Erick Nilson BARSNESS

1841 - 1925  (83 years)

• Name	Erick Nilson BARSNESS
  Born	27 Nov 1841	Sogndal, Norway
  Gender	Male
  Emigration	1861	USA
  Misc	From 1861
  	See http://www.15thwisconsin.net/15benb01.htm for a summary of his life and career
  	Erick N Barsness was the son of Nels N Barsness. Erick married Martha Jacobson about 1870. Martha died in 1879 and he then married Bertha Swenson in 1881. Obit was located in the "Glenwood Herald" on Thursday, April 30, 1925 on page #1 and #4 and reads as follows: "Aged Veteran of Civil War Mustered Out". "Erick N. Barsness, Old Pioneer and Civil War Veteran answers last roll call April 25th. The fading ranks of the Boys in Blue lost another comrade in the death of Erick N. Barsness which occured at his old homestead in Barsness township on Saturday morning, April 25th. He has gone to join the boys who are sleeping in the eternal camping grounds of the nation's honored dead. The long and useful life is ended. Erick N. Barsness was born in Sogn, Norway, on November 27th. 1841 and would have been 84 years of age had he lived until this fall. On the day the Civil War broke out he sailed for America in a sailing vessel of that day. The journey across the ocean took thirteen weeks. He came directly to Dane county, Wisconsin. At the time Col Hegg of the 15th Wisconsin was gathering volunteers for the regiment that became so famous in the Civil War. Erick Barsness volunteered at once to fight for his adopted country and started for the South as a private in Company B. 15th Wisconsin Regiment. He was later promoted to a corporal. The history of 15th Wisconsin and the twenty-five battles they won out of twenty-seven needs no words of praise as their fame will live as long as memory lives. At the battle of Stone River, Erick Barsness was shot by a musket ball which went thru his right breast. In this battle the Union soldiers had to retreat and Barsness was left between two fires in which he suffered additional wounds. He was left on the battle field as dead and was found three days later when the Confederate men came to bury the dead. He was taken prisoner and was later paroled. He soon found his way back to his company and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. At the end of his three year enlistment he was mustered out at Chattanooga, Tennesee in 1864 but re-enlisted again at once for futher service. In the company in which he enlisted only twelve of the original men that went in came back alive and ten of the twelve had been wounded. At the conclusion of the war he came to Washington and took park in the grand review before Abraham Lincoln and his staff and cabinet. He was mustered out of service on February 11, 1866. In company with his brother Nels Barsness, also a veteran of the Civil War and a younger brother Ole Barsness the three started out for westeren Minnesota to look for land. The nearest railroad station to Pope county at that time was St. Cloud and the three brothers started out afoot across the prairie from St. Cloud westward. In going westwards they came to Pope county which at that time had less than a dozen settlers. When they came to the east shore of what is now Lake Ben in Barsness township, they halted on a little knoll and camped for the night. They were so impressed with beauty of the country that surrounded them that they decided to make it their home. They also decided where they had slept the first night should be their last resting place. Today the three brothers are sleeping there, close by the homestead where they shared the joys and hardships of the pioneer days. The land across the lake looked so good to Erick Barsness that he decided to make it his home. With the help of his brothers and neighbors he built a log house which stood on the homestead until in 1920. In the organization and the development of the county the deceased took an active part with the many early pioneers. The early pioneer days until the railroad came to Benson and later to Glenwood meant long journeys for provisions. The pioneer days were not all hardships as the early record of the county show, as a settler who lived ten or twenty miles away was considered as neighbors. Their celebrations and gatherings were bright pictures in the memory of the early settlers. Shortly after the log house was built Erick Barsness and Martha Jacobson were united in marriage. Their union was blessed with six children: Anna, Josie, Nels, James, Albert and Martha. On July 22, 1879, death entered the home and the mother's chair became vacant. On Nov. 27, 1881 Erick N. Barsness and Bertha Swenson were married. Their union was blessed with the following children: Ida, Hilda, Ida, Omer, Minnie, Edward, Blanche, Sydney, William, Anna, James and Lila. In the fifty-nine years of time the old homestead became the well improved Lake View Farm of today. In his declining years one of the great joys of the deceased was to spend hours on Lake Ben fishing and enjoying the beauty of the great outdoor. In the sunset of his life the deceased found quite and restful days in contrast to the active days of his earlier life. Suring the last six months the powerful physical constitution of the deceased gradually weakened until the end came peacefully on the bright sunny morning of April 25th. In character, the late Erick N. Barsness, was of the Viking type. He knew no fear or compromise. What he believed was right he was willing to give his all for. He was kind and generous and was always ready to give a helping hand to a fellow man in time of need. He worked hard in building up the roads, schools and churches of his community. His life was one of service to his home, country and God. Besides his wife he leaves the following children to cherish and revere his memory: Nels Barsness of Buffalo Center, Iowa; Mrs. B.M. Johnson, Starbuck; Mrs. Henry Halverson and Mrs. T. Strand of Glenwood township; Edward E. Barsness, Glenwood; E. Sydney and Ida Barsness at Fair Acres Farm, Mrs. Clarence Hagen, Barsness township and Omer, Minnie, James and Lila at home. Impressive funeral services were held from the home at 2 o'clock on Tuesday. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. T. Klevan of Starbuck, and Rev. Andrew Olson of Morris. The Starbuck Male Quartette rendered a beautiful and appropriate selection. Mrs. T. Klevan also sang a touching solo. A tribute from the mother and the children was read. The casket was covered with flowers a silent tribute of the love of those who knew him. The active pall bearers were veterans of the Wold War. The honarable pallbearers were: John Urness, Albert Barsness, Mr. Farnum, Andrew Quam, Ole and Martin Barsness. The Legion Post of Glenwood, aided by service men from Starbuck and the community conducted full military honors to the dead. The body was tenderly laid to rest in the Lake Ben cemetery directly across the lake from the old homestead. The services at the grave were conducted by Rev. T. Klevan and Commander Kalton of the Glenwood Legion Post. Before the casket was lowered into the grave the American flag which draped the casket was presented to Mrs. E. N. Barsness in memory of her honored dead. The firing squad then executed the three volleys in honor of the soldier dead after which the last taps were blown." ------ 1870 United States Federal Census about Erick N Barsness Name: Erick N Barsness Birth Year: abt 1842 Age in 1870: 28 Birthplace: Norway Home in 1870: Barsness, Pope, Minnesota Race: White Gender: Male Value of real estate: View image Post Office: Anderson Household Members: Name Age Erick N Barsness 28 ------ 1880 United States Federal Census about Erik Barsness Name: Erik Barsness Home in 1880: Barsness, Pope, Minnesota Age: 38 Estimated birth year: abt 1842 Birthplace: Noway Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Martha Barsness Father's birthplace: Norway Mother's birthplace: Norway Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Farmer Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age Erik Barsness 38 Martha Barsness 38 Anna Barsness 10 Neils Barsness 5 James Barsness 3 Albet Barsness 2 Edling Orvold 40 Ole Orvold 29 Johann Orvold 14 Charl Orvold 12 John Testenson 21 ------ 1910 United States Federal Census about E N Barsness Name: E N Barsness Age in 1910: 68 Estimated birth year: abt 1842 Birthplace: Norway Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Norway Mother's Birth Place: Norway Spouse's name: Bertha Barsness Home in 1910: Barsness, Pope, Minnesota Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Year of Immigration: 1861 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age E N Barsness 68 Bertha Barsness 51 Albert Barsness 31 Hilda Barsness 27 Ida Barsness 25 Omar Barsness 21 Minna Barsness 20 Edward Barsness 19 Blanche Barsness 18 Sidney Barsness 15 Anna Barsness 14 James Barsness 12 Lula Barsness 5 ----- 1920 United States Federal Census about Erick N Barsness Name: Erick N Barsness Home in 1920: Barsness, Pope, Minnesota Age: 78 Estimated birth year: abt 1842 Birthplace: Norway Relation to Head of House: Self (Head) [Head] Spouse's name: Bertha Barsness Father's Birth Place: Norway Mother's Birth Place: Norway Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Home owned: Own Year of Immigration: 1870 Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Erick N Barsness 78 Bertha Barsness 60 Ida M Barsness 34 Omer M Barsness 31 Minnie Barsness 29 Edward Barsness 28 Anna A Barsness 20 James Barsness 17 Leila Barsness 15     Family links:   Parents:   Niels Nielson Barsness (1798 - 1885)    Spouses:   Martha Jacobson Barsness (1842 - 1880)   Bertha Swenson Barsness (1859 - 1945)    Children:   Anna C Barsness (1870 - 1887)*   James E Barsness (1876 - 1882)*   Albert Barsness (1877 - 1911)*   Ida Marie Barsness (1885 - 1960)*   Omer Martinius Barsness (1888 - 1972)*   Minnie Annette Barsness (1890 - 1979)*   Edward E Barsness (1891 - 1982)*   James E Barsness (1902 - 1979)*   Lila Barsness Torguson (1904 - 1940)*   *Point here for explanation   Burial: Lake Ben Cemetery Pope County Minnesota, USA   Created by: david long Record added: May 17, 2007 Find A Grave Memorial# 19420694
  Died	25 Apr 1925	Glenwood, Pope County, Minnesota, USA
  Buried	Lake Ben Cemetery, Pope County, Minnesota, USA
  		Barsness
  Person ID	I5541	2. East End Ennevers
  Last Modified	4 Nov 2011

