Madson Overview Page


JORGEN ELISIUS MADSON
(1856-1928)
 
His young life in Risor, Norway 
&
America: Wisconsin & Iowa


Jorgen Madson
probably in his early 20's, ca. late 1870's

Jorgen Elisius Madson was born in the town of Risor, Norway, the oldest child of Hans & Christine Madson -- Risor, Norway & Wisconsin, USA, whose page tells of Jorgen's early life with his family.

From 1867-1881, Pastor Even J. Homme (ages 24-38) served as pastor of Winchester's Norwegian Lutheran Church, his first parish. In the years 1869-1875 (ages 26-31) he also served as pastor to the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Norwegian Lutherans, including the family of Hans & Christine Madson. 

Pastor Homme was a very strict firebrand, and did not hesitate to give his parishioners his opinions on matters. He denounced dancing - - even folk dancing and American square dancing - - saying it was the Devil's work, and it aroused evil passions. Pastor Homme encouraged many of his young - - but male only - - parishioners to further their education and to become ministers. Pastor Homme was quite probably the person who influenced the young Jorgen Madson in this direction.  



1873 - early 1880s:  Jorgen Madson, age 17-24, attended Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
1879:  Worked for Rev. Homme in Wittenberg, Wisconsin

In the years 1873-75 & 1878-80, starting at age 17 and finishing at age 23, Jorgen Madson attended Luther College, Decorah, Iowa - - for a cumulative total of four years.

In 1879 (age 35), Pastor Even J. Homme began work building the new settlement of Wittenberg, Wisconsin, in Shawano County. In January 1882, (age 38), Pastor Homme resigned from his Winchester parish and moved with his family to Wittenberg to spend all his time working there. For a while, Jorgen Madson worked for Rev. Homme on various building projects in Wittenberg.


1880-1881:  Jorgen Madson, age 24-25, attended the Norwegian Synod's Luther Seminary on Hamline Ave, St. Paul, Minnesota


Summers of the late 1870's and early 1880's:   Jorgen Madson, age early 20's, worked on Margit Fune Nayes' farm, Winchester, Wisconsin

Helga Nayes & Jorgen Madson got acquainted through their families' acquaintance.

In the Summers of the late 1870's and early 1880's, at least two of the Madson brothers of Sheboygan worked on the farm of Margit Fune Nayes in Winchester, Wisconsin:  Jorgen Madson - - the oldest brother -- and Christian Madson (b. 1869).

Margit Fune Nayes had a farm outside of Winchester, Wisconsin.  Her husband, Anders Nayes, had died on 1/17/1855 (at age ____) and her son had died in 1873 at age 21.  In the late 1870's and earlly 1880's, Margit's older daughter Dorthea was ________________, and her younger daughter Helga (1855-1927) was a school teacher in the nearby town of Neenah.  So Margit needed help on her farm.

Jorgen came during summer vacations from Luther College in Iowa and Luther Seminary in St. Paul.  During summer vacation from school, Helga came home to her mother's Winchester farm, where Jorgen was there doing work -- and so these young people in their early 20's got acquainted.    

The Anders & Margit Nayes Family of Winchester, Wisconsin and the Hans & Christine Madson Family of Sheboygan, Wisconsin knew each other through possibly two connections:
-  From Norway:  Margit Fune  Nayes came from the same area in Norway as had Christine Kvam Madson:  the Hjartdal Parish of Telemark.  
-  In Wisconsin:  The Winchester and Sheboygan Lutheran Churches shared Rev. Even J. Homme as pastor.

Christian Madson - - Jorgen Madson's younger brother who also worked on Margin Fune Nayes' farm -- was 13 years younger than Jorgen, and therefore probably worked there in later years than did Jorgen.  Christian told his other brothers and sisters about how nice Margit was.  In Christian's later adult years, he had a farm in Wittenberg next to another Madson brother, Albert Madson, who took over the farm of their parents, Hans & Christine Madson.