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15 April 2006

TORGESON FAMILY

TARAL TORGEISON /Torjeison (Thomas Torgeson)

The Norwegian Pioneer to the United States,  father of Torgei Torgeison/Thomas Torgeson, and the grandfather of Florence Torgeson)

The researcher for this page is swiftwater@lenapedelawarehistory.net, son of Florence Torgeson.

CHRONOLOGY:
1828 30 December - Born Norway
1852 - Married Torborg Jonsdatter (Matilda Johnson) in Norway
1854 - The family [Tarald Torjeison and Torborg Jonsdatter] lived as lodgers with Tarald's parents.
1857 29 September - Son Thomas/Torgei/ born Norway
1862 21 March - Left the Bygland area for "America."
1862 September - Birth of daughter Julia in Janesville, Rock County
 7 April - Declaration of Intent to Become a U.S. Citizen, Iowa County, Wisconsin. [Why two separate dates?]
1868 3 November - Declaration of Intent to Become a U.S. Citizen issued by District Court of Iowa County, Wisconsin
1869 30 April - Bought E2NW4 Section 32,Township 14 South, Range 7 East, Morris County, Kansas; 80 acres (map)
1870 Census - Can't locate in this census.
1872 April - Built house on homestead near Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas
1873 7 February - Affidavit Homestead No. 14179 made at Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas
1873 14 February - Settled and began residing on above homestead
1875  In Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas (census)
1877  Bought land in Section 29, Township 14, Range 7. [Have map]
1879 25 April - Became a Citizen, Council Grove, Morris County, Kansas. Head of a family with eight children. Had a house before this date
1880 30 June - In Parkerville (Receipt for Homestead)
1880 - A farmer in Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas (census)
1881 21 April - In Parkerville (Receipt for Homestead)
1885 In Parkerville (agricultural census)
1895 In Morris County, Kansas (agricultural census)
1900 - In White City, Rolling Prairie Township, Morris County, Kansas. Owned house on Stover Street. (census)
1905  Should be in White City census.
1908 30 December - Died White City, Morris County, Kansas (White City Register)

                                                             
Their graves in the White City Cemetery c 2000 read: FATHER THOMAS TORGESON Died March 1 1908 Aged 79 Yrs./MOTHER MATILDA HIS WIFE Died Feb 28 1908 Aged 26Yrs./TORGESON (Tom Hahn Photo)

Some place names in Norway are old names, some are modern ones, and some are variants. Editor

     Tarald Torgeison (Thomas Torgeson) was  born on 30 December 1828 in Dal, Ardal, Bygland, East Agder, Norway (Newspaper Setesdelen, Bygland, Norway, "Some Family History from Ardal Parish," Part 1,"  p. 7, published about 1985).   His granddaughter, Mae (Torgeson) Christensen, said that he was born in Christiana [the old name for Oslo, but that may simply have been the place people were told as they would be familiar with the name. Actually, she may have meant Kristiansand (Christiansand), as that is the port city at the beginning of their fjord.]. Taral was christened on 26 January 1829 in Bygland. (Bygland [Norway] Church Register 1816-1844, p. 60, Baptism Record. "Tarald. Parents: Torgeij Knudsen, Tore Taraldsdatter (on) Dahle." (From Genealogist Jan Kristiansen E-mail 7 July 2001 to Thomas Hahn.) Thomas married Torborg Jonsdatter (Matilda Johnson) on 26 February 1854 in Bygland:

Married  26 February 1854: Bachelor and inderste Tarald Torjeison Hurverak, born and lives In  Aardal parish, 24 years old, son of Torjei Knudsen Hurverak. The maiden Thorbjorg Johnsdatter Klep, place of birth: Hordnaes, 22 years old, daughter of John Nielson Klep. Best men: Salve Taraldsen Bakke and Torjus Skjellufsen Boe. (Bygland [Norway] Church Register, 1842-1858, p. 293.) [Genealogist's Note: "Inderste) is a term which is no longer in use in the Norwegian language. It described a person who did not own or rent land.

