St. Olaf Church (The Rock Church) and Cemetery, Cranfills Gap, Bosque County, Texas, USA

I wrote about my visit to Bosque County, Texas in my previous article about Our Savior's Church and Cemetery. The St. Olaf Church, usually called The Rock Church, outside Cranfillls Gap, was built in 1886. See the text of the marker following the third photo.

Text: «Built in 1886 of native stone by architect Andrew Mickelson and his brothers, Christian and Ole Mickelson. It originally had a dirt floor and planks laid on wooden kegs for pews. The bell was acquired in 1897. The church served the Norwegian settlers of this area, who were members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Norse (6 miles E). In 1902, the growth of the community necessitated separation from the Norse church, and the St. Olaf Congregation was organized. A new edifice was erected in Cranfills Gap (4 miles W) in 1907, and this church has since been used only for special services. (1974)»

I only took 7 photos during the visit to the Rock Church, and no headstones were recorded.

Here it seems I wanted to show the landscape around the church as well.

All photos: © 2005 Dag Trygsland Hoelseth.

Our Savior's Church and Cemetery, Norse, Bosque County, Texas, USA

In the summer of 2005 I made a round-trip to the central and Eastern part of Texas, USA. Due to my interest in Norwegian-American emigration history, I stayed a day and night in Clifton, Bosque County in order to visit places where Norwegian settlers made footprints. There was a large Norwegian settlement starting in the 1840s and 1850s in Bosque County.

Now, it has been a while since 2005, so I don't remember all the details of what I did. I am not sure why I have waited so long to write a blog article about the visit either. Up to now I have only published a couple photos of my visit for an article in Slektshistoriewiki, the Norwegian genealogy wiki. I remember, however, that I visited the Bosque Museum in Clifton, which among others houses a chair made by Cleng Peerson (1783–1865), who organised the first group of Norwegian to emigrate in 1825 and has thus been nicknamed «the Father of Norwegian Emigration to the US»). Peerson eventually settled in Norse, Texas. I made a stop near the farm where he died. I also visited three churches and cemeteries in the area – Our Savior's Lutheran Church, the Old Rock Church near Cranfills Gap and the Norse Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Based on the timing of the photos, it seems that I visited Our Savior's Church twice, maybe because I felt the photos of Cleng Peerson's grave were not good enough the first time around. It was also a very warm and sunny day, so it was not too easy to take photographs due to reflection problems. I wish I had taken more grave photos. Don't know remember why I didn't. Can I blame the weather? Or that I wanted to see more «Norwegian» places before I returned to Clifton?

The first group of settlers arrived in Bosque County in the 1840s, and in Norse in 1854. The church was organized in 1859 and the church building was erected in the period 1875–1885.

Text: «Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Mother Church Former Evangelical Lutheran Church in Texas. Organized June 14, 1859 by Norwegian settlers of Bosque County. Building erected 1875–1885.
Cleng Peerson. Pioneer of Norwegian emigration to U.S. (Landed 1821) is buried here. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 1965.» And beneath:

«Our Savior's Lutheran Church E.L.C. 1869 – 1876 – 1956 Soli Deo Gloria.»

Memorial of the 17 original Norwegian settlers in Bosque County, Texas, 1854. Hendrick [Henrik] Olsen Dahl & Christine Pedersdatter Furuseth, Ole Canuteson [Knudson/Knutsen] & Ellen Malene Gunderson, Jens Jensen & Tonje Knudsdatter, Jens Olsen Ringness & Kari Jensdatter, Ole Larsen Ween, Knut Canuteson & Berte Olson, Carl Engebretsen Questad & Sedsel [Sissel] Oldsdatter [Olsdatter] Ringness, Berger Tollefsen Rogstad & Anne Eriksdatter Furuseth Bronstad, Ole Pierson [Perssen/Pedersen] & Anne Helene Oldsdatter [Olsdatter].

Cleng Peerson's grave.

Text: «Cleng Peerson. / The Pioneer of Norse Emigration / to America. / Born in Norway, Europe / May 17, 1782. / Landed in America in 1821. / Died in Texas / December 16, 1865. / Grateful countrymen in Texas / erected this to his memory.» Most sources give 1783 as his birth year, though. A discussion about his birth year (in Norwegian) can be found here.

Backside of the headstone: «Cleng Peerson. / Den förste norske Indvandreren / i [til?] Amerika. / Födt i Norge Europa den / 17 Mai 1782 / Kom til Amerika in 1821. / Döde i Texas, / den 16 December , 1865. / Taknemmelige landsmænd i Texas reiste ham dette minde.»The claim that he was the first Norwegian immigrant is wrong, though. Many Norwegian settled before him, for instance the Norwegians arriving on Dutch ships in the 17th century.

