Nils Hansen Gran & Sophia Graverholt
Nils Hansen Gran was born December 15, 1815 in Eidsvoll, Agershus County , Norway. Nils may have been the son of Hans, of the Gran farm. This would follow Norwegian naming practices, but has not been confirmed.
Sophia (Nelson) Graverholt was born March 30, 1816 at the Graverholt gaard (farm) in Setskog, Agershus County, Norway. Sophia's parents were Nils (Zypriansen) Syprianson and Ellen Marie Jorgensdatter Settsmoeck.
Nils (Zypriansen) Syprianson's ancestors have been traced back several generations to the 1600's to Sweden and Finland.
Sophia had four brothers: John Heggedahl, Sven Stenby, Christian Graverholt and Marcus Graverholt. Sophia also had one sister, Gunhild Marie Nilsdatter. She married Andreas Brynildsen. Gunhild died in 1864 . Sophia and her brother, Marcus Graverholt (known as Marcus Nelson in the United States) were the only siblings from their family to immigrate to the United States.
Specific information regarding Nils and Sophia's trip to the United States is not available but it may have been similar to the trip of Sophia=s brother, Marcus . Marcus was a widower with 5 children ranging in age from approximately 1 to 10 years of age when they immigrated in approximately 1869. There were others from the community who also went. Among them was Bolette Johnson Galgeholt (who had worked at Graverholt since she was nine year old) and her sister Christian Johnson. Bolette would later marry Marcus.
Some of the people of this region walked to Oslo where they took the ship; others went in wagons which their neighbors or relatives provided. The journey took three weeks and they landed at Castle Garden in New York. We suppose that they came west by railroad but they might have come on the Erie Canal and on the Great Lakes by boat; at any rate they wound up in Red Wing, Minnesota. That was in May 1870. They followed the same route that many other immigrants from Norway followed. They did not stay long in Red Wing but went by boat down the Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri, and then up the Missouri River to Omaha, Nebraska. They settled in Florence, Nebraska a short while before they went to homestead in Dixon County. Marcus and Bolette were married in Florence, Nebraska.
This may have been the same route that Nils and Sophia followed. Nils and Sophia had 8 children. It appears that 6 of the 8 children immigrated to the United States in the late 1860's and 1870's.
A brief summary of Nils and Sophia's children:
Karoline Nilsen (b. 1837): No information available. Believed to have stayed in Norway.
Halvor Gran (b. about 1841): Immigrated to the U.S. Went to the west coast early in his life . Lived in Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington in 1923 at the time of his sister=s, Mattie Gran Gilbertson, death according to Mattie=s obituary .
Andrew Nilson Gran (b. 1843): My great-great grandfather. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1868. Married Anna Maria Olsen Lund in Trempealeau, Wisconsin, 1869. Lived in Dixon County, Nebraska.
Mattie Gran Gilbertson (b. 1845): Immigrated to the U.S. Married Peter Gilbertson in Oslo, Norway, 1868. Lived in Dixon County, Nebraska.
Julianna Gran Johnson (b. 1848): Immigrated to the U.S. Married Christian Johnson (a brother to Bollette Johnson who was married to Marcus Nelson Graverholt). Lived in Dixon County, Nebraska.
Emil Gran (b.1852): No information. Believed to have stayed in Norway.
Rebecca Gran (b. 1855): Possibly immigrated to the U.S. May have been married to R.N. Bull and lived in Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington in 1923 at the time of her sister=s, Mattie Gran Gilbertson, death, according to Mattie=s obituary.
Syverin N. Gran (b. 1859): Immigrated to the U.S. in 1870. Married Mathilda (Tillie) Lund (believed to have been a niece to Anna Marie, Andrew=s wife). Lived in Dixon County, Nebraska.
Nils and Sophia homesteaded in 1871 in Dixon County, Nebraska. Nils died on December 17, 1889 and Sophia died on July 18, 1900. They are buried in Lime Creek Cemetery south of Maskell, Nebraska.
Andrew Nilson Gran was born at Hoeland Parish, Sitskogen, Agershus County , Norway on September 24, 1843. Andrew's parents were Nils Hanson Gran and Sophia Graverholt Gran.
