THE ABRAM HOLVORSON (HALVORSEN) BRANCH OF THE SKAVLEM FAMILY

THE ABRAM HOLVORSON BRANCH OF THE SKAVLEM FAMILY

MIGRATION FROM NORWAY


The migration of the Holvorson branch of the Skavlem family is excerpted from a book titled
THE SKAVLEM AND ÖDEGAARDEM FAMILIES authored by Halvor L. Skavlem and published in 1915.
Kenneth Newell Land, whose mother was Erma Maxine Burkett Land has made the book available for the story that appears herein .

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THE ABRAM HOLVORSON BRANCH OF THE SKAVLEM FAMILY


Herbrand Halvorsen Skavlem (changed to Abram Holverson). The Abram Holverson branch of the Skavlem family. Herbrand, Voyage of the "Emelia," arrives at Chicago. Learning English. To Rock County. Locates home. H. Skavlem. Odegaarden family. Buys more land. Large family. Pioneer of Kansas. Holver A. Skavlem, shifting of name. H. A. Skavlem. Myrtle Holverson. The Younkmans - Cornelia Holverson. The Smiths — Minnie Smith. The Burketts - Henry Holverson, Kansas. Oklahoma. California. Helen Holverson. The Kellys - Ed. M. Kelly. The Stouts - Ella Kelly. Helen Kelly. The Saunders — Rebecca Holverson. The Leedys — Abram Leedy. The Thomsons - Homer Leedy. The Smiths — Rollin Leedy. Hannah Holverson. The Hines — Charles Hines, Earl Hines. The Doolins — Thomas, Harry, Helen, Mildred Hines.



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HERBRAND HALVORSEN SKAVLEM
(CHANGED TO ABRAM HOLVERSON)

Herbrand was born at Nordre Skavlem, in the sub-parish of Vegglie, Nummedal, Norway, October 3, 1822. He came to America in 1839.

He took passage on the "Emelia" which sailed from Drammen to Gothenburg where it took on a cargo of Swedish iron as ballast. A big storm was encountered near Lindesness on the coast of Norway. A pilot came out to the vessel and asked the captain if he wanted to go into the harbor. The captain put the proposition to the passengers that if they would pay a part of the expenses of the pilot the ship would be taken into the harbor. They agreed to do so, and the amount was readily made up, and the vessel sailed into the harbor and remained there one week.

On the way across contrary winds were encountered and slow progress was made. The drinking water got very low and bad, and had to be boiled before it was fit to drink. At the banks of New Foundland they stopped to fish. They caught an immense flounder which required the strength of the captain and three men to land on the deck of the ship. As the flounder lay on the deck "Blind Andrew" (son of Goe Bjöno), one of the passengers, wanted to measure it with his hands in order to get an idea of how large it was. No sooner had he laid his hands on the fish than it gave a flop which sent the blind boy sprawling on the deck—but fully satisfied as to its size.

The "Emelia" reached New York, August 23d, having been at sea about nine weeks. Herbrand made his way to Chicago, arriving there with just one-half of a sovereign in his pocket. He soon obtained work at the "United States Hotel." At this hotel were three Irish girl employees who took an interest in the youthful Herbrand, and taught him to speak English fairly well After several months he quit the employ of the hotel and engaged with a German doctor named Brinkerhoff.

Herbrand H. Skavlem remained in Chicago and vicinity a little over one year, and then went to Jefferson Prairie, Rock County, Wis., where he made his home for a short time with Ole Natesta. He then went to Rock Prairie, Wis., and took up a piece of land in Section 19, Township of Beloit.

While improving his land he made his home with Widow Gunnil Odegaarden and family. He soon became engaged to one of the daughters, Gunnil, whom he married in 1843, and moved into the log house built the same year. He purchased an ox team for which he paid forty dollars, including the yoke. He also bought a milch cow for ten dollars. (Harvest hands received fifty cents per day, and hired girls fifty and seventy-five cents per week. A washerwoman's wage was one shilling per day.)

