Re: Genealogy
VIGDALVIGDELVIKDAL, HATCH
Posted By: Rick Bergman (email) In Response To: Genealogy (Chuck)
Date: 2/18/2010 at 21:07:00
Re: Susan Vikdal
At first glance, some relationship with Sjur and Gertrude Vikdal of the Saude colony of Utica Township is obvious. In fact they have a daughter named Susan born in 1870. However, according to the 1900 census Susie Hatch was born in 1867.
The 1880 census index from Family Search is used by Ancestry.com. It was disappointing and perplexing that your family was not found. However with some diligence and using the first names from the 1885 census, I believe your family is found. They are listed under …Igdal. I have not looked at the image of the census page but it is likely the transcriber could not be sure of the first letter. The family of Jens and Anna Igdal(Vigdal) appears on page 482D of the Utica, Chickasaw, Iowa census just as would be expected. Susan is not listed. However, Susan Vigetall is keeping house (at age 12) in the household of Peter and Julia Johnson on page 474C also in Utica, Chickasaw. In the household of Jens Vigtal, a girl, Geneva is also 12 and there are also young children. It may be possible that Susan and Geneva are twins.
Children in the 1880 household of Jens and Anna include ..Ower(17), Jens (10), John (6), Benj. (3), Mary (14), Geneva (12), Anna (5) and Emma (1).
Children in the 1885 household of Lewis and Annie Vigtal include Bower (21), Mary (19), Susan (17), Jones (15), John (10), Annie (9), Ben (8), and Charles (2).
The 1870 census is not too helpful. They have not yet been located. It is possible they were not included. There is more work to do.
Another problem is Anna’s age. In 1880 it is transcribed as 26. In 1885 it is transcribed as 35. Census are only as reliable as the census taker and subsequent interpretations of writing and scripts. Even if the older number is more likely there is only 14 years difference between son Bower and mother Annie.
The 1885 Iowa census for Utica, Chickasaw County lists Lewis and Annie Vigtal and family. I assume you have a copy of this census page. Susan is 17 born in Winneshiek as you states as is Mary 19 and Jones? 15. John 10, Annie 9, Ben 8 and Charles (or Carl) age 2 were all born in Chickasaw. Using the names of boys they were fairly easy to locate in Emmet in Iowa Lake and from the 1925 census for Ben and John it was established that the responder to the census(a wife) did not know their father’s name but did know the name of the mother(Anna Wickman).
A goggle search using Emmett, Genealogy, Vigtal revealed the following biography in the History of Emmett and Dickenson counties:JOHN T. VIGDAL.
Since 1906 John T. Vigdal, a farmer and stock raiser of Iowa Lake
township, Emmet county, has lived on his fine farm on section 23. He
was born in Chickasaw county, Iowa, in September, 1874, of the mar-
riage of John and Anna (Wickman) Vigdal. The father was born in
Norway but in early life came to America and located in Algona, Iowa.
He was an engineer in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Railway for several years and helped to construct the road as far west as
Algona. He afterward engaged in farming in Chickasaw county and
there passed away in 1888. His wife, who was born in Clayton county,
Iowa, is still living.John T. Vigdal passed the days of his boyhood and youth in Chicka-
saw and Kossuth counties, Iowa, and remained with his mother until he
became of age. He then bought from her a farm in Kossuth county which
he operated for four years, after which he sold it back to his mother. He
then went to Armstrong, Emmet county, and for two years farmed rented
land. It was in 1906 that he bought his present property, which com-
prises eighty acres on section 23, Iowa Lake township. The improvements
upon the place compare favorably with those found on neighboring farms.40 EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
Every facility is provided for the care of live stock and he feeds about
a carload of cattle a year. His well-directed activities are rewarded
by a gratifying profit and he ranks among the best farmers of his locality.In February, 1895, occurred the marriage of Mr. Vigdal and Miss
Martha Lubka and they became the parents of seven children, Laura,
Emma, John. Hazel, Myrtle, Roscoe and Martha. Tlie(sic) wife and mother
died in April, 1907, and in July, 1908, Mr. Vigdal wedded Miss Ida Lubka,
a sister of his first wife. To the second union have been born three chil-
dren, Theodore, Ida and Willie.Mr. Vigdal gives his political support to the republican party and is
now serving his second term as township trustee and has also held the
office of constable. Furthermore his interest in educational matters has
been recognized by his election as a school director. Fraternally, he is
connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and in religious faith
he is a Lutheran.http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofemmetco02pion/historyofemmetco02pion_djvu.txt
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