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1 Dahlby, B.O. A Family History in Norway, 2001, Dahlby, D.O., A Family History in Norway, Holmen Wisconsin, 2001. :
Undated Newspaper Article from Olive (Dahlby) Berg's Scrapbook -

Described Huskelhus Farm In Norway At Family Gathering

Mrs. J. F. Johnson of Osseo, Route 3, has submitted to us a story written by B. O. Dahlby of Holmen for the Huskelhus family reunion at Cedar Falls July 9. Mr. Dahlby, who because of his Norwegian nativity had interesting things to tell his relatives, is a cousin of Mrs. Johnson. Below is the story as Mr. Dahlby gave it:

"My dear relatives and friends:

I am happy that I can be with you again at this year's Huskelhus family reunion. Being the only one in the family living who was born and for some years lived in Norway, I can tell you something about the Huskelhus farm, from which we take our name, as I remember it since I was a small boy.

The farm's in Norway all have names and the occupants were known by that name. If the Huskelhus boys do not marry the name will die out, but the Huskelhus blood is here to stay. There are 87, old and young, with Huskelhus blood in their veins. It is getting pretty well mixed with English, Scotch, Irish, Swedish, Dutch and German; it is being mixed so thoroughly that our descendants will be Blue Yankees and not Green Norwegians, as we were called when we first came to America.

The Huskelhus farm is situated on the west bank of Norway's largest Lake, Mjosen. From the farm dwelling and dooryard there was a beautiful view of at least 25 miles of the Lake with its 3 steamboats and numerous large and small sailboats. The buildings were situated on the upper table near the state road which crossed our land. The buildings included two 2-storey dwellings, one old and the other new. The older residence which had been built more than 300 years before, was still in good condition. There were 2 barns, one for horses with room for unthreshed grain and a large threshing floor, and the other for cows, sheep, goats, hay and straw. One granary and a large warehouse for farm machinery and all kinds of tools completed the farmstead buildings.

Down on the river that ran along the north side of the farm there was a small feed and sawmill which was operated by water power. Behind the older dwelling there was a fine apple and cherry orchard. As all kinds of small fruit could be found in the fields growing wild the family did not cultivate them in their garden - strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and lincolnberries grew profusely in hay fields, woodlots and pastures. Norway is covered with flowers and fruit.

On the mountain where the stock was pastured in summer were rivers, lakes, creeks and marshes. The marshes were covered with cranberries and multe in the fall. Multe is a berry the size and shape of tame blackberries, but yellow in color. It is the most delicious tasting berry I have ever eaten, and I have tried many kinds.

During one fall I stayed with two of my aunts, Agnette and Mathea, who had spent the summer as milkmaids up on the mountain. The mountain, although dignified by that name, was actually only a foothill topped with a prairie of thousands of acres of the best kind of pastureland. All the farmers down in the valley had pasture rights up there, most of them keeping their cows there during the summer season. Huskelhus, like the others, built a dairy cottage on the mountain with two large rooms. One contained a large fireplace beside which butter and cheese were maid, while the other stored milk, cream, and the manufactured products. The atmosphere was so cold and pure at that high altitude that all the food remained sweet and good.
Besides the cottages there were stables where the cows where tied for milking, and hay barns. Every farmer had one or two milk-maids on hand to milk the cows and make the butter and cheese. They also employed a herder who watched the cows so they did not go astray and who brought them home at night.

It was a difficult climb to reach this plateau for the trail was steep and stony. Everything transported there and brought back in teh fall had to be carried by horses in two large baskets hung across their backs. I have heard that roads are built to the top now and that many tourists go there to enjoy the pure air and to catch trout in the lakes and rivers.

The Huskelhus farm, which was my mother's home, was a good farm although it was not large. The fields slanted gradually to the lake and were not steep. The crops raised were rye, barley, oats, peas and potatoes. The hay consisted of timothy and clover. The kitchen garden contained nearly every kind of vegetable that we raise here.

Grandpa Frederick Huskelhus had three brothers, Ole, Anders and Amund, one sister, Anna Marie, who was a dressmaker and never married. Grandpa and his brothers were good musicians, the best in that part of Norway, and they played for all the weddings and celebrations. Most of their instruments hung in the attic of the old dwelling house. It was fun for me, a little boy, to pick the strings, especially of the big guitar they called the 'bumble bee'.

Grandpa had bought the farm and lived on it until he died. Anders had a farm farther up the river. Ole had a small grocery store. Amund, in company with some Swedes, emigrated to America in 1777, settling in Virginia. There may be many people in the Virginia country now who have Huskelhus blood in their veins.

Frederick Huskelhus had seven children, three boys and four girls. The boys were Ole, Edward and Christian; the girls, Bergine, Anne, Agnette and Mathea.

When Grandpa died Uncle Ole bought the farm and worked it four years. Then he got the America fever, sold the place and emigrated to America in 1866. In 1867 my parents, two aunts Agnette and Mathea, and Uncle Christian Huskelhus came to America. One brother, Edward, died in Norway. The old Huskelhus children are all dead but the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th generations are here.

I don't expect to be with you much longer. I have lived my allotted time and then some as I will be 84 years old next Christmas day. When I die I hope to find all my relatives in Heaven. We all have the chance to get there; we have all been baptized and educated in the Christian religion, taught to believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ who died on the cross to pay for all our sins. Therefore, we have a sure hope of meeting each other in heaven, where we can continue to hold our family reunions.

B. O. Dahlby, Holmen, Wis.

2 Dahlby, B.O. A Family History in Norway, 2001, Dahlby, D.O., A Family History in Norway, Holmen Wisconsin, 2001.

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