ROSCOE’S WRITINGS ABOUT EARLY EVAVOLD HISTORY



EVAVOLD FAMILY HISTORY IN NORWAY FROM 1688

By Roscoe Evavold

In writing about family history, there is always a question of where to start. Do I start at a specific time in history or do I start at a particular location? For the Evavold History, there are really two starting points. The first is the farm in Norway called Evavollen. However, we do not trace our blood heritage back to the origins of that farm. Our blood heritage traces to a place nearby called Kuraasen. I have chosen to start with the farm Evavollen because as time developed, that became the primary focal point for the Evavold family in Norway. I will merge the Kuraasen connection as it develops.

In developing this family history, I have found two sources of information of particular usefulness. First is the Norwegian way of documenting farm history. That is with the Bygdebok (farm book). In the case of Evavollen, the Roros Book describes the history of that farm in good detail. The Roros Book is published in Norwegian, which I can translate with some difficulty. However, thanks to Rodney Pletan, we have a translated copy done by a friend of his, Otto Amulf, who lives in Nesodden, Norway.

The second source of valuable history is the Norwegian system of recording family history in their Church Record Books. My early experience with these books was the first-hand perusal of specific books in the Norwegian Archives in the cities of Bergen and Trondheim, Norway on trips to Norway. For the past several years I have been able to search the church records from my computer via a website titled digitalarkivet.no or arkivverket.no. Sources in Norway have digitized the church records and make them available on the Internet. The records are amazingly complete back to the 1600’s. I find that it is easier to get records from Norway than here in the U.S. Here, if you want a birth or death record your have to pay for them.

I have also used writings and data from the Evavold Family Books published by Rodney and Audrey Pletan. They have done a tremendous job of correlating and entering years of family history data into computer databases including the current Family Tree Maker version.

My efforts will be aimed at expanding and clarifying the early Norway portion of the family history as I have come to understand it through my research.

Just a note about name usage. Throughout the church records there are names that are spelled differently but mean the same. Some of them have changed over time. Here are a few examples:

Aursunden – Orsunden; Catherine - Katherine – Kathrine ; Claus – Klaus; Ellen - Ellend – Ellev – Ellef; Ingebor – Ingeborg; Joen – Jon – John; Marit - Marithe – Maritte; Margreth – Margareth – Margarethe; Vetzel – Wetzel. I have tried to use the name as written in the record.

EVAVOLLEN

The Farm, known after about 1790 as Evavollen, was settled in the late 1600’s as a result of the population expansion that resulted from the discovery of copper in the mountains surrounding Roros, Norway. In 1644 the King issued a Royal Proclamation that the population should search for minerals and mineral ore. Not long after the proclamation, a farmer, Hans Olsen Aasen, one the few residents of the area, having been shown some rock samples of copper ore, found similar rocks kicked up by a buck reindeer he had shot. Word soon spread about the discovery of copper ore. This led to exploration and early mining activity which became the starting point for the industrial development that would eventually result in Roros becoming a thriving mining and ore smelting town. This “progress” also included all the intrigues of disputed mine ownership, population expansion, poor working conditions for miners, pay disputes, financial successes and international conflict. In 1678 and 1679, the Swedish army attacked and burned the town to punish the inhabitants. Living conditions were very hard, winters cold, pay dismal and food scarce. In spite of all this, many people stayed and the town and mining industry were rebuilt and Roros became a significant place in Norwegian history. There are a number of books available on these topics if you have an interest.

I have not found any historical writings about the impact of the Roros conflicts and successes on the Farm Evavollen. It goes without saying that with its location 20 miles northeast of Roros and it being the only town in the area, the farmers were also affected. Today there is the town of Glamos about 10 miles west of Evavollen, between the farm and Roros. I have found no sources that indicate that Glamos existed in the late 1600’s.

The farm is located on the north shore of Aursunden Lake. Over the centuries, the original farm has been divided into five farms with the name Evavoll: South, West, Middle, North and East. Evavoll South appears to be the location of the original settlement. The land was first leased from the “Crown” (apparently, the King owned everything) in 1688 by David Vetzel (also spelled Wetzel in some records). The name infers German heritage and he may have come as many did to work in the mines. David was probably born about 1640. His wife, Eva Kock Vetzel, died 18 Oct 1739 112 at age 95. This means that she was born in 1644. She is said to have outlived her husband by a long number of years. (The superscript is used to denote my reference page from the church books.)

I believe that David and Eva Vetzel had two children, Adam and Hans Morten.

1. Adam Davidsen Vetzel, b. 1684, d. 29 Sept 1762122, age 78.

w. Gjertrud Ericsdatter, b. 1691, d. 2 Feb 1758134, age 67.

David Adamsen Vetzel, b. 1715, d. 18 Dec 1768148, age 53.

Maria Adamsdatter Vetzel b. 1717, d. 18 Dec 1797167, age 80.

Married to Christopher Ditlevsen Vigen, 2 May 1745188.

Ole Adamsen Vetzel, b. 1722, d. 18 Jan 1784154, age 62.

On 21 July 1754119, he married Kirsten Clausdatter Kock, b. 1727,

d. 6 Jan 1768118 at age 41.

Daughter – Ingebor Olsdatter Vetzel, b. 5 Jun 1757123.

Daughter – Gjertrud Olsdatter Vetzel, b.17 Jul 1763435,

d. 1 Jan 1764435, 6 mons.

Son-Christopher Olsen Vetzel, b. 3 Feb 1765437,

d. 7 Jul 1765437, 6 mons.

Christopher Adamsen Vetzel, b. 26 Aug 1732 117, d. 26 Oct 1733113, age 1

Eva Adamsdatter Vetzel, b. 1735, d. 16 Feb 1749146, age 14.

2. Hans Morten Vetzel, b. 1684, d. 2 Jan 1774152, age 90.

w. Kristin Christensdatter, b. 1693, d. 28 Dec 1733133, age 40.

Christen Hansen Vetzel, b. 1720, d. 25 Mar 1753145, age 33.

On 30 April 1747369, he married Ingebor Olsdatter Roraas.

David Hans Mortensen Vetzel, b. 1724, d. 5 Mar 1769149.

On 8 July 1757168, he married Gjertrud Svendsdatter Jemt.

Daughter-Beritte Davidsdatter Vetzel, b. 1 Apr 1764439.

Christopher Hansen Vetzel, b.10 Nov 1728114,d. 25 Apr 1762121,

age 34.

Married Ingebor Jonsdatter Valset, 29 June 1760169.

Daughter – Christiana Christophersdatter Vetzel, b. 6 Jan 1763157.

