Here are my Severson Great Grandparents. Sven Severson Trøyflat was born 22, November 1876 on a farm named Grøte in Hemsedal, Buskerud County, Norway. In 1879 his father purchased a farm in a neighboring community and the family moved to Trøyflat in Vestre Slidre, Oppland County, Norway. Sven was the fourth child of eight born to Syver Syversen Trøyflat and Barbo Olsdatter Kirkebøen. He was schooled in Norway and learned the trade of blacksmithing.
It was in Vestre Slidre where he met and fell in love with the young woman who would become his wife.
Sigrid Olsdatter Kvale was born at Kvale farm in Vestre Slidre on 7, March 1882. She was the middle child of three born to Ole Jensen Bråten and Guri Nilsdatter. Sigrid did not have a stable homelife full of wonderful family memories like Sven did. Sigrid's mother, Guri, died in 1899. Her father remarried that same year to a woman who reportedly did not treat her or her younger brother very well. In fact, neither Sigrid or Øystein even lived with their father following the death of their mother. Sven and Sigrid decided to emigrate to America. They departed from Oslo on 10, April 1903 aboard a Sailship named the SS Angelo. This boat took them to Glascow, Scotland. Once there, the couple boarded a Steamship named the SS Columbia enroute to New York City which arrived on 27, April 1903. A train transported them to Blooming Prairie, Steele County, Minnesota. Here, they were met, housed and employed by a relative from Hemsedal who had previously emigrated. It was also on this farm that Sven and Sigrid were married on 26, July 1903. Late that Fall they began their journey North to the intended destination of Davenport, North Dakota. However, there would be another stop along the way. Sven and Sigrid spent the Winter and Spring of 1904 in Wolverton, Wilkin County, Minnesota. It was in this town that their first child, Sophus, was born. From here, they went to Kindred, Cass County, North Dakota. Sven worked in a blacksmith shop there with his cousin, who had also previously emigrated. In 1905, he had the opportunity to purchase his own blacksmith shop in nearby Davenport, North Dakota. Sven and Sigrid raised their eight children in Davenport and Sven lived there until his death on 9, April 1958. Following his death, Sigrid was moved to Hopkins, Minnesota since she had numerous children living in the area. Sigrid died on 16, November 1967. Both she and Sven are interred in Davenport Cemetery in Davenport, North Dakota.
Children of Sven and Sigrid Severson:
1: Sophus Olger b. 18, July 1904/ d. 20, January 1984
2: Gladys Bergliot b. 28, July 1907/ d. 30, April 1989
3: Borghild Luella b. 25, May 1910/ d. December 1999
4: Adeline Delores b. 17, September 1912/ d. 3, February 1980
5: Walter Orlando b. 29, October 1914/ d. 4, October 1971
6: Dorothy Elinor b. 15, September 1917/ d. 24, February 1990
7: Margaret Sara b. 2, September 1920/ d. 2, April 2007
8: Donald Earl b. 15, July 1925/ d. 6, July 1998
It was in Vestre Slidre where he met and fell in love with the young woman who would become his wife.
Sigrid Olsdatter Kvale was born at Kvale farm in Vestre Slidre on 7, March 1882. She was the middle child of three born to Ole Jensen Bråten and Guri Nilsdatter. Sigrid did not have a stable homelife full of wonderful family memories like Sven did. Sigrid's mother, Guri, died in 1899. Her father remarried that same year to a woman who reportedly did not treat her or her younger brother very well. In fact, neither Sigrid or Øystein even lived with their father following the death of their mother. Sven and Sigrid decided to emigrate to America. They departed from Oslo on 10, April 1903 aboard a Sailship named the SS Angelo. This boat took them to Glascow, Scotland. Once there, the couple boarded a Steamship named the SS Columbia enroute to New York City which arrived on 27, April 1903. A train transported them to Blooming Prairie, Steele County, Minnesota. Here, they were met, housed and employed by a relative from Hemsedal who had previously emigrated. It was also on this farm that Sven and Sigrid were married on 26, July 1903. Late that Fall they began their journey North to the intended destination of Davenport, North Dakota. However, there would be another stop along the way. Sven and Sigrid spent the Winter and Spring of 1904 in Wolverton, Wilkin County, Minnesota. It was in this town that their first child, Sophus, was born. From here, they went to Kindred, Cass County, North Dakota. Sven worked in a blacksmith shop there with his cousin, who had also previously emigrated. In 1905, he had the opportunity to purchase his own blacksmith shop in nearby Davenport, North Dakota. Sven and Sigrid raised their eight children in Davenport and Sven lived there until his death on 9, April 1958. Following his death, Sigrid was moved to Hopkins, Minnesota since she had numerous children living in the area. Sigrid died on 16, November 1967. Both she and Sven are interred in Davenport Cemetery in Davenport, North Dakota.
