Eidem Family History

The Parents and Siblings of John Eidem Jr.

John Eidem, Sr. - Born in Selbu, Norway in 1842, Eidem Sr. came to the US in 1866 at age 24. In 1887, he and his wife, Ingeborg, purchased 100 acres of fine farming land in Brooklyn, MN where they raised six sons and three daughters. He belonged to both the Lutheran Church and the Republican Party. Eidem Sr. died in 1928 at the age of 86 and was buried in Mound Cemetery, Brooklyn Center.

Editor's Note: It is understood that back in Norway the family name was Johnson, but was changed to Eidem upon arrival in America.

Ingeborg (Hanson) Eidem, wife of John Eidem, Sr. Born in Selbu, Norway on April 16, 1846, she came to the US in 1866 at age 20. She had eight surviving children, 20 grandchildren and three great grandchildren when she died in 1921 at 75 years old and was buried in Mound Cemetery, Brooklyn Center.

Bessie Istad Swanson - Daughter of Ingeborg and John Eidem, Sr., m. Engwald Istad, m. Marvey C. Swanson

Belle Swanson - Daughter of Ingeborg and John Eidem, Sr. m. Ole Swanson

John Eidem, Jr. - Son of Ingeborg and John Eidem, Sr., m. Lectty Cotton

Hans Eidem - Son of Ingeborg and John Eidem, Sr., m. Julia Peterson

William Eidem - Son of Ingeborg and John Eidem, Sr., m. Mildred Kemstonn

Julius Eidem - Son of Ingeborg and John Eidem, Sr., m. Bessie Porter

Adolph Eidem - Son of Ingeborg and John Eidem, Sr., m. Florence Hall

Christian Eidem - Son of Ingeborg and John Eidem Sr. - Did not marry

Ann Goodrich - (Died 1897) Daughter of Ingeborg and John Eidem, Sr., m. Arthur Goodrich

The Parents of Electa Cotton Eidem

Delwan Nelson Cotton - Born near Fort Ticonderoga (Winton County) New York, on September 18, 1826. At the age of 24 he married Katherine Riley, and the couple made their way to the pioneer town of St. Paul in 1850. Ten years later he purchased land in Hennepin County. Katherine and her baby died in childbirth. Delwan was married again, in 1862, to Sarah Jane Merrill. Together they had three boys and four girls.

At the time of his death, Delwan left 18 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. During the last nine years of his life, he lived with his daughter, Lectty Eidem. His family calls it remarkable that he was able to stop smoking a year before he died, since he had been smoking for more than 80 years. Family members maintain it demonstrated his strong will power. Delwan died on May 16, 1917 at the age of 90, while visiting a son and two daughters who made their homes in Glasgow, Montana. He is buried in Mound Cemetery in Brooklyn Center, MN.

Sarah Jane Merrill - Born on October 3, 1838, she was the second wife of Delwan Cotton. She raised seven children, three boys and four girls and died on January 7, 1896 at the age of 57. She is buried at Mound Cemetery in Brooklyn Center, MN.

John Eidem, Jr.

Son of Ingeborg and John Eidem, Sr., he was born on September 11, 1869 in Brooklyn Township. In 1894 he purchased a farm on 101st Ave. No., Brooklyn Township. John died on November 21, 1956 at the age of 86. That farm is now the Eidem Homestead. John is buried at Mound Cemetery, Brooklyn Center, MN.

Electa (Cotton) Eidem - Nickname Lectty

Born on April 29, 1872 in Hennepin County, MN. Married John Eidem on her 20th birthday in 1892. John was 22 years old at the time. Two years later, in 1894, they moved to the farm where she and John raised two sons, Archie and Leland. Lectty died in May, 1950 at the age of 78. She is buried at Mound Cemetery in Brooklyn Center, MN.

Children of John Jr. and Lectty

Archie (Arthur) Eidem - Born on March 16, 1893 in Brooklyn Township, MN to Lectty and John Eidem, Jr. He began farming with his father, until he saved enough money to buy the farm next door, where he raised onions from 1916 until 1943, and potatoes after that. He and his wife Anna Sachs (1893-1974) had a son, Tyrus, and a daughter, Marlys. Archie died January 24, 1977 at the age of 83 and was buried along with his wife in Mound Cemetery, Brooklyn Center, MN.

Leland Eidem - Born in May 1897 and died in 1977 at the age of 80. Son of Lectty and John Eidem. He purchased the farm just west of his father's where he too grew onions and potatoes. Leland married Beatrice. John and both his sons farmed their adjacent land together. Leland is buried with the rest of his family in Mound Cemetery, Brooklyn Center, MN.

Grandchildren of John Jr. and Lectty Eidem

Mrs. Robert (Marlys) Eidem Johnson, daughter of Archie and Anna Sachs, currently resides in New Ulm, MN.

Tyrus Eidem, son of Anna Sachs and Archie Eidem, lived in Brooklyn Park his entire life. Died August 1999.

Lee (Bud) Eidem, son of Leland and Beatrice (Bea) Eidem.

"To preserve our past is to know our future"