Snakker de norsk?

Velkommen!

My recent discovery of Norwegian records online has made the ability to read Norwegian more appealing than ever.  So, I have enrolled in a beginner's class offered through the local Scandinavian Language Institute.  I don't expect to become conversant in the language, but do want to learn enough grammar and vocabulary to be able to make sense of Norwegian websites and historical documents.  The latter may be a bit optimistic since written documents of the 19th century have been difficult enough to read in English,  let alone a foreign language.  But, familiarity with even some of the language will be a help.  In addition to the language instruction, the class gives me an opportunity to learn more about the culture of Norway -- both past and present.  All of this helps in piecing together the puzzle of my ancestors' lives 1 1/2 centuries ago. 

Before I started the class, I was unaware there are two written Norwegian languages:  Nynorsk and Bokmaal++.  Bokmaal is a modifed version of Danish (the standard written language in the 16th - 19th centuries) while Nynorsk is based on Norwegian dialects.  All Norwegian students are taught both languages, but usage of Nynorsk is only about 15 % while Bokmaal is written by about 85% of Norwegians.  Spoken Norwegian is another matter.  Regional differences in oral dialects abound in Norway.  These variations on the language make good dictionaries a necessity in sorting out the differences.  I was fortunate to stumble onto an 1892 Dano-Norwegian/English dictionary in a used bookstore a few years ago.  Although it was published about a half century after some of my ancestors left Norway, it is useful in translating their language.  For my class, I am acquiring a modern dictionary that includes both Bokmaal and Nynorsk.  Between the two dictionaries, I hope eventually to be able to translate much of the material I encounter in my research.

As I develop my language skills and sift through the research materials I've begun to collect, my blogging is slowing down.  It's likely to be a while before I have researched the current documents on my ancestors' lives in Norway and new discoveries will be few and far between.  To provide something of possible interest in the meantime, I've added a link to photos of family tombstones.  These photos include Norwegian and non-Norwegian ancestors and are located on my SmugMug site.  (Though copyright protected, my images may be legally downloaded for personal use.  In addition, printed copies may be ordered via SmugMug.  The cost is for the lab that does the printing and for shipping.  I do not receive payment for these prints.)

Tak for i dag!

++  I don't yet have the Norwegian character set available for my blog, so am making common substitutions for the 'extra' Norwegian characters.  (aa == a with a circle over it; ae == combined ae character, etc.)

Where have I been?

One of the constants of this hobby has been the ebb and flow of research.  Since it is a hobby and not a vocation, I'm often stealing time from other pursuits in order to delve into historical records and written accounts.  While I have more free time than I did when my sons were young, I find the amount of research that I would like to do rarely matches the amount of time I can reasonably spare.  So, it's an on-going tug of war between research and other pursuits.  Such was the case in the past few weeks.  The tug of both expected and unexpected demands won out over research.  Whatever exciting discoveries await in the Digitalarkivet, they will remain unread for a while longer.  In the meantime, I thought I'd post a descendant chart for ggg-grandfather, Knud Endreson of Stake, Gol, Buskerud, Norweg. 

In an effort to preserve privacy, I've entered living persons and persons who may be living as "Private".  In consideration of space, I have not included my sources, but will provide that information to interested parties on request.  I have only posted information that I believe to be true but, upon further research, some may prove to contain inaccuracies.  So, if you wish to use this information, it would be well to check my sources.  With those provisos understood, let me introduce you to Knud Endreson's descendants:

1-Knud Endreson b. , , , , Norway
+Kirste Halvorsdatter b. , , , , Norway
     2-Halvor Knudson b. 1812, Stake, Gol, Buskerud, Norway
     +Kari Engbriksdatter b. 1811, d. 1850, Stake, Gol, Buskerud, Norway
          3-Kari Knudson b. 1830, Gol, Buskerud, Norway
          3-Ingeborg Knudson b. 16 Sep 1846, Stake, Gol, Buskerud, Norway
     2-Arne Knudson b. 1815, , Gol, Buskerud, Norway, d. 8 Aug 1902, (Little Sioux Valley Lutheran Church, Sioux Rapids, Buena Vista, Iowa, USA)
     +Randi Syverson b. 16 Feb 1815, , , , Norway, d. 16 Apr 1891, , Buena Vista, Iowa, USA
          3-Ole Knudson b. 1848, , , , Wisconsin, USA
          3-Sever Knudson b. 1849, , , , Iowa, USA
          +Rachael b. 1851, , , , , Norway
          3-Knut Knudson b. 1850, , , , Iowa, USA
          3-Edmund Knudson b. Nov 1852, , , Iowa, USA
          +Gertie b. Jan 1865, , , , Norway
               4-Edward S. Knudson b. Sep 1888, , , , Iowa, USA
               4-Rebenea A. Knudson b. Nov 1893, , , , Iowa, USA
          3-Barbara Knudson b. 1855, , , Iowa, USA
          3-Rachel Knudson b. Mar 1857, , , , Iowa, USA
          +Brown d. Bef 1900
               4-Mina J. Brown b. Jun 1878, , , , Iowa, USA
               4-Minna M. Brown b. Feb 1885, , , , Iowa, USA
               4-Rand L. Brown b. Nov 1887, , , , Iowa, USA
          3-Edward Knudson b. 1862, , , Iowa, USA
          +Olena b. 1868, , , , , Norway
     2-Ingen Knudsdatter b. 1816, , , , Norway
     +Ole Halvorson b. 1811, , , , Norway
     2-Sevat Knute Starkey b. 24 Jun 1821, Stake, Gol, Buskerud , Norway, d. 17 Sep 1897, Lane, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
     +Caroline Severson  b. 15 May 1815, ??, , Norway, d. 9 Feb 1913, Lane, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
          3-Kirjste Starkey b. 11 Apr 1847, Hesla, Gol, Buskerud, Norway d. before 1850
          3-Knute Starkey b. 10 Oct 1848, Belloit, Rock, Wisconsin, USA, d. 13 Dec 1912, , , Minnesota, USA
          +Bertha Larson b. 21 Sep 1850, , , Norway, d. 25 May 1919, , Turner, South Dakota, USA
               4-Sever K. Starkey b. May 1868, , , Iowa, USA
               +Emma Peterson b. Aug 1872, , Allamakee, Iowa, United States, d. 10 Dec 1944, , Codington, South Dakota, USA
                    5-Hilda B. Starkey b. Mar 1896, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
                    5-Alvin Cornelius Starkey b. 18 Dec 1898, , , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA, d. 10 May 1989, , Wright, Minnesota, USA 
                    5-Simon Emery Starkey b. 25 Dec 1900, d. 15 Sep 1973, , Ramsey, Minnesota, USA
                    5-Carroll R Starkey b. 23 Oct 1904, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA, d. Apr 1968, , , North Dakota, USA
                    5-Starkey
                    5-Starkey
                    5-Sybil I. Starkey b. 21 Oct 1910, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 12 Jun 1978, , Scott, Minnesota, USA 
                    +William August Draeger b. 20 Aug 1904, , , North Dakota, USA, d.  27 May 1985, New Otter, , Minnesota, USA
               4-Charlie Starkey b. Mar 1870, , , Iowa, USA
               +Mina E b. Jul 1877, Illinois
                    5-Roy W Starkey b. 13 May 1899, , , South Dakota, USA, d. Aug 1983, Hennepin, Minnesota, USA
                    5-Starkey
                    5-Harold Rhinhold Starkey b. 25 Mach 1900, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 23 Dec 1983, , Barron, Wisconsin, USA
                    5-Iona Ruth Starkey b. 20 July 1909, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 22 Nov 1997, , , Minnesota, USA
               4-Edward Starkey b. 1871, Dickinson, IA
               4-Cornelius Starkey b. 1873, , Dickinson, Iowa, USA
               4-Oscar Knute Starkey b. 3 Dec 1876, Dickinson, IA
               +Clara G. Swenson b. Abt 1881, , , Iowa, USA
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
               4-Clarence Bernard Starkey b. Sep 1878, , Dickinson, Iowa, USA
               +Ona b. 1884, , , Iowa, USA
                    5-Wallace B. Starkey b. 24 October 1909, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 12 Oct 1964, San Francisco, , California, USA
                    5-Private
