikkel decided to travel to the areas around Wetaskiwin and Camrose, looking for homestead land, but as indicated above he had taken out a homestead in 1904. Mikkel did have relatives in the area west of Wetaskiwn, Ole Olsen Moen [1875-1960; a half 4th cousin once removed], but Ole's family came to the Westrose/Falun area in 1906.

A research question that I had is: why did Mikkel I Bakken decide to go to the Wetaskwin, Alberta area to seek a homestead? I have prepared a document addressing this question, and have included as a "story" on my Legacy database.

At any rate, Mikkel I Bakken had homesteaded in the Westerose/Falun area east of Wetaskiwn, as had the Ole Olsen Moen family. Ole Olsen Moen's homestead entry was 21 Mar 1906; Mikkel's homestead entry in this area was 21 Feb 1906. And another relative, John Johnsen Moen b 1854 completed a homestead entry only a little to the west of Mikkel's on 13 Feb 1906.





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John Midtdal"Tufsingdalen Gårder og Slekter", 1991; Bakken nordre page 178, 179 ... ..

Sigrid had previously a relationship with: Iver Nilsen Storbekken, born 21/5-1831 [his parents: Nils Semundsen Bakken, baptized 19/10-1804, died after 1865, and Berit Iversdtr. Riseggen, Tynset, b. 1800, d. 31/1-1833].

Mikkel, b. 27 Jan 1886, d. 5 Aug 1920 in Montana, USA, was married on 7 Jan 1913 to Johanne Maria Eriksdtr. Sæther, b. 15 Oct 1888, d. 9 Apr 1961. Mikkel first went alone to the USA and worked there as a farmer and later as a businessman in South Dakota. He returned in 1912, married Johanne Maria and soon after traveled with her to Montana, USA, where they settled in a place known as Capitol [in Carver Co, MT]. After Mikkel died, Johanne Maria moved with the children to Seattle, Washington. See also under Seter north.
Their Children:
1. Nels b. 2 Jul 1914 in Capitol [Carter Co, MT], married on 23 Apr 1949 to Kathryn Townsend, b. 16 May 1914 in Nebraska, (Irish-English descent). Both have High School. Nels has been a construction engineer. He is also a keen hunter and fisherman and is also known as Stor-Nels [or Big Nels]. The family uses Lunde as their surname and resides in Marblemount, Washington.
Nels' children:
1. Nels Eugene, b. 2 Aug 1949, married 7 Jul 1977 to Karen Adair Schwebe, b. 6 Apr 1949 (of German-Dutch descent). Both have
High School, Karen also two years of college. Nels is a carpenter, Karen is employed in a business. The family resides in Sedro
Wolley, Washington. They have no children.
2. Leon, b. 23 Feb 1951 in Barlington, d. 18 Nov 1978
3. Gretchen Marie, b. 16 Jun 1952, was married on 24 Nov 1975 to Marvin Stewart (of Scots-Irish descent), b. 2 Nov 1948. Marvin
previously owned a sawmill, but is now a building carpenter. Gretchen is a hairdresser. The family resides in Marblemount.
Four children.

2. Eivind Aalborg Bakken, b. 27 Aug 1916 in Capitol [Carter Co], Montana. Eivind - or Ivan as he calls himself over there - has high school and a two-year college education. He has mostly worked as a salmon fisherman on the coast of Alaska.
He lives in Marblemount, Washington.
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Geni.com FT https://www.geni.com/people/Mikkel-Iversen-Bakken/6000000004824554839
managed by: Rolf Inge Holden, updated:February 1, 2023
... also includes a photo of him ... wife Joanne Marie ... and sons Nels Lunde and Ivan Lunde

born outside of marriage: Mother Sigrid Nilsdtr Bakken [1865-1946] and father was Iver Nilsen Storbekken from Røros
.... he has a number of half-siblings

Mikkel I Bakken emigration: this is a likely possibility ................... 16 Jun 2025
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7488/records/4002975910?tid=&pid=&queryId=e8d119c2-c05e-431f-9dba-ecb2ed1ca341&_phsrc=QeA421&_phstart=successSource .... image 26 of 92

