Category Archives: Maria Thorsen

An 1875 Emigrant Ship

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Glenn Borreson

How nice to be suprised by people reading this blog (even if I haven’t given it much attention lately). One of the recent readers was Carson Taylor who graduated from Galesville High School but now lives in the state of … Continue reading →

Posted in Maria Thorsen, Ships, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A 1908 Confirmation

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Glenn Borreson

Pigeon Creek Lutheran Church was the church home to Borresons and Estensons almost since the day they arrived in Fitch Coulee, I suppose. How many baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and funeral services for the families took place there I could only begin to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bertinus Estensen, Churches, Gina Estensen, Maria Thorsen, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Heirloom Baptism Gown

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Glenn Borreson

A few weeks ago – I must have been doing a search on a relative – I came across a fascinating article in the Winona (Minnesota) Daily News dated April 21, 1965. I’m including it here because I think it’ll draw … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Maria Thorsen | Tagged | 1 Comment

Why They Came to Wisconsin

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Glenn Borreson

Did you ever wonder why our ancestors came to Wisconsin – or specifically Trempealeau County or Fitch Coulee? The answer is usually found in who came before they did. But first, let me back up a step. In the 1850s … Continue reading →

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Traveling in 1878 Trempealeau County

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Glenn Borreson

What were the roads like at the time the Borresens and Estensens arrived in Trempealeau County? For Elias and Kari Borresen, that would be 1873 in Fitch Coulee near Pigeon Falls; for Bertinus Estensen, 1875, and for his future wife Maria Thorsen, 1876. In Merle … Continue reading →

Posted in Bertinus Estensen, Elias Borreson, Farming, Maria Thorsen, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Homesick for Norway

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Glenn Borreson

Some time ago I read Ole Rolvaag’s 1920s immigrant classic, Giants in the Earth, and noticed how homesick one of the main characters became in her new life in the Dakota territory. Beret longed for family and the old country … Continue reading →

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An Heirloom Shawl

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Glenn Borreson

Searching old newspapers online for family references, I came upon this one: “Heirloom Shawl in Bridal Costume of Norma Stalheim” (La Crosse Tribune, Jan. 6, 1946). Norma, cousin to Emil and Gina’s children, was married to William White in January 1946 … Continue reading →

Posted in Bertinus Estensen, Maria Thorsen, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Can You Identify This?

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Glenn Borreson

Years ago – more precisely I do not recall – my father gave me the item pictured below. It was dusty and dirty. I tucked it away and never paid it much attention. In fact, I nearly threw it away because it … Continue reading →

Posted in Maria Thorsen, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Estensen Neighbors in 1910

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Glenn Borreson

Census records are interesting not only for information about family members, but also about their neighbors. The census taker goes up and down the street or road, so the adjacent names on the census form are usually nearby neighbors. Here’s … Continue reading →

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Church as Social Center

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Glenn Borreson

Recently I happened upon a fascinating article in the Wisconsin Magazine of History that connected to our family’s history over a hundred years ago. The subject, “Rural Church Reform in Wisconsin During the Progressive Era” by Brian W. Beltman, looked at the … Continue reading →

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