OLE TILLER

Ole I. Tiller was born on October 23, 1839, at Trondhjeim, Norway, Europe.  He emigrated to America in 1870 and was employed in Chicago, Illinois, as a cabinet maker, a trade he learned in Norway.  In 1870, he married Ingeborg Rodde, who was born on April 23, 1845 in Trondhjeim, Europe.  They homesteaded on a farm located in Norway Township, Republic County, Kansas, where they lived in a dugout until a log house was built.

Ole Tiller received his final naturalization papers on April 16, 1877.  On October 30, 1887, he received a land grant consisting of 160 acres in Norway Township.  This document was signed by Rutherford Hayes, President of the United States.

Mr. Tiller dug a well beside the road on his homestead.  He dug this to five any one passing a chance to get water easily.  He knew from experience how much water meant to early travelers. 

Homesteaders who were relatives of friends from Norway, Europe stayed with the Tillers until they found a place to homestead.

Ole Tiller had the second post office and John McCatheron the first in this locality.  They both had the offices in their homes.  Mr. Tiller received his commission in 1876.  His daughter, Inga Carlgren, now has this commission.

Some came quite a distance for their mail and his wife always had coffee for all of them.

Mr. Tiller helped organize the congregation and the building of the Lutheran Church in Norway.  He was their song leader for many years and after the organ was obtained, he sang in the church choir, also in a quartette with John Ingebretson, C. O. Hugos, and J. Melhus (Joseph Melhus's father).  During his lifetime he made four trips to Norway, Europe.

It was nothing unusual for Mrs. Tiller to shoot a rattlesnake found in bed or some place else around the home in the early days.  (Grandma Brewer also had this experience, as I presume many others did in those days.)

Both Mr. and Mrs. Tiller lived on the farm which they homesteaded until their deaths.  Mr. Tiller died on June 3, 1916, and Mrs. Tiller, February 26, 1921.  Children were Iner, Ida, Karen, Anna, Olof, Julia, and Inga.  Surviving children are Julia (Mrs. Clarence A. Brewer) and Inga (Mrs. Edward Carlgren).  Julia lives in Monroe, Michigan; Inga, on Route 1, Scandia, Kansas.

By Mrs. Mabel Brewer Bockoven, Monroe, Michigan