Ira Nerim was born and named Erik Olai Knutson Nerheim, third son of Agota Larson (Saevereid) and Knut L. Nerheim on January 8, 1889 in Olen, Norway. His older brothers Lars (Big Lars) Nerheim anglicized to Louis Nerem was born December 24, 1884 and Lars (Little Lars) Nerheim anglicized to Lars Nerim was born March 28, 1887. Both Knut and Aagota's fathers were named Lars, one son originally named for each. Ira also had three sisters, Ragnhild K. Nerheim born March 23, 1883, Ingeborg Torine Nerheim 1891-1891 and Isabel Karine Nerheim born on Sept. 8, 1892.
In those times Norway was ruled by the Swedish crown. As the years passed near the turn of the century an independence movement gained steam across the Norwegian countryside. Norway and Sweden had a past with conflicts and war between the two nations. Internationally Sweden had usually sided with Prussia, later Germany in various disputes and conflicts whereas the Norwegians mostly felt allegiance with the British. It appeared a war for independence from Sweden might be looming in early 1900s. This may have been a reason for immigrating to the U.S.A. however their father Knut's second marriage to Elen Valskar after Agota's death in 1894 and probably played the largest part in the decision. The Nerheim children's late mother Agota had two brothers and a sister whom immigrated to Story City, Iowa, U.S.A. at least 25 years prior to 1905. They were Amund O. Severeide (July 31, 1851-April 20, 1920), Lars Larson Severeide (Nov, 24, 1849-Feb. 20, 1915) and Ingrid L. Severeide (Dec.4, 1846-April 1,1933).
The five surviving children of Knut L. and Agota L. Nerheim each boarded a steamships after turning sixteen years of age. They immigrated into the United States through Ellis Island. Sister Ragnhild arrived in 1898 and became the first "Nerim". Louis' (Big Lars) last name was anglicized to "Nerem" when he arrived in New York in 1900. While his two brothers each became "Nerim" upon there arrival on the Cernic from Stavanger in May of 1903. Youngest sister Isabel remained in Norway until 1909. Presumably, their first destination in America was Story City, Iowa where their late mother had two brothers and a sister in residence. Eventually, Louis (Big Lars) found his way to Inverness, Montana where he became a naturalized US citizen in 1915. Little Lars lived in Iowa awhile and Tennessee before landing permanently in Colorado. Ira found himself in St. Paul, MN before eventually making a home in Baltimore, MD.
After enlisting in the military in 1915, Ira rose to the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army Coastal Artillery Corps, 7th Anti-Aircraft Battalion which briefly saw action in France. But before leaving for France he married Anna M. Klaschus, a German immigrant on March 7, 1918 and was employed as a streetcar motorman once the war ended. Their marriage produced two children, Dorothy Ann Nerim (Dec. 3, 1919) and Kenneth Ira Nerim (August 28, 1925). As the 1920s came to a close the couple developed a rocky relationship between themselves. The marriage lasted into the early 1930's as the economic upheaval of the Great Depression created additional hardship. Jobs were very difficult to find. Ira eventually found himself drawn to the mountains and Colorado's mining industry. His brother Little Lars and family lived there and had a family of eight children at the time. Unfortunately, this move would prove the fateful one in Ira's life. For three years he worked there as a gold miner while living in nearby Alma, CO.
On September 7, 1935 Ira lost his life in a bunkhouse/storage shed fire that took the life of six men of which he was the oldest at 46 years of age. The building was located at the American Gold Lode Mine near Alma, CO. in neighboring Park County. Eighteen men became trapped inside a narrow bunkhouse also used to store dynamite. The men were regularly locked inside each night presumably to prevent thefts. The small windows of the building were barred and covered with iron gratings. There was snow on the ground and it was an unusually cold night even for the 13,000 foot elevation. A pot belly stove pipe without insulation lit the wooden building on fire. This was officially blamed as the cause of the fire. Escape was made more difficult as the bunkhouse/shed ignited as the men slept. Upon awakening some of the men were able to pry a small opening through a barred window at one end of this deathtrap allowing nine of them to escape. At the other end the door was locked from the outside as the six doomed men tried vainly to take the thing down but to no avail. Their charred remains were found in front of that locked door. Another three men with burns but surviving the ordeal were hospitalized.
