Ingebrigt Knutsen was born on June 10, 1823 on the Horvei farm located in Evanger Sogn, Voss Prestigjeld, Sondre Bergenshus Amt (now Hordaland county), Norway. His parents were Knut Jacobsen and Ragnhild Ingebrigtsdatter.

Iver E. Knutson taken in early 1880

Ingebrigt had an older brother, Jacob Knutsen, and an older sister, Maritha Knutsdatter, and two younger brothers and two younger sisters – Karen Knutsdatter, Simon Knutsen, Gjertrude Knutsdatter and Lars Knutsen. Ingebrigt was baptized on August 3, 1823 at Voss parish. He grew up on the Horvei farm. Ingebrigt’s first name was often spelled as Engebrigt.

Ingebrigt Knutsen married Karen Iversdatter on October 10, 1844 at the Vike farm in Evanger Sogn, Voss Prestigjeld, Sondre Bergeshus Amt (now Hordaland county), Norway. They became the parents of four sons – Knut Engebrigtsen, Iver Engebrigtsen, Nels Engebrigtsen, Jacob Engebrigtsen and one daughter, Ellia Ragnhilda, who was the first white child born in Cedar

The trunk used by Ingebrigt Knutson and his family during their trip from Norway to America. It can be found at the Mitchell County Historical Museum in Osage, Iowa

township, Mitchell county, Iowa, and who later changed her name to Ellen Ragnhild Knutson.

Karen Iversdatter was born on December 14, 1808 on the Aure farm located in Evanger Sogn, Voss Prestigjeld, Sondre Bergenshus Amt (now Hordaland county), Norway. Her parents were Ivar Styrksen Fjosse and Eli Gudleiksdatter Vike. Karen was baptized on December 18, 1808 at the Voss parish. She had one older brother, Sjur Iversen, and four younger brothers – Styrk Iversen, Gudleik Iversen, Nels Iversen, and Knut Iversen. Karen was also known as Kari Ivarsdatter. She grew up on the Aure farm.

Ingebrigt and Kari lived on the Vike farm for eight years and it was on this farm that their four sons were born. Hearing accounts of America from relatives whom had immigrated a couple of years earlier, Ingebrigt and Kari decided to make the journey in hopes of a better life. On May 15, 1852, the family, Ingebrigt, age 29; Karen, age 44; and sons – Knud, age 8; Ivar, age 6; Nels, age 3; and Jacob, 4 weeks, left Voss parish for America. They settled first in Spring Prairie, Walworth county, Wisconsin where it is believed some of Kari’s relatives had settled. They lived at Spring Prairie for two years. Upon hearing of the accounts of St. Ansgar, Iowa, established by Rev. Claus Clausen, Ingebrigt and Kari decided to move to

Knut E. or Jacob E. Knutson taken in early 1880s

the St. Ansgar area. The First Lutheran church records in St. Ansgar show the family joining the congregation on June 20, 1854 (Ingebrigt K. Viken, age 31; Kari Iversdtr., age 46; Knud, age 9; Iver, age 7; Niels, age 7; and Jacob, age 2 ½). It is important to note that Ingebrigt and Kari used the Vike surname when they first arrived in America. They continued to use this surname and other spelling variants (Vik and Viken) until establishing themselves in Mitchell county, Iowa.

In an account written by Rev. Stanley Klemesrud, titled – “A History of My Norwegian Ancestry” which is on file at St. Olaf’s College in Northfield, Minnesota, the journey must have been exciting by Ingebrigt and Kari’s children, but I’d expect the parents thought the journey was long and arduous. Rev. Klemesrud was a grandson of Ingebrigt and Kari Knutson’s daughter, Ellen Shoger-Dahley, so the following comes from accounts of his grandma and most likely her brother, Iver. “The tall waving grass of the prairie stretched out before the eye toward the horizon, but here by the Big Cedar River, the wide expanse of prairie is broken by the forest of trees which lines the banks of the river. If one looks closely, he can make out the form of an Indian looking out over the prairie from behind a tree near the wood’s edge. What is the Indian looking at? There, coming slowly towards us is a group of wagons, some of them covered wagons, drawn by oxen or horses. Yes, this is still another group of immigrants who are

Ellen R. Knutson Mrs. John F. Shoger

nearing St. Ansgar, which was founded last year by Pastor Clausen and the group he brought with him which made up a train of 40 wagons. There are not many Indians here, but still they spy on these white men and their strange ways. In the group which this Indian was watching was Ingebrigt and Kari Knutson and their four children who had come to this country in 1852.”

