The Sandeens

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William Sandeen

b. 12/19/1892 - 11/05/1975

Bill was the son of Christine (Larsson) and Ola Sandeen. Born in McIntosh, Minnesota and died in Crosby, Minnesota.

Bill once was engaged to be married to a girl from Oklee, Minnesota, who was fatally injured in an automobile accident. He married Margaret Geske when they were both middle-aged. They had no children.

During WW I Bill served with the US Army in France. He contracted an illness which caused paralysis in one leg. He was granted a lifetime disability pension. During his rehabilitation he enrolled in an artistic penmanship course and became a skillful business and artistic writer. Bill was an enterprising and self-sufficient man. From 1917 until the early '30s he had his brother Emil as a partner in the automobile business. He later had other partners, such as Chris Rinkell, with whom he operated Northern Chevrolet in Thief River Falls and Warren, Minnesota - a most lucrative enterprise.

In Thief River Falls, Bill and his wife had a loan and collection agency. Their advertising slogan was: "Money for those who need it." They sold this business for a tidy profit. In the 1960s Bill and Margaret moved to Crosby. There they bought what was left of Geo. H. Crosby's real estate holdings, including 40 homes that they renovated and rented out. Bill also had a pilot's license and at one time owned his own plane.

In Thief River Falls Bill and Margaret owned a large and comfortable home. Bill's mother lived with them for some time before she passed away. His two sisters, Helga and Viola also lived there for a while during -their retirement.

 

 

 

Betty Skilbeck
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Date Last Modified: 4/21/00

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Kvikne Church

" Let a new church be built!" This was a king's order. The king was Christian IV, king of Denmark and Norway f from 1588 to 1648, also known as the founder of Christiania (the rebuilt Oslo) and Kristiansand. The king's involvement in mining brought him to Kvikne in June 1635 to inspect the mining activities. The old stave church placed on the same site as the church today, was in bad shape and did not serve the population that was growing, as a result of mining. And a new church was built!

The cross-shaped lumber church was built and ready for use in 1652. It has been repaired several times, but always preserved in its original style. The beautiful and interesting details we see in the church today, were also seen by our ancestors.

The walls inside are rose-painted all over. The people of many Kvikne farms had their own bench in the church. There are small doors leading to the benches and the farms' names are painted on the doors.

Some objects were brought from the old church. One of them is a beautiful crucifix, that is supposed to be very old. Two small sailboats are hanging from the roof. These are symbolic, pointing out their course towards the preachers place, to remind everyone of pointing out his life's course according to The Holy Evangelism.

On the outside of the church there are a couple of iron rings nailed to the wall. These are parts of the old Norwegian punishment equipment, called the "Gapestokk". If anyone's behaviour had deserved punishment, he was fastened to the "Gapestokk", where the poor person had to stand while people attending church could see him, and, even spit on him. Outside the church of course we find the tombs of the Kvikne inhabitants.

Betty Skilbeck
betty_skilbeck@sbe.scarborough.on.ca
Date Last Modified: 4/21/00

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The Coleridges

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Coleridge Anecdotes

Frances Nessle Penhall was born in England. She married John Cleave. Their daughter :Mary Jane married Daniel Coleridge in Doddiscomsleigh church in 1849. They left for Canada, and lived near Hamilton, at Dundas for seven years. They cleared land and pioneered 12 miles from Durham Town, township of Egremont Co Grey, four miles west of present town of Dromore. This spot was called Greenside, nicknamed Bob Town because of the number of Roberts born there. They had a store, blacksmith shop, Orange Hall, red school and post office here.

The Legate family lived across the road from Coleridges. The Legates owned a store, and Robert Legate taught school 1 1/2 miles north of Greenside. 1 1/4 miles west of the school was Ebenezer Methodist Church which the Legates attended. Greenside church services were held in the Orange Halk. Coleridges went to church one mile south of Dromore, Amos Presbyterian, east through the woods.

Ann Elizabeth started school at Red School, and sat with her Uncle Thomas Coleridge. Legates lived in a house built by Robert P. Legate, by the Orange Hall. He married Elizabeth Jane Coleridge in 1876.

A story tells of how Mary Jane Cleave and Daniel Coleridge met. Daniel was the son of a Lord Coleridge and Mary Jane , the daughter of a Duke. The families refused to let them marry, so they eloped and came to Canada. Mary Jane would twit Daniel when she was annoyed with 'Lord Pick-Axe' routine. Another version of the story was that Mary Jane was a kitchen maid and he, a Lord. Grandpa Coleridge would say 'she is a very fine old lady as long as she gets her own way.' She once had a very bad cold and Uncle Jim took her to the doctor in Dromore. She got a bottle of cough mixture and put it on a shelf. Never took the cork out of it. Her cough got better and she said 't'was the best medicine I never took!'

