time in the Heart Prairie area in Walworth Co., Wl.

J. W. C. Dietrichson, pastor of the early settlers, married Johannes Olson and Margit Andersdtr 6 Aug 1849. Margit was the daughter of Anders Haavelson Hovda Stake and Guri Hansdtr Veahole. She was born in 1832 on a farm near Gol, Hallingdal, Norway and emigrated in 1848.

Johannes and Margit purchased 80 acres in Spring Green Twp., Sauk Co., Wl in 1853. He purchased other land inSaukCo. and Iowa Co., Wl. Then in 1870Germund Johnson, an early Winneshiek Co. settler, sold to John Olson the SW 1/4 of Section 31 in Glenwood Twp., Winneshiek Co. John built a commodious house and outbuildings and purchased additional adjoining land from Christopher and Anne Evans in 1875.

Sometime after 1875 John Olson took the surname of Traaserud from the ancestral farm in Norway. John and Margit held membership in the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church where he was a trustee. He assisted in preparation and leveling of the grounds at Luther College. Margit died in 1880 and is buried in the Washington Prairie Cemetery. During the 1800's there occurred a bitter doctrinal dispute among Norwegian Lutherans in America. There was a split between the Missourians and the Anti-Missourians. Differences of opinion concerned slavery, common vs. parochial schools and predestination. It was the wish of John that they leave the church. At Washingnton Prairie the Anti-Missourians who withdrew, organized St. Petri Lutheran, later called North Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. In Mar 1889 a meeting was held at the home of Johannes Traaserud for the purpose of organizing the new church. A new frame church was built in 1890 on a small triangle of land a short distance east of the old pioneer cemetery in the southeast corner of Johannes’ land and just off Highway #9. A deed for this land was executed by John T Olson (widower) for church and cemetery purposes in 1892 to the North Washington Prairie Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Johannes was baptismal sponsor for his granddaughters Malanda and Ida Traaserud and took an active part in the church until shortly before his sudden death 27 Jan 1908. He was buried in the North Washington Prairie Cemetery.

Johannes and Margit had 3 children: 1st. Oje (died in infancy); 2nd Oje (died in infancy); and Andrew J. (b. 2 Jan 1855) in Sauk Co., Wl married 1) Isabell Bakke, daughter of Erik 0. and Gunhild (Ramsey) Bakke 30 May 1882. She died 8 Aug 1883. Andrew married 2) Olive Anderson, daughter of Haaver and Gunhild (Asand) Anderson 29 Dec 1888. Andrew continued farming the home farm following his father’s death. Andrew died of pneumonia shortly after moving to a home in the Dayton Addition in West Decorah. Burial was in North Washington Prairie Cemetery. Andrew and Olive had 5 children: Marie, Gunhild, Ida, Alma and Lillian. Marie Henrietta (b. 2 Dec 1889) Winneshiek Co., married Joseph Downing in 1919, died 13 Feb 1944 in Seattle, WA. Gunhild Malanda (b. 11 Apr 1891) Winneshiek Co., unmarried, died 11 Feb 1957 in Seattle. Ida Jounetta (b, 2 Apr 1895) Winneshiek Co., married 16 Jan 1918 to Philip Bakke, died 10 Feb 1973 at Decorah. Ida and Philip had 3 children: Irene, Phyllis and Andrew. Irene Olive (twin (b. 11 Aug 1919) Winneshiek Co. married William Winchester Hart 16 Jan 1943. They had 3 children: William, Gregory and Cynthia. William David married Mary Rose Lamb 3 Jan 1970 and had 3 children: Patricia Irene, Margaret Elizabeth and Christopher William Martin. Gregory Philip, married Lydia Rose Vasquez 25 Apr 1981, and Cynthia Phyllis married Ward Harley Evenson II 4 Oct 1980 and had 2 children: Ward Harley III and Jenna. Phyllis Elene (twin b. 11 Aug 1919) Winneshiek Co, married Elmer Louis Blair, 1945. They had one son Douglas Elmer married Jane Marie Holthaus 2 Jul 1967 and had 3 children: Jenifer Marie, Philip Douglas and Katherine Jane.

Andrew Oswald (b. 5 Oct 1921) Winneshiek Co. married Mabel Eloise Lee 16 Jun 1945. They had 3 children: Corrine, Alan and Arleen. Corrinne Lee born in Winneshiek Co. married Larry Snell 31 Jul 1971 and had one daughter Stacey Lea; Alan Philip born in Winneshiek Co; and Arlene Eloise born in Winneshiek Co, married 1) Roger K. Halverson 25 Jun 1977 and had one daughter Erin Michelle. Arlene married 2) Jan Krueger 30 Mar 1991.

Alma Odella (b. 28 Feb 1897) Winneshiek Co. attended Lynne School District #6, Glenwood Twp. and business college in Sioux Falls, SD. She was employed by the Decorah Posten Newspaper before her marriage to Emmons LeRoy Tillapaugh 24 Apr 1929; died 28 Mar 1953, Cedar Rapids, IA. Alma and Emmons had one daughter Evelyn Arlenemarried Robert Verne Zingula 19 Nov 1949. Evelyn and Robert had 3 children: Robert, Chris and Kristi. Robert Curtis  married Gayle N. Martinson Broxey 25 Aug 1984. Gayle had 2 children by her first marriage, Bradley Steven and Elizabeth Marie. Robert and Gayle had Brian Andrew and Jennifer Kristen. Chris Andrew; Kristi Bobette.

Lillian Viola (b. 19 Nov 1900 - d. 21 Aug 1901) Winneshiek Co. buried in North Washington Prairie Cemetery.

Tveter, Louis and Arlene (Flaskerud)

(Alice Hamre Arneson)

Louis Melvin Tveter was born 20 Jul 1921 on the farm and died 29 Nov 1991. He was the son of Martin H. and Marit (Hamre) Tveter. He married Arlene Flaskerud (b. 24 Aug 1921) on 1 Dec 1944. Louis worked on the family farm NW of the Madison Lutheran Church since age 15.

Louis and Arlene had 3 children: Janelle, David and Lou Ann. Janelle Marie married Harlan Olson on 18 Dec 1965 and had 3 children: twins, Trent Millard who lived only a few hours and Kirk Louis  and Kara Leigh.