BIOGRAPHIES SURNAME "F"


PETER OLESON FISKUM

Peter's name has appeared as Peder Fiskum, Podarcos Fiskum, and the 1890 Veterans Schedule and his pension indicates he used the alias, Peter Ohleson. He was born 9 October 1836 in Grongs, Prestegjeld, Norway to Ole Olson and Bertha Maria (Svensdatter) Fiskum. After his arrival to America in 1858 he lived in Minnesota shortly then went to Dunn County, Wisconsin. After the Civil War he married Sophia Bertilson in Norway, Fillmore County, Minnesota on 7 January 1869. They lived mostly in Clay County, Minnesota until after 1910 when they moved to McHenry County. In the census reports of 1880, 1890, 1895, 1900, and 1910 the family is living in Clay County, Minnesota. In 1920 he was living as a widower with his son Martin.
While in Dunn County he enlisted into the Civil War as a Private on 23 April 1861. He was discharged on 27 January 1863. His service was with the 5th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment in Company K. He started receiving the Civil War Pension on 29 May 1884 in Minnesota.
From MCHENRY COUNTY: Its History and Its People 1885-1985 this article: " Peter & Sophie (Bertilson) Fiskum by Agnes Roebuck,
Peter Oleson Fiskum was born on October 9, 1836 near Trondhjem, Norway. He came to the United States and served in the infantry during the Civil War. Sophie Thorson [Thoreson] Bertilson was born at Ringerike, Norway on April 4,1846 and came to the United States when quite young. She and Peter were married on January 7, 1869. They lived in Minnesota where their ten children were born, then moved to the Balfour area in the early 1900's where their children were reared and educated. Their children were: Betsy Marie (1869-1958) married Martin Greners Myhre; Ole Bernhart (1872-1960) married Josephine Tedora Severtson; Swen Ragner (1874-1962) married Anne Bergstad; Peter Alfred (1876-1964) married Emily Aspelund; Olina (1878-1951) married Martin Aanrud; Magnus (1880-1957) married Christine Starr; Petra Sophie (1882-1969) married Hans Skari; Otto (1885-1970) married Esther Aspelund; Georgine (1886-1975) married Gust Peterson; Adolph (1890-1976) married Ella Mathilda Bergquist."
From History of Clay and Norman Counties, Minnesota, Volume II - Biographies this biography: "PETER O. FISKUM,
Peter O. Fiskum, a farmer of Tansem township. Clay county, was born in Norway, October 9, 1836. He is a son of Ole Olson and Bertha Maria (Svensdatter) Fiskum, both natives of Norway, where they spent their lives on a farm. They were parents of five children, three of whom, Hannah, Tver and Ole Olson, remained in Norway, and Marin and Peter O., twins. Marin came to America in 1866 and located in Iowa, where she married Ole H. Larson, and there she spent the rest of her life, dying some time ago.
Peter O. Fiskum spent his boyhood in Norway, where he attended school. He came to America in 1858, locating first in Houston county, Minnesota, where he went to school one month. He worked on a farm there. After spending one winter in that county he went to Mononie [Menomonie], Dunn county, Wisconsin, where he worked in a saw-mill and there he worked until in April, 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Fifth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was sent South and saw considerable service, but was taken sick before Richmond, Virginia. He spent some time in the government hospital at Philadelphia and when released was discharged from the service on account of disability. After his experience as a soldier he went back to Spring Grove, Houston county. Minnesota, later to Fillmore county, this state [Minnesota], where he resided until 1871, when he removed to Clay county, bringing his wife and child in a prairie schooner, drawn by an ox-team, the trip requiring a month. He located on his present farm in Tansem township, taking up a homestead, one-fourth of section 12. He began life here in typical pioneer fashion, broke the wild prairie sod with his oxen, put up a group of buildings and planted crops. After living on the place eight years he bought one hundred acres of railroad land, on which he has erected his present home, barn and other excellent buildings, which land adjoins his original homestead. He has brought it all up to a high state of improvement and cultivation and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He is one of the best-known residents of his township, having lived here since the early pioneer days, or during a period of forty-five years, during which time he has lived to see the country develop from the wild plains to one of the foremost farming sections in the state. He helped organize Tansem township and was the first clerk of the township. Later he served as justice of the peace and as assessor several years, and also served as county commissioner for eight years. As a public servant he gave entire satisfaction to all concerned, being prompt, able, painstaking and courteous. He has always taken an abiding interest in the affairs of his township and has helped promote its welfare along general lines from the first. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company at Pelican Rapids. He has been very successful in a business way and is one of the substantial men of his community.
In 1869, in Fillmore county, this state [Minnesota], Mr. Fiskum was married to Sophia Bertilson, who was born in Norway, from which country she came to America with her parents when young, the family locating in Fillmore county, Minnesota. Her parents were Berthel [Bertil] and Ragnal Thorson [Ragnil Thoreson], both natives of Norway, where they grew up and married, immigrating to the United States in 1860 and establishing their home in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they resided until 1876, when they removed to Otter Tail, county, spending the rest of their lives there. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fiskum: Betsie M., Ole B., Sven R., Peter A., Olive, Magnus, Petra, Otto, Georgia and Adolph, all of whom are living [Note: links to all of these children and their families are contained in the FindAGrave Memorials for Peter and Sophia].
Politically, Mr. Fiskum is a Republican. He has never been a seeker for political offices. He helped organize the Grong Lutheran church. Mr.Fiskum recalls many interesting reminiscences of the early days in this locality. The first time he took wheat to mill to have ground into flour, he was compelled to go to Alexandria, making the long journey in a wagon drawn by oxen, the time required being eight days."