Grandma Coleridge walked 12 miles to Durham to sell her butter and eggs. The path was through solid maple woods. One day she met a bear on the path. She put her basket on the ground and walked off into the woods. The bear nosed out the sweet butter and enjoyed it then ambled off. Grandma picked up her eggs and continued on her way to Durham - no thanks from the bear!

Grandpa Coleridge(1822-I9I3) lost his hearing at 40 years of age, and later on became blind. Grandma Coleridge. (1826-1911) was the only one who could communicate with him then. Both are interred at Amos Cemetery at Dromore.

 

 

 

This site was prepared by Betty Skilbeck
Last modified on April 17, 2000

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Kvikne of Today

The main way of making one's living in Kvikne after the,mining period, has been farming. The possibility of growing grain in Kvikne is rather bad. The majority of what is grown, is grass to feed the cattle. Potatoes are grown, but not in a great extent.

In former days all the hay in Kvikne was sun-dried. Today the major part of the crops is put into silo. The cow is number one in Kvikne farming. Milk production is therefore the main base. Many of the farms have a number of sheep which are put out to graze freely in the mountains during the summer.

To understand Kvikne farming in older days more completely, please read the article about seter life.

COMMUNITY AND POPULATION

Kvikne was its own municipality for many years until 1965. Then the southern part, Kvikne, was merged with Tynset, while the northern part, Innset, was merged with Rennebu. The old Kvikne community, with the main Kvikne-section and Innset together, had a population up to 1700 people. The Kvikne section of Tynset of today has a population of about 700 people.

In 1838 a new law reached the statute books regulating the administration of municipalities. Kvikne became a county council with a chairman or mayor. The first chairman in Kvikne was Even Hallsteinson Ulset, born 1795. He was the Ulset brothers' grandfather. (Read the Ulset farm story)

Betty Skilbeck
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Date Last Modified: 4/21/00

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Ola Emil Sandeen

b.09/04/1890 - d. 12/06/1956

Emil was born in Grangårde, Sweden. the son of Christine (Larsson) and Ola Sandeen. He died in Oklee, Minnesota. Together with his parents and three siblings he arrived in the USA 7/27 1891. He took his first steps onboard the SS Devonia, the ship that brought the family from Glasgow, Scotland to New York.

On 06/08 1924 Emil married MARY Berglund, born in Clearbrook, Minnesota, died in Oklee.

In their younger years Emil and his brothers Evald and Bill for several seasons worked for farmers in North Dakota during the harvest. It was Emil's job to see to that in the early morning the thresher engine had a full head of steam before the work start--L-11. This was a continuous job all day as straw was used as fuel.

In February 1913 Emil and Bill went to Canada in search homestead land. They travelled by train to Edson, Alberta and from there they trekked the new Grand Prairie-Edson Trail 260 miles in sometimes at a temperature of 40 below - the last 20 miles in knee-deep snow - to Grande Prairie in Northwestern Alberta.

They claimed a half section each for themselves and Evald, their brother, near Grande Prairie, where they built a sodhouse. Bill soon returned to Minnesota, but Emil remained for a while until he, too, returned home. the reason why they abandoned their claims is not known.

In 1917 Emil and Bill began selling Dodge cars in Clearbrook, and built a garage with repair facilities. This business lasted only a short time as Bill was drafted into the Army. Emil, who belonged to the National Guard and awaited his induction - which never materialized - decided to lease out the business.

Following the end of the War and Bill's return from France and his convalescence from his leg wound, they took up where they had left off, and became authorized Ford dealers. This was about the time when the marketing of the Model T commenced - at a price of $375. Emil and Bill did very well and expanded their business with sales and a garage in Oklee, which Bill managed. They sold the business in Clearbrook 1927 and Bill moved to Thief River Falls with his Ford Agency. Emil took over Oklee. Three years later they leased out the Oklee business, and Emil and his family moved to Thief River Falls in April 1930. He sold ten cars in the month of May. With the onset of the depression the and far between, and in the fall of 1930 Emil and the family returned to Oklee, where he continued selling cars though the going was tough. In Oklee he had a mink farm and until he sold the garage he was also a beekeeper.

Emil was for a time president of Oklee Village Council and a member of Red Lake County Selective Service Board.

Obit Notice for Emil:

Emil Sandeen Dies; Rites Held here Monday

Funeral services were held In the Oklee community hall Monday afternoon for Emil Sandeen, long-time resident and former business man in Oklee, who died Dec. 6, in the Fosston hospital after an illness of six days.