Another record, very difficult to read, which is probably a church marriage record, gives as Item 3 on 26 February 1854, more or less the following:

Tarald Torjeisin [?] Ha[or o or u]verak [age 27] og [to?] Torbjor Johnsdatter [daughter] [of] Klep [age]22 [Witnesses?] Ole Torjeson [of] Boe [and] Torjei [Torjus?] [of] Skjellufsen Boe.

     The farm names added to the persons; names are to be considered as their addresses and not as family names own or rent land. The farm names added to the persons; names are to be considered as their addresses and not as family names. Aardal=Ardal=sub-parish of Bygland parish. "Hordnaes"=Hornes=sub parish of Evje parish (all situated in Aust-Agder county, southernmost part of Norway). I do not find them mentioned in Bygland Bygland farm-and family history, in the sections dealing with Horverak and Klepp (modern spellings) farms. Bygland's sexton's register shows an "Ole Torjeisson Boe" as the best man instead of "Salve Taraldsen Bakke". Genealogist Jan Kristiansen E-mail to Thomas Hahn 7 July 2001.] The family [Tarald Torjeson and Torborg Johnsdatter] had lived as lodgers with Tarald's parents. "Tarald Torjeisen Hurverak, born and lives in Aardal Parish." [Hurverak [Farm], Aardal Sub parish, Bygland Parish, West Agder, Norway] (Family History Ardal). He and his spouse, according to Mae Torgeson, had eleven children. To of the children died in Norway. His spouse, Torborg Jonsdatter (Matilda Johnson) was born on 20 December 1931 in As, Horness, Eve, East Agder, Norway. She was christened on 26 December 1831 in Evje. Matilda died on 28 February 1908 in White City, Rolling Prairie Township, Morris County, Kansas and was buried on 2 March 1908 in the White City Cemetery. A descendant, Steve Torgeson, said that Taral was a logger in Norway.

      The following article was written by Reider Vollen in the Norwegian newspaper Setesdoelen:

In Setesdoelen 11 Oct. 1985 Riborg M. K. Knudsen [the genealogist hired by Steve Torgeson to work on the Torgeson Family] has an article where she asks if anyone had knowledge of living relatives of a couple, Tarald Tarjeison (Thomas Torgeson) and Torbjoerg Johnsdatter (Mathilda Johnson) who emigrated from Bygland in 1862. As nobody else seems to be willing to answer, I will give some information that I myself have collected. To give such an answer a proper documentation, it is necessary with quite a comprehensive account, but hopefully it will be interesting to many readers of Setesdoelen. 

The husband, Tarald Tarjeison, was born at Dal in Ardal parish 30 Dec. 1828. His parents were Tarjei  Knutson and Tore Taraldsdatter. Tarjei was born at Sjeggedal in Evje, and christened in Evje church 2 March 1800. His parents were farmer Knut Jonson Sjeggestad and wife Birgit Skogdrivsdatter born Vanna. He (Tarjei) married in [the] Aardal church 20 March 1826 Torre Taraldsdatter Dale, christened 2 May 1802, [the] daughter of tenant farmer Tararldson and wife Aslaug Salvesdatter born Nordre Vasenden. Tarald and Aslaug used farms [in] several places, between [that is, among them] the Horverak, Dale, Bakke, and Froyrak. Tarjei and Torre lived at Klepp and Dale, but around 1855 they came as cottars to Horverak (probably Ystejordet) where Tore died 14 Sept. 1859 and Tarjei 1 Oct. 1963. They had in all 11 children, but of these 5 died young.