..... Arrival at New York, 21 Oct 1902, ship Oscar II
line 13, Bakken, Mikkel I [maybe T] , age 17 [1885]; single; from Tolgen;
no US address but traveling with line 18, A Røsten
line 18, 19, A Røsten, age 68, American citizen, Farmer at Minnihaha Co, Dakota Territory
and line 19 is his wife Margrethe, age 63
.. there are a number of people that reference traveling with A Røsten line 18
.. line 10, Anna R Røsten, age 30 - line 18 is an uncle; as is line 12, Martin E lien, age 24
.. lines 15 and 16, Mikkel P Jonasvold, age 50 and wife Gjertrud, age 56 from Røraas


Marriage: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/15933048:60606 ... Røros ...7 Jan 1913
Postmaster at Capital, Carter Co ...15 Jan 1914

Border Crossings from Canada to U.S. [St Albans collection] .... 1913
Mikkel Bakken, age 27, Merchant, last residence in Os, Norway ... father, Engebret Bakken .. going to Bow, Washington
wife ? Maria, age 24, last residence in Os, Norway, her father Erik Eriksen
image 782 out of 1335 images
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1075/images/m1464_209-0782?usePUB=true&_phsrc=JEe144&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=377144 ... Port of Blaine WA.... 1 Apr 1913

Passenger Lists ... arriving at Halifax, NS, Jan 1913
Mikkel Bakken and wife Marie
- he is a Canadian citizen ... in the US for 5.5 years ... going to Vancouver, "returning Canadians" [ancestry records Jewish, but that refers to the person recorded above him]


WW 1 Draft ... registered 14 Sep 1918 ... Capital, Carter County, MT
- birth as 27 Jan 1886,
- if not US citizen, what country ... British (Canada) ... self-employed: Postmaster
contact, Joanne Marie Bakken, Capital, Carter County, MT
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6482/images/005241970_00084?usePUB=true&_phsrc=JEe140&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=1100614

1920 US Census, Carter Co, MT; Ed 0030 School District 27; sheet 2A; dw/fam 7/7; ... enumberated 9, 10, 11 Apr 1920
Mikkel Bakken, age 34, b in Nor; Wd; emigrated 1902; citizen "Al"; retail merchant
son Nils M, age 5 b in MN [1915] ***
son, Eivind A, age 3yrs and 4 months b in MT
https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4313235-01085?usePUB=true&_phsrc=HSa219

** MNHS people search: Nils Bakken, born 2 Jul 1914 Polk Co, MN; mother's maiden, Sather ... Cert 1914-23741

Washington Death Cert: Certificate Number293 ... died 5 Aug 1920, Burlington, Skagit Co, Washington, USA ..

- died at Burlington Hospital
- occupation, Merchant
- born as above
- father Iver Bakken, mother Segird ... both born in Norway
... informant Ole O Moen, Bow, Skagit Co, WA ... burial at Bow
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6716/images/i2284663-03110?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=AoS20&_phstart=successSource&pId=6895213



Findagrave, id 20607320 Mikkel Bakken

Bow Cemetery Bow, Skagit County, Washington, USA .... posted WA Death cert
links to Marie Lunde, and the comment: "Marie Bakken married Thor Lunde on 24 March 1924 ** in Burlington, Skagit County, Washington".
................. Mikkel died 1920

.................................................................................................................................................................
Marie Bakken / Lunde
** WA State Digital .... marriage cert .... witnesses: Ole and Olava Moen ... 24 Mar 1924
https://digitalarchives.wa.gov/DigitalObject/Download/f1518b68-119a-4db5-af08-daf1e27d0fad

.... Mikkel's wife remarried in 1924 .... Marie Bakken / Lunde she died: 9 Apr 1961 at Seattle University Hospital, age 72 .... widow
- born 15 Oct 1888 in Norway
- residence 8316-25 Ave NW, Seattle
- father Erik Sathre; mother Ingeborg
--- informant King Co Coronor case 841
https://digitalarchives.wa.gov/DigitalObject/Download/59a0c1a2-39aa-4f88-b022-29eb7ba3f020

1930 US Census, Tingley Precinct, Skagit Co; ED 0066; 2B; dw/fam 38
Mary Lunde, age 41 b in Nor, widow; dairy farm
son Nels, age 15 b in MN
son Ivan, age 13 b in MT;
note: previous fam, [37] is Anton Sandmel ... fam 2 is Ole O Moen...fam 3 Melkor Moen

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4547531_00786?usePUB=true&_phsrc=AoS21&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=112563273


