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| My People |
Why They Left
My people came from Norway & Sweden. I believe they crossed the Atlantic for the same reasons most immigrants choose to leave their homes - the promise of a better life for themselves and their children. Of course, the reasons are not that simple but the story of my people is a universal one. In Norway, many of the early immigrants were farm families, so it is not a surprise that the promise of finding land led many to the United States, and to Minnesota. The Homestead Act of 1862 opened up land to settlers if they promised to farm and live on the land for five years.
Land in the United States was also quite inexpensive. In Minnesota,
land costs were as low as $1.25 per acre by the mid- to late-1800s when purchased from the government, or $5 to $10 when
purchased from private corporations.
The difference between America and Norway socially and politically also pulled immigrants to the United States. In the 1800's, Norway lived under a strict social class system, with the "lower classes" (my people) expected to show deference to the upper classes. And, during the nineteenth century, Norway gave the right to vote to only an elite minority of the population. In the United States white men were given universal suffrage in the 1820s, and by the end of the 1860s many states were looking into the possibility of allowing some women the right to vote as well - but the 19th amendment was not passed until 1920.
But the main reason for emigration from Norway from the middle of the 1860s was due to the country's ever-increasing population coupled with fewer jobs. Norway is only 3% tillable so little farmable land was available. Crop failures and farm foreclosures during this period coupled with a typically large family drove families to the brink of destitution. Because of this, many people left for the United States. Often, the older children of the family "volunteered" to emigrate. [This was the case with my wife's Leksvig ancestors. Her grandmother and 2 sisters were "chosen" and sadly, never returned to Norway.]
Workers in the New World could make money, enough to live on and possibly even send some back the Old Country. For example, by the late 1800s, a sailor on an American ship could earn three to four times the wage of a sailor on a Norwegian ship. Jobs in American cities offered work and good wages for Norwegian immigrants. A laborer in Norway could earn $40 to $50 a year, while a laborer in an American city could earn as much $4 to $5 a day when times were good.
And of course, there were the promoters - some who were charlatans - the "emigration agents", newspapers and the railroads promising streets of gold. In 1862, American consuls in Norway were urged to promote the employment opportunities in America. The Bergenposten, for example, advertised the many mining jobs that existed in the iron ranges of Minnesota and shipping in the Lake Superior region.
And the bold "early adopter" settlers often sent letters back to friends and family in the Scandinavia telling the benefits of living in the United States. These letters helped increase the "America fever".
Why Minnesota
The difference between America and Norway socially and politically also pulled immigrants to the United States. In the 1800's, Norway lived under a strict social class system, with the "lower classes" (my people) expected to show deference to the upper classes. And, during the nineteenth century, Norway gave the right to vote to only an elite minority of the population. In the United States white men were given universal suffrage in the 1820s, and by the end of the 1860s many states were looking into the possibility of allowing some women the right to vote as well - but the 19th amendment was not passed until 1920.
But the main reason for emigration from Norway from the middle of the 1860s was due to the country's ever-increasing population coupled with fewer jobs. Norway is only 3% tillable so little farmable land was available. Crop failures and farm foreclosures during this period coupled with a typically large family drove families to the brink of destitution. Because of this, many people left for the United States. Often, the older children of the family "volunteered" to emigrate. [This was the case with my wife's Leksvig ancestors. Her grandmother and 2 sisters were "chosen" and sadly, never returned to Norway.]
Workers in the New World could make money, enough to live on and possibly even send some back the Old Country. For example, by the late 1800s, a sailor on an American ship could earn three to four times the wage of a sailor on a Norwegian ship. Jobs in American cities offered work and good wages for Norwegian immigrants. A laborer in Norway could earn $40 to $50 a year, while a laborer in an American city could earn as much $4 to $5 a day when times were good.
And of course, there were the promoters - some who were charlatans - the "emigration agents", newspapers and the railroads promising streets of gold. In 1862, American consuls in Norway were urged to promote the employment opportunities in America. The Bergenposten, for example, advertised the many mining jobs that existed in the iron ranges of Minnesota and shipping in the Lake Superior region.
And the bold "early adopter" settlers often sent letters back to friends and family in the Scandinavia telling the benefits of living in the United States. These letters helped increase the "America fever".
