These are the people whose birthplace I wanted to visit when I took my trip to Norway. I wanted to walk where they walked as children, see where they lived and worshiped. I dearly loved these people and have numerous wonderful memories of my life with them. From my earliest memories of having "coffee and" when I was just 2 or 3 years old until I was 27 and "Grandpa Annie" passed on to be with the Lord. Even today, I can still relive those times with them. This photo was taken in 1954 when Ole and Mathilde were leaving to make a visit home. From left, they are Ole, Mathilde, Kristine and John. All, but John, came to America early in 1900 from Norway. They boarded the small boat in Stavanger that took them to a train that brought them to Liverpool, England. There they boarded their ship bound for America.
Ole was next to arrive in 1909 at age 20 on the Lucania. He was leaving the island of Ombo, where he had lived all his life. He was going to his brother, Lars, who also paid for his ticket. Ole only had $10, too. He was traveling with a cousin who would also be going to Lars' home. The last of the three to arrive, was Kristine. She arrived also on the Mauretania at the age of 20 in 1914. She left Tjora, her parents and two sisters and a brother. Six of her sisters had already gone to America. She would be staying with one of them. Kristine paid for her ticket herself and had at least $50 with her.
Mathilde and Ole did not know each other before they met in America in 1911 and were married here. Kristine married John, who was a first generation American boy. His father and mother emigrated from Prussia in 1867 and 1873.