1940 US Census, Mount Vernon, Skagit Co, WA; ED 29-42; sheet 1B
household number 20 ... household head, Betty John age 77 b in Swe, wid ... her dau Elna, 34
line 48
Marie Lunde, housekeeper age 51 b in Nor, wid; 1 Apr 1935 at Day Creek, Skagit Co
Nels Lunde, housekeepers son, age 26 b in MN; Apr 1935 same as above .. working in mine ?
Ivan Lunde, housekeepers son, age 23 b in Montana; Apr 1935 same as above ..herring factory
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/m-t0627-04357-00582?usePUB=true&_phsrc=AoS21&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=62313904

her second husband: Thor Lunde, died 1927 , b 1883 .... age 44 at death
findagrave: 20607292

son, Nels Mikkel ... used the name Lunde.... died 31 Jan 2003 .... born 2 Jul 1914, Fosston, Polk Co
findagrave 13090894
.... his son, Leon:

Nels ... WW 2 draft: address as Burlington, b 26 Jul 1914 Fosston, MN ... Skagit Co Dairy Association
contact: Herb A Smith, father in law
1950 Census for Nel M Lunde https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62308/images/43290879-Washington-212536-0018?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=66272441


... ..
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Dalby Lutheran Church, Falun, AB .... Swedish Evangelical
image 48, Mikkel I Bakken .... b 27 Jan 1886, Tolga; received 25 Aug 1907 ... arrived in America 1904 and this place 1904
... removed 9 Oct 1909, going to Bowman, S. Dakota**
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554784-00047?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=30259869

** Bowman, SD is in the north western part of the State. But he went back to Norwat


Note: Mikkel Iversen Bakken's grandfather was John Johnsen Moen, b 1822 ... his daughter, Anne b 1845 and then Anne's daughter, Sigrid Nilsdatter Bakken
Note: Mikkel Iversen Bakken was a 5th cousin once removed with Ole Olsen Moen, b 1875

*** Freeway West Mikkel Bakken .............. needs more reviewing ...21 Dec 2024

page 233, image 237 Mikkel Bakken [submitter of information is not recorded]

"The SE¼ - 2 was homesteaded in 1904 by M. Bakken who was born in Norway in 1886. He proved up his homestead before going to North Dakota, USA in 1907" [I think the year should be 1909
... then image 238, re, Chapmans ....'later they purchased the SE¼ Sec 2-46-27-W4 from Mikkel Bakken' ... note, this note doesn't record the year the land was purchased or sold.... ¹⁰¹⁷⁰

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Emigration - 1902, 1902, Olso, Norway. As indicated in the Ancestry collection "New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island)" Mikkel I Bakken arrived in New York on 21 Oct 1902. He was on the ship 'Oscar 2" that departed from Christiana [Olso]. Mikkel was traveling with a group that included Amund A Røsten travelling to Minnehaha County, South Dakota.

Mikkel Iversen Bakken, 1886-1920: 23 Sep 2025, Westerose, Alberta, Canada, Rueben D Grue

Mikkel I Bakken is my 5th half cousin once removed, so our family relationship is a bit distant. Alberta homestead records show that he had taken out a homestead entry in Nov 1904 for an area east of Camrose [Woodglen area]. However, he abandoned this entry and then in Feb 1905 he took out another homestead entry for an area just west of Wetaskwin. He also abandoned this entry. Then on 21 Feb 1906, Mikkel had taken another homestead entry in the Falun/Westerose area east of Wetaskiwin, about 20 kms east of Wetaskwin. At this time, Mikkel was single. He had made improvements on this homestead and in Oct of 1909, he received the patent for the homestead.

With further research, I found that on 21 Oct 1902, Mikkel I Bakken arrived at New York on a ship that left Christinia, Norway. Mikkel was traveling with a group that included Amund A R travelling to Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Amund R was born in Tolga parish and had initially emigrated in 1871, first to MN and then later to SD.

With the above information, a research question that I had is: why did Mikkel I Bakken decide to go to the Wetaskwin, Alberta area to seek a homestead? One explanation is simply a spirit for adventure and exploration. But it is also likely that there was not available homesteads in MN and SD at that time. But why Alberta? To answer this, I started to think about the 'fan theory' in genealogy research, that is, look at other relatives or people that had gone to the Wetaskwin area in the early 1900s. Note that although there are a number of relatives in area, I am not certain if they knew each other in Norway or even if they were aware that they were cousins.

There are actually a number of possibilities. I will discuss each starting with those individuals or families in South Dakota, and then if there are any in Minnesota.