                    5-Kenneth S. Starkey b. 27 April 1912, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 24 May 1992, , Washington, Oregon, USA
                    5-Eldon W Starkey b. 22 Nov 1923, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 2 Feb 2001, , Placer, California, USA
               4-Cora R. Starkey b. 9 Feb 1881, Jerauld Co, SD, d. Mar 1967, Seattle, King, Washington, USA
               +Oscar Lindebak b. 16 Dec 1879, , , Iowa, USA, d. 14 Jul 1920, Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota, USA
                     5-Private
                     5-Private
                     5-Private
                     5-K. Orville Lindebak b. 24 Dec 1916, , , North Dakota, USA, d. 13 Feb 2004
                     5-Private
               +Elmer E. Ayers b. 1867
               4-Bertha Starkey b. Jun 1883, Lane, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
               +George W. Kennedy b. 8 Jan 1883, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 25 Apr 1978, , Riverside, California, USA
               4-Anna Starkey b. Feb 1886, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA, d. 12 Nov 1906, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA
               4-Tena May (Eva M) Starkey b. 23 May 1888, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
               +Leonard. Hitchman 
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
                    5-Leonard Hitchman b. 3 Jul 1922, Seattle, King, Washington, USA, d. 5 Mar 2002, Bothell, Snohomish, Washington, USA
               4-Emma Caroline Starkey b. 16 Feb 1891, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA
               4-Ethel Maud Starkey b. 27 Jul 1893, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
               +Selmer C. Nelson
               4-Louis Starkey b. , Jerauld Co, SD, d. , Jerauld Co, SD
          3-Sever S Starkey b. 2 Oct 1850, , Rock Prairie, , Wisconsin, USA, d. 6 Nov 1924, , Lane, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
          +Justine Eline Peterson b. 11 Feb 1856, , , , , Norway, d. 29 Oct 1948, Memorial Hospital, Wessington Springs, Jerauld, South Dakota, United States
               4-Henry Carl Starkey b. 24 Dec 1877, , , Allamakee, Iowa, USA, d. 20 Dec 1958, Ridgefield Rest Home, Ridgefield, Clark, Washington, USA
               +Nellie Esther Schulz b. 17 Feb 1895, , , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA, d. 24 Jul 1986, Vancouver Memorial Hospital, Vancouver, Clark, Washington, USA
                    5-Lena Rose Starkey b. 9 Nov 1913, Wessington Springs, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA, d. 4 August 2011, Pierre, Hughes, South Dakota, USA
                     + Herbert Glenn Baker b. 8 Dec 1909,  d. 15 Jul 1982, Pierre, Hughes, South Dakota, USA
                    5-Delton Everett Starkey b. 3 Feb 1916, Lane, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA, d.  6 Jan 2010, Pierre, Hughes, South Dakota, USA
                    + private
                   5-Lawrence Wilson Starkey b. 2 Dec 1918, Lane, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA, d. 9 Mar 2006, Orchards, Clark, Washington, USA
                    + Edith (Bird) Richards b. 23 Aug 1922, DeGray, Hughes, South Dakota, USA, d. 28 Aug 2002, Orchards, Clark, Washington, USA
                    5-Lowell Kermit Starkey b. 5 Feb 1921, Canning, Hughes, South Dakota, USA, d.  25 Feb 2011, Vancouver, Clark, Washington, USA
                    + private
                    5-Clayton Arnold Starkey b. 24 May 1923, Canning, Hughes, South Dakota, USA, d. 27 Dec 1964, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA
                     + Rosalie Nudo b. 13 May 1927, Stanfield, Umatilla, Oregon, USA, d. 14 May 2012, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA
                    5-Selmer Selvester Starkey b. 3 Jul 1926, Canning, Hughes, South Dakota, USA, d. 4 Oct 1964, Rt. 1 Box 482, Woodland, Clark, Washington, USA
                      + private
                    5-Melvin Willard (Dutch) Starkey b. 18 Jun 1928, Canning, Hughes, South Dakota, USA, d. 23 Aug 1988, La Center, Clark, Washington, USA
                     + private
                     + Julie M. Insell b. 25 July 1919, Astoria, Clatsop, Oregon, USA, d. 14 October 2012, La Center, Clark, Washington, USA
                    5-Private
