Grandfather Hulder Olsen
Shirley GriffithMy grandfather Hulder Olsen was born April 16, 1871. The story our family has always told was that he was born either three weeks before sailing for America or three weeks out at sea. I believe he was born in Norway as that what has been listed on several censuses that I have seen. He ran away from home (I do not know where home was!) at about 12 years of age with a brother, Gunder (or Gunther, not sure). Gunder had a son who came to Texas when my uncle was in high school and he played football there with him. His name was Lester and he later lived in Harrah, Washington. His wife said that the grandparents were buried in Portland, Oregon. That is all the information I have except they were supposed to have sailed from Oslo. Any clues or help would be very much appreciated. Shirley
jwiborgHi, first of all... Hulder was not a common name in Norway in those days... in fact there is noone by that name at all in the norwegian 1865 census! [:I] The female name "Hulda" was common though... Maybe they "expected" a girl, and had allready decided on the name before the child was born...? Hulder could for instance have been named after a grandmother/grandfather.... Did he make any family? Do you know a name of his first children? His firstborn child could be named after a grandma/grandpa... Since he was an "Olsen", Hulder's father was most likely an Ole NN. This is a list of married men named Ole emigrating from Oslo in March-May 1871: 1871 April 08 Ole Eliasssen Veien m G Maler 41 Norderhov Milwauce 5053 Norsk Spd. 41,108 Scotia 1871 April 14 Ole Johannesen Fosstuen m G Arb. 46 ø. Toten Milwauce 5101 Norsk Bet. I Amerika Hero 1871 April 28 Ole Johannesen Kyteeie m G Abr. 30 Jevnager Mc Gregor 154 Norsk Spd. 61 Nymphen 1871 April 28 Ole Olsen Klekken m G Abr. 34 Ringeriget Milwauce 160 Norsk Spd. 72 Nymphen 1871 April 28 Ole Andreassen Haug m G Snedker 39 Kjømøe Algana 204 Norsk Bet. I America Nymphen 1871 April 27 Ole Engebretsen Naaler m G Gaardm. 60 Nannestad Rushford 258 Norsk Spd. 188 Nymphen 1871 April 28 Ole Olsen Løvli m G Abr. 58 Eggedal Quebek 300 Norsk Spd. 26 Nymphen 1871 Mai 15 Ole Olsen Myhra m G Arb. 25 Sigdal Decorahe 412 Norsk Betalt Pontocorvo 1871 Mai 26 Ole Kristensen Haberstad m G Husmand 40 S. Froen Black R. Falls 161 Norsk Spd. 49,36 Hero 1871 Mai 26 Ole Amundsen Holbrecken m G Arb. 38 S. Froen La Crosse 177 Norsk Spd. 100,102 Hero 1871 Mai 30 Ole Christophersen m G Abr. 38 Fredrikshald Chicago 228 Norsk Spd. 43,36 Scotia Just mentioned as an indication so far.... [:)] maybe Hulder's parents are not married at the time of departure...? /Jan P
HopkinsHulder was often a blacksmith in the US and according to the US censuses he and his family must have moved frequently. In the 1920 census they live in Pampa, Gray Co, Texas and he has the following children - Alice 18 yrs old born Oklahoma, Sylvia 16 yrs old born Idaho, James 14 yrs old born Oklahoma, Clarence 12 yrs old born Oklahoma, Franklin 8 yrs old born New Mexico, Francis (daughter) 8 yrs old born New Mexico. In 1920 Hulder is listed as 48 yrs old, born Norway, immigrated 1872 and naturalized in 1908. In the 1910 census H. Olson and his family live in Quay Co., New Mexico and he is listed as a farmer, 39 yrs old, born in Norway and immigrated in 1871. In the 1900 census Hulder and his wife do not yet have any children, they have been married 2 years. Hulder is listed as born April of 1870 in Norway and noted as immigrated in 1871. I can't quite read that page well enough to see if he is marked as already naturalized in 1900. There might be more clues about the Norwegian origins of the family if we could track brother Gunder or Gunther Olson (wouldn't it be nice if he were an older brother who would appear in Norwegian databases)... but we don't yet have enough information to be able to find him in databases that might help. Perhaps Shirley can track his son Lester to find references to Gunder/Gunther...
