Genealogical Sketch of Torger Sjursen Leland (1850-1933) and Anna Ellingsdatter (Natvig) Leland (1853-1911) of Norway, Wisconsin, Montana and California

I am writing genealogical sketches, and then will write AI-assisted biographies, of my wife's ancestors by ancestral couple, not by individual ancestor.  

Here is the genealogical sketch for Linda's paternal great-grandparents Torger Sjursen Leland (1850-1933) and Anna Elligsdatter Natvig (1853-1911), who married in Deerfield, Dane County, wisconsin in 1876.

(Torger Leland home in Deerfield, Wisconsin ca 1910, from family sources)

1) Torger Sjursen Leland: Early Life

Torger Sjursen Leland was born on March 26, 1850, in Mølster, Voss, Hordaland, Norway, the son of Sjur Torgersen (1804-1889) and Brithe "Brita" Olsdatter (1818-1895), and was christened on 9 June 1850 in Voss, Hordaland, Norway.[1-2] Sjur Torgersen Leland and Brita Olsdatter had the following children:

• Torger Sjursen Leland, born 26 March 1850, Mølster, Voss, Hordaland, Norway; married Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig, 30 May 1876, Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin; died 18 March 1933, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• Ole Sjursen Leland was born on 16 December 1851 in Gjelle, Voss, Hordaland, Norway.26 He was christened on 25 January 1852 in Voss, Hordaland, Norway. He died on 8 February 1914 at the age of 62 in Dane, Wisconsin.
• Mathias Sjursen Leland was born on 19 December 1853 in Gjelle, Voss, Hordaland, Norway.35 He was christened on 22 January 1854 in Voss, Hordaland, Norway. He died in 1856 at the age of 3 in Dane, Wisconsin.
• Ingeborg Isabel Sjursdtr Leland, born 2 September 1856, Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin; married Anders Gulliekson Dykkesten, 16 May 1880, Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin; died 15 May 1939, Wenatchee, Chelan, Washington.
• Anna Mathea Sjursdtr Leland, born 8 June 1859, Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin; married Charles Woelffer, 21 October 1880, Dane, Wisconsin; died 3 July 1892, Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin.

A biography of Ole S. Leland (1851-1914) was published in the Norwegian Pioneer Association archive, pages 66-67, located in the Deerfield (Wisconsin) Historical Society Library (816 State Street, Madison WI 53706). The biography provides significant detail about the emigration of the Sjur Torgerson family from Voss to Wisconsin, along with his brother, Ivar Torgersen’s family. It says that:

“Ole S. Leland...emigrated with his parents, Sjur Torgerson Leland and Britha Oldsdatter Leland, and his two brothers Torger and Mathias to America in the Spring of 1856. They embarked on board of the sail ship called Hebe in the city of Bergen in Norway. The vessel was new but it proved to be a fast sailing ship. They landed in the city of Quebec in Canada three weeks after they left Bergen, which was a short time for a sailing ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean in. After they had arrived in Quebec they started for Chicago, part of the way they came on steamboat, and on a canal boat and a railroad train, and arrived safe and sound. When they left Chicago they came to Milwaukee and from there they took passage on a railroad train to Edgerton in Rock County, Wisconsin. When they left Edgerton they came to Bryngel L. Leland, an old acquaintance from Norway who resided in Section No. 25 in the town of Deerfield in the county of Dane, Wisconsin.”

By 1860, at age 10, Torger Sjursen was living in Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin with his parents and siblings – the father was enumerated as “Seeva Torgason.”[3]

In the 1870 United States Census, Torger Severson was enumerated with the Andrew Less family in Dunkirk, Dane County, Wisconsin. The household included:

• Andrew Less - age 36, male, white, a farmer, born Norway
• Isabell Less - age 36, female, white, keeping house, born Norway
• Lewise A. Louison - age 2, male, white, born Wisconsin
• Erick Less - age 72, male, white, at home, born Norway
• Augusta Less - age 66, female, white, at home, born Norway
• Malina Knudeson - age 26, female, white, domestic servant, born Norway
• Torger Severson - age 20, male, white, farm laborer, born Norway

By 1876, all of the members of the Sjur Torgersen family had changed their last name from the patronymic Sjursen (or Severson) to the last name Leland, adapting to the American system of a single, hereditary family name, wanting to sound more "American," and difficulties with spelling and pronunciation. The shift was also influenced by the fact that the patronymic system was already in decline in Norway, replaced by stable surnames or farm names, especially as modernization and migration occurred. “Leland” was chosen because it was the farm name of the wife of Sjur Torgersen’s brother, Ivar Torgersen (1812-1893) who also immigrated to the United States with the Sjur Torgersen family.

