My mothers family all originated in Germany and, for the most part, emigrated to the United States about 1850, settling around Lyons, Walworth, Wisconsin. Some members of the family eventually moved further West, settling around La Crosse, Wisconsin.

My fathers family emigrated from Norway. His father’s family descended from a long line of a ancestors who lived in and around Nesna, Nordland, Norway. His mothers family lived in several towns located East of Oslo in Akershus.