Ancestor of the day for 26 January: Mary’s great aunt Anne C [Karolina/Caroline] Blixrud, b 26 Jan 1870 in Spring Grove, Houston Co, MN, the first child of Jens Neilson Blixrud and Jøren Knudson Lee, and oldest sister of grandfather John Benjamin Blixrud.
Mons Andreas Ronhovde and Anne Karolina Blixrud Ronhovde
When she was an infant (just six weeks old!) her parents and other family members traveled by covered wagon from Spring Grove to Grant Co, MN where homestead land was available. According to a reminiscence by Anne’s youngest sister Helen Marie addressed to Anne’s son Andreas:
“One time in crossing a river, the baby [Anne] was left alone in the wagon – the grown folks being busy with the cattle. The wagon struck a deep place in the river and almost tipped. Your grandma often tells about how her heart fairly stood still so to speak until the wagon righted itself. Another time the river was so deep where they crossed, she could only just see the top of your grandpa’s head above the water. This time she sat in the wagon holding the baby.”
On 17 Jul 1888, Anne married Mons Andreas Ronhovde, b 06 Oct 1861 in Vallestrandfossen (near Bergen?) Norway and d 21 Sep 1942. They had nine children. Anne died 4 Feb 1914 when her youngest child was barely six months old.
This is the only picture I have seen of Anne- and this is a copy of a copy of a picture of a picture… so not the best image, but she was a lovely woman.