Along with Ira Nerim, the other deceased were John Alger of Denver, CO, Marion Sprague of Butte Montana, John W. Prince of Pueblo, CO, Bryan Lee of Fairplay, CO and William Frasier of Twin Lakes CO. These remains were identified by Dr. R. M. Burlingame, Park County, Colorado Coroner.
In those times Norway was ruled by the Swedish crown. As the years passed near the turn of the century an independence movement gained steam across the Norwegian countryside. Norway and Sweden had a past with conflicts and war between the two nations. Internationally Sweden had usually sided with Prussia, later Germany in various disputes and conflicts whereas the Norwegians mostly felt allegiance with the British. It appeared a war for independence from Sweden might be looming in early 1900s. This may have been a reason for immigrating to the U.S.A. however their father Knut's second marriage to Elen Valskar after Agota's death in 1894 and probably played the largest part in the decision. The Nerheim children's late mother Agota had two brothers and a sister whom immigrated to Story City, Iowa, U.S.A. at least 25 years prior to 1905. They were Amund O. Severeide (July 31, 1851-April 20, 1920), Lars Larson Severeide (Nov, 24, 1849-Feb. 20, 1915) and Ingrid L. Severeide (Dec.4, 1846-April 1,1933).
The five surviving children of Knut L. and Agota L. Nerheim each boarded a steamships after turning sixteen years of age. They immigrated into the United States through Ellis Island. Sister Ragnhild arrived in 1898 and became the first "Nerim". Louis' (Big Lars) last name was anglicized to "Nerem" when he arrived in New York in 1900. While his two brothers each became "Nerim" upon there arrival on the Cernic from Stavanger in May of 1903. Youngest sister Isabel remained in Norway until 1909. Presumably, their first destination in America was Story City, Iowa where their late mother had two brothers and a sister in residence. Eventually, Louis (Big Lars) found his way to Inverness, Montana where he became a naturalized US citizen in 1915. Little Lars lived in Iowa awhile and Tennessee before landing permanently in Colorado. Ira found himself in St. Paul, MN before eventually making a home in Baltimore, MD.
After enlisting in the military in 1915, Ira rose to the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army Coastal Artillery Corps, 7th Anti-Aircraft Battalion which briefly saw action in France. But before leaving for France he married Anna M. Klaschus, a German immigrant on March 7, 1918 and was employed as a streetcar motorman once the war ended. Their marriage produced two children, Dorothy Ann Nerim (Dec. 3, 1919) and Kenneth Ira Nerim (August 28, 1925). As the 1920s came to a close the couple developed a rocky relationship between themselves. The marriage lasted into the early 1930's as the economic upheaval of the Great Depression created additional hardship. Jobs were very difficult to find. Ira eventually found himself drawn to the mountains and Colorado's mining industry. His brother Little Lars and family lived there and had a family of eight children at the time. Unfortunately, this move would prove the fateful one in Ira's life. For three years he worked there as a gold miner while living in nearby Alma, CO.
On September 7, 1935 Ira lost his life in a bunkhouse/storage shed fire that took the life of six men of which he was the oldest at 46 years of age. The building was located at the American Gold Lode Mine near Alma, CO. in neighboring Park County. Eighteen men became trapped inside a narrow bunkhouse also used to store dynamite. The men were regularly locked inside each night presumably to prevent thefts. The small windows of the building were barred and covered with iron gratings. There was snow on the ground and it was an unusually cold night even for the 13,000 foot elevation. A pot belly stove pipe without insulation lit the wooden building on fire. This was officially blamed as the cause of the fire. Escape was made more difficult as the bunkhouse/shed ignited as the men slept. Upon awakening some of the men were able to pry a small opening through a barred window at one end of this deathtrap allowing nine of them to escape. At the other end the door was locked from the outside as the six doomed men tried vainly to take the thing down but to no avail. Their charred remains were found in front of that locked door. Another three men with burns but surviving the ordeal were hospitalized.
Along with Ira Nerim, the other deceased were John Alger of Denver, CO, Marion Sprague of Butte Montana, John W. Prince of Pueblo, CO, Bryan Lee of Fairplay, CO and William Frasier of Twin Lakes CO. These remains were identified by Dr. R. M. Burlingame, Park County, Colorado Coroner.