In the early days he hauled his wheat to the Milwaukee market, a distance of eighty miles, the price he was paid being fifty cents, and some times less, per bushel. Several of the neighbors would make the trip together; but with the slow-moving oxen they would be gone from home for fully a week. He raised some hogs and at first received three cents per pound for dressed hogs.

Mr. and Mrs. Holverson—he had already changed his name to Abram Holverson—lived in the log cabin until 1850, when it was torn down and moved to a new location but a short distance from the old. It was then remodeled and enlarged, all the logs from the old cabin being used in the new building. It was boarded inside and out, with a new frame kitchen built on. A further addition to the building was made in 1853, when a stone or "grout'' house was built, the work being done by Tolle Gravdaie.

In 1852 Abram Holverson purchased the Widow Odegaarden's place, which adjoined his, and she with her two remaining daughters made their home with him. (The two daughters were Astrid and Guri. Astrid married Björn Swenson Löken and moved to Iowa. Widow Odegaarden died of cholera in July, 1854. Shortly afterwards Guri married Ole Gulack Gravdale.)


Gunnil Tostensdatter Odegaarden was born in Nore parish, Nummedal, Norway, January 1, 1825. With her mother and three sisters she came to the United States in 1839. Gunnil at once sought employment in American families in order to learn the English language. For a time she worked for Mr. Washburn, then living near the present village of Afton. There she met with an accident which lamed her for life.]
Mr. Holverson bought a piece of land, consisting of forty acres from Arne Gullicksen Rondehaug, making his farm consist of three hundred and twenty acres.
In 1869 Mr. Holverson again became a pioneer. In the spring of that year he left Wisconsin to look up a new home in Kansas. He and his son, Ole, in company with Ole Skofstad and Andrew Johnson, of Jefferson Prairie, made the trip with wagons. He took with him about five hundred sheep and several cows and horses.

The emigrants arrived at their destination in southeastern Kansas, Howard County (now Chautauqua County), in the latter part of August. Abram Holverson located a claim on Sec. 1, T. 24, R. 8. This land had been purchased by the United States government from the Osage Indians, but was not surveyed until nearly two years later.

There were but few settlers in the country at the time, the nearest neighbor to the north was thirty miles distant, and the nearest railroad was 175 miles distant; nothing in the shape of supplies could be obtained nearer than at Eureka, eighty miles distant; for a time the latter place was the nearest postoffice.

Mr. Holverson built a log house and lived in it until 1874, when a large, substantial stone residence was built. The work was done by William M. Kelly, who afterwards became a son-in-law, marrying Helen Holverson.

In the fall of 1871 his sons, Henry and John, and his daughters, Nellie, Helen and Rebecca, joined him; and in the fall of 1874 his wife and youngest daughter, Hannah came.

To Mr. and Mrs. Holverson eleven children were born:

Halvor, born Nov. 6, 1844; died Oct. 9, 1907.
Tosten, born June 4, 1846.
Ole, born May 11, 1,848; died Dec. 4, 1907.
Bergit Caroline, born April 9, 1850.
Cornelia, born May 20, 1853.
John, born Dec. 25, 1854; died May 2, 1857.
Henry, born Feb. 2, 1857.
Helen, born Feb. 27, 1859; died Aug. 6, 1882.
Rebecca, born Aug. 18, 1861.
John J., born May 6, 1863; died Sept. 10, 1882.
Hannah, born Oct. 2, 1866.

Mrs. Holverson died at Cedar Vale, Kansas, March 26, 1888, and rests with others of her family in the cemetery at Cedar Vale. She was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church.
In 1890 Mr. Holverson went to San Diego, California, remaining there until 1906, when he returned to Cedar Vale, Kansas, where he has since made his home with his youngest daughter. Hannah Holverson Hines.

He is still living, and at ninety-one years of age is quite active, enjoying working among the trees and flowers. He reads a great deal and keeps well posted on current events.

In politics he has been a life-long Republican. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.