Childhood and Conversion

Abraham Lovalien Heidal
Born:  November 13, 1891, Queen Township, Polk Co., MN
Died:  July 1969, Tacoma, WA

My mothers maiden name was Isabelle Lysgaard (Ingeborg Ellefsdatter Berge).  The ancestors on my fathers (Isak Pedersen Lovalien) side were watchmakers and jewelers, they also undertook architectural work.  Father and mother emigrated from Gulbransdalen, Norway to the US in 1884, and were among the pioneers in Northern Minnesota.  They first lived in Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail County, but shortly after they were married they moved to Polk County.  Father took a homestead in Queen Township, when the so-called thirteen towns was opened up by the government for settlement.  Pioneer work was not an easy task.  The nearest town was Crookston, about fifty miles away, and road, where there were any, were poor.  Only the more fortunate settlers had oxen and wagon, but even that kind of slow, humble transportation was impossible in the newly opened settlement.  Markings were made on trees, by slicing off a piece of bark, to aid pedestrians in finding their way back and forth.  My father often walked to and from Crookston, and carried, maybe, a fifty pound sack of flour, or other necessary groceries and household articles.  Building material was plentiful on the homestead, and a cute little log cabin was hurriedly built on a small, cleared plot in the woods.  A small barn was built for the first cow.  Then from time to time, a few acres of land was cleared and cultivated.  For three successive years frost destroyed much of the crop.  Still the hopeful and energetic pioneers, toiled on, building their future home.  Children were born in the old log cabin, and on a Friday, the thirteenth of November, 1891, yours truly was born in this little home-sweet-home on the ranch in Red River valley.  The religiously inclined father, prayerfully looked up to God and blessed his son.  Having prayed that the child might grow up in the fear of the Lord, and that he might become a man of faith like Abraham of old he said the mother, let us call him Abraham. They were members of the Hauges Synod Lutheran Church, but by this time father had gotten more light on the Word, and he say that the so-called infant baptism was unscriptural.  And although three children had been brought through this ritual, father now refused to allow this child to be thus christened.  But mother did not see it that way, so one day, when father was away, she picked up her boy and carried him several miles to a minister to be sprinkled and christened.  Nine months after I was born father died and mother was left a widow with two boys.  With much hard work and great difficulty, she carried on the work on the farm for about three years.  In 1894 she married Mr. Ole Heidal.  The children were adopted, and taking on the new name, Heidal.  Some years later my older brother died and I was left the only child of the first family.  I have three half sisters and two half brothers living.  In 1905 we moved to Saskatchewan, Canada and settled on a homestead near Eagle Creek, in Saskatoon municipality.  From here it goes on to tell about his religious life.

Submitters Note:

1. Ingebjorg ELLEFSDATTER BERGE, F.   Born abt 1862 in Sel, Oppland, Norway. On Nov 27, 1885 when Ingebjorg was 23, she first married Isak PEDERSEN LOVALIEN, in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, MN.  He died about 1892.

First lived at Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail county, then moved to Polk County shortly after they were married, November 27, 1885 in Fergus Falls, MN.  

They had the following children:
Peder, M. Born in pre 1891. Peder died bet.             
   1895-1905; he was 4.
Abraham Lovalien, M. Born on Nov 13, 1891 in
   Queen township, Polk county

In 1894/95 when Ingebjorg was 32, she second married Ole HEIDAL, M, in Queen township, Polk county, Minnesota.

They had the following children:
1.  Emma, F.
2.  Carl Oscar, M
       Carl Oscar married Thora OTTERSLAD, F.
3.  Orville, M
4.  Clara, F.
5.  Olive, F.
6.  Edward, M

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this biography submitted Jan 22, 2003 by Cindy Wheeler.  Please contact her for more information