I am back working in my Cemetery again :-)) Does anyone connect with this family from Hankinson/Blaisdell, North Dakota? If so, contact me. Margit Lot 65B-2 MAHLUM, AMUND PEDERSEN 3/24/1848 1930 BORN TO: Peder Knutsen & Sicil Pedersdatter Aspehaug in Oier, Oppland, Norway MARRIED TO: Sigrid Amundsdatter on July 20, 1873 in Norway Lived with Iver Skansgaard BROTHER TO: Anne Pedersdatter (Aspehaug) Skansgaard Mahlum Family Amund Pederson (Mahlum) was born March 24, 1848 in Øyer, Norway. Aspehaug was the original name of his birthplace. Aspehaug was tenant's place belonging to the farm, Rindalseje ("eje" means "belonging to"). To this day, the farm is named "Oshhaug" situated to the south of Rindal. Amund Pederson (changed to Mahlum) had three brothers and three sisters. Some of them settled in Østerdahlen Valley. Their descendants still use the family name - Aspehaug. Amund's brother, Knut Pederson (changed his name to Hasli) bought the Aspehaug farm. One of his sons, Amund Hasli had two children, Anna Marie (Gillebo) and Knut Hasli. Knut is still living on his father's farm at Øyer. Note: Since this was written, Knut Hasli has died. (Dec 25, 1993) Ed and I visited both Anna and Knut in July, 1984. Had a very interesting visit but much too short a time. Anna Gillebo told us about her cousins in North Dakota. Mrs. Julian (Ardys) Harstad lives at Cummings, North Dakota and Ingvald Skansgaard at Twin Valley, Minnesota. There are many descendants living throughout the west. Hope we get to meet them sometime in the future. Amund Pederson (Mahlum) came to Mahlumsveen to work as a tenent in the 1860's. The Mahlum family who owned Mahlumsveen were originally from Øyer, and were friends of Amund. Their descendants still own and live on this farm. It's considered a very large farm in Norway. It would be between 20 and 40 acres in the U.S. and not considered a large farm here. They used modern farm equipment and still have tenants to help with the farm work. Amund and Emj¿r ¯stensen were also tenants at Mahlumsveen in the 1860's. They had a young daughter, Sigrid, who married Amund Pederson (Mahlum) on July 20, 1873 at the age of 23. They were married in the Stave Kirke in Ringbu, Norway. We were in Ringbu on a Sunday which was a special day commemorating St. Olaf. We attended the service on Sunday night and there was also a Baptism Service, all in Norwegian. The songs were familiar so we were able to join in the singing and also follow the service. Amund and Sigrid had nine children in the family, eight of them were born in Norway. A son, Bert, was born in America. Son, Peder Anton, their oldest child, worked with them at Mahlumsveen. A daughter, Sina, was a baby-sitter for the Mahlum family. No doubt, the younger children, Martha, Anna, and Kristian also had to help with the work. Peder was baptized and confirmed by his grandfather, Peder Knudsen Rindalseje, who was a Lay Minister. He was a very tall man. Mahlumsveen is located on a hillside overlooking the beautiful, green and fertile valley, Gudbrandsdahlen, and the quaint town of Ringbu. The view was breathtaking, and we wondered why anyone would leave and immigrate to America. We were told, as tenants there was absolutely no future, and they were hungry people. Many Norwegians left Norway at this very time for this very reason. All of Sigrid's family - parents, four sisters and a brother eventually immigrated to America. I don't know if any of Amund's brothers or sisters came but several of the their children came to America. Amund and Sigrid decided to immigrate to America. With a prayer in their hearts, with much hope and determination to have a better life for their children, they left their homeland, Norway, in 1888 and sailed for America, "The Land of the Free". After weeks on the ocean they finally reached Ellis Island. It must have been frightening for them, not being able to speak or understand the English language in a new country. I understand the immigrants who arrived in New York were the victims of many tricks, jokes and even thievery. But in spite of all this, it was exciting and they never lost sight of their hopes for liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness in this new country which was to be their home. It would be interesting to know of their experiences on the trip from New York to Belgrade, Minnesota, where they settled on a farm. They must have had several more days of anxiety before they arrived in Belgrade. Peder was 15 years; Sina, 13 years; Martha, 11 years; Anna, 8 years; Kristian (Chris), 5 years; Ole, 3 years (no record) but it could be possible he changed his name to Oscar; Karen, 1 year (no further record); and Anton, 1 year. A son, Bert, was born in America October 1, 1894. Amund and Sigrid left Belgrade in the late 1890's and moved to a farm near their son, Peder, who had homesteaded near Hankinson, North Dakota. From there, they moved to Blaisdell, North Dakota. Sigrid moved to an "Old People's Home" near there in the 1920's, where she lived until her death December 19, 1936. Amund became a "Happy Wanderer" visiting his children until his death in 1930. He was buried at the Aspelund Lutheran Church cemetery in Flom, Minnesota. Sigrid may also be buried there. We shall always have a very deep feeling of respect, love and honor for these immigrants who were so brave and had so much courage to begin a new life in America. Written by Ethel Hovey Pederson Granddaughter of Amund and Sigrid Pederson