Martinius Mathiesen Ager and his brothers in 1874. Each brother added an arbitrary agricultural name to his patronymic, Mathiesen, upon joining the army. One chose "Myra," or "swamp," another "Eng," or "meadow." "Ager" means "field." "Åker" is the more likely spelling today.

Hans Peter, who took the name Berg from his uncle's farm, emigrated to Clinton, Iowa, where he made a living as a musician for Hi Henry Minstrel Shows. He died in 1916. He and Martinius were the only siblings to leave Norway.