Sygurd Marineus Stephenson

Narrative:

     Sygurd Marineus Stephenson was born on 5 Mar 1882 in Minnesota.^9,10,11
     Sygurd was raised with the surname Brandvold. At that time in Norway, where his parents were born, surnames were just beginning to be used. For many generations patronymic names had been used, which were formed by adding "sen" for boys or "datter" for girls to the father's given name. In church and other records the name of the farm where the family lived was noted to reduce the confusion between similar names. When immigrating to the U.S., where surnames were expected, some families chose the husband's patronymic name, others chose the name of their farm, and some chose something different. Sygurd's parents used their farm name, Brandvold, preceded when a full name was required by his an Americanized version of his patronymic name, Stephenson. For reasons unknown, Sygurd chose to use the latter after he left home.^15,4,16
     Sygurd appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Pelican Twp., Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, in the household of his parents, John Stephenson Brandvold and Mathilde [surname unknown].⁵ He appeared on the 1905 State Census of Pelican Twp., Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, in the household of his parents.¹⁷
     Sygurd married Ida Thompson on 6 Nov 1907 in Otter Tail Co., Minnesota.^12,13
     Sygurd and Ida appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Lida Twp., Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, enumerated 11 May 1910, reporting that they were renting their farm. Their daughter May was listed as living with them, as was Bennie Olson, age 12, listed as a foster child.³
     Sygurd registered for the draft for World War I on 12 Sep 1918, while living at Pelican Rapids, Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, reporting he was self-employed as a farmer.¹
     Sygurd and Ida appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Pelican Twp., Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, enumerated 31 Jan 1920, reporting that the family was renting it's home. Their children May, Juel, Milo, Dora and Ella were listed as living with them, as well as his father, John Stephenson Brandvold, Bennie Olson, a cousin who appears to have been working on the farm, and Louis Hanson, a hired hand.⁷
     Sygurd and Ida appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Lida Twp., Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, enumerated 3 May 1930, reporting that the family owned its home, and owned a radio. Their children Ella, Ada, Milo and Dora were listed as living with them, as well as 75 year-old Alexandra Gustifson, born in Sweden, Edna Svare, a boarding schoolteacher, and William Jackson, a farm hand.¹⁸
     Sygurd and Ida appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Lida Twp., Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, enumerated 5 Apr 1940, reporting that they owned a farm valued at $20,200, and had lived at the same house in 1935. Their children Milo, Ella and Ada were listed as living with them, as were a nephew, Milford Stephenson, age 16, two farm hands, Jackson John and Cecil Ophus, and Alexander Gustavson, age 84, identified as a lodger.¹⁹
     He was a farm laborer on his father's farm by the time he was 18 years old. He became a farmer in his own right by 1910, an occupation he continued the rest of his life.^{20,21,3,7,18,22}
     Sygurd and Ida appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Lida, Otter Tail Co., Minnesota, in the household of their son Milo and his wife, Margaret Louise Cole.²³
     Sygurd died on 10 Sep 1963 in Blue Earth Co., Minnesota, at age 81.¹⁴