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| My People - Immigrants all |
Why Minnesota
In Minnesota, land was inexpensive and available due to treaties with American Indian and attracted many Norwegian immigrants. Also in Minnesota, farmers often persuaded additional Norwegian immigrants to come to these new settlements by paying for their tickets to America. This was the case with my great grandfather Carl. His wife's sister, Elizabeth & husband Carl Aas, had settled in Brandon, MN and they made 3 separate offers to sponsor the Nelson's immigration. Carl Aas wrote to him in Sweden, " ... you can sit in a rocker on a painted floor and eat butter on rye bread and all the land around was as much his as anybody's". Elizabeth wanted to come but Carl steadfastly refused. Finally, an ultimatum that "this is the final offer" tipped the scales and Carl, Sofia & 4 boys packed and left Sweden for Brandon, Douglas County, MN.
The first permanent Norwegian settlements were in Minnesota were in the southeastern corner of the state, mainly in Goodhue, Fillmore and Houston Counties and by 1860, half of Minnesota's 12,000 Norwegians resided in those counties. My wife's Norwegian ancestors went to Houston County but her grandparents later migrated to Pope County - a story for another time.
{Editor note: Hoplins & Nelsons settled in Douglas, Cass and Pope Counties}
Immigrants also came to the Red River Valley in northwestern Minnesota, settling in the counties of Clay, Marshall, Norman, and Polk. The lure of railroad jobs during the early 1870s, the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad helped increase migration.
Duluth was also a significant center for Norwegian immigration due to it's location on Lake Superior which provided Norwegian fishermen with employment. As a result, the Norwegian population of Duluth increased dramatically between 1870 and 1900. By 1900 the population had reached 7,500.
In the 1880s, Norwegian migration to Minnesota shifted to cities, many planning merely to make some money in America and then to return to Norway. The city of Minneapolis saw a large influx of Norwegian immigrations during the period from the 1880s to early 1900s, and settlement in St. Paul occurred as well.
Nils' Story
The parents of my immigrant great grandfather Nils Hoplin were Olaus Jonsen and Berit Nilsdotter Undlein, married in Asen, Norway in 1844. (aka “Olaus Jonsen Risan fra Frosta” in some documents.)
From the Rygh Norwegian Farms website - http://www.dokpro.uio.no/rygh_ng/rygh_info.html - “Risan Frosten” is farm #37 and dates from the 1500's.
In the 1880s, Norwegian migration to Minnesota shifted to cities, many planning merely to make some money in America and then to return to Norway. The city of Minneapolis saw a large influx of Norwegian immigrations during the period from the 1880s to early 1900s, and settlement in St. Paul occurred as well.
Nils' Story
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| Nil's and grandchildren |
The parents of my immigrant great grandfather Nils Hoplin were Olaus Jonsen and Berit Nilsdotter Undlein, married in Asen, Norway in 1844. (aka “Olaus Jonsen Risan fra Frosta” in some documents.)
From the Rygh Norwegian Farms website - http://www.dokpro.uio.no/rygh_ng/rygh_info.html - “Risan Frosten” is farm #37 and dates from the 1500's.
37-39. Risan. Udt. rí2san. -- af Risom AB. 28.Rise NRJ.
II 236. Riisze OE. 99. Rysse DN. XI 776 c. 1550. Ryse 1559. Riisse 1590. 1610. Rißemb 1626. Riiße 1664. Risum, Riisem, Risem 1723.
The names Risan and Risset are related. Risan comes from an alternate form of Risset (ved Sammensætning med sætr (not sure what this means - saeter is a pasture in the high mountains). The farms are neighboring farms and Risset are the closest to the sea. Risan is the older name of the two. Risan or Rise are a common farm name. farm 36 is in the land index as Risan,.}
Frosta is on the north shore of Åsen fjord, north of Trondheim. Nils was born in 1848 in Levanger, north of Åsen, in a hired man’s house. In 1865, Nils was a hired man ("dreng") in Nesjo farm near Åsen. In 1875, Nils was a hired man in Hopla - from which the name Hoplin is derived, I believe. (Risan and Nesjo are both examples of Norwegian farm names that were commonly appended to a person's given name.)
