The Anne and Svend Tolstad Family

 

This is Anne and Svend Tolstad and family, Anne was the sister of my great grandfather Anders Sevaldsen. She and her husband Svend, who was a teacher, had two daughters, Karen and Sigrun.

Anders wife, died in 1909 of childbed fever. His seven young children were now motherless. Anders quickly remarried and his new wife agreed to keep 2 of the younger children. The others were farmed out to family members to help work their farms. Magda, my grandfather's sister, is pictured in the middle. She spoke of a happy loving childhood with her beloved aunt and uncle, Anne and Svend. She was the luckiest of the siblings. Or so she said.

Magda would immigrate to the U.S. as my grandfather did. She married and had three children there, but ultimately returned to Verdal, Norway where she remembered a happy childhood.

Earlier extended family immigrate to the U.S.

 My grandmother emigrated from Norway in 1924, Members of her family had emigrated far earlier. 

My 4th great grandparents, Ole Gundersen 1775-1860 & Karen Halvorsdatter, had ten children. As often happened in the past, only 3 would reach adulthood. Four sons to inherit the farm had passed. Three of the six girls remained; Aaste Helene, Joanne Elisabeth and Karen Oline. Aaste, the oldest child never married. Johanne, the eighth child and her husband Nils Jensen, my third great grandparents, inherited the right to work the farm Øvald. Karen, the baby? She married but unfortunately her husband died young. She remarried and she, her husband and children left for America in 1863. They settled in Michigan.

Here is a lovely photo of four of Karen's grandaughters. I found this on Ancestry.com posted by a DNA cousin.

Anna Oleson Lee  1877-1920

Jessie Oleson Hood  1883-1955

Mabel Oleson  1884-1974

Louise Oleson  1875-1951

  I do love those upswept hairdos, Louise however could use a do-over.

1920 Norwegian Census - Paul Sevaldsen in Skien, Norway

In 1920 my grandfather Paul is working in Skien Norway as a chauffeur. My grandmother is working in Oslo where she recently went after the breakup with her boyfriend Harald. 

Harald and Paul were friends and Paul now confided to Harald that he was interested in the dark-haired Dagmar. Harald, still mad, said "fine with me, you can have her". Paul then went to Oslo to find Dagmar.

Paul and Dagmar soon returned to Skien together. They married in 1922.

The story of Dagmar and Harald can be found HERE

Frogner Park | Vigeland Sculpture Park Oslo Norway

Frogner Park. Just beautiful, if ever in Oslo you must visit. I did!

Maren Eliasdatter Stene

 My grandfather, Paul, immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century. He no doubt had the "Amerika fever" as did many of his family before him. The mid 19th century saw many, many of my Norwegian family coming to the United States for a better life.

 My 4X removed cousin, Maren Eliasdatter, married John Johnsen in 1862. They and their two boys, John and Christopher, left Verdal Nord-Trøndelag and immigrated to Grant county Minnesota. The couple had another boy in Minnesota, Anneus (Andrew).

John Johnsen Stene 1830-1885, Maren Eliasdatter 1832-1888
Anneus Edward Stene 1872-1960

In Minnesota the family dropped their patronymic names and took on the name of their farm in Norway. The farm Stene. This photo is in the collection of my 5th cousin, a DNA match!

1920 Norwegian Census - Dagmar Gundersen in Oslo Norway

 The 1920 Norwegian Census is the latest that is released to the public. Here I find my grandmother Dagmar working as househelp in the home of Thorvald Richardt the "director of the research council". I am not sure what that title entails but it sounds impressive doesn't it? She is working in Kristiania (now known as Oslo). The story Grandma told me was that a friend of hers from her home town was working in Oslo and told her she could get her a good job there if she wished. She had had a fight with her boyfriend Harald and stomped off to Oslo in defiance. Harald's friend, my future grandfather Paul, followed her there and the rest is history.