Big Gene Tveden's Page

Hi Gene! Thanks for joining up. Did you get the message I sent to you on MySpace? How did your eye surgury go? Would be cool if we can catch up a bit. I have to take Mom to the doc this morning so she can re-up on her HBP pills. Hit me with a note when you get a chance. Talk to you soon cuz! -Geo

Hey, big brother! Looks like you were up ever later than I was last night. I hope everything's OK.

Did you get a chance to listen to our great-grandfather's story? The "interviewer" on the tape only identifies himself as Fred's brother and "interviewer's" wife's name is Ingrid/Ingred. Fred was the oldest son (according to grandma Viola and confirmed by Ingred/Sigvardt on the tape). I found it fascinating...he was quite the pioneer! I was able to find the places he mentioned on a map of Norway (and later in the USA):

Synopsis: In May of 1901 he left home (Lenvik in the Troms area of Norway) and traveled by steamboat from Finnsnes to Trondheim; then from there across the North Sea to the east side of England, then over to the west side of England to make a 9-day trans-Atlantic steamer landing in Montreal, Canada. From there he took a ferry across the canal then a train (changing in Chicaco) on to Deer Lake, Minnesota. From there he hopped on a street car (running every hour) bound for Mason City, Minnesota (population 5-6000) where he worked in a brick & tile plant. His wife "Anna" (Elena Marie Johanna Hanson Carlson) came over 5 months later in late October 1901 with 3 kiddos: Fred (5 yrs), Anker (3 yrs) & Annie (1 yr) and they eventually move 20 miles west of Mason City to Clear Lake where he worked as a logger earning about $3.50/day for 9 years sun up to sun down. Viola was their 4th child (first one born in the USA). Timing uncertain: 2nd move to farm (couldn't find it on a map: Sigvardt says it wase actually 7 miles SW of Fertile, MN out in the country). Finally in March of 1910 they homesteaded (it sounded like he said 80 acres) in McKenzie County, ND. His timing was just right because neighbors 20 years later could only get 40 acres.

Anyway, it's this homestead which has oil & gas rights that were willed to Sigvardt's descendants. Check out the family tree: there were 11 children including our paternal grandmother Viola (born 2 Oct 1902).

Hugs - k

Thanks, Gene. It doesn't really matter "where" you answer back so long as I get the info. Thanks for the spelling confirmation and marriage/birth locations. You know what I forgot to ask? What's Deena's middle name and where was she born? And Philip's middle name? As long as I'm entering the information on them, I figure I might as well include it, huh?

How's everybody doing?

k