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leslievaughn
Junior member
USA
39 Posts |
 Posted - 06/11/2010 : 06:04:14
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My Norwegian ancestors came from Talvik Norway in 1869 and I find them in the 1875 census of Grant, Lincoln Co., Kansas. In 1880 they are in Orange, Lincoln Co., Kansas. In 1885 they had moved to Blue, Pottowatomie, Kansas. By 1895 they were in Stanfold, Barron Co, Wisconsin.
Question? What would have taken them to Kansas? I imagine free land had a lot to do with it, but I wonder if there was a Norwegian population in Kansas. I have not heard much about that. It seems that Minnesota and Wisconsin were the places that most Norwegians headed. Why Kansas?
Those that were in Kansas were Lars Andersen and his wife Julia Aas. Lars anglized his name to Lewis and Julia's last name became Oas. Her parents, Lorents Oas/Aas and Louisa Ivarsdatter came from Norway with them and was in Kansas with them and then moved to Wisconsin with them.
Thanks |
Leslie Vaughn |
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Hopkins
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3351 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2010 : 12:59:47
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No, Kansas was not a large settlement area for Norwegian emigrants. There were probably small communities that contained groups of Norwegians but you'd have to research into the history of any such community yourself.
WHY is a question impossible to answer. If the persons who made those choices didn't leave you any documentation of WHY they made certain choices then you might never know that. Research, research, research -- you might find clues in your work. |
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BenteNyheim
Starting member
Norway
12 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2010 : 13:56:31
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| Do you know when they were born and perhaps their parent¨s names? I |
Bente Nyheim |
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jwiborg
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
4961 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2010 : 15:48:45
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The first Norwegian settlers in Kansas was Charles Christiansen from Østre Toten, Nels Ladd from Sogndal and Mathias Johnson from Biri. They came from Dane Co, Wis, and settled in Fall River, Eureka, Greenwood County, KS in the summer of 1857. Today's South Salem township.
Their claims embraced 160 acres of land. After making some improvements, they were compelled by the scarcity of provisions, to return to the settlements farther east for the winter. Nels Ladd went to Wisconsin and, on returning in the springs, was accompanied by a number of other home seekers, among them were O.E. Ladd and the Amond Erickson. Upon arriving they found their cabins occupied, their claims having all been jumped in their absence. The recovery of them caused these young men much trouble and anxiety. They were finally restored to them, however, by all parties making concessions.
I can't find any history about early Norwegian settlement in Lincoln county, but there are histories about Norwegians in Atchison, Brown & Doniphan, Republic, Cloud & Jewell, Phillips, Clark, Clay, Gove and Jefferson counties.
Jan Peter |
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leslievaughn
Junior member
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2010 : 02:40:59
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Thank you all for your help. I did not think that Kansas and Norwegians seemed to have much commonality so I am glad that Hopkins has verified that. Thanks to Jan Peter for the Kansas history lesson. Very informative.
I have recently found the parents of these settlers and am having a great deal of success on this website in another forum on the area from which they came (Talvik). Lars Andersen's parents names were Anders Larsen and Grete Martina Pedersdatter from Talvik. I don't think either of them left Norway. As earlier stated, Anna's parents were Laurents Aas and Lovisa Ivarsdatter who were married in Talvik, but were born in other areas of Norway.
Knowing why they came is not super important to me. But I thought if there were a Norwegian settlement with Norwegian records in the counties where they lived in Kansas that perhaps I could find siblings who MIGHT have come with Lars and Anna.
Thanks again for all your information |
Leslie Vaughn |
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Norwegians in Kansas