Hans Morten Hansen Vetzel, b. 15 Jul 1731116, d. 30 Mar 1787165, age 56.

1st Marriage Gjertrud Henningsdatter Valset 25 Jun 1762348,

d. 1 Jun 1766438, age 29.

Daughter - Kirsten Hansdatter Vetzel, b. 29 Apr 1764298.

2nd Marriage Margrethe Olsdatter 24 Jun 1768370.

Daughter – Gjertrud Hansdatter Vetzel, b. 7 Oct 1770292.

Daughter – Anne Handatter Vetzel, b. 26 Jun 1774371.

Son – Hans Morten Hansen Vetzel, b. 13 Apr 1777372.

Son – Ole Hansen Vetzel, b. 22 Oct 1780372.

Son – Christopher Hansen Vetzel, b. 27 Jun 1784244, d. 17 Dec 1809243.

Daughter – Eva Hansdatter Vetzel, b. 5 Aug 1787373.

I don’t know what year David Vetzel died (the church book records prior to 1727 exist but are mostly unreadable). However, we know that sometime prior to 1733, David’s son Adam had taken over the farm. He later assigned it to his son Ole Adamsen Vetzel. Ole was married to Kirstin Clausdatter Kock on 4 Oct 1754119. Ole and Kristi had 6 children but only one, Ingebor Olsdatter Vetzel b. 5 Jun 1757123, lived beyond 2 years of age. The wife, Kristi was born in 1727 and died 6 Jan 1768118, age 41.

At some point, the farm was taken over by Ole Adamsen’s uncle, Hans Morten Vetzel, because in 1758 the farm was leased by Christopher Hans Mortensen Vetzel having received it from his father. Christopher was not married when he took over the farm. He later married Ingebor Jonsdatter Valset 29 Jun 1760169. Ingebor had been born 16 Jan 1738101. She was the daughter of Joen Valset and lived to be 83 years, dying 1 Apr 1819108. The Valset farm was located across the lake and east of Evavollen.

Ingebor Jonsdatter Valset was to become a very important person in the history of the farm Evavollen. Her first husband, Christopher Hans Mortensen Vetzel died 25 Apr 1762121 at age 34 1/2 years. This was months before their only daughter Christiana Christophersdatter Vetzel was born 6 Jan 1763157.

Ingebor married her second husband, Anders Olsen Haugen 2 Oct 1763125. He died 27 Apr 1766170. The Haugen farm was located about 4 kilometers east of Evavollen. Ingebor and Anders had one son, Ole Andersen Haugen, b. 29 Sept 1764172. Ole must have grown up on the farm and taken the farm name, because in 1793, in the birth record of his son he is listed as Ole Andersen Evavold.

Ingebor Jonsdatter Valset’s third husband was Peder Svendsen Kuraasen, b. 3 Sept 1736098. They were married 24 July 1767102. He was my great, great, great, great grandfather. I will go into extensive detail about Peder later on. Peder drowned in Lake Aursunden in September 1774109. His body was not found.

Ingebor was married a fourth time to Jens Christensen Tronshat on 22 Jan 1779126. She apparently did not get along with him because they were later separated. It is interesting to note that her death record in 1819, 40 years later, still lists her as Jens’ wife.

Note: The highlighted names above are those individuals that had a major role in leasing or running the farm.

THE EVAVOLD NAME

It is believed that the name Evavollen was given to the farm because of Eva Vetzel, wife of the first operator. She lived on the farm from 1688 until her death in 1739. The name Evavollen means Eva’s meadow or grassland. However, the name was not shown in the records for a number of years after she died. The earliest record I can find for the family name Evavold was in 1790218. Ole Andersen Evavold was a sponsor (Fadderene) for the baptism of Svend Davidsen Vetzel’s son Peder. On 13 June 1792017, Jon Pedersen Evavold, Peder Svendsens’s son, married Brynild Adamsdatter.

There is also the record of the birth of Johannes Olson Evavold, b.8 Sept 1793166. He was the son of Ole Andersen Haugen Evavold b. 29 Sept 1764172, who was the son of Anders Olsen Haugen, the 2nd husband of Ingebor Jonsdatter Valset. Apparently Ole Andersen had grown up on Evavollen with his mother Ingebor and had adopted the name Evavold.

These records show that the name Evavold was used late in the 1700’s. Prior to that time the farm would have been called Vetzelvollen and the name of the occupants was Vetzel (Wetzel) or Vetzelvold. It is interesting to note that the name Vetzelvold was used somewhat interchangeably for some of these people on the farm in some of the church records as late as 1837. For purposes of this document, the name Evavollen will be used to describe the farm from the time it began to split into its parts.

Regarding identification of the dates certain persons operated the farms, those were dates when some official record was made, leases, taxes, etc. In reality, the actual date of possession or operation was probably much less specific.

EVAVOLL MIDDLE

In 1760, at the time Christopher Hansen Vetzel married Ingebor Jonsdatter Valset, apparently Evavollen was split to form Evavoll Middle and Evavoll South because Christopher’s brother David Hans-Mortensen Vetzel is listed as leasing that parcel. Christopher and Ingebor then operated Evavoll South.

David Vetzel was born, b. 1724 and d. 5 Mar 1769149, at age 45. He was 34 when on 5 Jun 1757212 he married Gjertrud Svendsdatter, b. 1727. David died 12 years later and Gjertrud continued running Evavoll Middle for 22 years until 1791.

David and Gjertrud had 4 children:

1. Svend Davidsen Hans-Mortensen Vetzel, b. 11 Jun 1758210, d. 8 Oct

1809191, age 51.

2. Hans Morten Davidsen Vetzel, b. 24 Jan 1762155, but he died 7 Nov 1773163 at

age 11.

3. Beritte Davidsdatter Vetzel, b. 1 Apr 1764297.

Daughter-Anne Margreth Vetzel, b. 2 Mar 1788217.

3. Christopher Davidsen Vetzel, b. 19 Jul 1767288.

On 21 July 1805236 he married Brynille Adamsdatter Sommer, b. 24 Jun

1768110, d. 4 Feb 1838206, age 69.

Daughter – Kirsten Christophersdatter Vetzel, b. 11 Jan 1809380.

Daughter – Gjertrud Margrethe Christophersdatter Vetzel, b. 23 Feb 1811445.

The oldest son, Svend, was listed as the user of Evavoll Middle in 1801. On 24 Apr 1784211 he was married to Ana Catherine Pedersdatter Skott, b. 6 Aug 1758213, d. 14 Jan 1835205, age 77. Svend was 26 when he got married and started to have children. His father had died in 1769 so Svend and his family lived with his mother and helped operate the farm. He, at age 43, officially took over the farm from her in 1801. Svend only lived 8 years after he took over the farm. The family continued to run the farm.

