Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

James Peder M. and Anna  (Medelen) Knudsen

Anna Medalen of Kongsberg, Norway, arrived in New York from Christiana October 16, 1906 - age 20 years nine months.

In 1910 James "Knudson" is farming in Yuma County, Kirk precinct, single, 26, born in Denmark.

Annie Medalen, 24, born in Norway, single, is living with cousin in Gosper County, Nebraska, with Norman, 13 months, born in Nebraska - father's birthplace not listed.   She's a servant in a private family.  It looks like page 3B of the census is missing.  Maybe she's related to the Dinsmore families - In 1906 Elwood, Gosper County, Carl A. Medalen was appointed a rural mail carrier.  In 1910 Carl M. is 55, Petra 53.  She's had six children, five living - Inam, son is 25, Enna 21, and Arthur 19 - these three in Wisconsin, and Minar, 16, born in Nebraska.  So Carl immigrated long before Annie.  (In 1900 Gosper County is a Carl Anderson, Dec 1856 Norway, Petra M. Nov 1656 Norway, Ester Sep 1883 Norway, Inar Nov 1885 Wisconsin, Anna Aug 1888 Wisconsin, Arthur Mar 1891 Wisconsin, and Minar Oct 1894 Nebraska.  Claude and Mary Dinsmore are on the same page....)

J.P. Knudson, 26, married Anna Medalen, 25, in Wray March 23, 1911 - by Judge I.C. Jennings.

 1915 "Belle Helton is working for Mrs. Knudsen at present"

1915 "Jimmie Knudsen is thinking some of building a big cement barn and engaging in dairying and pure bred hog raising."

James proved up two quarters in 9, 3S 47W in 1916.

1917 "Mr. Jimmie Knudsen and Mr. Flem Casto each got a new Maxwell last week."

In the Yuma cemetery is a stone "Nellie Irene Knudsen July 9, died July 15, 1917"

James Peder Knudsen registered in Yuma County, born December 17, 1884, a naturalized citizen, wife Anna.

  1919

 

In 1920 Fayette County Ohio, James P, immigrating in 1908 is a butter maker.  Anna 34 immigrated in 1906.  They have Norman 10, Carl 8, Harlan 6, Arnold 4, and Gladis 1, all born in Colorado.

In 1930 Abarr precinct James is 45, born in Denmark, Anna M. 44 Norway, with Carl 18, Harlan, 16, Arnold 14, Gladys 11, Donald 9, and Seneca 6, all born in Colorado.

In 1940 Abarr precinct,  James is 55, Anna 54, with Donald D. 19, Somnica 16, and Verne J. 9, all born in Colorado.

SSDI has James Knudsen dying June 1972, last address Clackamas County, Oregon.  - but I don't see James or Anna in the Oregon death records.

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Harlan Alfred Knudsen, born Sep 21, 1913 in Colorado to James P. Knudsen and Anna Madelin, died May 26, 1981 in Burnet, Texas.

Donald served in WWII Army, and SSDI has his last residence as Valentine, Nebraska - buried in Black Hills National Cemetery.

Sonnicha Irene Knudsen was born Oct 15, 1923 in Yuma County, married Harold William Otta Oct 15, 1944 in Jacksonviller, Florida, and died died January 3, 1991 in Newport Oregon,

Sonnicha Irene Knudsen was born Oct 15, 1923 in Yuma County, married Harold William Otta Oct 15, 1944 in Jacksonville, Florida, and died died January 3, 1991 in Newport Oregon,


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Harold William Otta, Aug. 26, 1922 — Dec. 13, 2007 of Lebanon, Oregon,  died Thursday at his beach home in Yachats.

Born the oldest child of Elmer Lee and Minnie Mae (Auman) Otta in Abarr, Colo., Harold grew up on the family homestead about 20 miles south of Yuma, Colo. As a young adult, he worked as part of the WPA program in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Estes Park Colorado until he joined the Navy in 1941. He served in Guantanamo, Cuba.

After World War II, he married Sonnicha "Sonny" Knudsen in Norfolk, Va., and they moved to Lebanon in 1947, where he worked at Cascade Plywood for 10 years.

He built several houses in the Lebanon area, and he and his family lived on numerous small farms until 1958, when he traded two houses on Hobbs Street for a Holstein dairy in Canby. He and Sonny reared their four children on the farm in Canby. In 1975, they moved to the Oregon coast, where he worked as a carpenter, owned a backhoe service and built a house, where they lived until his wife's death in 1991. At the time of his death, Harold still owned a small beach house in Yachats, where he enjoyed spending time.

Harold was an avid woodworker and enjoyed what he called "sawdust therapy." He designed and built many unique pieces of furniture for family and friends.

He was an active member of the American Legion Post 51, the Elks Lodge 1663 in Lebanon and the Moose Lodge in Waldport.

Harold was preceded in death by his wife, Sonnicha Otta, and his brother, Eddie Otta.

