Kittson County Historical Society
Kittson profiles and photos from the past and present
Uncertain of the location of the Siggestad school. My great aunt Annie Edith Larter Johnson was the teacher at the school in about 1916.
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Latest Activity: Apr 18, 2018
The lady on the left in the back row is Annie Edith Larter Johnson, b. 1893 in Kittson County, d. 1926 in Minneapolis MN, and was a teacher at the school. The man to her left in in coat and tie is her husband, Peter Johnson, b. unk., d. 1930 in Freeport TX. Peter and Annie were married in 1916. They had two children, Freeman and Grace Johnson. The children were subsequently raised by George and Mary Larter Smolak who lived in Lancaster MN. This is a family photo and none of the others in the picture are identified. According to Minnesota Place Names, a book published by the Minnesota Historical Society, Siggestad was a farmers post office, 1902-17, 12 miles northeast of Hallock in Hill Township; Ole Peterson, its postmaster, was a jeweler and watch repairer. Online access to the above referenced publication; http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/index.cfm
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Additional reflection and research indicate that the location of Siggestad school given in the Minnesota Place Names book is likely incorrect. First, Hill Township is not northeast of Hallock. Hill Township is northwest of Hallock. Second, in 1916, a news item in the Lancaster Herald reported that "Siggestad came near losing their postoffice last Saturday. Miss Lydia Peterson who has been postmistress for a couple years, resigned and the Postmaster general ordered the office discontinued as no one applied for the position. Last week Miss Sadie Mulzof drew up a petition to have herself appointed postmistress and received enough signers. The post office is now at the John Mulzof home."
The John Mulzof home was located in McKinley Township, SW 1/4 of Section 24. This would be about 12 miles northeast of Hallock.
I agree with you that the MN Place Names is wrong. I have accessed the US Appointment of US Postmaster from 1832 to 1871. For Siggestad in Kittson County it lists the following as appointed Postmasters:
Ole Peterson was appointed postmaster on July 9, 1903. In the 1905 census, Ole Peterson is listed as a jeweler and lives in Township 162N 45W Peatland Township. He homesteaded in 1905 on – SE1/4 section 6, 162N 45W, Peatland Township, Kittson Co., MN.
Ida Ekholm was appointed postmaster on January 6, 1904. In the 1905 census for Peatland Township, Ida is living with her parents, Nels and Anna (Holmgren) Ekholm.
Iver Norum was appointed postmaster on May 2, 1905.
Nels Ehrenstrom was appointed postmaster on July 29, 1909. In the 1910 census for Peatland Township, Nels and family are living there.
Lydia Peterson was appointed postmaster on October 18, 1913.
Siggestad postoffice was dissolved on April 3, 1917 – effective April 30, 1917. Mail was then sent to Lancaster, Minnesota. [Source: U.S. Appointments of U.S. Postmasters 1832-1971]
NOTES:
Siggestad is a Scandanivan name and the first postmaster, Ole Peterson, was born in Sweden. [Source: 1905 US census for 162N 45W (later became Peatland Township)]
Kittson Co. Atlas – 1912 stated: “Ehrenstrom, N. G. - Proprietor - the Siggestad Farm and Breeder lives in Section 6, Twp. 162N 45W, Peatland Township, PO Siggestad.” [Source: 1912 Kittson County Atlas]
I agree that Marcy is correct on the above information. I recently confirmed it with Lloyd Farbo, a lifetime 94 year old member of the area. He said the school was just 1/2 mile east of the Alton Ekholm farm on Kittson County Road # 25 and then 1/2 mile south off that road in Peatland Township. Minnesota Place names is wrong.
I have had additional contact with Margit Bakke. She was instrumental in the translation of the book. She could not provide any further details about Siggestad School, Siggestad, or Kittson County. It is unknown if the book “Nordmændene i Amerika” by Martin Ulvestad. 1907 is extant, and, if it is, where it is located. As it relates to the history of Kittson County, its availability in Norwegian or English would be worth pursuing.
I have obtained the three volume set of "Norwegians in America, their History and Record: A translated version of the 1907 and 1913 "Normaendene i Amerika, deres Historie og Rekord" by Martin Ulvestad. The three volume set will be donated to the Kittson County Historical Society.
The books were delivered to the KCHS museum last week and are now available for use.
The place-name Siggestad appears on a map in the booklet, The Land of Ten Thousand Lakes over Jefferson Highway Minnesota. The highway began in New Orleans, Louisiana, and ended in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. On page 73, a map shows the route of one segment of the Jefferson Highway beginning at Thief River Falls and ending at Emerson, Manitoba, Canada. The place name Siggestad appears northeast of Bronson. Publication date of the booklet is unknown. The legal description of the Jefferson Highway was filed with the Minnesota Department of Highways in 1917. The booklet contains an advertisement for the Main Motor Sales Co. auto dealership (established in 1919 and still in business in 2018) in Anoka Minnesota.
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