Preface
This information is taken directly from a red booklet that had been prepared in 1967 in order that all the members of the Gilderhus Clan may have a permanent record of the early history of the family.
The members of the Gilderhus family in this area [Deerfield, WI] organizes as a group in 1930. The first meeting was held at the Irvin Christianson farm (formerly the Nils Gilderhus farm). Present at this meeting, besides the local families, were Severt Gilderhus and Lauritz Gilderhus and wife from Kasson, Minnesota, also several members of the Johnson family from Chicago, as well as professor R. B. Anderson from Madison.
The second meeting was at the Lars Gjirmo farm, the third at Mrs. Reques' cottage at Lake Ripley; and since then meetings have been held regularly every summer.
Acknowledgments
First Published August 20, 1967, Deerfield, Wisconsin
At this writing of the Gilderhus saga, Mrs. Julia Reque, who began the meetings of the Gilderhus Lag and had contributed much to this history, still resided in Deerfield. She was then 98 years old, as of April 8th, 1967, and was confined to a nursing home.
We also wish to acknowledge the time and efforts of Mrs. P. A. G. Lee, Deerfield who compiled this paper, and thank Mr. Sigurd K. Lee, Mankato, Minnesota who helped to edit this manuscript and Diane Holzmann, Madison, for typing it.