Isak Eriksen Born 1840 - 1850 lived in Lyngen? Moved to Minnesota

[Stacey Fjerkenstad]

Hello Everyone,
I found a thread on here about Isak Eriksen, my 3rd grandfather, who was born in 1830 in Sweden or Norway, and died. 1908. I saw that his name could have been Isak Isaksson Letto?
I have conflicting stories of his life and would like to find out where he was from and any other information on him.
A story is that he may have fished in Lofoten before coming to Minnesota. How accurate it is, I'm not sure...

Thanks for your help,

Stacey

[Jackie K Marler]

Here it says Sweden for birthplace with death in Yellow Medicine county Minnesota if this is your guy:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7ZH-1GN2

 

One of several family trees:

https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/GMZ8-Y6W

Endret September 18 av Jackie K Marler

[Stacey Fjerkenstad]

Thanks, Jackie, yeah, that's the information that I have found so far as well. There isn't a solid bit of information; his parents listed don't have any records or place names that I've been able to locate. I've also been told that he was from Troms, Sweden, and also Finland. I'm not sure which direction to follow.
Thanks so much for your help!
Stacey

[Anton Hagelee]

This looks like the same family in the 1880 Census. Different age and birth place from the 1900 Census 

 

Isac Erickson

in the 1880 United States Federal Census

NameIsac Erickson

Age30

Birth DateAbt 1850

BirthplaceNorway

Home in 1880Minnesota Falls, Yellow Medicine, Minnesota, USA

Dwelling Number11

RaceWhite

GenderMale

Relation to Head of HouseSelf (Head)

Marital StatusMarried

Spouse's NameIncibar Erickson

Father's BirthplaceNor.

Mother's BirthplaceNor.

OccupationFarmer

NeighborsView others on page

Household Members (Name)AgeRelationship

Isac Erickson30Self (Head)

Incibar Erickson21Wife

Helena Erickson7Daughter

Eric Erickson6Son

Henry Erickson3Son

John Erickson10/12Son

Save

 

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/records/33381238?tid=75702882&pid=220199862502&ssrc=pt

 

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZSM-W2C?lang=en

 

 

Endret September 19 av Anton Hagelee

[Anton Hagelee]

I see that several  Family Trees on both Ancestry and Family Search have the parents of Isaac as Eric Hoiseth and Helena Hoiseth. That matches well with first names of the first daughter and son.. 

[Anton Hagelee]

Here is the family in 1870 Census. Born in Norway in 1846, 

 

Isaac Erikson

in the Minnesota, U.S., Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905

NameIsaac Erikson

Age29

Census Date1 May 1875

CountyYellow Medicine

LocalityMinnesota Falls

Birth LocationNorway

GenderMale

Estimated Birth Yearabt 1846

RaceWhite

Father's Birth LocationNorway

Mother's Birth LocationNorway

Line29

RollMNSC_19

 

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1058/records/4487724?tid=75702882&pid=220199862502&queryId=41218197-cb94-459b-83a8-b3719c7c79da&_phsrc=oMF18&_phstart=successSource

 

 

 

[Anton Hagelee]

This is likely the marriage of Isaac and Ingeborg 

 

Isak Erikson

in the U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969

NameIsak Erikson

GenderMale

Record TypeMarriage

Birth PlaceTromsö Norge

Marriage Date26 Dec 1871

Marriage PlaceCottonwood Hanley Falls, Minnesota, USA

SpouseIngeborg Halversdr

Church NameYellow Medicine Lutheran Church

Church LocationHanley Falls, Minnesota

 

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60722/records/2093311?tid=75702882&pid=220199862502&queryId=cb218b6e-313a-4571-9b6f-08d470319017&_phsrc=oMF24&_phstart=successSource

 

[Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo]

15 minutter siden, Anton Hagelee skrev:

Isak Erikson

in the U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969

NameIsak Erikson

GenderMale

Record TypeMarriage

Birth PlaceTromsö Norge

Marriage Date26 Dec 1871

 

