I've used FREE Artificial Intelligence tools to create biographies, poems, songs and podcasts about my ancestors lives, plus my genealogy research and family history in the recent past.
Every ancestor lives a unique life with unique relationships and life stories. Today, I want to share a poem and song about my wife Linda's paternal great-grandparents, Torger Sjursen Leland (1850-1933) and Anna Ellingsdater (Natvig) Leland (1853-1911) of Deerfield, Wisconsin, #8 and #9 on Linda's Ahnentafel list.
I requested Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.5 (a FREE AI tool) to create a poem and song lyrics to describe and celebrate the lives of Torger Sjursen Leland and Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig. I uploaded a PDF of what I know about them - see my Genealogical Sketch of Torger Sjursen Leland (1850-1933) and Anna Ellingsdatter (Natvig) Leland (1853-1911) of Norway, Wisconsin, Montana and California.
Torger and Anna's Journey
From Voss and Sogndal, mountains tall and steep,
Where fjords cut deep and ancient valleys sleep,
Two children sailed across the ocean wide—
One six years old, one nine, with family by their side.Young Torger on the Hebe carved through waves,
Three weeks to Quebec, fortune for the brave.
Through steamboat, canal, and rattling train,
To Deerfield's soil and Wisconsin's golden grain.Anna left her homeland, Sogn og Fjordane's shore,
Carried memories of a place she'd see no more.
Two children of Norway in America's embrace,
Each finding home in that new, strange place.From Sjursen to Leland, the name transform'd,
As immigrant becomes citizen, a life reformed.
On April's thirteenth day in seventy-six,
Torger swore his oath where Old World and New World mix.Six weeks later, in Koshkonong's sacred hall,
He wed his Anna before fathers, friends, and all.
At twenty-six and twenty-three they pledged their troth,
Two Norwegian hearts becoming one through solemn oath.In London Township, where tobacco fields grew green,
Torger built with carpenter's hands what Anna kept clean.
Ten children blessed their union, ten souls brought to light,
Though three were called to heaven far too early from this life.Edwin, Severt, Theodore—sons who'd venture far,
Mabelle and Ruth—daughters bright as any star,
Arthur and Lewis, Bertina too soon gone,
Still seven survived to carry their legacy on.Through Wisconsin winters, through summer's blessed yield,
Torger worked his craft and tilled his field.
Anna raised her children with immigrant mother's care,
Norwegian songs and English words both floating on the air.By 1900, established now and true,
Foreman in the warehouse, children breaking through—
Teachers, railway workers, farmers of their own,
Seven living children from the seeds that they had sown.But 1911 brought October's darkest day,
When cancer stole sweet Anna, took their mother away.
At fifty-eight she rested in Deerfield's sacred ground,
While Torger, now a widower, heard loss's hollow sound.Yet still he journeyed onward, following the western sun,
To Washington and orchards where his children's lives had run.
At sixty-one he left the only home he'd known as his,
To work his son's farm, to hold his grandchildren, to find new purpose.Eighty years of living, from Norway's mountain home,
Across the great Atlantic to wherever he might roam—
Wisconsin, Washington, and California's bay,
Until in San Francisco came his final day.March eighteenth, 1933, aged eighty-two,
The immigrant boy's long journey finally through.
But back to Deerfield's cemetery his body came to rest,
Beside his Anna, in the soil he'd loved the best.From 1850 to 1933, one man's complete span,
From Norwegian farm boy to American man.
With Anna by his side for thirty-five good years,
Through children born and buried, through laughter and through tears.They bridged two worlds, two centuries, two ways of life,
Norwegian immigrants, American citizens, husband and wife.
In seven children's children, their story carries on—
The courage of the Hebe, the strength to journey on.So here's to Torger Leland and his Anna Natvig dear,
Who crossed an ocean, built a life, and persevered year after year.
In Deerfield's soil they rest as one, their wandering days complete,
Two hearts from distant Norway who made America their beat.
In memory of Torger Sjursen Leland (1850-1933)
and Anna Ellingsdatter Natvig Leland (1853-1911)
Who gave their descendants roots in two worlds
3) The AI-created song lyrics are:
Torger and Anna's Journey
(Verse 1)
In 1850, beneath Norwegian skies,
A boy was born in Voss where the mountains rise.
Torger was his name, and at six years old,
He sailed the Hebe to a land of gold.
Three weeks across the ocean, to Wisconsin's door,
Left behind the fjords he'd known before.(Verse 2)
Anna from Sogndal, with eyes so bright,
Left her homeland at nine, sailed into the night.
Found her way to Cottage Grove, where the wheat fields grew,
Met a carpenter named Torger, and their love was true.
May of seventy-six, they wed in Koshkonong's hall,
Two Norwegian hearts answering America's call.(Chorus)
From Norway to the prairie, across the endless sea,
Two immigrant children finding what they'd be.
Torger and Anna, hand in hand they'd stand,
Building up a family in their promised land.
Through the joy and sorrow, through the years they'd roam,
Two hearts, two worlds, they made America home.(Verse 3)
Ten children blessed their union in London Township's land,
Torger worked with hammer, Anna's gentle hand.
Edwin, Severt, Theodore, Mabelle, and Ruth,
Arthur, Frank, and the ones who left too soon in youth.
Seven survived to carry on their name,
Spreading westward like a flickering flame.(Verse 4)
October 1911, when the autumn leaves fell down,
Anna left this world in Madison town.
Torger carried onward, followed children west,
Washington and California, seeking peaceful rest.
Eighty-two years walking, from the fjords to the bay,
March of thirty-three, he passed away.(Chorus)
From Norway to the prairie, across the endless sea,
Two immigrant children finding what they'd be.
Torger and Anna, hand in hand they'd stand,
Building up a family in their promised land.
Through the joy and sorrow, through the years they'd roam,
Two hearts, two worlds, they made America home.(Bridge)
And in Deerfield's cemetery, side by side they sleep,
Where their journey started, where the memories keep.
From Sjursen to Leland, the name was born anew,
But the courage of their crossing forever rings true.
Seven children's children carrying on the line,
The strength of Torger and Anna through the march of time.
(Outro)
So raise a glass to travelers who dared to cross the foam,
Who left behind their mountains to find a new home.
In every grandchild's laughter, in every story told,
Lives the spirit of the Lelands, brave and strong and bold.
From Norway to Wisconsin, from 1850 on,
Torger and Anna's legacy will never be gone.
Two hearts, two worlds, they made America home...
They made America home.
"Torger and Anna's Journey" (based on the song lyrics created using Suno.com, with a melodic pop style in an upbeat tempo) can be played below:
5) These stories, told in verse and song are part of my genealogy and family research. My hope is that they will be passed down to my grandchildren and their descendants to highlight the importance of sharing stories, memories, admiration, and love of our ancestors. I will add them to my Google Drive, to my YouTube channel, and to my FOREVER account.
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