The Vangsness Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameIver Endreson Nistad (Iver Vangsness) 
, 37
, 37Birth Date1 Nov 1819
Birth PlaceVangsnes, Norway
Emig Date1854 Age: 34
Emig PlaceMadison, Wisconsin
Emig MemoLater moved to Goodhue County, MN
Death Date2 May 19059 Age: 85
Death PlaceBelle Creek, Goodhue County, Minnesota
FatherEndre Hansen, Lee, Nissestad , 327 (1783-1850)
MotherKari Vikingsdatter, Mörkve , 328 (1780-1850)
Spouses
1Unni Andersdatter , 38
, 38Birth Date18 Jun 1823
Birth PlaceSvarefjorden Balestrand, Norway
Emig Date1854 Age: 30
Emig PlaceMadison, Wisconsin
Emig MemoLater moved to Goodhue County, MN
Death Date1868 Age: 44
FlagsEarliest Ancestor In US
FatherAnders Erikson Dale , 72 (1790-?)
MotherBritha Olsdatter , 73 (1796-?)
Marr Date17 Dec 185310
Marr PlaceSogn og Fjordane county, Balestrand Parish
ChildrenJohn Endreson , 24 (1852-1938)
Anders (Andrew) , 40 (1858-~1923)
Carl E. , 41 (1860-1928)
Andrew , 46 (1863-1945)
Cornelius E. , 45 (1863-~1945)
Baby , 48 (1868-1868)
Notes for Iver Endreson Nistad (Iver Vangsness)
Great, Great Grandfather
They all immigrated to the United States in 1854. As far as I know now, we DO NOT know why Iver and his wife decided to move to America except perhaps the classic reasons of bettering yourself, having your own land, that sort of thing. Another interesting point is that both of Iver Endreseon’s parents died in 1850. Iver was not the first son, so he would not have gotten the farm.
The whole family ended up in Madison, Dane county, Wisconsin on July 4th, 1854 for the start of their new life. Iver worked as a laborer, I guess saving money to buy some land.
After eight years in Wisconsin, the family moved to Belle Creek, Goodhue county, Minnesota in 1862. The Civil War was still in its early stages. In a letter to Paul John Sylvester in 1996, John G. Vangsness says that John Vangsness II remember his grandfather telling him stories about that trip. They traveled in an ox-drawn wagon. And they saw Union soldiers in stage coaches, I suppose heading off to the front lines.
In Belle Creek, Iver purchased 130 acres of land in section 31. In about 1866, their first log cabin house was build. Read the entry, Where they Ended Up, which has photos of the log cabin and barn.
They all immigrated to the United States in 1854. As far as I know now, we DO NOT know why Iver and his wife decided to move to America except perhaps the classic reasons of bettering yourself, having your own land, that sort of thing. Another interesting point is that both of Iver Endreseon’s parents died in 1850. Iver was not the first son, so he would not have gotten the farm.
The whole family ended up in Madison, Dane county, Wisconsin on July 4th, 1854 for the start of their new life. Iver worked as a laborer, I guess saving money to buy some land.
After eight years in Wisconsin, the family moved to Belle Creek, Goodhue county, Minnesota in 1862. The Civil War was still in its early stages. In a letter to Paul John Sylvester in 1996, John G. Vangsness says that John Vangsness II remember his grandfather telling him stories about that trip. They traveled in an ox-drawn wagon. And they saw Union soldiers in stage coaches, I suppose heading off to the front lines.
In Belle Creek, Iver purchased 130 acres of land in section 31. In about 1866, their first log cabin house was build. Read the entry, Where they Ended Up, which has photos of the log cabin and barn.
Notes for Iver Endreson Nistad (Iver Vangsness)
The old log cabin was saved by Steve Bauer of Hastings in 1994 or so. It was taken to “The Little Log House Antique Park” where it was rebuilt.11
Notes for Unni (Spouse 1)
Great, Great Grandmother
Unni is listed at birth as being in Dale. At their son John’s vaccination, Dec. 2, 1852, at age 1/3 year, the residence is Vangsnæs. Dale is a very common farm name. It means valley and there is a farm of that name in Vik, Balestrand and Leikanger. Dale is pronounced dolly, with the final e pronounced.
The only Unni Andersdtr baptised in this area at about the dates above, was in the Leikanger church book but occurred in Balestrand. (The pastor from Leikanger came to Balestrand about every 3 weeks, and entered the data from Balestrand in the Leikanger church book at this time.) 1823, baptism #62Unni, born 18 July, bp 20 July, parents Anders Ericksen Dale and Britha Olsdr. Also, at Unni’s marriage, her father was listed as Anders Erikson Dale. So this is most like the same person.
Unni is listed at birth as being in Dale. At their son John’s vaccination, Dec. 2, 1852, at age 1/3 year, the residence is Vangsnæs. Dale is a very common farm name. It means valley and there is a farm of that name in Vik, Balestrand and Leikanger. Dale is pronounced dolly, with the final e pronounced.