Svend and Ana (Anne) Catherine Vetzel had 6 children:

1. Margrethe Svendsdatter Vetzel, b. 31 Oct 1784301, d. 1 Jun 1794302, age 10.

2. David Svendsen Vetzel, b. 11 Jun 1787214, d. 22 Aug 1866215 at age 79.

Married Karen Ingebrichtsdatter Engan b. 1798, d. 12 Dec 1863034, age

65.

3. Peder Svendsen Vetzel, b. 7 Mar 1790218.

On 23 Apr 1815006 married Kirsten Joensdatter Knoph, d. 6 Apr 1839332.

Son-Hans Morten Pedersen Evavold, b. 21 Jun 1816374.

4. Gjertrud Svendsdatter Vetzel, b. 10 Mar 1793219, d. 28 Nov 1871224, age 78.

Married Ole Mortensen Buxvold.

5. Margrethe Svendsdatter Vetzel, b. 14 Feb 1796222, d. 15 Dec 1805240, age 9.

6. Hans Morten Svendsen Vetzel, b. 5 Dec 1799216, d. 7 Apr 1800225, age 4 mos.

Because of his father’s early death, Svend and Ana’s oldest son, David Svendsen Vetzel took over the lease of Evavoll Middle in 1814 when he was 27. On 26 Jun 1825030, at age 38, he was married to Karen Ingebrichtsdatter Engan b. 1798, d. 12 Dec 186334. At this time the family name on Evavoll Middle seems to have changed from Vetzel to Evavold as the Church Book Records use Evavold.

David and Karen had 6 children:

1. Ane Margareth Davidsdatter Evavold, b. 16 July 1825031, confirmed

6 Jun 1841201.

2. Svend Davidsen Evavold, b.27 Jan 1827032, c. 6 Jun 1841200, d. 2 May

1892033. On 2 July 1852001 Svend married Berit Larsdatter Sodal

and moved to the Sodal Farm. He adopted the Sodal name as shown

on the death record.

3. Inger Davidsdatter Evavold, b. 24 Jun 1828226, c. 2 Jun 1844204.

4. Ingebricht Davidsen Evavold, b. 10 Jan 1832228, d. 1908.

5. Hans Morten Davidsen Evavold, b. 24 Dec 1833229.

Married Eva Olsdatter Torres, 1 Jul 1864342.

6. Gjertrud Katrine Davidsdatter Evavold, b. 16 Feb 1836231. Gjertrud Katrine

married Svend Pedersen Evavold, 23 Apr 1864341, from Evavoll South.

Ingebricht Davidsen Evavold stayed on Evavoll Middle and in 1868 bought the farm from the Roros Mining Company for 880 Specie Dalers (dollars). He was married to Petronelle Christensdatter Borgos, b. 1838, d. 1908. She was the daughter of Christen Jorgensen Borgos and Kristi Sophia Clausdatter Sommer. Christen and Kristi were great-grandparents to Hervin and Raymond Torgerson who lived neighbors to the Evavolds in Minnesota. I have started an addendum about this connection to the Evavolds.

I have covered the history of Evavoll Middle because it was the first part to break away from the Farm Evavollen. When Gjertrud married Svend Pedersen Evavold, she moved to Evavoll South.

It is important to make note at this point that when Ingebor Jonsdatter Valset’s first husband died, the blood line of Evavoll South to the Vetzel family and its history back to 1688 ended. However, when Gjertrud Katrine Davidsdatter Vetzel Evavold married Svend Pedersen Evavold, in 1864, the line was connected again thru Evavoll Middle.

KURAASEN

The second starting point in documenting the history of the Evavold Family is the Farm Kuraasen which is located at the eastern edge of Glamos, Norway. As noted above, this town is about 10 miles west of Evavollen.

The story begins when Iver Olsen Kuraas sold half of the farm he had gotten from his father, Ole Jonsen Kuraas, to a man called Peder Svendsen. This happened in the year 1725. The Roros Book does not say where Peder Svendsen came from when he bought the farm. Peder adopted the Kuraas name from the farm. We do not know his wife’s name.

The farm Kuraasen apparently was not a very good farm. The Roros Book describes or calls it ‘Stentrooen” or field with a stone fence.

Peder had a daughter, Malena Pedersdatter Kuraas, b. 1707, d. 20 May 1782179 at age 75.

Malena married Svend Christensen Haugen (1701-1752) on 30 May 1728366. He adopted the name Kuraas. They had these children:

1. Maritte Svendsdatter Kuraas b. 1 Dec 1729096 d. 7 Jun 1807174 , age 78.

On 4 Oct 1748349, she married Jacob Andersen Vintervoll, b. 1723, d. 9 Jun 1783234, age 60.

Daughter- Marritte Jacobsdatter Vintervoll, b. 22 Nov 1767351.

2. Christen Svendsen Kuraas b. 1 Dec 1731097 d. 20 Mar 1816175 , age 85.

On 21 Jun 1761176, he married Lisbet Olsdatter Kuraas, b. 19 Oct 1735280,

d. 13 Oct 1811281, age 76.

Daughter-Malene Christensdatter Kuraasen, b. 2 Feb 1768352.

Twins-Svend Christensen Kuraasen, b. 4 Apr 1764440, d. 13 May 1764436.

-Ole Christiensen Kuraasen, b. 4 Apr 1764440, d. 21 Apr 1850296, age 86.

3. Karen Svendsdatter Kuraas b. 12 Dec 1733283,

Married Anders Reiten Aalen, m. 22 Mar 1756177 .

4. Peder Svendsen Kuraas b. 3 Sept 1736098 d. Sept 1774109 .

Married Ingeborg Jonsdatter Valset, b. 17 Jan 1738101 , d. 1 Apr 1819108 at age 83. They were married on 24 July 1767102. He moved to Evavollen.

5. Johannes Svendsen Kuraas b. 4 Feb 1739178, d. 2 Nov 1806241, age 67.

On 28 Apr 1775350 he married Sara Andersdatter 1728-1798.

6. Jacob Svendsen Kuraas b. 10 July 1742099 d. 12 Apr 1773151 , age 31.

Married Regina Andersdatter Guldal on 1 Nov 1767103 . The whole family

died 1773-1776 probably from small pox.

7. Ole Svendsen Kuraas 1747- d. 17 Oct 1838331. He was not married.

There were also two more girls, Cornelia and Kirsten who died very young.

