Knute Robley and family

I finally found the book!!! This is the picture that I was planning to start the blog with but I searched for days and I could not find the book that it is in.


This particular picture is of my great-great-great (yes 3 greats) grandfather on the Robley side. I love it so much because it is so old and because there is such a striking resemblance between Knute Robley and my dad.

Back Row: Anne Sophie b. 1865, Edward b. 1869, Reier Anton b. 1867 and Carl Johan b. 1863

Middle Row: Marit (Mary) b. 1843 and Knute b. 1839

Front Row: Emma Marie b. 1874, Oscar b. 1881 and Hannah b. 1877

Knute Robley is the last Robley in my direct line to be born in Norway . . . he arrived in Wisconsin in 1854. Knute and Marit both lived long lives but the younger generation suffered in the wave of consumption (tuberculosis) that swept across the country in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Anne Sophie died Sept 6, 1893 leaving 2 young children and Hannah followed soon after on Nov 12, 1893 at the age of 16. Edward passed away the following year on Aug 23 1894. Emma was 25 when she died less than a year after her only daughter was born. Oscar was single when he died at the age of 23 in 1905. In addition to these losses Knute and Mary lost 3 other children at very young ages prior to this picture.

It is hard to imagine living in times when there is so much loss. Immigrants who leave their homeland due to poor living conditions, endure an arduous journey across an ocean, work hard to make a home and then lose most of their children at such young ages.