1. The eldest,  Birgit Tarjeisdatter, was born at Klepp on 9 July 1827, and married on 24 November 1852 the cottar Halvor Jensen Kaddehagen in Lidi, who settled at the cottar's allotment Reise under [the] Bygland vicarage. They had 8 children and have great posterity both in Norway and America. These eight children were:
   a. Knut, born on 30 August 1851, married at Gjovdal on 22 November 1874 to Tarjer Hansdatter , Fjellsenden. Settled at Nygard under Askland in Gjovdal. Went to America in 1903. (See the Gjovdal-book p. 171 [which hasn't been been found].
   b. Birgit, was born on 13 April 1854, and married at Gjovdal on 9 September 1876 to Eivind Olavson Oland. She moved to Bjornebo in Barbu.
   c. Jens, was born on 23 June 1856, and died on 13 April 1857.
  d. Tore, was born on 18 June 1858, and married Tor Bjorn Knudsen from Seljord. One of their grandchildren is Mrs. Thora Isaksen at Vennesla.
   e. Jens, was born on 19 October 1861, and married at Amli on 19 November 1884 to Anne Gunhild Tellefsatter, Stangelia.  He settled at Lindelandsplass in Holt.
   f. Anne, was born on 18 August 1864, and was married on 17 March 1890 to Olav Halvorsen Nordbo in Bygland. She had many descendants, among other places at Sogne.
   g. Sigrid, was born on 6 January 1867, and died unmarried at Hisoy.
   h. Tarjei, was born on 20 June 1870. He emigrated to America on 16 June 1892 together with his father, who on 4 February 1888 had become a widower. Tarjei married in America Stine Hangard, a daughter of the well-known photographer Hangard. [His father] Halvor Jensen died at Bemidji, Minnesota in 1905.

*2. Tarjei and Tore's next child was Tarald [Thomas Torgeson] who went to America. (This fact is taken from my article in Setesdoelen. In addition to the two children mentioned in Setesdoelen (Tarjei = Thomas and Torborg = Matilda or Tiggie) there were two more)
  a. Tarjei was born at Bo on 8 December 1854, and died at Horverak on 30 March 1856.
  b. Tore, was born at Horverak, on 5 July 1856, and died there on 10 December 1856.

3. Aslaug Tarjeisdatter, was born at Dale 28 January 1832. She married in Ardal church to the cottar Tarjei Jensen Dale (Ap-ledokk). They had three children
  a. Jens, was born at Horverak on 28 September 1856, and died at Bo on 26 September 1858
  b. Mari, born at Dale on 14 February 1860, was unmarried, and died in 1941.
  c. Tore, born at Dale on 15 October 1864, "but died some hours after birth."
This family is mentioned in the Farm- and Family History for Bygland, where Auslaug erroneously is called Eivensdatter. Auslaug died 31 July 1875, while Tarjei died 23 March 1924.

4. Tone Tarjeisdater, was born at Dale on 28 January 1834. She married in Tovdal in 1857 the widower, Anon Larsson Roin ubder Ovre Ramse. They had 7 children, among them Tone who married Olavson Syrtveit in Evje (Tovdals book, p.299). It Setesdoelen we observe that Tone in 1914 was named Sortvedt (from Even Torgeson's death certificate). This, then is Syrtveit in Evje.

5. The next to grow up was Eivind (Eve/Evan) Tarjeison [Evan Torgeson], who born at Horverak on 3 October 1840. He got his emigration certificate to America on 6 May [year?] and was then unmarried.

6. Child no. 11 was  Tarjer Tarjesdatter. (Turger, Torgun = Mrs. Thomas Nelson), born at Horverak on 7 August in 1847. She married in Tovdal on 19 April 1879 the cottar, Tomas Nereson (Nelson) Ytre Ramse. Tomas came from Hovstad in Greni, on 25 September 1848, son of Nere Osmundsoon Hovstad and wife Ase Tomasdatter, as born at Stoledalen in Iveland. Tomas and Tarjer emigrated to America on 18 May 1881.

From another article in the Norwegian newspaper Setesdoelen: "More Family History from  Ardal":

Tarald Tarjeison's wife was Torbjorg Jonsdatter. She was born at As in Horness 20 December 1831. Both her parents came later to Ardal parish in Bygland where they died. Her father was Jon Nilsson from Steinsland in Hornnes, while her mother was Gunhild Reiersdatter from Moseid in Hornnes. Jon and Gunhild lived many places in Hornnes: Kjetsa, Faret, As, Moseid, Birkeland, and, from 1845, as tenant farmers at Klepp in Bygland, where they used half of Klepp. Jon was called there "John in the House." He died at Klepp 7 March 1853, while Gunhild died at Vasenden on 17 May 1886. Jon and Gunhild had 9 children, of which 1 was stillborn, all of them born at Hornnes. Of these I have closer knowledge of the following four:

1. The eldest, Mari Jonsdtr., was born at Kjetsa 1823. She married at Hornnes on 28 December 1848, Sveinung Frantsson Vasenden, born on 23 October 1824, son of Frants Wilhelm Andersson (who together with his family came from the farm Storsvea in Trysil, together with the parson Anker Bruun in 1798) and wife Ragnhild Knutsdatter, born Vassenden. Sveinung and Mari were farmers and lived at Vasenden, Senum, Vralsplass and finally once more at Vassenden. They had 10 children and great posterity. [The genealogist Riborg Knudsen commented on the term "farmer" by saying "must mean in contrast to most of the others who were tenants or cottars."] Among their sons were Frants and Bjorgulf Svenningsen, skippers on board "Dolen" and "Bjoren." See further the Bygland's  book, among other, p. 446.

2. Nils Jonson, born at As in 1827. He married in Ardal church on 26 March 1854 Kjersti Tellefsdatter. Bo, born on 28 January 1834. Nils was [a] tenant farmer at Klepp and Horverak and from 1860 was owner of a part of Bo (no. 1) which he bought from his father-in-law. They had  children:
  a. Gunhild, born on 28 May 1859, married on 13 July 1874 the neighbour Sjelltr Torjusson Bo (no.2).  They had two children: They son Torjus born on 13 January 1878, died of consumption 5 March 1879, while the daughter Mari Sjellufsdatter, was born on 22 January 1876, and was married on 2 November 1890 to Olav Torjusson Froyrak. Olav and Mari took over the one part of Froyrak, Of their 5 children  2 died as infants, while the remaining three have descendants.
  b. Jon Nilsson was married on 21 February 1880 to Birgit Nilsdatter. Klepp. But exactly 1 month after the wedding, on 21 March 1880, Jon and Birgit were on their way home from church. A short way from home they went through the ice and were drowned. At the same time were drowned Jon's father Nils Jonsson Bo and Gunhild Sveinungsdtr. Vasenden, who was a daughter of Nils' sister. Birgit Nilsdatter), (the bride's) father, whose name was also Nils Jonsson (born at Aknes in Aseral on 6 January 1820, farmer at Klepp) was the only one in the party who was rescued. The tragedy, which caused great Attention, was referred to in an article in Kristiansand's Stiftavis (local newspaper) for Saturday 27 March 1880. (I should think that Thomas Torgeson and wife must have heard of this disaster, as Mathilda's eldest brother Nils and her nephew Jon Nilsson were among the victims. R. K. [genealogist Riborg Knudsen]. Jon Nilsson did not live to have children with Birgit Nilsdatter, but he had a son, Jon Jonsson, born on 23 February 1879, with Sigrid Anonsdatter. Tveita. Together with his mother, Jon Jonsson emigrated to Wisconsin on 1 June 1888. [The Genealogist R. Knuidsen notes that drowning took place in Ardalsfjorden, a part of the big lake Byglandsfjorden that lies outside Ardal.] not to be confused with two fjords on the West Coast by the same name.

*3. Torbjorg Jonsdatter [Matilda Johnson], married Tarald Tarjeison [Thomas Torgeson] Horverak and went to America in 1862. She was child No. 4.

4. The last of Jon Nilsson and Gunhild Reirsdtr's. children: of whom I have any knowledge is Reier Jonsson, born at Moseid on 1 June 1841. He was unmarried and lived as [a] workman at Bo. He died at Kristiansand hospital on 12 October 1974 and lies buried in the cathedral's cemetery. He had a daughter, Berthe, born at Bo on 12 October 1864, mother Siri Tellefsdtr.Bo, whose sister Kjersti Tellefsdatter was married to Nils Jonsson Bo (Mathilda and Reir's brother). But Berthe died at Nevesjord on 28 July 1871, so Reier Jonson had no descendants.

