Census Sunday - 1910 Norwegian National Census - Gjerpen, Telemark, Norway

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

The Nils Gundersen, Gunhild Marie Olsdatter Family
(my maternal grandmothers parents)

This is the most recent census that Norway has released to the public.

• The family now has adopted the surname of Gundersen. The days of patronymics are over. Where my grandmother Dagmar was noted in the 1900 census as Dagmar Nilsdatter, she now is called Dagmar Gundersen. The family has adopted as their surname, Gundersen, which was the patronymic of Nils, the head of the family.

• The family is no longer in the small village of Eidanger but in Gjerpen. They have been living here since at least 1904 as my great aunt Hanna is the first family member born in Gjerpen. Nils has built a house for his growing family for which I have documentation which states they moved there in 1909. I know the house is in Skien, apparently Gjerpen was incorporated into the larger city of Skien some time after 1910.

• My great grandfather Nils is no longer a sailor or "somand" but is now a"Skibskaptein" or ship captain. I know he captained a boat going up and down the Telemarken canal, however I do not know if he has that particular position at present.

• There are now 5 children in the family Gudrun, Dagmar (my grandmother), Hanna, Solveig and Finn. Two more boys, Rolf and Oddvar will be born in the next few years

Dagmar's Stories - Harald

remembering one of the many stories my grandmother Dagmar shared with me

No, Harald is no relation, but his story and the love story of Dagmar and Harald is part of our family story. If not for Harald, Dagmar would not have met Paul and well, you know.

This photo sat on grandma Dagmars end table in Norway. I vaguely remember also seeing it in her home in Chicago. My mother had told me it was most likely a picture of Dagmar and her brother Finn and probably she kept it to remember him as he had died young in Norway.

It was perhaps 1988 or 1989 that on a visit to Norway, at her insistence, we were going over her photos. I would question her as to the date, place and name and then write in pencil the information on the back of the photo. "In this picture I was maybe 19. It was taken in our yard at our home in Skien. We were having a little party for my sister Hanna, she was being confirmed. That guy must be Finn."  Wait a minute, wait a minute. Dagmar was born in 1900, therefore this photo was taken about 1919. That would follow as Hanna, born in 1904, would be 15/16, confirmation age. Finn, however was born in 1910. At this time he would have been only 9 going on 10. "Grandma, that's not Finn."

There is something special about the grandparent-grandchild relationship. I know that personally from my grandmother and from my grandchildren. There is an honesty and pure love. You can tell your grandmother things you would never tell your mother. And she tells you things she would never have told her daughter.

This is her story as I remember it.
"That is Harald, my first love. He was dark haired and handsome and he loved me too.  He was tall and thin, serious, and very very proud. In 1919 my family had a party to celebrate my sister Hanna's confirmation. I brought Harald. Now, my mother was a fun lady, always laughing and joking. "My, you are thin Harald, I hope you don't have TB!" she joked and then she and my sisters and I laughed. Harald did not laugh, he demanded an apology. I was also proud and would not apologise. The joke turned into a fight and neither of us would budge. I was going to show him! A friend in Oslo had previously offered to recommend me for a job. "I'm going, just try and stop me!"  "Go ahead, who cares", he replied. I went so far as to pack a bag and marched to the train station, sure he would follow. The train came. He didn't come. I left for Oslo. You see we were both so proud. I am sure if I had gone to him or he had come to me, we would be together today. But it was more important to me to be right. I am still right but what does it matter? I lost him that day.

Harald's good friend was Paul. Paul was short, not very good looking but lots of fun. He went to Harald and told him that he had always liked me and asked his permission to try to see me but only if he had Harald's approval. Harald was still mad. You can have her, he said. Paul followed me to Oslo and I guess you know the rest."

