My wife's Leland family progenitors came to the United States from Norway in 1856. I wrote about the immigrant family in ABC Biography of the Sjur Torgersen Leland (1804-1889) and Brita Olsdatter (1818-1895) Family of Voss, Norway and Dane County, Wisconsin recently.
Based on that information, I asked my AI assistant Claude to describe in detail the journey they took from the mountains around Voss, Norway, to Dane County, Wisconsin. Here is the description:
(Google NotebookLM Infographic - The Leland Family Migration)
The Journey from Voss to Wisconsin
The Sjur Torgersen Family's Emigration Journey - Spring 1856
In the spring of 1856, Sjur Torgersen Leland, age 51, his wife Brita Olsdatter, age 37, and their three young sons—Torger (6), Ole (4), and Mathias (2)—embarked on one of the great journeys of the 19th century: emigration from Norway to America. Their journey would take them approximately 6-8 weeks and cover roughly 4,000 miles from the mountains of Voss to the prairies of Wisconsin.
Journey Overview
The journey from Gjelle farm in Voss, Norway to Deerfield, Wisconsin consisted of several distinct segments, each requiring different methods of transportation and presenting unique challenges. Here is a summary:
- Gjelle to Voss village: 5 miles, 2-3 hours by cart and walking
- Voss to Bergen: 65 miles, 2-4 days by boat and wagon through mountains
- Bergen to Quebec: 2,800 miles, 3 weeks on the sailing ship Hebe
- Quebec to Chicago: 1,000 miles, 7-10 days by steamboat, canal boat, and train
- Chicago to Deerfield: 100 miles, 1-2 days by train and wagon
Part 1: Gjelle Farm to Voss Village -- Leaving Home (Early May 1856)
The journey began at Gjelle farm on the southeast side of Lake Voss. The family spent weeks preparing—selling livestock and equipment, packing belongings, saying emotional goodbyes. What they could take was limited to what could fit in trunks and bundles: clothing, bedding, essential tools, a few precious items.
The first leg was short but emotionally overwhelming. They likely hired a cart to carry luggage the 5 miles to Voss village, taking 2-3 hours on rough mountain roads. Brita said goodbye to her parents Ole Olavsen and Ingeborg Botolfsdatter, and her sisters who were staying in Voss—a farewell that would prove to be forever.
Part 2: Voss to Bergen -- The Mountain Journey (2-4 days)
The 65-mile journey from Voss to Bergen took emigrants through dramatic mountain scenery using a combination of water and land travel. The route typically followed the Vosso river valley westward toward the coast.
Day 1: From Voss village, they took a boat across Lake Vangsvatnet and continued along the valley toward Evanger and Dale, covering 15-20 miles. With three young children including a 2-year-old, the pace would have been slow.
Days 2-3: The route continued through mountains toward the coast. Some sections could be traveled by boat on fjords, while others required walking or riding in wagons. They likely stayed at farms or inns along the way. Spring in Norwegian mountains could still be cold, with possible snow at higher elevations.
Days 3-4: As they descended toward Bergen, the final approach likely involved boat travel through the fjords. Bergen in 1856 was Norway's largest port and the main departure point for emigrants to America. Upon arrival, they arranged lodging and waited for their ship, purchasing provisions for the ocean voyage.
Part 3: Bergen to Quebec - The Atlantic Crossing:
Boarding the Hebe (Mid-May 1856)
The Hebe was a new sailing ship. Emigrant ships were typically converted cargo vessels with temporary berths below deck. The boarding process was chaotic—dozens of families climbing aboard with their luggage, being assigned cramped berths below deck where all five family members would sleep, eat, and spend most of the voyage.
The Hebe was a new sailing ship. Emigrant ships were typically converted cargo vessels with temporary berths below deck. The boarding process was chaotic—dozens of families climbing aboard with their luggage, being assigned cramped berths below deck where all five family members would sleep, eat, and spend most of the voyage.
