Excerpt from
Our Haugs in America
Author and Distributor:
C.M.Howg
1919 - 33rd Ave. S. W.
Calgary 7 Alberta, Canada
Originally published 1968
Excerpts chosen by
Catherine Haug
2006
1
Our Roots in Norway
Gleanings from Norwegian archives reveal that our stem-father, Einar T. Haug was registered asEinar Tostensen Nyen, born June 22, 1831 to parents Tosten Knudsen Nyen(baptized August 25, 1793 in Åsnes Solør) and wife Elena (Olsdatter). Tosten was the son ofKnud Tostensen Nyen(baptized July 26, 1772 in Åsnes Solør) and wifeAnne (Olsdatter). Knud was the son of Tosten Larsen Kornstad(baptized April 1728 in Våler Bygd Solør) and wifeKari (Eriksdatter). In the baptismal record,Lars Kornstadis only mentioned as the father of Tosten Larsen Kornstad, so he could have been born in the late 1600s or early 1700s. This is as far back as we could reasonably get in our roots in the Fatherland. But let us stack them up in a more concise form:
Lars Kornstad begot Tosten Larsen Lornstad, who begot Knud Tostensen Nyen, who begot Tosten Knudsen Nyen, who begot our stem-father Einar Tostensen Nyen.
On the feminine side of the ledger we find that Einar T. Haug’s wife Mathea (nee Kokkin) was born June 20, 1829 to parents Peder Tostensen and Eli Tostensdatter, and it appears that Peder Tostensen’s parents were Tosten Mikkelsen, born 1759 and Ingeborg Pedersdatter, born 1755. The records seem to hold out that these two families came from the Kokkin farm in Hof parish, Solør, Norway.
In brief: Tosten Mikkelsen begot Peder Tostensen, who begot Mathea Pedersdatter Kokkin, who is representing the feminine gender of our roots in Norway by becoming a most estimable co-progenitor of our numerous family groups now spread over this vast continent of North America, to the tune of more than 1300 individuals, including in-laws and adopted children, and more than 800 of these are blood relations, still living.
Solør, Norway
Solør [Norway] is divided into numerous...districts recognized not only by their names but also by the people’s linguistic brogue so that their tongue betrays their where-from to those versed in deciphering the different idioms.... Some historians seem to have found grounds for their allegations that Solør got its name centuries ago when some primitive people lived on a group of sunny little islands far beyond the shadows of the lofty cliffs of the mainland. These people in the course of time concocted some seaworthy contraption and like the saga laden Vikings, got themselves lost in the salt spray, but eventually, reached their goal; the mainland of Norway in search of more elbow room for the congested situation on their little islands. They found on arrival, however, that they had to trek far inland to find a suitable tract and this brought them up to the Swedish border. As these little islands they had once come from were called “Sol Øer,” meaning Sun Islands, these new-comers were dubbed “Solø-ringer,” that is, Sun Islanders. So Solør can well be translated to Sun-Isles. ... A freelancer historian has come up with a different version about the origin of the Soløring name, which might have some merit; saying it started not as Soløring but as “Solunger,” meaning “sun-children.” This conception is based on the concept that these people had a brilliant sense of humor, coupled with a sunny disposition radiating from kindly faces framed in flowing blonde hair.”
Pioneering Spirit
[The] Haug families en-masse struck out for America, from Norway, in the late 1870s and in the earliest 1880s. During this short time nine Haug families moved from Solør Norway to Minnesota where they settled on virgin soil all in the district between Pelican Rapids and Barnesville, Minnesota, leaving but two living descendants of that generation in the old country. [Who might these be?] Five of the nine families who emigrated were from Einar’s bothers’ and sisters’ families [and thus are not enumerated in the book]; and the other four were from our own branch [and enumerated in the book]. But before long, these four latter families increased to nine households in the district. However, by 1897 the said district was depleted of our own Haug clansmen. But again we catch up with an adventuresome band of them clustered around the Haug Post Office, of their own making, in a homesteader’s promised land in Solør township Roseau Co., Minnesota. Their prolific tendency soon manifested itself on the census side of the ledger.
But for many later years now, there has been only one (a bachelor) of the Howg name left there, and a very few under the in-law title. The younger generation has drifted off into or towards the mirage of greener pastures, several into Montana. Most of the old-timers there now rest under the sods in Øiland Cemetery near Haug Post Office (Now abandoned).
Again, back to the Barnesville-Pelican Rapids districts, we find that three Haug families moved from there in the [South Dakota] where they lived and farmed as near neighbors for many years. Families increased year by year but finally the clan dwindled away in that locality too, mostly due to the Canada fever in 1910 when two families and 3 single men emigrated to sunny Southern Alberta, Canada, to homestead, thus leaving only one of the early Haugs on the original homestead in South Dakota, who is now at rest in the near-by cemetery. At present there is only one living descendent in the locality and under her in-law name.
