Individual Details
Kjersti Persdatter Fjeseth
(27 Jan 1844 - 1934)
Original Hendricks Settler
In the spring of 1870, Kjersti and Ole emigrated to the United states. They were shipped on a cattle boat from Trondhjem Norway to Hull England and then by rail across to Liverpool where they took a steamer of the Allen line. After 3 weeks, they landed at Quebec, Canada. They then went by rail to a point on the east side of Lake Michigan. Crossing this lake they landed at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They then went by rail to Lansing, Iowa, where they were met by friends. While they were going up the St. Lawrence river, the ship collided with another boat, which sank with the loss of a man and boy. The ship that Kjersti and Ole were on received a big hole, so the load had to be shifted in order to keep the hole above the water line. After the meeting with their friends, they were taken to Waterloo Ridge where they lived 3 years before going west. A house was built in Allamakee County, Iowa, which was shared by another family. There a daughter was born. In May 1873, they journeyed behind oxen to Dakota Territory. On July 14, 1873, they arrived in Lake Hendricks Township, Brookings County, and filed on a quarter section of land which became their home. There a semi-dugout sod house was built. This dugout was about 12 by 14 feet and was shared by another family of 3 members. In December a daughter was born to her and a daughter was also born to the other family so eight human beings lived there for 2 years.
The above is from the book written by Peter O. Fjeseth, son of Ole and Kjersti Digrehagen Fjeseth. The book's name is Recollections and History of Lake Hendricks Township.
In 1875 the family moved to a log house in size about 12 by 16 feet with a wood floor but a hay and sod roof.
My Childhood Remembrance of Great Grandmother Kjersti by Lorenchia Nygaard Scott
When my father, Ingvald Nygaard and Marcella Hanson Nygaard with my brother, Wayne and I went to Hendricks to visit our my Grandparents Gustav M Nygaard and Petra Fjeseth Nygaard, we would visit Great Grandparents Ole Digrehagen Fjeseth and Kjersti Fjeseth. Great Grandmother Kjersti would greet us with her smile, talk a little with my father in Norwegian and then go to the kitchen to be sure that we would have some treats during our visit. She would bring out strawberry nectar and cookies. After we would have our nectar and cookies, Great Grandpa would tell us that we children could go to the candy jars for the round white and pink mint candies.
Great Grandfather Ole always told the story about how he had worked on the Fjeseth farm for 7 years and that is why he took the name Fjeseth. Great Grandpa Ole had a good sense of humor. He would tease Great Grandma by holding back the yarn while she was knitting. I was told that he would sit near a window to read the newspaper every day without his glasses until about 80 years of age.
On another visit to Great Grandparents home, we came unannounced and there was Kjersti on her hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor. She must have been in her late eighties at that time. She treasured a clean floor and why wouldn't she after living in a dugout with dirt floors for a couple of years.
Ole and Kjersti Fjeseth were one of the church leaders who helped start the Singsaas Lutheran Church in South Dakota, about 1 1/2 miles from the town of Hendricks, Minnesota. They were two of the 31 settlers who came from Singsaas, Norway to settle near Lake Hendricks in South Brookings County, South Dakota. The Singsaas Church was built in about two years. The strong faith in God of the settlers will be remembered by me and may we all remember to continue in their path.
Great Grandmother, Kjersti, with her husband, Ole Fjeseth, C. N. Trooien, Hans Digre, Mrs. Nels Trooien and Mrs. Ole Trooien were instrumental in giving factual information about the early history of the colony to Gustav O. Sandro for The Immigrants' Trek book, A Detailed History of the Lake Hendricks Colony in Brookings County, Dakota Territory, from 1873-1881.
Submitted by Lorenchia Nygaard Scott
Great Granddaughter of Ole & Kjersti Fjeseth
The following Lefse recipe given to Dora Nygaard Kvernmo by her grandmother Kjersti Fjeseth from Norway.
Lefse Yields: 25 12 " rounds
3 cups mashed potatoes Place cooled mashed potatoes in mixing bowl and stir in the
1/2 tsp. baking powder lard. Mix well and add rest of ingredients in order given.
1 tablespoon granulated sugar Divide dough and bake on a lefse grill, turning often until
1 tsp. salt nicely browned and done.
1/3 cup lard
1&1/2 cups sifted flour
In the spring of 1870, Kjersti and Ole emigrated to the United states. They were shipped on a cattle boat from Trondhjem Norway to Hull England and then by rail across to Liverpool where they took a steamer of the Allen line. After 3 weeks, they landed at Quebec, Canada. They then went by rail to a point on the east side of Lake Michigan. Crossing this lake they landed at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They then went by rail to Lansing, Iowa, where they were met by friends. While they were going up the St. Lawrence river, the ship collided with another boat, which sank with the loss of a man and boy. The ship that Kjersti and Ole were on received a big hole, so the load had to be shifted in order to keep the hole above the water line. After the meeting with their friends, they were taken to Waterloo Ridge where they lived 3 years before going west. A house was built in Allamakee County, Iowa, which was shared by another family. There a daughter was born. In May 1873, they journeyed behind oxen to Dakota Territory. On July 14, 1873, they arrived in Lake Hendricks Township, Brookings County, and filed on a quarter section of land which became their home. There a semi-dugout sod house was built. This dugout was about 12 by 14 feet and was shared by another family of 3 members. In December a daughter was born to her and a daughter was also born to the other family so eight human beings lived there for 2 years.