"But Grandma", I asked "didn't you love Grandpa?" Her reply, "Oh of course I loved him, he was a good husband and a good father, the man I believe the Lord meant for me to marry, but......not the way I loved Harald." "Then why did you marry him?" I asked. Her answer stunned me.
"He could dance and he had a car."

just so you know
I never heard my grandparents call each other by their first names. It was always Pa and Ma. I also never saw my grandmother cry, she was strong.  Except once. The day my grandfather died grandma sat at our kitchen table and cried. No, she sobbed, great gulping sobs. In between the sobs she cried out "Oh, Paul, Oh Paul."

Harald never married.


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

Anders Sevaldsen born January 21, 1863

Today is the day of the birth of my great grandfather Anders Sevaldsen. He was my grandfather Paul's father. Anders was born January 21, 1863 in Verdal, Nord Trondelag, Norway. He was baptised into the Norwegian state church March 22 of the same year. He was born on the farm Stuskin, the firstborn son of Sevald Andersen. The farm had been in his family from the time of his great-grandfather Jacob Andersen-Stuskin. As the firstborn he was in line to inherit the rights to the family farm. At some point he became a convert to the Seventh Day Adventist Movement in Norway. August 20, 1885 he denounced his baptism in the church of Norway and was baptised Seventh Day Adventist. He became a missionary for the church. He also turned his back on his rights as the firstborn son and the family farm went to his brother Ole. Ole's family and descendants live on that property to this day. I never knew the man nor did my grandfather ever speak of him. At least not to me. My grandmother said her father in law was a religious zealot who was quite cruel to his children. I don't know if he was on good terms with his extended family or not. I did meet his youngest daughter. My great aunt Stina was the half sister of my grandfather and spoke well of her father. She was very proud of him and his religious work. She said he was one of the first to baptize adults in Norway. I have no clue as to when he died, only that it was some time after 1915. Although I guess I should be thankful to him for the gift of my grandfather, who was a wonderful Christian man, I resent that he cheated my grandfather out of the inheritance that should have been his (my grandfather was HIS firstborn son). And even though I acknowledge that his times, culture and thoughts on raising children were quite different from mine I cannot forgive him for beating on my grandfather as a little boy. He deserved better.

Dagmar's stories - stolen by the gypsies

remembering one of the many stories my grandmother Dagmar shared with me

Dagmar is stolen by the Gypsies

My grandmother referred to herself as a "Black Norwegian", a term that puzzled me. I guess it is an old phrase for those that are not the more common blond/blued eyed variety. Knowing what I now know about DNA and the history of Norway it makes more sense to me. Norway is very mountainous and the vast majority of Norwegians live on or near the coasts of Norway. For many men their life was the sea. From Viking times on Norwegian men went to their ships. The ships went out to sea to fish, to other countries to trade (or loot), and as now (and always) wherever men went they left their DNA behind. Or brought a dark-haired lovely home to raise their children in Norway.

I have traced Dagmar's line in Norway back to the mid-1600's. She was solid Norwegian. Her eyes were brown and her hair black and curly. She was a "Black Norwegian".

Great Grandmother Gunhild with
blond Gudrun and dark Dagmar

When Dagmar was three her mother sent her and her sister, five year old Gudrun, out to play. When she shortly went to check on them Dagmar was gone. Gudrun told her "the gypsies took Dagmar". Her mother took Gudrun and ran to the local police. There was a gypsy camp just a bit outside their town. The Sheriff took them in a wagon out to the camp. There Dagmar was playing happily with the gypsy children. Now, my great grandmother, Gunhild had strawberry blond hair and Gudrun was blond and blue eyed. "Look at her," said the gypsies pointing to my grandmother Dagmar, "she is dark and beautiful like us, not pale and ugly like that child. She belongs to us." The sheriff was not fooled. My great grandfather Nils was a friend of his. Nils was a sailor and out to sea but the sheriff knew. Nils was a "Black Norwegian".

1940 US Census Chicago, Illinois - The Sevald Family

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

1940 US Census - Chicago, Illinois - The Sevald Family: Paul, Dagmar, Arnold and Grace

lines 24, 25, 26 and 27  These are my grandparents Paul and Dagmar Sevald and their children. My uncle Arnold and mother, Grace.

*The family lives at 2432 Harding Ave. and have since at least 1935. This is good considering the depression. The family remains in what was a predominantly Scandinavian immigrant neighborhood (Logan Square). They no longer have boarders living with them. Although the children are now in their teens and need more "space" I would think if finances were still tight boarders would be a necessity to keep their apartment.

*Arnold and Grace are 14 and 13. They are both in the 7th grade. I had expected to see Arnold in the 8th grade at this age since he will be 15 in Sept. He may have been left behind a grade or as was common with immigrant children their parents enrolled them both in school together. My mother had told me that she spoke no English until she went to school. Both are still in school which is encouraging. The depression had not made it necessary for them to find work at this young age for the family to survive.

*Paul and Dagmar had both finished 8th grade in their education. It is marked that Paul gave the answers for the family so it may be possible that he finished 8th grade but I don't know. His mother died when he was 14 and he may have been schooled until that time but my grandmother told me she quit school at 12 (very common for the times in Norway) to serve as a cook for the crew on her fathers boat.

*Paul is now a naturalized American but Dagmar is not. She will become an American during WWII which was very common for immigrants who had procrastinated in the past. During wartime they became citizens as a form of solidarity or "proving" loyalty and fidelity to their new home. The women immigrants in particular I have seen became citizens during WWII. Perhaps in support of their sons who were serving?

*Paul works as a mechanic (machinest) in a printing factory and worked 44 weeks of the year. I am sure he did not vacation for 8 weeks. Most likely layoff due to the depression. It states Dagmar did not work except in her home but she told me and also Uncle Arnold told me that she took domestic type work on and off to help. I am guessing not so different from today, immigrant women working "under the table" for cash at less than the prevailing wage.

*Paul earned $1585 in his work. A pittance today but seems in line with his neighbors in the area.

Unfortunately the 1950 US census will not be available to the public until 2022. I expect to see a phenomenal difference in the lives of my family during that time. Children will both be grown and married. My uncle will have served in the Navy. The country as a whole will have changed a LOT, pulling out of the depression to WWII and then post-war recovery and boom. 

Can't wait to see it.

*click on documents or photos to enlarge for easier reading"

1910 US Census Chicago, Illinois - Lauritz Severin Gundersen - Louis Gunderson

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

Lauritz Severin Gundersen 1882-1970

1910 US Census for Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Lauritz Severin Gundersen

Lauritz Severin Gundersen was the brother of my great grandfather Nils Gundersen. I found him in the Norwegian National Census of 1900. He was living on the family farm Øvald, unmarried, with his father, sister and his brother Nils (my great grandfather) and Nils wife and 2 daughters, one of whom was my infant grandmother. In the Norwegian 1910 census the family farm had been sold, the family scattered. But, where was Lauritz? After a futile search of the Norwegian records it occurred to me....America!

Here I found him, in Chicago.

*US Federal Census - Chicago Ward 27, Cook, Illinois; 

Roll:T624_269; Page 7B; Enumeration District 1173; microfilm 1374282*

* Lauritz Gundersen head of household - He still uses his Norwegian form of name but will later be known as Louis and Gundersen will become Gunderson.

*He has married, Karin and now has 3 small children; George, Alice and Lucile

*He immigrated in 1900 (about the time the family farm was sold), further research shows it to be 1901.

*He lived in Minnesota initially as his son George was born there but has been in Chicago for 3 years

*He owns his own home at 3645 N. Richmond St, mortgaged but whose isn't?

*He is a carpenter in the building industry, working steadily

*He speaks English and can read and write

*He has started the paperwork to become an American citizen

In those 10 years he had found a wife, a family, a home, an occupation...and on his way to becoming an American.

*click on document to enlarge for easier viewing*