     On 21 March 1862, Taral Torgeison applied for permission to left Bygland: "Married couple Tarald Torjeison, 33, and Thorbjorg Johnsdatter, 28, from Hurverak, with their two children Torjei, 4, and Thore, 2, to America." (Bygland [Norway] Church Register 1859-1873, p. 423, Exit Record.) Five months later, on 7 September, their daughter Julia Torgeson, was born at Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin. It is not known from what port they departed Norway, at what port they arrived in the United States--or Canada, or by what means and how they went to Janesville. Because there were Torgeson's from Norway in Rock County in the 1870 census and the 1900 census, and probably other and in later censuses, one wonders if there other members of the Taral Torgeison who emigrated there. It is not know how long they lived in the Janesville area before they moved to the vicinity of Dodgeville, Iowa County. On 7  April 1868, in  Rock County, Wisconsin, Thomas "Torgerson" submitted with the Clerk  Circuit Court of Iowa County, his intent to become a citizen of the United States, renouncing "forever, and particularly to the King of Norway & Sweden." Because he signed his name with an x, he didn't necessarily say or verify that his name was Torgerson rather than Torgeson. The name variously appears as Ferguson, Tarjeison,  Terguson, Thorguson, Torgenson, Torgurson,  Torguson, or Turgeson in public records. He later signed his name as "Thomas Torgeson." His grave marker says Thomas S. Torgeson. The middle initial was not found elsewhere and we do not know what it stands for. In 1868, the Clerk of the District Court of Rock County certified in November 1869 that he [Thomas] had resided in the United States for more than the period of five years.  It appears that they moved to Kansas about 1870, but we have as yet to find them in the 1870 Census for anywhere in the United States..

     Bessie (Torgeson) Gillaspie, daughter of John Torgeson, Thomas Torgeson's brother, in a telephone conversation  with Thomas F. Hahn on 6 December 1998 said, "The Thomas Torgeson's [senior] first moved from Wisconsin to a farm near Parkerville, then homesteaded a farm 3-4 miles east of White City, then in later years they moved to a small house just north next door to her folks [John and Celia Torgeson]. Bessie's sister, Helen Torgeson, said that in 1869 or 1870, they emigrated first to Junction City, Geary County, Kansas. Two censuses say that they were "from Iowa." It is possible that they stopped off in Iowa, of course, but it also could be that they were referring to Iowa County, In Wisconsin. Their first appearance in public records in Kansas is in Thomas Torgeson's homestead papers in which he said that he moved into his house in April of 1872.  In April 1873, Thomas Torgeson "of Morris County Kansas" applied for  homestead as an "actual settler" of E 1/2 of NW 1/4 of Section No 32 in Township 14 S. of Range 7 E. containing 80 acres. On 14 February 1873, the Register of the Land Office at Salina, Kansas certified that the aforementioned application was for "surveyed lands of the class which the applicant is eligible." On 14 February a Homestead" document said: Receiver's Receipt, No. 14179. Application, No. 14179. Homestead. Receiver's Office, Salina, Kan. Feby 14 1873 Received of Thomas Torgeson, the sum of Fourteen dollars --- cents; being the amount of fee and compensation of Register and Receiver for the entry E 1/2 W 1/4 of Section 32 in Township 149 of Range 4 E under the acts of Congress approved May 20, 1862, and March 21, 1864,  entitled: An act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain. $1414.11 [?] The homestead transaction on 30 April 1879, "Final Receiver's Receipt No. 4699 Application No. 14179 HOMESTEAD Receiver's Office Salina Kas. April 30 1879 Received of Thomas Torgeson the sum of four dollars and ----cents, being the balance of payment required for the entry of E2 NW4 of Section 32 in Township 14 Range 7E containing 80 acres...[Notation at bottom] June 30, 1880 Vol. 10 Page 153-Mailed to H. S. Day Parkerville KS Apr. 21, 1881"On 25 April 1879, Thomas Torgeson was declared to be a citizen by the District Court of the 8th Judicial District of the State of Kansas, sitting in and for the County of Morris, 8th.

