Mikkel Olsen Moen

  Research Notes:

Summary:

Mikkel is my 1st cousin 3 times removed. Mikkel's mother, Benedikte Mikkelsdatter Midtdal [1882-1898] was a sister to my 2nd great-grandmother, Beret Sofie Mikkelsdatter Midtdal [1832-1899] - Beret Sofie was married to Lars Mikkelson, 1830-1922 and their daughter was my great grandmother, Berit Sophie Larsdtr Midtdal [1861-1952]. Mikkel and my great-grandparents, Thore Simensen Grue [1853-1932] and Berit Sophie Larsdtr Midtdal were of the same generation.

Mikkel was born on 2 Jun 1848 at the farm Midtdalen in Tufsingdalen in Tolga Parish, Norway. His parents moved a few times, first to Moen and then to the farm Øybakken. In the 1865 Norway Census, Mikkel Olsen is likely working on the farm Sæter/Seter Nordre at age 18.

In 1870, Mikkel Olsen Moen left Tolga parish for America. As indicated below [points 1 and 4], Mikkel traveled with Eli Marie Jensdatter and their son, Jens. However, Mikkel and Eli Marie were not married when they left Norway, but were married in Apr 1871 in Winneshiek Co, IA.

Mikkel O Moen and family lived in or near McGregor, Clayton Co, Iowa area, until 1879. On 5 May 1879, Mikkel had made an initial payment on his homestead quarter - SE¼ of Sec 30, Twp 161N and Range 48W of the 5th. He made his final payment on 10 May 1884 and a patent was issued on 15 Aug 1884. Mikkel's homestead quarter was in Thompson Twp, Kittson Co, Minnesota.

It is not clear how Mikkel and his family traveled from northeastern Iowa to northwestern Minnesota, by way of Fargo, North Dakota. It seems that the most direct route would be to take a steamboat from McGregor, IA up the Missississippi to St Paul MN. From St Paul, they may have taken a train on the St Paul and Pacific Railroad main line to Breckenridge, MN/Wahpeton, ND [the railroad had reached Breckenridge by 1870] and then likely by 1879 a steamboat on the Red River to Fargo.

An alternate route may be gone from St Paul MN on a Branch Line of the St Paul and Pacific Railroad north to Brainerd MN, and it appears that this line had reached Brainerd as early as 1877. It then joined the Great Northern Railway [that started at Duluth] and then westward to Fargo. The Great Northern reached Fargo in 1872. I have not conducted a significant amount research on the various railroads. But apparently there was a railway, St. Paul,Minneapolis, and Manitoba railroad, and the first train arrived at St Vincent in 1878. However, it is not clear if there was a passenger service this early.

From the newspaper article regarding Mikkel and Eli Marie/Mary's 60th wedding anniversary, it is noted that they had taken a steamboat on the Red River at Fargo. The steamboat was named the "International" and it plied the Red River from Fargo to Fort Garry in Manitoba. The article further notes that the Mikkel and family disembarked at the junction of the Red River and Two Rivers. The article says that Mikkel was impressed by the land, its timber along the banks of the rivers and the prairie landscape. Two Rivers had its origins in the Lake of The Woods region and flowed mostly in a westerly direction until it's confluence with the Red River. The article also says that near the mouth of Two Rivers was Andrew Jerome's landing.

Andrew Jerome / André Jerome was a Metis born near Fort Garry in Manitoba. He had been a scout and for a time he was involved in the Red River Rebillion with Louis Reil. André Jerome came to the confluence of Two Rivers and Red River in May 1872, and he is thought to have been the first homesteader in Kittson Co, MN. Note, that I have researched him somewhat and created a text document [My PC ... gen resources ... misc families].

After landing at André Jerome's place, Mikkel and his family [with 4 young children] organized themselves to go and find a homestead. There are no direct articles that mention the trip to the homestead land, just south of the current town of Hallock in Kittson Co [a distance of about 2 kms from Hallock]. It seems reasonable that Mikkel had some type of land guide, possibly one of André Jerome's sons [Jerome was a known scout and guide]. At the very least he must have received some directions and some suggestions for good homestead/farm land. It seems reasonable that the family followed the banks of Two Rivers scouting for suitable land and after about 20 kms of travel, Mikkel choose the land south of Hallock in Thompson Twp. Mikkel is recorded making the initial on his homestead quarter [see point 7] on 5 May 1879. From what I understand Mikkel would have had to appear before a government "Land Agent" and complete paperwork including a signed affidavit, as well as the "administrative paymment of $10".

