Description: LIFE SKETCH - Isaac Mikkelsen & Esther Pehrsdotter

Esther Pehrsdotter was born 30 April 1813 in Pello, Norbotten, Sweden to Peder Pehrsson and Helena Larsdotter. Her family moved to the Kaafjord, Finnmark, Norway. She was first married to Johan Johanson Sahl 31 Dec 1838 in Kaafjord. They had three children, Brita Caisa, born 12 Apr 1840; Johan, 20 June 1841 and Petter, 22 Mar 1844. Her husband Johan died later that year on December first. It must have been hard being a widow at age 31 with two small children and a baby in diapers.

Isaac Mickelsen was born 7 Sep 1830 in Vitsuniemi, Norbotten, Sweden. His parents were Mickel Mickelsson and Maria Eliza Nilsson. His family also moved to the same area in Norway. Kaafjord is located above the Arctic Circle, in the land of the midnight sun. He was employed at the Alten Copper Mines and Works.

Isaac Mickelson and Esther were married 12 March 1848. Isaac was 17 years old and Esther was 34 years old. They had four children. All of them were born in Kaafjord, Norway. Isak, born 20 Oct 1848; Hanna, 28 July 1851; Margrethe, 11 June 1854 and Petrine Lydia born 5 Aug 1857.

In 1866, Isaac and Esther took their four children, ages 9-17 years old, and left Norway. A lot of Norwegian miners sought better wages in a new country. They sailed on the ship "Telegraph" across the Atlantic Ocean and down the St. Lawrence River. They arrived in Quebec, Canada 22 July 1866.

Their final destination was Calumet, Houghton Michigan. It was located on the upper Michigan Peninsula. This area was rich in iron ore and copper deposits. Isaac again went to work in the mine. Sometime after arriving in the United States, they changed their last name to Wintori.

The family were members of the Lutheran Church, both in Norway and in Michigan. The First Norwegian Lutheran Church in Calumet Michigan was organized in 1873. The church records show that both Isaac ad his son, Isak were regular contributers of money to the church.

In the 1880 Census, Isaac ad Esther are listed with the last name of Wintorie. All of their children were grown. Isaac was still working as a miner and Esther was keeping house. Their son, Isak married Mary Langson and had 10 children. Hannah married Casper Schellman and had 8 children. Margrethe married Carl John Isaacson and had 11 children. Petrine Lydia married Johan Henrick Frimodig and had 16 children (only records of 10 children have been found).

Esther died 31 Dec 1911. The old cemeteries, in Calumet, School Craft and Larium Michigan are all overgrown with broken and missing headstones. Her grave has not yet been located.

Source: Sharee W.