The Rev. W. A. Espeseth of Fosston conducted the service. Sammy Sandeen of Clearbrook, nephew of the deceased, sang "Beyond the Sunset" and "The Old Rugged Cross."'

Pallbearers were Carl Rankel, Carl Winberg, Art Melby, Albert Riel, Edgar Lerohl and Nap Miller.

Born in Granjord, Sweden, Sept. 4. 1890, Mr. Sandeen came to this country in 1891 with his parents, two sisters and one brother, settling in Lessor township and later in Chester township. As a young man be moved to Clearbrook where he and his brother operated a garage.

He was married to Mary Berglund of Clearbrook. June 8, 1924. In 1927 they moved to Oklee which remained his home. While in Oklee be was president of the village council for a number of years, also a member of the Red Lake county Selective Service Board.

Surviving are his wife, two sons. Lowell and Milo, three grandchildren, his mother, three sisters and two brothers.

The grandchildren are Connie. Howard and Harold Sandeen of McIntosh. his mother and brother Evald of Bemidji: three sisters: Helen (Mrs Cummings), HeIga. and Viola of Gary, Indiana, William Sandeen of Thief River Fal1s, and several nieces and nephews.

His father, one infant child, two sisters and one brother preceded him in death.

  • LOWELL deVere Sandeen, 06/13/1927 -12/03/1996 (aneurysm), born in Oklee, Minnesota, the son of Emil and Mary (Berglund) Sandeen. Married 07/21/1949 to Jean Arlene Halvorson, born 03/30/1927 in Gonvick, Minnesota.

    Lowell was a highly intelligent man with a wide range of interests. He was a very good conversationalist and known for his honesty and sensitivity. He was a mink rancher, farmer and inventor. At the time of his death he had formed the DeVere Game Company and was in the process of developing and marketing his invention Chanzes-R, a dice game. He held three US patents and one foreign patent on his inventions.

    His wife Jean was born in Gonvick, Minnesota, the daughter of Albert and Nora (Clausen) Halvorson. They, as well as Jean's paternal grandfather were born in the US , the grandmother in Lesja in Gudbrandsdalen, Opland FyZke (county), Norway. Her maternal grandparents came from Gj~vik in Opland. Her maternal great grandparents were born in Skien, Telemark Fyzke.

    Jean is a woman of letters. She studied journalism 1969-73 through The Newspaper Institute of America. As a novelist she has been recognized for her works of fiction; some of her short stories have been published and for which she won the Klein Memorial award.

    • CONNIE Sandeen-McLinn, born 05/17/1950, daughter of Lowell and Jean (Halvorson) Sandeen. She was previously married to Carlsson (divorced). Connie is a quality assurance manager for Tursso Companies in St. Paul, Minnesota.
      • Step-grandchildren to Lowell and Jean Sandeen: Geoffrey and Michael Maynard and Jason and Colleen McLinn.
    • HOWARD Sandeen, born 08/28/1951, son of Lowell and Jean (Halvorson) Sandeen. He is employed by Quick File, an office supply company in Minneapolis. He is also a professional artist. He is not married.
    • HAROLD Sandeen, born 08/28/1955, son of Lowell and Jean (Halvorson) Sandeen. Married in New Orleans in June 1980 to Betty Champagne Maynard. Harold is employed as a welder at Erskine Manufacturing Company in Erskine,Minnesota. Previously he spent 15 years at sea on various vessels, most recently on oil tankers. He resides in McIntosh, Minnesota.
      • Harold and Betty have son, ROBERT LOWELL, born 7/10 1982 in Fosston, Minnesota.

 

  • MILO Emil Sandeen, born 06/25/1935 in Crookston, Minnesota, son of Emil and Mary (Berglund) Sandeen. Married 7/23 1960 to Eleonore Brinkman, born 02/25/1942 in McIntosh, Minnesota. Divorced 1976. Remarried Betty Vad Hanson in November 1980. Milo attended school in Oklee, Minnesota, and from 1953 to 1957 he worked for his brother Lowell, who had a mink ranch in Oklee. In 1958 and '59 he served in the US Army. Milo is now managing the fertilizer and chemical department of Oklee Farmer's Co-operative Elevator facility, where he has been employed for over 28 years. Milo has three children by his first wife, all born in Fosston, Minnesota:
    • Gregory Milo, born 05/06/1961
    • Darrell Dee, born 05/29/1962
    • Angela Louise, born 02/02/1967.
    • Betty has three children from a previous marriage.

 

 

 

 

 

Betty Skilbeck
betty_skilbeck@sbe.scarborough.on.ca
Date Last Modified: 4/21/00

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