Skip to main content

Guide to the Gulbrandsen-Thronson Saga

 Collection
Identifier: OPVSIEmss_284

Scope and Contents

This collection contains one large book on the history of the Gulbrandsen-Thronson family spanning the years 1765-2010, which was compiled and published by Glorya and Tom Neitzel in 2011. The book contains genealogical charts and photographs, and the biographical narratives are supplemented with the diaries, personal accounts, and memoirs of members of the Gulbrandsen-Thronson family. The book has a total of 16 chapters, and each chapter has its own table of contents. The collection also contains a CD, which contains all the files in PDF form.

Dates

  • 2011

Biographical / Historical

The Gulbrandsen-Thronson family originates from Norway, in the rural areas between Oslo and the border of Sweden. The earliest known ancestor of the Gulbrandsen-Thronsons was Ole Ericksen Roren, born 1765 in Byg, Norway. The family acquired the name of Thronson from his grandson, Tron Andersen Roren. Tron’s youngest son, Anders Trondsen (Andrew Thronson), married Elen Sophie Gulbrandsdatter and had a son, Thron Andersen (Thomas Thronson). Between the years 1875 and 1879, they had four children: Hilda Marie, Gustav, Marie, and Gustava, who did not survive more than a few months after their respective births. In 1881, however, Sophie gave birth to Axel Thronson, who survived to adulthood. When Axel was one year old, Andrew immigrated to the United States to look for work, first finding employment with the Omaha Railroad, and later Wisconsin Central in Sand Creek, Wisconsin. In the year 1883, Andrew sent for his family, and in the following years, he and Sophie had two daughters, Agnes and Hilda Marie, and two sons, Maurice and George Conrad. In 1893 the family moved to Hallie, near Chippewa Falls and built the Thronson family farmhouse on 160 acres of land. Their daughters Elvira and Mabel were born in 1894 and 1896, respectively. Tom Thronson married Gunda Hanson in 1902 and they moved to Tacoma, Washington a week later. Axel married Dora Johnson in 1914. They made their home in Chicago, Illinois, and had five children. Hilda Marie married Borger Hanson on November 30, 1907. They settled in Lake Hallie, Wisconsin and had seven children, six of which survived to adulthood. In 1909, Agnes Sophie married John Brekke and had four children in their home at Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Maurice was married three times, first to Ethel Masterson, second to Victoria, and finally to Laura Seymour. He left no descendants, but he and Laura settled in Milwaukee, Minnesota. George Conrad (Connie) married Anna Tauger in 1919 and had two children, and after living at the Lake Hallie farm, moved to Chippewa Falls, where Connie served as County Sheriff. Elvira married Al Johnson in 1923 and had two children. They lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Mabel Victoria married Harold Burlingham in 1918. They had two sons and made their home in Bruce, Wisconsin.

Extent

3.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

A collection of stories, diaries, and personal accounts compiled into a single book on the history of the Gulbrandsen-Thronson family.

Title
Guide to the Gulbrandsen-Thronson Saga
Author
Kerstin Ringdahl and Solveig Roervik
Date
2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection Repository

Contact:
Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library
Pacific Lutheran University
12180 Park Avenue South
Tacoma Washington 98447 United States