OLSON FAMILY HISTORY

By Laura C. (Olson) Hoyt -  May, 1980

            What I know about my grandparents, Andrew A. & Olava B. Olson. Grandpa Andrew was born in a province near Drammen, (Norway), in 1838. I do not know what month or date, and he migrated to Leelanau County, in Northport sometime before 1875, bring his wife, my grandmother, Olava B. with him. They lived in the village of Northport where my father Edward Olson was born June 1, 1874. Another son, Olaf A., was born July 12, 1875 there. (Northport)

            They moved to a farm Northwest of Suttons Bay area called ‘Norwegian settlement’, where many families settled that (area), had come from Norway. The Norwegian language was spoken until the Salem School was built. And English was taught in the public schools. 2 more sons, Bernard & Gustif were born, and also a daughter, Olvidia. Olaf married Matilda Pederson. They lived on the Olson homestead, later moving into the village of Suttons Bay. They had no children. One of their brothers, (Bernard 1872-1893),  was killed in a barn building accident. He was 21. Ovidia had one daughter, Lida, who lives in Aberdeen, WA. Ovidia died of

T.B.(Tuberculosis), at age 26.Grandma Olson died of T.B. also, at age 66, in 1904, one year before I was born.

            My grandfather Olson was a very religious man. He was part-time pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Suttons Bay, and part-time farmer. I know very little about my Olson grand parents.

            My father and mother had 10 children, 5 boys, and 5 girls; 2 boys died at age 3 & 5, and Edward was killed in World War II in Okinawa. Louis & Albert are still living (as of May 1980).

We have 5 sisters living, Laura, Ella, Helen, Josephine and Evelyn. Albert lives on a farm 11 miles West of Traverse City: Laura in T.C.; Ella, 5 miles W. of T.C.; Helen 4 miles E. of T.C.; Josephine in Suttons Bay; Evelyn in Hazel Park, MI. We all graduated from 8^th grade in Bass Lake Country School, and I graduated from Union High School (stone school), in Suttons Bay.

Our Father was very active on the school board, in the country school, and belonged to the farm bureau, and he a deacon and trustee in the Lutheran Church.

            We all grew up being well disciplined, having to work hard at times, but having fun in all outdoor sports of those times. Dad, always taking us to the “fair” and “circus”, as a reward for working hard. There were many country parties that meant the whole family went, and we learned to dance young.

            Mother was also a hard worker, raising a big family; preserving and canning. All baked goods were home made, including flour and butter, a large garden was grown. We all helped in that also. Mother was a good seamstress, and a knitter. She knit all our stocking caps and mittens

We had a wonderful bringing up.

            Dad was a farmer, a builder, a lumberman, windmill tender & greaser for the whole neighborhood. He was a good manager, and never had a mortgage on the property. He also raised livestock, and helped build several houses. He never drank, but smoked a few cigars, and he had a mustache when he was young. He was a religious man, never worked in the fields on Sunday, unless, it was absolutely necessary.

Written by Laura Olson Hoyt

MOE FAMILY HISTORY

By Laura C. (Olson) Hoyt -  May, 1980

            What I know about my grand parents, Hans & Kari (Johnson) Moe, on my mother, Caroline Moe side of family. Things she told me, she remembered from Norway.

            My mother was born in Norway, Drammen, August 19, 1882. She remembered watching goats, sheep, and cattle where they grazed on the hillsides and in the valleys. She remembered the various kinds of cheese they made. They picked and ate a wild berries (red), that was very good. She did not know what the berry was called. Mother was the oldest of 5 children. When she was 7 years old, John, a brother, was 3, and a sister, Sena, was 5, when they moved to the United States. 2 more brothers, Harold & Herman was born in the States.

            Mother told me about celebrating Christmas and New years in Norway for 10 days. It took 2 weeks of busy cooking and baking to prepare for the feasting. Merry making, singing and dancing, going from house to house. They either walked, where they could, or went by horse, cutter and sleigh. Mother’s parents brought the family to Leelanau County, Michigan, following their friends, the Gustaf Johnson’s. They came to the States to find a better life, that they had heard about.

            Grandpa Moe, bought a farm 5 miles, N. of Suttons Bay, with a log cabin & log barn on it. Later, cut down trees to clear the way for larger lands to plant crops on, and for larger buildings. Grandpa built a blacksmith shop and raised horses. I can remember as a little girl, watching him pump the bellows for brighter flame, and shaping red-hot horse shoes. 2 more sons were born, Harold and Herman. After the farm became larger, Grandpa needed to hire help. A young man came to work for him, by the name of Edward Olson, who fell in love with my mother, Caroline. They were married May, 1904.

            They (Edward & Caroline) bought land and built a log cabin next to Grandpa Moe’s farm. They built a stone wall for their new home in 1905. They did lots of lumbering and logging.

Boats came into the docks at Suttons Bay.  Lumber, Logs and posts were shipped out to world markets. They also farmed, raising potatoes, corn, wheat & oats. They grew their own fruit and grapes.

            The Moe children were baptized and confirmed in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church in Suttons bay. Grandpa Moe died in 1925, at age 67. Grandma Moe died July 12, 1937, at age 88. Grandpa Moe was a heavy drinker, (a saloon man).

            Grandpa Moe built all our skis, sleds and toboggans in his blacksmith shop.

Written by Laura Olson Hoyt