A New Beginning in Iowa

Castle Garden New York Harbor

Before 1855, when Castle Garden became the official processing center for immigrants, ships arriving in New York docked at one of the piers in Manhattan where they were cleared by local officials.  The Hans Holmboe arrived on June 29, 1853, six weeks after it left Bergen. The immigrants had survived the difficult ocean voyage, but they still had many hurdles ahead of them. Since 1845, it had been possible to make the trip from New York City to Lake Erie by rail for $3.50, but the most common way to travel was by steamboat along the Hudson River as far as Albany, after which it was necessary to change to canal boats on the Erie Canal as far as Buffalo.  This was the worst part of the trip.  It could take as many as ten long, miserable days and many people died.  From Buffalo they could take a train to Chicago where they might find a welcome with Norwegian kin living in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  Anders Brekke Foley’s wife, Anna, died there of cholera shortly after arriving in Chicago.  Endre and Anna had family living at Capron, and it is likely that they went there from Chicago. 

Norwegian Settlement in the Midwest

By 1853, most of the land around Capron had been purchased, and people were moving westward to Iowa and SE Minnesota.  Endre and Anna probably left the Long Prairie Settlement in the spring of 1854, accompanied  by Anna’s sister sisters, Aase and Store Anna, and their families, the Hermund Iverson family, Guttorm Tisdel and his wife, Kari Nilsdatter Vange, and many others.  Guttorm’s wife and infant daughter had died on the way from New York to Illinois, and Kari’s husband, Johannes Orvedal, died within two years of arriving in the Long Prairie Settlement.  Kari’s father was Nils Person Vange from Vik.  Their destination was Winneshiek County, Iowa.  The settlement  that grew up around Decorah become known as Madison Prairie. 

Site of Madison Settlement Church and Cemetery

The first Norwegian Lutheran church organized in northeastern Iowa was called the Little Iowa Congregation, and it is in the congregational minutes that we first find a record of the presence of the Endre Brekke family in Iowa.  On the 21st of June, 1855, Pastor Koren has recorded the names of Endre and Lille Anna as the sponsors for baby Ola, son of Anna Olsdotter (Hopperstad) and her husband, Ola Johannesen Hopperstad.  Two years later, on July 18, 1857, John Endreson Brekke was both born and baptized.  His sponsors, Erik and Åase Albrektsen Skjerven, John Anfinnson Seim, and Ingeborg Ellingsdotter Myrkaskog, were all close relatives of Endre and Anna.  The records of the Little Iowa Congregation show that Pastor Koren baptized eight infants that day (Little Iowa Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation).

Endre and Anna Hopperstad Brekke's Rosemaled Trunk

Endre and Anna prospered in Iowa.  They purchased land in sections 5,6,and 7 of Calmar Township, a mile and a half north of the village of Spilleville. All of their children grew to adulthood, married well, and established themselves. Three had been born on the farm at Vik.  They were Ragnhild, Mikkel and Oline.  Three were born in Iowa: John, Ole and Margrete. 



As the first born son, Mikkel had the option to remain on the farm and chose to do so, but he also earned a business degree at Upper Iowa University in Fayette.  This is his diploma issued in 1871.  Note the diploma reads Michael E. Michelson.

National Business College Diploma of Michael E. Michelson

Michael married Mari Nilsdatter Vange. 

The History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, published in 1882, stated that the first settler in Sumner Township was a Mr. A. Tracy of Decorah, who came there in 1858.  Following a description of Mr. Tracy’s activities this brief note is added.  “There was a Norwegian settlement in the northeast on the Turkey River before Mr. Tracy came.”  Mr. Tracy’s presence in Sumner Township post-dates the arrival of the first Norwegian immigrants by a full ten years.  By the time he arrived on the scene, much of the township was already occupied by Norwegian settlers whose names and origins were not deemed significant enough by the old stock Americans who put together the early history to merit any more than a passing nod of acknowledgment. 

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

Early Immigration

Emigration from Vik I Sogn began in 1839 with the departure of Per Ivarson Undi and his wife, Anna Davidsdotter.  Anna had a brother and sister who had immigrated to Wisconsin from nearby Voss in 1837, and they had written letters to Per and Anna urging them to come.  Per and Anna Undi lived in Chicago when they first arrived in the United States, but they soon moved to Wisconsin to be with Anna’s family near the village of Wiota, in southwestern Wisconsin.  Per and Anna sent good reports back to Vik, and in the early spring of 1843, 30 emigrants from Vik boarded the sailing ship Mercurius and made the journey across the ocean, among them were Endre and Anna’s good neighbor, Guttorm Rolandson Tisdel, his wife, Brita Ellingsdotter Føli, and their infant daughter, Torbjørg.

                                                        Tistel Farm
A letter written by Guttorm Tisdel describing his experiences in America is thought to have ignited a strong desire to emigrate in the hearts and minds of many back in Sogn. The spring of 1844 saw a large group of emigrants leave Vik with the intention of joining the others at Wiota.  They were led by Anfinn Jonsson Seim, whose wife, Brita Rolandsdotter Tistel, was Guttorm Tistel’s sister. 

                                    America Travelers Bid Farewell

All of those who left Vik in the spring of 1844 traveled on three separate ships, the Juno, the Albion, and the Kong Sverre.  A fourth ship, the Ørnen, was to leave later that summer.  Emigration records reveal that Endre and Anna Brekke had numerous close relatives on these ships. Endre’s 21-year-old nephew, Tor Anderson Brekke, was traveling on the Albion with the family of Anders Hønsi, his uncle’s brother, Guttorm Larsson Hønsi.  They would settle together near the town of Spring Grove in Freeborn County, Minnesota.  Also on the Albion was the family of Lars Johnson Hove, whose mother, Lussi Olsdotter Orvedal, was the sister of Endre’s uncle, Johannes Orvedal.  Lille Anna Brekke and and Lussi Orvedal’s grandfathers were double first cousins.  Endre’s first cousin, Ola Johanneson Orvedal, and his family were also making the trip aboard the Juno. 

The Clipper Ship Juno

Although the original intention of the immigrants from Vik had been to join their friends in Wiota, Wisconsin, a chance meeting with Thor Kaasa, an Norwegian from the Telemark region, led many of them to change their minds and settle near the town of Capron, in Boone County, in NE Illinois,.  Among them were the Lars Johnson Hove family and the Ola Johanneson Orvedals.  The community became known as the Long Prairie Settlement. Over time, many more immigrants from Vik joined them. 

                                                   An Amerika Letter