[#34143] Ole Christian Houge or Hauge, b. 10-21-1854 in Norway

[Gjest Linda Wagner]

I'm seeking information regarding Ole Christian Houge or Hauge born October 21, 1854 in Christiana. He was the son of Christian and Anna Houge/Hauge. His sister was Kristina and she was born in about 1851 in Norway. She married Martin Solberg, also from Norway. Ole immigrated to the US in 1871 and lived in Wisconsin. He married Dorthea Sophie Dixen and their children, all born in Wisconsin, were named Clara Louise, Sophie Amelia, Edna Katinka and Olga Dorthea. He changed his surname to Howgee in America. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker in Norway. He was literate and could play many musical instruments.

[Gjest Nina Karlsen]

How certain is the birth place?Emigrant from Kristiania: 11.04.1873 Ole Christians. Skomager=Shoemaker male, age: 18 from Stange Hedemark to Bangor, Wis.1865-census for 0417 Stange, Hedemark Dromsrudrønningen (Kari Olsd. Husmoder Husmand med Jord, 4 Maal, understøt. af Fattigvæsenet e 65 k Stange Ole Ols. Dattersøn ug 4 m Stange) Kristian Ols. Husfader Husmand uden Jord, Dagarbeider g 56 m Stange Anne Eriksd. hans Kone g 54 k Stange Kirsti Kristiansd. deres Datter ug 16 k Stange Ole Kristians. deres Søn ug 11 m StangeFather Kristian, mother Anne, and older sister KirstiCo-incidence?

[Gjest Linda Wagner]

I'm not certain about the birthplace as my information is from family tradition. He may have simply left from Christiana. I don't read Norweigan and so I am wondering where the surname Houge or Hauge is in your information. Bangor, Wisconsin is exactly where Ole Christian Houge ended when he came to the US. That information fits, as well as the parents and sister's information.

[Gjest Nina Karlsen]

The surname Hauge is the only detail lacking. I don't think he'd have wanted to use 'Dromsrudrønningen', which is the name of the cotter's place where the family lives in 1865, as a surname. No one in America would have been able to pronounce it, let alone spell it! ;-) In the emigration record he used his patronym as a surname. My knowledge of the geography of local area Stange is limited, but maybe Ole worked on a farm named Hauge before leaving? Or could he have been inspired by Hans Nielsen Hauge (1771-1824), the Norwegian preacher? A look at church records for Stange would reveal if the date of birth (or christening?) match.

[Gjest Linda Wagner]

Many thanks, Nina Karlsen! I have reviewed the US census images again and found that Ole was born in 1855 (October 21, 1855) and that he had immigrated in 1873. Those details seem to make your find even more likely to be my ancestor's family. I have gotten referrals to some websites to provide maps and a Norweigan-English dictionary and so maybe I can begin to look into this further. You have been so kind to give me this insight. I have a couple more questions. Wouldn't Ole's surname simply have been something like Christianssen or Kristenson? That is what my Swedish ancestors did. Did people sometimes use the name of the farm on which they worked or lived as their surname? Could Ole have used the name of the shoemaker to whom he was apprenticed? Can you suggest how I could access the church records of Stange? Or access the records where you found your information? Thank you again!Linda Wagner

[Gjest Nina Karlsen]

You will find all kinds of useful resources on this page:http://www.cyndislist.com/norway.htm

[Gjest Linda Wagner]

I did find the census information in Digitalarkivet, but never would have found it if I hadn't known exactly what I was searching for. I have been checking out Cyndi's List all evening for the emigrant list that shows the information you gave, but no luck yet.