Census Sunday - Norwegian National Census of 1900 - Eidanger, Telemark, Norway

each Sunday I explore a census record and list the genealogical clues it contains (or doesn't)

Norwegian National Census of 1900
Eidanger, Telemark, Norway

This is the first census in which my grandmother Dagmar Gundersen is noted.

    

*Eidanger , a small farming community has 3872 registered inhabitants

*The extended family resides on the farm Øvald.

*Gunder Nilsen, born in Eidanger in 1842, is Nils' father and Dagmar's grandfather. His occupation is shipbuilder and carpenter. His father's first name - Nils
*Gunder is a widower (e) and I will have to find additional documentation to tell me the name of his wife and discover if she is the mother of all of the children listed.

*Gunda Marie Gundersdatter was born in Eidanger in 1877,  is Gunders unmarried (ug) daughter and runs the household meaning his wife is likely deceased.

*Lauritz Severin Gundersen, born in Eidanger in 1882 is Gunder's unmarried (ug) son. He is a sailor.

*Nils Gundersen, born in Eidanger in 1875, is Gunders married (g) son. He is also a sailor.

*Gunhild Marie Olsdatter, born in Eidanger in 1875, is Nils' wife. Her father's first name is Ole.

*Gudrun Marie Nilsdatter, born in Porsgrund December 19, 1898, unmarried (ug) is Nils and Gunhild's daughter and Dagmar's sister

*Dagmar Nilsdatter (my grandmother) is just an infant in this census, born June 10, 1900 in Eidanger

*She lives with her extended family in a farm community. Patronymics are still used. She is noted as Dagmar Nilsdatter while later her parents and all their children will adopt Nils' patronymic Gundersen as their surname. 

*The family has been in this location for some time. Three generations are all born in Eidanger with the exception of Gudrun who was born in a very close neighboring town

*they do not own the farm on which they live but are crofters on a small section.

**click on document to enlarge for easier viewing**

Rick Steves' European Christmas - Norway

Merry Christmas!

"For unto us is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Merry Christmas - Ranae

Norwegian National Census of 1900 - Fredrikshald, Østfold, Norway

This Sunday I explore a census record and list the genealogical clues it contains (or doesn't)

Norwegian National Census of 1900
Fredrikshald, Østfold, Norway

This census was not easy to find. This is my grandfather Paul with his first two siblings and his parents. It was not easy to find because his parents were missionaries and traveled all about Norway until the family finally settled in Skien, Telemark, Norway.

Paul Sevald in 1900       

From this census I learned or can now verify

* In 1900 the family lived at 799a13 Ouskleven Street in Fredrikshald, Norway and the longest they could have lived there is 3 years assuming they moved there immediately after the birth of their third child Karen Sally

* The birth year of each family member and Paul is the oldest of 3

* Anders is a missionary for the Seventh Day Adventist Church, a movement begun in America but now spreading throughout Scandinavia

* Each child was born in a different town which means they traveled for the church frequently and Anders was most likely converted before he met Anne Marie since she was born on the opposite side of Norway from his birth

*I now know in which fylke Anders and Anne Marie were born and can begin the search for their parents and family. Unfortunately the next earlier national census in Norway was in 1865 and Anne Marie was born in 1871. Anders however will likely be found in the 1865 census.

*Anders and Anne Marie are married (g=gift), likely in 1893

*They are not well off financially as they share living quarters with another family (who appear also to be SDA) and it is no more than an annex to a farmhouse

*They are more modern city folk as all carry the same surname (the children are not carrying the patronymic Anderson or Andersdatter). Sevald may be the name of Anders father or it could even have been his grandfather. We therefore also don't have a clue as to Anne Marie's birth family except they are most likely found in Solum

*Sevald, the surname Paul carried in America was shortened from Sevaldsen.

-Ranae

Norwegian Christmas decorations to hang on your tree

Happy Birthday Gunhild Marie Olsdatter!

