Styrk Sjursen Reque
Styrk Sjursen Reque, the son of Sjur Styrksen Reque and Anna Pedersdtr. Gjerme was born November 27, 1836 in Voss Township, Hordaland County, Norway. His father, Sjur, the son of Styrk Olavsen Reque and Britha Andersdtr. Rekve, was born in 1808 on the Reque farm in Voss Township, Hordaland County, Norway and was married on June 10, 1834. Styrk's mother, Anna Pedersdtr. Gjerme, the daughter of Per Larssen Gjerme and Maria Massdtr. Seve, was baptized on November 27, 1812.
Styrk emigrated with his parents, 1 brother, and 3 sisters in 1845. They sailed on the Statsraad Vogt, arriving in New York from Bergen on August 8, 1845, having left 65 days earlier. The captain was Mentz Solberg. The ship had 100 passengers. The Reque family went first to the Spring Prairie settlement in Columbia County, Wisconsin in 1845. In 1848, they moved to a farm in Deerfield Township, Dane County, Wisconsin.
Styrk attended high school in Madison, Wisconsin from 1857 to 1859 and the University of Wisconsin from 1859 to 1860. He attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1860-61; was a farmer in 1861-62; and again attended Concordia Seminary from 1862 to 1865.
On August 30, 1864, Styrk Sjursen Reque, Candidate of Theology, was called as pastor for the Lemonweir, Roche a Cree, and Moe (Newport) congregations. Because the congregation in Lemonweir had increased three-fold, the pastor's residence was to be at Lemonweir. On April 28, 1865, Styrk was ordained as a minister by Pastor H. A. Preus at Rock Prairie, Wisconsin. On July 9, 1865, Pastor Preus officiated at confirmation and preached his farewell sermon in the Lemonweir Church. Styrk was installed the same day. He also became the pastor for the Lewiston, Greenwood, and Casanovia churches.
Styrk was married on July 2, 1865 to Cecilie B. Anderson. Cecilie, the dau of Bjorn Anderson (see) Kvelve and Abel Katerine Krogh, was born on February 14, 1840 in Illinois. She was a sister of Rasmas B. Anderson, a University of Wisconsin professor, author, and U. S. minister to Denmark. Rasmus was married on July 21, 1868 in Juneau County, Wisconsin by Styrk to Bertha Karina Olsen. The witnesses were P(eder) S. Reque and Joh. Braatveidt (Johnson). Rasmus was a resident of Albion and Bertha was a resident of Cambridge, Wisconsin (East Lemonweir Church record).
On October 14, 1865, the three congregations entered into an agreement to purchase 80 acres of land in section 30 of Lisbon Township as a parsonage for their pastor. The land was purchased from E. Benedict Trowbridge and his wife. The Lemonweir Church contributed $350 and the Roch a Cree and Moe congregations each contributed $200 toward the purchase. The Lemonweir congregation also paid $50 to repair the dwelling on the premises. The trustees who signed the agreement were Gabriel Odsen, Endre Einarsen, Helge Hegesen, and Isaac Emmunsen from the Lemonweir Church; Andrew O. Hahn and S. H. Hilleboe from the Roch a Cree Church; and Martin Nilsen from the Moe Church.
In 1870, Styrk and Cecilie lived in Lisbon Township, Juneau County, Wisconsin with a New Lisbon address. Also in their household were Nicolas Hansel, age 30, born in Norway, occupation, teaching; Ole Halvorson, age 15, farm laborer, born in Norway; and Ranvey Jacobson, age 15, domestic servant, born in Norway (1870 U.S Census). Styrk was pastor of the Spring Grove, Minnesota Church from 1871 until his death. Cecilie died May 30, 1900. Styrk died on August 21, 1910.
Children:
Syver Bernardus, b. Jun 4, 1866, Juneau Co; bp. Jun 17, 1866, E Lem (spon: Past. T. A. Torgersen, Dinah Torgersen, Katherine Asmundsen, Martha Reque, and Berent Augustinius Bursen Andersen).
Anna Katherina Krogh, b. Aug 11, 1867, Juneau Co, WI; bp. Sep 1, 1867, E Lem (spon: Lars Olsen, Niels Bjornsen, O. H. Sorrensen, Herborg Oddsdtr., and Torbjor Nielsdtr.); m. Fred Mueller, Iola, WI.
Peder Augustinius, b. Jun 14, 1869, Juneau Co, WI; bp. Jul 11, 1869, E Lem (spon: Sjur Hellebo, Torbjorn Jorgensen, Cand. T. O. Juve, Olia Andersdtr., and Siri Larsen).
William A., b.
Sara, b. ?; m. Oscar K. Omlie, Minneapolis, MN.
Lars R., b.
Gerhard, S., b.
George F. Otto, b.
Walther, b.