Mikkel and his family likely walked back to the André Jerome's place. Remember that in 1879, Betsy was the oldest child, and she would have been about 7 years old and Tilda, the youngest was only 1 year old. It is unlikely Mikkel would have left his family at the homestead. At André Jerome's place, Mikkel [and maybe the family] likely took a steamboat south, possibly to Grand Forks, ND and then walked to Crookson and the land office, a distance of about 40 kms [there may have been some type of navigation on the Red Lake River from Grand Forks to Crookson, but I do not know. Note Mikkel's payment was made on 5 May 1879, and so this means, that he and his family would have traveled to the homestead as early as April 1879, in the spring of the year.

On one account [see point 7.b], Mikkel had met with a person named Nils Paulson in Fargo. Apparently, they agreed that Mikkel would also find Nils Paulson a suitable homestead. This account also indicates that in the fall of 1879, Nils Paulson and Mikkel travelled to the homestead and began cutting logs with and made board lumber witht a 'whip-saw'. Traveling in the fall is not likely accurate. It makes more sense that Mikkel had gone back with his family to the homestead in later May and then spent the summer cutting logs and working on building the log cabin on the homestead. Then, as now, the winter weather could be brutal. As I have indicated, it is not clear what supplies and livestock Mikkel and Eli Marie had brought with them to the hometead. It is possible that they were able to get supplies at Grand Forks [a number steamboats stopped there in the 1870s]. This source [The Compendium] was published in 1902 and it reports that the family still lived in the log house in early 1900. The 1901 Plat of Thompson Twp [Kittson Co Museum facebook page] show the house building on the SE¼ close to the north east corner of the quarter. The homestead was about 2 kms south of the town of Hallock and around 10 kms east of the Red River. The homestead farm was only about 20 kms from the US - Canada border. The family purchased the adjacent quarters so by 1912 or possibly earlier, the farmstead included a total of 520 acres [see point 7].

Mikkel is recorded as a carpenter in the 1880 US Census, and then as a farmer in the subsequent census records as a farmer [1900 - 1930]. He took interest in the early affairs of his township and assisted in its organization, and he also served on the first township board. Mikkel and Eli Maria likely lived on the homestead until they died. Mikkel died on 17 Mar 1932 he died at the age of 83. Eli Marie, also known as Ellen Mary, died a little more than 3 years later on 27 Nov 1935. They are both buried at the Bethlehem Cemetery in Thompson Twp, Kittson Co.



Modified Descendant

Mikkel Olsen, b 1848 Tolga, Hedmark, Norway, d. 17 Mar 1932 in Kittson Co, MN. 10 Children
married: 10 Apr 1871, Winneshiek Co, IA
Eli Marie Jensdatter Narjord, b 1844 Tolga, Hedmark, Norway, d. 27 Nov 1935 Kittson Co, MN

Children:

1. Jens Mikkelsen Moen, b 1869 Nor, d. bet 1870-1871, IA
2. Betsy, b 1871 IA, d. 1896. Kittson Co. MN. m. 1889, Andrew Palmgren, 1865-1918.4 children
3. Ole Michael Mikkelsen, b 1873 in IA, d. 1955, Kittson Co, MN*
4. James Mikkelsen, b 1876 in IA, d. 30 Sep 1932, Kittson Co, MN. no children
5. Mathilda "Tilda", b 1878, IA, died 1962 Kittson, Co MN. m. 1885, Lorentz "Louis" Lorentzen, 1866-192212 children
6. Ada Manda, b 1881, Kittson Co, MN; d. Stanislaus Co, California. 10 children
m. 1900, Sven Persson Wakefield, b 1867, Swe, d. 1946 Stanislaus Co, California
7. Henrietta "Ettie", b 1882 Kittson Co, MN, d. 1977, Kittson Co, MN. m. 1901, William Albert Muir, 1872-19569 children
8. John Martin, b Jun 1884 Kittson Co, MN; d. 25 Dec 1886, Kittson Co, MN. no children
9. Hans Olaus, b 1886 Kittson Co, MN, d. 1975, Kittson Co, MN. m. 21 Nov 1912 Tilda Hanson, 1895-1988 4 children
10. Caroline, b 1888, Kittson Co, MN, d. 1975, Stanislaus Co, California. 1 child
m. 11 Nov 1908, Drayton, North Dakota, Eldon Rice Kemmerer, 1886-1974

