waded up to her neck in the Upper Iowa River as a girl in order to take confirmation instruction from Pastor U.V. Koren at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. Will was a hard worker, and was less interested in church matters but enjoyed the outdoors, particularly fishing and trapping. Their lives revolved around family; they found support and gave support whenever it was needed.

The graves of William H. and Emelia Musser are located at the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church Cemetery, as are those of William's parents, Michael and Elizabeth Musser.

Myrah, Andrew P. and Caroline (Erickson)

(Norman \N. Hjelmeland)

Andrew Myrah family

Andrew Pedersen Myrah, twin son of Peder Hanson and Elsie (Erickson) Myrah, was born 22 Nov 1854 at Hakedalen, Norway. He emigrated to Winneshiek Co. with his parents in 1869. They lived in Winneshiek Co. until 1880 when the Myrah family moved to Norman Co., MN. Andrew married Caroline Erickson on 9 Aug 1886 in Norman Co. She was born 9 Aug 1862 in Canoe Twp, Winneshiek Co, the daughter of Jens and Ingeborg (Hanson) Erickson Ness (see Jens Erickson Ness story).

After their marriage, Andrew and Caroline Myrah lived on their Norman Co. homestead until Dec 1889 when they returned to Canoe Twp, Winneshiek Co. and established their home on the Erickson homestead at Springwater. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1936. They were members of Big Canoe Lutheran Church and are buried in the church cemetery.

Seven children were born to Andrew and Caroline Myrah: Julius, Clarence, Elsie, Ida Amanda, Ingvald, Ida and Carl. Peter Julius (b. 1887) never married and lived in Winneshiek Co. until his death in 1978 at age 91. Clarence Nathan (b. 1890) married Anna Petrine Hanson in 1913. They lived in Winneshiek Co. They had two sons: Arnold and Lester. Anna died in 1920 and Clarence married Clara Finholdt in 1936. Elsie Katherine (b. 1892) married Theodore Severson in 1914. They lived in Blooming, Saskatchewan, Canada. They moved to Beach, ND in 1927 and lived there until 1951 when they moved to Silverton, OR. They had five children: Violet, Bennie, Allen,

Raymond, and Robert. Ida Amanda (1894-1896). Ingvald Adolph (b, 1897) married Gurina Luken in 1919. They made their home in Northlake, IL. They returned to Decorah upon their retirement in 1969. They had one son, Truman. Ida Christine (b. 1899) married Albert N. Boe in 1929. They farmed in Springfield Twp, Winneshiek until his death in 1950. Ida moved to Silverton, OR in 1953. They had no children. Carl Theodore (b. 1902) married Johanna (Blegen) Quandahl in 1952. They lived in Decorah where he operated the Decorah Mill. They had no children.

Myrah, Gustav R and Olive (Harper)

(Norman W. Hjelmeland)

Gustav Pedersen Myrah, twin son of Peder Hanson and Elsie (Erickson) Myrah, was born 22 Nov 1854 at Hakedalen, Norway. He emigrated to Winneshiek Co, IA with his parents in 1869 at the age of 14. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith as Gustav Pedersen in 1870 in Decorah. Classes were held at Luther College. Gustav married Olive Harper in Decorah on 25 Jul 1874. Olive was born 31 May 1856 in Decorah. Gustav and Olive Pedersen remained in Winneshiek Co. when the Peder Hanson family moved to Norman Co, MN in 1880 to take up homestead land. They were living in West Decorah during the 1885 Iowa Census. Seven children were born to Gustav and Olive Pedersen, including two sets of twins: Clara, Edgar, Edith, Bertha, Lillie, Lizzie and Gertrude. All the children were born in Decorah with the exception of their youngest daughter, Gertrude, who was born near Ada, MN. It was shortly before her birth that the Gust Pedersen family moved to the Andrew P Myrah homestead in Norman Co, MN. After moving to Minnesota, the Gust Pedersen family adopted the Myrah surname as did the rest of the Peder Hanson family.

Gustav R Myrah family

Back row, left to right: Edgar, Edith, Lillie, Lizzie and Gertrude Myrah. Front row, left to right: Bertha, father Gustav, mother Olive and Clara Myrah (1924).

Gustav and Olive Myrah spent many years on the farmstead near Ada and raised their children to young men and womanhood. They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary there in 1924 with all of their seven children in attendance. In later years, Gustav and Olive Myrah