Imislund Overview

From Mildred Romundstad Madson, 1897-1992: From Norseville & Strum to Out West, then back again to Strum:

We would take Grandma Mildred on drives along the road northeast of Strum where she and her relatives had lived on farms, Grandma telling us stories of people and events of time gone by. First came Imislund Valley -- whose creek runs south into the Buffalo River.

On the east side of the road is the farm of Grandma Mildred's Grandparents, Peder Imislund and Anne Mostu Imislund. In the spring of 1867, Peder & Anne Imislund left Lillehammer, Norway with their four children, including their oldest, Karen, age 11. They sailed from Oslo for America, and took about two months or more to cross the Atlantic, having to bring along all their own food. Anne's sister Karen and her family were with them also .They came first to southwest Wisconsin, to the area near Westby and Coon Valley -- between Viroqua and LaCrosse, Wisconsin. In 1869 they went further north to the Strum area, and settling in Imislund Valley northeast of Strum. When Peder & Anne Imislund saw smoke coming from Ole J. Romundstad's house over the hillcrest into the next valley to the north, they were so glad to know they had neighbors.

In the Spring of 1974 on our first drive with Grandma Mildred, we visited this Imislund farm. It was the first time in years that she was had gotten to go up close to her Grandparents house, and was eager to go look inside the now-abandoned farmhouse. It is inside a fenced pasture now, and we had to climb over a gate to get in. She was by then in her late 70's, but gamely clambered up and over. At the house she encouraged us in our attempts at "breaking and entering," knowing it was all right to be doing so. I have pictures of that day, a day in early Spring, light green buds on the trees, fragrant, moist warmth coming up from the Earth, us striding across the field to the old farmhouse, looking around the farm, finding its still-running spring filling an old oaken bucket, duck weed sprinkled on the water, violets blooming all around.

Across the road from the Peder & Anne Imislund -- and actually a little closer to the Strum Road -- is the farm of Anne Imislund's sister, Mildred & Nora's Grandaunt Karen Mostu and Granduncle Peder Nelson. As children, Mildred and Nora had always loved walking over to the Nelsons' to visit, because their Grandaunt Karen was always so glad to see them and always had a lot of good things for them to eat. Peder & Karen Nelson's daughter Palma was one of the sponsors at Mildred's baptism.

Flesh out these two tidbits:
- Spring 1925: Romund Madson taking his first steps at ________ house,
- As little kids, during a rain Romund & Cherry stuck their heads under the downspout & got all wet - - according to Grandma Mildred, Mark & Matilda were "horrified" .

Include more info on the other Imislunds and Nelsons.