* the Ancestry Family Trees all note that he was married. One of his children was born in 1905 in WI and a church record records the child's parents as Ole Moen and Emma. However, all the census records [US Fed and MN State] record that Ole was "single" and lived in Kittson Co. So, Ole Moen recorded in the WI church record is a "different person that named Ole Moen", and it is most likely that 'our' Ole Moen was not married or had a relationship or had 2 children.

*** Archivdigital: Hallock Two River Lutheran Church, vol 1 ..... Swedish ... this is the only Church record I have found
.
image 6, page 2 ... birth/baptism: 1886, no 9 ... Hans Olaus, b 28 Aug 1886, bap 14 Nov , Mikkel og Eli Maria Moen
image 17, page 34 ... confirmation: 25 Sep 1887 ... Betsy Moen, age 16 ... Mikkel og Eli Mari Moen
image 25, page 57 ... jordfested [funeral]: Johan Martin Moen, died 25 Dec 1887, funeral 29 Dec; 2 years old, Two River
image 29, page 65 ... name register ?? .... 1886 ... Mik. Moen og hustra
https://app.arkivdigital.se/volume-collections/5950?country=4&search=true&us_state=68&volume_id=876417

.. I have reviewed Norwegian Lutheran Church records for that area, but none have any mention of Mikkel Moen or his family members ... 4 Dec 2024 - when I obtained the history of Bethlehem Lutheran Church from the Hallock Public Library, I reviewed the churches under the Drayton parish, but no mention of Mikkel Moen. It should be noted that the church records were limited in births/marriages/funerals.

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Miscellanous notes:

Posts from Neil Lorentzen Family Tree on Ancestry. Also: Lloyd Wakefield and Rice Wakefield ...................16 Nov 2024
50th anniversary ..... no new information
60th anniversary ... new information:
They came here from Fargo, D. T. in 1877 when they took passage on the old packet "International" which at that time enjoyed the reputation of the "floating palace" of a fleet of a dozen or more steamers plying the Red River From its head waters to Fort Garry now Winnipeg, Man.
As they journeyed down stream the east and west banks of the Red, fringed with an abundant growth of heavy timber and relieved by an occasional expanse of prairie land passed before them like a panorama, and when they reached the junction of the Red and Two Rivers ... they disembarked at Andrew Jerome's old landing, and latter "squatted" on a homestead up the river, which is their present home.

.... steamer: https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/steamboats/international.shtml
.. .. junction: about 20 kms west and north of Hallock - Two Rivers meanders a bit. A current google earth view from Sep 2016 [google satelite view on google maps has the same view and gives copywrite as 2024, but no date for the image] shows fewer clumps of trees etc at the junction, but then as you move east along Two Rivers, increased trees

https://hallockmn.org/historical-sites/ Hallock, MN
"The Andre Jerome homestead was a trading post and steamboat landing and the jumping-off place for those settlers, fur traders and hunters coming down the Red River. Jerome directed these people to places where they could hunt, trap, work farms and build homes."

... MN early railway map .... but no dates .... https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4140.rr002410/?r=0.092,0.664,0.403,0.172,0
.. Breckenrigde and north ... https://www.abandonedrails.com/breckenridge-to-beltrami
... a branch from Breckenridge north to Barnesville by 1877. Barnesville is about less than 20 south of Moorehead/Fargo
BUT from a brief history of St Vincent, MN [across the Red River was Pembina, ND ...
"... In the year 1878, on November 11, Hill's dream was realized. He had the satisfaction of seeing his first locomotive arrive at Emerson, Manitoba from St. Paul".
.. https://sites.rootsweb.com/~mnrrvn/Essay-St.Vincent-Ghost.html

