Per Ivarson Undi
Encyclopedia
Per Ivarson Undi also known as Peter Iverson, was an early Norwegian-American homesteader in Wisconsin Territory
.
, Sogn og Fjordane
, Norway
. He was one of eight children born to Iver Pedersen (1762-1837) of the Gullbrå farm in Vik
and Inger Akseldtr (1775-1838) of the Skjervheim farm in Myrkdalen, a small valley in the municipality of Voss
. Peder Ivarson was married to Anna Davidsdatter from the Skjervheimm farm in Myrkdalen. Peder Ivarson, together with his wife and their children, became the first emigrants to the United States from the Sogn og Fjordane
county in Norway
. His brother-in-law, brother Peder Davidsen Skjervheim, had emigrated from Hardanger
in 1837. Per Undi had also been influenced by Ole Rynning's True Account of America (Norwegian: Sandfærdig Beretning om Amerika) which was published during 1838.
The family left the community of Vik
in 1839. They came on the schooner Magdalena Christina, which arrived in New York harbor July 6, 1839. The family settled in Wayne Township
near the community of Wiota
, known in its early history as Hamilton's Diggings in Lafayette County, Wisconsin
. Peter Ivarson was granted titled to land under the provisions of the Homestead Act
on April 1, 1848.
Peter Ivarson has been recognized as a leading force of change by both Norwegian and American historians. The significance of his immigration to America would be especially felt within the Norwegian
communities of Vik
and Voss
. He frequently wrote letters back to friends and family in his home parish. Resulting from his efforts of persuasion, numerous families immigrated to Wisconsin
including his siblings: Ragnilda, Erik, Ole and Axel Iverson.
History of Wisconsin
The history of Wisconsin encompasses the story not only of the people who have lived in Wisconsin since it became a state of the U.S., but also that of the Native American tribes who made their homeland in Wisconsin, the French and British colonists who were the first Europeans to live there, and...
.
Biography
Peder Ivarson was born on the Undi farm in VikVik
Vik is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Vik is the village of Vikøyri.-General information:...
, Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. He was one of eight children born to Iver Pedersen (1762-1837) of the Gullbrå farm in Vik
Vik
Vik is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Vik is the village of Vikøyri.-General information:...
and Inger Akseldtr (1775-1838) of the Skjervheim farm in Myrkdalen, a small valley in the municipality of Voss
Voss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
. Peder Ivarson was married to Anna Davidsdatter from the Skjervheimm farm in Myrkdalen. Peder Ivarson, together with his wife and their children, became the first emigrants to the United States from the Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
county in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. His brother-in-law, brother Peder Davidsen Skjervheim, had emigrated from Hardanger
Hardanger
Hardanger is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, dominated by the Hardangerfjord. It consists of the municipalities of Odda, Ullensvang, Eidfjord, Ulvik, Granvin, Kvam and Jondal, and is located inside the county of Hordaland....
in 1837. Per Undi had also been influenced by Ole Rynning's True Account of America (Norwegian: Sandfærdig Beretning om Amerika) which was published during 1838.
The family left the community of Vik
Vik
Vik is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Vik is the village of Vikøyri.-General information:...
in 1839. They came on the schooner Magdalena Christina, which arrived in New York harbor July 6, 1839. The family settled in Wayne Township
Wayne, Lafayette County, Wisconsin
Wayne is a town in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 496 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.8 square miles , of which, 36.7 square miles of it is land and 0.04 square miles of it ...
near the community of Wiota
Wiota, Wisconsin
Wiota is a town in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 900 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Five Corners and Woodford are located in the town.-History:When lead miner, William S...
, known in its early history as Hamilton's Diggings in Lafayette County, Wisconsin
Lafayette County, Wisconsin
Lafayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 16,137. Its county seat is Darlington.-Geography:According to the U.S...
. Peter Ivarson was granted titled to land under the provisions of the Homestead Act
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
on April 1, 1848.
Peter Ivarson has been recognized as a leading force of change by both Norwegian and American historians. The significance of his immigration to America would be especially felt within the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
communities of Vik
Vik
Vik is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of Vik is the village of Vikøyri.-General information:...
and Voss
Voss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
. He frequently wrote letters back to friends and family in his home parish. Resulting from his efforts of persuasion, numerous families immigrated to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
including his siblings: Ragnilda, Erik, Ole and Axel Iverson.
Other sources
- Flom, George T.George T. FlomGeorge T. Flom was an American professor of linguistics and author of numerous reference books.-Background:...
A History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States. (Iowa City, Iowa.: Priv. Print, 1909) - Holand, Hjalmar RuedHjalmar HolandHjalmar Rued Holand was an American historian and author. He was the author of a number of books and numerous articles principally dealing with the history of the Upper Midwest and with Norwegian-American immigration....
. History of the Norwegian Settlements (Decorah, Iowa: Astri My Astri Publishing. 2006) - Naeseth, Gerhard B.Gerhard Brandt NaesethGerhard Brandt Naeseth was an American librarian and genealogist who specialized in the field of Norwegian-American immigration.-Background and career:...
Norwegian Immigrants to the United States, A Biographical Directory, 1825-1850. 2 vols. (Madison, WI: Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, 1997) - Ulvestad, MartinMartin UlvestadMartin Ulvestad was an American historian and author whose writings focused on Norwegian-American immigration. Ulvestad was a pioneer in documenting the early history of the first Norwegian settlers in America.-Biography:...
. Nordmændene i Amerika, deres Historie og Rekord (The Norwegians in America, their History and Record). 2 vols. (translated by C. A. Clausen. Minneapolis, Minn: History Book Company's Forlag, 1907)