Isak Eriksen 40 y fisherman and living in Tromsø emigrated from Trondheim July 1873:

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/view/557/pe00000000056106

 

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/em20110307640799

 

Finnmark, Sør-Trøndelag, Troms fylke, Emigrantprotokollregister nr. 19.25 (1867-1925)

 

 

Endret September 19 av Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo
feil bilde

[Stacey Fjerkenstad]

Thank you so much, Anton and Gry! I've heard so many conflicting stories of his life, and this looks like it's going in the right direction. A letter from a cousin stated that he lived at Høiseth, N.E. of Tromsø. And his parents could have been Erick and Helena. But I was unable to find any information on him or his family. Have you seen anything about his parents or where they came from? Gry, you mentioned Trondheim?
This news is exciting. I've been looking into Isak for quite some time now and heard stories that he was from Finland, Sweden, and Norway (a bit confusing at times). It's so great to gain some tracking:) 

[Anne_Tonby]

Isaks confirmation i 1846? see number 44. Father Isak Eriksen, mother Hedevig

Troms fylke, Tromsø i Tromsø, Ministerialbok nr. 9 (1837-1847), Konfirmerte 1846, Side 161
Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20050309013016

 

[Stacey Fjerkenstad]

Hi Anne, thanks for sending that over! I'm having some trouble picking out Isak's Mother's name on there: 

His Father looks like Erik Eriksen, and it lists Sweden as his (Isak's)  birthplace.? 

Thanks again,

Stacey

[Anton Hagelee]

Mothers name is Hedevig

 

[Anton Hagelee]

2 hours ago, Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo said:

 

Isak Eriksen 40 y fisherman and living in Tromsø emigrated from Trondheim July 1873:

Isak Eriksen

in the Norway, Emigration Records, 1867-1960

NameIsak Eriksen

GenderMannlig (Male)

Emigration Age40

Birth Dateabt 1833

Last Known Residence PlaceTromsø

Emigration Date24. jul 1873 (24 Jul 1873)

Emigration PlaceTrondheim, Norge

Emigration DestinationHancock

Emigration ShipTasso

 

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61757/records/733392?tid=&pid=&queryId=3d9e6d04-0a20-457e-9dbf-59337f88cb45&_phsrc=byY1&_phstart=successSource

 

 

[Anton Hagelee]

 

 

 

Nr 1513

 

 

\

Endret September 19 av Anton Hagelee

[Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo]

14 timer siden, Anton Hagelee skrev:

This is likely the marriage of Isaac and Ingeborg 

 

Isak Erikson

in the U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969

NameIsak Erikson

GenderMale

Record TypeMarriage

Birth PlaceTromsö Norge

Marriage Date26 Dec 1871

Marriage PlaceCottonwood Hanley Falls, Minnesota, USA

SpouseIngeborg Halversdr

Church NameYellow Medicine Lutheran Church

Church LocationHanley Falls, Minnesota

 

 

14 timer siden, Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo skrev:

 

Isak Eriksen 40 y fisherman and living in Tromsø emigrated from Trondheim July 1873:

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/view/557/pe00000000056106

 

 

 

https://www.digitalarkivet.no/em20110307640799

 

Finnmark, Sør-Trøndelag, Troms fylke, Emigrantprotokollregister nr. 19.25 (1867-1925)

 

 

 

Sorry, incorrect emigration record, since he married 2 years earlier.

 

The eldest sources (marriage record 1871 and Census 1875) say he was born ca 1845, so we have to look for another emigration record.

[Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo]

14 timer siden, Stacey Fjerkenstad skrev:

 A letter from a cousin stated that he lived at Høiseth, N.E. of Tromsø. And his parents could have been Erick and Helena.