The Canadian bound contingent or segment of our family circle remained true to form so that within a few years there were nearly twenty families under the same banner in and around the Enchant community in southern Alberta. This group is likely the largest of the clan to have domiciled in any one place in our sphere. Only one of these trail-blazers is retired beyond the horizon in the Enchant Cemetery. The other Seniors and some Juniors have moved to the cities. Now after 58 years there are still six families remaining. WHY!? are there so many left after so many years? The answer is simple. Though they are of a frontier people, the frontiers have receded to the moon, which is still far off.
We must absolutely refuse to label these early hardy people as lazy shiftless drifters, as they always moved into or onto the back-breaking stone saturated prairies or into the frustrating slow yielding sweat craving clearing of bush and timber land and left progress in their wake, a monument to their integrity, as the fell by the wayside. May we dare to say that their hopes, their fears, their sweat and tears were all for the good of our future. Let the VIKING spirit survive. We shall try in the most sincere humble way to pay tribute in the fullest to all the in-law women who have given their all to become co-progenitors in our lineage, and as the “Queens of the roosts” have shouldered the lions share in the up-bringing of the brood, as well as lending moral help to the bread winner. These same compliments automatically go to the daughters of our own blood, while the in-laws on the masculine side must be complimented on their excellent choice.
Einar and Mathea Haug (Nyen)
EINAR (& MATHEA) of the 1st generation, like the Noah of old, floated on the big waters and in due course of time landed on dry land with his entrusted belongings to become the father of a great clan. They had their log house built about 1881 on the south half of the S.W. quarter of section 13, Norwegian Grove Twp., Otter Tail County, Minnesota. There were also two fractions of land in the same section that went with it, making a total of 141 35/100 acres.
[Einar], our Noah in America, Einar T. Haug, is registered in Norway under the name of Einan Tostensen Nyen, and was born on his parents’ place Nyhaugen, Solør, Norway. So, evidentially, “Haug” is derived from Nyhaugen. In the early years in America, Einar often was referred to as Einar Nyen and why this name did not stick is hard to figure out as Einar and his family came from their own little place in Norway called Nyen. This is according to records from Norway.
[Einar’s siblings were: brothers] Ole and Karelius; [and sisters] Oleanna (Mrs. Ingebret Rudshaugen), Anna Marie (Mrs. Edward Eliason), Thea (Mrs. Syver Sletten) and Karen. All but the fourth daughter Karen (and her husband) did not emigrate to America, nor did they have any children so when the other members of the family moved to America, we understand there were none left in Norway to propagate the family name. This emigration took place in the late 1870s and early 1880s.
Einar was small in stature but a giant in attitude toward his faith in God, his country and his fellow man. Although he lacked the higher education he was found to be a worthy opponent in various fields where the more learned would often stumble. Einar was a tailor by trade and he had learned his trade well. many a wolf and dog did he sew together into snug-fitting warm fur coats, the rage of that era. His workmanship was amply manifested in the many years he sewed and fashioned men’s suits and garments in the neighborhood.
Einar did not have a lazy bone in his make-up; idleness was an abomination to him so that when he was not busy in his trade he had no trouble finding other work to do. He was very handy with the woodman’s axe and no slouch with carpenter’s tools. However, perhaps he was the most efficient with his feet, of all things. Back in the old country he was renown for his agility on the log floats down the Flisa River. In this country, in his lonelier years, his pastime pride was his long walks that took him deep into old age. Einar had always been blessed with good health. At the age of 50 he became the sensation of the neighborhood by sprouting a new tooth. His eyes served him well throughout his whole life. At the age of 82 1/2 years he suffered his first confinement into a reclining chair for a period, after an entanglement with a horse drwan vehicle. he survived this ordeal in a comparatively short time and lived to be 93 years, 4 months and 4 days old. He had 89 grandchildren, 75 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren at the time of his departure on October 27, 1924. His adherent sobriety in more ways than one must have contributed greatly to his longevity together with his melodious soul finding expression in humming of his favorite songs while he deftly applied his skill with this needle and thread and what have you.
Einar’s wife Mathea (nee Kokkin) is the feminine side of our first generation of “Our Haugs in America.” She was born of Peder and Eli Kokkin in Solør, Norway on June 20, 1829. She was a quiet serene woman. her people were from a higher class in Norway, that is, they were land owners who had tenants working the lands on a sort of work-pay proposition including free use of a small house and a bit of land all within the farm proper. These so-called “Hus men” were evidently to be on call at any and all times, but Mathea did not bring any of this aristocratic halo with her to this country. She remained true to her inner feelings of equality and friendship towards kinfolk and friends alike. She passed away July 12, 1897 at the age of 68 years and 22 days, true to the faith of her childhood to the end. She was laid to rest in the cemetery at the Lutheran church 4 miles west of Pelican Rapids where she had walked to services for so many years. Her husband, Einar, joined her there 27 years later under a tomb-stone erected with fond memories by a grandson and protégé.
[NOTE: The author follows only the descendants of Einar and Mathea Haug, and not also the descendants of Einar’s brothers and sisters. It should also be noted that while Einar is our 1st Generation, his emigration to America in 1879 was preceded by his son Theodore and wife Marie in 1878.]
