Since 1911 February, 2010 Volume 30, Issue 1 Sigdalslag Saga

Serving Norwegian-Americans of , Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry Inside this issue: Sigdal’s Main Church

Sigdal’s Main Church 1 Article from Sigdal og Eggedal vol. 1 by Thormod Skatvedt, translated by Rosella Goettelman

Norwegian Parish 4 This old church was, no doubt, built very early in the Catholic time, maybe the 12th or 13th Registers century. As far as we know, there is no sure information about this, but, in any case, it News from 5 must have been built before 1331. Bishop Jens Nilsson writes about this old church in the report about his visitation in Sigdal Enger-Nyhus family of 6 in 1591 as follows: North Dakota “On the 6th of July, third Sunday after Trinity, the bishop visited the main church in Sig- Lund-Frisach family of 8 dal, which is called Holmen Church, which is only a little log church with a walkway Sigdal around it (stave church). They have begun to improve the churchyard with new wood fencing. At that time, he preached the Gospel of our Lord, Luke 15. At the same place, 2010 Stevne Update 11 after the sermon, the bishop had his admonition to the common people, which he usually does, and thereafter, the bishop examined and catechized the youths and also the adults.” The church was later built in the shape of a cross, with the tower in the middle, with 4 col- umns, about 40 cm in diameter, set in a square centered underneath. The side wings and sacristy appear to have been added at later times. In each wing and lowest in the nave, there was a chancel furnished with benches. The church was built of painted pine logs with 10-11 inch beams, painted inside with water color. The outside was sided with 9-10 Velkommen, nye inch tarred boards. In the tower there were two quite good bells, about 60 cm in diameter lag medlemmer! in the lower part. They could be rung from the floor of the church below with the help of a long rope. After the bells were rung, the lower end of the rope was hung on the pillars.  JOHN O. GLESNE The “Klokker” (sexton) did the ringing himself. No doubt, the name derives from this Fort Dodge, Iowa (klokke = bell).  KRISTI CULLEN Garland, Utah On the altar there were  VICTORIA BREVIG South St. Paul, Minnesota several decaying figures, which no doubt should  KRISTINE BLOMGREN Cottage Grove, Minnesota depict the apostles, and in the middle, a little altar  THOMAS OVNAN Kristiansand, Norway piece about 2 feet tall and 18 inches wide. On each  DALE BUISMAN North Branch, Minnesota side of the chancel door there were large carved  BOB FRYDENLUND New Richmond, Wisconsin figures – Moses with a law tablet in each hand and Aaron as high priest.

(Continued on page 3) Pa ge 2 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1

2010 Sigdalslag Officers Fra Presidenten:

JUDY SOSTED President 1118 Lia Court Northfield, MN 55057 [email protected] EARL O. KNUTSON l ancestra VP 1/Membership , hare an er of Cousins we all s e kommun 722 Second Street SW Dear re DNA, from th not sha , a gift makes e we may l banner "Unity - Willmar, MN 56201 Whil beautifu oclaims: in asso as our gdal, pr strength (320) 222-1613 ome" and and Si s found n. We "h dsherad, r member y and fu dal, Krø years ou p, famil January [email protected] Egge ver the riendshi ted the gth." O r for f t comple ove to Stren togethe has jus e all dr , coming ur Board are. W r DONNA KULENKAMP VP 2 ciation day. Yo oup they e weathe this to hardy gr spite th we ontinue icated, noka, de ely all 1292 Dunberry Lane c nd a ded ome in A Fortunat ur eting, a sen's h snow. one of o Eagan, MN 55123 me y Michel ain, and We had etary Am eezing r nesota. to have Secr leet, fr y in Min ere able [email protected] ast of s Januar nce we w are forec I know … tous, si which we rain. s fortui vne for nkamp got was which wa 2011 Ste nna Kule KAREN OLSON VP 3 groups, ing the ry). Do - largest n regard nniversa Anniver P.O. Box 225 iscussio 100th A r of the great d l as our oen Chai to hear a (as wel arilyn M ld like Northome, MN 56661 ponsible ne and M t we wou or some res the Stev ming, bu nteers f hair of forthco ave volu of in- [email protected] is C eas were ike to h variety Many id cially l with a There sary. uld espe lunteers in us. and wo e all vo te to jo co- JANICE JOHNSON Treasurer from you . We ar t hesita , and De mmittees so don' ecturers y 8451 Nicollet Avenue South f the co pertise, Class/l day, Jul o f not ex ainment, g on Sun rests, i : Entert g meetin ee. We Bloomington, MN 55420 te input re r our La committ eed for ogram fo air this u have is n ell a pr ed to ch ny of yo [email protected] ns, as w has agre hat if a ou. ratio n Olson res so t r from y 1. Kare e brochu e to hea 17, 201 out som ould lov AMY MICHELSEN Secretary d to put ics we w at lso nee th graph ntact me a alent wi lease co 18730 Roanoke St. NW terest/t ocess, p 5-0499. in this pr (507) 64 l Anoka, MN 55303-8971 expedite r phone he Annua To il.com o attend t t, ed@hotma nion to , May 1s (763) 753-5484 jsost a compa morning an need of Saturday will be [email protected] also in ekirken There t I am at Mind eapolis. rtainmen meeting in Minn ome ente e llesraad :00 p.m. sually s id by th GARTH ULRICH Genealogist Fe .m. to 1 eting, u ll be pa t 9:30 a iness me ation wi a repre- abou e, a bus registr tend as 3099 Dunn Drive al coffe n. Your ng to at arriv luncheo re willi Prince Albert, SK ery nice if you a and a v tact me 7, ain, con uly 14-1 S6V 6Y6 CANADA Lag. Ag alslag. urday, J of Sigd ough Sat ill be entative Wed. thr ration w [email protected] s be held n/regist bsite, 10 will formatio k our we tevne 20 ity. In may chec S Univers and you DIANNE SNELL Historian a State "Saga" . at Winon r Spring updated 31646 110th Pl. SE ng in ou will be nd con- rthcomi , as it health a fo lag.org. nter in Auburn, WA 98092 .sigdals ather wi www u may we 253-351-0926 that yo wish is [email protected] My ntment. te in. SCOTT BRUNNER Saga Editor meet aga ntil we 555 Hilltop Drive U Green Bay, WI 54301 Judy [email protected] ED ESPE Webmaster [email protected] Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1 Pa ge 3