The oldest son of Svend and Malena, Christen Svendsen Kuraas, took over Kuraasen in 1784 from his father and continued to operate it for some years until it was passed to his son.

KURAASEN AND EVAVOLLEN COME TOGETHER

When Peder Svendsen Kuraas left the farm Kuraas to marry Ingebor Jonsdatter Valset as her third husband, he took over the Evavollen farm and took the Evavold name. Ingebor had two children from her previous marriages; Christiana Christophersdatter Vetzel, age 4 and Ole Anderson Haugen, age 2.

Peder and Ingebor had 4 children together:

1. Joen (Jon) Pedersen (Kuraasen) Evavold b.10 July 1768102 , d. 14 Oct 1804181,

age 36. On 13 June 1792017 he married Brynild Adamsdatter Clausen b. 24 June

1768110 d. 4 Feb 1838206 age 70.

2. Malene Pedersdatter Evavold b. 4 Feb. 1770105 , d. 7 July 1855086 , age 85.

On 2 June 1797187 she married Joen Adamsen Beckos.

Adam Jonsen Beckos, b. 7 Nov.1798446, d. 9 Jan 1886447, age 87.

John Jonsen Beckos, b. 13 Feb 1808444.

3. Svend Pedersen Evavold b. 12 Jan. 1772106 , d. 25 Dec 1854085 , age 82.

He was confirmed in 1792. On 3 Oct 1802180 he married Martha Olsdatter Riise. The story of their family is expanded upon later.

4. Hans Morten Pedersen Evavold b. 10 July 1774186, d. 21 Mar 1802239, age 27.

Peder Svendsen Kuraasen Evavold drowned in Aursunden Lake in Sept 1774. It

appears that his body was never found. He was 38 years old. When Peder died, Ingebor was left with six children ages 11 years down to 3 months. Somehow she continued to operate the farm. About 4 years later Jens Christensen Tronshat came on the scene. He is listed as operating the farm in 1778 and she married him 22 Jan 1779126. When the children were old enough to help her with the farm, it is said that she and Jens separated and he left.

In 1792, Ingebor’s son, Jon Pedersen Evavold, at age 24, married Brynild Adamsdatter Clausen. At that time the north half of Evavoll South was separated and given to Jon. This became known as Evavoll North. I will continue the Evavoll North story shortly.

Ingebor’s daughter Malena married Joen Adamsen Beckos on 2 June 1797187 and moved to the farm Beckosen which is across Lake Aursunden.

When Ingebor’s son Svend Pedersen Evavold married Martha Olsdatter Riise in 1802 he was 30 years and his mother was 64. I am sure that he had been operating Evavoll South for some years. He continued to live there as he and Martha raised their children. I am also sure that Ingebor continued to live there until her death in 1819. The Evavoll South story will continue later.

EVAVOLL NORTH

As discussed above, Evavoll North was sectioned off and given to Jon Pedersen Evavold in 1792 following his marriage to Brynild Adamsdatter Clausen, b. 24 Jun 1768110. Evavoll South was left over to Svend Pedersen Evavold. Jon and Brynild had the following children:

1. Peder Jonsen Evavold, b. 24 Nov. 1793018, d. 2 Nov. 1885037, age 92 yrs.

1st marriage: Berit Olsdatter Narjord,

2nd marriage: Anne Jonsdatter Sandnes 3 Aug 1867343.

2. Gjertrud Jonsdatter Evavold, b. 27 Sept. 1795019, d. 17 Apr 1824193, age 28.

Married Peder Christophersen Moen, m. 19 Nov 1823189 and lived

at Stormoen. Gjertrud died 6 months later.

3. Ingebor Jonsdatter Evavold, b. 16 April 1800021.

Ingebor was confirmed 6 Feb 1818022.

4. Adam Jonsen Evavold, b. 17 June 1803035.

Married Ane Margarethe Jacobsdatter Vinter, m. 31 Mar 1837036.

Jon Pedersen Evavold died 14 Oct 1804181 at age 36. His oldest son Peder Jonsen Evavold took over Evavoll North. Peder spent much of his time painting. This must have been artistic painting because at that time there was probably not much call for house painting. Peder was married 2 times, first to Berit Olsdatter from Narjord and the second time to Anne Jonsdatter Sandnes, b. 1821, d. 21 Jun 1892061.

Peder and Berit had 7 children:

1. Brynild Pedersdatter Evavold, b. 31 Mar 1822008,

On 7 Jul 1855093 she married Elling Pedersen Storbakken, b. 1815, from

Tolgen. Daughter-Berit Elingsdatter Storbakken

2. Ole Pedersen Evavold, b. 3 Mar 1824197.

It is believed that Ole went to America about 1855 and is the ancestor of

Lila Burmeister. I will add more about this in the future.

3. Inger Serina Pedersdatter Evavold, b. 23 May 1826014.

I believe that Inger is the person called Serina in the Roros Book, page 369.

4. Peder Pedersen Evavold, b. 24 Oct 1828195, d. 27 June 1854196, age 25.

Peder was killed by lightning while cutting peat sod.

5. Johanna Pedersdatter Evavold, b. 16 Apr 1831282. On 28 May 1851277, the

Church Book indicates that she emigrated to New York in 1851. I have no

further information at this time.

6. Jon Pedersen Evavold, b. 23 Jul 1836319.

Jon went to Sweden and was married there.

7. Iver Pedersen Evavold, b. 20 Feb 1840015.

Iver was baptized at Evavoll Middle at the home of David Svendsen

Evavold and was confirmed, c. 3 June 1855016. Iver went to Varaldsoy

with his cousins Klaus and Peder to work in the copper mine. (See the Varaldsoy

section)

None of Peder Jonsen Evavold and Berit Olsdatter’s children stayed on the farm. When Peder married the second time to Anna Jonsdatter Sandnes, he and his wife took over the responsibility to support Ole Pedersen Horghagen and his wife, Sigrid Jonsdatter Sandnes. Sigrid was Anna’s sister. Ole and Sigrid took on the name Evavold because they lived on the farm. They were not blood relatives to our family. Ole purchased Evavoll North from the Roros Mining Company in 1894.

EVAVOLL EAST

When Ole Pedersen Horghagen Evavold’s daughter Elen Katrine, b. 1860, married Halvor Jensen Lokken , Ole gave them 1/3 of Evavoll North. That farm became known as Evavoll East. As far as I can determine, none of our blood relatives were associated with Evavoll East.

