Johan Hansen Oretap

His brother Andreas was the first to immigrate to America approx. 1873. A story credited to Christian relates that Andreas had stabbed a man in a tavern fight. The police were looking for him, and under the impression that he might have killed the man, Andreas fled to America with the help of Johan and Christian.

Andrew’s letters and glowing accounts of the opportunities there induced Christian and his brother Johan also to immigrate. First however, they both worked for a time in Oslo to earn money to pay off the mortgage on the farm and pay for their passage to the U.S. Christian also became engaged to Annette and it was agreed that she would also immigrate to the U.S. Annette traveled to the U.S. at the same time that Christian and Johan immigrated, the three arriving in New York on 9 Jun 1873.

The new immigrants went to Minneapolis, Minn., where Andreas Hansen had located. Christian and Johan worked for a few months near Fort Snelling, for $1 per day, shaping ties for the railroad. Annette worked in Minneapolis as a housemaid.

Johan seriously cut his left leg with an adze and was permanently somewhat lamed. He later returned to Norway and inherited the family farm.

Dro til USA i 1873 med Christian og Annette. Annettes far fulgte de trolig til båten. Johan ble skadet i et bein mens han var med og bygget jernbanen, og reiste hjem (når) og overtok etter hvert Oretap - og ble min oldefar.

GEDCOM Note

Til Amerika i 1873, tilbake i 1875.