Larson
Karn
1824 – 1893
Stories
Karn’s parents are identified as Lars Øvre Engelien and Anne Marie Bjørnerudseie in the NN Hansen ancestry document. It’s not known why the NN Hansen ancestry information lists Anne Marie’s last name as Bjørnerudseie and her tombstone is inscribed with Nilsdatter.
Source: NN Hansen Ancestry from Ed Goplin (a descendant of Nels and Karn’s son Charles). It’s not clear who NN Hansen is referencing or if this is accurate for our ancestry. If this document is accurate then Nels Hanson is listed as Nils Føllingstad and Karn is listed as Karen Engelieie.
Karn immigrated to the US from Norway in 1849, on the same ship “Benedicte” as Nels Hanson and her sister Anne Fredrikke Engelieie. John Torgerson, who would marry Anne in 1849 in Richland Co, Wisconsin, also joined them on their journey to the US. It’s not clear when Anne Marie, Karn and Anne’s mother, immigrated to the US. We assume she did since her name is inscribed on the same tombstone as Karn’s. Nel’s sister Helene Hansdatter (daughter of Hans Larsen Føllingstadie and Gunhild/Gunild Jonsdatter) journeyed to the US in 1850 with her husband of three years Ole Olsen. Ole died in 1854, leaving Helene with one son. Helene then married John Torgerson in 1857 after Anne had died in 1857, 5 days after giving birth to their second son. What this means is Nels’ sister Helene married Karn’s widowed brother-in-law John.
Source: Interpreted from the “Descendants of Anne Fredrikke Engelieie” story.
Karn’s Name
The Norwegian naming conventions cause great difficulty in tracking people and verifying their actual name. Karn exemplifies this issue with her first and last names.
Karn’s tombstone is engraved with Karn, while some census records list her as Caroline. There are apparently references to her as Karen and Carrie. Karen may be a misinterpretation of Karn and Carrie could be short for Caroline.
We’ve captured Karn’s maiden name as Larson. More research is needed to confirm this surname since Larson implies son of Lars and the above stories imply she may have had a different name.
Karn Larson, from Sondre Land, Norway, was the daughter of Anne Marie Nilsdatter (as inscribed on her tombstone) and Lars Øvre Engelien.
Immigration
Per the story from the “Descendants of Anne Fredrikke Engelieie,” Karn immigrated in 1849 with her future husband Nels Hanson, her sister Helene, and Helene’s future husband John Torgerson.
Marriage
Karn married Nels Hanson in 1850 the year after they immigrated to the US. They had the following children:
- Hans Magnus ♥ [m: Inga Mary Anderson]
- Sophia (Nettie/Nellie)
- Lewis Gustavus (or reversed)
- Charles H.