Jorgen Pedersen Boe was born on 13 February 1820 in Bø, Telemark, Norway, and was baptized seven days later. He was the son of Peder Jorgensen Bø and Kari Halvorsdatter Sønstebø.
On 13 June 1848, Jorgen married Ingeborg Torsdatter (or Thorsdatter) Vatner.
http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20051011050335.jpg
They had the following children: Kari, born 1 February 1849; my 2nd-great-grandfather Jorgen, born 18 November 1850; Peder, born 24 September 1852; Thor, born 22 October 1854; Halvor, born 19 October 1856; Ingeborg, born 14 May 1859, Anund, born 6 Feb 1861 (he apparently died young); Gregar, born 6 June 1862; and Svenung, born 25 April 1865.
In 1865, Jorgen was a tenant farmer on the Nistaas farm in Bø. He had inherited the Bø farm, but had sold it to his brother Gregar. In 1866, Jorgen, his wife, and most of his children left Norway. (His son Halvor stayed behind; Halvor came to Minnesota around 1880.) They sailed from Christiania (now Oslo) on the Vanadis on 12 May 1866 and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 2 July 1866.
Jorgen and his family settled in Canisteo, Dodge County, Minnesota. They were enumerated in Canisteo in the 1870 United States Census. According to the census, the youngest member of the household was Anson, age 2/12, born in Minnesota. I have not found any further record of this child.
By 1875, Jorgen and his family had moved to Chippewa County, Minnesota. According to Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt; Shared Roots in Telemark, the family at first lived in a sod house which had been partially dug out of the river bank.
On 27 May 1878, Jorgen became a citizen of the United States.
Jorgen Pedersen Boe naturalization, 27 May 1878. Swift County District Court, State of Minnesota.
On 30 March 1880, Jorgen received a patent for the land located in the northwest quarter of section 4, township 119, range 40.
Jorgen was enumerated on the land in the 1880 United States Census. Erick Otterholt, enumerated nearby, was the brother of Aaste Halvordsatter Otterholt, the wife of Jorgen's son Jorgen Jorgenson Boe.
This map of Chippewa County shows the location of Jorgen's land.
In 1895, Jorgen and his wife Ingeborg lived near their son Jorgen and his family in West Bank, Swift County, Minnesota.
In 1900, Jorgen and Ingeborg lived near their son Gregar in Swenoda, Swift County, Minnesota. Jorgen's occupation was listed as watch repairing.
According to "The People from Telemark in Chippewa, Yellow Medicine and Lac qui Parle Counties" by Torkel Oftelie and Ole (Olav) Jacobson Haugland (originally published in Norwegian in Telesoga 20 (July 1914), pages 3-4; translated by Grace Foss and reprinted in Telemark to America Volume II: Settlements), Jorgen was a watchmaker and jeweler, and had been a schoolmaster in Norway. Oftelie and Jacobson also mentioned that Jorgen told stories from Norway and sang stev. The article stated "He was a pleasant person to have around." (Telemark to America Volume II: Settlements, page 136.)
Jorgen died on 30 July 1902 in Swenoda, Swift County, Minnesota.
The Minnesota Historical Society has an image of the Jorgen Boe home in Chippewa County, Minnesota, taken approximately 1900. This could be my ancestor's home.
Now that I know there are land records for Jorgen Pederson Boe, I will need to order his homestead application file. This week's theme inspired me to search once again, and the search was successful!
References
Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt; Shared Roots in Telemark. Compiled by Melvin and Alpha M. (Boe) Brodshaug, 1984. Published by Arlene (Boe) Christensen and Marjorie (Boe) Bergee. Printed by Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa.
Telelaget of America. Telemark to America: Volume II: Settlements. 2nd ed. Telelaget of America, 1992, 2009.
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