My great grandmother Gunhild Marie Olsdatter was born 14 December 1875 on the farm Røra in Eidanger, Telemark, Norway.   She was baptised at the Eidanger Kirke into the Norwegian State Church (Lutheran) on 02 January 1876.  Her sponsors were Christiane Andersdatter, Kirsten Marie Olsdatter, Anders Eriksen, Martin Olsen and Hans Olsen. She was the legitimate daughter of worker Ole Helleksen and Hanna Matea Gunuldsdatter. She was not home baptised.

Kildeinformasjon: Telemark fylke, Eidanger, Klokkerbok nr. 1 (1863-1878), Fødte og døpte 1876, side 86. 
DIGITALARKIVET OF NORWAY - GUNHILD MARIE'S BIRTH RECORD

Happy Birthday great-grandma Gunhild! - Ranae

**clicking on photos and documents will enlarge them for easier viewing**

1930 US Census Chicago, Illinois - The Sevald Family

This Sunday I explore a census record and list the genealogical clues it contains (or doesn't)

1930 US Federal Census
Chicago, Cook, Illinois

This is the first American census that my grandparents Paul and Dagmar are in



noted from this census:

*This appears to be the first time they have dropped the "sen" from Sevaldsen and have shortened their name to Sevald. Later in September of 1930 Paul will become naturalized and make the name change official.
*Address is 1807 N. California Ave. which at this time is a mostly a Scandinavian immigrant neighborhood. They rent one apartment of this two flat building for $50 a month. The owner of the building occupies the other unit. This was no more than a 3 bedroom apartment and they have 4 roomers with them, a married couple and two single gentlemen.
*They own a radio, important enough to be a question on census records?
*Paul was 26, Dagmar 21 when they married
*Paul is said to be a "mechanic" at a "printing press". In actuality he was a machinest. He was still at work even though the country is one year into the Great Depression. It states Dagmar is at home which was common, almost universal, for married women at that time. She had worked earlier as domestic help for a rich Danish gold-coast family.
*Dagmar is still an alien but Paul although not quite a citizen does have his first papers or intent to naturalize. It is noted they arrived in 1923. (Dagmar actually immigrated a year later in 1924)
*They have had two children. My uncle Arnold (1925) and my mother Grace (1927).





1807 N. California still stands (2015) just two houses from the elevated tracks. My mother remembered riding the train on Sunday afternoons "for fun". They would go to the end of the line and back again numerous times, each time hollering and waving to their parents as they passed them sitting on the back porch visiting with friends. I am then guessing that they occupied the second floor apartment.

(clicking on photographs or documents will enlarge them for easier viewing)

Facebook for Genealogy

For the longest time you couldn't even speak to me about Facebook without getting a furious lecture or at the very least a sour look on the face from me. I could care less what you had for breakfast, where you are this very instant, who you are voting for, or even less see picture #48 that you took of yourself. Puhleese. I have know friendships ruined and otherwise normal? people wasting hours exercising nothing but their index finger flicking from friend? to friend? Okay, who has 576 friends anyway?

I WAS WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!  


Oh, I know that silly stuff still goes on but I have found Facebook invaluable in my Norwegian genealogy searches. There are many genealogy groups out there. Technical, organizational, how-to groups and groups specific to the country you are researching. The members are from all over, including the country you are searching in. Have you ever tried to "Google Translate" a Norwegian parish, birth, death or marriage record? Sometimes the results are hilarious but often I was better off just using my own "genealogical Norwegian" skills to figure out what it says. There are some wonderful people out there who are proficient at reading old Norwegian/Danish or the faint, sloppy, misspelled, tiny handwriting of an overworked 18th century priest. I have "liked" many groups and become a part of them but I actually have very few "friends" and I use a high privacy setting. I feel it avoids those who want to share their selfies or pictures of their dog dressed for Halloween without hurting their feelings. Check it out, you won't be disappointed. Don't forget to look for other genealogical gem pages. Ancestral towns may have their own facebook page. Sons of Norway pages. Genealogical Society pages. Surname pages. Use your imagination and just start searching.

Katharine R. Willson, a genealogist, has a free pdf of 5,500+ links to Facebook Genealogy groups
SOCIAL MEDIA GENEALOGY   Thank you Katharine!

Word of advice. Keep your requests or questions brief. Do as much of the initial footwork as you can and provide a clear jpg or link to your item in question. Don't expect someone to do genealogical work for you. These groups are mainly people helping people. Be kind. Kind to those who help you, and kind to "newbies" whose questions may be simplistic, or "silly". We were all there once and don't want to discourage anyone from the enjoyable and satisfying hobby of family history. You never know but one day that "newbie" may "find" your elusive great great grandma Solveig.


Happy hunting!
Ranae

Eidanger Kirke

Early 20th century - Eidanger kirke

The Eidanger church was an integral part of my grandmother Dagmars family for generations.
Built in the 1100's of stone with 1.5 meter thick cavity walls with carved stone corners, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary (this was a few hundred years before Norway converted to Lutheranism). A wood addition was built in 1778. The church has a beautiful interior, an old christening font, very old and no doubt valuable silverware and a medieval painting 'The Ascension'.

Dagmars family can be traced in Eidanger to a German immigrant by the name of Maria Lukretia von Boeselager who married a Norwegian and settled in the area in the mid 1600's. Maria was Dagmar's seventh great grandmother. Maria's daughter married the high priest of Eidanger, Jon Lauritssøn-Teiste, and she was buried just outside the church entrance upon her death in 1685.*

It was at the Eidanger church that the next seven generations of our family were baptised, confirmed, married and buried. Dagmar was the last of our family line to be christened in this beautiful old church. Born 10 June 1900, she was christened 15 July 1900 at the Eidanger church. Her sponsors were Josefine Olsen (her aunt), Gunda Gundersen (her aunt), Jens Gundersen (her uncle) and Peder Hansen (a family friend).

Click to view Dagmars Eidanger birth/baptismal record

These last two photos are of the Eidanger church today. The small village/town of Eidanger no longer exists but was incorporated into the larger town of Porsgrunn, Telemark, Norway.



*from the bygdebok "Gjerpen-Porsgrunn" by Finn C. Knudsen
  Click to direct link of this bygdebok - Porsgrund online library

Norwegian Naming Practices- there IS a method to the madness

Last week I visited a cousin I had not been in contact with for many years. We were born just two months apart and our families were close when we were children but life intervened. I happened to speak with his wife about my interest in genealogy and she offered sharing some family photos.  She expressed an interest in her family history and mentioned her grandmothers name was Jeanette Hanson. Get out of here! That's a Scandinavian name! And I was off again on the family ancestry hunt.

The search for the ancestry of her grandmother Jeanette Hanson was the perfect example of the double edged sword of Norwegian naming practices. I mean how great is it that the women of Norway kept their maiden name? Yet the patronymic names with the addition of the farm name? which could change as they moved?

The great influx of Norwegian Immigrants to America came at a time when Norwegian naming practices were in flux. Immigrants arrived in America with their patronymic name as a surname, or their fathers patronymic name as a surname, or their farm name as a surname, or a name a relative already in America had adopted as a surname, or actually they could call themselves just about anything they fancied. And spelling? Whoa. Traditionally the patronymic is sen in Danish and Norwegian and son in Sweden, but in America?

As for Jeanette Hanson? She was Norwegian! or half anyway. We had another Norwegian in our family! Her Chicago birth certificate listed Harry Hanson as her father and this was confirmed by census records. Harry Hanson's Chicago death listed his father as Peter Hanson of Skien Norway. Census records also confirmed Harry and Peters relationship. In a Norwegian census I found Peter using his fathers patronymic of Pedersen as a surname but when he emigrated to America he used his own, Hansen, which in America morphed to Hanson. Back in Norway by 1900 the remainder of his family began to use the farm name as their surname. Jeanettes cousins in Norway were now known not as Hansen or Pedersen but Kamphaug!

Confusing? Yes but there is some method to the madness. There are some really good explanations on the web of Norwegian naming but I find this one to be the best. Check it out, if you are lucky enough to have had a Norwegian ancestor!
                                           
                                                   NORWEGIAN NAMES


- Ranae

Lauritz Severin Gundersen - Louis Gunderson

When my grandma Dagmar came to Chicago in 1924 she followed her husband, my grandfather Paul. Paul chose Chicago as he had an aunt here who had immigrated many years before. The young couple lived in a small apartment in the basement of her home. Through my genealogy work I have found that Dagmar also had family in Chicago that had come before her. I do not know if she was even aware of that. Neither she or my mother ever mentioned having family in Chicago. Dagmar had an uncle Lauritz who settled in Chicago and raised a family there. It is quite likely that there are Gundersen cousins within a few miles of me today. Where are you my cousins?

Lauritz Severin Gundersen was born the 22 January 1882 in Muhle, Eidanger, Telemark, Norway. He was the younger brother of my great grandfather Nils and the uncle of my grandmother Dagmar. In the Norwegian census of 1900 he is living unmarried on the family farm Øvald in Eidanger along with his father, Gunder Andreas Nilsen, his sister Gunda Marie, his brother Nils, Nils' wife Gunhild Marie, and Nils' two daughters, Gudrun and Dagmar (my grandmother). The family farm, which was owned by the church but worked by our family since the mid 1600's had been sold. Nov of 1901 Lauritz emigrated to Chicago. There he met another Norwegian immigrant named Karin Olive Erlingsen. They married in 1902 and had the children  George, Alice Marie, Lucile, Louise, Mildred, Earl, Sylvia, Ralph, Adeline and Caroline. In America the couple was known as Louis and Carrie Gunderson.

Here he is with his wife on his 50th wedding anniversary.

Would Louis be your ancestor? We are cousins. Contact me if you would like to share information, photos or memories.

Just a shot in the dark - Ranae

Minnekirken 3rd Annual "Taste of Norway"

Looking ahead to November 21, 2015 here is a great outing to put in your calendar for those of us of Norwegian-American heritage in the Chicago area.

Minnekirken  

The Norwegian Lutheran 

Memorial Church of Chicago

presents its 3rd annual "Taste of Norway"

November 21, 2015

10:00 AM — 3:00 PM

They will have traditional Norwegian goods and sweaters, Christmas cookies, julekake (Christmas bread), lefse, waffles, ertesuppe (traditional pea soup luncheon). Docent-led tours of their neo-Gothic church's sanctuary. *

Minnekirken is the last remaining Norwegian language church in Chicago, Illinois. The church is located at 2614 N. Kedzie in Logan Square. Logan Square in the early 20th century had a large Norwegian speaking population. The area changed to Polish and then Spanish speaking population. There once was about 30 Norwegian language churches in Chicago and now Minnekirken is the last surviving one. It is however a thriving congregation although most of its members no longer even live in the Chicago area proper. Minnekirken, which means "Memorial Church" in Norwegian, is the last remaining Norwegian language church within a radius of 400 miles of the city. Minnekirken is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

* for more information *

   CLICK HERE TO GO TO MINNEKIRKEN WEBSITE

Jennie Gundersen Olsen

When my grandma Dagmar came to Chicago in 1924 she followed her husband, my grandfather Paul. Paul chose Chicago as he had an aunt here who had immigrated many years before. The young couple lived in a small apartment in the basement of her home. Through my genealogy work I have found that Dagmar also had family in Chicago that had come before her. I do not know if she was even aware of that. Neither she or my mother ever mentioned having family in Chicago. Dagmar had a cousin Jennie, a Gundersen who like she,  settled in Chicago and raised a family there. It is quite likely that there are Gundersen cousins within a few miles of me today. Where are you my cousins?

My great grandfather Nils had an older brother, Anders Martinius Gundersen. His daughter Jennie Marie was born April 23, 1893 in Eidanger, Telemark, Norway. Jennie, my grandmothers cousin, left Norway for Chicago in 1910. She married a Norwegian immigrant named Hans Karelius Olsen and they settled in Chicago having three children, Roy Vivian and Mildred.

Here is Jennie. Look how she resembles her cousin, my grandmother Dagmar!

           

                    Jennie Marie Gundersen                             Dagmar Gundersen

Would Jennie be your ancestor? We are cousins. Contact me if you would like to share information, photos or memories.

Just a shot in the dark - Ranae

Virtual Tour of Ellis Island

2016 will be the centennial of the National Park Service.

Did your immigrant ancestors arrive through Ellis Island? My maternal grandparents, Paul and Dagmar Sevaldsen did. My paternal grand aunt Anna Abrahamsson Jacobson did with her first three children, Rudolf, David and Betty. Have you ever visited? These 360-degree photos of Ellis Island help you "see" what our ancestors saw. You can feel like you are standing on the island. Thank you CAGGNI facebook page for giving me a heads up to pass this on to my family.

Imagine the thrill of seeing the welcoming Lady Liberty after weeks of being at sea. 
Imagine the fear knowing you will pass through these Ellis Island doors 
to be questioned and examined to be found worthy of entering.

click here to take  ▼

THE VIRTUAL TOUR OF ELLIS ISLAND

click here to read about  ▼

THE IMMIGRANTS JOURNEY

Happy Lief Erikson Day!

Today we celebrate the first Norsemen to arrive in North America, led by Lief Erikson. Lief was one of three sons of Erik the Red, born shortly before 1000 A.D. in Greenland, which his father Erik had colonized. Lief traveled to Norway and was converted to Christianity under the guidance of King Olaf I Tryggvason who had brought Christianity to Norway.  The King sent him home to spread Christianity across Greenland. His ships went off course and he landed in North America, Nova Scotia most likely. He named this new land "Vinland". He had arrived nearly five hundred years before the explorer Christopher Columbus. Although the exact location of "Vinland" is unknown the ruins of a Viking village with  thousands of Viking artifacts was discovered in 1963 in northern Newfoundland.

October 9th was chosen, not because it had any relationship to Lief Erikson (or just before Columbus Day) but it is the date that the ship "Restauration" left Norway for America in 1825, beginning Norwegian immigration to the United States.

Happy Lief Erikson Day!

- Ranae

The "Great Chicago Fire" started this day

On this day in 1871 the "Great Chicago Fire" destroyed more than half of the city, killed some 300 people and left 9,000 people homeless. The fire was famously blamed on Mrs. O'Leary's cow  but that has been debunked. The city was composed of mostly wooden structures, the air was dry and fires were almost a daily event in Chicago. The good news is that rebuilding Chicago caused an economic boom and a hugh increase in population that made Chicago a major player. Chicago's opportunity for work made her a prime draw for young immigrant men and women with the skills to help launch Chicago into the 20th century.

A Swede + A Norwegian = Me

 Today would have been the 66th anniversary of the marriage of my parents. My mother was 22 years old and my father was 33. My Dad, Mel, might have married earlier as he told me he had a girlfriend in his 20's  but life intervened, as it often does. Dad enlisted in the Army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and President Franklin Roosevelts declaration of war. His girlfriend? Well, Melvin was in France, part of the great Normandy invasion, marching across Europe towards their final destination Berlin and the girlfriend was home all alone. She found another. Home from the war in 1946 Dad spent the next year getting re-established, looking for a job, catching up with family and friends.

My Mom, Grace, was a quiet, sheltered, "Daddy's girl". The only daughter, she was adored and very close to her "Pa", my grandfather Paul. Sunday nights they would  attend various Sunday evening services together, possibly stopping for a bite on the way to a particular church. As much as Pa loved their closeness and outings together, Grace was now twenty and he worried she should find a nice Christian husband. She, however, was shy and seemed content to be at Pa's side.

Sitting in a predominantly Swedish church one Sunday night he asked her, "What kind of man would you like to meet? Do you ever see a type that interests you?" Perhaps she had already been looking because to Pa's surprise she immediately pointed toward the church choir. "See that one, not so tall, smiling, with the very blue eyes and blond hair? I wish I had a boyfriend like that."

Pa hatched a plan. The next few Sunday evenings they attended the same church. Before services one evening he pointed out another young lady attending. "Grace, do you see that girl there? That is the sister of the blond fellow in the choir. She comes with her brother on the streetcar to church every Sunday. When she goes to the ladies room, you follow her. Start a conversation with her, ask her where she lives and offer her a ride home because you and your father are going that way. She, of course, will say she is with her brother. You then, very off-hand say, that's okay we have room for him also."

Melvin Carl Kallman and Grace Gunhild Sevald married in the Philadelphia Church 

on 5437 N. Clark street in Chicago, Illinois on October 1, 1949

The maid of honor on Grace's right? Of course it is my Aunt Ebba, the sister who needed a ride.

Happy Anniversary October 1, 1949!

- Ranae

**clicking on photos will enlarge them for easier viewing**

Little Norway Building goes home to Norway

Little Norway is gone forever.
Just a short ride from Chicago, approximately 5 miles northwest north of Mt Horeb Wisconsin on county highway JG a quaint little attraction called Little Norway stood. 

"Operated by the same family since 1937, the quaint attraction had, over the years, drawn thousands of visitors, who came to walk in the gardens, peek into the small museum of Norwegian artifacts or take a tour led by guides in traditional Norwegian dress.

The half-dozen original log cabin buildings on the property had been erected in the mid-1800s by a Norwegian immigrant farmer, who built them, according to Norwegian tradition, on a south-facing slope to catch the warmth of the sun. Each building had been meticulously restored and furnished with Norwegian antiques and artwork.

Lars Soelberg, left, and Ansgar Selst help dismantle a dragon from the roof of the Norway Building in Blue Mounds, Wis., on Sept. 9, 2015. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) (Picasa)

The most striking feature of the property was no doubt the Norway Building, which stood on the hillside overlooking the valley. With its gabled roof topped by dragons, and ornate shingles crafted to look like reptilian scales, the building gave the secluded property a sense of enchantment, and made a visit feel like stepping into the pages of a fairy tale.

Commissioned by Norwegian officials for the World's Fair, it had been built as a symbol of cultural pride and patterned after the stave churches that, in the Middle Ages, dotted the rugged Norwegian landscape."***

               Wikipedia photo

               Wikipedia photo

I have been to Little Norway. It was a lovely place with Norwegian buildings and artifacts and guides dressed in Norwegian costumes. It is a loss to those of us of Norwegian Heritage in the Midwest who may never have the chance to see the beautiful and impressive stave churches and architecture of Norway. But it is for the best as now this lovely building, falling into disrepair, will be saved in Norway.

*** CLICK TO SEE THE NORWAY BUILDING HEADS HOME  

a continuation of the above article by Colleen Mastony  at the Chicago Tribune

- Ranae

1924-Dagmar comes to America

In January of 1924, Dagmar began the journey to join Paul. She took the 3 hour train ride to Oslo alone. Their baby Gerd had died just 2 weeks prior.

Dagmar also took the Bergensfjord to New York Harbor. She was very proud of the fact that she traveled second class. By sending Dagmar a more expensive second-class ticket Paul was assuring that Dagmar would not have to go through Ellis Island proper. She was questioned and examined right on the Bergensfjord, but not as vigorously and she was allowed to disembark directly to the dock with the first class passengers.  

Line #9: Sevaldsen, Dagmar, 23 yrs old, female, married, housewife, can read and write Norwegian, country of origin Norway, race Scandinavian, last permanent residence Skien, family member in home country is father Nils Gundersen Aas. Vinjesgate 14 Skien, destination Chicago Illinois, ticket to final destination paid by husband Paul Sevaldsen 5028 Sawyer Chicago, Ill who is her contact in the U.S., has $25,  is not returning home, plans to stay in the U.S. permanently with intention of becoming a citizen, good health, 5'3", fair complexion, dark hair and brown eyes, no identifying marks, born in Eidanger Norway

Paul met her at the dock and together they took the train to their new home Chicago.

                                          **clicking on photos or documents will enlarge them for easier viewing**

1923-Paul comes to America through Ellis Island

From the moment they married Paul made it clear that his dream was America. In the page "Paul's ancestral home Stuskin" I told how Pauls father, Anders Sevaldsen, had thrown away Paul's future. Paul had an aunt who had gone to Chicago earlier, Dagmar's uncle had also settled in Chicago. Chicago was a busy, growing city, ripe with opportunities for hard-working young men and women. There was also a good size Norwegian population in Chicago at that time.The industrial revolution was in full gear and Paul, a machinist, saw a future there for himself and his young family.    The Encyclopedia of Chicago History tells the story of Norwegians in Chicago.

