This book is for the future generations of descendants of the Leum family. Our goal has to make it as complete as possible and to distribute it to all descendants of J. C. Leum who would like to have it and pass it to their children. With this Internet edition of the book, it is now readily available to future generations as well as genealogy researchers.
Jens Leum Family in 1908
This story is about my mother's father who was an immigrant from Norway, Jens C. Leum, his wife Matilde who was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants, about their children, and the enormous success they had in America settling the Dakota Territory. The children and their descendants became farmers, businessmen, lawyers, senators, educators, musicians, artists, architects, nurses, corporate executives, mathematicians, engineers and a soldier who gave his life for his country in World War II.Jens Christopher Lium was born at Flesvig, Norway on March 11, 1853. The Lium family settled in Monroe County, Wisconsin. Here Jens, who was a young lad of 20 worked at different jobs in the woods, on farms and also on the railroads. After a time, the Lium family moved to a farm a few miles from Coon Valley, WI. Just a short distance from Liums, lived the Hans Olstad family, who had come from Wassau, Wisconsin. Thus the Liums became acquainted with the Olstad family and Jens was especially interested in Matilde. After a brief courtship Jens and Matilde were married in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, on April 3, 1882, when Matilde was only 17 1/2 years old and Jens was 29.
There was a lot of talk about Dakota Territory. So immediately following their marriage Jens went out to Dakota Territory to make a new home. He bought a piece of land 12 miles northwest of Hillsboro which was the beginning of the Leum farm.
The Leum Family History is also available at my cousin Neil's website: