My story begins on July 6, 1884 when I was born to Anton and Annette Olsen in Christiania, Norway.

My mother's maiden name was Gundersen. She was born at Odegaarden, Skiptvet on July 20, 1851, and her parents were Gunder Halvorsen and Anne Sophie Ingebretsen. My father Anton Olsen was born at Valnes, Skiptvet on November 29, 1848. His parents were Ole Jacobsen and Berthe Fredriksen.

I came from a family of 8 children. In Skiptvet, on July 6, 1870 my parent's first born, and my oldest brother, Ole was born. We shared the same birthday. My parents got married shortly after in Skiptvet Church on October 27, 1870. Two years later, also in Skiptvet, my next brother Gunder was born on August 26, 1873.In January of 1875, my parents with my two brothers, moved from Skiptvet to Christiania. The following year in 1876, my next brother Nils was born. His birthdate was February 25, 1876. The first girl born into our family, came on March 2, 1878. Her name was Karen. On May 21, 1882 I got another brother named Jacob, who was known as "Jack". I came next on July 6, 1884. A few more years passed and my Mom had another girl named Bertha. She was suppose to have twins, but one died at birth, which was to have been a boy. Bertha was born on December 24, 1887. The last baby born into the family was another girl named Inga. She was born on June 10, 1890.

Soon afterwards tragedy struck the family. When baby Inga was only about 3 months old, my mother was struck with appendicitis. It wasn't caught in time, and she died in hospital on September 21, 1890 of peritonitis.She was buried on September 26. Mom was only 39 years old when she died. I was just six years old at the time of her death.

Anna's Story