Connecting with Tjugum Family Members

When we left for Norway, we didn't really know if we would be able to find any distant family.  But luckily, we had a packet of geneological information on the Tjugum family that several of Greg's mom's family members had put together that we've had in our file drawer for decades!  

We started with Ivar Olsson Tjugum (Greg's great, great grandfather) who was born in Norway in 1821 and lived on the "Tjugum Farm." Ivar had seven children with his first wife Kari, and then as happens often, he remarried when Kari died and had four more children. 

Iver Olsson Tjugum lived until 1919.

But as luck would have it, we rented a small cabin from Anders Tjugum who was able to fill in a lot of pieces of the puzzle. We learned that somewhere along the way, the Tjugum Farm was split into two farms. Anders is descended from the family who took one farm. Greg is descended from Iver Olsson Tjugum's family who took the other farm. Iver Olsson Tjugum's son, Ivar Ivarson Tjugum (Greg's great grandfather),  moved to America in 1874 when he was 17 years old. 

We got to meet Ola Tjugum (age 31) who is now farming one of the original Tjugum farms where he raises sheep and cattle. He took over the farm in his early 20's when his father, Johannes (Greg's 3rd cousin), died suddenly at age 57. We learned that Ola and Greg share the same birthday on September 10 - just 40 years apart! 

The name, Ola, is used for the first born male in every generation of Greg's relatives. It denotes being "the heir of one's ancestors." In some of records, it appears to be changed to Ole. We asked Anders, and he said that the pronounciation diferrence between Ola and Ole is very slight, and which is used can even be regional. 

Ola's farm is right next to the Tjugum Church and part of his sheep's pastures wrap around the graveyard of the church.

We also spent time with Kjell Ese, Greg's 3rd cousin - they share Ivar Olsson Tjugum as a great, great grandfather. It turns out that Greg and Kjell are both 71 years old and were born eight days apart!

Anders Tjugum is descended from the other Tjugum family - his farm is right next to Ola's farm. He has been so gracious to us helping us connect to Kjell and Ola as well as answering our endless questions about everything, especially farming. 

All of the Tjugum connections are still a little complicated for us, but we've so appreciated the chance to talk to the people we've met and learn more about their lives in the past and now.