Louise Gran was born July 12, 1870 in Washington County, Nebraska. She was the first child born to Anna Marie Lund and Andrew Gran. At the time of her birth, Andrew and Anna Marie were temporarily settled in Blair, Nebraska before homesteading in Dixon County, Nebraska in 1871.
Louise's brothers and sister were: Oscar A. Gran born June 26, 1873, Dixon County, Nebraska, Caroline Gran Anderson born September 29, 1875, Dixon County, Nebraska and Nels Adolph Gran born on April 6, 1881, Dixon County, Nebraska.
Louise attended school at Grand Ridge. The school was built on Nils and Sophia Graverholt Gran's (Louise's grandparents) land (section 32, Hooker Township). Marcus Nelson Graverholt (Louise's great uncle) built the school. The school sat along a road that ran on top of a ridge or hill top they called Gran's Ridge. When the school district was organized they mistakenly added a "d" to Gran's Ridge and entered the school as Grand's Ridge.
On September 17, 1890, Louise married Olaf B. Severson at Lime Creek Lutheran Church, in Dixon County, located a few miles south of Maskell.
Olaf B. Severson was the son of Ole Severson (Syversen) and Helene Maria Olsen. He was born July 4, 1870 in Dixon County, Nebraska.
Louise and Olaf had ten children:
On April 30, 1898 while living on their farm near Maskell a tornado appeared. Olaf rushed home, put the horses in the barn. The older children were watching and said "Dad didn't even tie the horses up." Louise and Olaf took the children (Helga; age 8, Albert; age 6, Carl; age 4, Clara; age 2, and the twins Mae and Myrtle; age 6 months) to the cave between the house and the barn. Olaf held the door shut. The tornado took their house, the home of Louise's parents and the two Lutheran Churches (Lime Creek Lutheran Church and the Bethany Lutheran Church at Lime Grove). Charlie Severson (Olaf's brother) was at the home of his parent's, Ole Severson and Christina Lyng, and the granary blew in and they found him in the basement partially buried in the oats. Grandpa Ole and Grandma Christina were found in a near by field. Grandma had cuts but otherwise they were uninjured.
From the Newcastle Times, Newcastle, Nebraska, May 5, 1898:
TWIN TWISTERS TWIRL
A Pair of Twisters Visit the Northwestern Portions of the Banner County of Nebraska
Last Saturday Dixon County was visited with two young tornados between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
The western vein struck the county at Charley Johnson's on the Cedar county line, destroying his barn and blowing the house off the foundation. It then destroyed O.B. Severson's house and moved his barn....It then demolished the two Norwegian Lutheran churches at Lime Grove....Ole Severson had everything swept away....Ole Severson and his wife were quite severely injured, though not fatally....The two twisters traveled in a northeastern direction, doing damage in South Dakota and Iowa.
From the Ponca Newspaper, Ponca, Nebraska:
DESTRUCTIVE CYCLONES
Visits These Parts and Northern Iowa, Several Fatalities Reported
Last Saturday afternoon was the scene of numerous cyclones in this section and northern Iowa. About 3 o'clock a black could was seen in the south but nothing further than a rumble as of thunder attracted some of the citizens to it. It seems the one visible from Ponca that struck the O'Toole farm just east of Newcastle touched the ground first about five miles south west of that place. It is believed to have divided after a few miles journey, the larger portion taking a direction of north and striking in and near Limegrove utterly demolishing the Peterson residence, completely tearing two churches in pieces and making it's way across the river at a point due east of Limegrove.....
Later reports than the above gives definitely the names of the parties and the damage they suffered....Ed Luther a mail carrier between Newcastle and Limegrove, was caught by the storm and lifted from his cart over a fence and the mail sack was carried nearly a mile away.
At Elk Point, SD, three houses were destroyed, three cows killed and John I. Johnson was carried about 200 yards from a building by the wind and picked up dead with his head nearly severed from his body. It is next heard of at Canton, SD, but no damage was reported done. Two children were killed at Sheldon, Ia., and a large number of buildings were laid waste.
In the early 1900's Olaf helped build the first railroad through Maskell, Nebraska.
In 1907 they moved to Vermillion, South Dakota. It has been said the reason they moved to Vermillion was because their children would not be able to meet any prospective marriage partners in Dixon County, as they were related to almost everyone there! Olaf worked for the city dray line and they ran the Farmer's Station on Prospect Street. Olaf fed and stabled the horses and Louise cooked and served meals to farmers in town for the day. Olaf also farmed in Clay County before going into carpentry work.
In 1931 Olaf and Louise moved back to Nebraska and farmed near Maskell but by now their roots were in Dakota where most their children and grandchildren lived. They moved back to Vermillion the following year and Olaf worked again as a carpenter. In later years he worked at the University of South Dakota.