EVAVOLL SOUTH

As indicated above, Svend Pedersen Evavold married Martha Olsdatter Riise (Vigen) on 3 Oct 1802180. She was born 26 Oct 1777233 and died 11 Dec 1854084, age 77, about two weeks before Svend died on 25 Dec 1854085, age 82. They had the following children:

1. Peder Svendsen Evavold b. 14 Mar 1803042, d. 18 May 1862011 at age 59.

On 11 July 1834010 he married Eva Clausdatter Sommer b. 27 Dec 1809009

d. 25 Nov.1858088, age 49. Family is listed below.

2. Ingeborg Svendsdatter Evavold b. 18 Mar 1805182 and confirmed 2 June 1822182.

On 6 Oct 1837013 she married Ellen Johannesen Bonde, b. 5 Sept 1800359, d. 16 Jan 1860.

Son-Svend Ellensen Bonde, b. 31 Aug 1841246,

Daughter-Malena Ellensdatter Bonde, b. 11 Dec 1837323,

Daughter-Martha Ellensdatter Bonde, b. 9 Jan 1844309,

3. Marithe Svendsdatter Evavold b. 8 Mar 1807024 and confirmed 21 May 1826184.

On 3 Jul 1841357 She married Bensvend Pedersen Tyvold, b. 10 Aug 1801360,

She died 14 May 1881025 at age 74.

4. Lucia Svendsdatter Evavold b. 10 Aug 1809026 and confirmed 1 Jun 1827185.

First marriage to Ole Pedersen Jondset on 14 Jul 1854092.

2nd marriage to Esten Evensen Langen on 4 Dec 1859094. She died 10 Aug

1886027 at age 77.

5. Ole Svendsen Evavold b. 9 Oct 1811012 d. 30 Oct 1902065 at age 91.

On 15 July 1843004 he married Ane Christensdatter Riisberg, b. 4 Feb 1813478, d. 20 Oct

1886476.

Son- Svend Olsen Evavold, b. 12 Oct 1840279.

Son- Ole Olsen Evavold, b. 10 Mar 1843252.

6. Malena Svendsdatter Evavold b. 13 Feb 1816260, d. 18 Nov 1882073, age 66.

Malena was unmarried.

7. Jon Svendsen Evavold b. 24 Mar 1819023 d. 5 Sept 1896064 at age 77.

On 20 Jun 1851090 he married Anne Margarethe Haanes b. 1818. Jon moved

with his wife to the farm Haanes and he took that name.

In 1834, when Peder Svendsen Evavold married Eva Clausdatter Sommer, he took over the lease on

Evavoll South. Eva was from Klasvollen which is a farm just west of Evavoll South. There were 11

children born to Peder and Eva.

1. Marith Pedersdatter Evavold, b. 6 May 1834312, confirmed 15 Apr 1849335,

d. 12 Dec 1858089, age 24. She died 3 weeks after her mother.

2. Svend Pedersen Evavold, b. 7 Oct 1835245, d. 14 Mar 1895063, age 59.

On 23 Apr 1864 he married Gjertrud Katrine Davidsdatter Vetzel, b. 16 Feb

1836231, from Evavoll Middle. Gjertrud Katrine died 4 Mar 1906259, age 70.

3. Kirsten I. Pedersdatter Evavold, b. 3 Oct 1837322, d. 3 Jun 1838313, age 8 months.

4. Claus I. Pedersen Evavold, b. 20 Jul 1839305, d. 20 Dec 1839208, age 5 months.

5. Claus II. Pedersen Evavold, b. 22 Dec 1840249. In 1867 Claus II. and Peder II.

were recruited by mining interests on the island of Varaldsoy in southern

Norway. The story of their stay there and their later emigration to America

are discussed later.

6. Peder I. Pedersen Evavold, b. 27 Nov 1842251, d. 3 Apr 1843209, age 4 months.

7. Kirsten II. Pedersdatter Evavold, b. 2 Apr 1844310, confirmed 8 May 1859338,

d. 30 Jan 1867479.

8. Peder II. Pedersen Evavold, b. 20 Nov 1845077. Varaldsoy and America

9. Ellev I. Pedersen Evavold, b. 9 Jun 1847253, d. 17 Jun 1847080, age 8 days.

10. Ellev II. Pedersen Evavold, b. 2 Dec 1848, d. 20 Dec 1848081, age 18 days.

11. Ellev III. Pedersen Evavold, b. 15 Jan 1850079, d. 19 Sept 1880071, age 30.

On 28 Jun 1878263, Ellev married Anne Andreasdatter Jamtvold,

b. 1 Feb 1855266. they had 2 Children;

Andreas Ellevsen Evavold, b. 16 Jul 1877265,

Peder Ellevsen Evavold, b. 30 Apr 1879261.

Ellev and Anne were living in Roros and he is listed as working in the Copper

Works when Ellev died in 1880. A short while later Anne took the two boys and

left for America. Unfortunately, the youngest son Peder died onboard the ship and

was probably buried at sea. When Anne and Andreas arrived in America they

stayed with her brother-in-law Peder Pedersen Evavold in Eagle Lake Township,

Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Later, she married a man by the name of

Henningsgaard from Sauk Center, Minnesota. Andreas grew up in Eagle Lake

township. His descendents are shown in the Evavold Family Book.

It is interesting to note that the Henningsgaard Farm in Norway is located just south of Brekken, about 10 kilometers east of Evavollen. I am sure there was some connection to Anne’s new husband.

There is an interesting sidelight to the story about Eva Clausdatter Sommer. She traces her roots back to the same Farm Kuraasen as her husband Svend Pedersen Evavold. One set of great-grandparents was the same: Svend Christensen Haugen and Malena Pedersdatter Kuraas. (See paragraph on Kuraasen) It is also interesting to note that Eva’s sister Kristi Sophia Clausdatter Sommer was the great grandmother of Hervin and Raymond Torgerson who lived near the Evavolds in Eagle Lake Township, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. I will include some family tree data on that family in an addendum to this report.

Svend Pedersen Evavold stayed on Evavoll South and took over the lease in 1864 when he married Gjertrud Katrine Davidsdatter. He purchased the farm from the Roros Mining Company in 1868 for 730 Specie Daler (dollars).

Svend and Gjertrud had three children;

Peder I Svendsen Evavold, b. 4 Sept 1864267, d. 30 Nov 1864269, age 12 weeks.

Peder II Svendsen Evavold, b. 6 Apr 1867, d. 18 Oct 1896044, age 29. Peder was

not married. He died of the flu and gastric fever.

Elen Katrine Svendsdatter Evavold, b. 27 Sept 1878, confirmed 14 May 1894060.

It states in the Roros Book that Svend drove mine vehicles from the time he was 13 years old. He continued with this work for 50 years while he was cultivating the farm. It says that he was “an enlightened and competent man”.

