In 1988, Ruth Tweeten Holtan, with the help of her son, Phil, collected the stories of the women in her family and published 6 small books, four of the family pedigree charts, and two of the stories of the women. The first volume was the story of her husband Stanford’s side of the family- the Holtan, Suby, Onstad, Thorvilson and Mandt families. The second volume covered her side of the family- the Tweeten, Dahlby, Hovland, Hoverud (Haavrud), Kittleson and Mandt families. You noticed the duplication of the Mandt families. Both Stanford Holtan and Ruth Tweeten were related to the Mandt family of West Telemark, Norway and were third cousins. So, as Ruth and then later Phil and other of his siblings and cousins explored their ancestries, they found many ways that the families intertwined, seldom closer than third cousins, because in Norwegian history that required the king’s permission. But it makes clear that these families have lived alongside each other forever.
Anyway, we present these stories and photos of the “Women Who Came,” and also now include an introduction from Ruth, the author and editor, and from her husband Stanford, who came along on the journey with her. We present these stories in memory of their importance in our lives. Phil Holtan
JOURNEYS…. THE WOMEN CAME, TOO. Introduction by Ruth Tweeten Holtan
JOURNEYS… that’s what this family book is all about.
Journeys made by many, many persons before us who created the circumstances to put the HOLTANS-THORVILSONS, TWEETENS, HOVLANDS, SUBYS-ONSTADS and DAHLBYS-HOVERUDS in Iowa by the 1900’s.
Twenty generations are recorded in this family history, but my generation has a first. I am writing this introduction as I wait in a McDonald-Douglas DC-9 airplane for a flight and a chance to child-care my grandchildren. It is a one hour and ten minute flight from Minneapolis to Detroit for me. It was 24 hours for Sadie and perhaps two weeks for Joran. How amazed they would be at this modern miracle of travel. They would be pleased that I used a word processor to write this, too.
Journeys…who made them…who stayed behind…adventures, disappointments, babies, deaths and second marriages creating the roots of our generation in the closing of this century.
Journeys… Who planned them?… Who went along?… Yes. usually the men planned and the women and children, and sometimes the old came along. Choices were often limited but they risked change, and often it was progress. Journeys…in agriculture. This is our legacy. The peasants of Telemark lived on the land for 1000 years and more. They were the survivors in a harsh and beautiful land. The forest, the lakes, the sheep and the cows were the way of life they knew.
Journeys…by foot, horse, cart, boat and immigrant ship brought all eight ancestral lines to America from Norway from 1847 to 1883. Journeys…from Mo, Nissedal, Holla, Kragero, and Lardal, all in Telemark; Faaberg in Gudbrandsdalen, Hol in Hallingdal, Gran in Hadeland and Aurdal in Valdres all converging in Iowa via Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Journeys…out of a caste system of land owners and cotters, primogeniture and overpopulation, plus an often oppressive church.
Journeys…of hope “for the children’s sake”.They came for bread to America’s shores. They faced the future, knowing the harsh past. Journeys…of loneliness, being widowed, and merging families to endure and survive on the land.
Journeys…with tears for no returns…hard choices…no turning back…no social security….only hope.
Journeys…in faith from earliest Catholic identities, evolving to be very strongly Lutheran, both in Norway and America, with a pietistic flavor.
Journeys…by God-fearing people with a tradition of inner confidence to solve each day’s problems today.
Journeys…to distant places to be pioneers,moving once, twice, three times, and always there were babies.
Journeys…to deliver babies on winter, prairie nights…hardy babies…the survivors of gen-erations which culled out the weak.
Journeys…to baptismal fonts, altars and cemeteries. This is the routine of every generation. The family and church is our life and always there is new life in the shadow of death.
Journeys…to North Dakota, Canada and New Mexico proved to be one way for some and round trips for others, who returned to keep their roots in Iowa.
Journeys…in search of opportunities to work, to earn, to provide, to prosper, to own the land…always the land.
Journeys...to educate, and to build schools, colleges, churches, communities and a higher quality of life.
Journeys…by ambitious people…who always wanted to do more …helping neighbors…sharing knowledge…seldom buying from the store.
Journeys…searching for new places, better land and trees and streams, wisely choosing for the future and for their sons and daughters.
Journeys…for more tomorrows…for generations yet unborn… for we are they, and they are us. Our genes are theirs and we remember all who passed them on to us.
Journeys…to a sickly neighbor, watching toddlers while they worked…learning family skills and music…thankful for their work..
Journeys…into pain and pleasure…for often there were wars and trains, taking them away from family….never to return again.
Journeys...home from wars and victory…home to wives and sweethearts, too. Always loyal,patriotic, there was a Confederate, too.
Journeys…to meet new relations… brides and grooms learning to know their in-laws, and bringing new connections, strength and beauty for the tribe.
Journeys…into generations yet unknown…journeys we can’t even imagine. They will master the computers and even newer tools of the future with sons and daughters by their sides.
Journeys…to a new tomorrow. Who will tell them that we care?… Who will teach them self-respect, and respect for past generations?…Who will tell them of the Father’s care?
Journeys…alway asking questions, seeking answers, and still asking more… This is us. This is our satisfaction… as it was our ancestor’s, and will be for many more.
Sigri Tarjeisdotter Mandt Nordgard
Margit Tarjeisdotter Nordgard Holtan