Ragnhild Gunderson Korsgarn

• Possible Norwegian Hits: Ragnhild Jensdatter, b. 9 Nov 1851, paa Østre Stabæk, Asker Parish Ragnild Johnsdatter, b. 1 Dec 1851, Sjølie, Ytre Rendal Parish Ragnild Jørgensdatter, b. 21 Aug 1852, i Atnedalen, Lessøe Pr., Ringebu Parish Ragnild Johanne Carlsdatter, b. 30 Sep 1853, Houde, Ørsta Parish Ragnhild Barothea Knudsdatter, b. 26 Jul 1851, Løghelle, Lenvik Parish Ragnhild Johnsdatter, b. 7 Mar 1852, Tverfjord, Hammerfest Parish Ragnhild Nielsdatter, b. 29 Jul 1852, Eibugt, Hammerfest Parish
• 1900 US Census year of immigration is 1867
• !SO: Birth and Death dates from Ralph Aanestad-95 record. PROBLEM: Lois lists name as Ragnhild Korsgaard Gunderson. Ralph A. lists name as either Ragnhild Korsgaard or Raghnild Gunderson A-036 lists last name as Ragnild Gunderson Korsgaard. Sammie Lang (A-011) explains that all the brothers and sisters took on the name Gunderson except for Raghnild, who kept the last name, Korsgaard. Also that she was called "Rachel" in America. Perhaps the answer comes from a letter (SO: A-014) dated 3-24-90 from Walter F. Kelley, who explains the reason for the name, Korsgaard, was that her father married Kari Korsgaard, who was an only child. She inherited the Korsgaard Farm and Ragnhild thus acquired the name. A-020-O lists name as Ragnil. A-020-h states that the name in Norway was Ragnil (Gunelsdatter) Krosgrn (Korsgaard in 'bokmaal" spelling) A-033 lists name as Ragnild. born 2-15-1852. BIRTH: Numedal is 100 miles NE of Bergin. (From (A-004): up at the north end of the Numedal Valley is the town of Rodberg which is not far from the farm [Korsgarad] where her family lived. The farm is now owned by the Bergs. Ragnhild was baptized in the stave church at the little town of Nore which is in the Numedal area.") PROBLEM: A-020-O says all Ragnhild's brothers and sisters were born at Nore. Norway. A-020-M says all born at Nummedal. Nordahl Skarshaug lists Jorund's b. place a Uvdal, Norway. EDUCATION: In Norway (From A-014) RELIGION: Lutheran. NOTES: Solveig Thorstenson relates that Ragnhild immigrated to America with her father, Gunulf Knutson Bekkeseth, (Sammie Lang believes the name should be, Gunull Svenson, and that his name was Americanized to Gunder, and that Gunder, Iowa is named for him) who was a widower, (also see Notes for Gunnel Svenson-497) and her brothers and sisters in 1862 when she was 10 years of age. Walter Kelley (SO: A-014) states that his mother Henrietta gave him information in 1932 for a college paper and gave the emmigration date as 1865. A-014 indicates that Ragnhild lived in Clayton Co., Iowa until 1879, Filmore Co., Minnesota until 1884, and Luverne, Minn. until 1885. Ralph Aaanestad relates, "Grandmother Ragnhild could bake the best rye bread in the entire Minnehaha County area in my estimation and she always had some on hand when I brought her a load of corn cobs for the kitchen stove or some oats and corn for her chickens. She told me she was born in Numdal, Norway, on Feb 16, 1852. Numdal is about 100 miles northeast of Stavanger. Grandmother cameto America when she was nearly 15 years old. She spent 18 years on the home place where Wilson F. Kelley lived for many years. In early days she used to twist flax straw for fuel in the family stove and she had a small flock of chickens on hand from earliest days of marriage until her death in 1933. Yes, some of those chickens had names and they were afraid of anyone other than Grandmother. She also used to choip up small kindling for her kitchen stove and I have her small, very sharp axe used for this chore. Grandmother managed many duties around the parsonage and farm, for the family was engaged in farming along with the pasoral duties of Grandfather. Ragnhild was a hard worker all her days until the last year or twwo when her health began to fail her. She told me that at one time she could have made a return trip to Norway but turned it down for it took 3 months to come over on a boat when she emigrated to the United States and she didn't want any more of that. She was the mother of 9 children, five boys and four girls, all of whom survived her. She was very happy when her children were present for her Golden Wedding in 1926." A-020-O. Henrietta relates that when her grandfather and children came to the U.S. her mother, Ragnhild, "was 13 years old. She had to find a home, to work and support herself and help the younger ones. Hers has been a life of sacrifice and no complaint." A-020-f tells she came to U.S. with father and family March 1866. Lived in Clayton co., Iowa, Fillmore MN, Luvern MN, Sherman SD. Died at Sherman of a cerebral hemorrage. A-031 lists her sir name as Korsgaarden, same as for her father. A-044 a letter written by her husband, Helge, indicates her illness began with a light stroke which incapacitated her memory and usual busy lifestyle and after 7 months death seperated them. Helge describes the funural service and some of his feelings. He spells her name, Ragnil, in the letter.

Name

• Korsgarn is the name given on the birth listing for Alert Palmer in South Dakota Births, 1856-1903 Record
• Korsgaard is the name given on Helge M. Aanestad's Minnesota death record.