Thomas Torsteinson LAJORD

1842 - 1906  (64 years)

• Name	Thomas Torsteinson LAJORD
  Birth	26 Feb 1842	Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway
  Gender	Male
  Baptism	6 Mar 1842	Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway
  Death	7 Jul 1906	Washington, D.C.
  Notes	He is I6862 in Jim’s VS. Jim’s notes: Thomas was a teacher in Hamar in 1859. He emigrated in the spring of 1870, crossing the North Sea on the feeder ship Scotia and then crossed the Atlantic on the Anglia. He arrived in Northfield on 7 May 1870. He stayed in Goodhue County until September and then moved to Dakota County. Han var "skrivar" for senator Knute Nelson. De bodde i Minneapolis. De hadde barna: Ingeborg Marie, Clara (ugift) og Carie gift med guvernøren i Nord Dakota, Normann Brunsdale. I boka "Fever Saga" av Robert Lloyd Lee" om Opdalsslekten står det om Trond Helgesen Opdal: Berit was not only concerned about feeding and clothing the bodies of her children. She was an unusual woman for her day as her father had allowed her to learn to read and write. And now she wanted the same for her sons and daughters. She taught them as much as she could by herself. And then she was able to secure a travelling teacher named Tomas Lajord to come and spend a few weeks at the farm and serve as tutor. He was a bright and pleasant young man, and the children enjoyed having him in the home. It was not all work with him, either, unlike some teachers, for he took time to play with his pupils, too. Sometimes the antics of the younger ones even brought a smile to Berit's face. A special concern at this time was to prepare Trond for confirmation. Pastor Konow was a stern taskmaster, and it was his custom to come up from Vang and visit each farm where there were young people. Then he would examine them one by one, and all were required to know the answers from Pontoppidan's catechism by heart. Tomas drilled Trond with the questions and answers over and over. And the pastor was satisfied with the results when he visited the Opdal farm. "Trond is ready for confirmation." "Valdres Samband expanded its stevne to two days in 1903, arranging the gjestebø for the evening of Saturday, September 5, and then continuing with the regular open-air reunion the following day. Thomas Lajord was at this time removed from any position of influence in Samband, a shift in leadership due mainly to a developing antagonism between him and the other leaders of the society." From the History of Steele & Waseca Counties, 1887, cited in the Dalby Database: Thomas Lajord is a native of Norway, born February 26, 1842. He was educated for a teacher, and being a Lutheran, was confirmed at Hamarstiff in 1857, and that year attended school to complete his education for his life work as teacher. He began his career in his native land January 10, 1859, and followed teaching there until April 4, 1870, when he immigrated to America and landed at New York. Ten days after his arrival he came to Goodhue County, this State, and from there to Dakota County, where he occupied his time in teaching until 1875, when he came to this county and purchased forty acres of land on section 12, New Richland Township, where he still resides. He held the position of teacher and choir leader in the church here until 1885, when some of the members thinking that he was too outspoken in his manner in regard to his views as to the way Christian people should live, and dissensions creeping into the church, he resigned his stewardship. June 26, 1869, Thomas Lajord and Maren Kattvold were united in marriage, and they have been the parents of four children: Thorstein, born October 27, 1876; Ingeborg, June 6, 1879; Clara, July 8, 1882, and Hannah, March 3, 1887. Mrs. Lajord is a native of Norway, born December 24, 1850, and with her husband is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Lajord was the doorkeeper in the Legislature at the session of 1887. He is an upright Christian and a worthy citizen.
  Person ID	I23915	Don Carlson's Tree
  Last Modified	13 Oct 2016

  
  

  Father	Torstein Torsteinsen LAJORD,   b. 1800, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway d. 1845 (Age 45 years)
  Mother	Ingebjørg Thomasdatter NETRØST,   b. 1804, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway d. 1886, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway (Age 82 years)
  Family ID	F17010	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Maren Trondsdatter KATTEVOLD,   b. 24 Dec 1850, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway d. 12 Sep 1933, Hennepin County, Minnesota (Age 82 years)
  Marriage	26 Jun 1869	Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway
  Children	1. Carrie LAJORD,   b. 1 Apr 1890, Waseca County, Minnesota d. 1982 (Age 91 years)   2. Torsten LAJORD,   b. 24 Jun 1870, Minnesota d. 7 Nov 1870, Minnesota (Age 0 years)
  Family ID	F17011	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Oct 2016