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1. Bgyebok for Os, Vol 3, page 280 ... farm Øybakken

Ole Olsen b 1817 on Ytre Moen and died 1906. Married 1845 to Benedikte Mikkelsdatter b 1822 at Tufsingdalen, Larsgarden. Died 1898. At baptisms, they are mentioned at Midtdalen 1844-48 or at Moen 1852-60. Ole is a householder without land in 1865 and with land in 1875

Mikkel, b 1848 .... left for America, 1870 .... Se Nedi Myren, 113-3 [nedi=down; so lower Myren?] ... Bygebok for Os, Vol 2, page 389
... 1848-1889

Eli Maria, b 1848 [her father Jens Hanssen** b 1820 on Narjordet Sønvisgarden, and he died 1904. Jens was married in 1848 to
Tyri Olsdatter, b 1821 on Yter Os, died 1905]

Eli Maria left for America in 1870 with Mikkel Olssen Moen, b 1848 at Øybakken, Tufsingdalen, and her son Jens b 1869*. Eli Maria and Mikkel Olssen were married in America.

Norway Parish records: Tolga parish, no. 6 /1852 - 1876, births/baptisms, page 107, no 92.
Jens, b 8 Nov 1869 .. Ugate [born outside of marriage] ... parents, Ellen Maria Jensdatter, Myren and Mikkel Olsen Moen

2. ** Jens Hanssen b 1820, aka Jens Hanssen Narjord ... See ...........Jens Hanssen Narjord research notes page
John Midtdal's book, Tufsingdalen ... p 349-350 ... bottom of page 349, under Midtdal søndre ..... Jens' wife, Marit
.... Marit, b 1794, d. 1859 [her father Ingul Eriksen Midtdal]
Marit married on 7 Apr 1817 to Hans Pedersen Narjord, 1794-1880. Hans Pedersen's parents were:
Peder Jensen Narjord b 1758, d. 1830 and he was married to:
Sigrid Jonsdtr Grue, b 1763, d. 1824 - her father Jon Simensen Grue, 1729-1807
. .. Peder J Narjord and Sigrid J Grue were farmers on Sundvisgarden, Narjordet ...

Marit Ingulfsdatter b 1817 and Hans Pedersen Narjord, born 1794
and their children are recorded on page 350 ...... RE 2nd child:
Jens [Hansen Narjord], b 21 Apr 1820, m. 27 Apr 1848 to Tyri Olsdatter, Ytre Os, b 13 Jul 1821
...... and they became farmers at Myren Nordre in Os see Bygebok for Os

NOTE: John Midtdal' book doesn't mention more information on Jens Hansen Narjord or his father Hans Persen Narjord ....
.... but see Bygebok for Os for information on farm Sundvisgarden, Narjordet and information on Narjord families


3. 1865 Norway Census Sæter nordre farm [1865 Matrikel, bnr. 202]
.... family of Esten Eriksen, age 35** and his wife Joanne Olsdatter, age 35
Mikkel Olsen, age 18, as a farm worker
** [one of their sons was Peder Estensen, b 1864 - Peder married my 1st cousin, 3 times removed, Lisbeth Maria Mortensdtr Elgaaen. Lisbeth's mother was Berit Lucie Mikkelsdatter Midtdal, a sister to my 2nd great-grandmother, Beret Sofie Mikkelsdatter Midtdal [1832-1899]. In fact the next family on the same page [1865 Matrikel, bnr. 203] at the farm Midtdal Søndre is my 3rd great grandfather, Mikkel Larsen Midtdal age 73, 1793-1877.]
AND on the next page is Mikkel Olsen's parents and his sibllings

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61753/images/ft20090722610559?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=JEe224&_phstart=successSource&pId=361050
[image 89 out of 152]

4. Emigration

Norway Parish Records: Tolga moving-out no. 6 /1852 - 1876, page 343, no 38, 39 ... 29 Mar 1870 ... Eli Maria and son Jens
BUT Mikkel Olsen Moen is not listed.... BUT see below

and, Norway, Emigration Records, 1867-1960, 1870 ...1867-1870 ... image 71 of 91 images ... lines, 83-85
Mikkel O Moen, age 22 ... going to McGregor, IA [across the Mississippi from Prarie de Chin WI]
Ellen Maria Myren, age 24
her son, Jens

https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/61757/records/726270?tid=&pid=&queryid=3e976e39-348a-49d8-a839-ac5ecd7d3545&_phsrc=HSa120&_phstart=successSource