Anna Marie Olsen Lund Gran was born at Ullensager Parish, Agershus County, Norway on November 19, 1844. Anna was the daughter of Ole Olsen and Marthe Jacobsen.
Their engagement was established while they were both working in Oslo (Kristiana), Norway.
In 1868 Andrew Gran immigrated to Trempealeau, Wisconsin. The following year, Anna Marie came to the United States. They were married in Trempealeau on October 4, 1869.
As noted previously, many immigrants from Norway followed the same route. Landing in New York, they came west by railroad or more likely by boat or barge up the Hudson River from New York to Albany and then west on the 363 mile Erie Canal completed in 1825. Continuing to travel by boat through the Great Lakes to Lake Superior. Settling for a short time on the Minnesota/Wisconsin border preparing for the rest of their journey by barge down the Mississipi River to St. Louis, Missouri and then north up the Missouri River to Omaha, Nebraska.
Andrew and Anna settled temporarily at Blair, Washington County, Nebraska just north of Omaha. They remained there until the spring of 1871 when they moved to Dixon County, Nebraska where they settled on a homestead.
Andrew and Anna had four children. Louise Gran was born on July 12, 1870 in Washington County, Nebraska. Oscar A. Gran was born on June 26, 1873, Dixon County, Nebraska. Caroline Gran was born on September 29, 1875, Dixon County, Nebraska. Nels Adolph Gran was born April 6, 1881, Dixon County, Nebraska. There may have also been an additional child. In Andrew and Anna's obituary it states that they had a child who died early.
Andrew and Anna Gran homesteaded in Dixon County, Nebraska in 1870. The family first lived in dug out. Later a house was built. The house still stands, it is built partly of brick.
The following is an excerpt from the History of Dixon County, Nebraska by William Huse, published in 1896, page 223:
Hooker Township. A few of those who have been prominent citizens or early settlers of Hooker are the following: A.N. Gran and S.N. Gran and their father Nels H. Gran came from Norway. A.N. Gran in 1868 and S.N. Gran and their father in 1870, and located on homesteads in Hooker in 1871. A.N. Gran and his brother now occupy the same claims first taken by them; his father lived on his until his death in 1889. Both the brothers are successful and enterprising men and have large farms which are well improved and profitably worked. A.N. Gran has 250 and S.N. Gran 240 acres. The former has a wife and four children living and the latter has wife but no children. Both are prominent in township affairs, and A.N. Gran has been Hooker=s member of the board of supervisors for several years.
The year 1888 is noteworthy because of the Great Blizzard. It came up in the afternoon about 2:30 pm. The day began as a quite, beautiful day after snowing hard the night before. Not soon after the afternoon session had commenced Andrew Gran came and told them there was a terrible storm and that they had better get started for home. Andrew Gran took his son, Oscar, and James Johnson with him. The teacher, a Mr. Foote, and Willie Weindenfeldt, walked to the Weindenfeldt=s. Syverin Gran took the other children, including the younger ones of the Chris Johnson and Andrew Gran families to his place.
Andrew and Anna Marie at the ages of 74 and 73, died just one day apart and were buried together in the Lime Creek Lutheran Cemetery located south of Maskell, Nebraska. The following is an obituary written by Rev. A.J. Nervig .
A funeral quite unique in character, took place in the Lime Creek congregation, Rev. A.J. Nervig pastor, on the 21st of March 1918. Andreas N. Gran and his wife, Anna Marie were laid to rest on the same day in the same grave. This honored couple belonged to the earliest of the pioneers in the Lime Creek settlement, having located on their homestead in the year of 1871. But it is not first of all pioneers as pioneers of the settlement we wish to pay tribute to their memory. It is more eminently as father and mother in the pioneer work of Christian activity, I believe, they have deserved a memorial in our church paper. Andreas and Maria Gran were both highly spiritually enlightened people. And this became a great blessing both for themselves and many others in the pioneer days at Lime Creek.
