Ole Anderson was born 06 Aug 1827 at Dahl, Lavik, Sogen, Norway the son of Anders Danielson and his wife Aase (Olsdatter) Danielson. Ole left his native land and traveled to America on April 1, 1856, first settling in Illinois then moving in about 1859 to Butler County Kansas. He came to America with two of his brothers, Daniel and Gjert (George).
Kjersti Bronson was born 20 Jun 1827 in Flesburg, Buskerud, Norway the daughter of Gulbrand R. Gullerkson and his wife Meret Solom (Bjornsdatter) Gullerkson. She came to America with her mother and brothers and sisters, it is assumed at present her father had already died. They landed in Minnesota before making it to Butler County Kansas around the same time the Anderson's did. It was there in 1861 that Ole and Kjersti were married.
To clarify some confusion you may be having on the names it was customary in the Scandinavian countries to give a new last name to each generation, naming them after their father. Ole Anderson was the son of Anders Danielson, so his new last name is comprised of the father's first name Anders and since he is the son it is Anderson, and a daughter is names Andersdatter, datter meaning daughter. The datter is sometimes shortened to dtr. Kjersti Bronson in all actuality should have had a maiden name of Gulbrandsdtr, but the family shortened it to just Bronson. To help distinguish all the Ole Anderson's in the country another name was attached to each person, which was the name of the farm from which they came, so Ole Anderson, Dahl would have distinguished him from say Ole Anderson, Hayanger.
Ole and his brother Daniel soon moved their families to Brown County Kansas, their brother Gjert remained in the southern part of the state settling in Greenwood County, Kansas. Family stories say the two who moved to Brown County later regretted it as Gjert discovered oil on his property and made lots of money where Ole and Daniel worked hard at farming.
Ole and Daniel settled in the neighborhood of Robinson, Kansas.
Ole and Kjersti (Christina in English) had a family of five children: Ellen (Mrs. Christian Nicholson); Mary Jane (Mrs. William Gilbert); Sarah Sofia (Mrs. Adolph Peterson); Andrew and Christina.
When the Civil War threatened life in Kansas, Ole enlisted in the Kansas Militia as a Private in Company C., Brown county Battalion Attached to the 22nd Regiment under Capt. Samuel W. Swayze. He enlisted Sep 15, 1863 at Robinson, was called into active duty on Oct. 14, 1864 at Atchison, served for 20 days and was released from duty Oct. 29, 1864.
In the 1865 Kansas Census taken October 6, 1865 Ole and family are living in Claytonville Township with their post office in Robinson. The census lists the value of his real estate at $400 and his personal estate at $600. He had 20 acres of land that was improved 60 acres unimproved, with 20 acres fenced. HIs farming implements and machinery were valued at $50. He had 1 horse, 6 milch cows, 2 working oxen, and 9 other cattle, 28 sheep, and 7 swine. The value of the livestock was given at $300. As far as harvested crops there were 70 bushels of wheat, 150 bushels of Indian corn, 100 bushels of oats, 10 bushels of Irish potatoes and 14 tons of hay. They also had on hand 150 pounds of butter, 1 gallon of molasses and a $30 value of animals they had slaughtered.
In September 1879 Ole and Kjersti moved across the county to live four miles south of what later became Fairview, Kansas. They purchased at that time E 1/2 S.E. Section 21, Township 3, Range 16 containing 240 acres. It had an estimated value of $8,000. One half acre orchard, 10 acres tame grass, 1/2 mile hedge. They had common stock Poland China hogs with their residence located in the N.W. section 21, Township 3, Range 15 and their post office was Comet, Kansas.In May of 1897 Ole, accompanied by Adolph Peterson (his son-in-law) went to St. Joseph, Missouri. Ole wanted to consult with Dr. Barton Pitts about his eyes Dr. Pitts was a well known eye and ear specialist. He kept Ole for two weeks while he examined his eyes and successfully operated on them. Three growths were removed from his eyes, one from the right and two from the left eye-ball. His eye sight was entirely restored.
In the above photo is Ole Anderson standing on the porch of this house he built. From the Saturday, October 21, 1893, Fairview Enterprise "Ole Anderson will have one of the nicest and most convenient residents in that part of the county when Tom Epps gets through with the finishing touches."
Kjersti died 24 Sep 1900 and Ole died 27 Jun 1907 and both are buried in the Powhattan, Kansas cemetery.