Conditions Below Deck
The steerage section had limited headroom, little light or ventilation. Berths were wooden bunks stacked in tiers, separated only by luggage and hanging blankets. Each family received perhaps 6 feet by 6 feet of space. Conditions were cramped, dark, and often unsanitary. The smell of unwashed bodies, seasickness, and bilge water was overwhelming. Privacy was non-existent.
Passengers prepared their own food using provisions they brought aboard, cooking on deck when weather permitted. Water was rationed and became stale during the voyage.
The Three-Week Voyage
The Hebe made the crossing in just three weeks—remarkably fast. Typical Atlantic crossings took 6-8 weeks or longer. This indicates excellent wind conditions and skillful sailing. The route went north around the British Isles, then west across the North Atlantic, south of Iceland and Greenland, toward Newfoundland and the St. Lawrence River.
For the Leland family with three young boys, the voyage was an ordeal. Keeping children fed, occupied, and reasonably clean in such cramped quarters was extremely difficult. Yet they were fortunate—a three-week crossing meant less suffering, less chance of disease, less depletion of supplies.
Arrival in Quebec (Early June 1856)
After three weeks at sea, the Hebe arrived at Quebec City. Passengers passed through immigration inspection, where officials checked for contagious diseases and recorded passenger information. Once cleared, the family collected their luggage and arranged the next stage of their journey.
Part 4: Quebec to Wisconsin
The Inland Journey (7-10 days)
The family traveled from Quebec to Chicago using 'steamboat, canal boat, and railroad train'—the typical route for emigrants heading to the Midwest.
Quebec to Montreal (1-2 days): Steamboat up the St. Lawrence River, about 160 miles. This was comfortable compared to the ocean crossing.
Montreal to Lake Ontario (2-3 days): Canal boats through the Lachine, Beauharnois, and Cornwall Canals, pulled by horses or mules at 2-4 miles per hour.
Lake Ontario to Lake Erie (1-2 days): Steamboat across Lake Ontario and through the Welland Canal, which bypassed Niagara Falls.
To Chicago (2-3 days): Combination of steamboat across Lake Erie and railroad from Buffalo or Cleveland westward to Chicago.
Chicago to Wisconsin (1-2 days)
From Chicago, they took the railroad to Milwaukee (completed in 1855), about 90 miles taking just a few hours. From Milwaukee, another train to Edgerton in Rock County. From Edgerton, they traveled by wagon or on foot to Deerfield in Dane County, where Bryngel L. Leland had already settled.
Arrival in Deerfield, Dane County, Wisconsin (Late June/Early July 1856)
After approximately 6-7 weeks of travel and 4,000 miles, the family arrived in Deerfield. Bryngel Leland welcomed them and gave them shelter. Sjur built a house on Section 25 that fall, and the family moved in before winter.
Tragically, their son Mathias died that fall at age 3, just months after surviving the entire journey. In September 1856, their daughter Ingeborg was born—the first of their children born in America.
Reflection on the Journey
The journey from Gjelle to Deerfield was more than geographic relocation—it was a complete transformation. Leaving behind family, language, culture, and everything familiar required remarkable courage. At ages 51 and 37, with three small children (and probably with Brita in early pregnancy), Sjur and Brita showed extraordinary determination.
The Hebe's exceptionally fast three-week crossing was fortunate, likely contributing to their survival and health. Many emigrants arrived sick or having lost family members to disease. The Leland family arrived intact and ready to begin their American adventure—part of the massive wave of Norwegian immigration that built communities throughout the Midwest.
==================================
3) The Google NotebookLM Video Overview of this story is below.
4) I have no easy way to double-check these responses from Claude. I don't have many book resources for these subjects and this locality, but there are published books available for this time period and general location. The family mentioned is my wife's ancestral family (Sjur and Brita are my wife's 2nd great-grandparents) and I have significant information about their records they left but little to no information about their day-to-day lives.
==============================================
Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.
Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver
The URL for this post is:
Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated, so they may not appear immediately.
Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment