She was the daughter of Michael McCarthy and was born 7 Apr 1852 in OH. The couple moved to Decorah Twp., Winneshiek Co. in 1876 where they raised their family of nine children, six of whom were still living at the time of the 1910 Federal Census.

The Hallorans were members of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Decorah, IA where the children were baptized, confirmed and married.

Maurice owned a small farm and stone quarry northeast of Decorah on the Ice Cave Road. He was outspoken in area politics with several letters to the editor of the local newspaper to his credit. He died at the State Hospital in Independence on 9 Jul 1920 after a lengthy illness. He was buried at St. Benedict’s Cemetery. Catherine died 3 Sep 1933.

Their children are:: Margaret, Mary, Thomas, Catherine, Maurice, John, James, and Charles.

Margaret was born Feb 1872 in Prairie du Chien, Wl. She married John M. Mills of Minnesota on 30 Sep 1902 at St. Benedict's Catholic Church. She later resided in Fond Du Lac, Wl.

Mary was born in 1873 in Wl. She married Patrick McQuaid of Janesville, Wl. 16 Aug 1898 at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church.

Thomas was born 3 Jun 1876 in Winneshiek Co. Family tradition has it that he was murdered in California.

Catherine “Kate” was born 18 Feb 1878 in Winneshiek Co. She married Marshal (M.F.) Harrison, a railroad man from Janesville, Wl on 14 May 1901 at St. Benedict’s. She later resided in Fond Du Lac.

Maurice was born 11 Feb 1880, baptized at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, and died young.

John was born 4 May 1881 in Winneshiek Co. He resided in Stockton, CA at the time of his mother’s death in 1933.

James Patrick was born 27 Jul 1883 in Winneshiek Co. He married Mary Schmidt in LeMars 4 May 1909. James died 1 Oct 1963 in West Allis, Milwaukee Co., Wl. (See biographical sketch).

Charles Henry was born 20 Feb 1889 in Decorah. He married Louise Larson 24 Sep 1935. He served in WWI in the Army. He died 15 Mar 1962 in Decorah. They had 4 children: Charles, Raymond, Robert and Betty Louise. Charles Curtis died at 7 weeks in 1936. Louise died 27 Mar 1964 and is buried in the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah beside her husband.

Halverson, Hans and Mabel (Rustad)

(Olga Halverson)

Hans (Halvorson) Halverson was born 1 Jun 1874 in Springfield Twp. Winneshiek Co., the son of Halvor and Randi (Boe) Baardson. Halvor was born 12 Aug 1839 and died 20 May 1919. Randi was born 24 Jun 1848 and died 8 Aug 1928.

Hans had 5 brothers and 2 sisters: Andrew (b. 26 Oct 1867-d. 5 Jan 1956-m. Ida — from Chicago), Ingrid (b. 2 Sep 1871-d. 6 May 1937-m. Endre Lansrud), Bertha (b. 11 Mar 1866-d. 1953-never married), Halvor (b. 22 Aug 1869-d. 16 Jan 1956-m. Emma Lee), Bert (b. 11 Mar 1866-d. 1 Jul 1938-m. Anne Nelson.), Hans (b. 1 Jun 1874-d. 10 Dec 1957-m. Mabel Rustad), Ole (b. 27 Dec 1879-d. 23 Mar 1957-never married), John(b. 8 Mar 1884-d. 14 Sep 1958-m. Hilda Orvella).

As a young man Hans attended Breckenridge College in Decorah. He worked in a fire truck factory in Luverne, MN and also taught school there as well as Nordness, IA. Hans liked buttermilk so he went to the Nordness Store often. There he met Mabel Josephine Rustad who became his wife. Hans farmed near Frankville and then moved to a farm north of Decorah.

Hans Halverson family

From left to right, front row: Orlando, Hans, Mabel and Donald. Back row: Ruth, Edna and Margaret.

Hans and Mabel were married in 1912. Mabel was born 13 Jul 1890 in Highland Twp. to Ole Martinson Rustad and Agnetta (Sherven). Ole was born 12 Jul 1857 in OstreToten, Oppland, Norway and died 10 Jun 1925. Agnetta was born 5 Feb 1855 in Vordal, Oppland, Norway and died in Oct 1917.

Mabel had 2 sisters and 1 brother all born in Highland Twp: Eliza “Lizzie" Beathe (b. 6 Nov 1887-d. 5 Mar 1970-m. Charlie Nickolie Nelson), Abraham James Oscar (b. 29 Jan 1894-d. 4 Apr 1971-m. Olena Ingebor Lomen), Marie Henrietta (b.10 May 1898-d. 12 Jun 1979-m. Gjermund Helmer Haugen).

Mabel worked in the Nordness Store as a young girl and also worked at the train depot in Nordness. Hans and Mabel raised their family on a farm near Frankville. They had 5 children: Ruth, Orlando, Edna, Margaret and Donald.

Ruth Almira (b. 13 Apr 1914, Canoe Twp-m. 12 May 1939 Raphiel “Ray” Strub). Orlando Herbert (b. 25 Nov 1915, Canoe-m. 24 Sep 1940 Olga Marian Roed). Edna Henrietta (b. 4 Apr 1919, Canoe-m. Vincent StrubT Margaret Elizabeth ( Canoe-m. 5 May 1946 Virgil Stortz). Donald Ernest (m. June Barth Aug 1948).

Mabel always made coffee and lunch when someone came to visit. She and Hans were members of Washington Prairie Lutheran Church and later members of Hauge Lutheran. Hans died 10 Dec 1957 and Mabel died 5 Mar 1970. Both are buried at Hauge Lutheran Cemetery.