Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-11-03
Biographical Sketch.

0'OS' oPu'~oI 0NVeSbs
Andrew Railson was born at Giles
ne, Kr0dsherred, Buskeruds amt, Nor
way, Aug. 16, 1888. His birthplace
was one of the Glesne estates, of
which there are five, grouped about
Kr0deren lake. His father was
Reial Evenson Glesne and his moth
er Christi Andersdatter Glesne. The
latter died when Andrew was but five
weeks old, and the little boy was CIV
en- over to the care Of his grandpar-
ents. When II years old he was Civ
en- into the care of an uncle. He later
entered the service upon a large es-
tate, Korspen, where he worked two
years. His schooling was very limit
ed. His father was in poor circum-
stances, but between them they raised
the wherewithal to make the trip to
America the land of promise across
the seas. The father emigrated in
1S49. Andrew arrived in the United
States in August of 1850. He came
to Milwaukee, Wis.,, and settled first in
Greene county Here he worked on
farms. He also worked in the piner.
les Of the state in the vicinity of Eau
Claire and Menominee and at that
time there was nothing at these plac.
es but a saw mill and boarding
house. Not being in the best of health
Mr.. RailsOn determined to return to
Norway, which he did in the fall of
1855. He remained there nine
months, and then again came to this
country. This time he came direct
to Saltwater, where he worked in the
Saw mills for three years. Then he
set out to look for land. In June of
1858 he started west on foot and
passed through St. Paul, Anoka and
Clearwater to Forest City in Meek
er County. At Lake Harold he met
his brother Evan, who had already
been farther west. In company with
him, he passed on to the Diamond
Lake and Eagle Lake settlements.
Exploring Norway Lake.
Here they secured provisions and pro-
ceeded in a northerly direction. They
camped on what became Mr. Rail-
sons claim at night. The next day
they set out to locate claims. In order
to save time in getting around the
lake, they cut two dry trees and
launched them in the lake, and with
poles attempted to cross the lake. A
heavy south wind sprung up and they
drifted before it to the north shore
where they finally landed, but not
where they had intended. While drift
ing on the lake they had an abundance
of time to discuss the matter, and
they then and there christened it
Norway Lake" a name that since
was applied not only to that body of
water but to the whole surrounding
neighborhood. They then prepared to
cross another neck of the lake, and
finally landed where Even Railson's s
farm is located. BY this time dark.
ness overlook them and they camped
In His Own Words.
here for the night Mr.. Railson's own
words as to what followed are as fol-
lows: "We finally staked out our
claims. We returned to Eagle Lake,
where we hired team to do some
plowing. We built our cabins and
then started for the land Office at
St. Cloud. Here we learned that the
land we had settled upon was consid.
cred railroad land but we finally con.
cluded we would keep it. We walked
to St. Paul. In August of that year
/ started for my claim all alone.
purchased provisions at St. Anthony
came up by steamboat to Clearwat.
er. Then went with team through
Paynesville and Columbia (now Spic
er) to my new home. I lived here
three weeks all alone. My nearest