King Olav V visited Our Savior's Lutheran Church in 1982 to commemorate the birth year of Cleng Peerson. Nils Olav Østrem settled on 1783 as birth year in an artice in Ætt og Heim in 1999. See also the NBL article (also in Norwegian).

War memorial of Nels Grimland (1839–1924).

I write «war memorial» above as here is the actual headstone at the grave of Nels Grimland and his wife Maria (1848–1925).

Pauline Rogstad (1863-1944).

The following are photos taken on my second visit later in the evening on 15 July 2005.

Cleng Peerson's headstone (again).

«Her hviler stövet / af / Even Qvæstad / Födt 17de October 1842 / paa Gaarden Öde / Qvæstad i Norge / Död 31 August 1862» («Here rests the dust of ...»)

All photos: © 2005 Dag Trygsland Hoelseth.

Another Norwegian-American who might run for GOP nomination

Earlier this month I wrote about Republican politicians who are considered as possible candidates for GOP nomination in 2012. One of them was the Norwegian-American Senator John Thune (SD), whose grandfather Nikolai Gjelsvik came to the United States in 1906. According to Naustdal Sogelag (Naustdal Historical Society), Nikolai and his brother Mattias (Matthew) emigrated from Gjelsvik (in today's Askvoll municipality, Sogn og Fjordane) in Førdefjorden. I believe I have found the above-mentioned brothers in the emigrant protocol here. I haven't yet got the time to look for their registered christenings and confirmations, though.

In the blog article I joked that "Of course the world needs a President of Norwegian ancestry!" I didn't know by then that another possible candidate for GOP nomination, Michele Bachmann, is also of Norwegian ancestry. Congresswoman Bachmann is representing the 6th District of Minnesota. I didn't include her in my list of potential candidates, though - I guess I found her to be too right-wing to have much chance. The Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten wrote about her today, describing her as a ""Norwegian" challenger to Sarah Palin", yet another candidate linked to the Tea Party movement.

Bachmann has got some attention for her speech at an Iowan for Tax Relief event (see also here and here) where she told that "her ancestors did not come to this country for handouts, welfare and socialized medicine, but for mere opportunity". Oh well, there could have been different "pull and push" factors which made her ancestors to emigrate to the United States, and a homestead was probably one of them. Couldn't that be described as a "handout"?

Anyway, Michele Bachmann's maiden name was Amble, and some of her ancestry has been published at Rootsweb. Her great-great grandfather Nils Anfindsen Amble came from Sogndal in Western Norway. The information should be double-checked by using primary sources in Norway, though. Only references to the bygdebok (parish book) seem to have been given so far.

Postscript 1 February 2011 at 19:40: I have created two new discussion threads at the Norwegian Arkivverket's Users' forum:

Michele Bachman, née Amble: Topic 69. Created 1 February 2011.
John Thune: Topic 70. Created 1 February 2011.

Hopefully more information on their ancestry will be added eventually!

Updated on 3 February 2011 at 11.00 (typos corrected).

Three Norwegians in NHL - more to come?

Outside the Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto, Canada (2008).

On Monday it became known that the Norwegian ice hockey player Mathis Olimb of Frölunda Indians had signed a 1-year contract with the Stanley Cup champions Chicago Blackhawks. This means that next season there will be at least three Norwegians playing in the National Hockey League (NHL), as Jonas Holøs (Colorado Avalance) and Mats Zuccarello Aasen (New York Rangers) have already signed contracts. And if that is not enough, Patrick Thoresen will most likely be ready for a NHL club soon. He has already terminated his contract with the Russian team Salavat Julajev and might return to his former club Philadelphia Flyers, unless the club chooses to waive its rights.

Three Norwegians playing in NHL at the same time would alone be a new record, and four players would just be fabulous! Of course there is a chance that one or possibly two of the Norwegians will end up playing for the respective clubs' farmer team, but both Aasen and Thoresen will most likely establish themselves in the NHL.

Patrick Thoresen has besides Philadelphia Flyers also played for Edmonton Oilers. Other former Norwegian players in the NHL are Bjørn "Botta" Skaare (Detroit Red Wings), Anders Myrvold (Colorado Avalance, Boston Bruins, New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings), Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (Colombus Blue Jackets and Philadelphia Flyers (he never got any games for Detroit Red Wings)) and Espen "Shampo" Knutsen (Anaham Mighty Ducks (now not "Mighty" anylonger) and Columbus Blue Jackets).