Separated as the pioneer settles here were from the main field of work of our church by the great and treacherous Missouri River, and without any other means of transportation than some small row-boats, it was no easy task to get any church activity started here at that time. But with faith and trust in God they went to work and were among the first ones to secure Rev. Emil Christensen from Gayville to come and preach the word of God to the settlers, and with his assistance the Lime Creek Lutheran congregation was organized in the fall of 1873.
In this congregation Andreas and Marie Gran laid down much work and continued as among the most faithful and sacrificing members until their dying day. The welfare of the church was in their thoughts at all times, so it can be said in truth of them as Scripture says about Nathaniel, Joh. 1, 47, that he is an >Israelite in whom is no guile.= This expression is often used to denote honesty and diligence in Christian activity faithfulness. In this case we have, to my best conviction, two Israelites in whom no guile, because honesty and faithfulness were strong characteristics in both of them. They were a father and mother in Israel. And Andrew Gran was eminently a father in Lime Creek congregation. This honor is rightly due him. Such people=s place is not easily replaced in a congregation. In my 10 years here I have not met anyone who was even comparably well posted in the teaching and history of the Lutheran church as Andrew Gran. The Bible, The Book of Concord, The Formula of Concord, the writings
of C.F.W. Walther and many others of the best writings of Lutheran teachers were found in his private library. And the contents of these writings he had acquired and appropriated to a great extent, and whoever was willing to follow the way pointed out by Andrew Gran would not go wrong. As member of the congregation he was a much trusted man. There is scarcely a year in the 45 years history of the congregation by what Andrew Gran held one or two of the most important offices in the congregation, either as trustee, treasurer, secretary precentor. The last two of these he had held for many years at the time of his death.
Mrs. Gran was a quiet and unassuming woman. And yet, spiritually she was her husband=s equal, in testimony of which among other things two small poems she had composed bear witness. The first one she never had written down, but had carried it in her memory for 39 years. I knew about it and managed to have her recite it to me line by line only 26 hours before she died. It concerns the death of a child that died early. The second poem she had written down and published it in the Pacific Herald many years ago. It is written after an incurable eye-sickness had set in which nearly deprived her of her eyesight, a condition in which she remained the rest of her life.
Andreas N. Gran was born at Sitskogen, Hoeland Parish, Norway, September 24, 1843. In 1868 he emigrated and came to Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. The following year his betrothed, Anna Maria Lund came to America. She was born at Ullensaker Parish, November 19, 1844. Their engagement was established while they were both working in Oslo, (Kristiania). In the fall of the same year, 1869, they were married by Rev. S. Swennungson, and the same fall they went west and settled temporarily at Blair, Nebraska. They remained here until the spring of 1871 when they moved to Dixon County, Nebraska where they settled on a homestead which became their earthly home 47 years until death removed the, as we believe, to their heavenly home. In March of this year, 1918, they were both taken sick with pneumonia. Mr. Gran was sick 9 days and died the 18th, the wife was sick only 5 days and died the 19th. On the 21st day of March they were both laid to rest in a double grave in the Lime Creek cemetery.
An uncommoningy large host of mourners followed them to their last resting place. In our marriage ritual the man and wife promise faithfulness until death separates them. In this case there was no separation even in death. They had lived together faithfully for 48 2 years. They were also permitted to follow each other death and to the grave. They are survived by four children, two sons (Oscar and Adolph) and two daughters (Caroline and Louise). Blessed be their memory among relatives and friends.@
A child have I in yonder place,
High above Zion's hills, in heaven.
Jesus the children receives in peace,
He leads them safely to haven.
Up yonder we must be seeking
The sin to hate, the world to shun.
That we with Jesus may lead to have
Where children are safe with God's own Son.
O Jesus Christ, for me thou pray,
For I am blind and very frail,
And in this world of wail and woe,
I nothing of myself can do.
O Jesus Christ, God's only Son,
Who suffered, died for all my sins
In grace, I pray, look down to me
Then saved I, too, will live with Thee.
God Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Together Triune, heavenly host
Teach me believe and penance do
O God, how good and mild art Thou.
O God, true patience, give thou me,
That I may walk in love with Thee,
To love my neighbor ought I do,
O God, teach me Thy will to know.
Andrew Nilson Gran and Anna Marie Olsen Lund Gran
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