Rev. Charles Skager & Wilhelmina
Skagers came to U.S. in Oct.1891. Baby Charles was born aboard the ship but died at birth and was buried at sea. But some also said the ship was close enough to N.Y. so that he was buried there. Skagers went to Chicago where they lived with John Ankarberg's where 1st son Manny died and was buried. Skagers them went to McKeesport, Pa. where Charles Filip worked in the steel mine. In 1886 they learned of homestead land available in N.D., so they took their children Phoebe and Philip and moved to Dak. Territory to recently established Swedish community started at a place called Deapolis. Skagers built and lived in a dugout/sod shelter built into the side of a hill. A house was built later. Charles Filip and a Danielson served the community as lay-preachers. I know he also went by horse back to other communities to serve as pastor. they aquired land and built a new house in Oliver Co. which must have been in 1893 or 1894. Anna was the first child born at the new home.
They augmented their winter meat supply with many kinds of meat. Charles and several of the boys would put extra sides on the grain wagon and with two teams to pull proceeded to go after bear, deer, antelope, geese, ducks and even porcupine. Wilhelmina was a terrific cook and although it was lots of work to prepare what ever meat they brought to keep thru the winter.
Charles Filip was born in 1853 and Wilhelmina in 1859.
To this union were born the following children (see below.)
~Family data and stories submitted by Ruth Skager
Rev. Charles Filip Skager, 1853-1944
Wilhelmina Skager, 1859- 17 May 1944
~Both buried in Deapolis Cemetery, Mercer County, ND
The children of Charles & Wilhelmina:
Torsten Emanuel, b. 1880
Charles, b. 1881
Phoebe, b. 1883
Phillip, b. 1885; d. 1943
Selma, b. 1886
Esther, b. 1888
Carl, b. 1890
Frank, b. 1892
Anna, b. 1894
Ethel, b. 1896
Agnes, b. 1897
Otto, b. 1899
Edwin, b. 1902