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

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.

1950 US Census - Mel and Grace Kallman in Chicago, Illinois

My parents were married in 1949 and in this census I find them as a young married couple. And me? I was their firstborn but in 1950 I was not even yet "a twinkle in my father's eye".

Chicago, Cook, Illinois 

822 N. Lavergne 2nd floor apartment

line 5: Kallman, Melvin, head of household, white, male, 33, born in Illinois, married, worked 40 hours last week as a floor sander for a retail department store

line 6: Kallman, Grace, wife, white, female, 23, married, born in Illinois

  Hardly a pair of fashionistas were they? 

  Dad, really? socks and shoes on the beach?

      Love you both,

1950 U.S. Census - Paul Sevald Family in Chicago, Illinois

 In the U.S., to protect the privacy of individual citizens, by law census records are not released until 72 years have passed. This year, 2022, the 1050 census was released to the public.

April 4, 1950 my grandparents, Paul and Dagmar Sevald are living in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Their address is 2420 N. California. My uncle Arnold is still at home while my mother Grace has married just six months earlier.

• line 8 Sevald, Paul, head, white, male, 55, married, born in Norway, naturalized citizen, worked 40 hours in the last week, machinist in a tool and die shop

• line 9 Sevald, Dagmar, wife, white, female, 49, married, born in Norway, naturalized citizen, worked 40 hours in the last week, assembler in a radio factory

• line 10 Sevald, Arnold, son, white, male, 24, never married, born in Illinois, worked 40 hours last week, assistant supervisor, paper mill

It is good to note how many people are now working as opposed to the 1940 census which was done during the "Great Depression" and pre U.S. entry in WWII. 

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

1801 Norwegian National Census - Peder Rasmussen Family of Garnes, Verdal, Nord Trøndelag

In the Norwegian National Census of 1801 is recorded the residents of the 

farm Garnes in Verdal, Nord Trøndelag, Norway.

Peder's wife, Agnes Olsdatter, had died 4 years earlier. Five years after this census was taken Peder and his children Kiersti, Rasmus and Lars were brutally murdered in their beds. His son Ole survived the murder attempt with  severe injuries. Kiersti's infant daughter Anne, asleep in her crib, was not harmed. She was to be my 3X great grandmother. In an earlier post I told the story of the

                                                → GARNESMORDET (Garnes Murders).

my 5th great grandfather 

Peder Rasmussen Garnes

b: 12 Mar 1752 Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

d: 29 July 1806 Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

my 4th great grandmother

Kiersti Pedersdatter Garnes

b: 1785 Garnes, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

d: 29 July 1806 Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

my 3rd great grandmother

Anne Olsdatter Skavhaug

b: 4 May 1806 Garnes, Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

d: 29 May 1895 Stuskin,Verdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

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

1900 Norwegian National Census - Ole Helleksen Family

Norwegian National Census 1900
Eidanger, Telemark, Norway
the farm Røra

Ole and Hanna are my second great grandparents. Ole was born in Bø and all of the rest of the family were born right here in Eidanger where we now find them in 1900. Son Gotfred is married to Kirstine and they have two children of their own. Their daughter Gunhild Marie (my great grandmother) is already married and also living in Eidanger on a different farm. She is on the farm Øvald with her husband Nils Gundersen (my great grandfather) and her first two children, one of whom is my grandmother Dagmar.

Oles occupation is listed as "Arbeider-isarbeide". Google translate was no help so I turned to a Facebook Norwegian group for help. A very kind lady, Mette Fausko, submitted this explanation...

"Before electric refrigerators and freezers became common, the Norwegian winter cold ice production 

was a flourishing business. Ice was of course particularly sought after in warmer countries, 

and large blocks of ice were transported by ship from Norway to even as far as including Spain. 

In 1898, Norway was the world's largest exporters of ice. Here's what a Ice works did."

Ole and his son Gotfred were ice cutters!

our Great Great Grandparents

Ole Helleksen

b. 12 February 1842 Bø, Telemark, Norway

d. 21 October 1904 Eidanger, Telemark, Norway

Hanna Matea Gunuldsdatter

b. 22 August 1848 Eidanger, Telemark, Norway

d. 3 November 1902 Eidanger, Telemark, Norway

1801 Census - Wærdahlen, Nord Tröndelag

This is the Norwegian National Census of 1801. Wærdahlen is an older spelling of Verdal, which is in Nord-Trøndelag. This is the farm Stueskind which is alternately and at different times also spelled Stuskin or Stubskin.

