By Sally Ryman
Rushford Historical Society
In 1894, Lars J. Wang, his wife Madeli, and their four eldest children immigrated from Ulvik, Norway, settling first in Fergus Falls, living there for five years. They then moved to Perley, Minn., and resided there for two years before coming to Rushford.
The Fiddlemaker
Lars was born in Ulvik, Hardanger, Norway, in 1847 and died in Rushford in 1925. He is buried at Rushford Lutheran Cemetery along with his wife and three of his children.
Lars was a carpenter by trade. But he was also a fiddlemaker and woodcarver. The Rushford Area Historical Society is proud to own several of his woodcarvings, including one of his Hardanger violins
Hardanger violins/fiddles are unique in structure and musicianship. They have eight strings (rather than four as on a standard violin) and thinner wood. Four of the strings are strung and played like a violin, while the four under strings resonate under the influence of the other four. You may have heard one played during a past Peterson’s Gammel Dag Scandinavian Midsummer Celebration.
The Hardanger fiddle is the national instrument of Norway. The Hardanger Fiddle Association of America is headquartered in Minneapolis, but you don’t have to go that far to see one. Stop in Rushford’s historic depot when it reopens!
The Midwife
Madeli Jonsdtr Wang was born in Ulvik in 1858. In 1879 she married Lars and the couple lived in Ulvik until coming to the United States in 1888.
Madeli was a graduate of the School of Midwifery in Bergen, Norway and she began a midwife practice in Rushford in 1894. She announced it in the paper on March 22: “The undersigned, a competent midwife recently from Norway desires to inform the public that she is prepared to answer all calls and at any time. Charges reasonable. Residence upstairs over Rodum’s Furniture Store.” In 1897 she again used the newspaper to inform people that she moved to, “the fifth house north from D. J. Tew’s Mill on the right side of the road.”
In 1920, she once again turned to the newspaper. This time to squash a rumor about her practice. May 5: “Mrs. Madeline L. Wang of this city desires to quiet a rumor afloat to the effect that she is not licensed to practice midwifery. A duly issued certificate in her possession can be seen by all persons interested.” Evidently, the rumor mill was rampant even in 1910!
When Madeli died on January 21, 1935, the newspaper noted that “Through her work as midwife she gained a great many friends and accomplished a great deal of good for all who were in need. Personal worries and care were forgotten whenever the need for her services became known to her. Her passing is mourned by many who appreciated her life upon this earth.”
Source: Dr. Droivold’s “History of Rushford, Vol. IV, Chapter IV – Medicine & Health” and information provided by Wang heirs.
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