Both Endre Endreson and his wife Berthe Gjermundsdatter were born
and grew up in the Norwegian community known since ancient times as
Barstad. This place is located in the modern political-geographical area
called Rogaland, though early immigrants here referred to it as Stavanger
Amt (county). Hence, we descendants refer to ourselves as "Stavanger Folk"
to differentiate from people in other parts of Norway. Centered in the area is
the modern city of Hauge i Dalane, which appears to be the same place
referred to as Sogndal i Dalane. (sogn: parish).
Nothing is known of Berthe's early life beyond the facts brought out in the
genealogical chart by Amund Jacobsen in 1966. Interestingly, this goes back
to 1519, whereas Endre's dates to 1516. She was born at a place called Urdal
in 1825. Upon marrying Endre Endresen in Sogndal-Hauge they resided
there in their own home until they departed for America in 1855. Three of
their surviving children were born here: Engel, Gjermund and Gabriel. Folk
memory has it that she became unhappy over the fact that she was left alone
with the children so much of the time, since her husband was a seafaring
man. So they decided to go to America, and he would give up his career as a
sailor. They sold their house with the stipulations that he would make one
more sea voyage (to Holland), and that his wife would live downstairs until
their departure, while the new owners would live upstairs. Incidentally, a
daughter of the purchasers was to become the wife of the eldest Endresen
son, Gjermund. It was said that the new lady of the house became very
abusive to Berthe during Endre's absence because it seemed wrong to her
that the owners live upstairs while mere tenants occupied the main floor. In
self-defense, Berthe felt it necessary to lock herself and children inside their
home.
In the year 1857 they left Norway. Nothing is known of the journey until
they arrived in Westby, Wisconsin in Vernon County. We know they
acquired land near a rock formation called the Three Chimneys in an area
called Coon Prairie. Here the family resided for the next seventeen years.
They joined the local Westby-Coon Prairie Lutheran church.

Nothing has ever been said to indicate that they were unhappy in this
beautiful part of Wisconsin, and so there is reason to wonder why they left.
Presumably, the good farming land in that area had been taken up before
they came there, leaving less desirable land as the only option. A farm
magazine of the nineteen twenties gives a clue: The worst soil erosion in
North America has occurred in Vernon County Wisconsin. Also, with a
growing family, and land becoming scarce and high-priced, and talk of vast
stretches of fertile land to be had for the taking in western Minnesota, it is
understandable that at least the older boys were eager to leave.
Suffice it here to say that the eldest son, Gjermund, in 1871, at the age of
twenty, with two neighbor boys, Peter Eliason and Edward Hamre, set out
on a voyage of exploration, obviously with the thought in mind of leaving
Wisconsin for the age-old promise of the Golden West. And so it came to pass
that in the following year of 1872, Endre and Berthe Endreson, ages fiftyeight
and forty-seven respectively, with their eight children and all their
worldly possessions, set out on the long trek to Lyon County in southwestern
Minnesota. Since nothing is really known of this migration it must be
presumed that there was more than one covered wagon; it is probable that
they had one team of horses, but it is certain that oxen were then, and
continued for some years to be, the main source of power. They crossed the
Mississippi River on the ferry at La Crosse.
Next thing known of that long trail was the last campout, between two
(Twin) lakes about five miles east of Cottonwood Lake. The next day, June
10, 1872, they arrived at their destination, the southwest quarter of section
eight in the present Lucas township, Lyon County, Minnesota.
How they located their "claim" is unknown, but it is obvious they must
have stopped at the Brown County courthouse in New Ulm and in Redwood
Falls. Nothing was ever said about Marshall, but obviously they went there
later. It is known that Endre twice walked to New Ulm to clear title to the
land.
Endre was in poor health for some time before passing away in March of
1885. He is buried in an unmarked grave in the West Cemetery, Yellow
Medicine Lutheran Church, Hanley Falls. A fire destroyed the church and
presumably the oak markers often used. However, the obituary may be seen
in the Yellow Medicine Church record book, Volume I, page 283.
At the death of her husband, Berthe Endreson remained on the home place
through a family arrangement. Her son Tonnes became the proprietor with
the understanding that he was to care for their mother. When Tennes' first
wife, Ida Jensen, died, leaving a baby girl, Bessie, Grandma found a new
area of responsibility. A small, separate house was built for her, and here she
cared for her new little charge. When Tennes married again, her feeling of
responsibility was relieved, and she passed away. The year was 1897. She lies
buried in the family plot of the Christ Lutheran cemetery a half mile
southwest of Cottonwood.