Hello clpetersen,
You are absolutely correct. Norway was a very poor country around 1900 when the emigration to North America was on the highest. About 800 000 people leaved to America from around 1800 to 1920. In 1900 the population was about 2.2 million so it was a large precentage. Most of them came from the rural areas. We can only imagine how hard the life was at that time, a brave choice travelling to another continent. Glad to read about your fathers sucess. Ulleval is a district in Oslo now, if it is the same.
I have relatives that emigrated, my mothers grandfather with brothers..We have some contact with family in Ohio. Its easier now with internett and all sorts of social media.
By the way Norway was a quite poor country further into 1900 and also after the world war II. We received much help from US named, Marshall aid. Most of the «western countries» in Europe did.
|