As I've been told: My father, Jacob Andreas Vilhelmsen, was born in Sandve, Norway, December 28, 1880, on the Island of Karmoy to Vilhelm Thorsen and Margrethe Dagsthe. He had very little formal schooling. Jacob met Hanna Olena Hanson, daughter of Mandins Hanson and Olena Sandholand of Sandve, Norway. They lived only a short distance from each other.

Hanna had three brothers and two sisters, Elias Olai born in 1872, Hans Andrias 1874, Oystein Larsens 1877, Marta Karine 1879, Gudalene 1881, Hanna Olena 1885 (died in infancy), and my mother the second Henna Olena born in 1887. Hanna was schooled on the Island of Karmoy then attended advanced sewing school on Norway mainland. She had to go by ship across the fjord each day. Her father was secretary to the minister of the Lutheran Church. Her mother was a homemaker

Dad's father, William Thorsen, was a commercial fisherman. William, along with fifteen other fishermen went to Regal Lative to sell their load of fish. On the way back, they encountered a storm off of the coast of Norway in the sea of Bokken. The ship went down and all of the crew drowned. My grandfather was thirty-five years old. My grandmother had five children to care for. Dina, born 1876, Christian 1878, (died young) Jacob 1880, Kia 1882, Bertina, died of appendicitis at age thirteen. Grandmother's health wasn't good. She died of pneumonia two years after grandfather's death. Their children became orphans and were sent to live with relatives. My father was sent to live with his Uncle Oalva. He was eighteen when he became engaged to marry my mother, Hanna. Jacob decided to go to America to earn some money. As Jacob didn't have enough money for both he and Hanna to go, Hanna stayed in Norway with her mother.

Jacob and his first cousin, Lauritz Tveidt, boarded a ship and sailed to America. The two men parted at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jacob went to live with his sister, Kia, (Mrs. Jacob Hansen) until he could find a job. He worked on the railroad through Belle Plaine and Marshalltown and in the wheat fields of South Dakota. Mother seldom knew where he was. Jacob's cousin, Lauritz, on May 21, 1898, continued on to Rapid City, SD., where he established his home and eventually raised a family of twelve children on a ranch near Sturgis, South Dakota.

Jacob finally had enough money to return to Norway. He went to Norway in 1903 and married Hanna. He stayed only eleven days. In those eleven days Hanna became pregnant. Not realizing Hanna's condition, Jacob left to go back to the United States to make enough money to send for Hanna. Five years passed. Jacob sent money occasionally for Hanna and his new daughter, Marguerite, to live on. He wasn't able to correspond, however, as my father was not able to write. Finally, Hanna received the sum of $546.59 for their ticket to the United States in April of 1911. On March 19, 1913, Mother and Marguerite packed their belongings and left Norway. Marguerite remembers crying as they left Grandma Hansen. It was so difficult for the little girl to leave the person who cared so much for her and who she cared for so much. Hanna always worked and left little Marguerite to the care of her mother. Hanna also hated to leave her mother knowing it would be the last time she would see her in this world. Grandma Hansen was eighty years old. Grandma stood on the gangplank and waved her handkerchief until the ship disappeared on the horizon. To pass the time on the long voyage, Hanna embroidered a plush tablecloth in silk embroidery thread. However, she became so sea sick that she couldn't finish it. As Hanna and Marguerite approached the United States, Mother saw the Statue of Liberty. It made her feel so warm to see the statue with her arm extending out into the New York Harbor welcoming Hanna and her daughter to their new life.

Jacob followed the custom common in those days, and changed his last name to Sandve. (The place of his birth.) My mother felt so afraid coming to the large city of New York. She had a new name, $10.00 in currency, and a seven-year-old daughter. Hanna had no knowledge of the English language to help her. Fortunately, her sister Gundelena was at the harbor to meet Hanna and Marguerite. They stayed with Gundelena one week in Brooklyn. Hanna's brother, Elias, also lived in Brooklyn. During Hanna's stay, Elias made a gift for Hanna. Elias made her a box and painted it gray. Hanna put her sewing machine and a few precious things she had brought from Norway into the box. They all said their good-byes and boarded the train. As the train rolled through the mountains and plains heading west, Hanna often thought of her Mother in Norway. Her tears couldn't be stopped. Hanna was also resolved to making a new home in the United States with her husband Jacob.

