Died in Nord-Fron, Norway, on this date in 1797: third great-grandfather Paul Svendsen Lillegard. Top photo: Paul’s birthplace, the farm Lillegard. I photographed it in 2011, looking down from the “kirketuft,” the site of an ancient church, only recently rediscovered. Paul Svendsen was the second son of Lillegard’s owner, so did not inherit his father’s farm. He did scrape together enough money to buy the farm Flaate in 1776. Unfortunately, when Paul died, he left behind a widow, nine living children, and…
No close family anniversaries. In the distance, and not proven by documentation, our twenty-second great grandfather, King Haakon IV Haakonsson of Norway, died in Orkney, Scotland, on this date in 1263. Top photo: 19th century painting by Knud Bergslien, depicting the legendary rescue of the future king from opposing forces in Norway’s civil wars. Below: Haakonshallen in the city of Bergen, built and used for state events by Haakon IV more than 750 years ago(!) First, as photographed on my trip…
Married in Vernon County, Wisconsin, on this date in 1890: cousin Anna Caroline Hanson and John Erickson. Anna was grandfather Isaac Larson’s first cousin, and they all were neighbors in “Norwegian Valley.” This marriage is the only one I know of between the Larson and Erickson families. However, John’s brother Oluf Erickson was a close friend of Grandpa Isaac, and followed several years behind Ike and his three brothers to the North Dakota homestead country. Top photo: families of Oluf Erickson, Axel…
An auspicious date in my family. Born (under the most inauspicious circumstances) in Oslo, Norway, on this date in 1841: my great-grandfather, and namesake of this website, Ole Larson. Top photo: Ole’s baptism record form the chapel at Oslo Prison, where his mother was doing time for stealing food for her family during a famine. Below: the exercise yard at the prison, photographed in 1910. I have not yet posted an in-depth profile of this important ancestor. Some interesting details are…
Married on this date in 1941: uncle Vernon Larson and Audrey Walker.
Born in Tretten, Norway, on this date in 1789: third great-grandmother Ømbjør Samuelsdatter Bjerke, She was the mother of Samuel Jørgensen Bjerke, who immigrated to Wisconsin and changed his name to Samuel Samuelson. Top photo: Bjerke farm, center right in background. Below: entrance sign at South Bjerke.