(Continued from page 1) Some of these old carved figures and others lay a long time in the attic of the new church. When the township board received an offer to buy the artifacts from a private citizen in 1896, they were offered as a gift to the university’s an- tiques collection. The university could not accept them because of lack of space. They were then presented to the Norwegian Folk Museum. The pulpit and baptismal font were both beautifully carved and bore the year 1720. The baptismal bowl was of brass, embossed work, which depicts the fall of man from grace. It was altogether later moved to the new church. A silk flag embroidered by Rebekka Griis in 1693, was acquired in 1909 and hung up in the new church. It now is hanging directly over the main entrance. In the 1840s, they began to think about building a new of the area. The closing hymn was written by the then resi- church, since the old one was much too small and cramped. dent chaplain to Sigdal, later bishop, Jørgen Moe. On July 1, 1846, the township board decided to build a new church similar to the main church in Bamle, but with the The organ was purchased in the fall of 1858. It was built by tower in the west end. organ builder Brantzeg in Christiania. The money for the organ purchase was provided by the bank and the remaining At first, on June 2, 1847, they decided that it should be came from private contributions. The organ was used for the built on the old church grounds, but more than two years first time at a bishop’s visitation on September 26 the same later, on October 23, 1849, the building place was changed year. P. O. Skatvedt was hired as organist, with a salary of 2 to the palce where it now stands. No doubt, it was espe- skillings from each communicant until the savings bank un- cially to obtain a more solid foundation. dertook to pay the salary of 25 speciedallers yearly. In the summer of 1850, the foundation wall was built by Nothing from the altar from the old church was used. A stonemason Kittil Halvorsen Solumsmoen for 143 spe- large slab of white painted wood was put up behind the altar ciedalers. (All the material for the building of the church table with a high wooden cross above the altar. That altar was procured by the kommune.) was very unimpressive. A rich man from the community (K. The majority of the timber was taken from Mjøseng H., who probably wanted to be nameless), gave the altar pic- woods, which the kommune owns. The church was built ture, Jesus on the cross, painted by Aksel Ænder in 1880. and brought under roof by building contractor Kristian The new altar was said to cost 2000 kroner. The inscription, Hanson from for 460 spd. which was given by the then presiding chaplain G. Rømcke is as follows: “It is finished (John 19, 30). The punishment The carpentry work was done by P. Tandberg, Lars Hor- lay upon him that we should have peace, and we have been gesæter and Helge O. Skatvedt for 580 spd. healed by his wounds (Isaiah 53, 5)”. The interior painting was done by master painter C. Olsen The sacred furnishings of the church are: a chalice of silver from Drammen for 437 spd. which is gilded; it bears the inscription “Think of me to the The tower’s pretty iron spire with the cross on top and best”. A bread plate of silver, inscription: “Given to God in brass sphere below was made in 1851 by the famous Swed- honor of Rebecca Mag. Niels Griis 1707”. A silver candela- ish blacksmith Petter Oluf Westlander for 5 spd. The bra, inscription: “To Sigdal’s main church from Georg Pet- sphere has a capacity of 17 liters. A case has laid inside, ter Rasch, magistrate in Eker, and Sigdal from 1840- which contains the names of the building contractor, the 1853”. A pretty chandelier with space for 12 candles hangs parish pastor and the building commission, which con- in the nave of the church. sisted of 8 men, namely: Parish Pastor Stub, Asle Hoffart, The first stoves in the church were installed in the middle of Lars Knudsen, Ole Helgesen Skatvedt, Ole Knudsen the 1860s. In 1912 the stoves were replaced with 2 base- Haugen, Kristoffer Syverson Ramstad, Ole Reistad burners. (Halvorset) and Ole O. Kolsrud. In the summer of 1859 the church was paneled outside. The The church, which seats 750, was dedicated on November 9, 1853, by Kristiania Bishop Lurirtz Aarup and the pastors work was carried out by Peter Tandberg & Christen Fossen. (Continued on page 4) Pa ge 4 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1

(Continued from page 3) At first the tower was 6 sided, shingled in zinc. However, Holmen Church Cemetery Chapel it appeared to not be durable, and had to be repaired sev- Parish Pastor Hartmann had several times pointed out the eral times. They then realized that a copper roof was nec- desirability of having such a chapel built. The cause got essary. After 20 years passed (in 1873), the zinc roof was good support in 1902, when lists were sent out for the reg- replaced with copper. That work seems to have cost 546 istering of voluntary contributions. A building committee spd 2 ort and 12 skill. was appointed who were in charge of erecting the building, On February 2, 1858, the executive committee decided that along with architect Horn. The chapel cost 1500 kroner, Sigdal’s old church should be torn down and the usable fully finished. The sum was raised completely from volun- material should be used for horse stalls at the new church. tary contributions. The chapel was assigned to Sigdal’s It could just as well been given permission to stand as a parish as a gift to the congregation under the management venerable old monument like, for example Fiskum old of the church’s administration. It was used for the first church. time on January 23, 1904.