The Stanley Cup champions of 2009-2010, Chicaco Blackhawks, already has a Norwegian connection, as Dustin Byfuglien (usually pronounced BUFF-lin in the States) descends from Etnedalen in Valdres. At the Norwegian Digitalarkivet's users' forum several genealogists, including yours sincerely, are making an attempt to find his roots. Surely there have been many other Norwegian-Americans in the NHL before, such as Byfuglien's stepfather Dale Smedmo, who played for Toronto Maple Leafs in the early 1970s.

Sources and references

• Norwegian NHL statistics (Hockey.no)
• Dustin Byfuglien (player statistics, hockeyDB.com)
  
• Espen Knutsen (hockeyDB.com)
• Anders Myrvold (hockeyDB.com)
  
• Bjørn Skaare (hockeyDB.com)
• Dale Smedsmo (hockeyDB.com)
  
• Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (hockeyDB.com)
• Patrick Thoresen (hockeyDB.com)

Grant Aaseng from «Alt for Norge» in Nettavisen

Grant Aaseng - of «Alt for Norge» fame - was interviewed by Nettavisen (Side2.no) during his recent visit to Norway. The interview was published a few days ago.

He told among others that "he had Norway in his blood" and that his sense of national pride for Norway "came sneaking" during a medal ceremony at the Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2002.

- Jeg har Norge i blodet (Nettavisen (Side2.no) 4 June 2010) (in Norwegian)

Subject title corrected 10 June 2010 at 10.30.

Doug Miner won «Alt for Norge»

The last episode of the reality show «Alt for Norge» («All for Norway») was broadcasted on TVNorge tonight, and Doug Miner from Seattle, whose great grandmother came from Lomeland in Helleland, county of Rogaland, came out as the winner. He won 50.000 US dollars as well as a reunion with his Norwegian family.

You can see Doug's comments about his victory at TVNorge's website.

Other links

• Presentation of Doug Miner (in Norwegian)
• Doug Miner's Facebook page
• «Alt for Norge» («All for Norway») (Dag T. Hoelseth's blog 8 April 2010)

Grant Aaseng from «Alt for Norge» back in Norway

Grant Luther Aaseng and his wife Ruth, née Bretheim, received family tree charts from Norsk Slektshistorisk Forening (the Norwegian Genealogical Society).

The Aaseng family: Grant, Kris, Marit and Ruth.

I wrote about the reality show «Alt for Norge» («All for Norway») in connection with the first episode which was broadcasted on TVNorge on 8 April 2010. Ten Norwegan-Americans were invited to Norway to determine which member of the group was «the most Norwegian». The winner would eventually meet his or her Norwegian relatives for a family reunion as well as receive 50.000 US dollars.

One of the participants was pastor Grant Luther Aaseng, whose ancestors come from among others Fron, Numedal, Haus and Sogndal. He was eliminated from the show in episode 6, which was broadcasted in Norway on Thursday 20 May 2010.

Norsk Slektshistorisk Forening, the Norwegian Genealogical Society (NSF), invited the pastor and his family to come to Norway to meet their relatives, and last Wednesday they arrived for a hectic, but surely exciting, 6 days' stay. They have among others met family in Heidal and in Biri, where some of the ancestors of Grant Aaseng's wife Ruth came from. Tonight the Aaseng family came to the library and office of NSF for coffee and waffles and a meeting with committee members of NSF and the other genealogical society, DIS Norge and with family living in the Oslo area as well as members of the production company Monster.

The Norwegian Genealogical Society provided Grant and Ruth with their family tree charts, which members of the NSF committee had worked on the last few weeks prior to their arrival. The Aasengs leave for the United States on Tuesday 1 June.

The final episode of «Alt for Norge» will be broadcasted on 3 June. The finalists are Matthew Lovik (Santa Cruz, CA/Stord, Hordaland county), Maia Surace (Chicago, IL/Austre Moland, Aust-Agder), Doug Miner (Seattle, WA/Helleland, Rogaland) and Clinton Admire (Fort Worth, TX/Haugesund, Rogaland).

Here are some links to various articles about the TV show and Aaseng family's visit (most of them in Norwegian) as well as information about pastor Aaseng:

• Alt for Norge (TVNorge)
• Shalom Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Minnesota
• Grant Aaseng's public Facebook page
  
• «Alt for Norge» («All for Norway») (Dag T. Hoelseth's blog 8 April 2010)
  
• Populær slektsjakt (GD.no 13 April 2010
• «Alt for Norge»-deltakar i Heidal: - Ein draum har vorte oppfylt (GD.no 28 May 2010)
• Alt for Norges Grant Aaseng kommer til Norge (Genealogi.no (NSF) 25 May 2010)
• Grant Aaseng fra «Alt for Norge» på Norgesbesøk (Genit 29 May 2010)
• Bilder fra Alt for Norge Grant Aasengs norgesbesøk i mai 2010 (Genealogi.no (NSF) 28-31 May 2010)

«Alt for Norge» – «All for Norway»

The first episode of the reality show «Alt for Norge» («All for Norway») was shown on TVNorge tonight. Ten Norwegian-Americans arrived in Norway last year to participate in a not too serious fight to determine which member of the group was «the most Norwegian». The winner would eventually meet his Norwegian relatives for a family reunion. And win 50.000 dollars in addition.