               4-Clarence Edwin Starkey b. May 1879, , , Allamakee, Iowa, United States, d. 1900, , , Sargent, North Dakota, United States
               4-Emma Cecilia Starkey b. 25 Apr 1885, , Lane, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA, d. 1957, , Lane, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
               +Harry Edmonds               
               +Peter Erickson b. Abt 1882, Illinois
               4-Julia S Starkey b. 25 Apr 1885, , Lane, Jerauld, South Dakota, United States, d. 18 Feb 1950, , Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States
               +Frank J. Rae b. Jun 1888, , , North Dakota, USA
                     5-Private
                     5-Orville S Rae b. 8 Jun 1912, Forman, Sargent, North Dakota, USA, d. Oct 1978, Greeley, CO
                    5-Dorothy J Rae b. 3 Apr 1919, d. 28 Aug 1985, Spokane, WA
                    5-Private
          3-Christina Starkey b. Jan 1853, , , Iowa, USA, d. Bef 1920
          +Andrew Gilbertson b. May 1845, , , Norway
               4-Josephine Gilbertson b. 1876, , , Iowa, USA
               +Conrad Peterson b. 1861, , , , , Norway
                    5-Easter C Peterson b. 1896, , , North Dakota, USA
                    5-Clara A Peterson b. 1897, , , North Dakota, USA
                    5-Gilman Peterson b. 9 May 1906, , , North Dakota, USA, d. 22 Jan 2000, , , North Dakota, USA
               4-Gilbert Gilbertson b. Nov 1877, , , Iowa, USA
               +Mauda b. 1880, , , Minnesota, USA
                    5-Clarence Gilbertson b. 2 Sep 1905, , , North Dakota, USA, d. Mar 1987, Forman, Sargent, North Dakota, USA
               4-Clara Gilbertson b. 1878, , , Iowa, USA, d. Bef 1900
               4-Albertine Amelia Gilbertson b. 30 Dec 1879, Sioux Rapids, Clay, Iowa, USA, d. Bef 1900
               4-Gilbertson b. 1881, d. Oct 1889, Hudson, , South Dakota, USA
               4-Adeline Gilbertson b. Oct 1884, , , South Dakota, USA
               +Andrew Intelhous b. 1882, , , Minnesota, USA
               4-Simon Edward Gilbertson b. 27 Sep 1886, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
               +Gina Oleson b. 1889, , , Iowa, USA
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
               4-Carl Alfred Gilbertson b. 29 Aug 1888, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA
               4-Richard A Gilbertson b. Jan 1891, , , South Dakota, USA
               4-Gilbertson b. Bef 1900
          3-Barbra Oline Starkey b. Feb 1856, , , Iowa, USA, d. 1944, (Solberg Cemetery, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA)
          +Ole C Solberg b. Nov 1855, , , Norway, d. 1927, (Solberg Cemetery, Jerauld, South Dakota, USA)
               4-Solberg
               4-Clara Sophie Solberg b. 13 Jun 1886, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA, d. 22 December 1954, Brookings, Brown, South Dakota, USA
               +Justus Blaalid b. 20 December 1887, Minnesota, d. 29 December 1979, Whitewood, Lawrence, South Dakota, USA
               4-Carl Edward Solberg b. 25 Sep 1887, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA, d. 8 Jan 1962, , Los Angeles, California, USA
               +Agnes Sando b. 1886, , , South Dakota, USA
                    5-Malcolm W Solberg b. 17 May 1913, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 10 Nov 2001, Redding, Shasta, California, USA 
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
                    5-Claire Edward Solberg b. 24 Sep 1918, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 18 Mar 1993, , Los Angeles, California, USA
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
               4-Albert B. Solberg b. 25 Feb 1889, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA, d. 21 Mar 1889, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA
               4-Annie Bernardyn Solberg b. 28 Mar 1890, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
               +Verne Waldo Abeel b. 12 Dec 1890, Centerville, Turner, South Dakota, USA, d. 13 Mar 1970, , , Los Angeles, California, USA
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
               4-Alfred Christian Solberg b. 2 Jan 1892, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA, d. 18 Feb 1892, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA


               4-Alfred Bernard Solberg b. 3 May 1893, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
               4-Eleanora Mathilde Solberg b. 13 Oct 1896, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA
               +Alf N Reid
                    5-Private                   
                    5-Private
          3-Lewis S Starkey b. 1857, Waterville, Allamakee, Iowa, USA, d. 27 Sep 1937, Spencer, Clay, Iowa, USA
          +Belle Bergeson b. 1860, , , Iowa, USA, d. 1920, Spencer, Clay, Iowa, USA
               4-Clara Starkey b. May 1880, Lloyd, Dickinson, Iowa, USA
               4-Bertha Starkey
               4-Edwin J Starkey b. 1884, , , Iowa, USA, d. 1970, Spirit Lake, Dickinson, Iowa, USA
               +Laura B Winslow b. 1888, , , Iowa, USA, d. 1985, (Fairview Cemetery, Terril, Dickinson, Iowa, USA)
                    5-Private
                    5-Private
               4-Louise Anna Starkey
               4-Lottie Henrietta Starkey b. 8 August1897
               4-Esther L Starkey b. 1899, , , Iowa, USA
               4-Carl Alfred Starkey b. 24 Feb 1886, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA, d. 31 Mar 1886, , Jerauld , South Dakota, USA
               4-Starkey
               4-Starkey
               4-Starkey
          3-Even B Starkey b. Jan 1861, , , Iowa, USA, d. 5 Jan 1945, , Perkins, South Dakota, USA
          +Annie Solberg b. Jun 1866, Norway, d. 1955
               4-Selford Conrad Starkey b. 6 Apr 1892, d. 1 Aug 1955, , Perkins, South Dakota, USA
               +Nathalia P. Bunde b. 1900
                    5-Duane E. Starkey b. 22 Jan 1923, d. 14 Nov 2003, Williston, Williams, North Dakota, USA
                    5-Selford Starkey b. 6 Mar 1935, d. 15 Sep 2002
               4-Elnora C Starkey b. Mar 1894
               +Edgar Eberhard b. 1895
               4-Esther A Starkey b. 22 May 1897, , , South Dakota, USA, d. 29 Dec 1994, , Riverside, California, USA
               +Pargee
               4-Elmer Cornelius Starkey b. 1 Oct 1898, d. After 1951
               4-Private
               4-Otto R Starkey b. 21 Mar 1907, , Jerauld, South Dakota, USA, d. 5 Feb 1988
               4-Starkey d. Bef 1900
               4-Starkey d. Bef 1900
          3-Caroline Starkey b. 1864, , , Iowa, USA
          3-John Starkey b. 1866, , , Iowa, USA
     2-Asle Knudson b. 27 Nov 1823, Stake, Gol, Buskerud, Norway, d. After 1863, , , , , USA
     2-Tollef Knudson b. 22 Sep 1828, Stake, Gol, Buskerud, Norway, d. 22 Apr 1908, Barnes, Buena Vista, Iowa, USA
     +Juren b. 1827, , , , Norway
          3-Elif Knudson b. 1850, , , , Norway
          3-Christina Knudson b. 1859, , , Iowa, USA
     2-Kari Knudsdatter b. 1832, Stake, Gol, Buskerud, Norway
     2-Ole Knudson b. 1835, , , , Norway

