Markus Hallvardson and Brita Sjursdatter Vangsness came to America in 1844 to the Luther Valley settlement and then to Bristol Township, Dane County, Wisconsin. Markus’s father, born in 1775 in Lidal,Norway was Hallvard Samuelson. He married Anna Markusdatter Dale in 1800. Hallvard’s father was Samuel Hallvardson Lunde and his mother was Gurid Andersdatter Valsvik. Samuel’s parents were Hallvard Person Biri and Sitrona Katarina Torgensdatter Vido. Brita’s parents (married in 1819) were Sjur Sjursen Vangsness (born 1798) and Inger Persdatter Mundal. They came to America in 1844 and settled near Spring Prairie, Wisconsin. They had five children, Including their daughter They left Vangsness for America and took Vangsness as their new name (now spelled Wangsness). Seven more children were born in America.One of these children was Halvor M. Wangsness, born 21 February 1849 in Dane County, Wisconsin. He married in 1873 to Inger Skotland, born 1850, daughter of Thore Skotland. Thore was one of the three Incorporators of Luther College, a member of the first Board of Trustees, and a member of the first Building Committee. Halvor and Inger moved with their nine children to Camano Island, Washington, in 1890. One of Halvor and Inger’s children was Markus Wangsness, born 14 April 1877. He married Ivy Gareldine Harrington in 1907. He was sheriff of Island County for four years and also worked for the Seattle Police. He attended Pacific Lutheran College.Markus Halvordson Vangsness’s first wife Brita died in 1860 and he remarried to Karen Nielsdatter. They had four children.