Agnes Morck was born on February 23, 1900 in Tjotta, Norway. Tjotta is located among a large group of islands in the middle of Norway at the Arctic Circle. This coastal area of Arctic Circle Norway is said to be the World’s most beautiful coastline. The area is known for excellent fishing, a rich bird life with Puffins, Sea Eagle, Eagle Owl and many more.
When Agnes was 2 ½ years old, she left Norway with her mother, Jorgine Mork, and her younger brother, Harald (1 ½ years old). They traveled to the United States on a steamship to meet Agnes’ father, Hans Mork, who had gone before them, and had settled in a Norwegian community in Mandan, North Dakota. Jorgine kept a journal of the trip, and this is a treasured story of God’s faithfulness during a very traumatic trip. Agnes’ brother Harald, died at the end of the trip when they arrived in Philadelphia.
Agnes spent her childhood in the community of Mandan, North Dakota. Hans and Jorgine had two more children after reaching America, Harold and Elsie.
It in unknown why Hans settled in North Dakota, but many other emigrants were, at that time. The railroads, the North Dakota territorial government, land speculators, and land offices all used a variety of means of luring settlers to North Dakota. Publications, newspaper articles, and flyers painted glowing pictures of the area. The Dakotas were portrayed as a virtual farming utopia. Titles of these flamboyant publications reflect their tone: “Red River the Eden of the Northwest”; “Land of Fine Horses, Fine Cattle, Fine Sheep, Good Health, Good People, and the Best Bread in the World”; “Land of Golden Grain”; or “North Dakota; Land of Peace, Prosperity, and Plenty, where the Farmer makes the Laws.” Resources in Dakota, published in 1887 by the Territorial government, was a veritable handbook for the Dakota settler. Later North Dakota Magazine was published by the state government to encourage immigration to the state: it proclaimed on one of its covers a “battle cry for 1909 -- 100,000 new settlers.” Between 1878 and 1890 the population increased from 16,000 to 191,000, and settlers continued to stream into the state until the 1930s. Probably half were emigrants, especially from Norway, Canada, Russia, Sweden, England and Ireland.
Agnes went away to school at a Covenant school in Minnesota (?). Her parents moved to Seattle, Washington during the time she was at school, primarily to follow Jorgine’s sisters, who had previously moved. After graduating, Agnes went to work for the Great Northern Railway in their offices. As a result, when she decided to follow her family to Seattle, she was able to take the train there for free. Once in Seattle, she and her family attended the Swedish Tabernacle Church in Seattle with many other Scandinavians. She went to work as a typist in an office warehouse. Zane Grey had an office in the warehouse, and Agnes typed one of his manuscripts for him. Agnes also met her husband at this office warehouse, since he occupied a sales office there. They were married in 1925. Her first child, James Warren (my dad) was born in 1929.They moved to Santa Monica, California, in 1931 because of James’ job, and lived in various communities in southern California over the years, including Los Angeles, Pasadena, Fullerton, and Whittier. Agnes had two more boys in California, Robert Morck in 1931, and William Keith in 1934.
They were active in many large churches in southern California, including Hollywood Presbyterian, Vermont Ave Presbyterian, and Lake Avenue Congregational.
One of her daughters-in-law described Agnes like this: “She was everything you would want in a mother-in-law: a great listener, loved to laugh, loved to do things for you, made you feel important, and she loved her boys!”
Agnes loved to garden. At each of her residences, she loved to tend to her flowers, especially roses and chrysanthemums. She loved to play the piano. She played the piano at many of the churches she attended, including Vermont Avenue Presbyterian, Bethany Baptist in Whittier, and others. She had an uncanny ear for music. One of her cousins described how Agnes’ piano teacher was continually frustrated, because, instead of learning the principles of reading music, Agnes would instead be able to play a song beautifully after just hearing it played a few times. This gift would remain her whole life. She also loved to cook, and would usually have something ready for visitors whenever they showed up. Holidays were fun for her, as she would get a chance to spend time in the kitchen.