T.S. Leland received a Certificate of Naturalization on 13 April 1876 at the Dane County (Wisconsin) Circuit Court in Madison.[17]  A transcription of the record says:

"UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

"Be it Remembered
That on this 13th day of the month of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty 76, and of the Independence of the United States the 100th T S Leland an alien, being a Free White Person, appeared before the Circuit Court of the State of Wisconsin for Dane County, and applied to the Court to be admitted to become a Citizen of the United States;

and the said T.S. Leland having, more than two years ago, made declaration of his intended application as aforesaid, in the manner and form prescribed in an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to establish an uniform rule of Naturalization, and to repeal the Acts heretofore passed on that subject;"

and the Court being satisfied by the testimony of L.J. Erdall and A. Flom
citizens of the United States, that the said T.S. Leland has resided within the United States for the continued term of five years last past, and within the State of Wisconsin one year at least; and that during that time he has behaved as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same; and the said applicant declaring on oath before the Court that he will support the Constitution of the United States, and that he doth absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to Oscar 2d King of Norway whereof he was before a subject.

"Thereupon the Court admitted the said T.S. Leland to become a citizen of the United States."

2) Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig: Early Life

Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig, daughter of Elling Eriksen Natvig (1820-1896) and Anna Ellingsdatter (1812-1901) who married in 1845 in Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway, was born on 16 May 1853 in Øvretun, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. She was christened on 22 May 1853 in Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway.[4] The children of Elling Eriksen and Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig were:

• Christina Ellingsdatter Natvig was born on 13 January 1846 in Øvretun, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. She died on 11 July 1911 at the age of 65 in Dane, Wisconsin.
• Solfest Ellingsen "Sylvester" Natvig, born 15 December 1847, Øvretun, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; married Christina Erikson Vornos, 12 December 1885, Madison, Dane, Wisconsin; died 2 January 1922, Dane, Wisconsin.
• Erik Ellingsen Natvig was born on 6 August 1850 in Øvretun, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. He died in Wisconsin.
• Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig, born 16 May 1853, Øvretun, Sogndal, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway; married Torger Sjursen Leland, 30 May 1876, Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin; died 26 October 1911, Madison, Dane, Wisconsin.

The Elling Eriksen Natvig family came to the United States from Norway in about 1862, but do not appear in the 1870 or 1880 United States census records. It is not known why they selected the last name Natvig (which is a farm in Sogn og Fjordane but not close to Sogndal).

3) Their Marriage and Life Together

On May 30, 1876, Torger Sjursen Leland married Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig in the Koshkonong church.[5-6] The church record says:

"May 30, 1876
Torger Sjursen Leland; 26; Koshkonong; [parents] Sjur T. Leland & Britha Olsdatter
Anna Ellingsdatter; 23; ......; [parents] Elling Erikson & Anna Ellingsdtr
Liberty [church]; Sjur T. Leland & Elling Eriksen"

Torger Sjursen Leland and Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig had the following children:

• Edwin Mathias Leland, born 13 March 1877, Liberty Prairie, Dane, Wisconsin; married Louise Andrews Waite, 29 February 1904, Clarkston, Asotin, Washington, 3 children; died 6 May 1966, Moses Lake, Grant, Washington.
• Severt Oliver Leland, born 2 August 1878, London, Dane, Wisconsin; married Amelia Anna Brocke, 12 February 1904, Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana, 5 children; died 2 November 1940, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• Bertina Leland was born on 27 October 1879 in London, Dane, Wisconsin; died on 2 September 1903 at the age of 23 in London, Dane, Wisconsin.
• Anna Amanda Leland was born on 27 September 1881 in London, Dane, Wisconsin; died on 8 April 1885 at the age of 3 in London, Dane, Wisconsin.
• Theodore Alexander Leland, born 10 February 1883, London, Dane, Wisconsin; married Alice Gertrude Walker, 28 May 1912, Livingston, Park, Montana, 4 children; died 24 February 1964, Seattle, King, Washington.
• Herman Olaus Leland was born on 20 March 1884 in London, Dane, Wisconsin. He died on 24 Dec 1884 at the age of 0 in London, Dane, Wisconsin.
• Mabelle Emelia Leland, born 16 December 1885, London, Dane, Wisconsin; married George Scott MacKenzie, 13 July 1916, Molson, Okanagan, Washington, one child; died 19 January 1973, Paradise, Butte, California.
• Lewis Franklin Leland was born on 25 September 1887 in London, Dane, Wisconsin; died 14 August 1947 at the age of 59 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• Arthur Henry Leland, born 6 Aug 1890, London, Dane, Wisconsin; married Mary Malvina Whitley, 3 Feb 1913, Pullman, Whitman, Washington, two children; died 23 Aug 1976, Brewster, Okanogan, Washington.
• Anna Ruth Leland, born 24 Sep 1893, London, Dane, Wisconsin; married Edwin Krall, 1925, Sacramento, California, no children; died 16 Apr 1988, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

In the 1880 United States Census, the Torger Leeland family was enumerated in Deerfield township, Dane County Wisconsin.[7] The household included:

• Torger S. Leeland - white, male, age 30, married, carpenter and farming, born Norway, parents born Norway/Norway
• Anna Leeland - white, female, age 27, wife, married, keeping house, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway
• Edwin A. Leeland - white, male, age 3, son, single, at house, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway
• Sivert O. Leeland - white, male, age 1, son, single, at house, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway
• Bertina Leeland - white, female, age 7/12 Oct, daughter, single, at house, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway
• Ole S. Leeland - white, male, age 28, brother, single, carpenter and agriculture, born Norway, parents born Norway/Norway

Torger and Ole Leland bought three-quarters of an acre of land in Dane County, Wisconsin on 19 October 1885 from Ole and Susanna Johnson  for $100. The land was part of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 25 of township number 7 north of Range 12.

Torger Leland’s father, Sjur Torgersen Leland, (1804-1889) died intestate on 29 March 1889 in Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin. His eldest son, Torger S. Leland was appointed administrator of the estate. No real property was included in the estate. Much of the personal property was distributed to the heirs shortly after the death. The debts and credits owed to Sever Torgerson Leland and the money in the house comprised the personal property to be distributed. The administrator paid the bills for the monument in the cemetery, the funeral charges, the road tax, the publication charges, and prospective expenses. The widow and each of the four children received $548 as their share of the estate.

In the 1900 United States Census, the Torga Leland family was enumerated in Deerfield township, Dane County, Wisconsin.[8] The household included:

• Torga S. Leland - head, white, male, born Mar 1850, age 50, married 24 years, born Norway, parents born Norway/Norway, immigrated in 1854, resident for 46 years, a carpenter, owns home with a mortgage
• Anna Leland - wife, white, female, born May 1853, age 47, married 24 years, 10 children born, 8 living, born Norway, parents born Norway/Norway, immigrated in 1862, US resident for 38 years
• Berthina Leland - daughter, white, female, born Oct 1879, age 20, single, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway
• Theodore Leland - son, white, male, born Feb 1883, age 17, single, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway
• Mable Leland - daughter, white, female, born Dec 1885, age 14, single, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway, at school
• Franklin Leland - son, white, male, born Sept 1887, age 12, single, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway, at school
• Arthur Leland - son, white, male, born Aug 1890, age 9, single, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway, at school
• Ruth Leland - daughter, white, female, born Sept 1893, age 6, single, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway, at school
• Ole Leland - brother, white, male, born Dec 1851, age 48, single, born Norway, parents born Norway/Norway, a carpenter

In the 1905 Wisconsin State Census, this family resided in Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin.[9] The household included

• Torger S. Leland - head, white, male, age 55, married, born Norway, parents born Norway, a carpenter
• Anna E. Leland - wife, white, female, age 52, married, born Norway, parents born Norway
• Mabell E. Leland - daughter, white, female, age 19, single, born America, parents born Norway
• Arthur H. Leland - son, white, male, age 14, single, born America, parents born Norway
• Ruth A. Leland - daughter, white, female, age 12, ingle, born America, parents born Norway
• Ole S. Leland - brother, white, male, age 53, single, born America, parents born Norway, a carpenter

In the 1910 United States Census, this family was enumerated in Deerfield township, Dane County Wisconsin.[10] The household included:

• T. H. Leland - head, male, white, age 59, married 34 years, born Norway, parents born Norway/Norway, immigrated in 1857, naturalized, a foreman, works in tobacco warehouse, owns home with a mortgage
• Annie Leland - wife, female, white, age 56, married 34 years, 10 children born, 7 living, born Norway, parents born Norway/Norway, immigrated in 1865
• Mabel Leland - daughter, female, white, age 27, single, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway, a teacher
• Arthur H. Leland - son, male, white, age 19, single, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway, a baggage man, works in railway
• Ruth Leland - daughter, female, white, age 16, single, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway

Anna Ellingsdatter (Natvig) Leland died 26 October 1911 in Madison, Dane, Wisconsin. She was buried in St. Paul’s Liberty Lutheran Church Cemetery in Deerfield, Dane, Wisconsin.[11] A death notice was published in the Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter newspaper dated 10 November 1911:[12]

"Mrs. Torger S. Leland of London died at the General Hospital at Madison last Thursday evening at 7:25 following an operation for cancer of the gallsack and adjoining organs. Deceased had not been noticeably sick until about six weeks ago, and had been up every day until taken to the hospital."

The intestate estate of Anna Leland was administered by Torger Leland, and consisted of a part of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 25 of township number 7 north of Range 12 in Dane County, Wisconsin, containing one-half acre of land. The heirs-at-law were husband Torger Leland and their six children. The heirs-at-law sold the land to the son Frank Leland in 1912.

4) Torger’s Later Life

After the death of Anna in 1911, Torger continued his westward journey, eventually living with family members in Washington State. In later years, he appears in census records in Okanagan County and Chelan County, Washington, often residing with his children or relatives.

In the 1920 United States Census, Torger Leland was was enumerated with the Arthur Leland family in Spring Coulee, Okanagan County Washington.[13] The household included:

• A.H. Leland - head, rents home, male, white, age 29, married, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway, a farmer, works on general farm, works on own account
• Vinie M. Leland - wife, female, white, age 26, married, born Idaho, parents born US/Nebraska
• Robert H. Leland - son, male, white, age 6, single, born Washington, parents born Wisconsin/Idaho
• Beverly A. Leland - daughter, female, white, age 3, single, born Washington, parents born Wisconsin/Idaho
• T.S. Leland - father, male, white, age 69, widowed, immigrated in 1856, Naturalized in 1876, born Norway, parents born Norway/Norway, works on son's farm w... ..... specially for him

In the 1930 United States Census, Torger Leland was enumerated with his sister's family in Grange, Chelan County, Washington.[14] The household included :

• Isidore Dykkesten - head, owns home, male, white, age 35, married, first at age 25, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Wisconsin, a farmer, works on fruit farm
• Enid Dykkesten - wife, female, white, age 32, married, first at age 22, born Washington, parents born Oregon/Pennsylvania
• Isabel Dykkesten - mother, female, white, age 72, widow, born Wisconsin, parents born Norway/Norway
• Torger Leland - uncle, male, white, age 80, widowed, born Norway, parents born Norway/Norway, immigrated in 1902, naturalized
• Wayne Dykkesten - son, male, white, age 9, single, born Washington, parents born Wisconsin/Washington
• Andrew Dykkesten - son, male, white, age 8, single, born Washington, parents born Wisconsin/Washington
• Marley Dykkesten - son, male, white, age 6, single, born Washington, parents born Wisconsin/Washington

After moving to San Francisco to live with his son Severt Leland, Torger Sjursen Leland died on 18 March 1933 at the age of 82 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.[15] He was eventually buried in Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin, where his journey in America began.[16]

Torger is remembered for his resilience, pioneering spirit, and his role as a patriarch to a large Norwegian-American family connecting Norway and the American Midwest and West.

5) Sources

1. "Norway Baptisms, 1634-1927)," imaged, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VWGT-8V5 : 23 June 2020), Torger, son of Siur Torgeirsen and Brita Olsdatter, birth 26 March 1850, baptism 9 June 1850.

