Leaving Vik

Vik Harbor

Five of Anna (Hopperstad) Brekke’s siblings had left Vik bound for the Long Prairie Settlement in Illinois during the spring of 1851. The New York passenger lists show they traveled on the Zephir from Bergen, arriving in New York on July 15. These were Fredrik Olsson, age 26, Jon Olsson Hopperstad, age 29, Anne Olsdotter, age 24, and Guri Olsdotter, age 18. With them were Anne’s infant son, Johannes, and their 11-year-old niece, Ragnhild Torsdatter Brekke. Ragnhild’s father was Tor Torson Brekke, Endre’s half-brother, who had drowned in the Sognefjord. Her mother was Anna Brekke’s sister, Ragnhild Olsdotter (Hopperstad) Brekke. A detailed account of the trip from Vik to Long Prairie is given in Rasmus Sunde’s record of the establishment of the Long Prairie Settlement at Capron, IL, Long Prairie Ei Sogne bygd I Amerika. The journey, which took fourteen weeks, was made without incident.  The 1851 immigrants were able to take the Chicago to Elgin Railroad where they bought wagons and oxen to take them the rest of the way to Long Prairie.

Leaving for Bergen

Jon Hopperstad stayed in Long Prairie, establishing a large farm and becoming a leader in the Lutheran church. He  married Brita, a daughter of Lars and Randi Johnson (Hove). Anne Hopperstad, called “Store Anna,” married Ola Johanneson Hopperstad, who had also come to America on the Zephir. From the Bygdebok for Vik i Sogn we learn that Fredrik Olsson held the deed to the farm at Hopperstad at the time it was sold. He settled at Ellsworth, Iowa, a short distance north of  Story City. I have no further record of Guri. In addition to these four, Lille Anna’s oldest sister, Åase, and her husband, Erik Albrektson Skjerven and their two children, Johanna, age 3, and infant son, Ola, were also aboard the Zephir.

 Immigrants Boarding Ship

Endre and Anna Brekke had watched for years as their brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and cousins and friends, sold their farms and possessions, packed their baggage, and made their last trip to the pier at Vik where they said their final good-byes before embarking on the journey to America. By the winter of 1852 so many of Endre and Anna’s family and friends were living in Wisconsin or Illinois  that they decided to sell their farm to Endre’s sister, Kari, and her husband Lars Sjurson Hønsi, and make preparations to leave in the spring. Endre and Anna and their 3 children, Ragnhild, Mikkel, and Oline, a newborn, left Bergen May 10, 1853, traveling on the Hans Holmboe Hans Holmboe Ship's Manifest.  Anna’s widowed sister, Ragnhild Hopperstad Brekke, her three children, Margrete, Synneve and Tor, and Endre’s nieces, Ragnhild Gutormsdtr. Hønsi and Marta Gutormsdtr. Midlang,went with them. Anders Torson Brekke Føli, Endre's half brother, and his family were also on board the Hans Holmboe.

Arriving in New York Harbor

Endre Brekke’s mother was Ragnhild Anfinnsdatter Seim. She had a sister, Mari, who was married to Johannes Orvedal , but Mari died young. Her daughter, Brita, married Hermund Ivarson Teigane of the Orvedal Huglagjerde farm. Brita and Hermund and their 5 children, Ivar, Mari, Jon, Johannes, and Ola, went with Endre and Anna  to Amerika. Brita was  pregnant at the time, and the baby, Laura, was born during the voyage.  (Orvedal is spelled Aarvedahl on the manifest.)

Brig Hans Holmboe, L. Wesenberg, owner: http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=hansh

Brekke and Hopperstad Family Members on the Hans Holmboe

From the top: Endre's half brother, Anders Torsen Brekke Føli,wife Anna. Their children: Ola, Ragnhild and Brita.

Endre M. Brekke with wife Anna Olsdtr. Hopperstad. Their children: Ragnhild and Mikkel. 1mo. old Olina not listed.

Ragnhild Gutormsdtr. Hønsi, daughter of Endre's half-sister Anna Torsdtr. Brekkke & Gutorm Hønsi.

Marta Gutormsdtr. Midlang, dau.of Endre's half-sister Synneva Torsdtr. Brekke & Gutorm Midlang. 

S. B. Seim Sigrid, daughter of Botolv Ellingsdatter Ovri. (Sarah Butler)  married Jon E. Myrkaskog.

Anna Olsdtr Lilleøren, daughter of Ola Anfinnson Seim 

Endre Botolvson Espesete from Tisdel-Espeseth (Andrew Bottolfson, married Iverine Berg)

Ragnhild Olsdtr. Hopperstad Brekke, Anna Brekke's sister, widow of Tor Torson Brekke 

Margrete Torsdtr. daughter of Ragnhild and Tor Torson Brekke

Tor Torson Brekke, son of Ragnhild and Tor Torson Brekke

Synneva Torsdtr., daughter of Ragnhild and Tor Torson Brekke

Brita Johannesdtr. Orvedal, dau. of Mari Anfinnsdtr. Seim & Johannes Olson Orvedal, Endre's cousin

Ivar Hermundso Orvedal, son of Brita and Hermund Ivarson Orvedal

John, son of Brita and Hermund Ivarson Orvedal

Johannes, son of Brita and Hermund Ivarson Orvedal

Ola, son of Brita and Hermund Ivarson Orvedal

Mari, daughter of Brita and Hermund Ivarson Orvedal. Married Magnus Nelson

Inga Vigoren (Vikøren) dau. of Anders Nilson

C. B. Brekke ??

Hermund Ivarson Orvedal, husband of Brita Johannesdtr. Orvedal

THANKS TO OLAV SKAGEN  YOU CAN WATCH THIS VIDEO marking the 150th Anniversary of the 
emigration from Vik. Amerika Feber
https://tv.nrk.no/program/FSFJ00000289/amerikafeber