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 NORWEGIAN GENEALOGY
 Norwegians in America
 From Lier, Norway to Leer, Alpena Co., Michigan
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kjenter
Starting member

USA
21 Posts

Posted - 20/10/2005 :  00:31:04  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I just started Norwegian research on my mom’s maternal side. I have been doing German surname research on my dad’s lines for about 15 years I know quite of few names and dates on mom’s maternal line, but can’t go back very far on mom’s paternal line. We descend from the 5 original Norwegian families who left Lier, Buskerud, Norway in the 1860’s and settled in Leer, Alpena Co., Michigan.
I am missing dates, sibling and I am sure more lines. I wonder if anyone recognizes the names I have listed below. I have also shown farm names. I don’t speak or read Norwegian.

Karen JENTER
Michigan

My great grandmother:
Karen Ottersen
Born 7 Dec 1848 Lier farm name is Kopperud
Died 29 Aug 1933 Leer, Alpena Co, Alpena MI
Married 02 May 1879 Norwegian Lutheran Church, Alpena MI
Spouse Martin Olesen (see his stats below)

Karen’s father:
Otter Olesen
Born 1 Jun 1821 Lier farm name is Kopperud
Died 11 Jan 1894 Alpena, Alpena, Michigan
Otter and his 3 wives had about 12 children

Karen’s mother wife of Otter:
Aderina Olsdt
Born 11 Mar 1819 farm name Svangstand
Died 08 Oct 1913 Leer, Alpena Co. Michigan

Otter Olesen’s father::
Ole Olsen
Born 9 May 1790 farm name Kopperud

Ole Olsen’s father
Ole Christensen
Born 1750 Lier farm name Overn

Ole Christensen’s father:
Kristen Rasmussen
Born not known probably Lier farm name is Gummerud

Here is another one
Ole Hansen born 17 Dec 1789 Lier farm name is Toverud


OK, this is my great grandfather
Martin Olesen
Born 1854 Lier don’t know day or month though, farm name Kopperud
Died 16 Feb 1923 Leer, Alpena Co., Michigan
That’s all the farther I can go back on Martin

Here is another family name
Ole Hansen born 17 Dec 1789 Lier farm name is Toverud

I have more family names and dates if anyone sees any connections


Holwell
Starting member

Norway
5 Posts

Posted - 20/10/2005 :  23:13:43  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hello Karen

I think I have found your family at Kopperud farm in "Liers Historie", but as I read it it is a litle confusion about the names you have listed here. I will take a trip to the libarary in Drammen and look it up, to see what is correct, yours or Liers Historie.

If it is the correct family, Karen is listed together with the siblings Kirstine, Thea and Christian.

I'll be back with more info in a couple of days.

Halvor

Halvor
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kjenter
Starting member

USA
21 Posts

Posted - 21/10/2005 :  00:38:40  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Halvor,
that is much appreciated, but please don't go out of your way. I am still learning the naming practices here and I may have the surnames mixed a bit. It seems that once they came to Michigan they adopted the more standard practice of surnames. I know the older brother of my Karen and her siblings was Otter I guess should be Ottersen, but he adapted and used Olesen whch has changed to Olsen.

I am sure that is my family. I believe Thea would be the Dorthea.

You know about a week or so ago, I read something. I cannot remember if it was here on this site or in an article in one of the genealogy magazines I subscribe to. It taked about farm names in Norway, and said something about there being not more than about 40 farms. And now, for the life of me, I cannot find where I read that.

I have searched the internet to see if I can find out some more on farms and their names, but I did not find much that was in English. Do you know where I might read about them in English???

I sure apreciate all of your wonderful help!!!!!

Karen Jenter
Michigan
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kjenter
Starting member

USA
21 Posts

Posted - 21/10/2005 :  00:49:41  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Halvor,
I thought I would send you a list of all of the siblings. Several of them died in infancy or within a few years of their birth. I believe all of the first ones were born in Kopperud. Some of them the info I had just says Norway and one of them showed the farm Gunnerud. Thanks again!!!!!

Karen
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kjenter
Starting member

USA
21 Posts

Posted - 21/10/2005 :  01:52:30  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Amost forgot, here is the list of siblings in the family.
Otter born 28 Oct 1844 Kopperud, Lier, Norway
Christian born 06 Oct 1846 Kopperud, Lier, Norway
Karen born 7 Dec 1848 Kopperud, Lier, Norway
Kristine Christine born 07 Nov 1851 Kopperud, Lier, Norway
Christian born 18 Aug 1853 Norway
Dorthea born 16 Aug 1855 Norway
Christian born 18 Jun 1857 Norway
Carl born 21 May 1859 Gunnerud, Lier, Norway
Christian born 1861 Norway
Annette bon 23 Apr 1864 Norway


