Halvor Anundson Bjoin (Bjåen)

Familien Bjoin i 1872

GEDCOM Note

Halvor Bjoin A couple miles north of Utica (where you see Koshkonong's Center) you can find the old Pioneer who appears, according to editor Nels Holman, similar to the famous Senator Hoar from Massachusetts. Halvor Bjoin is a well known figure here. It was 60 years ago this summer since that as a 16 year old boy he came to Wisconsin, and almost this entire time he has lived on this farm, which is still his residence. There are many other things other than his long stay here, which make this man so well known. There is something about him which you don't normally hear. When we greet him and hear him say "Good day," he attracts our attention and brings us closer to him. He remains a powerful old man, little __ neck with calm eyes and deliberate movements. His whole conformation, even his gait, expresses steadfastness and will. A character. And you learn the more you get to know him, and talk to his neighbors, and you will find out, that he is a ____, ____ character. (My dictionary doesn't contain these words in it. My guess is that they're either obsolete or a dialect - maybe both. I tried googling them and haven't had much luck with a definition. Given the context, I assume they're affectionate descriptions of him. -DK) It was in Siljord in Telemark that Halvor Aanundson Bjoin (Bjaaen) was born, the 18th of June, 1826. Living conditions were poor and there was nothing you could call school. In 1842, when he was 16 years old, he and his parents signed out of the church and immigrated to America. They boarded the ship in Langesund, which would take them over the sea. Among others on the same ship were Mrs. Hans Aaby (John Ollis' mother in law) and her parents and siblings (The Solbjorg family). They were at sea 11 weeks and arrived in New York. From there they traveld by canalboat to Buffalo and from there over the lakes until they came to Milwaukee; it took them 21 days. In all it was 14 weeks of travel. Back then Milwaukee was smaller than Deerfield Village is now. The Bjoin family settled first in Muskego, Racine Co. But already in 1844 Halvor travelled by foot to Koshkonong. All he owned he carried - one axe and a little sack with clothes in it. First he bought the land which Erik Jerdee now owns, but he sold it right away and bought the farm which later became Aanund Drotning's home. He sold that farm also and spent one summer in Norway Grove. In 1846 he settled on the farm which he has lived on ever since. He was marred in 1847 to Anne Vik from Laurdal, Telemark. Old Pastor Dietrichson married them. Anne was born in 1825, and came to America in 1843. There were many in the group who traveled with her whose names are well known in this area. Among them were the Joitil family, Aanund Drotning, Aasmund Nettestog and his children, Aslak Jerjord (Jargo) came the same year but on a different ship; as did Knut Juve. Halvor's father died already by 1845, but his mother lived here another 12 years. Halvor and Anne Bjoin have 9 children, who are all living, 6 sons and 3 daughters. Of these 6 reside in this area. It was a long and difficult job, this Pioneer has behind him. It is impossible to sit here and write thses lines about him without thinking about how often the forest has resonated of his heavy oxen, and how much he has cleared and built. And he is an interesting man with a strict and straight reputation. But above all he is unbiased - a treasure you seldom find among the old folk. P.R. <Peter Rothe>