before her marriage. In 1897 Charlie and Sophie
homesteaded in Roseau County, Minn., and in 1902 they
came to Walsh County and operated a cafe in Adams
until they bought a farm from "Baptist" John Johnson in
Latona Township in 1903 where they lived until 1918 when
they moved to Norton Township.
The Knutsons had six children. Robert married a girl
from Loma; Carl married Mabie Myren; Rudolf married
Lila Gilbertson; Archie married Olga Lundene; Edna
married Marifjeren and Daisy married Edwin Helle.
It is said Charlie was one of the best singing square
dance callers at that time.
The home he bought in 1903 is presently owned and
Uved in by the Oscar Heffta, Jr., famdy. The farm he
bought in 1918 is presently owned arid occupied by
Rodger Gustafson.
They moved to Auburn, Wash., in 1936.
came to this country. She got jobs and learned to speak
some English, but decided she would go to school. She
went for one day, but then her sister's husband died in a
snowstorm which left her sister, Anna, with several
children and pregnant, so Kari left school to stay with
Anna. Anna came for a visit after Kari and Sam moved to
Adams. She came to see her daughter, Andrina, who
came earlier and was a dressmaker in Park River.
Andrina had met and married a widower, Jim Martin,
who had a small boy. They lived in Park River for some
time. They had three children and came to visit Kari
often. Clara worked for them for a while. Later, they
moved to Washington. Kari died in 1926 and was buried in
Quale Cemetery near FordviUe.
FRANK A. SIREK, SR.
SAMUEL AND KARI SEVERSON
Samuel Severson was bom Feb. 25, 1884, and died
January, 1911. He married Kari Bendicksdatter
Vangsness, bom Jan. 12, 1845, and died March 12, 1926.
Their chddren were: Bertha, bom Aug. 16,1870,died July
28,1897; Sena Andrina, bom Jan. 12, 1872, died Aug. 30,
1872; Syver Johannes, born March 20,1873, died Nov. 22,
1955; Sena, born Aug. 28, 1874; Andrina, born May 10,
1876, died March 27,1957; Bennett Hallock, born May 27,
1878, died June 11, 1951; Karl Ragnelius, bom Feb. 20,
1880; Klara Sofia, born Sept. 30,1881; Henry, born Dec. 9,
1883, died Oct. 9, 1956; Johannes, born June 5,1885, died
1935; Dena, born Jan. 1,1888; Alma Sophia, bora Jan. 30,
1891.
Samuel and Kari first farmed in the area of Lyle,
Adams, and Taopi, Minn. Their first chdd, Bertha, was
born here. In 1882 Samuel and Kari settled with their
famdy in Latona Township. They budt a sod house and
hved there 12 years. Klara was a baby when they came
there. Henry, Johnny, Dena and Alma were born here.
There were no doctors or hospitals. Kari delivered many
babies.
A young nurse from Norway came into the neighborhood and married a widower with a large family. She
got the job as midwife and delivered hundreds of babies.
Her name was Mrs. Anna Halberg. She attended Alma
when Arlene was born. In 1894 they left the homestead
and moved down to a beautiful site by the river near
Adams.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sirek
Frank A. Sirek, Sr., was bom to Albert and Kathrine
Sirek at New Prague, Minn., June 29, 1884. He was
baptized at Lonsdale, Minn., in the Cathode faith. In 1886,
he moved with his parents and four brothers, Mike, John,
Albert and Joseph, to Perth Township, Lankin. The same
year they budt a sod house with the assistance of the
Bosh and Kovarik brothers.
In 1901, Albert Sirek, Frank's dad, homesteaded in
Perth Township, SEy* of Section 8, Township 155, Range
58. This is where Widiam Zahradka now hves. Here,
James, twin sons, BUI and Adolph, Tom, Mary,
Elizabeth, Ludvig and Lena were bora.
James E. Dougherty (banker in Park River) got the
patent on SE Vi -156-58 in Latona Township. In 1914 Frank
A. Sirek, Sr., acquired this land and this was their home
until their deaths. The barn and shed were built at this
time. Frank boarded with his sister, Mary Kosobud,
when he farmed this land.
Albert Sirek and his sons had a Minneapolis steam
rig in 1917-18 and they threshed in the community. After
Albert died, the rig was sold to Adolph Sirek. Frank A.
was a fireman for this rig and BiU Kovar of Owatonna,
Minn., was the engineer.
Albert Sirek died in 1918 and Kathrine, Frank's
mother, in 1921.
In 1922 Frank A. Sirek, Sr., married PauUne
Zahradka, daughter of Joseph and Maria Zahradka of
Shepherd Township. At this time they built their house
Sam Severson served in the Civil War. He died in 1911
and was buried in Quale Cemetery near Fordvdle. Six
brothers and two sisters came to America. Sam came to
North Dakota in 1882. He hved on a pre-emption and later
on a claim. Five successive crop failures and then
grasshopper pests were experienced. Out of a group of
pioneers who came to this section, only Bylin and Sam
remained and saw the hard times through. There were
had, drought and cutworms untd 1891, the first good
year, and a gradual rise to prosperity. 1891 was a winter
of heavy snow. They walked through a tunnel from the
house to the barn. In that summer they hauled wheat
with oxen to Michigan City, 25 mdes distant, to get 35
cents per bushel.
Kari had two sisters and one brother. Her two sisters
were both named Anna. One died of leprosy. The other
Anna was Mrs. Barlow. Her brother's name was Gutorm,
later changed to George. Kari was 17 years old when she
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