The participants come from all over the United States: the health care worker Matthew Lovik from Santa Cruz in California descends from Stord in Western Norway; the actress Signe Harriday of Harlem, New York (Steinkjer, county of Nord-Trøndelag); the opera singer Maia Surace from Chicago, Illinois (Austre Moland outside Arendal, county of Aust-Agder); the performance artist Kari Trauring from Minneapolis Minnesota (Gudvangen, Aurland municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane); the security guard (but also a part-time professional wrestler!) Joseph Ruud from Long Lake, Minnesota (Nannestad, county of Akershus); the pastor Grant Aaseng from Alexandria, Minnesota (Vågå in Gudbrandsdalen, county of Oppland); the personal shopper Flannery Good of Fresno, California (Åsnes/Våler in the county of Hedmark); the laboratory manager Doug Miner of Seattle (Helleland, county of Rogaland), the insurance agent Deborah Breberg from Dawson, Minnesota (Tuddal, Hjartdal in the county of Telemark) and finally the photographer Clinton Admire from Forth Worth, Texas (Haugesund in the county of Rogaland). Except for Lovik I have put the place of origin in Norway in parenthesis. Henriette Bruusgaard hosted the show.

The episode started at Prekestolen («The Pulpit Rock») in Forsand, Rogaland where they were challenged to hike down to Prekestolshytta. Other challenges were peparing a matpakke (lunch packet) before heading for a short introduction of the Norwegian language and etiquette. Later they received a list written in Norwegian of things they needed for dinner, which was to be served outdoors at Sverd i fjell in Hafrsfjord, Stavanger. It caused some trouble to find out what the Norwegian words meant and how to find the various stuff in downtown Stavanger. No, duk was not a duck, but a table cloth! And what was served for dinner? Not everyone was happy about the main course: grilled whale!

No-one was eliminated tonight, but in the next episode the real fight starts! During the show the Norwegian-Americans will among others compete in tractor racing, cow collecting, dog slade racing and 17th of May (National Day) celebration. Obviously a «feel good» show, quite entertaining with very charming and sympathetic participants. I already look forward to the next episode.

Lots of research has been done in advance, among others in order to find the relatives of all the participants. Norsk Slektshistorisk Forening (the Norwegian Genealogical Society) and DIS-Norge (Genealogy Society of Norway-DIS) were given the task and have done a great job. I joined the board of the Norwegian Genealogical Society as a deputy member after the research was done, so I will not take any credit for this... :-)

Photo: © TVNorge (published here by permission).

Updated Friday 9 April 2010 at 11.25.

Farewell, Norway

The publisher and former journalist Sverre Mørkhagen has recently finished his first volume on the Norwegian emigration to America, «Far vel Norge. Utvandringen til Norge 1825-1975» («Farewell, Norway. The Norwegian emigration to America 1825-1975»). It is the first larger work on the Norwegian emigration in 30 years. In the book Mørkhagen claims among others that the numbers of emigration from Norway to America were much higher than earlier estimated, perhaps as many as a million Norwegians are believed to have left their homeland between 1825 and 1875. The book, which is published by Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, is 660 pages long and is priced at NOK 449.

In connection with the new book the Norwegian National Library has opened an exhibition about the Norwegian emigration history and all the literature that has been published about the topic. Norsk-amerikansk samling - «Norwegian-American Collection» has the most complete collection of Norwegian emigration literature in the country, covering both fictional and non-fictional works.

Earlier major works on the Norwegian emigration to America were written by Ingrid Semmingsen («Veien mot vest», 2 vol., 1941-1950), Theodore C. Blegen («Norwegian migration to America 1825-1860») and Odd Lovoll.

References

• «Utvandringens historie skal skrives på nytt» (Aftenposten.no 26 April 2006)
• «Én million kan ha dratt til Amerika» (Aftenposten.no 13 October 2009)
• «New book adds new drama to Norwegian emigration» (Views and News from Norway 13 October 2009)

Updated Tuesday 27 October 2009 at 08:25.