A Translation Guide for Norwegian Parish Registers Submitted by Lag Genealogist Garth Ulrich

Many church registers of Norway have been digitised and can be found online at: http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/ Click on English in the left hand column, and then on Digitised Parish Registers at the top, then Read the digitised parish registers. From here you select your fylke (county of interest) by choosing from the drop down menu with the title Velg fylke and then a list of corresponding available church registers will appear, sorted by parish. (Note: Sigdal is in fylke) The records pertaining to Sigdal, Eggedal and Krødsherad can also be accessed via direct links through the Sigdalslag web page at: http://www.sigdalslag.org/churchrecords.asp

Aar=year Ekteviede=married persons Menighet=congregation Alder=age Ektevielse=marriage Menighetslemmer=congregation mem- bers Amerkninger=remarks Etternavn=surname, last name Nadvergjester=communion guests Barnets naven=the child’s name Faddere=godparents Prest=minister Begravede-see Begravet Forældrenes navne=parents’ names Prestegjeld=parish Begravet=buried; persons buried Forlovere=marriage witnesses Sogn=see Sokn Brud=bride Fødseldato=date of birth Sokn=sub-parish Bridgom=bridegroom Fødselssted=place of birth Stand=social position Daabsdato=date of baptism Født=Born Sted=place, location Datum=date Hjemmedøbt=home-baptised Stilling=status, position, occupation Dåp=baptism Hustru=wife Utenfor egteskap=out of wedlock Døbte=see Døpte Innflytede=persons who moved in (to the parish) Utflytedde= persons who have moved Dødfødte=stillborn; persons stillborn out (of the parish) Jordfæstede=buried persons Dødsdato=date of death Vaksinerte-vaccinated Konfirmasjon=confirmation Dødsted=place of death Viede=married; persons married Konfirmerede=confirmed persons Døpte=baptised; persons baptised Vielse=marriage Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1 Pa ge 5

News from Norway submitted by Kjell Varsla

First I’ll tell about Lake Soneren. It starts at Sandsbraaten (Sundet) in South East, and ends at Holebrua (Hole Bridge) in North West. See the Google Map (Hybrid) - you can see that when you start at Prestfoss, you will first get a small lake called Kråkefjorden. That small lake is well known as a place where they arranged a trotting race on the ice almost every winter. It has been a few years since the last race here, since winters are not as cold as they used to be. From Soneren (Kråkefjorden) the river starts, and Here is the view from Paradisbukta, a well known place for joins the river at Aamot. swimming, towards Andersnatten, the round top seen in When it comes to fishing in that area, the “Sigdal grunneier- background. lag” is responsible for organizing it. Every September/October it is moose-hunting for about 4 It is mostly trout and perch you get. Trout is normally taken weeks, and every hunting team can shoot a certain amount by fishing rod, while the perch will first of all be taken in of moose cows, calves and bulls. There used to be a lot of spring time with a fish trap. It’s hard to get bigger trout in moose in the forests in Sigdal, even if they take out a big Soneren, maybe as big as 2 Kg or 4.4 pounds. number of animals every year. There is a little shooting of deer as well, but not too many. The winter is hard in this area this year, a lot of snow and temperatures down to -30°C (-22°F). In Åmot, where I live, we have approximately 80 cm of snow, and in Sigdal a lot more. I may mention that one Sigdal Company got an Environ- ment Approval as the first company in that area. Its name is NOR-KA AS (www.nor-ka.no). This fall (2009) has been mostly noted for Swine Influenza (H1N1), where most of the people has accepted the vacci- nation in order to not get the special Flu. Still 32 people has died caused by this flu last fall. In the Web Site of Sigdal and Eggedal Tourist Service (http://www.sigdal-turist.no/gb/index.html), you will see a Here is the facts on Soneren: lot of interesting information for tourists to this area. Area: 6.49 Sq. Km. (69832.4 Sq. Ft. or 2.505 Sq. Mile) This will be all this time, since I have a lot of other thing to Altitude: 103 m (103 meters above sea level, or 337.84 Feet get ready before the yearly meeting in several clubs where above sea level) I’m responsible. I will send you more info for the next Perimeter: 19.98 Km ( 12.3876 Miles) magazine in May. Sorry that I could not make a longer contribution this time. Lake Soneren is part of the History, because of the artist Theodor Kittelsen who had his home aside Son- Happy New Year to you all. eren, a little south of Strand. There he had a wonderful view of Soneren and Andersnatten ( a well known mountain top in the area). Pa ge 6 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1

A Genelogical Treasure Donated to Sigdalslag Library Chronicles the Fingal Enger and Peder Nyhus Families of Steele County, North Dakota

