Family history of Norwegian immigrant families the Tollefsons and Egstads written by Arnold Hagen in 1976.
Biographies are written for the following children of Tollef and Berte Egstad: Lars Tollefson Egstad-Frydenlund, Ole Tollefson Egstad, Anna Karine Tollefsdatter Egstad, Jens Tollefson Egstad, Kristian Tollefson Egstad, Tonetta Tollefsdatter Egstad, Lauritz Tollefson Egstad, Andreas Tollefson Egstad, Bernt Tollefson Egstad. There is also a chronology from 1720 to 1911 and a geographical index.
Detailed description
Chapter 1 is a biography of Lars Tollefson Frydenlund. Lars was born on Egstad Gaard in Norway on 15 August 1833 to Tollef Larson Egstad and Berte Olsdatter Grøthaug. He married Petronelle Johannesdatter Ripe. They adopted a son, Julius Andreassen. Lars worked mostly as a knife-maker. Some of his knives were carried by British soldiers in the Boer War. Lars died in 1920 in Norway.
Chapter 2 is a biography of Ole Tollefson Egstad: Ole was born in Vestre Toten on 7 September 1835 to Tollef Larson Egstad and Berte Olsdatter Grøthaug. He left Oslo in 1854 at age 19 but nothing more is known about him.
Chapter 3 is a biography of Anna Karine Tollefesdatter Egstad. It also contains a news article about the family and letters of correspondence. Anna was born on Egstad Gaard on 13 October 1838. She married Kristen Anderson and they had one daughter, Anna Karine. Anna and Kristen immigrated to Chicago in 1865 and she worked as a servant girl. Kristen was a carpenter and worked for the railroad. They moved to Missouri where she was buried after her death in 1880.
Chapter 4 is a biography of Jens Tollefson Egstad and his family: Jens was born in Vardal, Norway, on 3 May 1841 to Tollef Larsen and Berte Grøthaug. He became a sawyer in the 1860s and married Anna Maria Lindbak-Moe in 1866. They immigrated to America with their daughter, Theoline, in 1873. They settled north of Ashby, Minnesota. Jens bought the original Tollefson Farm. They later moved into a log home built by Jens and then a new brick two-story home. Both were devout Christians and hard workers. Anna died in 1942. Both she and Jens are buried near Ashby. They had seven children, 26 grandchildren, 56 great grandchildren, and 97 great great grandchildren.
Chapter 5 is a biography of Kristian Tollefson Egstad and his family: Kristian “Christ” was born on Egstad Gaard near Gjovik, Norway, on 4 September 1845. He married Anna Kjørven about 1869. Christ farmed in Ashby until 1890 when they moved to North Dakota. He owned the Merchant’s Hotel and also farmed. Kristian was probably the first of the Tollefson family to arrive in the Ashby area, and thus became a contact person for the Tollefsons who followed. He died in 1911 at Northwood, North Dakota. Christ and Anna had ten children, eleven grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren.
Chapter 6 is a biography of Tonetta Tollefsdatter Egstad and her family: Tonetta was the youngest daughter of Tollef and Berte Egstad born on Egstad Gaard nera Gjovik, Norway on 8 July 1849. She married Eric Nelson in 1866. Tonetta arrived in America in 1872. They had a farm in Hannibal, Missouri. She died in 1880 in a home fire near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Tonetta and Eric had nine children, 37 grandchildren, 97 great grandchildren, and 66 great great grandchildren.
Chapter 7 is a biography of Lauritz Tollefson Egstad and his family: Lauritz was born on Egstad Gaard to Tollef and Berte Egstad on 30 August 1851. He married Lise (Lizzie) Grøthaug in 1882. Lauritz came to Minnesota in 1874 via London and Quebec after serving in the Norwegian Armed Services as a draftee. He settled in the Ashby area and became one of the earliest farmers around Elbow Lake. He also helped build the mill at Pomme de Terre. He took an active part in civic affairs and became prominent in his community. He died in 1932. Lauritz and Lise had nine children, nine grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 20 great great grandchildren.
Chapter 8 is a biography of Anders (Andrew) Tollefson and his family: Andrew was born on 30 June 1854 on Egstad Gaard, near Gjovik, Norway. He married Sophi Johannesdatter Bratrock-Wahl in 1852. They came to America in 1880, settling near Ashby, Minnesota, where his brothers lived. They then farmed in South Dakota very successfully until their deaths, both in 1928. They had nine children, 41 grandchildren, 112 great grandchildren, and 76 great great grandchildren.
Chapter 9 is a biography of Bernt Tollefson Egstad: Bernt “Bennie” Tollefson was born in Egstad Gaard on 18 April 1857 to Tollef and Berte Egstad. Bernt arrived in America in 1876 and settled in Ashby, Minnesota, as a farmer. He was known for his wooden leg. Bernt and his brother Andrew visited Norway in 1910. He died a bachelor in 1925.
