- HON. GUNOLF TOLLEFSON, Sec. 23; P.O. Primrose [Dane Co.];
was born Nov. 11, 1825,
- in Bygland, Salersdahlen, Norway; in 1843 his parents, T.
GUNNAFSON and Hage OLESON, left his native place on foot, with
their six children; $180 was their entire capital, and it cost
them $6 each for passage to Havre, France; here an American skipper
offered to transport them to their land of promise for 9 five-franc
pieces each, all under 14 to go at half-fare, and small children
free; thus they landed in New York with barely $1 and then Mr.
GUNNUFSON was the richest Norse in the large party; during the
voyage, the sailors amused themselves by teaching young Gunolf
the English language, and on slips of paper he wrote out common
phrases, like "Do you want to hire a hand?" "What
will you pay?"; entering a junk shop in New York, he asked
the proprietor the price of a pair of course trousers; "Two-and-six,"
was answered so quickly that our new citizen didn't catch it,
so he says, "I will give you three shillings," and
the old Norse garments were quickly thrown aside; free transportation
was given them to Milwaukee, they spending the winter in Norway,
Racine Co.; the next spring young Gunolf started West, reached
Jefferson Prairie, and, by splitting 600 rails, was furnished
an ox team with which to bring out his people, here they made
and lost a claim; then went to Beaver Creek, Boone Co., Ill.,
where the old couple died of cholera; returning young TOLLEFSON
worked out four years for Amos SKEELS, of Rock Co.; earned $300,
and in May 1849, entered 160 acres of his present farm with Mexican
soldiers' warrants; that fall, himself and a brother and a hired
man worked here splitting rails, etc.; their flour, from the
Moscow Mill, was baked in large batches, and, of course, frozen
solid; at Christmas time they went back to Rock Co., where they
wintered. April 26, 1850, he married Julia G. GUNHUS, who was
born twenty-nine miles northeast of Gromme; entirely penniless;
both hired out, and during the summer, earned team, wagon and
tools; settled here in October 1850, and have since lived here.
Mr. T. has 180 acres, all of which can be plowed, and has excellent
buildings, and is worth a comfortable sum besides. He is a Republican;
was Assessor, Supervisor, etc., a number of years, and was a
member of the Legislature in 1868. Is a leading member of the
Hauges Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church, and one of the successful,
well-known and public-spirited pioneers of Primrose. Mr. and
Mrs. TOLLEFSON have never been blessed with children, and have
adopted and dowered a number; they now have two with them - Dora
and Albert.
-
- Taken from "The History of Dane County, Wisconsin"
(c)1880 Western Historical Company, Chicago, pp. 1094-1095.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|