Like many others, Paul left first for the U.S. with the intention of settling into a job and place to live and sending back the money he made for the emigration of his family. He traveled 3 hours by train to Oslo.

In Oslo Paul boarded the "Bergensfjord" for the trip to America. He traveled third class, what used to be termed steerage but now in the1920's even third class was a much nicer trip that the trip that earlier emigrants endured. As you can see by the photos, the ship was nicely equipped, clean and safe. In fact the Bergensfjord and its sister ships the Stavangerfjord and the Oslofjord advertised in both Norway and America catering to not only Norwegian emigrants but those who wished to return to Norway either permanently or for a family visit or to Americans who wished to vacation in Scandinavia. The Bergensfjord would eventually become a luxury cruise ship. Not only was the trip over the Atlantic much shorter and more pleasant than it had been for the early emigrants, it also was much cheaper.

This would be the type of cabin that Paul would have traveled in, sharing with three other men. Above passengers stroll the deck of the Bergensfjord on a pleasant, not too cool day.

Paul arrived at Ellis Island 1 August 1923. First and second class passengers and those passengers who were not immigrants deported directly in New York. Immigrants stayed on the boat for an additional few hours or many hours (depending how busy the Ellis Island officials were) and were then taken by smaller ferry boats to Ellis Island proper where they were questioned and inspected for health issues.

Line #7 Sevaldsen, Paul, 28 yrs. old, male, married, occupation mechanic, can read and write Norwegian, country of origin Norway, race Scandinavian, last permanent residence Gjerpen, Norway, family member in home country is wife Dagmar Sevaldsen Strømdal pr. Skien, has a ticket to his final destination paid by self, has $20, never been to U.S. before, going to join friend; Mathilde Wenneberg 5028 Sawyer Chicago, is not returning home, plans to stay in the U.S. permanently with intention of becoming a citizen, good health, 5'3" fair complexion, blond hair & blue eyes, no distinguishing marks, born in Kragerø, Norway

At Ellis Island, after being admitted to the United States Paul and his two traveling companions, Tomas and Einar were directed to the train station that would bring them to Chicago. 

Paul sent home picture postcards from Chicago for his wife and baby Gerd to show how well he was doing and how rich everyone was in America. The outfits were rented at the photography studio. He actually lived in a basement apartment. The Salvation Army gave him a bed, rug and chair. He worked nights in a Chicago brewery. He never did become rich but Paul never did regret his decision. He loved America and became a citizen as soon as he could and changed his name from Sevaldsen to Sevald to "sound more American".

My 30th great grandfather is Harald Fairhair, First King of Norway......NOT.

◄ HARALD HÅRFAGRE (FAIRHAIR) c.850-c.932


When I first began my genealogical journey I, like many other "newbies", was thrilled that it seemed so easy. I was lucky in that I knew exactly what town in Norway my ancestors had come from and knew their names back 3 or 4 generations. In fact I had visited, and met great aunts, second cousins etc. in Norway that verified those names. Then came the internet. Whoo-hoo! can you believe it? Others on the internet had done all the work for me! They had online trees that went beyond census records and written parish records, beyond the scourge of the "Black Death" that had wiped out close to a third of the Norwegian population and back to Viking days! Quickly I attached the various findings to my family tree. And as they say on late night TV commercials: But Wait There's More! Another fellow had done a family tree that traced his family to Adam himself! And, glory be, we had a common ancestor a few generations back. Not only was Harald Fairhair my 30th great grandfather but Adam was my something like 153rd great grandfather. No mention of Eve though. You would think if he was bold enough to trace himself back to Adam he would at the least give Eve equal credit?


I soon learned about sources, citations and come on already......common logic finally set in. I started again and I do love you Norway for making your census' and parish records available. But a bit of time was wasted. Should a friend or relative show an interest in Norwegian genealogy I will in the future direct them to this really great article I have just recently read. It gives some great straightforward advice on beginning Norwegian genealogy and points out how we are most likely not related to a specific Viking King, or even if the possibility exists it cannot be proven.