 

Source Ancestry.com: Helena born 1872: 

 

USA, evangelisk-lutherska kyrkan i USA, register, 1781-1969 för Isak Eriksen Höiset

Congregational Records
Minnesota
Hanley Falls
Yellow Medicine Lutheran Church

 

 

 

 

 

[Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo]

The farm Høyset in Balsfjord, Troms.

[Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo]

Census 1865 Høiset (birthplace Sweden (Sverige) : https://rhd.uit.no/folketellinger/ftliste_e.aspx?ft=1865&knr=1933&kenr=003&bnr=0070&lnr=00

 

 

Census 1875 Høiset : https://rhd.uit.no/folketellinger/ftliste_e.aspx?ft=1875&knr=1933&kenr=002&bnr=0009&lnr=00

 

 

Helene Eriksen, confirmation record shows the daughter to Albrigt Jensen (in Census 1875) above her entry:

 

https://www.ancestry.se/search/collections/60722/records/152092594

 

 

[Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo]

På 18.9.2025 den 0.56, Stacey Fjerkenstad skrev:

...I found a thread on here about Isak Eriksen..

 

Nice to know 👍

 

In a hurry here.. - it says he emigrated 1866 via Quebec and may been adopted...
Google Translate may help you.

Endret Lørdag 18:30 av Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo

[Stacey Fjerkenstad]

Wow, Gry, thank you for all that information. I have quite a bit to look through. Nothing has made sense about where he is from, given the stories I've heard and the written records from children who all have different accounts of him. 
Thanks again,
Stacey

[Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo]

På 19.9.2025 den 21.19, Stacey Fjerkenstad skrev:

A letter from a cousin stated that he lived at Høiseth, N.E. of Tromsø. And his parents could have been Erick and Helena. 

 

Source: http://www.sadesbingen.se/slekt/index.html

 

From Balsfjord farmbook:

 

BALSFJORD BYGDEBOK

 

OPTEGNELSER FRA ÆLDRE OG NYERE TID

 

SAMLET AV

 

N. S. MAGELSSEN OG PETER A. LARSSEN

 

OMFATTENDE DELVIS

INNTIL AARET 1924

 

ISAK ISAKSEN.

(Fortalt af A. K. i 90.)

     Isak Isaksen var den første mand som boede i Tamokdal. Hans kone hed Hedevig, og begge var fra Finland. Dengang var der ikke folk fra Høisæt til Bomstad, en ca. 2½ mil, hvilken vei de maatte bære sin føde paa ryggen. Fjeldlapperne var herrer i Tamokdal i den tid; men Isak var stor og sterk, saa han frygtede dem ikke. Han havde ord for, at han skjød meget ren. Vist er der, at han havde sit fjøstag tækket med renskind istedetfor næver. Dette vidste lapperne; men de var ikke ret dristige, da de kjendte manden. Engang skulde han have skudt ren, mens lapperne var ganske nær. Da frygtede han, at han vel kunde faa besøg af dem. Han lavede sig derfor en klubbe til at tage dem med. En aften kom 8 af de største og sterkeste af dem. Isak sad rolig i sin hytte, da to af dem kom ind og bad ham ud. Han tog klubben og gik og fik da se hvormange de var. Han begyndte at slaa til dem med klubben, og bad dem at der bare maatte komme 8 til. Han slog dem alle paa flugten. Siden talte min far med dem paa Skibottenmarked og sagde: "I havde vel dræbt ham da?" De svarede: "Vi ved ikke men i alfald havde vi ikke levnet stort liv i ham".

     Engang var Isak paa tur til byen (Tromsø). Dengang havde han faat sig i hest. Hans kone havde, mens han var borte gaaet 2 mil med en ko. Da hun paa tilbageveien var kommen forbi Postdalselv, fødte hun et barn i vilde marken. Hun ruskede græs og tullede om det. Da saa manden kom fra byen, traf han hende der i denne forfatning ca. en mil fra gaarden, men hun tog barnet i fanget og koen ved baandet og gik hjem.

 

Google translate:

 

ISAK ISAKSEN.

(Told by A. K. in 90.)