Time Travel

There is a movie currently playing in theaters called "The Time Traveler's Wife" based upon a novel by Audrey Niffenegger.  I thoroughly enjoyed the book when I read it a few years ago.  I'm not a big sci-fi fan, but I am intrigued by the concept of time travel -- especially the practical and ethical aspects of it.  Niffenegger's book explores those concepts while telling a romantic tale.  (1)

 

If you're wondering what this has to do with my Nordic ancestors -- not much.  But it does have something to do with my passion for genealogical research.  I find researching family histories involves a sort of time travel -- not the sci-fi sort, but a mental exercise.  One of the highlights of research is being able to transcend time and bring an ancestor to life in my imagination.  By emersing myself in details of his life, time and place, my image of him gains animation.  As I imagine him living his life, I am briefly transported to his world.  
  
The portal for this type of time travel is research.  Before stepping into my ancestral world, I  develop a dossier of sorts.  In addition to whatever personal information I have about him, I add information about the social, commercial, religious, political, geographic or climatic characteristics of his place in history.  I may not use all the information I gather, but having a well developed foundation allows me to add depth and color to his known characteristics.

 
I recently decided to focus my attention on the world of my gg-grandparents, Sevat and Kari Starkey.  Since they were born in Norway around 1820,  part of my research has to cover early to mid 19th century Norwegians.   This is my first time to delve into Norwegian research, so my initial task was to develop a list of sources.  I decided to begin with a couple of Norwegian-American genealogy websites and drill down through their references, capturing promising ones as I progressed.  This can be a time consuming process and is not as exciting as looking at data specific to my subject, but it is key to a successful search.  Investing the time in developing sources and a research plan generally saves time later by making it easier to recognize mismatches and inconsistencies.  Still, it requires some discipline to invest in this step before getting to the fun stuff. 

Not long into my pursuit of Norwegian research materials, I discovered two searchable databases previously unknown to me which I expect will be of great value as I go forward.  Although I knew it was premature to start an efficient search of these databases, my curiosity got the better of me and I  threw discipline aside and decided to take a peek.  I entered Sevat's byname (Stake), the supposed name of the farm where he was born, and searched a database of Norwegian farms.  To my surprise and delight, it reported a match on one locale!  (2)

I was excited, but knew the match does not prove it is the farm of Sevat's youth.  Nonetheless, it's location added to my curiosity.  It is located in Buskerud County near Gol.  This area was familiar to me from previous reading of local histories in Allamakee county, Iowa (where Kari and Sevat lived as their family matured).  These histories and a few mini-biographies told of a group of families coming from Gol, Norway to America, settling first in Rock County, Wisconsin, and soon moving to Allamakee County, Iowa.  Their migration together was not accidental, but coordinated by members of the group.  These people were neighbors (and possibly family) of Sevat and Kari and of others who at one time or other  adopted Stake or Stakke as a surname.  Though it is not conclusive evidence, it does improve the probability that Sevat and Kari came from the area.  (3)

   

Armed with this information, I turned to the other database and searched church records for the area near Gol.  I found three records that document significant events in Kari and Sevat's lives.  One is their marriage record from June of 1846; one their daughter's birth in April of 1847; and the last, their departure from the church (for emigration to America) in May of 1847.  I need to do a lot more research before I say with a high degree of confidence that the Sevat Knudson of Stake and Kari Syverson of Hesla, whose marriage is recorded on line 18, page 374 of the 1837-1863 Gol ministerialbok, are my gg-grandparents.  In the meantime, I am excited at the discovery and look forward to learning more about that area of Norway.  (4)
   

