Martin Rognlien of Strum passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Gram at Eau Claire on Friday, February 24, at the age of 80 years and seven days.

Funeral services were held at the home of M.M. Rognlien and at the West Beef River church at Strum on Wednesday, March 1, the Rev. N.A. Berntson officiating, assisted by the Rev. O. A. Hjemboe, who spoke the Norwegian language. Mrs. Gerhard Strand and Thor Borreson sang "After Solen Smiler, a favorite of the deceased, and Ovid Berg sang "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say." Pallbearers were Oscar Olson, Joseph Erlien, John Hammer, Ovid Berg, Joseph Mathison and William Christianson. Flowers were carried by four granddaughters, Marion Gram, Mary Pearl Rognlien, Carl and Margaret Jean Shermo. Burial was in the West Beef River cemetery.

Martin Rognlien was born in Hurdalen, Norway, February 17, 1859, son of Martin E. and Anne (Enerson) Rognlien. The father came to America in 1868, homesteading a farm in Unity Township, Trempealeau County. On April 28, 1870, the mother and eight children, namely, Anton, Even, Bertha, Nekoline, Jorgine, Martin, Nikolai and Otto left Christiania in a sailboat, called the "Columbia" and landed in Quebec June 28 the same year. On July 2 they came to Sparta, Wisconsin, and stayed at Sparta House, of which Lauris Dahl, a cousin of the deceased was proprietor. Here they spent three weeks before coming to their husband and father's homestead in Unity. Martin was confirmed at the old Norden school house in 1874 by the Reverend Skceeven.

On November 22, 1879, he was united in marriage to Mathilda Dahl, daughter of Johannes and Maria (Andersdr) Dahl. They established housekeeping in the Town of Albion on the Bossard farm, which Mr. Rognlien operated for a period of four years. Being very hospitable, this became a popular stopping place for travelers going to Eau Claire. In 1883 he erected a dwelling on his father's farm in Unity, where he and his family lived for the next six years, while he worked in the pineries during the winter and out with his team in the summer. In the spring of 1889 he purchased his present farm from Sam Hogue and continued to live there until a few days before his death when he was taken to Eau Claire. His wife and six children preceded him in death; namely, Mary, Josephine, Emma, Mary, William and John.

He is survived by three sons and three daughters, Martin of Burwick, North Dakota; Anna, Mrs. Anna Gram,; Lauris, Anton, Emma, Mrs. Oscar Shermo, all of Eau Claire, and Margaret, Mrs. Melvin Ackley of Pigeon. He is also survived by one brother, Nick Rognlien of Strum, and one sister, Nekoline, Mrs. Dahl, also of Strum. There are 16 grandchildren.

THE WHITEHALL TIMES - MARCH 9, 1939