The Muskego Manifesto Project
The Muskego Manifesto Project worked with the Norwegian American Historical Association (NAHA) to translate Johannes Johansen's original letter from the settlement at Muskego. The project then aimed to chronicle the biographical details of each original signer. With collaboration from members in America and Telemark, forty-nine biographies have been collected.
A preface and additional letter from the NAHA archives provide context to the importance of the Manifesto.
An Immigrant Exploration of the Middle West in 1839
A Letter By Johannes Johansen and Søren Bache;
Translated By the Verdandi Study Club (Volume XIV: Page 41)
A Preface:
In 1839 two Norwegian immigrants, Johannes Johansen and Søren Bache, journeyed from Norway to America, made their way to Chicago, visited the Fox River settlement in Illinois, and then traveled by wagon into southern Wisconsin looking for a good site for the establishment of a new immigrant settlement.
They knew of the rising interest of Norwegians in the New World. They knew that people in the old country were eager to read reliable reports of conditions in the West. And so when they returned to the Fox River colony from their exploratory trip, they wrote a long letter, signed by both of them, in which they reported their experiences and observations in detail. They addressed this letter to their friends and relatives in Norway, and it was published in the spring of 1840 in the "Times" (Tiden) of Drammen, a small town on the Christiania Fjord in southeastern Norway.
It is this document, transcribed some years ago from the Norwegian newspaper in which it first appeared, that the members of the Verdandi Club of Minneapolis here present in an English translation. It has a double historical interest, for it is both a record of immigrant scouting in the early pioneer period and an illustration of the kind of report that was read by prospective emigrants in Norway and influenced their decisions.
The letter was written at a strategic time in the early development of Norwegian settlement. Pathfinders of the pioneer group that crossed the Atlantic in the "Restoration" in 1825 and settled in western New York had pushed westward to Illinois to found the Fox River colony in 1834. In the middle 1830's emigration from Norway to America took an upward swing. Ole Rynning led a party of emigrants to the Beaver Creek colony south of Chicago in 1837, and that unhappy experiment had nearly run its course by 1839. Rynning himself, the author of a True Account of America, the first "America book" published in Norway, had died at Beaver Creek, as had many others of the immigrant band of 1837, and the settlement had been virtually abandoned. The Fox River colony had grown vigorously, although its settlers were undergoing severe ordeals, particularly those imposed by malaria and other diseases that took heavy toll of their numbers. Meanwhile, other Norwegians were studying the prospects of pioneering in the rich areas to the northward and were launching new settlements. Thus Ole Nattestad pushed into Wisconsin in 1838 to found the Jefferson Prairie colony, and a party of emigrants headed by his brother Ansten Nattestad joined him there in 1839. The summer of that year also saw the beginnings, some distance south of Milwaukee, of the famous Muskego colony.
It was in the autumn of that year, on October 31, that Bache and Johansen, with a companion, set out by wagon from Fox River to see Wisconsin for themselves. They intended originally to go to Milwaukee and to investigate the Muskego settlement after first visiting the Jefferson Prairie region, but this plan was changed upon the advice of a stranger who urged them to strike into new country. They did go to the Jefferson Prairie settlement, met the Nattestads, and learned about the prospects for Norwegian immigrants at that place, but thereafter, instead of heading toward the shores of Lake Michigan and Muskego, they turned toward the Rock River and Koshkonong region, where important Norwegian settlements were later built. They spent, in all, three weeks in travel and investigation, and then returned to Fox River, where on the last day of 1889 they signed their report to friends in Norway.
They did not disguise the drawbacks of life in the West. They painted in fact a dark picture of everyday living conditions, especially of the inadequacy of frontier houses and the onslaught of disease upon the pioneers, but they also took into account the undoubted advantages of western America. On the whole they confirmed the favorable view that Ole Rynning had given in his True Account of America, and they wrote with enthusiasm about Wisconsin, with its abundant and unexploited resources.
The next summer, in 1840, the two men continued their search, went to Chicago, then proceeded north, found lands to their liking some distance to the south of the Muskego settlers of 1889, and chose a site on the shores of Wind Lake in what later was known as Norway Township. This became the nucleus of the Muskego settlement, famous in Norwegian-American annals for numerous immigrant institutional beginnings and as a mother colony to many immigrant settlements.
Both Bache and Johansen played important roles in the life of this colony in the 1840's. It was Johansen who drafted the Muskego manifesto of 1845, an open letter by the Muskego colonists to the people of Norway. This remarkable letter was written in protest against anti-emigration writings which then had wide currency in Norway, and in defense of America as a goal for immigrants. The men of Muskego recognized the difficulties that confronted the Norwegian pioneers of the 1840's, but they recalled also the sufferings of those earlier immigrants "who opened the way for coming generations by founding the first colony in the United States, the Virginia colony." Thus in their thinking they linked themselves with the original colonists of America. They declared their faith in the land of their adoption -- in "a liberal government in a fruitful land, where freedom and equality are the rule in religious as in civil matters, and where each one of us is at liberty to earn his living practically as he chooses." And they found "no reason to regret the decision" that brought them to America. {1}
Johansen died less than a year after writing this manifesto. Bache, prominent in the affairs of Muskego, a founder of the first Norwegian newspaper published in the United States, and the author of a remarkable pioneer diary that the Norwegian-American Historical Association hopes ultimately to publish in an English translation, returned to Norway in 1847.
THEODORE C. BLEGEN
JOHANNES JOHANSEN AND SØREN BACHE TO RELATIVES, FRIENDS,AND ACQUAINTANCES, DECEMBER 31, 1839
[Tiden (Drammen), March 3, 1840]
DEAR RELATIVES, FRIENDS, AND ACQUAINTANCES:
We are certain that everybody will be interested in hearing something about our trip, and so we send you the following brief report: On July 15th we left Gothenborg on the ship "Skogsmand," Captain Rundberg, and arrived without incident at Newport Harbor on the second of September. We left on the same day by steamer for New York, reaching there the next morning. Here we stopped only until the evening of the 4th, going by steamer to Albany, where we arrived on the evening of the 5th. We left there the next morning by train for Schenectady. {2} On the evening of the same day we took a canalboat for Buffalo, which we reached on the morning of the 14th. We stayed here only three or four hours and then traveled by steamer over lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan, to Chicago, where we landed on Sunday, September 22nd. The distance we had covered from New York to this point was 1,522 English miles.
Here we once more caught up with most of Ansteen Nattestad's company. Ansteen with a few of his party had that very morning set off for Jefferson Prairie in Wisconsin Territory, about ninety English miles to the northwest, where his brother Ole had settled last summer. The rest of this group took the same road a few days later. We, on the other hand, set out after a stay of two days for Fox River in Illinois, about seventy English miles to the southwest of Chicago, where most of the first emigrants from Norway now live. {3}
Arriving at this place, we found it a rather discouraging destination for our journey because of the great amount of sickness here -- ague and diarrhea -- which Ole Rynning has reported to be so commonly prevalent among recent emigrants. {4} Here there was not a single house where someone wasn't lying sick. In most houses there were several, and many had died this summer and last, among them Rynning himself. The news of his death was most unpleasant for us, for we had expected to get information from him about many things that would have been helpful to us. He and his company had been very unlucky in the choice of the land where they settled. It was by a little brook called Beaver Creek, where the ground was so flat and low that after heavy rains it was completely flooded. In the opinion of people with experience, this produces unhealthiness and is the main cause of the sickness we have referred to. Their attention was called to this situation, but they paid little heed until nearly half of those living there had died. After this the survivors finally left and sought temporary refuge with the Norwegians here. Rynning died last fall, about the end of September, and everyone who knew him testified to his noble character. Many thought that if only he had been fortunate enough to find a more suitable place to settle, he might have been living now.
During the last two summers sickness has been more prevalent than usual. The reason for this is supposed to be the fact that these years had unusually great drought and heat. This caused the rivers to shrink and the swamps to dry up. This evaporation is considered harmful to the health. We believe the sickness here must be attributed to the climate's sudden alternation of cold and heat. This is very noticeable here as compared with our climate at home. When we arrived here about the end of September, the cold was so severe one week that it partially froze at night, whereas a part of October was as hot as the dog days are at home in the warmest summer. These changes are said to happen often so suddenly that a person dripping with sweat from the heat scarcely has time to pull his jacket on before he feels the harmful effects of the surprisingly sudden cold. We certainly admit that the sickness is for the most part the result of the causes we have described and consequently will afflict to some extent nearly everyone who has not become hardened to it. We cannot, however, avoid saying -- and several people agree with us -- that the wretched houses these folk live in contribute to the sickness.
An ordinary living house is built here in one day -- at least up to the roof. {5} Its walls are so open that in many places there are three or four inches between each log, and in the winter these openings must be filled in with wood splinters and clay to make the house reasonably tight. Some of this chinking falls out and leaves holes so large that a cat could almost pass freely in and out. People seldom have more than one room, which must serve as kitchen, dining room, and bedroom. There is a loft overhead which is far from being as tight as an ordinary hayloft in Norway and this must serve as a bedroom when there are more people in the house than there is room for downstairs. It is highly probable that such accommodations, which are so exposed to draft and drifting snow that sometimes the beds are almost covered in the morning with a foot of heavy snow, must have harmful results for the health of those who are used to snug and warm houses. Sometimes the cold here is at least as severe as that to which they were accustomed. In fact, one feels the cold even more here on the flat prairies, where there is no protection against the sharp, penetrating north wind.
We do not know, and can only guess, the reason for this poor method of building, but we think that it comes from the American's bent and necessity to move from one place to another. When a person has got a piece of new land cultivated enough so that he can earn a little from it, he sells it and begins on a new piece. It sometimes happens that for one reason or another he is obliged to move yet again, without the slightest compensation for his house or the cultivation of his land. Fear of loss has in this way made it necessary for him to build simply. Some of the Norwegians, however, have now begun to put up better houses.
From Chicago to this place we had our first opportunity to see something of the country, which was chiefly prairie, with small wooded sections of oak here and there at intervals of several Norwegian miles. Everywhere the ground was covered with luxuriant grass and with beautiful flowers that still were in full blossom. That the soil here is extremely fertile we could see from the large amount of wheat, corn, and oats that already had been harvested and stood in stacks on the cultivated fields.
The extent of cultivation is most insignificant compared with what is wilderness. It is probable, moreover, that the largest part will always remain wilderness because of lack of woods for building material and fuel for settlers. As far as the quality of the soil is concerned, we assume that what Rynning and others have reported is absolutely correct: that without cultivation it will yield the most luxuriant growth of all sorts, even to the finest kitchen vegetables, and with much less effort than at home.
This year has been unusually productive. As a result, provisions can be had at very low prices. A barrel of wheat (240 pounds, English weight) costs two dollars; a barrel of corn one dollar; a barrel of oats one dollar; a pound of salt pork five Norwegian skillings; a pound of meat three skillings; and so forth. Wages, on the other hand, are very high by comparison -- a half dollar and board a day for a day laborer in the winter, and a dollar to a dollar and a half a week for a servant girl. She receives as much as two dollars if she understands the language. It is easy for girls to find work at any time, whereas it is sometimes hard for men to find work in the wintertime, since the farmers themselves have little to do then. Wages in the summer are usually a dollar a day plus board, however, and one can therefore earn enough to live on the surplus in the winter -- and still save money.
This is true if a person keeps his health, but unfortunately many have lost their health during the past two summers. Some have been sick from twelve to sixteen weeks, and many have died from their sickness. This has been particularly true of the latest arrivals. Of one party, most of whom came from Voss, fourteen or fifteen died. They had arrived in Chicago in the severest heat of the past summer. Most of them were poor people who had put more than they owned into the expenses of their journey and were forced to get work at once in order to earn their subsistence. Many of them took to canal digging as the steadiest and most profitable -- but also the most strenuous and unhealthful -- work here during the summer. Most of them came down at once with sickness and were brought to the hospital in Chicago, where only a few escaped death.
Our intention was not to look for land here at Fox River, as we had been informed previously that nothing was available at government prices. Even if there had been, we did not consider it wisest to settle here where the climate, more than in many other places, was so likely to bring on illness. But we did find it advisable to stop here to seek guidance and to consider in which direction we ought to go to find the best accommodations.
The report we had about Missouri did not encourage us to go there, since it lacked good water as well as other necessities. Before coming we had heard Wisconsin Territory mentioned as the place which at the moment was the most popular objective for immigrants. Several persons from Tind, who had arrived before us, had taken that route and settled in the neighborhood of a town called Milwaukee, situated on Lake Michigan. {6} Since this district lies north from here, we assume that the climate there is more healthful and more like the climate Norwegians are used to. Therefore, we decided to make a trip there to see it. In addition, there is said to be plenty of forest and land there available at government prices.
After a stay of about a month here, we rented a horse and a small wagon, and on October 31st, three of us set out. We crossed Fox River about eight English miles above here and took the road to Jefferson's Prairie situated about ninety miles away, in Wisconsin Territory, only two English miles from the Illinois border. Here we met Ole and Ansteen Nattestad, with most of those who had come with the latter last summer. Ole had put up a house and plowed as much ground as necessary to raise enough for his own needs, and this year he had his first harvest, which was excellent. We assumed that the country here was healthful, since there had been no sickness, yet none of those who had arrived last summer seemed to want to settle here because the most and best of the forests had been bought up already. They intended, as we did, to have a look at the country farther north, where, we were informed, there was more and better forest land. But they wanted first to hear the results of our trip. They were all well and seemed to be satisfied, since they were earning good wages by working for the neighboring farmers. Because of the unusual scarcity of money, however, they were forced to take their earnings in provisions, and received a fourth of a barrel of wheat and board per day.
After spending two days here, we continued our journey as first planned, in the direction where the above-mentioned Norwegians had settled in the vicinity of Milwaukee, located about seventy English miles from here. We had covered a distance of about twenty miles on this road when we met a man who seemed to have some knowledge of the condition of the surrounding country. He was of the opinion that it would be better to take the opposite route, which went west from here to a place called Fort Atkinson {7} on Rock River, on the other side of which there was said to be more suitable land with sufficient forest. It was already late in the fall and we considered it doubtful, if we followed our original plan, that we should be able to reach our objective before snowfall. We therefore took his advice, and after a little more than a day's journey we arrived at the place mentioned above.
Here we had to ferry across the river, and as there were no special roads in the direction we were to travel, the ferryman advised us to leave our wagon with him and borrow a saddle that we might take turns in using. He seemed to be intelligent and to know the lay of the land in the vicinity very well, and we accepted the necessary directions that he kindly gave us and started off, continuing west. We were just under forty-three degrees north latitude and about seventy miles farther north than when we started the trip.
The land nearest the river was very low and flat and thinly covered with large and small oak trees. When we had gone about three English miles farther, we came to hills with small valleys that were something new to us. Now the land began to rise, and when we had ascended what we considered the highest elevation, we climbed a knoll to get a view of the surroundings.. To our way of thinking, it was the finest view on our whole trip. In all directions little valleys and elevations ran quite regularly from north to south and from west to east, all well covered with large oak trees except at the foot of the hills. From our vantage point, the land sloped away gradually so that we could see rather far, and we sighted a pretty little lake in the distance, right in the direction we were headed. After a gratifying look, we journeyed on. To make a more satisfactory inspection we planned to put up for the night and arrived at the appointed place at eight o'clock in the evening.
We found lodging with a Mr. Snele, who had located here this summer and was the only inhabitant in the seven miles we had covered. Beyond him there was no one. He had built his house on the shore of the little lake we had seen, and he had a very fine place. The next morning our host was kind enough to accompany us in order to look over the land farther west. The prairie recommenced about three miles from his place. Within about a mile of our destination we had to cross a little stream called the Kushkonong Creek. {8} Here land had been bought up and a town laid out, but building had not yet begun. In this stream there was water enough at all seasons for a mill, but there was little current. Even so, it seemed possible that a dam could be made. The land was low on the side of the creek from which we came, whereas on the other side it was rather high and steep. We had quite a distance to climb before we reached the top where the prairie we wanted to see came into view.
When we gained the summit, there unfolded before our eyes a grassland which in appearance and luxuriance resembled the finest and most cultivated fields in Norway. Unfortunately the lack of trees made it unsuitable for settlement. Time prevented our going farther as there was no place ahead where we could find shelter. Reluctantly we had to return, therefore, with our host and spend another night with him.
During the past summer a band of Indians had wandered about in this vicinity. As none had been seen for the past six weeks, it was assumed that they had withdrawn to the western woods where they generally stayed during the winter. Our host regarded them as a peaceful people who roamed about to hunt and fish.
Of all we had seen on our trip, we liked best the stretch of country between Rock River and our host's place, if such were obtainable at government prices. As some had been sold and no one could show us what was still available, we had to let everything else wait until we could get the necessary information at the Milwaukee Land Office. It was not convenient to do so on this trip, however.
The next morning we left our friendly host and hostess, hoping we should meet again. We retraced our steps until we crossed the river. From there we took another way, which first followed the stream, and we happened upon several pretty, new towns. The whole country was very attractive and, where there were trees, it was bought up and settled. Otherwise our journey lay over immense prairies where the grass had for the most part been burned down. One of the prairies we crossed is supposed to be about three hundred miles long. After an absence of about three weeks, we returned to the settlement, where we intended to rest until open roads next spring allow us to investigate further.
We were gratified to learn that the health conditions in Wisconsin were usually good. Where people lived close to the streams, only a few cases of the aforementioned diseases had appeared during the summer. In the past fourteen or fifteen years, even these had been new to the region.
Realizing that many of you would like to have our opinion about the advantages one can with certainty expect by coming to America, we can state that anyone who is steady and has the desire and the ability to work will, as far as we have hitherto experienced, always find a good subsistence here.
If you lack the necessities of life for your family and there is reason to believe the future holds no promise for the better, then you have reason to try America.
To be sure, during the past two years, sickness and death have been prevalent. It can be said of many, "He sought his livelihood but unfortunately found death." This has not always been true, however. Diseases could in certain places have been just as common and dangerous as here, but in many places could have resulted from carelessness. Many have lived here for years without sickness and claim better health than in Norway.
One who has decided to come and has the means to assist others must guard against spending so much that he will lack money with which to buy land on his arrival. Many have become financially embarrassed because of the dishonesty or the death of their debtors. He who has the opportunity would be smart to inquire of friends who are there as to the best opportunities for the purchase of land.
On account of the high wages and low prices there is little advantage at the moment to work more land than necessary for home use. It would be worth while to bring a good supply of work clothes and bedding. When freight is figured, it is just as cheap to buy heavy articles here. It does not pay to bring guns to sell.
Concerning business, we believe thorough experience and understanding of the people and their financial system are necessary for hope of success in such a venture.
The laws grant each individual freedom from liability for debts when they move out of the state. Many take advantage of this fact and become swindlers even though they could pay. Each state has its own bank as well as many branch banks of which some are always insolvent. All have their own paper money, and, besides, there is always much counterfeit money in circulation. Finally, gold and silver coins of all kinds are valuable as a medium of exchange when they are made of pure, precious metals. It is useless to bring Danish marks and smaller coins of impure silver. On the contrary, larger Norwegian and Danish silver coins and new Norwegian marks are exchangeable for full value. Outside of American money, English sovereigns and five-franc pieces are used here mostly. The first is worth $4.84 and the last ninety-four cents.
As I have said before, tilling of the soil under present conditions is not important, but cattle raising would be profitable under good management. On the large prairies which offer food for millions of livestock there is opportunity to feed as many animals as one is able to gather sufficient winter food for. In the fall these prairies are burnt over, causing more damage than good. In spite of the abundance of feed, stock prices are high -- a cow brings from sixteen to thirty dollars, and a pound of butter twenty-five cents in the winter but only half in the summer. The reason for this difference is that one keeps few animals in the winter because they freeze as a result of the lack of good barns.
LA SALLE COUNTY, FOX RIVER, STATE OF
ILLINOIS, DECEMBER 31, 1839
JOH. JOHANSEN
S. BACHE
Immigrant Letter from the NAHA archives
Reprinted with permission
The Muskego manifesto, written on January 6, 1845, was published in Morgenbladet (Christiania), April 1, 1845. See S. B. D, "An American Manifesto by Norwegian Immigrants," in American-Scandinavian Review, 13:619 (October, 1925); and Theodore C. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America, 1825-1860, 209-211 (Northfield, 1931).
The spelling is "Scheneclady" in the original.
For the general historical setting of the letter, with its allusions to individuals and events, the reader is referred to Norwegian Migration to America, vol. 1, especially chapters 8-7, and to Carlton C. Qualey, Norwegian Settlement in the United States (Northfield, 1988).
A biographical sketch of Ole Rynning and a translation of his book are included in Ole Rynning's True Account of America, published in 1926 by the Norwegian-American Historical Association. Johansen and Bache refer to him as "Rønning."
On the frontier houses built by immigrants, see Theodore C. Blegen, Norwegian Migration to America: The American Transition, chapter 2 (Northfield, 1940).
The writers of the letter spell the name "Millwalky."
The spelling in the original is "Forth-Atchinson."
The accepted form is "Koshkonong," not "Kushkonong."
Something like a year has now gone by since the hearts of nearly all among us were filled with foreboding and discouragement, brought about by illness of various kinds and in part by want of the very necessaries of life; a condition which at the time prevailed among us because of crowding into our midst of large numbers of our countrymen who, lacking in funds to continue their journey, found themselves compelled themselves to sojourn here. It was a season of sorrow, such as to try the patience of several of us to the utmost. A certain few, overwrought in mind, even spread the most thoughtless rumors, accompanied in some cases by curses and expressions of contempt for America, as much as to say that God had no part in creating this land, a land so highly endowed by nature that even its uncultivated condition must be regarded as in effect half cultivated when compared with the native state in Norway and many other European countries; a land which for centuries has been a safe refuge for exiles from nearly every state in Europe, exiles who have, almost without exception, found here a carefree livelihood after conquering the first difficulties that beset every pioneer community, provided only that they bent their minds on gaining through industry and thrift the necessary means of subsistence. There are some who complain of the trials that immigrants at first must meet; but with all such persons should feel a sense of shame when they recall what history has to tell of the sufferings of those earliest immigrants who opened they way for coming generations by founding the first colony in the United States, the Virginia colony.
Not only were they visited by contagious diseases and by famine; they had also to fight against wild beasts and Indians. Through such misfortunes the colony was on several occasions nearly exterminated and had to be reinforced. At length, of some six hundred colonists about sixty were left; these survivors, facing certain death from famine, found themselves compelled to leave the shores of the country in boats which they had built in the hope of reaching the banks of Newfoundland and of meeting there with fishing vessels on which they might return to England. But, as it appeared, such was not the will of God. Just as they had embarked they came, at the mouth of the Potomac River, the gateway to the colony, across some ships that had been sent out from England for their relief. Thus encouraged they returned to continue the work of settlement that they had begun. So they fought and won their victory; and so they became the immediate occasion whereby it has been made possible for twenty millions of people to find abundant resources in the United States, a number which is supposed to be capable of being doubled more than once before the opportunities here shall have been exhausted. Should not we likewise, with brighter prospects than theirs, entertain the hope of winning by perseverance victories like theirs and of gaining what we need to sustain life!
Or should God, who in his word has laid upon us the precept, 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,' not crown such an undertaking with success, inasmuch as He has so richly endowed this land and made it more fitted to produce all manner of food for mankind than perhaps any other country in the whole world; more especially under the present conditions, when overpopulation in Europe, greater than at almost any earlier time, has made emigration a necessity.
The dissatisfaction that showed itself at the beginning among many of the immigrants at this place had its origin for the most part in an unseasonable homesickness more to be looked for in children than in grown people; it arose from such circumstances, for instance, as that they had to get along without certain kinds of food to which they had been accustomed, that this or that article in their diet did not have the same flavor as it had in the old home, that they suffered from the lack of some convenience or other , or that they missed certain of their friends whit whom they had before had pleasant association. By taking such things to heart they permit their minds to be filled with unquiet longings that must remain fruitless. Meanwhile they lose sight of all those former difficulties, of the whole gloomy prospect of material success under which they labored heavily in the land of their birth; and so they now imagine the place where they were born to be that land of Canaan which at one time they supposed to lie in America. One who tries to forget bygone things and to look forward instead, and who pursues his lawful labors in patience and in the fear of God, will surely not find his hopes disappointed if he will only aim, so far as his material needs are concerned, to be content with his daily bread. We have no expectation of gaining riches; but we live under a liberal government in a fruitful land, where freedom and equality are the rule in religious as in civil matters, and where each one of us is at liberty to earn his living practically as he chooses. Such opportunities are more to be desired than riches; through these opportunities we have a prospect of preparing for ourselves, by diligence and industry, a carefree old age. We have therefore no reason to regret the decision that brought us to this country.
An attempt has been made to prevent people from coming to this country by representing America as a suitable refuge for released convicts or such men as seek to escape the wrath of the law. It is true that many persons of this type come hither and that here as elsewhere there are altogether too many wicked men. Yet this state of affairs is unavoidable, inasmuch as good men and evil are permitted to come in, the one with the other; nevertheless, assault, robbery, and theft are much less common here than in the lands from which such men may have come. At all events, misdeeds of this kind are unheard of among us, and so no one need shrink back from America on this account. Attempts have also been made to frighten people away from this settlement because of the presence of illness among us last year; yet although the summer is just past was unusually wet and cold for this latitude, we have not suffered from any epidemic, in spite of certain fears during the spring; and we have reason to hope that we shall continue to be spared.
By reason of the circumstances just mentioned, namely the privations and the sickness that visited our colony and robbed most of us of the gains of our labor, some among us found it expedient to turn to our friends in Norway with a request for assistance in building the church of which we stood in such great need. The response to our request has been so unexpectedly generous that we have been enabled to complete after a fashion the church building that for some time has been under construction in this settlement. Wherefore we take occasion to express here our thanks to the honored donors, the following named men:
Hr. Proprietaer T.O. Bache, Walle pr Drammen 200 Daler
Hr. Stadshauptmand N. Bache Drammen 100 Daler
Hr. Kjöbman T. Bache Drammen 50 Daler
Hr. Kjöbman E. Olsen Drammen 50 Daler
Hr. Kjöbman J. K. Lykke Throndhjem 10 Daler
Hr. Simoen Svendsen Lier 15 Daler
Hr. Tollef Mörch 5 Daler
The newspaper editors of Norway are hereby respectfully requested by the undersigned, their countrymen, to publish this account in its entirety and without change in their daily press, and to append our several names.
The settlement of Muskego, in Racine and Milwaukee Counties, Wisconsin Territory in the United States, Jan. 6, 1845.
"An Account of Conditions in North America"
An Open Letter from the Pioneers at Muskego to the People of Norway Published in the Christiania (Oslo) Morgenbladet newspaper on April 1, 1845
Haagen Anderssen
Johannes Anundsen
Andreas Bol
Johannes Christians
Østen Larsen Dale
Lars Olsen Dommerud
Ole Jacobsen Einong
Ole Pedersen Engen
Johannes Evensen
Haelge Toresen Faane
Thormod Flættre
Anders Larsen Folsland
Asle Hellesen Fosgaard
Høtjer Mattisen Fossoe/Ingolfsland
Halvor Halvorsen Grasdalen
Niels Halvorsen Græsdalen
Lars Johannesen Graue
Bryjul. Tollevesen Groue
Ole Larsen Groue
Ole Olsen Grønhovd
Ole Haagensen
Ole Gjermundsen Haakaanes
Herbjorn Gunmundsen Hagen
Torbjørn Halvorsen
A. Hansen
Bjørn Hatlestad
Evan Hansen Heg
J. Helgesen
T. Helgesen
Herbrand Anstensen Hovland
Jon Pedersen Husevold
Herbjørn Nilsen Ingulvsland
Østen Ingulvsland/Ingulfsland
Johannes Johansen
Torbjørn Juv
Niels Hansen Kallerud
A. Kleve
Jørgen Larsen
Torkel Kittilsen Lislerud/Lillerud
Anders Løngflaat
Ole Aslesen Myren
Gregar Halvorsen Norgarden of Fladal
Ole Knudsen Reiå Nubrud
Torstein Torbjørnsen Rue
Andreas Aslagsen Schese
Halvor Olssen Silgudalen
Østen Olsen Skålås
Engebert Gulbransen Sølland
Thore Thoresen Spaaneim/Spånheim
Hans Torgrimsen Tveitve/Tveito
Ole Anderssen
The pioneer pastor, Ole Anderssen Aasen, may have been the "Ole Anderssen" who signed the Manifesto.
He was born on March 2, 1818, on a husmannplass in Bø. He grew up working as a shepherd boy but also had the opportunity to attend the Kosa school in Brunkeberg. Ole and his sister Kari sailed to America on the ship Emelie from the port of Drammen in 1841. He settled in Muskego and found work on a farm, but in 1842, he began his life's calling as a lay preacher. In 1843, he married Ragnhild (Rachel). He and Rachel eventually moved to Jefferson Prairie in Rock County. Sources place him there on a farm with his family in 1844, which could bring his identification as the "Ole Anderssen" who signed the Muskego Manifesto into question. However, it is entirely possible that he returned to Muskego to put his name on this important letter.
Contributed by Leif Skoje of Hjartdal.
Knud Johnsen Bekhuus
Knud Jonsen Bechuus, son of John Halvorsson Bekhus and Anne Knudsdatter, born in Hjartdal, June 24, 1805. Married Jan. 25, 1835 to Bergit Halvorsdatter Skornaes, born July 5, 1806. Children born in Norway: Jon, Feb 15, 1835; Halvor, March 17, 1840.
Sailed on the Emilie, arrived in New York from Drammen, Aug. 5, 1841, Thomas Anchersen, captain. Norway Tp., Racine Co., Wis. 5 children born in America: Ole, 1842?; Anne, 1845?; Bergit, 1847?, d. by 1860?; Charles, March 18, 1850 - Oct. 3, 1914; Knud, 1855?
Bergit died on May 21, 1889, and Knud on April 26, 1888. Both are buried in Muskego Lutheran Cemetery.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 107, #6-9.
Information contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Photo contributed by Lynn Halverson
Tosten Bø
Tosten Reiarsen Bö was born in Hjartdal, Telemark, on March 11, 1800. He was the son of Reiar Torkelssen Hvaale and Margit Kittilsdatter. He was married on Dec. 26, 1840, to Bergith Nielsdatter Lonar, daughter of Niels Nielsen Lonar and Thone Halvorsdatter Schaarnaes, who was born on Nov. 29, 1817.
The couple emigrated on the ship Emilie and arrived in New York from Drammen on Aug. 5, 1841.The passenger list reports Tosten's age as 53 instead of 41. They settled in Racine County, Wisconsin Territory. Tosten died no later than November 11, 1847.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 107, #2-3.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Torstein Østensen Bøen
Torstein Øysteinsen Bøen, son of Øystein Nilsen Bakhus and Aase Torsteinsdatter, born on the Bakhuus farm in Tinn on May 26, 1817. His wife was Kari Østensdatter Ingolfsland. She was born April 21, 1820, to Øystein Gunnulfsen Bøen and Aasne Johnsdatter. They were married on April 13, 1841, and their oldest son, Øystein Torsteinsen Bøen, was born on Jan. 15, 1842. Torstein and Kari sailed on the Ellida with others from Tinn. When the Ellida arrived in New York in August of 1842, eight were dead of cholera, and 30 were "half dead."
Torstein and Kari settled at Muskego, Wisconsin Territory, where Anne, Aase, Brita, and a second Øysten were born. A dozen years after arriving in Wisconsin, Torstein, Kari, and two other couples made the seven-week journey to Minnesota Territory. They became the first settlers at Norseland in Nicollet County (now St. Peter). Their sons Nels, John, and Ole were born in Minnesota.
Torstein died June 25, 1906, and is buried with his wife in Norseland Lutheran Cemetery.
Contributors:
Gene Estensen
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 140, #221-223.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Østen Larsen Dale
Østen Larsen Dale was the son of Lars Olsen Dillekaas and Aslaug Steinsdtr. He was born in Tinn on May 29, 1813. As a single man, he immigrated to the Muskego settlement on the ship Horner, arriving in Boston from Gothenburg on August 9, 1841.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 116, #100.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Lars Olsen Dommerud
Lars Olsen Damrud, son of Ole Halvorsen Dommerud and Ingeborg Larsdatter Rue, was baptized in Hovin on March 25, 1806. He married Birgit Halvorsdatter, who was born about 1811. Four children were born in Norway: Ole, Jan. 19, 1833; Anne, Aug 18, 1843; Halvor, May 24, 1837; Lars, May 26, 1840.
The family sailed on the ship Horner and arrived in Boston on Aug. 9, 1841, from Gothenburg. They settled in Rochester Township, Racine County, Wisconsin Territory. Children born in America included: Ingeborg, 1843?; Karen?, 1845?; Brita?, 1847?; Synnove, 1849?; Synnove, 1851?; Gunhild, 1853?
By 1860, the family had relocated to Highland Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 116, #93-98.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Ole Jacobsen Einung
Ole Jacobsen Einung was 14 years old when he came to America with his parents, Jacob Olsen Einung and Anne Jacobsdtr. They sailed on the ship Ellida from Gothenburg, arriving in New York on August 9, 1842. Ole was born on March 9, 1828, and died as a young man.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 134, #149.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Holje Tovson Faane
Holje Tovson Faane was married to Sigrid Gjermundsdtr Haakenes on June 20, 1836. She was the daughter of Gjermund Tovsen Haakenaes and Turi Knudsdtr. Two daughters were born in Norway: Thuri, born January 22, 1837, and Aase, born March 13, 1840.
The family emigrated on the Emilie, arrived in New York on August 12, 1840, and made their way to Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin Territory.
Four more children were born in America: Tov (1844?), Gjermund (1846?), Ole (1848?) and Turine (1850?).
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 101, #57-60.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Ole Larsen Groue
Ole Larsen Graue, the son of Lars Gudleiksen Graudo and Inga Olavsdatter Bidne, was baptized in Voss on November 24, 1805. On May 6, 1841, he married Gjertrud Davidsdatter Vestrheim. She was the daughter of David Nilsen Vestrheim and Brita Kolbeinsdatter Hovde and was baptized on Aug. 6, 1809.
The couple emigrated on the ship Bernadotte, arriving in New York from Bergen on October 25, 1841. They made their first home in the Muskego Settlement in Wisconsin. Their children were Lars, David, and Johan P. In the 1860s, the family relocated to the Blue Earth, Minnesota, area.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850, Volume One, 1825-1843, pp. 120-146.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Ole Haagensen
Ole Haagensen Grønhovd, son of Haaken Narvesen Grønhovd and Ingebjørg Nilsdatter Grønhovd, was born in Sigdal on Aug. 10, 1815. He was married on April 26, 1840, to Kari Kristoffersdatter Kopseng, daughter of Kristoffer Olsen Kopseng and Gunhild Larsdatter Kodalen. Kari was born on Aug. 25, 1819. Their daughter Ingeborg was born in Norway on Aug. 31, 1840, and died in Wisconsin on Mar 20, 1844.
The family sailed on the Emilie and arrived in New York from Drammen on Aug. 5, 1841. They settled in Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin, where Ole took up farming.
Children born in the US were: Haaken, Sep 28, 1842-Feb 2, 1844; Haaken, Jan 12, 1845-Apr 19, 1922; Christopher, Feb 27, 1847-Oct 8, 1926; Ole, May 21, 1849-Aug 12, 1850; Ingeborg Helen, Aug 8, 1851-Jun 15, 1916; Gunnil, Dec. 25, 1853-May 28, 1862; Olaus, 1856?-Apr 20, 1893.
Kari died on May 12, 1900, and Ole died less than five months later, on September 23, 1900. They are buried in Norway Lutheran Cemetery, Waterford, Wisconsin.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 99, #32-33.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Herbjorn Gunmundsen Hagen
Herbjorn Gunnulvsen Hagen, son of Gunnulv Torgersen Dale and Aase Herbjornsdatter Moen, was born in Tinn, Telemark, on Sept. 13, 1818.
He emigrated on the ship Argo and arrived in New York from Havre on July 26, 1843. He then went immediately to the Muskego settlement in Wisconsin, where he married Aslaug Hansdtr Tveito on December 31, 1843. She was the daughter of Hans Helleksen Tveito and Signe Halvorsdatter Tveito. Aslaug was born in Tinn on Sept. 4, 1820, and had also emigrated with her family to Wisconsin Territory in 1843.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 238-239, #976.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Evan Hansen Heg
Evan Hansen Heg was born May 17, 1789. He came to America from Lier, near Drammen, in 1840 and led a party of about 40 settlers to the Muskego Settlement in the fall of 1840.
A trading post was opened on his farm, and the Heg barn became a social center in the community's early years. Evan Heg continued to play a leading role in the community until his death on August 17, 1850. He was the father of Civil War hero Hans Christian Heg.
Herbrand Anstensen Hovland
Herbrand Anstensen Hovland, son of Anstein Herbrandsen Hovland and Eli Engebretsdatter, was born in Sigdal, Dec. 24, 1818. On May 15, 1841, Herbrand married Ingrid Torstensdatter Kopseng. She was born March 11, 1817, to parents Torsten Kristensen Kopseng and Ingrid Kristoffersdatter Narum.
The couple emigrated on the ship Emilie and arrived in New York from Drammen on Aug. 5, 1841. They settled in Rochester Township, Racine County, Wisconsin Territory. They later moved to Madison Township in Winneshiek County, Iowa.
Their children were all born in America: Ansten, April 18, 1842-May 16, 1871; Eli, Sep. 1 - Oct 12, 1843; Tosten, July 10-Oct. 1, 1845; Tosten, Sep. 5 - Oct. 25, 1846;
Christen, Aug. 2, 1850-June 28, 1887; Eli, July 21, 1855-Dec. 24, 1909.
Herbrand, a farmer, died Jan. 14, 1887 and Ingrid died Nov. 28, 1900. Both are buried in East Madison Lutheran Cemetery.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 113, #68-69.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Jon Pedersen Husevold
Jon Husevold came to America from Tinn, Telemark, at age 40 in 1843. His wife Helge Olsdtr was 43, and their children were Aagot, 13; Knud, 10; Ole, 7; and Peder, 2.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907:
Hølje Mathissen Ingolfsland
Holje, who was confirmed in Dal Parish in 1818 under the name Fosso, emigrated from Tinn, Telemark, in 1839 at the age of 42. His wife, Thone Halvorsdtr, was 30, and they traveled with their one-year-old infant, Gunnil.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Herbjørn Nielsen Ingulfsland
Herbjorn Nilsson Ingulfsland (1805-1885) along with his wife Aagot Øysteinsdtr Boen (1808-1887) and their four children: Aase (1832-1895), Øystein (1833-1912), Aagot (1836-?), and Nils (1840-1931), and Herbjorn’s mother-in-law Aasne Jonsdtr Ingulfsland Boen (1779-?) left their homeland in Tinn, Telemark, Norway to come to America in May of 1842. They left Drammen, Norway, on the schooner Ellida and arrived in New York on August 8. Of the 63 passengers on the journey, 43 were from Tinn, Telemark.
Herbjorn and his family settled in the Muskego Settlement, eighteen miles west of Milwaukee in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, where they remained for twelve years. Shortly after arriving, Aagot gave birth to their fifth child, Ausne (1843-1937). In 1847, their sixth child, Bergit (1847-1920), was born. The Ingulfsland family was now complete.
In the summer of 1854, Herbjorn and his family joined other Norwegians in relocating to Harmony Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota Territory. They were among the first group of Norwegians to settle in this area. Herbjorn purchased a claim of 160 acres in section 24, for which he paid the government $200.
That same year, Herbjorn erected a log cabin. He and his sons broke, cleared, and grubbed the land and followed general farming for many years. In 1864, a frame house was built on the homestead.
Herbjorn and his sons Oystein and Nils were 1856 charter members of the Greenfield Lutheran Church – their names are inscribed on its memorial monument.
The Ingulfsland family later changed its name to Nelson. Herbjorn and Aagot lived in Harmony on the family homestead for the remainder of their lives. Many of
their descendants are buried with them in Greenfield Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907:
Source: Celebrating Our Norwegian-Minnesotan Heritage 1858-2008, page 109
East Østensen Ingulfsland
Østen Østensen Ingulfsland was the son of Øystein Hansen Ingolfsland and Aase Gunnulvsdatter Vaagen. He was born on April 30, 1820, in Tinn, Telemark. He emigrated as a single man on the Argo and arrived in New York from Le Havre on July 26, 1843.
Source: Emigrant register for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 239, #986.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Johannes Johanesen
He wrote the beautiful words of the "Muskego Manifesto." Johannes Johansen had left Store Walle in Lier on June 28, 1839, and sailed for America with his traveling companion, Soren Tollefsen Bache. They went to Muskego from the Fox River colony in the summer of 1840. Johansen was fluent in English and tutored Bache in the language. They were the first Norwegians to settle in what would become Norway Township in Racine County. They are credited as founders and leaders of the Norwegian-American settlement at Muskego Lake.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 109, #24-27.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Torbjørn Halvorsen Juv
Torbjørn Halvorsen Juv was the son of Halvor Tarbionssen Juuv and Kirsti Olsdatter, born in Hjartdal on Jan. 28, 1805. He married Ingeri Haraldsdtr on Jan. 19, 1837. She was born June 28, 1811, to parents Harrald Ambrossen and Anne Tarjersdatter. Two children were born in Norway: Kirsti, born March 14, 1837, and Halvor, born September 17, 1839. The family emigrated to Norway Township, Racine County, in 1841. They sailed on the Emilie and arrived in New York from Drammen on August 5, 1841.
Torbjørn and his family moved to Sumner Township in Winnishiek County, Iowa, about 1852. Five children were born in America: Anne, born about 1843; Ole, March 12, 1845-June 7, 1917; Harald, born 1848? Karen, born 1852?, and Siri, born September 21, 1853.
Ingeri died on January 3, 1880, and Torbjørn died on April 2, 1881. They are both buried in Lincoln Lutheran Cemetery.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 109, #24-27.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Niels Hansen Kallerud
Hans Syverson Katterud and Larine Olsdtr were the parents of Niels Hansen Kallerud, who was born in Lier on June 24, 1798. In 1824, he married Mari Jacobsdtr Unnelsrud, who was born in 1797 and died in 1822. He then married Live Bentsdtr Brurberg, daughter of Bent Svendsen and Christiane Haakensdtr Brurberg. She was born on February 11, 1795. Four children were born and died in Norway.
Niels and Live emigrated to America on the Emilie, arriving in New York from Drammen on August 17, 1842. They settled in Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin, and later moved to Springfield Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa.
Live died on April 4, 1861, and Niels died on July 12, 1875. Both are buried in Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 135, #158-159.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Ole Evensen Kjønaas
Ole Evensen Kjønaas was born in Bø on August 23, 1804. His parents were Even Olsen Qvaernoen and Margit Brynjulvsdtr. He married Ingeborg Hansdtr Kjonaas on October 30, 1832, who was born about 1810, the daughter of Hans Johansen. Their son Even was born in Norway on October 24, 1832, but is not on the passenger list. The other children who emigrated with their parents were Hans, born February 6, 1834; Margith, born February 27, 1838; and Ingeborg, born June 28, 1841. The family sailed to New York from Le Havre, France, on the Argo and arrived on July 26, 1843. Ingeborg had died by 1850, possibly onboard ship. They settled in Vernon Township, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
Ole's second wife was Ragnhild, who was born about 1820. His third wife, Anne, was born in 1819 and died in 1896. Ole died in 1876 and is buried with his wives in Muskego Lutheran Cemetery.
Ole's children were born in America, including Ole, in 1844.; Henry, 1857?; and Maranda, 1858.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 248, #1224-1128.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Ejel Olsen Kleven
Ejel Olsen Kleven was born in Seljord on February 7, 1895. His parents were Olav Egilsen Kleivi and Ingebjørg Knutsdtr Kvammen. On October 21, 1821, Ejel married Astrid Torstensdtr Søum. She was the daughter of Tosten Torjersen Søum and Live Gunlechsdtr and was born in Tinn on August 10, 1800.
Their children were all born in Norway: Ole was born on August 18, 1822, and died in April 1857. Gullik, born December 1, 1827, served with Company E of the 18th Wisconsin Regiment during the Civil War and died in 1918. Ingeborg was born February 24, 1830; Liv, August 26, 1833; Gro, February 17, 1837-January 1844; and Olaf, born March 5, 1841.
The family emigrated from Skien on the Winterflid and arrived in New York on July 29, 1843. They settled in Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin. Astrid died on February 26, 1867, and Ejel died on February 16, 1877. Both are buried in Muskego Lutheran Cemetery.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 259, #1275-1282
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Targer Olsen Landsverk
'Torjer Olssen Siljudalen' was born in Gransherad on May 17, 1812. He married Anne Andersdtr Boe, who was born on February 2, 1813, and was the daughter of Andres Olsen Boe and Signe Olsdtr Froland.
Targer Olsen Landsverk, his wife, and daughter Anne (Feb 29, 1840-Jun 23, 1908; Mrs. Halvor Johnsen Dålån) came to America on the Emilie from Drammen, arriving in New York on August 5, 1841. They settled at Muskego but moved to Winneconne Township, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, in 1847. Two children were born in America: Signe (1844-1885) and Maria.
Targer died on November 6, 1856, and his wife Anne died on May 23, 1878. Both are buried at Grace Lutheran Cemetery, Winchester.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 108, #12-14.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Thorkil Kettilsen Lillerud
Thorkil, 59 1/2, came to America from Tinn, Telemark, in 1842. His wife, Joron Simonsdtr, 53, and son Ole, 16, accompanied him.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Halvor Nilssen Lohner
Halvor was born November 15, 1815, in Sauland and left Norway on the Ellida, landing in New York on August 9, 1842. Three months before leaving, he married Ingeborg Olsdtr on May 8, 1842. She accompanied him to America and died in Muskego on November 15, 1843. She is buried in Muskego Lutheran Cemetery. Halvor would marry twice more. He had one child with Ingeborg and six children with his second wife. Halvor was the leader of the timberwork during the building of the old Muskego Church. A quite amusing story about his wedding was published in an old issue of Telesoga. Most of that story is reprinted (in Norwegian) on the Hjartdal Historielag website. Halvor died September 29, 1891, and is buried in Muskego Lutheran Cemetery. The family name is now spelled "Lonar."
Source: Information contributed by Leif Skoje of Hjartdal
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 133, #126-127.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Ole Nilssen Lohner
Ole Nilssen Lohenev, son of Niels Nielsen Lonar and Thone Halvorsdtr Schaarnaes, was born in Hjartdal on October 4, 1820. He came to America as a single man on the Emilie, arriving in New York from Drammen on August 5, 1841, and settled at Muskego, Wisconsin.
He married Ingeborg Olsdtr Øian on July 1, 1844. She was born in Tinn on November 20, 1816, and came to America in 1842 with her parents, Ole Herbjornsen Øian and Guro Nilsdtr Goystdal. Their children were Kari (7/27/1845-12/31/1950), Thoni (6/8/1850), Nels (7/5/1853-8/5/1934), Olea (9/8/1856-10/10/1934), and Albert (3/8/1859-11/10/1959).
By 1860, the family had moved to Madison Township in Winnishiek County, Iowa. Ole died in May of 1892, and Ingeborg died January 18, 1905. Today, the family spells their surname "Lonar."
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 116, #100.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Halvor Østensen Luraas
Halvor came to America from Tinn, Telemark, in 1839 at the age of 42. He was accompanied by his wife, Aagot Nielsdtr, who was also 42.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Knud Jonsen Luraas
Knud (Knute) was born in Tinn, Telemark on 3 Sept 1818, his wife Gyri on 2 Oct 1816. They were married in Norway, presumably in Tinn, on 23 April 1839. They left for America in May 1839 via Sweden and then Boston, to Milwaukee, to the Muskego Settlement, WI. Knute and Gyri (or Georgina as she was known here) lived there until about 1847. They then moved to Clayton township in Winnebago, WI (near Oshkosh), where they farmed about 500 acres. Knute and Gyri had at least 3 of their children while they lived in Muskego: Elisabeth b: 1843, Niels b:1845, and Betsey b: 1847. They also had six other children believed to have been born in Winnebago County. These were: Cornelia Caroline b:1849, Isabella b:1851, Georgina b:1853, John b & d: 1854, John b:1856, and Knute b:1858.
Knute & Gyri are buried at Grace Lutheran Church in Larsen, WI. Knute died on 21 Oct 1871, and Gyri died on 5 Sept 1896.
Source: Jen Witzel
Torger Østensen Luraas
Torger emigrated from Tinn, Telemark in 1839 with his wife Kari Halvorsdtr. When they left Norway, Torger was 36, and Kari was 27.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Halvor Tovsen Lyngflaat
Halvor Tovsen Lyngflaat, son of Tov Olvesson Laaviken and Tårån Hojesdtr, was baptized in Tinn on August 1, 1803. He arrived in Boston from Gothenburg on July 31, 1839, and settled in Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin. His wife, Gro Herbjørnsdtr (age 40), and another family member, perhaps his brother?, Niels Tovsen Lyngflaat (age 16 1/2), immigrated with him.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 74, #140.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Østen Gunleksen Mæland
Østen Gulliksen Mæland was born in Tinn on September 2, 1812. His parents were Gunleik Hansson and Liv Gunleksdtr Mæland. He married Anne Olsdr Øverland on October 19, 1833. Her parents were Ola Jonsson Øverland and Aslaug Jonsdtr Såheim, and she was born November 19, 1812. Their first three children were born in Norway: Gullick, March 23, 1834; Ola, November 11, 1837; and Jon, July 13, 1840.
Østen was 29 1/2 years old when he and his family left Norway. They sailed from Gothenburg and arrived in New York on August 9, 1842. Their first home was in Dover Township, Racine County, Wisconsin. Children Anne (1843), Martin (August 23, 1846), Elizabeth (1849), and Ole (February 16, 1852) were born in Wisconsin. In 1857, they moved to Harmony, Minnesota.
Østen died on March 2, 1878. se was the son of Lars Olsen Dillekaas and Aslaug Steinsdtr. He was bron in Tinn on May 29, 1813. He immigrated to the Muskego settlement as a single man on the ship Horner which arrived in Boston on August 9, 1841 from Gothenburg.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 134 #137-141.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Gunder Goutesen Ligaard (Midbøen)
Gunder Goutesen Ligaard (Midbøen) was the son of Gaute Eirikseen Midtbøen and Margit Knutsdtr Svenningsgard. He was born on the Ramberg farm in Hol on October 12, 1805. On January 15, 1833, he married Kari Knudsdtr Nørstbø, daughter of Knud Olsen Nørstebø and Helga Thoresdtr. She was born June 7, 1807.
They had at least three children in Norway: Helge (September 28, 1834-January 11, 1835) and Goute Gunderson Ligaard (May 18, 1833-March 16, 1905). Knud Gundersen Ligaard was born September 29, 1835.
Gunder was 32 when he and his family boarded the Noord at Gothenburg in May 1837. Son Knud died during the voyage, and Gunder, Kari, and Goute arrived in New York on August 15, 1837. They settled first in LaSalle County, Illinois, before moving to Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin. At least two more children were born in America: Swain (1846?-October 8, 1923), Margit (1848-1915),
Kari died on February 25, 1881, and Knud followed her on October 14 of the same year. Both are buried in Muskego Lutheran Cemetery.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 42-43, #134-137.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Syvert Engebretsen Narverud
Syvert Engebretsen Narverud was born between 1810 and 1814 to Engebret Syversen Narverud. He married Gunhild Halvorsdtr Klavenæs on Mapril2, 1839. She was born between 1802 and 1805. Their son Ingebret Syvertsen Narverud was born on Hennum on January 16, 1840.
The family arrived on the Emilie in New York on August 12, 1840. They settled in Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin, where Syvert worked as a shoemaker.
Sybert died on February 4, 1892, at 77 years and 6 months, and Gunhild on March 29, 1880, at 78 years and six months. Both are buried in Muskego Lutheran Cemetery.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 98, #16-18.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Halvor Torbjørnsen Omnes
Halvor Torbjörnsen Omnes and his wife Kari Andreasdtr Aasen emigrated to America right after they were married on the ship Emilie, which arrived in New York from Drammen on Emilie which arrived in New York from Drammen, August 3, 1841. The Emilie sailed with 92 passengers, the majority from the Telemark region of Norway. The fee was 39 Speciedaler, which included the landing money. "Halvor T. Bøe" and Kari carried only one trunk of belongings with them. They settled in Muskego, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
Halvor's fifth cousin, Torkel Bjørnson Omnes, was on the same voyage.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Jon Nielsen Rue
Jon Nielsen Rue came from Tinn, Telemark, at age 25, along with his wife Ingeborg Knutsdtr (age 26) and their daughter Anne Jonsdtr (age 1). Jon was the leader of the famous Rue party of 1837.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Ole Johnsen Sanden
Ole Johnsen Sanden was the son of Jon and Ingeborg Lyngflåt and was baptized in Hovin on March 15, 1801. He married Kari Olsdtr Tveito on June 18, 1825. She was the daughter of Ola Hanssen Tveito and Susanne Knusdtr Rollag and was baptized on the second day of Easter in 1800. They had three children: Gro, born March 14, 1826; Jon, born February 7, 1832; and Ole, born February 22, 1834.
The family sailed on the ship Washington and arrived in New York on August 1, 1842. The family relocated to Winnisheik County, Iowa before 1850.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 127, #48-52.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Gulbrand Gundersen Skale
Gulbrand Gundersen Skare was the son of Gunnar Kristoffersen Jare and Kristi Fingarsdtr Bøle, and was born in Sigdal in 1785. He married Mari Helgesdtr Skaalien, daughter of Helge Ingebretsen Skaalien and Kari Halvorsdtr Medalen, on April 9, 1820. They had four children: Gunder, Dec. 17, 1820-1823. Helge, Sep 29, 1823 - Dec 23, 1875; Engebret, Nov 23, 1830; Kari, May 6, 1834-Mar 7, 1889.
The familiy sailed on the Emilie from Drammen and arrived in New York on August 5, 1841 and came straight to the Muskego settlement. Gulbrand died at Muskego about 1848.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 112-113, #63-67.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Gunnuf Kjetilsen Søum (Såheim)
Gunnulv Kittilsen Såheim was born in Tinnon June 28, 1813. He was the son of Kittil Kittilsen Såheim and Aagot Gunnulfsdtr Tveito. He was married on February 27, 1839 to Gro Torgiersdtr Såhaeimsmogen. They came to America on the ship Emilie, arriving in New York on August 5, 1841. They settled first in Norway Township, Racine County, WIsconsin. But in 1860, the family had relocated to Sumner Township, Winnisheik County, Iowa. Gunnuf died on September 14, 1877.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 108, #17.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Thore Thorsen Spånheim (Brukaas)
Thore Thorsen Brukaas (Spanheim/Sppanem/Sponem) and his wife Turi Svendsdtr Brukaas emigrated with their children in 1841: Birgit, Margit, and Svend. The farm they established in 1846 in Dane County, Wisconsin, was still in the family in 2003.
Information provided by Lonna Arneson, Thore's great-great-granddaughter
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Ole Knutsen Train
Ole Knutsen Train (age 38), his wife Birgit Gunnufsdtr (age 46), and their children Anne (age 5) and Gunnuf (age 2) emigrated to America from Tinn, Telemark, in 1843.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
John Knudsen Train
John Knudsen Traem was born in Tinn, Telemark, on June 23, 1814. He came to America as a single man at 23 on the ship Noord from Gothenburg, landing in New York on August Noord from Gothenburg, landing in New York on August 15, 1837.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 44, #144.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Hermo Nilsen Tuft
Hermo Nilsen Tufte was born in Hol on August 14, 1798. His parents were Niels Hermosen Tufte and Bergit Svendsdtr. He married Kari Tolleivsdtr Hallsteinsgard on October 20, 1822. She was also born in Hol on February 2, 1808, to parents Tollef Holgesen Hallsteinsgard and Sigri Ellingsdtr. They had four children: Sigrid, Birgit, Nils, and Jorand. The family emigrated to America on the ship Emilie from Drammen, arriving in New York on August 17, 1842. They settled in Racine County, Wisconsin.
Hermo died November 30, 1883, and Kari died February 7, 1871. Both are buried in North Cape Lutheran Cemetery.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 155, #404-409.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Hans Torgrimsen Tveito
Hans Torgrimsen Tveito was born on the Berge farm in Vestfordalen, Tinn, Telemark, on October 12, 1815. His parents were Ase Hansdtr Berge and Torgrim Halvorsen Tveito. His father died in February 1820, and his mother died in childbirth the following month. Income from the Berge farm helped defray the expenses incurred by those who raised Hans and his brother, but he always felt he was a guest and not a member of these families.
Hans gained fame when he lifted a large boulder that now sits in front of the Tinn museum. The translation of the inscription on the bronze plate mounted on the stone is "This stone was lifted by confirmand Hans Tveito (Strong Hans) born 1818 - died in the USA in 1870." His legend grew with fantastic tales of amazing feats of strength.
In 1853, the Argo was delayed at the port of Le Havre for repairs, and the captain lowered his fare to eight dollars—a quarter of the usual price. It cost him another $8 to travel from New York to Wisconsin. He arrived in Muskego on August 15, 1843.
On Easter Sunday, April 7, 1844, Hans married Aslaug Einong. They had five children: Torgrim (Thomas), Jacob, Annie, Aase and Oscar.
Aslaug's brother John settled in Houston County, Minnesota Territory, and in 1855, Hans and Aslaug brought their family there. Hans acquired 40 acres a mile west of Spring Grove and, within six months, had added an adjacent 120 acres. Three more children were born here: Isabelle and twins John and Clara.
Hans died on February 10, 1866. By 1870, Aslaug had sold the farm and moved the family to Iowa. Aslaug died on July 16, 1913.
Hans was laid to rest at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove, and Aslaug is buried in Salem Lutheran Church's North Cemetery in Lake Mills, Iowa.
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Celebrating our Norwegian-Minnesotan Heritage, 1858-2008, published in 2009 by the Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Project, p. 167-168
Svenung Johnson Tyttegraf
Svennung Johnsen Tytegraf was the sone of Jon Talleivsen Sandland and Margit Tovsdtr. He was baptized at Kviteseid church in Telemark on the 17th Sunday after Trinity (September 22) in 1793. On June 30, 1826, he married Turi Johannesdtr Skare, who was born on Christmas Day in 1808. Her parents were Johannes Guttormsson Skare and Gunnhild Bjørnsdtr Gotuholt. Five children were born in Norway: Margit, October 29, 1828; Johannes, May 11, 1832; Gunhild, June 16, 1834; Maren, April 16, 1836; and Birgit, March 28, 1839.
The family came to America on the Tuskina, arriving in New York from Le Havre, France, on August 19, 1842. A son, Jon, may have been born on the voyage.
The family settled at Muskego, where Svenung died before 1854. In 1854, Turi and her children moved to Springfield Township, Jackson County, Wisconsin.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 160, #470-477.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Ole Leiufsen Vemork
Ole Leiufsen Vermork was born in Tinn, Telemark, on January 25, 1816. His parents were Leiuf Gunleiksen Vemork and Ingeborg Sigurdsdtr Sonstebo. He married Gro Nilsdtr Rue, daughter of Nils Johnsen Rue and Birgit Johnsdtr Haakaland, born on October 5, 1823. They had 15 children.
Ole arrived in New York from Gothenburg on August 9, 1842, on the ship Ellida. He settled first in Norway Township, Racine County, Wisconsin, but by 1860, the family had relocated to Sumner Township, Winnishiek County, Iowa.
Ole died May 16, 1900, and is buried in Lincoln Lutheran Cemetery in the Ridgeway settlement outside Decorah. His surname was anglicized to "Wemark."
Source: Utvandrarregister for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Information from Gene Estensen
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850, Volume One, 1825-1843, pp. 135-136, #161.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Jon Alfsen Veseth
John Alfsen Veset, son of Alv Johnsen Veset and Aase Kjetilsdatter Kaase, born in Tinn, Nov. 26, 1813. Ingeborg Gunleiksdatter Saaheim, daughter of Gunleik Torgeirsen Saaheim and Anne Olsdatter Dale, born in Tinn, May 1, 1812.
John and Ingeborg married on November 28, 1840, and emigrated from Tinn, Telemark, on the schooner Ellida. They arrived in New York from Gothenburg on Aug. 9, 1842. At the time of their immigration, Jon was 22 1/2 years old, and Ingeborg was 30.
Source: Emigrant register for Tinn 1837-1907
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 135, #158-159.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Colben Davidsen Westreim
Colben Davidsen Westerim was the son of David Nillsen Vestrheim and Brita Kolbeinsdtr Hovde and was baptized in Voss on December 8, 1805. He emigrated to America from Bergen on the ship Bernadotte and arrived in New York on October 25, 1841. He made his way to the Muskego settlement in Wisconsin, where he died in 1847, an unmarried farmer.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 120, #147.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Gulaug Iversen Wiche
Gulleik Ivarsen Vike was born in Voss on August 20, 1816. He married Ragna Samsonsdtr Skutle on November 8, 1842. They sailed from Bergen on the Juno and landed in New York on July 14, 1843. They settled first at Muskego and moved about 1845 to the Spring Prairie Settlement and then to the Strong's Prairie Settlement, both in Wisconsin, before settling permanently in Manley, Worth County, Iowa.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 196, #344-345.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid
Stork Iversen Wiche
Stork Iversen Wiche was born Styrk Ivarsen Vike to parents Ivar Styrksen Vike and Eli Gudleiksdtr Vike and was baptized in Voss on October 25, 1812. He married Kirsti Torbjornsdtr Rene, daughter of Torbjorn Gitlesen and Kristi Eriksdtr Afdal, who was baptized in Voss on October 27, 1811.
They came to America on the ship Juno from Bergen and arrived in New York on July 14, 1843. They immediately went to the Muskego Settlement in Wisconsin and moved to Bristol Township, Dane County, Wisconsin, in 1846. In 1871, they relocated to Minnesota, first to Otter Tail County and then to Fertile, Minnesota, in Polk County. Stork died in 1891, and Kirsti died in 1898.
Children born in America: Christi, 1843; Synneva, 1847; Britha, March 18, 1849 - April 27, 1869; Anna, 1849; Ivar, Sept. 28, 1851 - Nov. 22, 1921; Martine, July 27, 1853; Thorbjorn, July 29, 1854 - June 1938; Martine, May 18, 1858. Eli Stryrksdaatter Vike, born Sept 19, 1842, died 1928.
Source: Norwegian Immigrants To The United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. Volume One 1825-1843. By Gerhard B. Naeseth. p. 196, #340-342.
Contributed by Jackie Hufschmid