Halvor Olsen Hertsgaard

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=147466795

Halvor was the son of Ole Jorgensen (Bleikfet) Hertsgaard (1761-1824) and his second wife, Barbo Sevatsdatter Traelverk (1781-1830).

Halvor was baptized October 10, 1802 in Nes, Buskerud, Norway. Halvor was the first of the Hertsgaard's to leave for America, when he emigrated in 1844 aboard the "Skulda".

The following was taken from the Hertsgaard Family History:

“Life on board America-bound sailboats was in those days an adventure and a struggle for survival. Equipment and accommodations were worse than primitive. At meal times the three or four dozen hungry passengers gathered on deck to battle for first chance at the one and only cookstove and the two frying pans. Strained relations would result, sometimes even physical demonstrations. Both Halvor and Rangdi were physical giants, but they were quiet and peace-loving unless unduly and unfairly aroused. That happened after certain Irish couples on board had persistently been usurping first chance at stove and frying pans. Rangdi’s sense of fair play revolted. She gave the offending fat “Eiris” woman such a mighty shove that both the woman and her ill-gotten frying pan went tumbling down the stairway to the depths of the hold below. A fight seemed imminent. The male consort of the humiliated woman, plus such others of his own breed who sensed that the good name of Ireland was at stake, advanced to give battle. Now came Halvor’s turn. With arms outstretched he issued his “halling” invitation, “kom!” But when those sons of Ireland saw Halvor’s giant ham-sized hands and beheld those eyes of his shooting fire the Irish contingent decided that discretion was the better part of valor. From then on the stove and the frying pans were no longer the objects of unfair usurpation”.

Halvor set foot in America in 1845 and cleared off a portion of land in Rock County, Wisconsin, named Rock Prairie which is now known as Orfordville. In 1852 he along with his brother Arne Olsen Hertsgaard Engen (1815-1852), joined a covered wagon caravan bound for the California gold mines. Along the way the caravan was attacked by Indians who killed and scalped one of the 250 member party. Not finding a pot of gold or a rainbow, Halvor returned to Wisconsin without his brother Arne who had died in California. Halvor enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War for a consideration of $800. He was presumably a substitute for someone unable or unwilling to be a soldier. He may have enlisted under an assumed name, as many did under similar circumstances. During the War he marched with General Sherman’s Army, from Atlanta to the Sea., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman%27s_March_to_the_Sea By 1868 he had acquired enough money to send for his mother.

Halvor married Rangdi Ostensdatter Eidal (1812-1892) on October 21, 1830, and they had the following children:

1. Barbo Halvorsdatter Hertsgaard b. 8-1-1831 Gol, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway. d. 4-9-1854 Gol, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway.
m. Endre Endreson "Andrew" (Tryhus) Thompson b. 10-5-1829 d. 2-16-1902 Gol, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway.

2. Guri Halvorsdatter Hertsgaard b. 4-24-1838 Gol, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway. d. 4-15-1929 Beloit, Rock Co., WI.
m. Niels K. Knutsen (Veltehaugen) Hesgard b. 5-7-1824 Gol, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway. d. 8-18-1915 Plymouth, Sheboygan Co., WI.

3. Berget J. Halvorsdatter Hertsgaard b. 9-15-1840 Gol, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway. d. 11-6-1940 Orfordville, Rock Co., WI.
m. Nils Olsen Brunsvold b. 11-21-1828 Nes, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway d. 3-23-1917 Orfordville, Rock Co., WI.

4. Ingeborg Halvorsdatter Hertsgaard b. 7-9-1844 Gol, Hallingdal, Buskerud, Norway. d. 2-4-1937
m. Corp. Halvor Halvorsen Medgorden b. 1-21-1841 Norway d. 11-26-1891 Rock Co., WI.

5. Olena Hertsgaard b. 4-7-1847 Orfordville, Rock Co., WI. d. 3-12-1936 Mitchell Co., IA.
m. Knut Williams b. 6-14-1845 Norway d. 9-14-1937 Saint Ansgar, Mitchell Co., IA.

6. Ostine Hertsgaard b. 6-4-1849 Rock Co., WI. d. 8-24-1850 Rock Co., WI.

7. Osten Hertsgaard b. 8-10-1851 Rock Co., WI. d. 8-1852 Rock Co., WI.