BCGHS Journal, Vol V, No 1, Jan – Mar 2023, by Elaine Bakke Bell from her private collection -BCGHC Member & BCHC Chair

Christian “Magnus” Simonson Bakke was born on February 25, 1846, and died on April 3, 1932. His father was Simon Christianson (1799-1874), and his mother was Mari Hansdatter (1800-1869). Maris’ parents were Christian Hanson and Marthe Simonsdatter. Christian Magnus’ family were farmers. They lived in Drommedahl paa Hedemarken, Norway. Four children were born to Simon and Mari; Martinus, Syverine, [Christina], and Christian.

Martinus was a farmer. He was never married. He died at his home place in Norway at the age of eighty years.

Syverine was a farmer and later became the manager of a large farm. Syverine married but had no children.

Christina was a housekeeper. She purchased the home place in Norway and managed it. She married Petter Thronsen. Christina and Petter had no children. Christina was eighty-six years old when she died.

Christian Magnus Simonson (Bakke) left Norway at the age of twenty-one. He immigrated to America aboard the ship Oder on May 15, 1871. Magnus had heard of the wonders in America. But, contrary to his family’s desires, he left for America. His parents even offered to pay him to stay home in Norway, but he rejected the offer. He also did not wish to serve in the Norwegian army.

After arriving in New York, Magnus made his way to Bosque County, TX. His first job was at a cotton gin between Clifton and Valley Mills. At the close of the ginning season, Magnus went to Waco and worked as a bartender for four years. His boss spent two days teaching him how to make and sell drinks.

Magnus decided to go to work for the Sante Fe Railroad. The wages were good. He had saved his money and could now buy land, which he did in Bosque County.

Magnus married Agnetta Oldsdatter Finstad on March 6, 1876, in Waco. Magnus was twenty-seven years old. Immediately after the ceremony, Magnus and Agnetta moved to their land in Bosque County. The land is located between Norse and Cranfills Gap. Magnus had paid $3.00 an acre. Magnus and Agnetta set up housekeeping in a rock home. Magnus farmed and raised cattle with his brother-in-law, Ole O. Finstad.

Agnetta Finstad Bakke’s parents were Ole Anderson Finstad (2-7-1821 to 7-21-1903) and Elizabeth Pederson Finstad. Agnetta was born in Halstenshov, Norway, before coming to America. Agnetta and Magnus celebrated fifty years of marriage on March 6, 1926. Agnetta died on November 29, 1926, in Bosque County.

Agnetta came to America with her brother, Ole O., aboard the ship S.S. Louisiana — which arrived in New Orleans, LA, on December 16, 1872. Agnetta’s parents did not come to America with their children, nor did they immigrate together. Ole A. came aboard the Granger Rolf, which departed Norway on October 24, 1871. Elizabeth came aboard the ship Hero, which departed Norway on November 2, 1877.

Ole Anderson Finstad — born February 7, 1821, in Loten, Norway — married Elizabeth Jensdatter on January 17, 1851. Elizabeth was born on March 14, 1819, in Halstenshov, Loten, Norway. She died on April 13, 1891, in Bosque County. Ole A. and Elizabeth came to Bosque County to raise their family on the John Ringness farm. Ole A. died July 18, 1903. He and Elizabeth had five children. They had three daughters — Agnetta, Oleanja, and Gunnar, and two sons —Anders and Ole O. Finstad.

Anders and Oleanja died from malaria before they were twenty years old. Gunnar married C. H. Lund and had four children; Oscar, Annie, Gena, and John. Unfortunately, Gunnar died when the children were young. Ole O. married Julia Marie Pederson. Ole O. and Julia Marie settled on a farm in the Cranfills Gap community. They had four children: Ida, Alfred, Jason, and Guy.

On the Magnus Bakke farm, one can still see the walls of the rock house Magnus and Agnetta lived in when they first married. At one time, this structure was said the be the Shell Rock School. Ole O. and Julia Marie Finstad lived in this rock house after they married in 1885. Later, they bought land in Cranfills Gap.

Magnus’ surname was Simonson at birth. It is not known if he took the name Bakke after the name of the farm he was born on (Bakken) in Norway. Many [Norwegians] used the name of the farm they came from as a last name to show their identity. Magnus also had two friends [named Bakke] that he worked with on the railroad. The two friends lived in Belton. There are Bakkes in Iredell. All of these Bakkes are approximately of the same age group and perhaps knew each other at one time long ago.

THE SAGA OF MAGNUS AND AGNETTE BAKKE

There’s a group around Bosque that no one will forget,
It’s the Bakke-Finstad Clan whom all of you have met,
Carl Magnus Bakke was the first one,
He came from Norway on a boat to New York it seems.

When he landed in New York , many people he did meet,
The first thing he needed was something good to eat.
He thought it was a treat,
When they served him up this winner,
He said that this wonderful dish was something call “dinner”.

From New York, he headed on down to New Orleans town.
He had alot of trouble finding his way around.
He got lost with his suit case,
And walking in his brand new shoes.
This wasn’t the place for him to get the Basin Street Blues.

He traveled on to Waco, and Texas was the place for him, instead.
He worked in a bar to save money for his homestead.
Two bits an acre was a lot of money,
For an important man.
But he was determined to make it in this land.

Agnette and brother Ole came over after Magnus did.
The young children of Ole and Elizabeth Finstad,
They liked it here in Texas,
It was their brand new home.
They settled down never more to roam.

They all ate Flat brud, musmur and gomalost,
And Magnus liked rulepulsa the most.
Ole and Elizabeth lived in a house nearby,
And everytime they passed by,
They both said hi.

Yes, the Finstads were neighbors and lived down the road apiece.
Magnus and Agnette started courtin’ and it never ceased.
They decided to get married and built themselves a house,
And they raised some chickens, six kids and lots of cows.

Ole and Carl and Johnny were the boys.
They ran around the house and they all made lots of noise.
Molly, Alma, and Clara, were the Bakke girls.
They dressed up pretty and wore a lot of curls.

Ole and Magnus raised their cattle together.
The Texas Longhorns could stand any kind of weather.
Every night about sundown, they ran them in a rail fence pen.
Then in the morning, they turned them all out again.

A stranger came from Norway and worked for the Bakke group.
He got a place to sleep with foold and lots of sweet soup.
Magnus Bakke told him exactly what to hoe.
“Go and chop the corn”, he did and left the weeds to grow.

Wild Indians roamed the Bosque woods at night.
The Settlers were afraid to leave on any light.
One day Magnus was gone, and Agnette had no fear.
An Indian came by, she gave him food, and he disappeared.

Agnette was needed in the neighborhood.
She delivered more babies than the doctor ever could.
One day she was called out while she was baking bread.
Carl and Margaret had to finish up the bread instead.

Soon the Bakke-Finstads were numbered by the score.
And after that there were many many more.
The Bakke-Finstad Clan began to spread around.
And that’s what put this reunion on the ground.

David Tyssen, grandson of Agnette and C.M. Bakke, wrote this song honoring his grandparents. It is sung at Bakke Family Reunions.