Olaf helped build many buildings in the Vermillion area. At one time the scaffold on which he was standing broke and he fell twenty feet to the ground. Luckily he escaped with some bad bruises and several broken ribs but was confined to his home for some time.
Olaf's daughter, Lillie Severson Christopherson's memories of her parents as recorded in the Sophia Graverholt and Nils Gran and their Descendants history by Donna Severson Hahn:
One of the things I remember best from my childhood is how dad used to play the harmonica and how we loved to hear him play those familiar tunes. Through good times or bad, mother was there; a devoted wife and mother. I store bought dress or a loaf of bread from the bakery was a luxury few people could afford at that time but aside from sewing, baking, cleaning and many other household tasks, mother somehow found time to knit and crochet and much of our apparel, also pillow slips, sheets, etc., was trimmed with hand made lace and little hands kept warm in winter with had knitted mittens.
Before moving to Vermillion the folks were members of the lime Creek Lutheran Church. After coming to Vermillion they transferred to Trinity Lutheran. Mother was an active member in the ladies aid and a member of the Just-To-Be Club."
Louise Gran's obituary from the Dakota Republic, Vermillion, SD, September 19, 1940:
Olaf married Ragna Peterson on July 2, 1944 which ended in divorce a few years later. Olaf lived with his daughter, Myrtle and her husband, Virgil Brown for last few years of his life. Olaf Severson's obituary from May 3, 1951:MRS. SEVERSON DIES TUESDAY, PASSES ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER MARRIAGE
Funeral Friday Afternoon
Mrs. O.B. Severson passed away Tuesday afternoon at her home, on her fiftieth wedding anniversary. Mrs. Severson had been an invalid for three years.
Mrs. Severson, whose maiden name was Louise Gran, was born in Washington County, Nebraska, July 12, 1870. In 1871 she moved with her parents to Dixon County, Nebraska, where they located on a homestead. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith by Rev. N.G. Twedt.
On September 17, 1890, she was united in marriage to Olaf B. Severson. In 1908 they moved to Vermillion and have made their home since with the exception of two years spent in Milwaukee.
Mrs. Severson leaves to mourn her loss the husband; ten children, Mrs. Elmer Anderson, Mrs. Richard Christopherson, Mrs. Virgil Brown, Mrs. Arnold Christopherson, Mrs. Orville South and Carl Severson of Vermillion; Mrs. Maurice Handcock of Long Valley, SD; Mrs. Rudy Polenz and Adolph Severson of Milwaukee, and Albert Severson of Clintonville, Wis.; also one sister, Mrs. Caroline Anderson of Donna, Texas, and 32 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Mrs. Severson was a true Christian and a devoted wife and mother. Although she had been in poor health for three years she was always cheerful. Her great wish was to live until her golden wedding anniversary, September 17, 1940, and it was on the afternoon of that day that she passed away.
Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon from the home of her daughter, Mrs. Elmer Anderson, at 1:30, and from the Lutheran church at 2 o'clock, with Rev. Roseland officiating. Pallbearers will be grandsons of the deceased. Burial will be in Bluff View, under the direction of the Elmore service.
O. B. SEVERSON PASSES AWAY AT HOME HERE
Oluf B. Severson of Vermillion passed away Saturday afternoon at 5:30 pm March 3, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Myrtle Brown. He had been in poor health the past two years.
Oluf B. Severson was born in Dixon County, Nebr., July 4, 1870, son of Ole and Helene. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
He was married to Louisa Gran on September 17, 1890 at Lime Creek church, Dixon County, Nebraska. To this union ten children were born.
He moved with his family to Vermillion about 43 years ago, where he has resided most of the time since. Up until two years ago when his health failed, he was engaged in the carpenter trade.
He leaves to mourn his death, seven daughters and two sons: Mrs. Helga Anderson, Mrs. Clara Christopherson, Mrs. Myrtle Brown, Mrs. Lillie Christopherson, all of Vermillion. Carl Severson of Platte, Mrs. Mae Handcock of Long Valley, SD. Mrs. Isabel South of Sioux City. Mrs. Alice Polenz of Milwaukee, Wisc., Adolph Severson of Milwaukee and one brother, Charles Severson of Yankton. Also 34 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren.
He was proceeded in death by his wife, Louisa on September 17, 1940, and one son, Albert, on June 9, 1945.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 pm at the Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. L.A. Roseland officiating. Internment was in the Bluff View Cemetery under the direction of Elmore-Wagner Funeral Service. The pallbearers were: Hugh Wilson, Vern Cadwell, OG. Ketchum, R.T. Gravrok, Albin Johnson and Ole Anderson, Ponca, Nebraska.
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