One: Berit Olsdatter and Jorgen Elgaaen

The most likely people that Mikkel spoke to or met was the Jorgen Elgaaen family. Jorgen's wife was Berit Olsdatter [b 1833] - she was a 5th cousin, 2 times removed to Mikkel I Bakken. Jorgen and Berit had left the Elg area in southern R parish in 1885. Jorgen Elgaaen brother, Rasmus, had gone to the Minnehaha Co, South Dakota in 1882, and most likely Jorgen first went to his brother's place. Jorgen ended up farming in Svedrup Twp in Minnehaha Co. Jorgen and Berit's eldest son, Oliver and likely some other single men in the area [Martin Lillebo and Thosten Thompson] likely discussed the possibility of homestead land in Canada. It is very likely that Mikkel Bakken also had this discussion.

What we know is that Jorgen and Berit Elgaaen had arrived in Alberta in 1903 or the fall of 1902, and that for a couple of years they lived/farmed just north of what is now known as Gwynne. We also know that Oliver Elgaaen had taken out a homestead entry on 7 Nov 1902 for land east of Vegreville, but his address was recorded as Wetaskwin. In July of 1903, Oliver abandoned this homestead entry. Oliver, along with Martin Lillebo and Thosten Thompson, took out homestead entries on 29 May 1905 for the Pleasington area, north east of Forestburg, Alberta [Jorgen and Berit also took out a homestead, with entry in Jun 1906.

Is it possible that Mikkel I Bakken had come to Alberta as early as the fall of 1902, along with Oliver Elgaaen? This a possibility, but the earliest record we have of Mikkel in Alberta is Nov 1904, 2 years later. Even if Mikkel hadn't accompanied Oliver Elgaaen, he likely first went to the Elgaaen's who were at the time living just north of Gwynne, near the lake shore with what is now known as Coal Lake.

Two: John Olsen Moen, b 1853

John Olsen Moen was a 1st cousin, twice removed to Mikkel I Bakken. John O Moen had lived for a while in Idre parish in Sweden and then later at T parish in Jamtland, Sweden. From T parish he left for North America in 1882. He first had gone to Morris, MN and then later to the area around Hoff, Grant Co MN. It was here that he was married. John O Moen and family left MN and moved Lien Twp in the northern part of Roberts Co, South Dakota. This area is more than 250 kms north of Lyons or Svedrup Twps in Minnehaha Co, South Dakota.

I do not have any information that Mikkel I Bakken had been in contact with this John O Moen family. It is possible, but I haven't found any evidence that they knew year other.


Three: Ole Olsen Moen, born 1875

Ole Olsen Moen was half 4th cousin once removed to Mikkel I Bakken. Ole's family came to the Westrose/Falun area in 1906. Ole Olsen Moen had left Norway in 1903 and went to an uncle Mikkel Olsen Moen [b 1848] who lived in the Kittson Co, MN area. It is possible that Mikkel I Bakken had gone to the Kittson Co area and from there to Alberta. It is possible that Mikkel I Bakken had gone to 'scout out' the area in Alberta.

Four: Berit Sophie Larsdtr Mikkelson [1832-1952] married to Thore S Grue.

One of Mikkel's closest relatives was my great grandmother, Berit Sophie Larsdtr Mikkelson [1832-1952] who was married to Thore S Grue. Mikkel and Berit were half-third cousins twice removed. Berit Sophie had emigrated with her family [Lars Mikkelson, b 1830] in 1870. The Lars Mikkelson family first lived for a few months in Otter Tail Co, and in the spring of 1871, they moved to their homestead Elgon Twp, Clay Co, around 15 kms south west of the town of Lake Park. Berit Sofie Larsdatter married by great grandfather Thore S Grue in 1881. Thore had first homesteaded in Tordenskjold Twp in Otter Tail Co, MN and then in the early 1880s he had bought land Stony Brook Twp in Grant Co, MN. In 1894, Thore and Berit and family emigrated to the area around Armena, Alberta.

It is possible that Mikkel I Bakken had been in contact with Thore and Berit. However, I do have any evidence that Mikkel had gone to the Armena area. I have not heard from any of my family members that Berit had known Mikkel Bakken, or the Ole Olsen family or the Jacob Elaagen family.

Final revision by Rueben D Grue, 23 Sep 2025. All rights reserved.

Mikkel married Johanne Marie Sater on 7 Jan 1913 in Røros, Sør Trondelag, Norway.¹⁰¹⁶⁶ (Johanne Marie Sater was born on 15 Oct 1888 in Tolga, Hedmark, Norway and died in 1961 in Seattle, King Co, Washingon, United States.)