Golden wedding anniversary, 1925

Martin and Helene Kirkeby, seated.
Left to right, 12 of 13 children,
first row: Minnie Kirkeby, Mable Thorsten, Aletta Johnson, Alma Strommen, Henry Kirkeby, Inga Johnson, Helga Kallevang.
Second row: Thorvald, Theodore, Otto, Olaf and Anton Kirkeby. Bernhard Kirkeby, not present.

took them to Anton Hansen Kirkeby’s farm where they stayed until Martin could take her to their new home. An interesting note is that the ship she arrived on sailed back to Norway, hit an iceberg and sank.

Her new home was a 20 acre farm about 10 miles east of Decorah in Glenwood Twp. Martin was not a farmer, but a tradesman - a stonemason - mostly laying rock foundations and cisterns.

Helene fell and broke her hip some years later. Her doctor said it wasn’t broken and ordered her out of her bed. She couldn't get up so she stayed in bed and always had to use a cane after that.

Martin would walk 11 miles to work on Monday and return home at the end of the week. He would walk 3 miles to church on Sunday. They had no horses or wagons.

The 13 children of Martin and Helene were: inaa (b. 10 Jun 1876) married Edward Shattuck. Bernhard (b. 26 Oct 1877) married "Betsy.” Thorvald (b. 9 Mar 1879) unmarried. AotonjylTHpnyE married. Minnie (b. 18 Mar 1885) married Ole Kirkeby. Otto Melvin (b. 7 Sep 1886) was a cook in World War I, also a cook in the local hotels in Decorah, the Grand Hotel and the Allamakee Hotel. He lived with Martin and Helene and took care of them. Helga (b. 17 Jun 1888) married Julius Kallevang. Alma Elizabeth (b. 29 Mar 1890) married Lars Strommen. Mabel Alveda (b. 21 Aug 1891) married Roy Thorsten. The family farm was sold to Mabel and Roy and they lived there until retirement brought them to Decorah. Mabel was a nurse and worked for Dr. Svebakken in Waukon. Olaf (b. 13 Jun 1893) married. He worked in a gunpowder factory in World War I. Theodore Edwin (b. 1 Jan 1895) married Cora Rebecca Evenrud 8 Jul 1926. They farmed for 51 years in Allamakee Co. He was a World War I hero. He served as a corporal and earned the Victory medal and service ribbon with four bronze stars for his action in numerous battles. During the Battle ofVerdonne he got lost from his company and came over a hill, stumbled onto a bunch of Germans who surrendered. He brought them back with him. Ted was active in his church, a singer with the Gauken Singing Society, Director of the Glenwood Farmers Telephone Co. They have one daughter, Virginia. Henry M. (b. 10 Nov 1896) married Ella Bertine Josephine Wangen. Henry lost his hand in a tree cutting accident helping a neighbor, Peter Rocksvold. Peter gave him 500 dollars to help him go to school and become a teacher. Thrine Aletta (b. 29 Aug 1898) married Edwin Arthur Johnson. Ed worked at O.J, Ness Grocery for about 10 years then went to Wapsie Produce. Aletta came to Decorah for the first time when she was 16 years old.

Kirkeby, Thorvald Hansen and Johanna (Amlin)

(Tom Kirkeby)

Thorvald Kirkeby and Joanna Amlien wedding photo, 1875

Thorvald Hansen Kirkeby came to America like his brother, Anton, to have his own farm. He was born on the farm in Hakedalen, Norway 14 Aug 1851. He came to America at age 20 on the ship Hero, leaving 31 May 1872 with a destination of Lansing, IA.

Thorvald married Johanna Amlin in 1875 in the Glenwood Church, the marriage performed by Rev. V. Koren. Johanna was born 30 Apr 1851 at Vestre Toten,