Canadian Passenger Lists Library and Archives Canada, image 4 and image 14
... arrived at the Port of Quebec, Quebec, Canada on 1 May 1870

https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/passenger-lists/passenger-lists-1865-1922/Pages/image.aspx?Image=e003533025&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fcentral.bac-lac.gc.ca%2f.item%2f%3fid%3de003533025%26op%3dimg%26app%3dpassengerlist&Ecopy=e003533025

Mikkel Olsen Moen is recorded as M Olsen, age 25 on image 14 but he is not recorded with Eli Maria Jensdatter Myren, and Jens Moen, infant on image 4 ...... I do not know why they are recorded differently.

** Mikkel Olsen Moen and my 2nd great grandparents, Lars and Berit Sophie Mikkelson and 5 of their children were on the same ship and arriving at the same time.

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US Records:

5. Big Canoe Lutheran Church, Winneshiek Co, IA ..... Marriage, 10 Apr 1871 ....
Mikkel Olsen [Moen], age 23 ... parents Ole Olsen and Benedik Mikkelsdatter
and Eli Marie Jensdatter, age 25 ... parents Jens Hansen and Tyri Olsdatter
no witness recorded
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60722/images/41742_314972-00618?pId=644223


6. 1880 US Census, Kittson Co, MN; ED 215, page 6; dw/fam 43/45 [ ... Thompson Twp is just east of the town of Hallock ...
Hallock is about 20 kms from Pembina and the US Canadian border]

Michael Moen, age 33 b in Nor; carpentry
wife Mary, age 35 b in Nor
dau, Betty age 9 b in IA [all children b in IA]
son, Ola age 6
son James age 4
dau Lilley age 2 [b 1878 ... must be Tilda]
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4241994-00576?pId=32817819

1895 MN State Census, Thompson Twp, Kittson Co, MN; family 54, page 7
Michael Olsen Moen, age 47
Ellen Mary age 49
Ole Moen, age 21
James Moen, age 19
Tilda Moen, age 17
Ada Monda Moen, age 14
Henrietta Moen, age 13
Hans Olaus Moen, age 8
Carolina Moen, age 7
Lorntz C Lorntzen, age 7

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DZJW-HQ7?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMQ63-MXX&action=view&cc=1503031


1900 US Census Tompson Twp, Kittson Co, MN ED 0091; sheet 4A; dw/fam 62/62 [line 19]
Mickle Moen, b Jun 1848 in Nor, age 51; married 29 years; farmer
wife Ellen M, b Dec 1845 in Nor, age 29; mother of 10 children, 7 living
son Ole, b Dec 1873 in Iowa, age 25
son James, b Feb 1876 in Iowa, age 24
son Hans, b Aug 1886 in MN, age 13
dau, Carolina, b Oct 1888 in MN, age 11

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4120288_00497?pId=26610311

note: Daughter Betsy was married in 1889 in Kittson Co

1910 US Census Tompson Twp, Kittson Co, MN ED 0086; sheet 7B; dw/fam 99/102 [line 75]
Mickle Moen, b Jun 1848 in Nor, age 62; married 39 years; farmer
wife Ellen M, b Dec 1845 in Nor, age 64; mother of 10 children, 7 living
son Ole, b Dec 1873 in Iowa, age 37, single
son James, b Feb 1876 in Iowa, age 34, single
son Hans, b Aug 1886 in MN, age 24
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4330233-00237?pId=13170574

1930 US Census, Thompson Twp, Kittson Co, MN; ED 0036; sheet 1A; dw/fam 9/9
Michael Moen, age 81 b in Nor; em 1870; retired carpenter
wife Elin M, age 84 b in Nor
son, James M Moen, age 54 b in IA; single; famer

Note: on the same page as above, dw/fam 8 is:
Hans O Moen, age 43 b in MN, married at age 26; farming
wife, Tilda, age 3 b in MN, married at age 18
daughter, Margeline [Elvera] Moen, age 16, b in MN
daughter, June A, age 12 b in MN
son, Robert H, age 3 b in MN
and then,
brother, Ole M Moen, age 56 b in Iowa; single; carpenter, home ... in 1940, single living with Hans ...
... 1950 census, Ole M Moen, age 77 living at a "old peoples resthome" in Hallock
** note that some of the family trees have him married and living in WI... but this is a different person

Note: on the same page, dw/fam 2
William A Muir, age 57 b in Canada, married at age 29; farming
wife Henrietta, age 47 b in MN, married age 19
dau Annie M, age 25 ... all children born in MN; cook private home
son Eldon J, age 23; labor farm
son Albert W, age 17
dau Nellie D, age 15
dau Ruby C, age 12
dau Loiuise E, age 10


https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4610057_00586?pId=79234560

7. Homestead Land: SE¼ Sec 30, Twp 161N, Range 48W, 5th .. Thompson Twp, Kittson Co, Minnesota
.. BLO - GLO records [GLO = General Land Office]
.. US Track Books on FamilySearch .... Vol 19 image 161
.. name Michael Olson ... 5 May 1879 ... final 10 May 1884 .... Patent issued: 15 Aug 1884

NOTE: based on 1912 Platt, Michael O Moen and family had owned a substantial amount of land for that time frame: 520 acres

Indexed land ownership plat books on Ancestry, Kittson Co, MN Plat, 1912
... image 28 ... S½ of Sec 30, Thompson Twp ... M Olson and M J and O J Moen, 240 acres ... a portion of the SW quarter is bisected by the Great Northern Railway .... so other land must have been purchased by Mikkel
AND ... the NE¼ of Sec 30 in the name of Ellen M Olson, 160 acres
... AND image 33, E½ ofNE¼ of Sec 25 [80 acres] and SW¼ ofSE¼ of Sec 25 [40 acres] of Hallock Twp [161N and 49W]
Ellen M Olson*
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1127/images/31617_072135-00370?usePUB=true&_phsrc=Nde118

...note, the E½ ofSE¼ and the NE¼ ofSE¼ of Sec 25 was owned by N. A. Nelson and his wife Betsy Nelson . ... a review of 1910 US census, along with a Swedish Lutheran record in Turlock, California records: N A Nelson, b 16 Nov 1862 in Ahus parish, Sweden and his wife known as Betsy b 2 Oct 1861 in Swe .... they were received in the California church in 1917. They must of sold their land and it is possible that Michael OIsen Moen or members of the family purchases may have purchased this land - But I have no evidence of this
... note there is no record of any homestead on Sec 25 of Hallock Twp on BLO-GLO records

7. b.
Compendium of history and biography of Northern Minnesota, by George A Olge, 1902
https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/320905/?offset=&return=1#page=1&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=
- image 331, 332 ... page 379, 380 ... See my transcription doc ... in Mikkel's folder on My PC


8. Membership lists ... First Lutheran Evangelical Norweigan Church, McGregor, IA [Clayton Co] Hauges Norsk Evangelical
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60722/images/41742_315072-00077?pId=150301445

image 41: the English translation noted on the Neil Lorentzen FT ... on Mikkel's page, go to Galley and Neil has posted a page from the church record and then the following:

Mikkel Olsen Moen, born on the 2nd of June 1848. Baptized on 2nd of July same year. Confirmed in 1864. His wife Eli Maria Jensdatter was born on the 8th of December 1845. Baptized on the 26th same month. Confirmed on the 10th of November 1861. Emigrated in 1870. Their children are as follows:

1. Daughter Betsy born on …. [født den = gave birth to]
2. Son Ole born on the …….. [født den = gave birth to]
3. Son James born on the 3rd of February 1846. Baptized on the 23rd of April same year.
4. Daughter Tilda, born on the 26th of March 1878. Baptized on the 25th of April same year. Departured for Minnesota 1870.
** no dates are recorded for Betsy or Ole, but the ancestry FTs record Betsy / Betty as 9 Sept 1871 and Ole's birth as 19 Dec 1873, both at Clayton Co. It is not clear the source of their birth for Betsy, possibly from the grave marker for her with that but for Ole there is a "delayed birth return" with the above date at McGregor Clatyon Co IA.