Agnes stayed active even into her 80s. She passed away in a tragic automobile accident February 12, 1989, at the time on her way to play the piano at a retirement facility.
When Agnes was 2 ½ years old, she left Norway with her mother, Jorgine Mork, and her younger brother, Harald (1 ½ years old). They traveled to the United States on a steamship to meet Agnes’ father, Hans Mork, who had gone before them, and had settled in a Norwegian community in Mandan, North Dakota. Jorgine kept a journal of the trip, and this is a treasured story of God’s faithfulness during a very traumatic trip. Agnes’ brother Harald, died at the end of the trip when they arrived in Philadelphia.
Agnes spent her childhood in the community of Mandan, North Dakota. Hans and Jorgine had two more children after reaching America, Harold and Elsie.
It in unknown why Hans settled in North Dakota, but many other emigrants were, at that time. The railroads, the North Dakota territorial government, land speculators, and land offices all used a variety of means of luring settlers to North Dakota. Publications, newspaper articles, and flyers painted glowing pictures of the area. The Dakotas were portrayed as a virtual farming utopia. Titles of these flamboyant publications reflect their tone: “Red River the Eden of the Northwest”; “Land of Fine Horses, Fine Cattle, Fine Sheep, Good Health, Good People, and the Best Bread in the World”; “Land of Golden Grain”; or “North Dakota; Land of Peace, Prosperity, and Plenty, where the Farmer makes the Laws.” Resources in Dakota, published in 1887 by the Territorial government, was a veritable handbook for the Dakota settler. Later North Dakota Magazine was published by the state government to encourage immigration to the state: it proclaimed on one of its covers a “battle cry for 1909 -- 100,000 new settlers.” Between 1878 and 1890 the population increased from 16,000 to 191,000, and settlers continued to stream into the state until the 1930s. Probably half were emigrants, especially from Norway, Canada, Russia, Sweden, England and Ireland.
Agnes went away to school at a Covenant school in Minnesota (?). Her parents moved to Seattle, Washington during the time she was at school, primarily to follow Jorgine’s sisters, who had previously moved. After graduating, Agnes went to work for the Great Northern Railway in their offices. As a result, when she decided to follow her family to Seattle, she was able to take the train there for free. Once in Seattle, she and her family attended the Swedish Tabernacle Church in Seattle with many other Scandinavians. She went to work as a typist in an office warehouse. Zane Grey had an office in the warehouse, and Agnes typed one of his manuscripts for him. Agnes also met her husband at this office warehouse, since he occupied a sales office there. They were married in 1925. Her first child, James Warren (my dad) was born in 1929.They moved to Santa Monica, California, in 1931 because of James’ job, and lived in various communities in southern California over the years, including Los Angeles, Pasadena, Fullerton, and Whittier. Agnes had two more boys in California, Robert Morck in 1931, and William Keith in 1934.
They were active in many large churches in southern California, including Hollywood Presbyterian, Vermont Ave Presbyterian, and Lake Avenue Congregational.
One of her daughters-in-law described Agnes like this: “She was everything you would want in a mother-in-law: a great listener, loved to laugh, loved to do things for you, made you feel important, and she loved her boys!”
Agnes loved to garden. At each of her residences, she loved to tend to her flowers, especially roses and chrysanthemums. She loved to play the piano. She played the piano at many of the churches she attended, including Vermont Avenue Presbyterian, Bethany Baptist in Whittier, and others. She had an uncanny ear for music. One of her cousins described how Agnes’ piano teacher was continually frustrated, because, instead of learning the principles of reading music, Agnes would instead be able to play a song beautifully after just hearing it played a few times. This gift would remain her whole life. She also loved to cook, and would usually have something ready for visitors whenever they showed up. Holidays were fun for her, as she would get a chance to spend time in the kitchen.
Agnes stayed active even into her 80s. She passed away in a tragic automobile accident February 12, 1989, at the time on her way to play the piano at a retirement facility.
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