The only Unni Andersdtr baptised in this area at about the dates above, was in the Leikanger church book but occurred in Balestrand. (The pastor from Leikanger came to Balestrand about every 3 weeks, and entered the data from Balestrand in the Leikanger church book at this time.) 1823, baptism #62Unni, born 18 July, bp 20 July, parents Anders Ericksen Dale and Britha Olsdr. Also, at Unni’s marriage, her father was listed as Anders Erikson Dale. So this is most like the same person.
Notes for Unni (Spouse 1)
Unni Andersdatter passed away in 1868, just six years after moving to Belle Creek. She was 45 years of age. She had had 5 children. (There was possibly a 6th child, that child having passed away in infancy.)
The children's ages at her death were:
• John - 16,
• Anders - 10,
• Carl - 8,
• Andrew - 5,
• Cornelius - 4.
John G. Vangsness remembers that his father and grandfather, Alfred, talked about Unni being killed by a sheep ram - which shows she was a hard working farmer's wife. She died 47 years before her husband having lived in America just 14 years. His father died in 1905, at the age of 86. I suppose that John E. helped with the care of his four younger brothers: Anders, Carl, Andrew & Cornelius after his mother died.
There is mention of a sixth brother that died in infancy, we have no name or dates for this child.
The children's ages at her death were:
• John - 16,
• Anders - 10,
• Carl - 8,
• Andrew - 5,
• Cornelius - 4.
John G. Vangsness remembers that his father and grandfather, Alfred, talked about Unni being killed by a sheep ram - which shows she was a hard working farmer's wife. She died 47 years before her husband having lived in America just 14 years. His father died in 1905, at the age of 86. I suppose that John E. helped with the care of his four younger brothers: Anders, Carl, Andrew & Cornelius after his mother died.
There is mention of a sixth brother that died in infancy, we have no name or dates for this child.
Notes for Iver Endreson & Unni (Family)
Iver Endreson was 35 at his marriage and Unni Andersdatter was 30 years and 6 months. Their son, John E. was born July 12th, 1852.
The Balestrand Bygdebok says:
Explanation
• No: 24
• Date: either December 1st or 17 (hard to read), 1853
• Brudgommen's Nave (Bridegroom's Name) Ungkari = bachelor Iver Endreson,Oppholdssted (Residence) next possibly that he was born in Nissestad in Vig (Vik) and possibly saying he is now residing in Vangsnæs. Age 35. Brudgommens Far: His father is Endre Hansen Lie;
• Bruden’s Navn (Bride's name) Pige = unmarried woman or girl Unni Andersdtr, Oppholdssted (Residence) from Dale, Age 30 1/2. Bruden’s Far: Her father is Anders Erikson Vangsnæs.
• Forlovernes (witnesses or best men or Sponsors) are Niels Monsen Vangsnæs and Anders Eriksen Vangsnæs. (Anders is most likely her father, so Niels would be a friend or relative of the groom.)
• Tillysningsdagen (date of the wedding announcement): The next column could be the dates for the 3 banns dates where the marriage has to be announced in advance. The dates are hard to read.
• Naar Havt De Naturlig Koppar, Eller Vaccineret? Attest Derom (Have they had smallpox naturally, or if not, have they been vaccinated? Attest thereto): Answer: yes. * Iver's is hard to read, ???, 1827 and Unni's is 5/4 25, meaning most likely 5 April 1825.
The Balestrand Bygdebok says:
Explanation
• No: 24
• Date: either December 1st or 17 (hard to read), 1853
• Brudgommen's Nave (Bridegroom's Name) Ungkari = bachelor Iver Endreson,Oppholdssted (Residence) next possibly that he was born in Nissestad in Vig (Vik) and possibly saying he is now residing in Vangsnæs. Age 35. Brudgommens Far: His father is Endre Hansen Lie;
• Bruden’s Navn (Bride's name) Pige = unmarried woman or girl Unni Andersdtr, Oppholdssted (Residence) from Dale, Age 30 1/2. Bruden’s Far: Her father is Anders Erikson Vangsnæs.
• Forlovernes (witnesses or best men or Sponsors) are Niels Monsen Vangsnæs and Anders Eriksen Vangsnæs. (Anders is most likely her father, so Niels would be a friend or relative of the groom.)
• Tillysningsdagen (date of the wedding announcement): The next column could be the dates for the 3 banns dates where the marriage has to be announced in advance. The dates are hard to read.
• Naar Havt De Naturlig Koppar, Eller Vaccineret? Attest Derom (Have they had smallpox naturally, or if not, have they been vaccinated? Attest thereto): Answer: yes. * Iver's is hard to read, ???, 1827 and Unni's is 5/4 25, meaning most likely 5 April 1825.