Offspring of Einar and Mathea Haug (Nyen)
1. Thea Haug (Kokkin) was but a half sister to the others in the family. She was born Sep 21, 1850, and came to America in 1881. ...To the best of our knowledge Thea is the only one in this genealogy having descendants into the 7th generation. Mrs. Olivia Willet was born in Solør, Norway on November 25, 1878. Emil Haug was Olivia’s younger brother.
2. Theodore E. Haug [my grandfather], the oldest son of Einar and Mathea, was born May 17, 1854 in Solør, Norway. He was married to Marie (Muslien), born April 19, 1856, also in Solør, Norway. They emigrated to the Pelican Rapids, Minnesota district with their infant son Eval in 1878, a year before Theodore’s father, Einar emigrated in 1879.
In 1881 Theodore bought a small farm from Hans G. Dahl and wife Anne for $800. This property consisted of the S.E. 1/4 of S. W. 1/4 and the N.W. 1/4 of the S.#. 1/4 in section 12 Norwegian Grove Township # 136 in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. This remained their home, where six other children were born, until in 1895 when they moved to their homestead in Roseau County, Minnesota. There they created the Haug Post Office which they operated for several years until its abandonment as it yielded to their thriving little village of Greenbush that sprung up near by. Theodore was of a steadfast character, well suited as a leader of men and served his community well in the many functions of public affairs. He was also a talented choir leader, his tuning fork had floated music on the air in the Pelican Rapids and Barnesville district during his residence there and re-echoed in Roseau for many years. Two more children were added to the family in Roseau. He was laid to rest in Øiland Cemetery nearby. His wife, ...Marie passed away May 11th, 1928 and joined him there.
They bore 10 children: Olaf Haug (born in Solør, Norway, and passed away there in infancy); Eval T. Haug (born April 6, 1878 in Solør, Norway) came with his parents to America when only a few months old; Mathilda Lina (Haug) Hilmoe (born July 14, 1883 in the Barnesville, Minnesota district); Olava Haug (born May 1885 and died )August 1898; Thorval Haug (born April 30, 1887, Norwegian Grove Twp., Minnesota); Melvin Haug (born may 7, 1889 in Norwegian Grove Twp near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota); William Haug [my father!] (born March 20, 1891 in Norwegian Grove, Minnesota); Lewis Haug (born May 29, 1893 in Norwegian Grove Twp., and died Sept. 20, 1910 in Roseau, Minnesota); Manda (Haug) Lieberg (born July 10, 1895 in Roseau Co., Minnesota). A boy was born to Theodore and Marie in August 1902; he lived but a few weeks and is buried in the Øiland Cemetery.
3. Peter Houg, second son of Einar and Mathea was born in Nyen Åsnes, Solør, Norway on February 19, 1856. He came to America with his father and two younger brothers and sister, to join the older brother Theodore who had come a year earlier. Peter’s first wife, Martina Christiansdatter Houg died in America on March 28. 1887 and is buried in Norwegian Grove Cemetery. They had one child, Emma, who was then 3 years old. they are pictured on the previous page (page 25 of the book).
He later married Mrs. Marit Mollerud who was a widow with 3 children (Helga, Martha, and Theodore). Marit was born in Svinnes Lingdal, Norway. Peter and Marit had five children. The first son died in infancy; their third son Martin Enoch lived only about six years, and Mabel, one of the twin daughters, lived only 10 days. Hans Marcus Haug, the second son of Peter and Marit was born May 11, 1892 at Grafton, N. Dakota. Anna Martina Houg, the other twin daughter, was born at Grafon on October 20, 1896.
4. Eberhard Hought was the third son of Einar and Mathea, born in Åsnes, Solør, Norway, on February 23, 1858, and emigrated to the Pelican Rapids Minnesota district in 1879. He married Karolina Beckstrom, born in Sweden on June 7, 1961. They had 15 children, all born in the Menahga, Minnesota district. These are: James Edward (born August 31, 1883); Mamie Otelia (born February 26, 1885); Edward Lawrence (born July 12, 1887); Carrie Eugena (born April 22, 1889); Emma Josephine (born September 9, 1891); Albin (born March 20, 1893 and died 3 years later); Esther (born August 24, 1894); Alma Evelyn (born April 23, 1896); David Martin (born November 20, 1898); Elmer (born March 6, 1900); Lowell Carl (born December 20, 1901); Walter (born april 5, 1903); Vera Marie (born October 10, 1904); Effie Elizabeth (born November 16, 1906); and Bert William (born August 29, 1908, and died 2 months later).
5. Einar Howg, Jr., was the fourth son of Einar and Mathea, born october 17, 1860 in Åsnes, Solør, Norway. He married Caroline Rudshaugen from Våler. Solør, Norway. Their children, all born in the USA, are: Edwin Marius (born October 16, 1881); Carl Magnus (born July 12, 1883 and author of this book); Clara, Emma and Clara (born and died during the period February 22, 1885 and 1890); Ole Edor (born April 29, 1890); Clara Theoline (born December 28, 1891);Alma (born November 22, 18893); Emil Thorval (born February 28, 1896); August Melvin (born August 18, 1897); and Emmett Carroll (born June 17, 1903).