jwiborgHi, what about this household from Spring Creek, Thayer, Nebraska in 1880? [url="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/household_record.asp?HOUSEHOLD_CODE=1880US_8227668&HOUSEHOLD_SUB=1&frompage=5"]click here[/url] Here is the same family in Arendal, Aust-Agder, Norway, in census 1865: [url="http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=f60903.wc2&gardpostnr=174&personpostnr=1760&merk=1760#ovre"]click here[/url] Thomine's name is [url="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/igi/individual_record.asp?recid=500218904603&lds=1®ion=12®ionfriendly=&juris1=&juris2=&juris3=&juris4=®ionfriendly=&juris1friendly=&juris2friendly=&juris3friendly=&juris4friendly="]Thomine Andrea Andersdatter[/url] Maybe this "Mary" have some more information? [url="http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/NEBURT/2000-10/0970411250"]Link 1[/url] [url="http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/an/localities.scan-balt.norway.counties.austagder/139"]Link 2[/url] Hulder's son Frank [Franklin] Hulder Olsen, b. 27 DEC 1911, d. 13 FEB 1991, Last res: 79065 Pampa, Gray, TX, SSN:454-09-8514 Frank Hulder Olsen - son: Trent Hulder Olsen - son: Jeremy Hulder Olsen This must be the same Hulder Olsen, living in Post Oak Creek (Olsenville) in Washington Cty, Oklahoma. [url="http://www.meador.org/cpostoak.htm"]click here[/url] Jan Peter [:)]
Shirley GriffithHi, Hopkins! You got everything that I have on my grandfather Hulder Olsen. Imagine you discovered he was a blacksmith! I knew that but you must be checking the censuses very carefully! I have tried to locate Lester Olsen's two daughters (Lester was the son of Gunder). They are Ann (and Jack) Sheldon and Jane (and Jack) Walter. Not knowing Gunder true name has been a problem. I think the two women hold out the hope I have of finding the Olsen roots but I've struck out there also. Heaven only knows if they still live anywhere in Washington. By the way, my father was Franklin Hulder and he has a twin Frances; they were the youngest children. Gunder may also have had a son named Lewis. I feel certain Gunder was older than Hulder but I have nothing to back that up. To Jan Peter, I thank you for your efforts but that does not appear to be my family. I had run across that information on Olsenville in Oklahoma but the timing is definitely off. My grandfather married my grandmother in 1898 so they were not yet in Oklahoma Territory. To Jwiborg, I have no way of checking on all of those Ole Olsen names you found. Are those addresses listed by the names? I have conflicting information on when they sailed as one census in 1920 conflicts with the 1910 and 1900 census saying he immigrated in 1872. However, since the 1910 and 1900 census say 1871, I am inclined to think he remembered better in his younger years and go with the 1871. Perhaps I need to check your names against ship lists. Didn't they list the family members sometimes? Again, thank you all for you good efforts. Shirley Griffith
Jo Anne SadlerIn the 1880 census in Familysearch.org, the family is in Spring Creek, Thayer County, Nebraska: Steen, Thomine, Ole-21, Gunder-15, Thorwald-14, Halder-11 all born Norway. Thomas-8, born Nebraska. Have found Gunder in some census: 1900 - Rifle Precinct, Garfield County, Colorado Gunder Olsen, born Norway July 1864, married 12 years, immigrated 1869, blacksmith. Florence, born Ohio October 1872, 5 children, 3 living Harry born December 1890 in Michigan Thomas born Aug. 1893 in Michigan Louis born December 1896 in Indian Territory, Oklahoma 1920 - Portland, Multinomah County, Oregon Gunder Olsen born Norway, blacksmith, immigrated 1875 Florence born Iowa, Lester-16 born Idaho, Opal-14 born California, Cecil-7 born Colorado, Gunder A. infant,born Colorado 1930 - Tillamook, Tillamonk County, Oregon Gunder Olsen, 64, born Norway, immigrated 1874, salesman in woolen mill Florence, 57, born Iowa, married 40 years Cecil-18, born Colorado As one can seen, census' are not consistent.[xx(]
Shirley GriffithHi Jo Anne, the 1920 census seems to fit. I believe I saw in my Aunt's things a business card for Olsen Brothers, Blacksmith Shop in Kansas, so I am assuming Gunder would have been a blacksmith as well as my grandfather Hulder. Gunder had a son Lester who probably fits the age of this one (born somewhere around 1904-05). The 1880 census is what is exciting! I definitely feel we are on the right track here. Thanks. Jan Peters, you had the 1880 census correct also. I read about Mary looking for Steen Olsen family and I am holding my breath till I hear from her. This could very well be it! She seems to know them; I just hope we can establish the connection! Thank you all! Shirley Olsen Griffith