2. "Norway Church Books, 1815-1930," imaged, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93PP-BKSQ), "Norway Religious Books, 1849-1863", Voss, 1850, image 22 of 239, Torger, son of Siur Torgeirsen and Brita Olsdatter, birth 26 March 1850, baptism 9 June 1850.

3. 1860 United States Federal Census, Dane County, Wisconsin, Deerfield Township, Page 309 (penned), Dwelling #121, Family #120, Seva Torgason household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 1403.

4. 1870 United States Federal Census, Dane County, Wisconsin, Deerfield Township, Page 179B, Dwelling #142, Family #149, Seaver Torgerson household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 1708.

5. Vesterheim Genealogical Center, Koshkonong Church Records, East West & Liberty Churches, Marriage and Deaths Records, 1844-1987 (Madison, Wis.). Notebook at Norwegian-American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library, page 1186, Torger Sjursen Leland and Anna Ellingsdatter marriage record, 30 May 1876.

6. "Wisconsin Marriage Records, 1820-1907," imaged, Wisconsin Historical Society (https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/vitalrecords/); Madison, Wis. : 1996-2011, Torger Sjursen and Anna Ellingsdtr marriage entry, 30 May 1876; record image obtained from Wisconsin Historical Society.

7. 1880 United States Federal Census, Dane County, Wisconsin, Deerfield Township, Enumeration District 67, Page 21C (stamped), Dwelling #117, Family #121; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T9, Roll 142.

8. 1900 United States Federal Census, Dane County, Wisconsin, Deerfield Township, Enumeration District 42, Page 17A (stamped), Dwelling #288, Family #306; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 1782.

9. Wisconsin State Census 1905, Population Schedule, Dane County, Deerfield Township, Page 172 (stamped), Family #181, Torger Leland household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing Wisconsin State Historical Society (Madison, Wis.), Microfilm Roll 6.

10. 1910 United States Federal Census, Dane County, Wisconsin, population schedule, Deerfield Township, Enumeration District 49, Page 7B (stamped), Dwelling #21A, Family #21A, T.H. Leland household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T624, Roll 1708.

11. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70175137/anna-leland : accessed December 5, 2025), memorial page for Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig Leland (15 May 1853–26 Oct 1911), Find a Grave Memorial ID 70175137, citing Saint Pauls Liberty Lutheran Cemetery, Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA; Maintained by B L Larson (contributor 47561076).

12. "Deerfield," The [Edgerton, Wis.] Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter newspaper dated Friday, 10 November 1911, page 3, death notice of Mrs. Torger S. Leland of London; imaged, "Newspaper Archives Online," GenealogyBank (https://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 8 November 2025).

13. 1920 United States Federal Census, Okanagan County, Washington, Spring Coulee Township, Enumeration District 97, Page 2A (stamped), Dwelling #30, Family #30, A.H. Leland household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, Roll 1934.

14. 1930 United States Federal Census, Chelan County, Washington, Grange Township, Enumeration District 16, Page 3A (stamped), Dwelling #50, Family #50; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T626, Roll 2484.

15. "California Death Index, 1905-1939." database, FamilySearch (https://www.FamilySearch.org), San Francisco County, California, Torger Leland (1850-1933) entry, 18 March 1933.

16. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70175098/torger_sjursen-leland : accessed December 5, 2025), memorial page for Torger Sjursen Leland (26 Mar 1850–18 Mar 1933), Find a Grave Memorial ID 70175098, citing Saint Pauls Liberty Lutheran Cemetery, Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA; Maintained by B L Larson (contributor 47561076).

17.  T.S. Leland, Certificate of Naturalization, Page 349, Volume 10, Dane County (Wisconsin) Circuit Court; Naturalization Records, 1841-1954; Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, Madison, Wis.

6)  Relationship

Torger Sjursen Leland (1850-1933) and Anna Ellingsdatter (Natvig) Leland (1853-1911) are the paternal great-grandparents of my wife, Linda (Leland) Seaver (1942-still living), through her grandfather Severt Oliver Leland (1878-1940) who married Amelia Anna Brocke (1884-1975) in 1904 in Helena, Montana.

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Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

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