The above is from the book written by Peter O. Fjeseth, son of Ole and Kjersti Digrehagen Fjeseth. The book's name is Recollections and History of Lake Hendricks Township.
In 1875 the family moved to a log house in size about 12 by 16 feet with a wood floor but a hay and sod roof.
My Childhood Remembrance of Great Grandmother Kjersti by Lorenchia Nygaard Scott
When my father, Ingvald Nygaard and Marcella Hanson Nygaard with my brother, Wayne and I went to Hendricks to visit our my Grandparents Gustav M Nygaard and Petra Fjeseth Nygaard, we would visit Great Grandparents Ole Digrehagen Fjeseth and Kjersti Fjeseth. Great Grandmother Kjersti would greet us with her smile, talk a little with my father in Norwegian and then go to the kitchen to be sure that we would have some treats during our visit. She would bring out strawberry nectar and cookies. After we would have our nectar and cookies, Great Grandpa would tell us that we children could go to the candy jars for the round white and pink mint candies.
Great Grandfather Ole always told the story about how he had worked on the Fjeseth farm for 7 years and that is why he took the name Fjeseth. Great Grandpa Ole had a good sense of humor. He would tease Great Grandma by holding back the yarn while she was knitting. I was told that he would sit near a window to read the newspaper every day without his glasses until about 80 years of age.
On another visit to Great Grandparents home, we came unannounced and there was Kjersti on her hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor. She must have been in her late eighties at that time. She treasured a clean floor and why wouldn't she after living in a dugout with dirt floors for a couple of years.
Ole and Kjersti Fjeseth were one of the church leaders who helped start the Singsaas Lutheran Church in South Dakota, about 1 1/2 miles from the town of Hendricks, Minnesota. They were two of the 31 settlers who came from Singsaas, Norway to settle near Lake Hendricks in South Brookings County, South Dakota. The Singsaas Church was built in about two years. The strong faith in God of the settlers will be remembered by me and may we all remember to continue in their path.
Great Grandmother, Kjersti, with her husband, Ole Fjeseth, C. N. Trooien, Hans Digre, Mrs. Nels Trooien and Mrs. Ole Trooien were instrumental in giving factual information about the early history of the colony to Gustav O. Sandro for The Immigrants' Trek book, A Detailed History of the Lake Hendricks Colony in Brookings County, Dakota Territory, from 1873-1881.
Submitted by Lorenchia Nygaard Scott
Great Granddaughter of Ole & Kjersti Fjeseth
The following Lefse recipe given to Dora Nygaard Kvernmo by her grandmother Kjersti Fjeseth from Norway.
Lefse Yields: 25 12 " rounds
3 cups mashed potatoes Place cooled mashed potatoes in mixing bowl and stir in the
1/2 tsp. baking powder lard. Mix well and add rest of ingredients in order given.
1 tablespoon granulated sugar Divide dough and bake on a lefse grill, turning often until
1 tsp. salt nicely browned and done.
1/3 cup lard
1&1/2 cups sifted flour
Events
| Birth | 27 Jan 1844 | Singsaas, Norway |  | ||
| Marriage | 30 Dec 1869 | Singsaas, Norway - Ole Persen Digrehagen | | ||
| Burial | 1934 | Singsaas Lutheran Church Cemetery, South Dakota | | ||
| Death | 1934 | Lake Hendricks Township, Brookings Cty, S.D. | |
Families
| Spouse | Ole Persen Digrehagen (1844 - 1939) |
| Child | Ingeri O. Fjeseth (1875 - 1893) |
| Child | Emma Fjeseth (1883 - ) |
| Child | Peter O. Fjeseth (1883 - 1961) |
| Child | Anna Fjeseth (1871 - 1895) |
| Child | Petra Fjeseth (1873 - 1950) |
| Child | Peder Fjeseth (1873 - 1880) |
| Father | Per Persen Fjeseth (1790 - 1870) |
| Mother | Ingri Pedersdt. Kirkvoll (1800 - 1858) |
| Sibling | Per Persen Fjeseth (1836 - ) |
| Sibling | Beret Persdatter Fjeseth (1832 - 1901) |
| Sibling | Per Persen Fjeseth (1827 - 1908) |
| Sibling | Berit Persdatter Fjeset (1830 - 1831) |
Endnotes
1. Lorenchia_changes_040808.FTW.
2. Lorenchia_changes_040808.FTW.
3. Lorenchia_changes_040808.FTW.
4. Lorenchia_changes_040808.FTW.