Bosque County: Land and People (A History of Bosque County, Texas) Page: 221
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cousin, sang duets at the Norse La
an organization in which Pearl wa.
Our Saviour's Lutheran Church
has been an all-important part of th
life. Clarence and Pearl were
confirmed and married by the san
the Rev. J. K. Rystad.
Working hard during the depress
they created a happy and stable env
for their children ever mind
"everything works out for the best
by Rex F. Colwick andCOLWICK, OVEE
rMWy
Ovee Colwick and Johanna Naadland
There was a farm called Kjolvi
Sogn, near Stavanger, Norway, whe:
the fourth son, Ovee, was born to
Torger and Kirsti Ellingsdatter Ste
education consisted of instruction
doctrines of the Lutheran Chur
prepared him for confirmation and
ship in this church.
Their farm was near the coast o
Fjord, so the appeal of the sea was
Ovee as he was growing up. He watc
come and go, and as he grew older,
his father in the fishing trade. I
plentiful just before a storm, and
many risks while trying to fill their
fish. There was no fear of the sea as
used to it and its violence during
In 1853 Ovee married Johanne]
Johannesdatter Naadland in the Ji
(church) where both had attended
since childhood. She was born in 1
Island of Naadland to parents, Johi
Margaret Larsdatter Bergeson. T
eled by boat to attend church at Je
obtain supplies. As a member of a p
family, she was required to wear
crown on her wedding day which r
making her ill with a headache
celebration lasted all day. The hon
Ovee and Johanne were born and t
where they married are still in use
Ovee and Johanne heard stori
opportunities and freedom in Ame
times were hard in Norway. Ovee
boat capsized in rough waters, andies Aid - rescued, unconscious, but revived. This
s active. helped make their decision to emigrate to
at Norse America in 1854. Bergitte Cecelia Naadland,
e family's Johanne's younger sister, accompanied them
baptized, on the voyage which took thirteen weeks.
ne pastor, Their first child, Thomas Theodore, was born
in 1854 while at sea. Ovee became ill with
ion years, cholera during the voyage and was taken to
ironment a hospitalin Quebec, Canada, when they
ful that landed. Since she spoke only Norwegian, it
". was some time before Johanne knew whether
Ovee was alive. After his recovery, the family
Mary C. went to Fox River, Illinois, where they lived
Orbeck for five years in that Norwegian settlement.
Ovee had taken the name Kjolvig translated
Colwick in American.
They lived and worked in Illinois five years
F221 and learned to know Cleng Peerson. They
became intrigued with his description of
Bosque County and decided to journey there.
Their family now included: Margaret Cecelia
Hjelm (1855), Martha Christine (1857), and
John Naadland (1859). They settled in the
Norse community of Bosque County on 160
acres that Cleng Peerson gave them to
provide him with a home and care in his old
age. He lived with them in a special room
built for him when they constructed their
home on this place until his death in 1865.
The land had to be cleared before it could
be farmed to provide food for the family and
their livestock. Ovee was called to serve in the
Confederate Army during the Civil War
which left Johanne with the full responsibil-
ity of the farm and family. During this time
three Indian braves rode up to their home,
dismounted, walked into the house, and
showed her by signs that they were hungry.
She hurriedly prepared food for them even
though she was terrified. They ate it while
Colwick carrying on a conversation with each other in
their own language. When they had finished
eating, they bowed politely, left the house,
mounted their horses and rode away.
g in Jelsa After the war, Ovee returned home, and
re in 1825, they resumed a normal pioneer family life.
parents, Four more children were born to this couple
inson. His on this farm: Olivia Johanna (1861), Samuel
n in the Houston (1863), Alfred Martin (1867), and
ch which Jennie Belle (1874).
member- Johanne died in 1881 after an extended
illness. Later in 1881, Ovee married Mathea
n Ryfylke Erickson (1857), who had immigrated from
strong to Norway about 1880. Seven children were
rhed ships born to this union: Emil Thorvald (1882),
he helped Millie Olivia Janette (1884), Clara Malinda
Fish were (1886), Magnus Ludvig (1888), Agnes Laura
they took (1890), Lina Johanne (1893-1895), and Lillie
boat with Johanna (1895).
they were Ovee was gored by a bull which caused his
a storm. death in 1895. Mathea lived until 1900.
Margarett Johanne, Ovee, Mathea, and Lina are all
elsa Kirke buried in the Norse Cemetery near the
d worship Lutheran Church where they were faithful
831 on the members.annes and
'hey trav-
lsa and to
prominent
r a heavy
resulted in
since the
mes where
he church
today.
es of the
rica while
's fishing
id he wasby Velma Eggen White
COLWICK, T. THEO
F222
Born on the high seas when his parents
were immigrating from Norway to America,
Thomas Theodore Colwick was literally "A
Man Without A Country." He was born in
1854 to Ovee and Johanne Naadland Torger-
son (the family name became Colwick in0 ISEPOST-Ofri([
11011 RY-PRF~fL( RY PPA1 DII
rT7-GNorse Post Office, T. Theo Colwick.
tia r
r ,
A
YAmerica) and was christened by the ship's
captain. After they landed at Quebec, they
journeyed to Fox River, Illinois, where they
lived until Theo was five years old. At that
time they moved to Bosque County, Texas,
where he spent the remainder of his life.
He helped on his parents' farm and later
worked for others including his brother-in-
law and sister, the T.A. Eggens.
In the early 1900's he became postmaster
of the Norse Post Office. He also had a store
in the same building where he sold "patent"
medicine, stationary, and other articles. He
loved to write and did articles for some
papers, kept personal journals, and was asked
to write obituaries as well as other special
articles for relatives and friends.
In 1928 he passed away and is buried next
to Cleng Peerson in the Norse Cemetery.
The third son of Ovee and Johanne
Colwick was born in 1863 on the family farm
and was named Samuel Houston. It was here
that he grew up helping with the farm chores
and going to the parochial school along with
brothers and sisters. He was known for his
good nature by family and friends.
In 1882 he went to live with his sister and
her husband, Thore and Olivia Eggen. He
continued to make that his home for many
years. At one time he worked in Mexico for
a while and then worked for publishers in
several towns in Texas. He went to Oklahoma
when it was still Indian Territory. One of his
favorite stories was about the time he was
working at the "old" mill in Clifton on the
banks of the Bosque, the river flooded the
area, and he could not get out. He was forced
to live on flour and water until the river ran
down.
Sam was residing in Oklahoma City at the
time of his death in 1950. He is buried in the
Norse Cemetery.
The fourth son of Ovee and Johanne
Colwick, born in 1867 on the family farm, was
Alfred Martin Isaac. He did all the things a
boy in a large pioneer family had to do on a
farm. His education was obtained at the local
221,
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Bosque County History Book Committee. Bosque County: Land and People (A History of Bosque County, Texas), book, 1985; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91038/m1/237/?q=campbell: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Denton Public Library.