Harold is survived by daughter and family Wanda (Otta) and Keith Parrott of Corvallis, and their children, Jeff Parrott and wife Klara Hobza of Brooklyn, N.Y., Shannon Parrott of Lihue, Hawaii, and Kimberly Parrott of South Miami, Fla.; son and family Rick and Anne Otta and daughter Lindsey of Bellevue, Wash.; son and family Eldon and Debbi Otta of Molalla, and their children, Zoia of Molalla and Jon Norris of Canby, Candi Stark of Milwaukie, Robert Norris of Grass Valley, and Sadie Jacob of Newberg; daughter and family Peggy (Otta) and Larry Phelps and children Leana and Jimmy Phelps of Payette, Idaho; as well as eight great-grandchildren. Survivors also include his companion, Arlene Miller, of Lebanon; brothers Herbie and Calvin Otta of Lebanon; sisters Millie Brandt of Lebanon and Bessie Ludahl of Albany; and numerous nieces and nephews, who admired and loved uncle Harold.

A graveside service will be Saturday at the Yachats Cemetery.
Millie Mae Brant, 82, of Lebanon, Oregon, died at home on April 19, 2009, of cancer.

She was born Oct. 9, 1926, in Yuma, Colo., to Elmer Lee and Minnie Mae (Auman) Otta.

She married Glenn E. Brant on Aug. 7, 1943, in St. Francis, Kan. They moved to Lebanon in 1947.

Mrs. Brant worked at the Lebanon Battery Separation Plant.

The couple moved to several different areas before settling in Colton, where they owned a large dairy for several years.

Later they moved from the dairy and purchased the Buena Vista Market near Independence, which they operated until it burned down in 1968. The couple returned to Lebanon and she earned her real estate license.

Mrs. Brant worked for Chuck Zeek Real Estate for many years, during which time she and her husband purchased and repaired many rental houses in the Lebanon area.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Raymond and Patti Brant of Lebanon; daughters and sons-in-law Yvonne and Kenneth McDaniel of Albany, and Sherri and Jim Parker and Michelle and Loren Miller, all of Lebanon; brother Herbie Otta of Lebanon; sister Bessie Ludahl of Albany; grandchildren Michael Brant and his wife Kelly of Jefferson, Jeffrey Brant of Lebanon, Donna Harrison and her husband Mark of Lebanon, Melissa Mary and her husband LeRoy of Albany, KayDee McDaniel of Sweet Home, Matthew Parker of Lebanon, Angela Estes and her husband Tony of Lebanon, Mark Parker of Lebanon, Luke Parker of Albany, Cory Miller of Lebanon and Brandon Miller of Lebanon; great-grandchildren Colton and Casey Brant, Gunner and Drake Harrison, Nicole and Tyler Mary, and Emma Estes; and several nieces and nephews.

Her husband Glenn E. Brant; brothers Harold, Calvin, and Eddie Otta; and her parents died before she did.

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Yuma Pioneer - May 15, 1958
 
George A. Gearhart 87, of Lebanon, Oregon, died at  home on Friday, May 9, following a few months of ill health. His son, Charles, of
Loveland, who had been in the home helping care for him the past few months, accompanied the body to Yuma and arrived Tuesday.

 Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church in Yuma Wednesday afternoon, May 14, at 2:00 o'clock with Rev. Donald W.
Johnson officiating. Mrs. Amelia Yost, soloist, san "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere". She was accompanied at the
organ by Mrs. Gilbert Ball.

 Casket bearers were John Tribbett, John Lindgren, Sam Warren, Fred Johnston, L.L. Robinson and Claude McCasland.

 Interment was in the family lot at the Yuma cemetery with arrangements by the Ritchey Funeral Home.

 George A. Gearhart, eldest son of Alonzo and Eva Gearhart, was born in Jones county, Iowa, October 1, 1871, and departed this life at his
home in Lebanon, Oregon, on May 9, 1958.

 On November 26, 1891, he was married to Rosa C. Bracelin at Marysville, Kansas, who preceded him in death, Mary 15, 1925. To them
were born three sons  and four daughters; of whom only one son and one daughter are now living.

 In 1914 he and his family came to Colorado and lived for a number of years on a ranch south of Yuma. In 1927 he was married to Mrs. Clara
Auman at Wray. In 1921 he moved from the ranch to Yuma where he lived until ten years ago when he moved to Lebanon, Oregon.

 For many years, besides his ranching activities, he operated a thresher during the fall. After moving to Yuma he owned a livestock
auction for several years.

 He was a member of the Presbyterian church in Lebanon and was a regular attendant until failing health made attendance impossible.

 He has been in failing health for the last six months and for the last three months his son, Charlie, has been with him helping care for
him.

 Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Don Josot Funeral Home in Lebanon, Oregon, after which the body was
returned to Yuma for burial.

 He is survived by his aged wife, Clara, of Lebanon, Oregon, his son, Charlie of Loveland; his daughter, Mrs. Elsie Cecil of Cope; two
brothers, Ira of Denver and Ernest of Fort Morgan; four stepchildren, Arthur Auman, Edward Auman and Mrs. Elmer Otta, all of Lebanon,
Oregon, and Ben Auman of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 Also surviving are seventeen grandchildren and sixteen great- grandchildren.
 

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