Norwegian National Census the Digitalarkivet
click for online photo of original 1801 Stueskind census

• Jacob Anderssen-husband-40 years old-married for the first time-occupation farmer-male

• Bereth Rasmuthsdatter-his wife-51 years old-married for the first time-female

• Anders Jacobssen-their child-14 years old-unmarried-male

• Ingebor Jacobsdatter-their child-11years old-unmarried-female

• Urich Jenssen-tenant worker-30 years old-unmarried-male

• Ele Olsdatter-tenant worker-43 years old-unmarried-female

• Sivert Joenssen-man-47 years old-married for the first time-cotter with farm area-male

• Ele Rasmusdatter-his wife-46 years old-married for first time-female

• Arent Olssen-tenant-8 years old-male

Jacob and Bereth are my 4X great grandparents. Jacob is a farmer and owns the farm Stuskin.

Sivert and his wife are cotters, sort of like tenant farmers who are given a small plot of land for personal use. They would owe the owner a predetermined  yearly amount, in work hours or proceeds from their farmed area. The others are tenant workers.

Anders is my 3X great grandfather. As the oldest son he will someday take over the farm. His son, Sevald Andersen. my 2X great grandfather is noted on the 1865 National Census running the farm with his father and mother retired and living/ supported by the farm.

1865 Norwegian National Census - Three generations of Stubskind family

The Norwegian National Census of 1865 was a lucky one for me in finding ancestors. Census records are the first go-to source for the family researcher. Unfortunately, in Norway, the earlier countrywide census was taken in 1801. From 1801 to 1865 is a long time and people could die fairly young back in the day. Often a whole generation was lost and the gap could be hard to jump.

Værdalen (an older spelling of Verdal), Nord-Trøndelag, Norway.
This is the family farm, Stubskind østre, of my maternal grandfather's family. Three generations of the family!

my great grandfather

Anders Sevaldsen 

1863-aft 1915

my great great grandparents

Sevald Andersen

1818-1900

Karen Maria Oldsdatter

1828-1896

my great great great grandparents

Anders Jakobsen

1787-1875

Anne Martha Sevaldsdatter

1795-1870

A great find in just one census record. Another reason to love the Norwegians? (and there are plenty) Norway digitizes, transcribes and posts their archival information on the internet, available to all and for free, Much is available in an English translation. ↓ 

THE DIGITALARKIVET - NORWEGIAN NATIONAL ARCHIVES (English version)

Thank you Norway!

1910 Norwegian National Census - Paul Sevaldsen in Verdal, Nord Trøndelag

1910 - my grandfather Paul is working as farm labor on the farm Stubskind Østre in Værdalen, Nord Trøndelag, Norway. Why did grandpa Paul emigrate to America? One of the factors involved in his decision to leave Norway becomes evident here, in this census.

*click to enlarge for easier viewing* 

Paul's paternal uncle Ole is the owner and head of the farm. Uncle Ole lives with his wife Oline Halvorsdatter, his sons Sevald, Harald and Olav and his daughters Margit and Gudlaug. The older sons Sevald and Harald are 16 and 17 ( same age as my grandfather Paul) and are also listed as farm workers.

Here's the rub. 

Paul is listed only by his first and middle name, NOT Sevaldsen. Paul's father Anders,  as the oldest son, by Norwegian custom should have inherited this farm after the death of his father, Sevald Andersen, who died in 1900. Anders denied his heritage to become a missionary for the Seventh Day Adventists. See the "fl" after the place of Paul's birth? That symbolizes him as a lodger who is related to the owner of the farm. A lodger. The farm went to Ander's younger brother Ole. Ole's son Sevald will in turn inherit the farm after him.  Paul, due to the choices of his zealot father, will get nothing.

1865 Norwegian National Census - Øvald, Eidanger, Telemark

This census shows my 3rd great grandparents Nils Jensen and Johanne Olsdatter and their family. They live on Øvald, considered the family farm and occupied by my family since the mid 1600's. Johanne is the seventh generation on the farm. The farm is actually a small part of the Prestegaarden or priests property, owned by the Norwegian State church. Their oldest son, Gunder Nilsen, will inherit the right to farm Øvald. Gunder and Marthe Marie are my 2nd great grandparents. My great grandfather, Nils, will be born in 1875, ten years after this census.

CLICK HERE to view the online census

Nils and Johanne were known for their entertaining/party skills. I do not know if this was a side job to earn some extra money or they just enjoyed having family and friends over.

My 3rd great grandparents:

Nils Jensen 1812-1897

Johanne Elisabeth Olsdatter 1809-1884

(click on documents or pictures to enlarge for easier viewing)

1910 Norwegian National Census - Nils Gundersen Family 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

1940 US Census - The Sevald Family Chicago, Illinois

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*

1900 Norwegian National Census - Øvald Family 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**

1900 Norwegian National Census - Anders Sevaldsen Family 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.

***note of 20 February 2025 - Ten years later I have found many more ancestors of my grandfather Paul. This census record however was a great start!

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)