A genealogical treasure arrived at my doorstep via the post- the Goose Rivers in search of claims. Their meager sup- man early in December, but it wasn’t a Christmas present plies consisted of an axe, a light gun and a few biscuits for me—instead it was a history book entitled “The Enger each. Family Book” published in 1961, which chronicles the life They staked out their claims in Traill County, and Fingal and times of Fingal Enger and his wife Gjertrud Nyhus, Enger chose land near a bend of the north branch of the their ancestors and descendants. Goose River. On April 4, 1872, he carved his name on an The treasure was a gift to Sigdalslag from member Rebecca oak tree, thereby becoming the first white man to take land Hanna. The book came from her late grandmother’s collec- in what is now Steele County. The friends rented a team of tion and is in pristine condition, hardbound with a gold em- oxen to backtrack to Fargo for provisions and then returned bossed cover and colored photos of farm scenes on the in- to their claims. They lived in a temporary dugout and side flyleaves. In this book eight generations of ancestors worked together to build a 16x16 foot cabin with bark and are identified from Fingal Gulbrandson Enger back to Oluff sod roof on each claim. The houses were built without (Ole) Lunde, circa 1600; and five generations of descen- nails, but instead in the Norwegian style of using wooden dants from Fingal and Gjertrud Enger up to 1960. Rebecca pegs. has no idea why her grandmother had the book as she has Fingal Enger’s cabin was the first house built in present- found no known family connection, but the contents carry day Steele County. He hired other settlers to help break up strong ties to Sigdal kommune and Ringerike. A heartfelt the land and plant crops while he worked on a Red River “Thank You” to Rebecca for the donation of this book steamboat to earn money for supplies. He reportedly which will be a boon to “roots seekers” for years to come. earned double pay while freighting for the Hudson Bay Fingal Enger, in his heyday, was one of the biggest private Company between Fargo, Caledonia and Great Forks. He land owners in North Dakota. He owned land in Traill, was a big man which enabled him to lift twice as much as Steele and Richland counties and on one occasion wrote a any other. Eventually Fingal had enough money to pur- check for $93,000 for land he bought at Portland Junction. chase a yoke of oxen and a few simple implements, and in But wait! I’m getting ahead of myself so the spring of 1874 he established himself let’s start at the beginning! on his land as a bachelor farmer. How- ever—his single status did not last for Fingal Gulbrandson Enger was born Feb- ruary 22, 1846, in Aadelen, Ringerike, long. Now for the rest of the story! Buskerud, Norway, the son of Gulbrand T. Buttingsrud, who bought half of the farm- THE EGGEDAL CONNECTION: stead Enger in 1844, and Eli Aslesdatter Lunde Enger. Fingal Enger immigrated in In late June of 1874 a new family came 1869 and worked his first summer in by covered wagon from Iowa and settled America on a farm near Osage, IA. He on land near the Enger farm. The par- took classes in the English language in the ents were Peder Eriksen Nyhus (better winter months and in 1870 he went to the known as Per Nyhus) from Pletanhagen, home of his uncle, Peder Lunde, near Al- Eggedal, Norway and his wife Kari bert Lea, MN where he took odd jobs and Ellevsdatter Rundseie, born in Krød- continued his studies. sherad. The couple had sailed from Drammen, Norway, in 1866 on the ship In 1871 Fingal hired on with the railroad Superior with their four children: Gjer- in Becker County, MN and earned his fare trud 1847, Ellef 1850, Erick 1855, and to Fargo, ND. There he heard about the Ingeborg 1860, and seven weeks later free homesteads that were available farther had landed in New York. north, so in March 1872 Fingal and his two Fingal Gulbrandson Enger born companions, Iver Fechar and John Amb, in Ringerike and Gjertrud Nyhus left Fargo on foot following the Red and Enger born in Eggedal Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1 Pa ge 7