Isak Isaksen was the first man who lived in Tamokdal. His wife's name was Hedevig, and both were from Finland. At that time there were no people from Høisæt to Bomstad, a distance of about 2½ miles, which way they had to carry their food on their backs. The mountain Lapps were masters in Tamokdal at that time; but Isak was big and strong, so he did not fear them. He was said to have shot a lot of reindeer. It is said that he had his barn roof covered with reindeer skins instead of fur. The Lapps knew this; but they were not very bold, when they knew the man. Once he is said to have shot reindeer, while the Lapps were quite close. Then he feared that he might get a visit from them. So he made himself a club to take them with him. One evening 8 of the biggest and strongest of them came. Isak was sitting quietly in his hut when two of them came in and asked him to come out. He took the club and went and then saw how many there were. He started hitting them with the club, and asked them to just bring 8 more. He beat them all to the ground. Afterwards my father spoke to them at Skibottenmarked and said: "You must have killed him then?" They replied: "We don't know, but in any case we hadn't left much life in him".

Once Isak was on a trip to the city (Tromsø). At that time he had got on a horse. While he was gone, his wife had walked 2 miles with a cow. When she had passed Postdalselv on the way back, she gave birth to a child in a wild field. She was shaking grass and joking about it. When the man came from the city, he met her there in this condition about a mile from the farm, but she took the child in her arms and the cow by the lead and went home.

 

This story was told by A.K. in 1890. Who was A.K. and his father?

 

Edit: In Finland they often had several first names,  Isak = Erik Isak?

Endret i går, 07:18 av Gry.Onarheim.Dahlmo

[Stacey Fjerkenstad]

Wow, what a fantastic find! So, on one of the posts, it said that he may have been fostered from Sweden? This looks like it could have been his parents if it's correct? And if he's from Finland, was he Kven, Sami, or Finnish? So many questions.

Thanks so much for this, really appreciate it!!

Stacey

[Stacey Fjerkenstad]

https://digitaltmuseum.no/011012838672/fra-tamokdal-i-malselv

 

Gardstun i Tamokdalen i Balsfjord i Troms. Fotografiet er tatt mot tre gamle, nokså forfalne bygninger, hvorav de to nærmeste er laftekonstruksjoner, mens i hvert fall den øvre delen av den bakerste er en bordkledd konstruksjon. Bygningen til venstre, som er et stuehus med ei pipe, har torvtak. Det har også fjøset, som ligger med gavlen mot fotografen, til høyre i bildet. Den bordkledde konstruksjonen bakenfor er antakelig ei løe. Mellom bygningene skimtes et par menneskeskikkelser og en hund. Nedenfor bygningene ses en snødekt dal med glissen skog, overveiende bjørk. I bakgrunnen bratte, skogløse fjell.

Vinteren 2012 fikk Norsk Skogmuseum et tips (jfr. rubrikken «Andre opplysninger») om at gardstunet i forgrunnen var eiendommen Vingstad (Kartverkets, og dermed statsforvaltningens stavemåte, informanten skriver «Wingstad»). Her knyttes bebyggelsen til «Kvæn-Isak», som skal ha vært den første som slo seg ned som jordbruker på dette stedet.

I 2015 fikk museet henvendelse fra en annen lokalkjent person som kunne fortelle at dette er tunet på en eiendom som har vært kalt både «Steinli» og «Lemmetlia».

I 2020 kom følgende melding fra Torbjørn Fagermo:

«Gården er Steinli

Bebodd av Isak Eriksen Tapio med hustru Thea Eriksen født Thorsteinsdatter ved Østerlid , Fjellfroskvatnet. Det som ser ut som to kvinner ved "huset" kan være døtrene på gården Sofie og Ida , min bestemor født henhv. 1896 og 1898 ca. Thea og Isak bodde først på 1890 i Skaret og senere som "husmenn" under Høiseth fra rundt 1895 til de kjøpte Steinli i 1910.»