| Name | Hans Larson Hvesser  |
| Birth | 30 Oct 1824, Hvesser, Trøgstad, Ostfold, Norway |
| Death | 1895, Ottertail Co., Minnesota ? |
| Occupation | farmer |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Father | Lars Hansen (~1774-) |
| Mother | Anne Jørnsdatter (1784-) |
| 1 | Anne Gundersdatter Flåtten |
| Birth | 28 Dec 1824, Trøgstad, Ostfold, Norway |
| Death | 1899, Ottertail Co., Minnesota ? |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Father | Gunder Thoresen Evenby (~1779-) |
| Mother | Haagine Andersdatter Flatten (~1790-) |
| Marriage | 16 Aug 1850, Trøgstad, Østfold, Norway |
| Children | Johanna Hansdatter (1851-1881) |
| Theodor Larson (1853-1914) | |
| Mathea (~1855-1935) | |
| Helen (1858-) | |
| Gusta Marie (1860-1957) | |
| Allete (1864-1944) | |
| Caroline (1866-1947) | |
| Anton (1868-1870) | |
| Ole Larson (1868-) | |
| Lenora Andria (1872-1904) |
Their children born in Norway were:
Johanne 4/14/1851 (who married Christian J. Grimsrud)
Theodor 9/11/53
Mattie 1855 (who married Hans Lund)
Helen 4/24/58
Gusta 5/17/60 (who married Bernhard Nilsen)
Allete 4/8/1864 (who married Tonnes Kvindlog)
Caroline 5/26/1866 (who married Stener Kvindlog)
twins Ole and Anton 12/2/1868
On the 1865 census of Norway the family owned the Hvesser farm and 1 horse, 6 cattle, 3 sheep, and 1 pig. They produced on the farm that year one measure of barley, 8 measures of oats, 6 measures of potatoes, a quarter measure of peas, and three quarters measure of rye.
In the year of 1869, September 17th Hans Larsen age 45 left Norway for America on the ship the "Oder". He stated that his final destination was Chicago. But his goal was to establish a homestead for his family in Minnesota, Ottertail Co. in the Dane Prairie Township. He was able to send for his family the following Spring after securing 160 acres to homestead.
Anne and all the children left Norway May 9, 1870. They arrived in in Fairbault, Minn. July 8, 1870. Then Anne suffered a terrible blow, one of her toddler twins, Anton died there the next day. And they still had a difficult journey ahead to reach the remote homestead where Hans had only been able to improve 3 acres that year. (On the 1870 Agricultural Census Hans had 3 acres improved, 5 acres woodland, 153 acres unimproved, 3 milk cows, and 2 other cattle [an oxen team?].)
Their last child Lenora Andria born two years later 2/5/1872 on the homestead.
The Hvessers raised wheat. Because the mill was so far away the trip took nearly a week. It was a 25 mile trip by wagon to the nearest post office in Clitheral. The men of Dane Prairie and Aurdal took turns traveling to Clitheral to pick up the mail once a week. Money was hard to come by. It is likely Hans, like his neighbors, brought in extra money by working on railroad construction crews, logging camps, and trapping animals in the winter.
On the 1880 Census Hans Larsen is listed as 55 years old, Anne as 55, Theodor as 26, Gusta Maria as 20, Alette as 17, Caroline as 14, Ole as 11, Lenora as 7. Their last name is given as HVESSE. Johanne, Mattie, and Helen the three oldest daughters were not listed in the household.
When their eldest daughter Johanne died at age 30, Hans and his wife Anne were given her newborn daughter Jenny to raise. They were both 57 years old.
Sometime before 1884 they moved about 7 miles north to Aurdal township. On the 1884 Platt map of Aurdal Hans had 120 acres.
Hans Larsen Hvesser was well versed in the Scriptures and was called upon by his neighbors to preach and perform funerals. In his home in Aurdal November 12, 1884 Hans and three other Norwegians officially organized the Vang's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Aurdal. Hans served as a deacon.
In 1894 Hans Larson sold his land to Halvor G. Brekke. A year later in 1895 Hans Larson Hvesser died. His wife Anne Gundersdatter Fløtten died in 1899.
Granddaughter Jenny Grimsrud said that after her grandparents died the only ones left at home was their son Ole and herself. Ole (a.k.a. Uncle Will) and Jenny at some point abandoned the farm and they headed out to San Fransisco---just in time for the big earthquake in 1906!
-biography written and researched by Linda Rawles
©2004 Linda Rawles
rawles@usa.net