When the Nyhus family arrived in Congregation was organized in 1877 with North Dakota, their eldest daughter Fingal Enger and Ellef Nyhus as officers. Gjertrud was a widow with two small The first marriage recorded there was that children. She obviously caught the eye of Erick Pederson Nyhus and Anna Olsen of the young bachelor next door, and in in 1878. The first church building was de- 1875 she and Fingal Enger were mar- stroyed by a tornado in 1900 and church ried at the home of Halvor and Brita services were held in the Enger home until Berg by Pastor Hagboe. Gjertrud’s son it was rebuilt. Olaus Nelson took the Enger name and Enger post office was located at Portland her daughter died at an early age. Per Junction, a meeting point of two branches Nyhus returned to Eggedal in 1898 fol- of the Great Northern Railroad. Fingal lowing the death of his wife Kari, and Enger owned a granary and an elevator at lived out the rest of his days there. At Ames Siding for his own private use. the time of publication of the book in When the Enger children married they were 1961 the original Nyhus homestead in each given a team of horses, a wagon and a North Dakota was owned by a grand- Per & Kari Nyhus stove as a wedding present and they became daughter, Betsy Ness. from Eggedal their parents’ tenants. Much of the land Ellef Nyhus and Erick Nyhus both took was still in the Enger family in 1961. homesteads on the Goose River near their parents. Ellef Fingal Enger was active in community and political affairs. married Maria Stavensbraaten from Flaa, Hallingdal, and He was elected to the State Legislature in 1890 by a large had ten children. Erick married Anna Olesdatter (Olsen) majority and re-elected for a second term by a greater ma- Fechar from Norway and they had five children. After jority. He served as president of the Farmers Elevator in Anna’s death Erick was married to Bertha Stoa. He was the Sharon, ND, president of the Deaconess Hospital at Grand church “Klokker” for forty years and served as Sunday Forks, ND, president of the Oak Grove Seminary (later School Superintendent for many years. He retired to Hatton, Oak Grove High School) in Fargo, and a member of the ND in 1917. board of Augsburg College in Minneapolis. In 1898 Fingal Ingeborg Nyhus married Dr. Faltin Olsen Blekre, the first visited his mother and family in Norway and contributed Norwegian doctor in the area and they had one son, Oliver. generously to the needy there. His mother, Eli Lunde In 1883 Dr. Blekre died at age 37 after being overcome by Enger, died in March 1908 on the Enger farm in Aadalen. cold and exhaustion while visiting diphtheria patients during Fingal Enger died from heart failure at his home on Aug. a North Dakota blizzard. Ingeborg later married Ole Grim- 27, 1913, at the age of 67. A week earlier he had been ley (Grimeli) from Krødsherad and her son Oliver took the caught in a rainstorm on the way home from town which Grimley name. Ingeborg and Ole had eight children. resulted in the illness which brought his death. Kari Nyhus Oliver Grimley attended the Bruflat Academy in Portland Enger died three months later, Nov. 24, 1913, at age 66 and Luther College in Decorah, IA. Meanwhile the Grimley from complications following surgery. Her obituary cited family had moved to Canada and Oliver went there to teach. her as “a woman of noble character, strong personality In 1927 he went to Norway to live as a writer and corre- and wide influence. After a useful, busy life she died as she spondent. “The New Norway” is one of his books pub- had lived—honored, trusted and loved.” Who of us could lished in 1937. ask for more? Gjertrud Nyhus and Fingal Enger had eight sons and one The Fingal Enger’s original log home has now been rebuilt daughter: Gulbrand 1875, Peder 1877, Edward 1879, Carl next to the Steele County Historical Society museum in 1881, Friis 1883, Gabriel 1886, Thorwald 1887, Oliver Hope, ND and is used as an interpretive center of the early 1889, and Elli Elise 1891. Fingal and Gjertrud became pil- Scandinavian immigrant experience. lars of the Portland community. Enger Township was Compiled by Historian, Dianne Snell. Sources: The Enger named for Fingal Enger as the first white man to homestead Family Book published 1961. Photos scanned from The in Traill County. After the formation of Steele County the Enger Family Book. township was renamed Enger by a petition from a majority of the legal voters and Fingal was elected treasurer. Note: from Dianne Snell will be willing to do look-ups in the book to any descendants out there. The first school house in Enger Township was built in 1877 on land owned by Per Nyhus. The Little Forks Lutheran Pa ge 8 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1

Lars Olsen Lund and wife Johanna Catarina Frisach Article from Under Norefjell, 1998 Nr. 2, by Department Head Arne Jokstad, translated by descendant Julie Dragvold

