Interview of Albert Raaum
By Edward B. Ronnie
By Edward B. Ronnie
Ingebrigt Raaum
(Better known as Albert Raaum of Starbuck)
I was born July 4th, 1856 at Jostedalen, Norway. I recieved my education and was confirmed at Lyster Prestijold, Sogn,
Norway by professor Holen at Dale Kirken.
My parents were Thomas Raaum and Gunnhild Knutson Raaum. They farmed in Norway. My grandfather was Knut Stubben.
He died at the age of 101 years, 6 months, 3 weeks.
I recieved part of my education at Raa-aden and I remember the last school I attended. I was taught by Reick Lerie in Sogn,
Norway. I was married January 13, 1882 to Gjertrud Hansdotter Barsness at Sogndal by paster Smith. Her parents were
Hans and Anna Barsness. She recieved her education and was confirmed by paster Smith at Sogndal, Norway.
After we married in 1883 we emigrated from Norway. We came on a boat across the North Sea to Liverpool, England and
then on the Allen Line across the Atlantic Ocean and landed at Quebec. From there we came by train to Hancock,
Minnesota.
The first job I had in America after we came to Pope county, I worked for the Railroad Company. I used one horse and a
colt to haul dirt. The railroad was laid out but never completed.
Then my wife and I got work at Hans Johnsoys, on his farm. We worked there for about a year. Then we worked for Iver
Barsness. I remember Hans Johnsoys had a woods harvester. It took 2 of us to tie bundles only, and over at Iver Barsness, I
remember Vettle Fossen was working there too. He was a real good one to tie bundles. Andrew E. Barsness was a very fast
one also. I was along with them for one season.
In 1884 I bought 80 acres of land in section 16 Walden Township. State Land it was and I paid $5.00 per acre. It was only
wild prairies at the time. I remember I borrowed $100.00 to build a small house and for the cattle I had a straw shed.
I bought a yoke of oxen to do farm work with. I plowed up all of my farm with tha tyoke of oxen. They were big and husky
weighing about 3600 pounds together.
I remember once during threshing it was impossible to move the big threshing machine as it was wet because it had been real
rainy. I put my yoke of oxen on the machine and took it over to Uggla Per farm which was many miles away across the
prairies and fields.
I bought horses to do farm work later, I had the yoke of oxen for 2 years. I bought machinery as to my need and built up my
farm so we had a nice and comfortable home.
Eleven children were born to us: Anna was born Feb. 17, 1883; Caroline Sept. 4, 1885; Ada Oct. 3, 1886; Hans and Hilma
died in childhood; Thilda Dec. 25, 1889; Alma May 5, 1891; Hilmer Sept7. 1893; Maria March 16, 1895; Herman June 26,
1897; and Amanda.
All my children were baptized and confirmed at the Immanuel Luthern Church by Paster Magnus Koefod and Paster Nels
Forde. They recieved their common school education in school Dist. 45 Walden Township. We became members of the
Immanuel Luthern Church about 10 years after it was organized.
We were on the farm for 35 years. I sold my 80 acres to Andrew Overstad in 1919 for $100.00 per acre. I moved with my
family to Starbuck, Minnesota. I bought and built up a nice an comfortable home. My wife and I went through many
hardships in the pioneer days, but the 80 acres that I bought in 1884 has been our only income and support for the family all
these years. We are now at the age of 83 years. We are both in poor health. But with the help from our son Hilmer, who is
staying home with us, everything is good.
Information furnished by Ingebrigt Raaum
Interviewed by Edward B. Ronnie
WPA Project Sponsored by the Pope County Historical Society
Copied March 31, 1939
Albert Raaum is the brother of Martha Thomasdatter Bollingberg wife of Christopher Bollingberg.
(Better known as Albert Raaum of Starbuck)
I was born July 4th, 1856 at Jostedalen, Norway. I recieved my education and was confirmed at Lyster Prestijold, Sogn,
Norway by professor Holen at Dale Kirken.
My parents were Thomas Raaum and Gunnhild Knutson Raaum. They farmed in Norway. My grandfather was Knut Stubben.
He died at the age of 101 years, 6 months, 3 weeks.
I recieved part of my education at Raa-aden and I remember the last school I attended. I was taught by Reick Lerie in Sogn,
Norway. I was married January 13, 1882 to Gjertrud Hansdotter Barsness at Sogndal by paster Smith. Her parents were
Hans and Anna Barsness. She recieved her education and was confirmed by paster Smith at Sogndal, Norway.
After we married in 1883 we emigrated from Norway. We came on a boat across the North Sea to Liverpool, England and
then on the Allen Line across the Atlantic Ocean and landed at Quebec. From there we came by train to Hancock,
Minnesota.
The first job I had in America after we came to Pope county, I worked for the Railroad Company. I used one horse and a
colt to haul dirt. The railroad was laid out but never completed.
Then my wife and I got work at Hans Johnsoys, on his farm. We worked there for about a year. Then we worked for Iver
Barsness. I remember Hans Johnsoys had a woods harvester. It took 2 of us to tie bundles only, and over at Iver Barsness, I
remember Vettle Fossen was working there too. He was a real good one to tie bundles. Andrew E. Barsness was a very fast
one also. I was along with them for one season.
In 1884 I bought 80 acres of land in section 16 Walden Township. State Land it was and I paid $5.00 per acre. It was only
wild prairies at the time. I remember I borrowed $100.00 to build a small house and for the cattle I had a straw shed.
I bought a yoke of oxen to do farm work with. I plowed up all of my farm with tha tyoke of oxen. They were big and husky
weighing about 3600 pounds together.
I remember once during threshing it was impossible to move the big threshing machine as it was wet because it had been real
rainy. I put my yoke of oxen on the machine and took it over to Uggla Per farm which was many miles away across the
prairies and fields.
I bought horses to do farm work later, I had the yoke of oxen for 2 years. I bought machinery as to my need and built up my
farm so we had a nice and comfortable home.
Eleven children were born to us: Anna was born Feb. 17, 1883; Caroline Sept. 4, 1885; Ada Oct. 3, 1886; Hans and Hilma
died in childhood; Thilda Dec. 25, 1889; Alma May 5, 1891; Hilmer Sept7. 1893; Maria March 16, 1895; Herman June 26,
1897; and Amanda.
All my children were baptized and confirmed at the Immanuel Luthern Church by Paster Magnus Koefod and Paster Nels
Forde. They recieved their common school education in school Dist. 45 Walden Township. We became members of the
Immanuel Luthern Church about 10 years after it was organized.
We were on the farm for 35 years. I sold my 80 acres to Andrew Overstad in 1919 for $100.00 per acre. I moved with my
family to Starbuck, Minnesota. I bought and built up a nice an comfortable home. My wife and I went through many
hardships in the pioneer days, but the 80 acres that I bought in 1884 has been our only income and support for the family all
these years. We are now at the age of 83 years. We are both in poor health. But with the help from our son Hilmer, who is
staying home with us, everything is good.
Information furnished by Ingebrigt Raaum
Interviewed by Edward B. Ronnie
WPA Project Sponsored by the Pope County Historical Society
Copied March 31, 1939
Albert Raaum is the brother of Martha Thomasdatter Bollingberg wife of Christopher Bollingberg.
