In the winter of 1841 Andres Nilson Lee and his wife Gunvor Sjursdatter Gilderhus, and their two children came to Koshkonong and spent the winter with Magne and the 3 bachelors in their ground cellar. Later that same winter a man from Nummedal, Tore Kaase arrived and also moved in with them.
In 1841 Magne was one of a number of Vossings at Koshkonong who supported Pastor C. Willerup, A Danish Methodist minister, and as a result was instrumental in bringing about the first Norwegian-Danish congregation in the world.
In 1843 John Haldorson Qvileqval wrote in a letter from Chicago to his parents in Voss, that Magne was living in Wisconsin and had fellow Vossing, Haldor Bryngelson Løn living with him. He reported that Haldor had been ill for some time, but was on the mend.
On 15 Jan 1847 Magne was married to Mari Nilsdatter Giere (c1823 – 1 Aug 1861). She was from Hallingdal.
In 1850 Magne had real estate valued at $600. In 1855 he sold his property to Gulleik Saue and moved to Olmsted County, Minnesota. In 1860 Magne’s neighbor was Eirik Larson Skjerve. Magne continued to farm and at that time had property worth $800 and personal assests of $125.
Magne and Mari had five children:
- Botolf (4 Nov 1847 – 1917); m. to Ella B. Roe (Dec 1857 – ). Ella was born in Norway and came to America in 1885. Botolf owned 180 acres of land in Olmsted County, Minnesota and made his living farming. They had no children. Botolf is buried in Zion Cemetery in Rock Dell Twp., Olmsted, Minnesota.
- 2. Åsa (2 Nov 1849 – 16 Dec 1877); m. to Ole Ellingson who was born about 1846 in Norway. Ole was a farmer. He and Åsa had 5 children. She is buried at East St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery in Rock Dell, Olmsted County, Minnesota.
- 3. Ester (c.1851 – )
- 4. Marie (22 Nov 1854 – )
- 5. Nils (8 Oct 1868 – 1934); m. 8 Jul 1877 in Wisconsin to Mari Giere (Apr 1857 – 1933). Nils had attended the Lutheran College in Decorah in preparation for going in to ministry, but decided that the calling was not for him. Instead he went into general merchandising and had a business and was postmaster for 20 years in Rock Dell. He later sold he business and took up farming on 228 acres in Section 8 in Rock Dell Twp. He was civic minded and held many positions, notably town treasurer and county commissioner. They had five children. Both Nils and Mari are buried in Zion Cemetery in Rock Dell Twp., Olmsted, Minnesota.
Sources: 1850, 1860 US Census Records; East St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery Records; History of Olmsted County, Minnesota (Leonard); History of the Emigration from Voss (Rene); History of the Norwegian Settlements (Holand); Norwegian Immigrants to the United States, Vol. I (Naeseth); Voss Church Records, Birth and Baptisms (1780-1810); Vossingen, 5th, 8th, and 18th years; Ættebok for Vossestrand