Here it is:

WHY YOUR NORWEGIAN ANCESTOR PROBABLY WASN'T A VIKING KING

Just for giggles I did save that crazy "Fun Family Tree". Every now and then it is fun to think I was the 29th cousin twice removed of Diana Spencer. However with my documented tree I actually find greater pleasure and pride in the strength and perseverance of mainly husmann (cotter), tømmerman (carpenter), sjømann (sailor) and hustru (housewive) ancestors, who were all necessary for me to be me.

Norwegian and Proud

"Don't forget who you are" is the phrase my grandmother and mother frequently used on us kids. As a source of pride in one sense. We were Americans, we were Christians, we were Norwegian, we were something special. But it went the other way too. "Did you forget who you are?" We were acting badly, selfishly, pridefully. Two biggest activities frowned on by Norwegian-Americans it would seem were complaining and bragging. And that's that. I would guess that most every Norwegian-American is familiar with Hägar the Horrible. I saw this cartoon on a Norwegian facebook page today and it hit the mark. I framed and hung it right over my computer next to my Norwegian family genealogy notebooks. If you have even a drop of Norwegian blood you'll "get it".

-Ranae

Hägar the Horrible, a King Features Syndicate created by cartoonist Dik Browne (1917-1989)

Wikipedia - Hägar the Horrible

Norwegian Heritage Center: LIVSREISE (Life's Journey)

Last May I attended the Syttende Mai (Norwegian Constitution Day) festivities in Stoughton Wisconsin. My German-born husband I know would have taken me but I also know he would not have enjoyed it, nor would I have enjoyed it as fully as I did when I went with a new-found friend also of Norwegian ancestry.  Get out of here, it was a riot! I for sure will go next year and tell you about it but for now you must know about THE BEST.

I went to the grand opening of the Norwegian Heritage Center: LIVSREISE (Life's Journey) newly built in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Stoughton was settled by Norwegians who came there at the end of the 19th century. They have a wonderful interactive display of what the journey must have been like. Although my Norwegian family arrived a bit later, during the 1920's and landed in Chicago, much of what they offered was of great interest to me. They also had a bank of computers in a Genealogy Center. It operates in conjunction with the Norwegian American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library with direct access to their databases. Free no less! You don't see that very often.

Even if you are, like me, 1-2 hours ride away, check it out, it is SO WELL WORTH THE RIDE.

click► LIVSREISE (Life's Journey) Norwegian Heritage Center

277 W. Main Street Stoughton, Wisconsin 53589

T: (608) 873-7567  E: Marg@norwegianheritagecenter.org 

-Ranae

Dedicated to Dagmar

Not long ago I read that each of us will have on average ten great grandchildren. Only two of those great grandchildren will even know what our name was.



She was born on a small farm in Eidanger, Norway on which her family had been crofters since the mid 1600's. She had only a fifth grade education after which she worked as a cook on her fathers boat. She lost her first true love and married a man on the rebound "because he could dance and he had a car". His dream was "Amerika".  He left for America, worked hard and sent home money and two pre-paid tickets for his family to join him. She buried their first child in a paupers grave and two weeks later took a three hour train ride alone to Kristiania where she boarded a boat for America. She expected never to see her mother, father, brothers or sisters again. She arrived almost two weeks later at Ellis Island New York. She spoke no English. She prayed that her husband would be there when she arrived. . She had twenty five dollars pinned to her underskirts, one small suitcase, a train ticket and a tag tied to her coat that read "Chicago".



I want her descendants to know her name and more importantly, who she was.
She was Dagmar Gundersen Sevald from Skien, Telemark Norway.

Dagmar, was my mother's mother. She had black curly hair and brown laughing eyes. She was not very tall but amply built. A joyous positive woman of strong faith and spirit who never passed up a chance to tell you exactly what she thought or believed. She made me feel safe, special and loved. Before she died I visited her, living again in her beloved Norway, three times. She shared with me the stories and pictures of her life and that of our family. My interest in family history and genealogy had begun. I have dedicated all my family research to her. "Don't forget who you are" she would say. Don't worry Grandma, I won't.