| Notater |
- Johan Knutson Kuvaas was born near Trondheim, Norway 2 Dec 1866 to his parents, Knute Arntson Stensheim Kuvaas and his wife, Beret Jakobsdatter Skjellum Kuvaas. Knute was born in 1817 and died in 1896 in Norway. Beret was born March 1, 1826 (1828? 1829?) in Norway and came to Minnesota in 1884 with her daughter-in-law, Ingeborg Skauge, granddaughter, Mary Skauge, her daughter-in-law's father, Halvor Gangaunet, and son, Johan K. Kuvaas, who was 17 years old at the time. She passed away in January 1909 in the Hendrum area and is buried in the Pontoppidan Cemetery.
Johan's mother had been married twice. Her first marriage was to Frederick Frederickson who changed his name to Frederick Skauge. With him Beret had a son, Ellef Frederick Skauge 6 Nov 1857-10 Mar 1935 (Ingeborg Halvorsdatter Gangaunet 18 Dec 1859-3 Sep 1934). Frederick passed away unexpectedly and then Beret married Knute Arntsen Stenheim Kuvaas. With him we know of three children as follows: Gjertru Knutsdatter born 1864 (Anders Ronningen), Johan Knutsen Kuvaas born 1866 (Julia Bertha Saby born 1880) and Anne 1871-1873.
Their seven week trip to America had been financed by Johan's older half-brother, Ellef Skauge, who had come to the U.S. in 1879, by himself to work here and be able to send money for their fare. They landed in New York City after being very seasick on the boat and nearly sinking near Nova Scotia.
They took a train to Ada, MN where Ellef was waiting for them after the four year separation. Johan had attended school in Norway and was baptized and confirmed there.
During John's first years in America, he worked as a stable boy on the large Stanford Farm in Dakota Territory. This farm was located near where Kelso, ND is now located. In the early 1890's he came back to Norman County and lived on a 160 acre farm in Section 11 of Lee Township. He lived on this farm for nearly ten years before he bought it from Alphonse Stickney for about $13.00 an acre in 1900.
In 1897 he applied for and received his US Citizenship and at that time he changed his name to John K. Kuvaas. Also during this time he had been courting Julia Saby, the daughter of Einar and Carrie Saby. The Saby family lived about a mile east of the Kuvaas farm.
John and Julia B. Saby were married by Pastor J. Krogstad at Perley, MN 30 Nov 1898.
After their marriage John and Julia lived in a two-room house on the north edge of John's farm. Times were tough and their life was full of hard work, but it was a happy marriage.
Within the next twenty years they became the parents of twelve children. They were: Bertha J. 26 Oct 1899-2 Mar 1998 (Norbert John Lemm 6 Jun 1895-5 Jun 1956), Cora Julia 12 Aug 1901-24 Apr 1986 (Urban Henry Lemm 9 Mar 1901-7 Jun 1974), Clarence 3 Oct 1902-17 Feb 1986 (Annette Jensine Jacobson 25 Sep 1904-11 May 1958), Ernest 14 Jun 1904-12 Nov 1908, Alfred J. 14 Oct 1905-5 Jan 2000 (Evelyn Agnes Jermstad 1907-17 Aug 1934 and Annie M. Klusman 16 Aug 1911-6 Apr 1981), Joseph Julian 23 Jun 1908-5 Oct 1973 (Olga Sophie Mjoness 1 Sep 1910-14 Aug 2001), Ernest 13 Jan 1910-24 Mar 1965 (Ilene Matilda Grodt 9 Sep 1910-14 Aug 2001), Olga 10 Jul 1911-8 Nov 1994 (Theodore Marcus "Ted" Lee 22 Apr 1905-12 Jul 1996), Ingman "Bud" 15 Mar 1913-5 Dec 1992 (Phyllis Ione Gravelle 18 May 1929-3 Nov 2014 and Florence Leona Ostreng 26 Sep 1913-27 Apr 1996), Agnes G. 17 Nov 1914-17 Mar 1980 (Curtis Wold 24 Jan 1911-6 Dec 1984), Ervin Arthur 11 Jun 1916-7 Dec 1981 (Doris Busse 19 Nov 1919-12 Jan 2016) and Iver "Jennings" 3 Dec 1917-20 Apr 1986 (Doris Viola Renfrew 30 Oct 1919-5 Jun 2020).
Their children attended Open View School which was located less than a mile from their home.
John, during his lifetime, was active in Lee Township affairs. He was a director of the Lee Elevator and was on the Open View School Board, was a director of the Lee Telephone Company and was also active on the township board.
Julia passed away 22 Oct 1918 at Fargo at the age of 38 years as a result of the "Spanish Flu." It was a blow to the entire family. John did not marry again, but hired several housekeepers to care for the small children. The youngest, Jennings, was just 11 months old when his mother died.
John continued to be active in community affairs and served as a trustee in the Bethania Church. On Good Friday, 4 Apr 1947, John passed away at his Lee Township farm home at the age of 80 years of age. Funeral services for him were held at the Bethania Lutheran Church 10 Apr 1947. Pastor Thomas Anderson officiated at the services.
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1866 - 1947 (80 år)
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