Ira Nerim was born and named Erik Olai Knutson Nerheim, third son of Agota Larson (Saevereid) and Knut L. Nerheim on January 8, 1889 in Olen, Norway. His older brothers Lars (Big Lars) Nerheim anglicized to Louis Nerem was born December 24, 1884 and Lars (Little Lars) Nerheim anglicized to Lars Nerim was born March 28, 1887. Both Knut and Aagota's fathers were named Lars, one son originally named for each. Ira also had three sisters, Ragnhild K. Nerheim born March 23, 1883, Ingeborg Torine Nerheim 1891-1891 and Isabel Karine Nerheim born on Sept. 8, 1892.
In those times Norway was ruled by the Swedish crown. As the years passed near the turn of the century an independence movement gained steam across the Norwegian countryside. Norway and Sweden had a past with conflicts and war between the two nations. Internationally Sweden had usually sided with Prussia, later Germany in various disputes and conflicts whereas the Norwegians mostly felt allegiance with the British. It appeared a war for independence from Sweden might be looming in early 1900s. This may have been a reason for immigrating to the U.S.A. however their father Knut's second marriage to Elen Valskar after Agota's death in 1894 and probably played the largest part in the decision. The Nerheim children's late mother Agota had two brothers and a sister whom immigrated to Story City, Iowa, U.S.A. at least 25 years prior to 1905. They were Amund O. Severeide (July 31, 1851-April 20, 1920), Lars Larson Severeide (Nov, 24, 1849-Feb. 20, 1915) and Ingrid L. Severeide (Dec.4, 1846-April 1,1933).
The five surviving children of Knut L. and Agota L. Nerheim each boarded a steamships after turning sixteen years of age. They immigrated into the United States through Ellis Island. Sister Ragnhild arrived in 1898 and became the first "Nerim". Louis' (Big Lars) last name was anglicized to "Nerem" when he arrived in New York in 1900. While his two brothers each became "Nerim" upon there arrival on the Cernic from Stavanger in May of 1903. Youngest sister Isabel remained in Norway until 1909. Presumably, their first destination in America was Story City, Iowa where their late mother had two brothers and a sister in residence. Eventually, Louis (Big Lars) found his way to Inverness, Montana where he became a naturalized US citizen in 1915. Little Lars lived in Iowa awhile and Tennessee before landing permanently in Colorado. Ira found himself in St. Paul, MN before eventually making a home in Baltimore, MD.
After enlisting in the military in 1915, Ira rose to the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army Coastal Artillery Corps, 7th Anti-Aircraft Battalion which briefly saw action in France. But before leaving for France he married Anna M. Klaschus, a German immigrant on March 7, 1918 and was employed as a streetcar motorman once the war ended. Their marriage produced two children, Dorothy Ann Nerim (Dec. 3, 1919) and Kenneth Ira Nerim (August 28, 1925). As the 1920s came to a close the couple developed a rocky relationship between themselves. The marriage lasted into the early 1930's as the economic upheaval of the Great Depression created additional hardship. Jobs were very difficult to find. Ira eventually found himself drawn to the mountains and Colorado's mining industry. His brother Little Lars and family lived there and had a family of eight children at the time. Unfortunately, this move would prove the fateful one in Ira's life. For three years he worked there as a gold miner while living in nearby Alma, CO.
On September 7, 1935 Ira lost his life in a bunkhouse/storage shed fire that took the life of six men of which he was the oldest at 46 years of age. The building was located at the American Gold Lode Mine near Alma, CO. in neighboring Park County. Eighteen men became trapped inside a narrow bunkhouse also used to store dynamite. The men were regularly locked inside each night presumably to prevent thefts. The small windows of the building were barred and covered with iron gratings. There was snow on the ground and it was an unusually cold night even for the 13,000 foot elevation. A pot belly stove pipe without insulation lit the wooden building on fire. This was officially blamed as the cause of the fire. Escape was made more difficult as the bunkhouse/shed ignited as the men slept. Upon awakening some of the men were able to pry a small opening through a barred window at one end of this deathtrap allowing nine of them to escape. At the other end the door was locked from the outside as the six doomed men tried vainly to take the thing down but to no avail. Their charred remains were found in front of that locked door. Another three men with burns but surviving the ordeal were hospitalized.
