Even was, according to G. Naeseth’s papers,
born Aug 15, 1897. He was
probably born in Lunde annex of Bø parish in Telemark, as he is found there in
the 1801-census, living with his family on the farm Jamdal. His father was Hans Vetlesen, a farmer, age 43 and
married to Taran Haraldsdatter, age
39. Even had several siblings: Kari, age 14, Vetle, age 11, Mari, age 9,
Harald, age 8 and Anund, age 1.
Even married Gunhild Haraldsdatter,
who was born ca 1798. She is also found in the 1801-census for Lunde annex. She
lived on the farm Hantov, and parents were: Harald Halvorsen, age 40, farmer, and Groe Olsdatter, age 45. Groe had been married once before. Gunhild
had the following siblings: Even, age 12 and Dorthe, age 10.
Even and Gunhild are found listed as moving to Gjerpen in Gjerpen churchbook’s
“in-migrants”, dated Nov 12, 1837. They listed their farm in Lunde as Bjerva. They had
the following children born before they came to Gjerpen:
1. Harald,
b. June
24, 1824. He is found married
Dec
10, 1847 to Karen Gurine
Eriksdatter. He died March 20, 1907. Karen Gurine was the daughter of Erik Helgesen, who also emigrated in 1849. Harald and
Karen Gurine had a daughter, Gunhild Annette, born in Gjerpen on Aug 14, 1848..They emigrated in 1849.
2. Aaste, b. 1827. Emigrated with
her parents. Married June 14, 1854 Andreas Ingebretsen
Bratsbergklev from Skien, who also emigrated in 1849.
3. Mari, b. 1829. Emigrated with her
parents.
4. Erik, b. July 2, 1832. Died Sep 16, 1886. Buried West Koshkonong Lutheran Cemetery. He served in the Civil War with the 47th
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company I. He married Kjerstine Andrea
Jørgensdatter (b. 1843, d. 1937), who was a daughter of Jørgen A. Nilsen Vipeto
and Karen Kjerstine Hansdatter. They had emigrated in 1852 from Holla parish in
Telemark. They had at least 3 children: a: Clara, b. 1864, d. 1892, b: Gina, b.
1868, d. 1868, c: Edwin, b. 1875, d. 1900.
5. Halvor, b. 1835. Emigrated with
his parents. He was living according to the US census of 1860.
6. Ole, b. Aug 11, 1838 at Gulset. He died March 18, 1910 and is buried in the West Koshkonong Lutheran
cemetery. He married Ingeborg, who was born Dec 27, 1842 and died March 23, 1919. They had at least 2 children: a: Lovine, b. May 30, 1861, d: Sep 22, 1898, b: Gina Marie, b. Oct 18, 1863, d. Jan 27, 1882.
According to information from David
Johnson of Olympia, Washington, the family of Even and Gunhild (exceot for the
oldest son and his wife) split from the rest of their group and were found in the 1850 census living in Palmyra township in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. They most likely were living in a Norwegian
settlement there called Skoponong. The two oldest sons, halvor and erik, are
not living with the rest of the family in the 1850 census, but the other three
children (Aaste, Marie and Ole) were. There were two young men in the 1850
census in Waukesha County who appear to have been these two older brothers, and
they are listed as laborers and living alone, one in Genese Township and the other in Ottawa Township. But in 1860, those two older sons were living back
in the parent’s household in Palmyra Township. Halvor was now using the first name of Oliver. The
indication is that the children all adopted the father’s patronymic name
of Erikson in America.
Even Eriksen Gulset died Sep 11, 1876. His wife Gunhild died half a year later on March 22, 1877. They are both buried in West Koshkonong Lutheran Cemetery.