Elen Katrine married Hans-Morten Steffensen Tamnes on 29 Sept 1905270. The Tamnes farm is located directly across the lake from Evavollen. Her father had died in 1895 so Elen Katrine and her brother Peder had been operating the farm. When she married Hans-Morten, he moved there and took the name Evavold and operated the farm. Elen Katrine’s mother died in early 1906. Elen Katrine and Hans-Morten had the following children;

Gudrun Kristine Hansdatter Evavold, b. 18 July 1905271.

Married Henning O. Tamnes from Roros.

Sofie Hansdatter Evavold, b.24 Sept 1906272, d.1950.

Ragnild Hansdatter Evavold, b. 26 Dec 1907273.

Married Teacher Lars N. Valseth.

Paul Sigvart Hansen Evavold, b. 1 Nov 1909274.

Married Gulbjorg E. Klokkervold.

Einar Magnus Hansen Evavold, b. 3 May 1912275.

Married Borghild I. Tamnes from Galaaen

David Hansen Evavold, b. 23 Aug 1914276. David operated a Toro Lawn

Equipment Shop in Sandefjord, Norway.

Petra Hansdatter Evavold, b.1923.

Married Per Myhr from Kolanda, Norway.

Margot Hansdatter Evavold, b.1926.

Married Finn Klaastad from Sandefjord, Norway.

After his father’s death in 1953, Paul Sigvart took over the farm. Paul Sigvart and Gulbjorg had one son, Svein Magne who runs the farm today.

The descendents of Hans Morten and Elen Katrine make up the blood relatives of the American Evavolds in Norway. Through the years several Norway Evavolds have visited America and vise-versa.

EVAVOLL WEST

In 1913, Hans-Morten Steffensen Evavold sold a part of the home fields and rough grazing to Anders Olsen Sjovoll and he cultivated a nice, little farm there. That farm became know as Evavoll West. Once it was sold, no blood relatives were associated with that farm.

Farm Life in Norway

As I have been writing this family history, it occurred to me that I have very little information about what farm life was actually like in those early days. I am looking for books and articles that can open that window into their day-to-day life. I have asked family members in Norway if they can help me. Margot Evavold Klaastad, the youngest daughter of Elen Katrine Evavold, sent me this letter, in Norwegian, of her memories growing up on Evavollen. I am grateful for her letter and hope that she will look kindly on my liberal translation.

Roscoe,

In the early 1900’s, Glamos was not a town but a small railway stop. There were two businesses there. They had shoes, goods and food for the animals and groceries for the farmers. The businesses took in butter from the farmers as payment for the feed and groceries.

The farmers traveled with horses and sleighs in the winter and in summer with horses and wagons or with bicycles. There were no buses or cars in those early times. If they wanted to go to Roros, they had to take the train from Glamos. I don’t believe that the train stops there any more.

The winter was long and cold with much snow. We traveled with horses or skis. We had 10-12 milk cows, calves and sheep and 1-2 pigs. The road was made with horse and plow so there was only a narrow trail we could use.

The summers were short but perhaps warm. The cows came out of the barn at the end of June but in September they were put in for the winter.

For a time there was a small school the little children could go to, but for me it was a longer distance. We used skis but if the weather was very bad, father would come and get me.

We did not get electricity until after World War II. There was kerosene for the lamps and cook stoves and we burned a lot of peat, which we took from our own lands.

There was much work. Harvest cutting started in the middle of July and early August. But there was only grass. It was too cold there for grain crops. Sometimes we got a few potatoes.

The people up there at Evavollen were happy and content even though they didn’t have so much. It was a hard life. Everything has become much better, more work opportunities, more things and more comfort. Also, the roads are open so they can use the cars the whole year. Comforts for the people and animals have turned around.

In the old times it was terribly hard up there and I think that the early settlers had it very difficult. But about the 1700’s – 1800’s I cannot tell you much. I regret that I hadn’t talked more to my mother about those things but such it is. One thing is certain. It is beautiful up there. Great skiing and lots of fish in the lake.

The farm has changed from those who started it until now. The house was larger, with the kitchen in the middle and living rooms on each side. It was completely changed around 1920. The out buildings were torn down and built up for easier use. It is a large property and extends from the lake to the mountain, with trees on both sides where we walked with the sheep, cows and calves the whole summer from June until the middle of August. The ground is good but with the short summer there is little that they can grow except grass.

I hope that this is something that you can make use of.

Margot Evavold Klaastad.

VARALDSOY

Varaldsoy is a luxuriant and rich mountainous island located in Hardanger Fjord about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Haugesund, Norway and about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Bergen, Norway. (Both of these distances are as the crow flies because of water and mountains actual driving distances are much greater.) This island is unique because in the early 1860’s copper ore was discovered at the top of the mountain above a natural harbor at the northwest side of the island. This ore is in the form of copper pyrites - a yellow copper ore (CuFeS2) made up of copper and iron sulfide. Both copper and sulfur were important minerals in industry in the late 1800’s as they are today. With the discovery of copper on Varaldsoy, there was great interest in developing a mine there to recover the ore. After a 3.5 km roadway was carved in the side of the mountain to transport the ore to the harbor, mining began. Workers were recruited from all over Norway and nearby countries to work the mine. Men from Roros were in demand because they had worked in the copper mines around that area. And so, three members of the Evavold Family went to Varaldsoy.

It has been my great fortune to have visited the mine at Varaldsoy. In 1990, my wife Cyndi and I met a couple, Knut and Liv Nernas, while traveling on the Coastal Steamer between Bergen and Kirkenes, Norway. This couple owns a farm on the shore of Hardanger Fjord across the water from Varaldsoy. In response to our interest in the mine and its history, he promised to take me to the mine on my next trip to Norway. In 1993, my Uncle Karold Evavold and I spent 3 weeks visiting friends and family in Norway. I had contacted Knut and we arranged to meet at his farm. We had a fine dinner with his family and he took us on a tour of Strandebarm, Norway where Klaus Pedersen Evavold and his family went to church. We stayed at their house and the next morning he took us in his boat over to the harbor. He borrowed a 4-wheel drive vehicle from the salmon company which operates a fish farm by the island. We drove the mountain roadway up to the mine. After parking, we walked upward past traces of old building foundations up to the old mine site.

The mine consisted of a single vein of ore that had been mined vertically. The vein appeared to be about 30 feet across and 3-4 times that long. Because of safety fences we could not see the bottom. Initially, the ore was lifted out manually with rope buckets and loaded on horse carts. Later, mechanical lifting equipment was used. Still later a horizontal tunnel was dug into the vein from down the hillside so that the ore could be dropped and hauled out with wheelbarrows.