Along with Ira Nerim, the other deceased were John Alger of Denver, CO, Marion Sprague of Butte Montana, John W. Prince of Pueblo, CO, Bryan Lee of Fairplay, CO and William Frasier of Twin Lakes CO. These remains were identified by Dr. R. M. Burlingame, Park County, Colorado Coroner.
In those times Norway was ruled by the Swedish crown. As the years passed near the turn of the century an independence movement gained steam across the Norwegian countryside. Norway and Sweden had a past with conflicts and war between the two nations. Internationally Sweden had usually sided with Prussia, later Germany in various disputes and conflicts whereas the Norwegians mostly felt allegiance with the British. It appeared a war for independence from Sweden might be looming in early 1900s. This may have been a reason for immigrating to the U.S.A. however their father Knut's second marriage to Elen Valskar after Agota's death in 1894 and probably played the largest part in the decision. The Nerheim children's late mother Agota had two brothers and a sister whom immigrated to Story City, Iowa, U.S.A. at least 25 years prior to 1905. They were Amund O. Severeide (July 31, 1851-April 20, 1920), Lars Larson Severeide (Nov, 24, 1849-Feb. 20, 1915) and Ingrid L. Severeide (Dec.4, 1846-April 1,1933).
The five surviving children of Knut L. and Agota L. Nerheim each boarded a steamships after turning sixteen years of age. They immigrated into the United States through Ellis Island. Sister Ragnhild arrived in 1898 and became the first "Nerim". Louis' (Big Lars) last name was anglicized to "Nerem" when he arrived in New York in 1900. While his two brothers each became "Nerim" upon there arrival on the Cernic from Stavanger in May of 1903. Youngest sister Isabel remained in Norway until 1909. Presumably, their first destination in America was Story City, Iowa where their late mother had two brothers and a sister in residence. Eventually, Louis (Big Lars) found his way to Inverness, Montana where he became a naturalized US citizen in 1915. Little Lars lived in Iowa awhile and Tennessee before landing permanently in Colorado. Ira found himself in St. Paul, MN before eventually making a home in Baltimore, MD.
After enlisting in the military in 1915, Ira rose to the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army Coastal Artillery Corps, 7th Anti-Aircraft Battalion which briefly saw action in France. But before leaving for France he married Anna M. Klaschus, a German immigrant on March 7, 1918 and was employed as a streetcar motorman once the war ended. Their marriage produced two children, Dorothy Ann Nerim (Dec. 3, 1919) and Kenneth Ira Nerim (August 28, 1925). As the 1920s came to a close the couple developed a rocky relationship between themselves. The marriage lasted into the early 1930's as the economic upheaval of the Great Depression created additional hardship. Jobs were very difficult to find. Ira eventually found himself drawn to the mountains and Colorado's mining industry. His brother Little Lars and family lived there and had a family of eight children at the time. Unfortunately, this move would prove the fateful one in Ira's life. For three years he worked there as a gold miner while living in nearby Alma, CO.
On September 7, 1935 Ira lost his life in a bunkhouse/storage shed fire that took the life of six men of which he was the oldest at 46 years of age. The building was located at the American Gold Lode Mine near Alma, CO. in neighboring Park County. Eighteen men became trapped inside a narrow bunkhouse also used to store dynamite. The men were regularly locked inside each night presumably to prevent thefts. The small windows of the building were barred and covered with iron gratings. There was snow on the ground and it was an unusually cold night even for the 13,000 foot elevation. A pot belly stove pipe without insulation lit the wooden building on fire. This was officially blamed as the cause of the fire. Escape was made more difficult as the bunkhouse/shed ignited as the men slept. Upon awakening some of the men were able to pry a small opening through a barred window at one end of this deathtrap allowing nine of them to escape. At the other end the door was locked from the outside as the six doomed men tried vainly to take the thing down but to no avail. Their charred remains were found in front of that locked door. Another three men with burns but surviving the ordeal were hospitalized.
Along with Ira Nerim, the other deceased were John Alger of Denver, CO, Marion Sprague of Butte Montana, John W. Prince of Pueblo, CO, Bryan Lee of Fairplay, CO and William Frasier of Twin Lakes CO. These remains were identified by Dr. R. M. Burlingame, Park County, Colorado Coroner.
Bio by: RoseBud
Inscription
MARYLAND SGT 7 ANTI - ACFT BN CAC WORLD WAR I
