Allamakee Album

Bakke family photo taken ca1915

John Pederson (Olson) Bakke and Ingeborg (Haugen or Gilbertson)

Seated L to R: Ingval, Nora, John, Ingeborg, Idelia, Paul

Standing L to R: Theodore, Augusta, Julius, Olga, Ottenus, Melvin, and Cornelius

The Bakkes were farmers in Center Township on Chimney Rock road. John was born July 9, 1855 in Norway and immigrated to America in 1870. He married Ingeborg Haugen (born July 7, 1857 in America) on December 3, 1880. The family surname was originally Olson, but changed to Bakke in 1912.

Their Children

Ingval Oscar born August 9, 1881. Farmer. Married Emma Johnson. One child, Charles. Died September 29, 1983 at age 102.

Cornelius John born April 3, 1883. Farmer. Married Marie Leikvold. No children. Died February 23, 1958.

Melvin John born November 3, 1884. Farmer. Married Minnie Johnson. Two children. A baby boy who died in infancy and a daughter Julia. Died July 3, 1977.

Augusta born July 17, 1886. Married Alert Roe, farmer and owner Elon Store. Two children, Norval and Marian. Died September 24, 1980.

Julius born August 13, 1888. Farmer. Married Helen Johnson. Three boys, Joseph, Helmer & Lester. Died June 28, 1967.

Ottenus born January 29, 1890. Farmer and served in WWI. Married Clara Knutson. Three girls, Arlene, Joyce & Shirley. Died March 12, 1969.

Idelia Martha born March 14, 1892. Never married. Lived with her siblings and helped raise her nieces and nephews. Died June 8, 1979.

Paul Carlton born June 23, 1894. Undertaker/ funeral home and furniture store. Served in WWI. Married Julia Johnson. One child John Paul. Died July 29, 1976.

Nora born May 26, 1896. Never married. Died of rheumatic fever at age 20 on April 18, 1916.

Theodore Charles born May 17, 1898. Farmer. Married Gladys Fossum. Two children, Donald & Lois. Died January 7, 1974.

Olga born April 8, 1901. School teacher and housewife. Married Hermod Ellefson. Two children, Norma & Ordell. Died March 7, 1959.

Celebrate Golden Wedding
Mr. and Mrs. John Bakke, Center township pioneers, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Friday. Over 300 guests were present to assist them. The exact date of the anniversary is Dec. 3, 1930, but all the chidren could be present at this time.

At the dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Bakke were seated under a canopy of gold and white crepe paper and white wedding bells, at the beautiful table, decorated in gold and white, with harmonizing flowers. A large wedding cake was set for the bridal couple.

Waiters were Miss Pauline Paulson, lifelong neighbors of the Bakke's, and Mrs. Anga Reik, who represented her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Aschom, both deceased, who were attendants at the wedding 50 years ago.

Mrs. Bakke was born and reared in Allamakee county, while Mr. Bakke was born in Norway and came to America when 16 years of age. He has resided here ever since.

Mrs. Bakke has but one brother, A. Gilbertson. Mr. Bakke has one brother and one sister living, Ole Christianson of Big Lake, Minn., and Ms. J. Thorenson of Princeton, Minn.

Eleven children, ten of who are living, all in this locality, except Mrs. H. Ellefson of Waukonda, S.D., were born to the couple. The others are: Paul of Waukon, Melvin, Theodore, Ostenous [sic - Ottenus], Coney [Cornelius], Ingval, Julius, Miss Idwlia [sic - Idelia] and Mrs. A.H. Roe [Augusta].

The following program was carried out: Song, Norval and Marion Roe and Charles Bakke; talks, Carl Johnson and the Rev. I. Unseth of Waterville; solo, Bernard Schwartzhoff with Mrs. Charles Kosbau, accompanist; song, dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. Bakke, sung by Mrs. Paul Bakke and Mrs. Charles Kosbau, with Mrs. Herman Ellefson as accompanist; and reading, Mrs. Paul Bakke.

A substantial purse was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Bakke, while their children gave them three pieces of furniture.
~Allamakee Journal and Lansing Mirror, Wednesday, September 17, 1930; page 1