Thanks

Karen
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Brining
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
868 Posts

Posted - 21/10/2005 :  03:55:13  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi I think Halvor may have confirmed a theory I have.
From Early Norwegian Settlements in Michigan
Alpena County, Michigan
"Isak Isaksen, an old sea captain from Egersund, was the first Norwegian here. He came here to Alpena City, which at that time consisted of 16 fisher cabins and a sawmill, in 1861. He fished there until his death - in 1896. Old Isaksen had sailed the Atlantic Ocean for 36 years. The next Norwegian settlers were Christ Hammer from Lillehammer, Ole Wilson from Valders as well as Gilbert, Erik and Otter Olsen from Lier, near Drammen.
In the Lier settlement, not far from Alpena City, Bernhard Enger, from Lier, was the first. The settlement's main products for sale are potatoes, milk, butter and eggs.
In Alpena County, there are 2 Norwegian churches and 3 congregations, both belonging to The United Church.
Otto Gjørud from Ringerike has been a magistrate in Alpena City.
In the Lier settlement, there is a post office by the name Leer (Lier)"

In the 1900 census for Alpine County there is an Audrine OTTERSON age 81 immigrated in 1872 living with OTTO OLSON she had 12 children 4 living.
In the 1865 census for Lier Click Here there is an Ole Otters. and Andrine Olsdtr.
My theory is Gilbert, Erik and Otter Olsen are the sons of Ole Otterson and Andrine Olsdtr. They emigrated to the US 1st and Ole and Andrine followed along with Karen?? (she is also listed in the 1900 census as immigrating in 1872).
Carla
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Brining
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
868 Posts

Posted - 21/10/2005 :  12:18:18  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi I haven't found anything to connect Eric and Gilbert Olsen as being part of this family so probably just had the same last name. I did find Ole, Andrine and family emigrating Click Here but Karen is not with them.
Carla
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Hopkins
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
3351 Posts

Posted - 21/10/2005 :  18:51:34  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
1900 US census for Alpena Co., Michigan lists Martin Olson as born Dec 1854 in Norway, immigrated 1876?. Wife Karen married for 21 yrs, mother of 7 (5 still living), she immigrated 1872.
I can't read the 1910 scanned image for that area... perhaps LDS can send better microfilmed image for study to a local FHC.
1920 US census for Alpena Co., Mich. lists Martin Olson as 65 yrs old and immigrated 1870? His wife is listed as Katherine! 71 yrs old born Norway, immigrated 1870? (makes you wonder who answered the enumerator's questions that year)

If Martin and Karen/Katherine married 21 yrs before the 1900 census - they should hopefully appear in the 1880 US census.
Could they be this young couple (Martin and Katy) in Apena Co. in 1880?
http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=Mich1880&gardpostnr=137&sokefelt=skjul

An application for marriage license in Michigan might give interesting info. Perhaps "Karen" was known by several other names... wonder which in Norway?
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Holwell
Starting member

Norway
5 Posts

Posted - 21/10/2005 :  19:07:45  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Well, lets see what I have found on this family.
Follow the numbers from generation to generation. Hope it is understandable.
Only the birth and marrige of Karen and her parents are controlled in the churchbooks, and reference given.
The rest is from what Karen Jenter have posted and I have found in Liers Historie, so this must be cofirmed against microfilmed churcbooks.
To much work for me to do all that, and churchbooks from before 1800 fromm Lier are not easy to understand. :-)) Karen will get a printout from my genealogy program listing siblings etc, off list, together with a couple of pictures from the churchbook-

I know LDS gives Karen Ottersen (wrong), but Karen's father are Ole = Olsdatter

Halvor in Lier

CB=Churchbook , P=page, L=line - as reference

1: Karen Olsdatter Kopperud
- Born 7 dec 1848 Kopperud, Lier CB 11, P 78, L 26
- Christened 11 mar 1849
- Dead 29 aug 1933 Leer USA
---------------------------------
Parents of #1 Karen Olsdatter Kopperud:
2: Father Ole Ottersen Kopperud
- Born 1 jun 1821 Kopperud, Lier CB ?, page 268, L 49
- Christened 17 jun 1821, Sylling
- Dead 11 jan 1894 Alphena USA

married 28 july 1844 in Sylling church CB 11, P 206, L 17

3: mother Andrine Olsdatter Svangstrand
- Born 11 march 1819
- Dead 8 okt 11913 Leer USA
-------------------------------------
Parents of # 2: Ole Ottersen Kopperud:
4: father Otter Olsen Kopperud
- born 9 may 1790 Kopperud Lier
- Dead 1832 Kopperud, Lier

5: Mother Kari Åkesdatter Kittelsrud
- Born 1787 Kittelsrud, Lier
- Dead 1840 Kopperud , Lier