Jacob was at the train depot in Cedar Rapids to meet his family. He was happy to see both wife and daughter looking so well after their long journey. They were glad to be together again and face whatever life had in store for them.

The young Sandve family was welcomed to Dad's sister, Kia and Jacob Hansen, farm home near Fairfax, Iowa. They stayed with them several years. A daughter, Helen, May 29, 1914, and son, William, December 1, 1915, were born there. Jacob and Hanna then rented a farm Northeast of Norway, Iowa. Betsy made her entrance into the family on that place February 14, 1917, My father however, wanted to have his own farm land. He bought land one-mile south and one quarter mile west of Newhall.

Jacob erected new buildings and moved into the new place in 1918. Through hard work Jacob and Hanna saved $10,000. Jacob decided to buy a larger farm near Ellsworth. He now was farming 260 acres. Another son joined the family. Henry was born January 7, 1919. Jacob sold the farm where they lived but could not move to the new farm until it could be vacated. The Sandve family moved with all of their children, animals, and belongings to their neighbor's home. The seven-member family, along with chickens, cows, horses, machinery, and household goods, stayed with their gracious neighbors for one month!

Finally they were able to load all of their possessions on the train and head northwest to Ellsworth, Iowa. Hanna had a busy train ride with a new baby to nurse and the other children to entertain on the ride to their new home.

Chris Larson, a long time grocery store manager, remembers the Sandve family departing the train in Ellsworth. Jacob had to hire help to drive the animals to their new farm home two and one-quarter miles south of Ellsworth. After harnessing the horses, loading the wagons, and jolting down the road, the real work began. What a job lay ahead! They all worked to set up the stoves and beds, milk and feed the cows, feed the rest of the animals and men women and children. Finally, they lay down to rest their weary bodies.

Jacob Harry joined the family August 18, 1920. About the same time, a flu epidemic started through the community. Betsy and Jacob Sr. were the only family members that didn't get the disease. Many people died for lack of proper medical attention and care. The whole family rejoiced when everyone was finally healthy again. December 11, 1922, Harriet Marie was born. Edna Lillian joined the family November 12, 1923. Despite the joy of having the new baby girls, there were major troubles ahead for the Sandve's.

Jacob and Hanna saw their farm taken away from them as the depression years started. They were lucky enough to be able to rent 320 acres across the road from where they had lived. Everyone had to work very hard to get another start. Joining the struggle was Kenneth Thomas March 8, 1928. The Sandve's lived on and rented that farm until it was sold in 1935 to Ralph Olson. Jacob then rented a farm one-mile east of Randall.

Deep sorrow came to the family when on September 15, 1935; Jacob Jr. died of unknown reasons. Later speculation is that he either had a bowel obstruction or that his appendix burst.

In 1948 Jacob bought a farm near Grand Meadow, MN. Kenneth and Jacob farmed there until Jacob's death in May of 1954. Jacob had a heart attack in 1953. He developed pneumonia in 1954 and died at the hospital in Austin, MN. Interment was at Mount Olive cemetery in Randall, Iowa.

Hanna sold their farm and purchased a small home in Story City, Iowa. She wanted to be near her Norwegian friends. Although Hanna never drove a car, she was very independent. Hanna was able to walk to get her groceries and go to church. Her neighbor took care of her banking. During the winter months, Hanna would fly to California and stay the entire winter with her two daughters and families. Jack and Marie Bean, Becky and Michael and Marvin and Edna Hinton Charlie and Karen took special care of Mom for many years. Hanna died in Santa Clara, California November 29, 1974 from complications resulting from a heart attack. She was 87 years old.

(This account of Hanna and Jacob Sandve's family is per the recollection of Betsy Sandve Raska.)