II 236. Riisze OE. 99. Rysse DN. XI 776 c. 1550. Ryse 1559. Riisse 1590. 1610. Rißemb 1626. Riiße 1664. Risum, Riisem, Risem 1723.
The names Risan and Risset are related. Risan comes from an alternate form of Risset (ved Sammensætning med sætr (not sure what this means - saeter is a pasture in the high mountains). The farms are neighboring farms and Risset are the closest to the sea. Risan is the older name of the two. Risan or Rise are a common farm name. farm 36 is in the land index as Risan,.}
Frosta is on the north shore of Åsen fjord, north of Trondheim. Nils was born in 1848 in Levanger, north of Åsen, in a hired man’s house. In 1865, Nils was a hired man ("dreng") in Nesjo farm near Åsen. In 1875, Nils was a hired man in Hopla - from which the name Hoplin is derived, I believe. (Risan and Nesjo are both examples of Norwegian farm names that were commonly appended to a person's given name.)
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| Hopla Fjord & sawmill |
Nils immigrated to Baldwin, WI in 1879, where a cousin lived, leaving wife Hanna and two children, Peter & Nikoline, behind. (My wife's grandmother, Johanna, immigrated from Leksvig, across the Trondheim fjord.)
In 1880, Nils moved to Alexandria, MN. He was met at the train station by Johan Berg, who he had known in Norway. Johan Berg was the father of Ole J. Berg, former Judge of Probate of Douglas County, who related this story to Nil's son, Ole Hoplin. Nils arrived in Alexandria late at night and he and Johan walked 14 miles to Johan’s farm. While they were having lunch, Nils was told he could get work on the wood train that supplied the railroad. He did not sleep and got on the 7:00 o’clock train to Brandon the next morning to go to work for the railroad. Hanna and the children joined Nils in 1881.
{Editor note: This quote is famously attributed to James J. Hill, the Minnesota railroad tycoon. "Give me snuff, whiskey and Swedes, and I will build a railroad to hell.” I trust on the same diet, Norwegians could too.}
In 1884, Nils purchased some land near Brandon, on the shore of Little Chippewa Lake from Lars Flynn. He continued to buy adjoining parcels of land.
Hanna died of pneumonia in 1923 and Nils died of a heart attack in 1927.
Copyright © 2016 Dave Hoplin
In 1880, Nils moved to Alexandria, MN. He was met at the train station by Johan Berg, who he had known in Norway. Johan Berg was the father of Ole J. Berg, former Judge of Probate of Douglas County, who related this story to Nil's son, Ole Hoplin. Nils arrived in Alexandria late at night and he and Johan walked 14 miles to Johan’s farm. While they were having lunch, Nils was told he could get work on the wood train that supplied the railroad. He did not sleep and got on the 7:00 o’clock train to Brandon the next morning to go to work for the railroad. Hanna and the children joined Nils in 1881.
{Editor note: This quote is famously attributed to James J. Hill, the Minnesota railroad tycoon. "Give me snuff, whiskey and Swedes, and I will build a railroad to hell.” I trust on the same diet, Norwegians could too.}
In 1884, Nils purchased some land near Brandon, on the shore of Little Chippewa Lake from Lars Flynn. He continued to buy adjoining parcels of land.
- May 1884. 23.16 acres. Lots 7 of sub A of Lot 8 Section 9. Township 129 Range 39. for $256.76 from Lars Flynn.
- Oct 13, 1890 – 40 acres. Lot 75 Subsection A of Lot 8, Section 9 from George A Fredenrich
- Date <~1890's> 24.24 acres. Lot #2 Sect 9 Township 129, the woods between Baumbach & Little Chiippewa for $222.50
- July 2, 1898, SE 1⁄4 + NE 1⁄4 Section 16, Township 129, Range 30, 40 acres from A.M.Clough
- July 14, 1899 40 acres NW 1/4 + SW 1⁄4 Section 16 from John Lind
- Aug 31, 1903. 40 acres NW 1⁄4 + SW 1⁄4 Section 15 from Wold Estate, $1120
- Dec 2, 1918 - 40 acres SE of farm buildings from C.G. Rosengren for $2600
Hanna died of pneumonia in 1923 and Nils died of a heart attack in 1927.
Copyright © 2016 Dave Hoplin
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