Children of Sven and Sigrid Severson:
1: Sophus Olger b. 18, July 1904/ d. 20, January 1984
2: Gladys Bergliot b. 28, July 1907/ d. 30, April 1989
3: Borghild Luella b. 25, May 1910/ d. December 1999
4: Adeline Delores b. 17, September 1912/ d. 3, February 1980
5: Walter Orlando b. 29, October 1914/ d. 4, October 1971
6: Dorothy Elinor b. 15, September 1917/ d. 24, February 1990
7: Margaret Sara b. 2, September 1920/ d. 2, April 2007
8: Donald Earl b. 15, July 1925/ d. 6, July 1998
Sophus, Margaret, Gladys, Dorothy, Don, Bea, Adeline, Walther
Sophus, Gladys, Bea, Adeline
Baptismal record from Gol Parish Book for Sven(137)
Baptismal record from Slidre Parish Book for Sigrid(#2)
Emigration ship manifest. SS Columbia, arriving in New York on 27, April 1903. Sven and Sigrid are listed as numbers 27 and 28. Notes say they are headed to a cousin's home in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota.
Sven and Sigrid Marriage license
Front: Don, Margaret, Sven, Sigrid, Bea, Sophus. Back: Dorothy, Gladys, Walter, Adeline.
U.S. Naturalization, 22, September 1922
Sigrid and daughters
Front: Adeline, Bea. Back: Gladys, Sigrid, Dorothy
Sven, Mary, Sigrid, Walter and grandchildren
4 Generations: Gladys holding Jane Standal, Sigrid, Wayne Standal holding Nancy
1900 Census from Vestre Slidre, Norway showing Sven and his family
Emigration list from Oslo showing Sigrid and Sven
Sven's WWI draft registration in 1917
Sven, with Adeline's husband, Avery Andersen, and Gladys' son, John Standal.
Sven and Sigrid with their children; Gladys, Margaret and Don, and grandchildren; Margie and Marcia Severson; Mike, Chris and Dave Elliot; and John Standal.
Postcard written from Sven to his sister, Marit: "How are you doing back home? I hope you all are doing well. You must write us soon now. We are living well. it is Christmas soon and we have almost no snow yet, but it has been very cold. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a good and blessed New Year."
Letter from Sven: " Dearest brother and family, I have received your letter with the message that our dear Mother has left this world. This did not come as a surprise. I had the feeling what the letter contained before I even opened it. In the last letter I had from Jorgen, he told me that she had failed a lot lately. He also said that she had left all the earthly things and longed for the rest that Jesus had promised in the heavenly home, a place for her and we shall not mourn but be happy that we have our parents and siblings who are waiting for us there. She wished that we shall not forget what Jesus had promised in John; Be faithful until death that you will inherit the Crown of Life. Mother had a long, hard life and struggle. But when we are tired the rest is so much sweeter. I had so often thought that I should see Mother before she left us, but fate enterred in and it was not possible. And I love the comfort that I will meet her again where there is no separation. Then you mention about Mother's belongings and I agree that you should take care of it privately as best you can, and not in probate court. I can send a separate release or notary to the authorities to advise them to take care of the estate. Now it is Fall, again. Summer has been warm and dry. But crops turned out pretty good anyway, but prices are very poor for everything farmers have to sell. So times are very poor here in America. Millions of workers are unemployed. A lot of factories are closed down and banks have gone bankrupt, one after another. And farmers about to lose their land. So it looks quite dark. But it tells us in scripture that there will be trials and tribulations and this must be fulfilled and must be endured. We can see signs of that now. So finally, to you and your family, my heartiest greetings from us here. Greet brother Ole and his family and also those at Rodningen."
pages 3 and 4 of above letter
Another letter from Sven: "Dear brother and family, I received your letter a while ago. Thank you. I see you all are healthy and for that we should be grateful. The same I can report back that we are well. Despite worries and disapointments that the world brings us, we have to be grateful for keeping good health. Times are hard in America theses days, the worst we have had in man's memory. There are millions of unemployed people who have been without work for ages, but we have to hope that the time changes to the brighter and better again, thanks to our sincere and righteous new President. After all the misrule we had for along time, it seems he will get the ship on an even keel. The prices of farming products are starting to rise and millions of workers are back in labor, but there are still millions left without anything to do. One can think what a giant job it is to get everything going when about 12 million have been unemployed. Despite the warm weather we had around here the crops look pretty good, but some places it has dried out and the grasshoppers have been a plague the last years. I see from your letter that you have arranged the inheritance of our Mother, so if you would be so kind to send me the money. In these hard times it would help me a little. The value of the dollar has dropped, so the exchange rate will hardly be better later. Greet my siblings and all known from us."
2nd page of above letter
Another postcard; this one to Rødningen, wishing Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Sophus, Verna, Richard and Robert Severson
Sven and Sigrid in front of their Wedding photo.
Sigrid on her 76th birthday.
Sven and Sigrid with their daughter, Dorothy Ransburg, and grandchildren: Mary and Dave Ransburg.