Peter's Burial, Tombstone and Family Photos, Links to Some Family Members
Sophia's Burial, Tombstone and Family Photos, Links to Some Family Members


FLATT FAMILY

JOHN HENRY FREDERICK

John was born in Frederick County, Maryland on 22 August 1842 to John (born in Germany) and Mary Ann Easterday (born in Maryland) Frederick. His parents were married in Frederick County on 9 November 1839. It is believed he is the oldest child and his siblings included, at least: Samuel (1844), Jacob (1846), Rebecca (1848), Daniel (1850), and July (1857).
John married Sophia (Null or Rynull) sometime after the June 1860 Census. Sophia was born in Maryland on 19 December 1845 to Henry and Anna.
The children of John and Sophia included, at least: Charles (1861-1911), William (1866), John Harvey (1867), Alice (1868), Sirus (1870), Benjamin Franklin (31 August 1871), Albert (1874), Ella (1876-1920) (married Adam Shroyer), Anna Bell (1877), Calvin (1880), Floyd (1883), and Estella (1885).
John enlisted in the Civil War as a Private in Company G (a Private, Independent Company of Maryland Infantry ("Patapsco Guards"), 7th Regiment, Maryland, Infantry. He mustered out at the end of the war as a Corporal on 31 May 1865. He started receiving his pension in Ohio on 29 May 1896. After he died in North Dakota, Sophia started receiving a widow's pension on 29 June 1906.
John had a homestead in Meadow Township and later it is where sons Albert, Floyd, and Calvin also had homesteads.
John died on 4 May 1906 and Sophia died on 8 March 1920. Both are buried at a cemetery located on a private farm in 2020 which although officially not named nor signs posted has been called the Frederick/Fredericks Cemetery. The North Dakota Death Certificate website records Sophia's death date as 8 April 1920 and her birth date as 12 December 1843.
From: McHenry County of North Dakota Cemetery Tombstone Readings, A Research Project of The Mouse River Loop Genealogy Society, 1992:
"FREDERICK, CALVIN A. Mr. Frederick was born in Ohio in 1873 [1880] and settled here in 1900. He married Minnie Smith. He received the patent to his homestead on the northeast quarter of Section 19 on August 21, 1905."