Torjus and Aase (Graver) Haraldson

Aase Tarjesdtr Nusvig was born on June 28, 1833 in Fyresdal, Telemark, Norway. She was baptized at Moland church on September 22, 1833.

Baptism Record

She and her family moved to the Graver farm shortly after her birth. After her father's death in 1846, she came to America with her mother, sister, and two brothers. They joined her uncle, Aslak Lee, in Wisconsin where they remained until the Minnesota Territory opened for settlement. She and her mother lived in Houston County, Minnesota, with Ole and Tarje until their marriages. Aase and Kristi moved to Iowa to live with Aase's sister Tone before 1860.

1857 Minnesota Territorial Census

1860 US Census

Torjus Haraldson emigrated from Mo in Telemark in 1858. He and Aase were married January 4, 1861 in Shellrock Congregation, Worth County Iowa. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Round Prairie, Freeborn County Minnesota, but records indicate that they continued to participate in the same Lutheran parish across the border in Iowa.

Torjus was drafted in 1864. From the story he told about 1912:

"In July 1865 we were discharged and got our wages at Fort Snelling. I bought the gun I had used from the government. As I was on the way home, I would shoot now and then as I was so happy just going home. My shots frightened my wife, who thought we were Indians, and she hid in the cornfield until she knew it was safe to come home."

Date	Name	Father	Mother	Notes	Parish
February 14, 1862	Aslak Theodor	Torjus Haraldsen	Aase Aslaksd	Silver Lake	Silver Lake
November 3, 1863	Alek Theodor	Torjus Haraldsen	Aase Aslaksd	Silver Lake	Silver Lake
November 17, 1867	Anne	Torjus Haraldsen	Aase Aslaksd	Round Prairie	Silver Lake
July 27, 1869	Harald Gustinus	Torjus Haraldsen	Aase Aslaksd	Round Prairie	Silver Lake
April 15, 1872	Kristian	Torjus Haraldsen	Aase Aslaksd	Round Prairie	Silver Lake
June 12, 1874	Edvin	Torjus Haraldsen	Aase Aslaksd	Round Prairie	Silver Lake

Entry#	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Birth Place	Real Estate Value	Personal Property Value	Page
111-111	Haraldsen, Torjus	M	40	farmer	Norway	1600*	700	15
	Esther	F	43	keeping house	Norway			15
	Aleck	M	7		Minn			15
	Anna	F	3		Minn			15
	Harl	M	1		Minn			15
The real estate value on the original census document is not clear. It appears to be 1600 dollars, but may be 1000.*

Haraldson Children

Standing: Aslak (Alex), Edvin and Harald

Seated: Anna and Edvin's wife Hannah

Two sons did not reach adulthood

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Torjus purchased land from Ole Qually in Freeborn County for $440.00

Freeborn County Standard (June 4, 1884) news clipping

In order to build a flour mill, shares were sold to participating farmers. Torjus received a mill bonus in 1883.

Freeborn County Standard (March 22, 1833) news clipping

In June of 1886, Torjus applied for a disability pension from the Department of the Interior. He had developed an eye disease that the doctors blamed on blowing sand that he encountered in Georgia during the Civil War.

Torjus is listed on the county personal property tax rolls (Freeman Township)

Freeborn County Standard (December 14, 1887) news clipping

Freeborn County Standard (January 10, 1889) news clipping

Anne Haraldson is teaching school and reports that her brother Harald had "near perfect attendance" for the year.

Freeborn County Standard (June 18, 1890) news clipping

The paper reported that Torjus sold some hogs in Moscow Township Freeborn County Standard (November 19, 1890) new clipping

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Again, according to Torjus' story:

"I sold the farm in Freeborn County and moved to Bristol, Iowa. There I bought 80 acres and live there 4 years. Then I sold that land and moved to Lyon County, Minnesota, where my boys bought land, too, and did well. We had a nice home there on the prairie and woodland."

In 1890 the Haraldsons arrived in Glyndon. They moved to Moorhead in 1892.

1895 Minnesota Census

Entry#	Name	Relationship	Sex	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
51-51	Haralson, Harold	Head	M	34	Farmer	Iowa
	Edwin	Brother	M	27	Laborer	Iowa
	Alec	Brother	M	40	Laborer	Iowa
	Aaland, Anna	Sister	F	37	None	Iowa
	Olive	Niece	F	2		North Dakota
	Haralson, Torgus	Father	M	80	None	Norway
	Aase	Mother	F	78	None	Norway
	Lee, Allen	Cousin	M	60	None	Wisconsin
	Hanson, Peter	Hired Man	M	14	Laborer	Minnesota

Torjus and Aase (Graver) Haraldson spent the last years of their lives in Red Lake and Pennington Counties in Northern Minnesota.

Aase died November 14, 1910 at the age of 77.

Aase's gravestone

After her death, Torjus, now blind, lived with his children. He died on October 13, 1921, while living with his daughter Anna in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He was 91 years old.

Torjus' gravestone

Aase and Torjus are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

Torjus & His Grandchildren

c.1914

Standing: Olive Aaland Butler

On Torjus' lap: Arnold & Bertha

Seated: Lester & Torjus