Parents of # 3: Andrine Olsdatter Svangstrand
6: Father Ole Hansen Toverud
- born 1789 Toverud, Lier
- Dead 1850 Lier

7: Mother Kari Olsdatter Svangstrand
- No further info found
-----------------------------------------
Parents of # 4 Otter Olsen Kopperud
8: Father Ole Christensen Viulstad
- Born 1750 Viulstad, Lier
Moved with his parents to Overn about 1763
- Dead 1819 Kopperud, Lier

9: Mother Dorthea Maria Fredriksdatter Busch
- Born 1756
- Dead 1832 Lier

Parents of # 5 Kari Åkesdatter Kittelsrud
- No furher info found

Parents of # 6 Ole Hansen Toverud
12: Father Hans Rasmussen Svang
- Born 1761 Svang, Lier
- Dead 1838 Toverud, Lier

13: Mother Marte Olsdatter Toverud
- Born 1758 Toverud, Lier
- 1830 Toverud Lier

Parents of # 7 Kari Olsdatter Svangstrand
- No further info found
-----------------------------------------------


Halvor
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Hopkins
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
3351 Posts

Posted - 21/10/2005 :  19:18:26  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Ole Hansen on a Toverud farm in Lier - 1801 Norwegian census
http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f10626&gardpostnr=155&personpostnr=3874&merk=3874#ovre

Ole still with parents in the 1815 census for Lier -
http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=ft06261815&gardpostnr=3784&sokefelt=skjul

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Holwell
Starting member

Norway
5 Posts

Posted - 21/10/2005 :  23:18:18  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
To learn more about Norwegian farms, naming practice etc, I think you should try to read a couple of articles found at Norway Lists webpage at Rootsweb:
Neil Hoflands's newbie notes are a good start::
http://www.rootsweb.com/~norway/NewbieNotes.htm

and then John Follesdal's pages.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~norway/index.html

Jump around and read and learn


Halvor
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kjenter
Starting member

USA
21 Posts

Posted - 22/10/2005 :  00:15:08  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi everyone,
I just came in for a few minutes to thank everyone for the HUGE amount of help you have all given me. I will be back later this evening to explore and digest it all. I have to run take a cake out of the oven.

Aganin a HUGE THANKS to you all!!!!!!!

Karen
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kjenter
Starting member

USA
21 Posts

Posted - 22/10/2005 :  04:20:32  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I have had a chance to go over everything and Halvor has indeed found my family. I will be forever grateful for all the work he has done.

There were 2 other children in the family but they died before the family left for America so Gilbert and Erik are not part of the famiy.

And yes that is my family in the 1880 census. I have something in notes that shows that Karen was called Katy or Katie. And Hulda was their first child.

They are also in subsequest census for Michigan, and the name jumps around from Olsen, Olson. The gravestone for Martin and Karen actually Olson

One thing that puzzles me is that Karen does not show up with the family on the ship list. I too have gone through it, boy I am getting good at that site, I am so proud of mysef. I did find this link.
http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_list.asp?jo=2075
you wll see Ole and wife Andrine, it is spelled wrong and 2 of the children. My Karen was about 24 at the time, and also her brother Christian is missing, he would have been about 11 at the time. Can someone tell me if there is a place to look at the original ships list?? Does the LDS have a fim of it? I am just not sure how or where to look for a copy of the original.

Thanks again everyone!!!!!!

Karen
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Brining
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
868 Posts

Posted - 22/10/2005 :  05:13:26  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
In the 1880 census I think Ole Otterson became Otto Wilson Click Here He is the correct age with wife Andriene and son Christ.
And Otto Olson listed as Otto Wilson Click Here The age doesn't match but in the 1870 census there is an Otto Ulson age 25 married to Lena with sons Albert age 2 and William age 6/12.
If this is them, I wonder where the Wilson name came from. Were they trying out a more American sounding surname or is that what it sounded like to the census taker.
Carla
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kjenter
Starting member

USA
21 Posts

Posted - 22/10/2005 :  15:54:25  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Carla
That is them in 1880 I am pretty sure the ages match, but from what we know the name did not change to Wilson, I believe that was the census taker.

That is not them in the 1870. They did not come to America until 1872. They came on the SS Woodham that sailed from Chistina 27 July of that year. I found this http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_list.asp?jo=2075
And have also been here and found them, although the list is not complete.
http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/WebMeta.exe

I’ve asked to get a copy of the manifest.

Thanks so much Carla


Karen JENTER
Michigan
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Brining
Norway Heritage Veteran

USA
868 Posts

Posted - 23/10/2005 :  05:44:09  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The 1870 census is for the son Otto/Otter Olson. In the 1900 census he lists his immigration year as 186? can't tell if it is a 2 3 or 7 so he was here before his father.
Carla
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