Voss, Norway. He died 12 Sep 1902. Lars was the son of Peter Gjermo and Anna J. Kvale. Lars was a Luther College student when they met. Julia and Lars were married 9 Jun 1897 at the home of Mari Tobiason, Julia's mother, when they were both 29. Lars gave his address as Armstrong, IA on the marriage license. They moved to Fergus Falls, MN where he worked as a banker. Lars died at age 33 after only 5 years of marriage. They had one child who died in infancy. Julia moved back to Decorah and lived at 407 Broadway with her sister Carrie Jurgens.

Julia worked at the Decorah Post Office until her marriage. She was a charter member of First Lutheran Church and active in the Ladies Aid and Ladies Chorus. She was a member of the Luther College Women's Club. Julia painted landscapes and portraits. We now have her painting of the Dugway—the road beneath Phelps Park along the river.

Julia was known to the family as beloved Aunt Dulla. Lars was the brother of Knut Rockne’s mother. Julia, Lars and baby are buried at the Tobiason/Gjermo stone at the Decorah Lutheran Cemetery.

Glass, Lorenz and Elizabeth (Jayme)

(Gilmer Seegmiller)

Lorenz Glass

Lorenz Glass, Sr., son of Lorenz and Anna Marie (Steiger) Glass, was born in Balbron, Alsace, France 30 Mar 1821. Lorenz was the 5th in succession to be given the name Lorenz. He left his parents' home Aug 1851 for America, landing at Pittsburgh, PA. He remained there until 1853 when he came to Ft. Atkinson, IA with his 2 brothers-in-law, Lorenz and Jacque Falck. After arriving he acquired government land.

In 1855 he returned to Pittsburgh where he met Miss Elizabeth Jayme who was born at Hessen Darmstadt, Rohrbach, Germany 12 Feb 1832. She came to America in July 1854 landing in Pittsburg. They were married circa 1855 and came back to IA. After their marriage they returned to their new home by boat down the Ohio River to

St. Louis, and the Mississippi River to McGregor, IA. Loading the oxen with provisions they walked to Ft. Atkinson, a distance of 50 miles. Sure some wedding trip! Then he took his bride to a one-room dugout with just one-half window in it. Their furniture consisted of some boards nailed together for a bed and a box for a table.

To this union were born 12 children. The 2 oldest, Charlie and Fred, were born in the one-room house and the other ten: Elizabeth, Anna, Lorenz, Caroline, Philip, Mary, Daniel, Albert and William, and one boy who died in infancy were born in the large house by the mill.

In 1878 Lorenz purchased the St. Cloud Flouring Mill -later known as the Evergreen Mill - just above Ft. Atkinson. He and his wife lived in Ft. Atkinson from 1855 to 1889 when he sold the old homestead and mill to his sons Charlie and Philip. In Mar 1889 he bought a farm near Strawberry Point, IA. The happiness soon turned to sorrow when the wife and mother died 10 Aug 1889 at age 57. On 10 Mar 1892 Lorenz Glass, Sr. married his second wife Mrs. Magdeline Brader of Strawberry Point. Magdeline was born at Bayern, Germany 29 Aug 1842. Lorenz Glass, Sr. passed away 11 Mar 1901 at age 80 and Magdeline passed away 3 Apr 1916 at age 73.

Glesne, Rev. Ole Family

(Nets Glesne)

Rev. Ole Glesnes (b. 30 Sep 1869, St. Olaf, IA) and Ingebor Mathihanna (Hannah) Boe (b. 13 Aug 1873, Calumet, Ml) were married 7 Sep 1898 at Silver Lake, IA. He served the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, SD for 18 years when he received a call from the Decorah Lutheran Church. The call was accepted. The Decorah Lutheran congregation built a new parsonage to accomodate the large family of its new pastor and wife: Otto Neil (b. 1 Jul 1899), Anna Helga (b. 14 Mar 1901), Ingvald Reque (b. 28 Nov 1902), Frieda Esther (b. 19 Apr 1908), Enoch Ormond (b. 20 Jun 1910), Roald Boe (b. 20 Jun 1912) and Nels Gerhard (b. 14 Apr 1916). The youngest child was but 6 weeks old upon arrival in Decorah. Otto, 17 years old, spent only a year in Decorah prior to going into the army toward the end of WWI. One more child was to be welcomed 2 years later, namely Ruth Cordelia (b. 25 Mar 1918).

The first contingent of Glesnes arrived in Decorah via train. Father, mother and baby Nels arrived right at the first of Jun 1916 in a Model T Ford after many miles of both dusty and muddy roads. Growing up in Decorah was a memorable and delightful experience. Being the son of a minister had its drawbacks, but they were more than compensated by a loving, understanding mother. Surrounded by good neighbors and being exposed to relatively few social outcasts meant being brought up in a community of strong Midwest moral and ethical values.

As a child I remember much of Decorah’s four season: Winter - sliding and skiing the hills; early spring -hitching rides on the bobsleds of farmers coming into and leaving town. The ice from frozen puddles was ideal for marbles, but knuckels-down meant cracked, bleed