For years I have been doing genealogy research, and with In the muster roll dated July 17, 1756, from the regiment deep roots in eastern Norway, I have studied with great under Colonel de Seue and the Toten Company under interest Thormod Skatvedt as well as Andreas Mørch’s Colonel Heusner, there are 9 grenadiers listed. One of books on Sigdal and Eggedal. But even these books, natu- these was the Grenadier Lurs Olsen Næsterud from farm rally enough, have their limitations when it comes to immi- number 70 Aas Sogn in Toten, ledger 40. He was 27 years grants. old and had served for 7 years. (Lieutenant Hans Frisach was also in the same company!) It is highly probable that Sergeant Lars Olsen Lund and his wife were not from Sig- this is the same person as Lars Olsen Lund. In the whole dal. It was therefore an exciting challenge to find their regiment there was no other Grenadier named Lars Olsen. roots and background. The results were, in my opinion, so interesting that I wished to bring them to others. Perhaps But did he get the corporal position that he applied for? some of the statements in the four latest Sigdal books can Yes, there is no doubt, for on September 1, 1757, the com- be seen in a new light? mander of the 2nd Oppland Infantry Regiment wrote the following to the then Defense Chief General Field Mar- It was natural to start with Lars Lund and his military back- shall Arnholdt. ground. He served in the military more than 22 years. In a ledger for the Toten Company dated June 17, 1758, it The muster roll dated June 28, 1758, for the third company was noted that the Grenadier Lars Olsen Næsterud ad- in the battalion that Oppland’s Infantry Regiment sent to vanced to corporal in Captain Frischer Næs’ militia com- Holstein, was a breakthrough. Here all the officers had to pany on August 6, 1757. Two things must have happened declare their “fatherland” and while everyone else entered between this date and June of 1758, when they were called “Norway” or “Denmark”, Corporal Lars Lund plainly de- up to the Holstein incident. Lars Olsen must have taken clared “Toten”. He was then 28 years old and had 8 years over the farm at Lund southwest of Kolbu church in Toten of service in the regiment. and thereby taken the name Lund. Secondly, he must have In another list which the regiment commander sent to the transferred to the Sigdal Company. Commanding General on June 22, 1758, Corporal Lars Published reports of the Norwegian troops at Holstein were Olsen Lund is leading the third company, with a notation made by the Danish-Norwegian King Frederick V. The that he came from Major Selmer’s (Sigdal) Company. In reason was his fear that the Russian successor Karl Peter with the account of Oppland’s infantry regiments written Ulrik of Holstein-Gottorp—the recent Russian Tsar Peter to the Commanding General, I found two letters dated Oc- II, married to Catherine the Great—would conquer Hol- tober 28, 1756, from Johanna Catharina Frisach’s mother stein with Russian forces. Peter II also marched against Catarina and from her brother, Lieutenant Hans Frisach to Holstein in 1761-1762 but was luckily overthrown by his the regiment commander. consort, Catherine II, who immediately stopped the cam- In form and content the letter is, in my opinion, a very paign against Denmark. good example of the contemporary very formal style. Yet From 1758 to 1763 13,000 Norwegians participated in the it’s the letter’s message that grabs the strongest. Catarina defense of Holstein It is likely that Lars Olsen Lund was a Frisach had been widowed December 30, 1744, when her sergeant after his return from Holstein. The military rolls husband, the area minister in Lom, Hans Frisach, died, at contained in the National Archives, are unfortunately not 63 years of age. Together with her two youngest daugh- annual rolls. It is therefore difficult to follow his military ters, she moved to the Lunde farm in Toten, where her son, path continuously. On the basis of the documents that are Lieutenant Hans Frisach, lived. When you know her ge- available, however, it is noted that he came from Toten, nealogical background, that I will come back to later, with was of the peasantry, born around 1730 and was Grenadier the contemporary class divisions in mind, one can under- -Corporal-Sergeant for over 22 years. stand the views she expressed. In the church book for Toten 1730 two fathers are found A main point of the letter is that Lars and Johanna already named Olle/Ole, with Lars as the son’s name, but it has not knew each other before 1756 and that they probably agreed been possible to identify Lars Olsen Lund’s parents. to marry each other. But for the time being this was not appropriate! What, then, is known of Johanna Catharina Frisach and her background? She was born January 27, 1735, in Lom, the Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1 Pa ge 9 youngest daughter of the minister there, Pastor Hans In 1716 Hans Frisach was an army chaplin in the Vester- Frisach and wife Catarina Larsdatter Stub. She was bap- lehn’s Regiment, but in 1718 he served at the Grue Church tized February 3, 1735, by her father, the parish minister, in Solør. He was appointed parish pastor in Lom on April and lived in Lom until his death. Then she moved with her 29, 1719, and was there until his death on December 30, mother and sister to the Lund estate in Toten. This farm 1744, i.e. over 25 years. He was a well-regarded person in was owned by her brother, Lieutenant Hans Frisach. the neighborhood. The faithful love affair between her and Lars Olsen Lund Her mother, Catarina Larsdatter Stub, was born January 21, resulted in marriage February 5, 1765, “after the marriage 1694, in Christiania, and christened in the Dom Kirke ceremony in the house”. January 24 of that year. Her parents were the famous di- rectors at the Hospital, Lars Jacobsen Stub and wife Being married in the home, in this case on the Lund farm, Magdalena Axelsdatter And. Catarina Larsdatter Stub and was not uncommon among the so-called upper class at that Hans Frisach were married “by a Christian marriage in our time. There can hardly be any doubt that the family dear parents’ house, in Opsloe Hospital, by the Bishop, Frisach belonged to the well-to-do class in society, the aris- Most Noble and Most Venerable Hr Bartholomæus tocracy or upper class if you want to use that phrase. Deichmann, March 29, 1719.” Catarina Larsdatter Stub A review of their origins should confirm this. All of the was buried March 7, 1766, in Toten, about a year after her Frisak families in Norway come from the parish minister in daughter married Lars Olsen Lund (February 5, 1765). Lom. Johanna Catharina Frisach had 9 siblings, 6 brothers The marriage between these two had finally gotten the and 3 sisters. Two of her brothers were pastors, one was a mother’s blessing! lawyer and one was an officer. One of the sisters was mar- Johanna Catharina’s ancestry on her maternal side stretches ried to a pastor. The officer and one of her sisters married back to 1500 and includes Niels Stub, lawman, chief offi- into the famous Gløersen family, with many prominent cer, and later in 1570, the mayor of Oslo. The same Niels descendants. Stub also figures in the Sigdal book! It is impossible to Her father, Pastor Hans Frisach, was born April 19, 1681, mention all the prominent people in general, but an article in Denmark, possibly of German or Austrian parents. His of Frisach and Stub families can be found in the Norwe- father was a jeweler in Aalborg. Hans Frisach received his gian Slektshistorisk magazine for those who are particu- theology degree at the University of Copenhagen in 1707. larly interested. First, he was a research assistant for Bishop Bartholomæus For my part, the purpose of this article has been to provide Deichmann in Viborg, Denmark, who in 1713 went to supplementary information to the Sigdal books. It will al- Christiania. As the bishop’s assistant, Hans Frisach might ways be useful for future family and history scholars to have possibly looked after the education of the later well- have a further basis for their research. I therefore hope that known Norwegian iron works owner Carl Deichmann, this contribution may be used. founder of the Deichman Library in Oslo.

New Member Spotlight!