8. b. Kittson Co, MN Bethlehem Lutheran Church ... Norwegian Evangelical
... about 5 kms to the east of Mikkel's homestead on the NE¼ of Sec 23 ... also the location of the Cemetery
... It is not clear how active Mikkel was in the church activities but most likely he and the family were at least active.
... I have not found very much information on the history of the church .. apparenty there is a history of the church written on page 474 in the 1976 Kittson County history book, "Our Northwest Corner: Histories of Kittson County, Minnesota, Volume 2. 1976". And, "Kittson County History", 1979.*

Combining the 2 sources - Our Northwest, 1976 and Kittson Co History, 1979 ... following timeline for Bethlehem Lutheran Church
1892 - congregation founded and had purchased land for a cemetery and future church on NE corner of the NE¼ Sec 23
1898 - consitution ... first aligned with Eidsvold Lutheran at Halma [south east of Bethlehem]
1899 - church built, with front facing north ... cemetery approved by MN State
1901 - aligned with Skjeberg congregation in Teinen Twp [just north and east of Drayton, ND]
1913 - church destroyed by tornado
1914 - church rebuilt, facing east
1926 - start of English, previously in Norwegian
1948, 1949 - part of the Drayton parish, along with Kennedy, Donaldson, Skjeberg
1949 - disbanded ... members either to First Lutheran north east of Lancaster or Two Rivers in Hallock
.. church building sold to First Lutheran ..
1971 ... congregation disolved

BUT starting with Olaf M Norlie's book on Norwegian Congregations**, Bethlehem was at first a part of Two River congregration at Hallock which was a Swedish American Lutheran Church, established between 1883 and 1885 *** But in 1898 the Norwegians split and formed Bethlehem Norwegian Evangelican Church and initially the services were in Norwegian. Apparently, the Bethlehem congregation disbanded in 1971.

However, if you look at the 1912 Plat and also on the 1901 Plat there are a number of Churches noted, BUT the name of the church is not recorded. On both Plats, a church and cemetery is recorded on the SW¼ of Sec 23, near the road allowance. After considerable research, I have found that this is the Two River Lutheran Church and cemetery - it is alongside "County Road 22" or 240 St and east of the junction of Co Rd and 290 Ave. And according to the photos posted on Findagrave, it was the former site of the Two River Lutheran Church [see street view on Google Maps]. This area was closest to Mikkel and Eli Marie's homestead.

As indicated above, the Two River Lutheran Swedish congregation split in 1898, and the Norwegians formed Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The site of the Bethlehem Cemetry is only about 1.8 kms from Two River, at the junction of 290 St and 250 Ave, and is located on the northeast corner of the NE¼ of Section 23 [2497-290 Ave]. The photos posted on Findagrave show a "church bell" - one photo was posted in Apr 2007, another in May 2008, and another on May 2013. Viewing Google Earth in Nov 2024, it appears the that bell has been removed [note that there is no street view on Google Maps]

* note that the book has not been posted online. It is available at the Hallock Public Library in Hallock, MN ... I have to emailed the Northwest Regional Library in Thief River Falls, MN .... email sent to the Hallock library, 24 Nov 2024 at 9:10
.. received the scanned pages, 4 Dec 2024 .. see Mikkel's folder ... the submission for Mikkel O Moen's family is quite short and appears to be, in part, from the text of the Compendium ... Northern MN [see point 7.b] ... nothing new
- but the photo of the family [late 1890s] is clearer than the one posted on the FTs

** also sent me additional page about the Bethlehem Lutheran Church from the book, Kitson County History, by the Kittson County Historical Society, 1979. Josten/American Yearbook Company. Topeka, Kansas [some references this as the Gold or Yellow book]
- this combined from the 'red book' gives more information.
** Norlie's book, image/page 783 ... https://archive.org/details/norsklutherskemevol1norl/page/783/mode/1up?view=theater


