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Nils Oksendal

A Norwegian emigrant's life in America
Written by Nels Oksendal.
Collected by Karen Windheim, Oregon, USA.
Introduction by Kaare Trefall

Introduction:
This is the story of Nils Oksendal, born July 15, 1878 on the Yksendal farm in Eksingedalen, Norway. Nils Nilson Oksendal (1878-1960) was third child of Nils Larson Oksendal (1846-1891) and Anna Rasmusdatter Straume (1845-1913). He emigrated to USA, North Dakota, first time in 1900, permanently in 1906. Lars was brother of Rasmus Nilson Oksendal, which setteled in the same area when he emigrated permanently in 1913. Mor about Rasmus under Rasmus Oksendal.
The story:

Nils. Photo by Karen
When a young lad I attended school during the winter months, traveling sometimes on skis to school when the snow became too deep to walk. Later I read for the Minister in my home town in Norway. I worked hard when a young lad, until my younger brothers and sisters became old enough to lend a hand. It was then that I began to think of America.

I had heard a great deal about conditions on the "other side" of the Atlantic as a number of people from my home town in Norway had made the trip to America before and had written home telling about the "Land of Plenty".
Leaving home is one of the hardest things in life sometimes, but never the less; I packed my suitcase and prepared to emigrate to the United States - May 1900. At Bergen, I met others who were also going to America, as the "Fever Bug" had bitten them, too.

Once on the boat at Bergen, we sailed for Liverpool, England where we transferred to the ship 'Teatonik' of the White Star Line, taking on many more passengers who were also headed for the new? land of promise.
The first day out of Liverpool we lost sight of land and it became quite stormy. Soon sea sickness overtook many and there were only a few sturdy characters who managed to overcome the sickness of the sea and were able to roam about the decks, I was among them. The storm lasted for days, and at times the waves were so high they rolled over the decks of the ship. Teutonic. Photo from www.norwayheritage.com
Later, the storm died down and by the time we neared New York, most of the passengers were once again on deck. The entire trip from Bergen to New York took just 10 days.

Once on land, we were asked to show our identification papers and to where we were headed, and if we had sufficient monies to take us there. Some did and some didn't, but those who found themselves short of cash, usually borrowed from, those who were more fortunate and once off Ellis Island, they returned the money they borrowed a few minutes previous.

From New York, some of the emigrants boarded a train for St. Paul. This trip lasted three days, but as a spot out on the prairie, later to be called Maddock, wras my destination, I stayed on the train until it arrival at Minnewaukan. My uncle Ivar Oksendahl met me there.

With horse and buggy we started out for his home, south of Maddock. We passed the evening talking about the old country until we lost track of where we were. Stopping at a sod house we asked where the Waterloo Post Office was and soon was on the right road.

The next morning I looked around and said to myself "now I'm in America", but I didn't think it looked so hot. The houses were small sod buildings and not many of them. I didn't think the barns would withstand the storms I had heard about and the grain buildings were so big I was sure the grain would get lost.

I stayed at my uncle's farm working, receiving $25 per month during spring, summer and fall and $10 in the winter. I farmed his place after he quit farming and in 1901 filed on a quarter of land 13 miles southwest of Maddock. I built a claim shack, 8'xl2'x6' high of thin boards and studding. After filing, I rented the farm out and I decided to make a trip back to Norway.

I traveled to New York by train, then ship to England, then boat to Bergen, Norway and from there to Yoss by train, and walked home. I got home Christmas Eve. I spent the winter months visiting acquaintances. When spring came around I had the "America Fever" again.

This time I sailed to Boston and again the sea was stormy. I arrived in Maddock the spring of 1906. For some reason the country looked a lot better then it did when I first came. I worked odd job until I took back my farm and built a larger house on it.

On June 27, 1910 I married Jennie Anderson, I was working on roads at that time but in 19111 started farming on our place. Fanning had its ups and downs but we hung onto our farm. In 1933 I ran for County Commissioner and held that office for 12 years. I went back to Norway again in 1954 and spent my remaining years on the farm.

By Nels Oksendahl, taken from the book "A History of the Community of Maddock, North Dakota 1901 - 1951"

From a small article in ND Standard Newspaper, Maddock, July 15, 1954, headline "Leaves for old home town in Norway": Nels N. Oksendahl of Maddock will leave soon for a visit with his brother, Iver, at Eksingedalen, Norway. Mr. Oksendal plans to leave here Friday of this week for Minneapolis, where a group will assemble and go together to New York where they will board a ship for Norway and the 'old home town".


The family Nils Oksendal in Amerika. Photo by Karen

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