My name is Kristi Doreen Kopseng-Cullen. I grew up in Yelm, Washington and moved around a lot. I am currently in Garland, Utah. I heard about Sigdalslag when I was searching for my family tree. I joined in hopes to find more than one generation back from my father, who is Torston Kopseng, son of Engebret & Kristi (Odegaard) Kopseng. My father has brothers Kristoffer Kopseng in Vancouver, Canada, and Berna Kopseng in Eggedal, and a sister Marte Andersen in Drammen. My father came to Washington from Canada in the late 1950s. It was before he married my mother in 1960. They lived in Arlington, Washington and than moved to Fresno, California, and back to Washington. My father is currently living in Port Angeles, Washington. My contact information is Kristi Kopseng-Cullen 521 East Factory Garland, Utah 84312 Pa ge 10 Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1

Please share with us your families news of marriages, graduations, long Member News ... term anniversaries, significant milestones, and the passing of loved ones. In Memory… Tuesday, November 24 at the Sunday school teacher, and a who had a large garden and a Calvary Lutheran Church in Ladies Circle member for sev- beautiful crocheting and deli- Park Rapids, with Rev. Steve eral years. Her deep and abiding cious homemade buns. Delila Nordby officiating. Honorary faith was an important part of loved to complete crosswords, casket bearers were Jim John- her life. enjoyed feeding and watching son, Mac McDowell, Denny the birds and collecting knick- Lois will be remembered by her Anderson, Jim Allen, Jim knacks. After the children left husband of 61 years, Lowell; Grewe, Mark Fossum, and home she had more time to her son - Jeff (Kathy) Anderson Headwaters CC Ladies Golf listed to Paul’s stories, musical of Park Rapids; her daughter, Association. Active casketbear- renditions and comical perform- Connie (Bill) Brock of Cham- ers were Bob Keezer, Dave ances. plin; one grandson, Cory Evelyn Felske (Lefty) Anderson, Dick Carpen- (Courtney) Brock of Walker; She is survived by her husband ter, Walt Leckner, Jim Henry Mrs. Evelyn Felske The death of one great-grandson, Parker Paul and her children: Judy and Dick Rude. Interment was Mrs. Evelyn Felske, aged 91 Brock of Walker; sister, Phyllis (Dean) Evenson, Jeanette held at the Greenwood Cemetery years of Saskatoon and formerly (Robert) Anderson of Highland (Maurice) Dzama, Richard in Park Rapids. of Nokomis, SK, occurred at Hills, Colorado; brother-in-law, (Leonora) Farber, Brenda (Jim) Stensrud Lodge on October 7, Lois Claire Green was born on Raymond (Zora) Anderson of Gawluk, and Neil (Krista 2009. The Memorial Service November 12, 1926 in New- River Falls, Wisconsin; and her Gowenlock) Farber. She will be will be held in Nokomis United folden, the daughter of Olaf and special nieces and nephews. missed by her grandchildren Church on Saturday, October Clara (Saugen) Green. She grew Jason (Kariann) Evenson, Ryan She was preceded in death by 31st at 2:00 p.m. Interment will up and attended school in New- Evenson, Marcel (Shelley) her daughter, Mary Jane Ander- follow in Nokomis Cemetery. folden, graduating from high Dzama, Sheila Farber, as well son; her parents, Clara and Olaf Evelyn was predeceased by her school in 1945. After high has her great grandchildren Kira, Green and her sisters; Joan husband, Robert; son-in-law, school Lois went to work in a Darrian, and Brynn Evenson, Wright, Lelah Sands and Avis Earle Ryder; brothers, Orville Defense Plant in Nebraska dur- Rebecca Felming-Evenson, Green. and Harold; sisters, Valborg and ing World War II. In 1946 she Liam and Kaleb Symonds. She Nora. She is survived by her moved to Thief River Falls, was also survived by her broth- son, Brian; daughters, Mavis working as a Secretary until ers Miles (Evelyn), Gerald Ryder and Audrey Felske (Gerry 1948. Delila Farber (Helen), Larry (Dora), Clarence Coleman); grandchildren, (Verna), Leroy (Shirlea), Marlin Lois was united in marriage to Delila Geraldine Farber, née Heather (Robert) Petko and Ja- (Noreen), Lionel (Lesia) and her Lowell Glen Anderson on Octo- Haugan, died November 27, son Ryder. For those so wishing sisters Frances (Guy) English, ber 30, 1948 in Newfolden and 2009. Funeral Services werer donations to the Canadian Can- Dianne (Dennis) Irvine, Adele they moved to Moorhead, until held at Elim Evangelical Free cer Society would be appreci- (Don) Berg, and Joanne returning to Newfolden in 1950 Church in Fosston, Saskatche- ated. Fotheringham McDougall (Dwayne) Walter. She will be to 1955, where Lowell taught wan. Interment in Elim Ceme- Funeral Service Watrous and missed by her brothers-in-law school. They moved to Park tery in Fosston. Nokomis in care of arrange- Paul Kachur and Dennis Ed- Rapids in 1955, where Lowell ments. She was the daughter of She was born July 4, 1933, to wards and her husband’s brother accepted a new teaching posi- Edvard Wilhelmsen Sorteberg George and Myrtle Haugan on John (Mary) Farber as well as tion, and have lived there since. who came from Krødsherad in their family farm east of Foss- numerous nieces and nephews In 1956 Lois began a new career 1901. ton, Saskatchewan. She was the and by all of those whose lives as a Dental Hygienist for Dr. oldest of 14 children. Delila she touched. Lang, and later for Dr. Ko- worked as a hired girl, cooking Lois Anderson towski, until taking on a new and baby-sitting for various She was pre-deceased by her son challenge in 1974, working as an families. It was while she was a Bernard in infancy, parents Myr- Lois C. Anderson, 83, of Park Assistant Manager with her hus- young school girl that she first tle and George Haugan, sisters Rapids, died Thursday, Novem- band at Headwaters Country met Paul Farber whom she Lenore Kachur and Marie Ed- ber 19, 2009 at the Diamond Club until 1987 when they re- would later marry on June 12, wards, brother-in-law Vern Willow Care Center in Park tired. 1953. Together they had six Gaertner, niece and nephew Rapids. Lianna & Jamie Haugan, in- A member of Calvary Lutheran children. law’s Mary and Mike Sleeva. Funeral Services were held Church since 1955, she was a Delila was a very hard worker Sigdalslag Saga Volume 30, Issue 1 Pa ge 11