As we were enjoying the sights of the mine and the excellent view of the fjord from the mountaintop, I asked Knut if he knew a reason why Klaus would leave Norway and take his family to America in 1888. He stated that the low price of copper caused the mine to close and there was no more work. So they started a new life in Minnesota.

A couple of notes about additional mine history. During the first World War, a small mining operation was begun lower on the southwest side of the mountain. That did not last more that 1-2 years. In the early 1950’s, during the Korean Conflict, major mining operations took place on the lower northwest side of the mountain. We visited that location and observed old barracks, a small mine locomotive and a tunnel entrance.

I am very thankful for the chance meeting of Knut and Liv Nernas and their hospitality during our visit. The experience has contributed much to my understanding of our family history.

[pic] [pic]

Uncle Karold and Knut Nernas at Mine Varaldsoy Mine Shaft

[pic][pic]

Blocked Lower Mine Entrance Strandebarm On Shore (Beyond Peak)

Roros to Varaldsoy

Klaus Pedersen Evavold was probably the first family member to be recruited to go to Varaldsoy. The Roros Church Book indicates that he left on 4 Oct 1867. I cannot find information in the Strandebarm Church Book about his arrival in that Parish.

Keep in mind that at that time there were no roadways or rail service over the mountains and valleys between Roros and southern Norway. The obvious route must have been to Trondheim and then by ship to Varaldsoy. The route to Trondheim had existed since the 1600’s for transport of goods to the town and mines and to carry the ore and later smelted copper for distribution to world markets.

When he arrived at the mine, he would have found that lodging for the workers was in small houses built near the mine entrance. There probably also was housing at the base of the mountain around the Harbor Oyarhamn. The church was located at Strandebarm on the mainland up the coast about 12 kilometers. Along the coast south of the town there were 3 very small villages. Families of mine managers and other supervisors may have lived at mainland locations with the men commuting by boat on weekends.

The work was principally manual labor. There was little mechanization. Essentially only picks, shovels, buckets lifted by ropes and horse carts for transporting the ore. In later years before the closing in 1888 some mechanization took place.

Social activities were limited in the mine area, but there probably were social functions in Strandebarm and on rare occasions when it was possible to get to Bergen. Women and young ladies were employed as cooks, cleaning persons and for doing laundry.

About 7 months after he arrived, Klaus met a young lady by the name of Brithe Pedersdatter Hansen. They were married at the Strandebarm Church on 2 Apr 1868499.

Family of Brithe Pedersdatter Hanson

Brithe’s family came from Sogn og Fjordane. This Fylke or county is on the west coast of Norway in an area called Sognefjord. It lies about 50 miles (80 km) north of Bergen. Brithe’s paternal grandfather came from a farm called Hoyvik North. Her paternal grandmother came from a farm called Opdal.

Brithe’s grandfather Hans Nilsson Hoyvik was born 27 Dec 1787484, his wife Alis Persdatter Opdal was born 15 Apr 1778485. They lived on the Farm Hoyvik North and had 6 children:

Gunhild Hansdatter Hoyvik, b. 25 Jun 1810, on 26 Jun 1840 married Ola Ivarson

Hoyvik.

Peder Hanson Hoyvik, b. 6 Mar 1812498, on 3 Nov 1832 married Lisbet

Clausdatter Austgulen, b. 21 Aug 1808486.

Ingeborg Hansdatter Hoyvik, b. 7 Aug 1814, on 21 Jun 1849 married Hans

Matiasson Molde, b. 1829.

Niels Hanson Hoyvik, b. 15 Sept 1816.

Jetmund Hanson Hoyvik, b. 10 Oct 1818, d. 26 Apr 1900.

Anders Hanson Hoyvik, b. 11 Nov 1821, d. 26 Jul 1838.

As noted above, Peder married Lisbet Austgulen. It is not known where they lived for six years but in 1838 Peder bought the Farm Upper Austgulen. He then took the name Austgulen or Ostgulen in some records.

Lisbet Clausdatter Austgulen was born 21 Aug 1808486, and died 24 Dec 1863496. Her parents were Claus Hanson, b. 1774 and Ingeborg Lassesdatter, b. 1776 from the farm Lower Austgulen. Lisbet had 5 sisters and 2 brothers.

Peder and Lisbet had 8 children.

Ahlis Pedersdatter Austgulen, b. 19 Jan 1833488.

Ingeborg I Pedersdatter Austgulen, b. 11 Aug 1837492, d. 13 Jan 1838495.

Ingeborg II Pedersdatter Austgulen, b. 21 Dec 1838493.

Hans Pederson Austgulen, b. 4 May 1841489.

Anders Pederson Austgulen, b. 2 Nov 1843490.

Ludvig Pederson Austgulen, b. 25 May 1846491.

Brithe Pedersdatter Austgulen, b. 18 Mar 1848482, c. 18 Oct 1863483.

Helene Pedersdatter Austgulen, b. 3 Aug 1854494.

In addition to farming, Peder was a basket weaver. In 1852, Peder moved his family over the mountain north to Breidvig in the Brekke area,. (The Brekke area has its own Farm Book so that farm is not described in the Gulen Book I have used for the above documentation.) Lisbeth died in 1863. Four years later, in 1867, Peder married Marta Nilsdatter Vikoren. He had no children with Marta. In 1871 Peder left Breidvig and returned to Austgulen. Peder died 25 Aug 1905497.

Evavold Family at Varaldsoy

As mentioned above, there is no record of where or when Klaus met Brithe. He may have met her at a social function in Strandebarm or Bergen or she may have worked at the mine. The record does show that on 2 Apr 1868499 Claus (Klaus) Pedersen Evavold married Brithe Pedersdatter Ostgulen (Austgulen).

The record also shows that Klaus’s cousin Iver Pedersen Evavold married Johane Johannesdatter Odegaard that same year on 6 Nov 1868500. This means that Iver must have come to Varaldsoy at the same time as Klaus. Also, Johanne Odegaard is listed as being from Roros and she probably came at that time too. Johanne was born in Roros, b. 5 Jan 1852501. Her parents were Johannes Johnsen Odegaard and Anne Margrethe Larsdatter Riise. Iver and Johanne had a son Johan Peder Iverson Evavold, b. 25 Jun 1869503.

I have not found the emigration record for Iver and his wife and child, but Census Records in America show that they were there in 1870. This means that Iver did not stay long in Varaldsoy.

