MATHIAS MATHIASON and  MALENA ARNESDATTER

Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Mathiason (Malena Arnesdatter), came from Sunnhordland, Norway, in 1870. They came by sailing ship across the Atlantic Ocean to Quebec, Canada. From there they traveled, via Milwaukee, to Calamus, Clinton County, Iowa. They left Norway on April 14th, and arrived in Calamus on June 14. Malena's sister, Mrs. Nels Hendrickson (Mari Arnesdatter), came in 1867. In 1872, the two families traveled for three weeks by means of oxen and covered wagon to Ann Township, Cottonwood County, Minnesota, where they filed for Homesteads. There may have been others in the same company.

Mathias and Malena had eleven children: Margarete (Mrs. Abraham Sather), Mathias (Matt)(single), Theodore, Berthe (Mrs. Lars Larson), Anna (single), Inger (Mrs. Nels Villa), Lena (Mrs. Albert Anderson), Ida (Mrs. Jacob Litland), Jacob, Linda (Mrs. Eimer Kopperud), and Alfred. Click for more on the Mathiasons.

Mr. and Mrs. Nels Hendrickson (Mari Arnesdatter), came from Norway in 1867 to Calamus, Iowa. They homesteaded in Ann Township in 1872, and later purchased the 80 acres west of the road.  (Click for pictures)

Excerpt from "The History of Ann Township" by Linda & Eimer Kopperud (1962)

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