     On 25 April, Thomas Torgeson filed the following "Homestead Proof"  for his homestead entry for E 1/2  NW 1/4 of Section 2. Township 14, S. of Range 7 East, summarized here: Name Thomas Torgeson. 50 years of age [1929] Head of a family consisting of a wife and eight children. Naturalized Citizen of the United States. No coal, salines, or minerals on the land that he knew of. Post-office address Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas. No homestead entry except for No. 14179. Had not sold any interest in the homestead. No one else claimed the land. First settled the land on 14 February 1873. First established a residence on the land 14 February 1873. Declared that he moved onto the land on that date, that he lived there to the present time, that the residence was continuous, and that his family resided there in that period. Improvements included a "House built frame 1 story 14x24. frame Kitchen attached 10x14. Stone Stable 16x50. Well. corral. orchard of about 1 Acre. Between 45x50 acres broke. He said that the house was built in April 1872 and was worth about $500. That he cultivated 45x50 Acres of wheat, corn, oats, and other farm products. Thomas Torgeson and his family appear in the Census for Parker Township as farmers. [The data for this and other census are given below under Census Data.] The farm increased in size and complexity during the period. Probably all the sons were involved in the work of the farm until they left, one by one, to pursue their own lives in the surrounding area.

     Little is known of their life on the farm in Parker Township. The following item from the Morris County Enterprise shows that they attended the Lutheran Church there: [To be added] [In describing an accident of their wagon, on their way to the Lutheran church]: Serious accident. On Tuesday forenoon while Mr. Ivan Torgeson and family and Mr. Nelson and family were on their way to the Lutheran church they met with a very painful accident. By some means the wagon was overturned and the occupants (eight in number) were thrown out. Mrs. Thomas Torgeson received a contusion of the spine, Ivan Torgeson had his right arm broken near the shoulder, Mrs. Nelson had her collar bone broken and her little girl had two ribs broken and was also injured internally. The rest were more or less injured, but not seriously. Dr. Martin was called and rendered the necessary medical assistance." [Ivan [Evan] Torgeson was the brother of Thomas Torgeson, Sr. and Matilda Torgeson, who was injured. Matilda Torgeson, who was injured, married Thomas Nelson. Evan apparently lived with and farmed with the Nelsons. The other persons involved in the accident were probably children of the Thomas Torgeson's." ( p. 3, 12 September 1884, Kansas State Historical Society Research Center, Topeka, Kansas)

The children of Taral Torgeison (Thomas Torgeson) and Torborg Jonsdatter (Matilda Johnson):
     1. Tarjei Torgieson was born on 8 December 1854 at Horverak Farm, Norway, and may have remained in Norway.

     2. Tore Torgiesdatter was born on 10 December 1856 at Horverak Farm, Norway, and may have remained in Norway.

     3. Torgei Torgieson (Thomas Torgeson) was born on 29 September 1857 at Bygland, East Augder, Norway. He married on 29 April 1886 at Council Grove, Morris County, Kansas Margaret "Maggie" Owen. Thomas Torgeson. He died on 30 March 1939 at Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas and was buried on 2 April 1939 in the White City, Rolling Prairie Township, Morris County, Kansas Cemetery. See the separate account of his life Thomas Torgeson .

     4. Torborg Torgiesdatter (Matilda "Tiggie" Torgeson) was born on 25 or 26 September 1859, probably at Bygland, East Augder, Norway. She married on 17 December 1877 at Parkerville, Parker Township, Morris County, Kansas, Francis "Frank" Strong.

Census: 1930, Ukiah, Mendocino County, California, Roll 177, p.10A, Image 1069.0, Ancestry.com Online Image 18 of 33, Enumeration District 23, enumerated 8 April, p. 240: 210 W. Henly, Dwelling 210 Family 257, Line. 1. Francis O. Strong, was age 73, owned his own home worth $4000, was born in Illinois, parents were born in New York, was a staff attendant at the State Insane Hospital.
Line 2. Matilda Strong, age 70, was born in Norway, and her parents were born in Norway.

Their children:
Mamie Strong who married Frank Green; Gertrude Strong who died as a young woman; Alice Strong, who married but had no children. Matilda died on 16 October 1951 at Modesto, Mendocino County, California and was buried on 17 October at Ukiah, Mendocino County, California.