  
  

  Father	Nels Nelson Ronneie BARSNESS,   Died:  Yes, date unknown
  Mother	Agathe BOTTOLFASDATTER,   Born:  1802, Sogndalsfjaeren, Norway ,   Died:  1854  (Age 52 years)
  Family ID	F1778	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family (spouse) 1	Martha JACOBSON,   Born:  1841, Norway ,   Died:  Abt 1880  (Age 39 years)
  Married	8 May 1869	Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
  Family ID	F1779	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family (spouse) 2	Bertha SVENSDATTER,   Born:  1 Dec 1859, Norway ,   Died:  1945  (Age 85 years)
  Married	21 Nov 1881	Barsness, Pope County, Minnesota, USA
  Children	1. Edward Andreas BARSNESS,   Born:  25 Jul 1891, Barsness, Pope County, Minnesota, USA ,   Died:  11 Jan 1982, Minnesota, USA  (Age 90 years)
  Family ID	F1551	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 27 Nov 1841 - Sogndal, Norway Emigration - 1861 - USA Married - 8 May 1869 - Dane County, Wisconsin, USA Married - 21 Nov 1881 - Barsness, Pope County, Minnesota, USA Died - 25 Apr 1925 - Glenwood, Pope County, Minnesota, USA Buried - - Lake Ben Cemetery, Pope County, Minnesota, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photographs

  Erick N Barsness (1841-1925) Now in the Pope County Historical Society in Glenwood, MN, U. S. A.