Kolbein was the fifth child and 4th son in a family of six children. His parents were Sjur Knutson Tveite O (1776 – 18822) and Synneva Olsdatter Nåsen (1782 – ). He was married in Vossestrand to Ablu Jonsdatter øvre Vine (1821 – 4 Jan 1892). She was the first born of Jon Halsteinson nedre Vinje (1794 – ) and Sigtru Andersdatter Vinje’s (1794 – 1853) five children.
Kolbein and Ablu lived at Almenningen and had 5 children: Sjur, Kari, Synneva, Jon, and Brita. Kolbein was a tenant farmer at Bygd first, and later he was a cottar at Slen. When Brita was four years old, they went to America. They left Bergen on the 18th of April 1854, just six weeks after Franklin Pierce had been elected as the 14th president of the United States.
Not much is known about Kolbein and Ablu. They had another child in Wisconsin in 1866 and she was named Siverina. By 1880 they are in Erhards Grove in Otter Tail, Minnesota where Kolbein is farming. Three of their 6 children are making their home with them, John, Betsy, and Severina. The whereabouts of the other elude me. In 1885 Kolbein and Ablu are still Erhards Grove and John and Severina are still making their home with their parents. The other four children remain a mystery. The family is using Seversen as their surname and Kolbein is known as Colben. Ablu is Abelu. Kolbein died 4 months after his wife on 12 Apr 1892. They are both buried in Bagstevold Cemetery in Erhard, Otter Tail, Minnesota.
If anyone has any information on the children of Kolbein and Ablu I would love to get in touch with you.
Before you leave, check out Ancestors from Voss. New things are being added all the time. Post a query, ask a question, give a thumbs up (hopefully not down). We need the support.
Voss Immigrants 