CENSUS DATA

Census: 1875 Kansas, Morris County, Parker Township, p. 4 Dwelling 28 Family 29:
Thomas Terguson [Torgeson] was age 46, was born in Norway, value of real estate $320, value of personal property $130, was from Wisconsin.
Matilda Terguson, was farming, was born in Norway, and was from from Wisconsin.
*Thomas Terguson, was age 14, was farming, and was born in Norway, as was from IA [?].
Julia Terguson, was age12, was from Wisconsin, and was from Wisconsin.
Canute Terguson, was age 9, was born in Wisconsin, and was from Wisconsin.
Handy [Henry] Terguson, was age 6, and was from Wisconsin.
Willie [William] Terguson , age 2, born KS
John
All born WI from WI? ad fathers and mothers born in Norway.
(LDS FHL Film 0570213)

Census: 1880 US, Kansas, Morris County, Parker Township, p. 395B.
Thomas Ferguson. Self. Farmer, age 52, born Norway, father and mother born Norway.
Matilda Ferguson, wife. Keeping House, age 49, born Norway, mother and father born Norway.
Thomas Ferguson, Jr., son. Farmer, age 22, born Norway, father and mother born Norway.
John Ferguson, son. At School, age 16, born WI, father and mother born Norway
Julia Ferguson, son. At School, age 18, born WI, mother and father born Norway.
Newt Ferguson, son, At School, age14, born WI, father and mother born Norway.
Henry Ferguson, son, At School, age 12, born WI, father and mother born Norway.
Willie Ferguson, son, age 5, born KS, father and mother born Norway.
George Ferguson, son, age 2, born KS, father and mother born Norway.
Evan Ferguson, Farmer, age 40 brother [of Thomas, Sr.], (FHL Film 1254390, National Archives Film T-0390, p. 395B)

Census: 1885 Kansas, Morris County, Parker Township, p.7 Line 14 Dwelling 31 Family 38:
Thomas Torgeson, age 57, farmer, born Norway
Wife Matilda, age 54, born Norway
C[probably for Canute=Newt], age 19, male [Newt born 1866 would be 19]
Julia, age 22, born WI
Henry , age17, born WI
Wm., age 12, born WI
George, age 7, born WI [ but 1900 and 1920 Census say George born KS]

Census: 1885. Kansas, Parker Township, Agricultural Schedule: Line 29, p. 3; Thomas Torgeson. Owner. 15 acres under fence, 65 acres not under fence, 80 total acres in farm value $1200, farming improvements and machinery $100, 9 acres millet and Hungarian, 1,000 bushels of corn, 8 tons of Tame cut, 15 tons of Prairie cut, 300 pounds of butter, 4 horses, 3 cows, 4 other cattle, 13 swine.

Census: 1895. Kansas, Morris County, Parker Township Agricultural Schedule,  p.2, line 28; 160 acres in farm, 90 acres under cultivation, 80 acres under hedge and wire fence, value of farm $2,000, farm improvements and machinery $40, 40 acres corn, 22 acres oats, 10 acres flax, 4 acres Millet and Hungarian, 5 tons of Tame cut, 10 tons of Prairie cut, $10 poultry and eggs sold, 200 pounds of butter, 4 horses, 2 milch cows, 5 other cattle, 6 swine, value of animals $100, 1 dog, 75 bearing apple trees. (LDS FHL Film 0570334)

Census: 1900. Kansas, Morris County, Rolling Prairie Township, White City: Census taken 4 and 5 June 1900 by Francis B. Harris; Enumeration District 108. Family 58, Dwelling 58. Lived on Stover Street.
Line 95. Thomas Torguson, Head, age 71, born Dec. 1828 Norway, came to Kansas from Norway, parents from Norway, naturalized citizen since 1862, 38 years, can't read or write but can speak English, owns own home, a frame house, free of mortgage.
Line 96. Matilda Torguson, wife, age 68, born Dec. 1831 Norway, came to Kansas from Norway , parents from Norway, in U.S. since 1862, 38 years, can not read or write but can speak English
Line 97. George, son, age 22, born Dec 1877 Kansas, parents from Norway. a farm laborer, 3 months at school.
Thomas's brother Evan is in the census at age 59.

Census: 1905 Kansas, Morris County, White City, p. 9, line 25 Tho. Torgeson 74 born Norway, from WI.
Line 26 E. Torgeson. [E is for brother Even?]

Times New Roman 14 point. Copy 12 November 2004. Photo check A. TH

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