Life in the 1800's

I am new to this forum so this may not be being asked in the right spot - forgive me. I am trying to write up a history on my great grandfather. He immigrated to the US in 1887. I want to find out what his life in Norway may have been like. I am interested to know what type of farming they would have done. His name was Carl Ludvig Anderson (many different spellings) and was born in Bredtvedt, Vestre Aker, Oslo, Norway in 1853. Can anyone point me to a good source to find out more about the typical life at this place and time?