Gol, part of the Hallingdal district of Buskerud fylke (county), is located about 200 kilometers northwest of Oslo and about 300 kilometers east of Bergen.  It lies where the Hemsil and Hallingdal rivers merge, on the northeast side of the two rivers.  Stake farm, where Sevat Knudson was born,  is located about 6 kilometers northeast of Gol along a road leading to a modern day ski resort.  Hesla farm, where Kari lived when she married Sevat and where their daughter, Kirjste was born, is located a few kilometers from Gol, on the west side of the Hemsil.    Though a highland area, Gol is flanked by higher mountains, especially to the north and west.  Ancient migration routes to western Norway traveled through the valley bringing traders who populated the area.  Iron from the local marshland provided a resource for trade and, with poor soil in the area, even farmers turned to trade to supplement their livelihood.  Cattle raised in the valley were driven to markets in Vesterlandet.   (5)

Perhaps this trading heritage made the local people good candidates for the adventure of going to America.  It may partially explain why so many from Gol emigrated to Wisconsin and Iowa.  At this point, I'm  not sure.  I have much more research to do to understand the history, geography, climate and customs of the Hallingdal.  But once I've gathered the information and compiled a more complete list of family members, I'll be ready to time travel -- destination 1840's Hallingdal valley Norway!

    Map of Gol on the Hemsil and Hallingdal rivers in Buskerud, Norway.

Hesla farm is located in the bottom, center;

Stake farm is located in the top right 1/3 of the map.

(double click map to enlarge)

Endnotes:   

1.  Niffenegger, Audrey, The Time Traveler's Wife, (Orlando, Florida:  Harcourt, Inc., 2003)

2.  Oluf Rygh: Norwegian Farm Names, searchable database of Volumes 1 through 17.  Online at:  http://www.dokpro.uio.no/rygh_ng/rygh_form.html [15 September 2009].

     v.5, p.109

     12, 8.  Stake.  Udt. sta2ke.

    Er vel identisk med det sedvanlige hallingdalske stakje "Stage", der enten har været  Navn paa en Høide i Nærheden (Bruget selv ligger i en Dal) eller er at forklare som Gaardnavnet Stang (jfr. Indl. S. 80). Samme Navn er Stage under Aal GN. 113.
3.   Bergmann, Leola Nelson, "The Norwegians in America", The Palimpsest, Vol XL No 8, August 1959, The State Historical Society of Iowa, pp 289-303, Online: http://www.sharylscabin.com/Allamakee/ImNat/norweg_tx2.htm  [15 September 2009 ]

     Flom, George Tobias, A History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States fom the Earliest Beginning Down to the Year 1848, Iowa City, Iowa: privately printed, 1909,  Online:  http://www.books.google.com/  [18 September 2009].

     Hancock, Ellery, Past & Present of Allamakee County,  Chicago, Illinois: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1913, pp 288-301.  Online at:  http://www.sharylscabin.com/Allamakee/history2/chap19d.htm   [13 September 2009]

     Ulvestad, Martin, 'Nordmændene i Amerika', Allamakee County Translation, 1907,  Online: http://www.sharylscabin.com/Allamakee/ImNat/nordmaendene.htm  [ 15 September, 2009.

4.  "Skannede Kirkeboker", Arkivverket Digitalarkivet, Gol:  1837-1863, Ministirialbok, Ekteviede, 1846 (374-375), line 18, 23 June, Sevat Knudson and Kari Syversdatter,  Online:   http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=7751&uid=ny&idx_side=-198 .

     "Skannede Kirkeboker", Arkivverket Digitalarkivet, Gol: 1837-1863, Ministirialbok, Fodte og dopte , 1847 (96-97), line 11, 11 April, Kirsti, Online:  http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?show=54&uid=121954&urnread_imagesize=gigant&hode=nei&ls=1  .
     "Skannede Kirkeboker", Arkivverket Digitalarkivet, Gol: 1837-1863, Ministirialbok, Utflytedde , 1846-1848 (706-707), line 10-12, 11 Mai, Sevat Knudson Hesla, Kari Syversdatter, datter Kersti, Online:  http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=7751&uid=ny&idx_side=-355  .
5.  Statens Kartverk, Online map of Norway:   http://kart.statkart.no/adaptive2/default.aspx?gui=1&lang=2  [16 September 2009].