Surveys & library Contributions

Sigdalslag Surveys have been received from:

 William Bratrud of Granite Bay, California, on the descendants of KRISTEN OLSEN BRATTERUD and LIVE TORSDATTER FOSLIEN.

These have been added to the Sigdalslag library:

 The Enger Family Book 1961, gift from Rebecca Hanna.

 Q&A What is Norway? and The Grandchildren of the Vikings, gift from Barbara Hurst Dixon.

 1914 stevne photograph and three books: 1825-1925 Norse- American Centennial Celebration, Sigdalslaget 1914, Ole Rynng Nor- wegian Guide to America, gift of Julie Hukee.

7 Lag Stevne News 2010 Three of the lags - Hadeland, Landing, and Toten - will be celebrating their 100-year anniversaries. They will share a room to display their memorabilia. The Registration fee will be $27 until June 5 and $30 after June 5. Students should register even though they will not have to pay registration. Then we’ll have an accurate count. The banquet price has not been set at this time. Housing will be in Sheehan Hall, a high rise building that it is NOT air-conditioned. It is very similar to the dorm in Wahpeton. The good part is that it is adjacent to Kryzsko Commons. The rates are $20 per person per night in a double room and $28 per person per night in a single room. Linens are included. Registration, vendors, cafeteria and most classes will be in Kryzsko Commons. The genealogy will be in Darrell W. Krueger Library. At this time a complete schedule is not available. There will be an evening roundup starting at 7:30 PM Wednesday night. This will be a get acquainted session with some entertainment. There will not be a genealogy open house Wednesday night. Vendor and genealogy setup will be anytime after 4:00 PM on Wednesday. Thursday registration opens at 8:00 AM and there will be an opening session at 9:00 AM in East Hall. An orientation session for first time stevne attendees will be held at 10:30 AM. Genealogy, vendors and classes will run from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Thursday. On Friday genealogy, vendors and classes will run from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM. (Genealogy will probably shutdown about 3:30 PM.) The banquet and bunad parade will start at 6:00 PM followed by the evening program. Saturday reserved for individual lags for their meetings. The 7-lag stevne now has its own separate website: www.7lagstevne.com. Updates and further information will be con- tinuously posted at this website.

Glori Skadeland, daughter Help needed for our future of Dean and Linda, graduated Centennial Book! If your Nor- after three years of study Summa wegian ancestors have not been Cum Laude in May 2009 from chronicled in the previous Sig- Evangel University in Spring- THE SIGDALSLAG dalslag works, please take time field, Missouri. She intends to Centennial Book pursue doctoral work in physical and write up their biographies therapy. Many will remember 1911-2011 and submit their story with pic- Glori as she participated in the tures. Send family histories to Sigdalslag 2000 Norway trip. our Lag historian, Dianne Snell, e-mail address: [email protected]. Sigdalslag Saga FIRST CLASS MAIL

Serving Norwegian-Americans of Sigdal, Eggedal & Krødsherad ancestry

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NOTE: the YEAR shown on the mailing label next to your name indicates that your membership is paid thru DECEMBER of that year. Just For Fun

Ole and Sven had ‘packed on some pounds’ by over- “Why that’s amazing!” the doctor said. “Did you follow eating during Christmas and the New Years Holidays, my instructions?” so their doctor put them on the same diet. Ole and Sven nodded and said ..… “Yah, we want to tell “Now, I want you to eat regularly for 2 days, then skip you though, we taut we was gonna drop dead on all dos a day, and repeat this procedure every 3 days for 2 turd days.” weeks. The next time I see you, you should have lost “From the hunger, you mean?”, asked the Doc. at least 10 pounds.” “No, no ..... it was yust from all dat skipping!!!” When the Norskes returned two weeks later, they shocked their doctor, having both lost nearly 25 POUNDS each.

Make check payable to Sigdalslag and mail to: JOIN SIGDALSLAG NOW! Date______Check if Renewal: or Gift: AMY MICHELSEN Full name/s______18730 Roanoke Street NW Anoka, MN 55303-8971 Street ______Residents of CANADA should make check payable to City______State______ZIP______Garth Ulrich and mail application to: E-Mail ______Phone ______GARTH ULRICH 3099 Dunn Drive BUSKERUD Family Origin in (circle one) - SIGDAL EGGEDAL KRØDSHERAD Prince Albert, SK Ancestor’s name ______S6V 6Y6 CANADA Write “Sigdalslag dues (3 yr or 1 yr)” on the memo Farm name ______Year Emigrated______line of the check. Dues in Canadian dollars should 2010 Dues: USA and CANADA $10/YR or $25/3 YR, in US dollars be made in the amount equivalent to $10 US (1 ELSEWHERE $12/YR or $30/3 YR, in US dollars year) or $25 US (3 years) on the date written.