Bethlehem, Thompson Twp, Kittson Co, MN .... established 1891

250th St .... NE1/4, Sec 23Township- Range T161N - R 48W
Driving Directions:
from Hallock go 1 mile south on Hwy. 75 - turn left on Cty. 22 (240th St.) for 5 miles - turn left (north) on 290th Ave for 1 mile - cemetery is on your left
Notes:
The cemetery is mowed and has a sign. The church is gone. History of Bethlehem Lutheran Church on page 474 in the 1976 Kittson County history book, "Our Northwest Corner". Apparently the congregation disbanded in 1971. The was moved to the museum at Bronson, Kittson Co.

above from: http://www.mngs2.org/research/cemetery_records/kittson.html
[control F .... Bethlehem Lutheran Church]
** alternative name: Two Rivers Cemetery

...a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran church .... worship services at the Bethlehem church were conducted in the Norwegian language


It is not clear how active Mikkel and his family was with the church.
---------------------------------



9. Ancestry Family Trees [FTs] ..... there are a number with a many sources noted and photos
[about 71 FTs, but many minimal info]
https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/42/?name=Mikkel+Olsen_Moen&birth=1848_tolga-hedmark-norway_1056095&birth_x=1-0-0&count=50&defaultFacets=PRIMARY_YEAR.PRIMARY_NPLACE&residence=_iowa-usa_18&searchMode=advanced

Lloyd Wakefield FT [diannaigeyer]; access, 6 Nov 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/118550980/person/280171630774/facts
- comment:
"Left from Tronheim, Norway, to Liverpool, Quebec, Canada , then took a train through Canada to Milwaukee then to Chicago. took a boat up the Mississippi River to McGregor, Iowa*. two Uncles and an Aunt lived there. Andrew Langen and Arnie and Carrie Allen."
- has some more recent photos of the Øybakken farm etc

note: the town of McGregor is in Clayton Co, IA

Neil Lorentzen FT [Neil Lorentzen]; access, 6 Nov 2024 ... possibly most detailed
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/74421670/person/320184139002/facts
- number of photos .... I have downloaded some of them .. on "his gallery and hers" ..... Hallock Moens [individuals labelled]
- records 10 children

Ludvigsen FT [LenaDiMarco]; access, 6 Nov 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/68766618/person/300175140349/facts

Note: some Ancestry FTs records Mikkel's name as: Mikkel Olsen Øilbakken [but actually it should be Øybakken ... name of farm]
for example

Rice Wakefield 2008-2007, auto-backup FT [Richard Rice31] access, 6 Nov 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/113134271/person/290111135980/facts
... this FT has posted a couple of newspaper articles, but the images are of poor quality. I have attempted a transcription - see Mikkel's folder




FamilySearch FT ..... M9Y5-GLQ .... doesn't add anything new .... and general sources from FamilySearch - nothing new

Also: Geni.com FT, https://www.geni.com/people/Bernt-Moen/6000000007329467444
managed by Rolf Inge Holden, last Updated:April 27, 2022 [previously managed by John Midtdal]
... has a single photo of Bernt Olsen Moen, posted by John Midtdal and from his photo album February 11, 2010
AND a photo of Mikkel Olsen Moen ^{10172,10174,10175,10176}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Emigration, 1870, 8 Apr 1870, Tolga, Hedmark, Norway. ^10177,10178 Mikkel O Moen, Ellen Jensdatter Myren, and her son Jens leaving Tolga parish, Hedmark for North America. Leaving from Tronheim. They arrived at the Port of Quebec, Quebec, Canada on 1 May 1870

2. Land, 1912, 1912, Kittson Co, Minnesota, United States. ^{10179,10180,10181} Homestead quarter: entry 5 May 1879 .... patent issued on 15 Aug 1884
Land purchased between 1879 and 1912
Tompson Township: NE¼ of Sec 30; SW¼ of Sec 30
Hallock Township: E½ of NE¼; SW¼ of the SW¼ of Sec 25

Mikkel married Eli Marie Jensdatter Narjord, daughter of Jens Hansen Narjord and Tyri Olsdatter Os, on 10 Apr 1871 in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States.¹⁰¹⁷¹ (Eli Marie Jensdatter Narjord was born on 8 Dec 1844 in Tolga, Hedmark, Norway,¹⁰¹⁸² died on 27 Nov 1935 in Kittson Co, Minnesota, United States and was buried in Bethlehem Cemetery, Kittson Co, Minnesota, United States.)