About 2 years after Klaus and Brithe were married, their first child was born. They had 7 children in 15 years. They were:

Peder Klausen Evavold, b. 30 May 1870502.

Klaus Edvard Klausen Evavold, b. 25 May 1872504.

Louisa Marie Klausdatter Evavold, b. 5 Aug 1874505.

Peter Alfred Klausen Evavold, b. 20 June 1877506.

Isak Klausen Evavold, b. 6 Feb 1879507.

Elvina Constance Klausdatter Evavold, b. 21 Sept 1881508.

Anton Bertinus Klausen Evavold, b. 6 Jun 1885509.

Pertinent dates and the descendents of these seven are described in detail in the Family Tree Book.

Regarding name spellings, Klaus spelled his name in his children’s birth records with a “C” until 1881 when he changed it to “K”. At that time he is also listed as Grubeforeman or mine foreman so the promotion may have been the reason for the change.

The Roros Church Book shows that Peder Pedersen Evavold, Klaus’ younger brother left for Varaldsoy on 28 Feb 1870347. We also know that he was there in 1870 because he is listed as one of the fadderne (sponsors) for Klaus and Brithe’s first child Peder. Peder worked with Klaus at the mine until 1875. On 1 Apr 1875396 he left Norway for America. Peder had married Ingeborg Finkelsdatter Farden from Valdres, Norway the day before they left on the boat. Ingeborg was born in 1855.

Klaus continued to work at the mine until 1888 when the mine closed. As noted above, He was foreman at the mine when it closed. Since there was no more work, he packed his wife and seven children up and headed for Bergen to take the ship to America.

Evavolds Arrive in America

The Roros Church Book indicates that Johanna Pedersdatter Evavold, b. 1831, daughter of Peder Jonsen Evavold of Evavoll North left Norway and went to New York in 1851. I can find no further records about her. She was Iver Pedersen Evavold’s younger sister. Iver also had a brother, Ole Pederson Evavold, b. 1824, who went to America about 1855. One of his descendants, Lila Burmeister has been in contact with Rodney Pletan and me and may have more information to add. He apparently never used the name Evavold in America.

As noted above Iver Pedersen Evavold with his wife Johane Odegaard and son Johan went to America in 1870. They are listed in the 1870 Minnesota Territorial Census living in St. Olaf Township. Their post office was listed as Pomme De Terre which was located south of Ashby, MN. In 1875 he filed a Homestead Declaration for a farm in Otter Tail County, Eagle Lake Township, Section 17, located near Grue Church. In 1888, Iver filed another Homestead Declaration in Polk County, Township 153N, Section 5 near Thief River Falls. Iver and Johane’s family is listed in the Family Tree prepared by Rodney and Audrey Pletan so I won’t list it here.

However, there are a couple of Census notes that I will mention. The first is the 1870 Minnesota Census. Iver(31), Johane(18) and Johan(1) are listed living in St.Olaf Township, Otter Tail County. The ages are correct. Second, Iver(55), Johanna(43), Anton(21), Oliver(16), Joseph(11) and Ida(3) are listed in the 1895 MN Census living in Polk County. That data also appears to be consistent. Third, in 1905 Iver(65) is living with his son Anton(31), his wife Helen(34) and daughter Gladys(5) in Red Lake County, MN. Lastly, in the U.S 1920 Census Iver(79) is living with his son Joseph(35), wife Ada(28) and daughter Eloise Dorothy(11) in Washington state, Pacific County. The 1920 census record indicates that Iver arrived in the U.S in 1870.

The Norwegian Emigration Records show that Peder Pedersen Evavold and his new wife left Norway in 1875. The Minnesota Records show that Peder filed a Homestead Declaration in 1875 in Section 26, Eagle Lake Township, Otter Tail County, MN. That farm is located on County Hwy 38 just west of the farm owned after 1941 by Arnold and Evenelle Evavold, where I grew up. Peder and Ingeborg are listed regularly in the Minnesota Territorial Censuses. A side note regarding Ingeborg. Her maiden name was Ingeborg Finkelsdatter Farden. She was born in the Valdres area of Norway in 1855. I know that she was a relative of the Finkelson’s that lived in Eagle Lake Township. Was she also related to the Fardens? More research is needed.

As noted above, when Ellev Pedersen Evavold died in 1880, his widow Anne Jamtvold Evavold took her two sons and left for America. That was probably in 1881 or 1882. Andreas (Andrew) the surviving son grew up in Eagle Lake Township. He married Tilda Wedin, the daughter of Johan Wedin and had 10 children. Details of his family are found in the Family Tree Book.

We have clear records that Klaus Pedersen Evavold and his wife Brithe came to America with seven children in 1888. My brother, Allan, contacted the Utvandringscenter (Emigration Center) near Bergen, Norway. They informed him that Klaus, Brithe and family left Bergen June 21, 1888. The family probably left on the ship Eldorado III. The Eldorado III was called a feeding or small ship that carried emigrants from Norway to the UK. In the UK they boarded a larger ship for passage to America. We know they traveled to Nova Scotia and then Quebec, Canada. They then took the train west to Winnipeg, Manitoba. How they traveled south from there to Eagle Lake Township is not known. Was there a train? Was it stage coach or wagon. Maybe someone in the family has heard the story. My grandfather Anton was 3 when they came and he remembered the ship and train ride. I am sure that when they arrived they stayed with his brother Peder for some time. I do not know when they moved to the farm where Violet Evavold lives now. I hope to be able to review the farm title abstract for more of that history.

[pic]

Klaus and Brithe with the seven children taken in America about 1893

( Back row: Issac, Alfred, Peder, Klaus. Girl standing: Elvina.

Seated: Klaus, Anton, Brithe, Louise Marie)

To put some ages in perspective, here is a list of the Klaus family ages when they came from Norway and when they died.

Klaus Pedersen Evavold, age 48. Died in 1900 at age 60.

Brithe Evavold, age 40. Died in 1934 at age 86.

Peder K. Evavold, age 18. Died in 1938 at age 68.

Klaus K. Evavold, age 16. Died in 1935 at age 63.

Louisa Marie Evavold, age 14. Died in 1912 at age 38.

Peter Alfred Evavold, age 11. Died in 1956 at age 79.

Issac K. Evavold, age 9. Died in 1945 at age 66.

Elvina Constance Evavold, age 7. Died in 1959 at age 88.

Anton Bertinus Evavold, age 3. Died in 1968 at age 83.

The father only lived about 12 years in Minnesota.

The complete family tree of Klaus’ family and all the other Evavold’s in America is available through Rodney and Audrey Pletan so I will end this early history story here.

Roscoe Evavold

July 9, 2010

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