#52 Ancestor Challenge 2019, Week 22, Grandma's Cemetery Secret

#52 Ancestor Challenge 2019, Week 22 ( Cemetery)

Grandma’s Cemetery Secret 

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Vold Forde

Sithone Turvold Vold’s worn purple velvet photo album held secrets.  Two pieces of very old folded paper were revealed, tucked behind the photos.  One of the papers was her father’s (Ole Hermundson Turvold),  Norwegian confirmation certificate, and the other paper was the certificate for his burial plot in Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood, Iowa.  Both items were quickly photographed, shared with cousins, framed and hung on my wall of ancestral photos.

The year was 2002.  Cousin Bruce Knuth had gifted me a treasure box of old photos and my grandmother’s photo album that had lain in an attic for fifty years since the death of our grandmother in 1952.   Bruce’s mother, Alice Vold Knuth, had put them in her attic, where they rested until she died; then they were transferred to Bruce’s attic.  I was incredibly elated to receive the photos, but especially the photo album.  I remembered seeing the photo album when I was a child; it rested upstairs on grandma’s cedar chest.  Now, it was mine, and so was the discovery of the confirmation and burial record. 

The certificate showing the purchase of the cemetery lot solved a mystery. Thanks to Donovan Turvold for correcting the name of the cemetery and providing us with the location of the burial plots.  for it revealed the secret of the oldest area of the cemetery.   Now we know where Ole Hermundson Turvold, his bride and many of his children were buried.  

Ole H. Turvold came to Worth County, Iowa approximately 1870. He married Marta (Maita) Holstad after coming to the United States, but the date of marriage is not known.  His father, mother, brother, and sisters, who arrived in the US in 1876, probably followed him at his encouragement and advice. His wife, Marta, was born at Vik, a daughter of Bendick Endreson Holstad and Brita Sjur. Honsi.  Ole H. died July 6, 1925, while his wife, Marta, died on May 3, 1922.

OBITUARY OF OLE H. TURVOLD

Northwood Anchor, Northwood, Iowa

ANOTHER PIONEER GONE.

Ole H. Turvold Summoned After Long Useful Life:

Ole H. Turvold, who came to Worth County in 1864, passed away on July3, at the home of his son, Ole O. Turvold, southwest of town at the age of eighty-three years.

The funeral services were held on Monday, July 6th at the home, and later at Shell Rock Church, conducted by The Rev. Carl B. Ylvisaker. Burial was held in the Shell Rock Cemetery.  This is a complete sketch of the life of this early pioneer.

OLE HERMUNDSON TURVOLD

Ole Hermundson Turvold was born on August 10, 1842, at Vik, in Sogn, Norway.  His parents were Hermund and Synnove Turvold.  He was later baptized and confirmed in the parish of Vix (sic).  He emigrated from Norway in 1863 and coming first to Winneshiek County and a year later to Worth County.  He homesteaded on a tract of land southwest of town which remained his home until death and where he performed his lifework.  He was one of the sturdy, stout-hearted pioneers, the ranks of which are rapidly thinning.

He was united in marriage to Martha Holstad during the Christmas of1870.  She passed on before him in May of 1922. Seven children were born to them:  Henry, who died in January of 1896, Bertha, who passed away shortly before, in October of 1895; Sitona, now Mrs. Carl Vold, of Northwood; Bertin, who also died in 1896; Anna, now Mrs. John Johnson, living west of Northwood, Ole O. Turvold, who farms the homeplace, and Sina, the late Mrs. Iver Hopperstad, who died in March of1923, leaving a large flock of children.  The deceased is also survived by a half brother, Elling Hermandson, living in Winnebago; a brother, Elling Turvold, living SW of Northwood, a sister, Mrs. Albert Harmon, Northwood, and 25 grandchildren.  Another sister, Kari Turvold, passed away several years ago.

During his long residence in this community, he was a member of the Shell Rock Congregation.   He had been in failing health the past several years, during which time he rarely left home.  His great affliction was blindness, relieved only temporarily by an operation, but he was fortunate enough to have about him those who were willing to be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.  He often spoke of the tender care he enjoyed from day-to-day.  He was very appreciative of the visits of his pastor and eagerly listened to the reading of Scripture, song, and prayer.   He asked for the Lord's Supper frequently and partook the last time in May.

He was in bed only four days, sinking unusually fast. It seemed to be the heart which gave way, but even though the flesh and heart fail, he appeared confident and hopeful.  When asked whether he knew The Way and knew Him so well that he was persuaded He was able to grant that which he had entrusted to Him against that day, he replied without hesitation, 'Yes!"  He slept away early Friday morning, July 3rd, lacking a little over a month of the high old age of eighty-three years.

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The only extant photo of Ole Hermundson and Marta Holstad Turvold was also in that treasure box from Bruce Knuth.  It is also the only photo of the old Turvold farm home. It is a somber photo; a white casket is visible, on the porch.  Several of the Turvold children died from a Scarlet Fever epidemic.  Only one son and three daughters survived.

Ole Hermundson, Marta and the Turvold Family 

Thanks to Donovan Turvold for the burial plot location of the Turvolds; we are all grateful!

Plot # 20, no stones