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Martin Ausland

Full Name: Thor Martin Knutsen Ausland

An Immigrant Ancestor

                                           

B:  May 25, 1866 at Ausland, near Gjerstad, Norway
Bap: June 24, 1866
Conf: October 2, 1881
M: Una Lenore Ochsner (January 23, 1878 – January 28, 1955) on June 25, 1901 in Chamberlain, Brule County, South Dakota
D: December 4, 1924, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Bu: December 7, 1924, in Evergreen Cemetery, Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa

Children:
Kathryn Gunvor Ausland (August 4, 1902 – October 5, 1991) who married Allen Ransom Bailey
William Nelson Ausland (later known as William Martin Ausland), (August 13, 1909 – March 9, 1974) who married (1) Jean ? and (2) Hazel ?.
James Albert Ausland (August 6, 1914 – November 25, 1994), who married Frances Elaine Long.

Education:
In the schools of Gjerstad, Norway, and later in the St. Ansgar, Iowa, public schools where he learned English.  He was a student (1892 – 1893) but decided not to complete theological training at the Polyglot Seminary (Danish-Norwegian Institute) at the Chicago Theological Seminary, prior to employment in the lumber business.  (The Polyglot Seminary was an effort of the Congregational Churches at the end of the 19th century to provide pastors and leaders for immigrants in the upper Midwest of the United States.)

Migration:
Because the Ausland farm could not sustain the entire family, Martin emigrated to America, leaving home on June 23, 1887.  He sailed from Risor to Arendal, leaving at 6 a.m. on June 25, aboard the S.S. Lyngor. At noon the same day he left Arendal for Scotland aboard the Odin.  From there he crossed the Atlantic aboard the State of Indiana, arriving in New York on July 14. He made his way immediately to St. Ansgar, Iowa, arriving on July 19, where he lived for several days with his uncle, Lars Moe.  Martin joined is brother, “Stor” (Big) Thor, in Bailey, Iowa, on July 24, starting to work “on August 1 … for a Yankee (Mr. Munson) for $12.50 a month."

Eventually, Martin began work in Osage for a lumber merchant, James A. Smith, first as a coal wagon driver.  In 1894, Smith sent him to Chamberlin, South Dakota, to work in a lumber yard.  After his marriage in 1901, he and his bride, Una Ochsner, moved to Royal, Clay County, Iowa, to open a lumber yard associated with the Royal Lumber Company of which he had become a founding partner with Mr. Smith on September 5, 1900.  The moved to Graettinger, Palo Alto County, Iowa, with their daughter, Kathryn Gunvor, in 1905, and from there to Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa, in 1907.  He resided in Emmetsburg until the time of his death in 1924.

Occupation:
Lumber merchant.

Other Activities:
Martin Ausland played an active role in the Knights of Pythias and also in the Knights Templar and othner Masonic orders.  He was a prominent member of the Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce and a leader of the First Congregational Church.

Photos:
The above photo was taken in Emmetsburg. It was a favorite of his wife, Una.

Wife’s Parents:
William Henry Ochsner (May 9, 1854 – March 15, 1921) and Lola Kathryn Shontz Ochsner (June 11, 1857 – February 26, 1943) of Chamberlain, Brule County, South Dakota and later of Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa.

Martin Ausland was the son of
Knut Nilsen (Eskeland) Ausland (1821 – 1902) and
Gunvor Olsdatter Moe (1827 – 1910).

Obituary written by the Rev. James E. Brereton

"Martin Ausland Leaves Norway," by J. Martin Bailey