There is mention in the book titled – “The History of Mitchell and Worth Counties Iowa – 1884” which states in the section for Cedar township that “Ingerbert Knutson, a native of Norway, came in 1854, settling on section 20, of township 98, range 17. The family were still residents of Mitchell

Ida (Hardman), Pearl, Jacob Winifred, Jacob E. Knudson

county in 1883.” The 1911 Mitchell County Atlas states that Ellen R. Knutson was the first white girl born in Cedar township. Family accounts mention that before Ingebrigt could build a log cabin, a daughter was born and they named her Eli Ragnhilda Knutson whom later became Mrs. John F. Shoger.

On January 28, 1856, Ingebrigt purchased 80 acres of land on section 1 in Rock township and 5 acres of land on section 35 of Newburg township (all in Mitchell county, Iowa) from Gilbert Gilbertson for $240 (dollars). Ingebrigt was a successful farmer and eventually his farm in Rock township (section 1) totaled 240 acres of land. The Cedar River flows through the northeast section of the farm. Ingebrigt and Kari were active members of the St. Ansgar Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church (now known as First Lutheran Church).

According to Mitchell county land records, it appears that Ingebrigt and Kari sold their farm to their oldest son, Knut E. Knutson, filed on January 2, 1865. The land record speaks volumes and gives detail in the life of the family.

The record is transcribed as follows –

“Know to all men by these presents that I, Knud Knudsen, of Mitchell County, Iowa, having this day purchased of my parents, Engebrigt Knudsen and Kari Knudsen, his wife, the north half of the south west quarter and the south half of the north west quarter and the south west fourth of the north east quarter of section number one (1) in Township number ninety eight (98) north of range number eighteen (18) west of the 5th Principal M. situated in Mitchell county Iowa and also certain personal property, the consideration to be paid by me, for said described lands and the property unto my said parents, Engebrigt Knudsen and Kari Knudsen.

I do hereby agree and bind myself, my heirs, and assigns to maintain and support my said parents during their lives until death and for that purpose to provide and furnish them a good and comfortable dwelling on the above described premises and keep the same in repair. Also the necessary fire wood, winter and summer, and the necessary clothing and bedding, substantial and suitable, for their use and condition. Also to keep for them in good condition, winter and summer, two cows, three ewes and one buck sheep, which cows and sheep together with the produce and increases from them, shall belong to my said parents and be at their free disposal provided that for the keeping over winter of such increase (calfs and lambs), they must themselves provide.

And I do further agree to furnish my said parents annually on or before the first day of January on each year toward their subsistence and support the following articles vis: thirty bushels of good wheat, one hundred and twenty five pounds of pork, seventy five pounds of beef, twelve pounds of coffee, twelve pounds of sugar, three gallons of syrup, six pounds of chewing tobacco, candles and oil what they may need, two pounds of rice, all said articles to be good quality and I also agree to furnish in a convenient place near to the dwelling houses on said premises, one and a half acres of good enclosed and cultivated ground for the free use as a garden for my said parents and for their exclusive benefit, also to furnish them team and conveyance to go to mill and to meeting and in case of the death of either of the said Engebrigt or Kari the survivor shall be entitled to receive two thirds of each and all the articles furnished annually as above mentioned. And to prevent all misunderstanding in regard to the personal property sold to me by my said parents.

It is clearly understood that they my parents excepted and reserved from such sale, the following articles now in their possession and to which property I have no claim to wit: one ax, one hoe, one copper kettle, one hay fork, one shot gun, and all the bed clothes for two beds and it is also understood and I hereby agree to furnish my said with all proper and necessary house keeping and kitchen furniture and utensils and in case of their sickness and in their old age to give them all proper care and attendance and upon their decease a Christian like burial. And I, the said Knud E. Knudsen, intend and I hereby agree to make the above allowances and contributions and change and lien upon all the above described lands this day conveyed to me by my said parents Engebrigt and Kari Knudsen. Witness my hand this twenty eight day of November A.D. 1864, signed K.E. Knudsen (in the presence of C.L. Clausen).”

It appears the farm changed ownership between the sons with Knut selling to Nels and Nels selling to Iver over the next fifteen years. Eventually, the farm was owned by Iver E. Knutson and his family until 1908, when they rented out the farm and later sold it, since they had moved into Osage to live.

Ingebrigt passed away on October 23, 1880 at 57 years of age. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery located three miles south of St. Ansgar on section 36 of Newburg township. Kari continued to live on the farm with her son, Iver, and his wife, Anna, and their daughter, Charlotte until her death on March 8, 1900. According to the Mitchell County Press News, “Mrs Knudson, an old resident of Rock, died at the home of her son, Iver Knudson, last Saturday, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. She had been blind for several years.” Kari was laid to rest next to her husband at Riverview cemetery, south of St. Ansgar. It is of interest that the Knutson children put up tall gray head stone listing both Ingebrigt and Kari’s birth and death dates, next to Ingebrigt’s original white marble grave stone – a true testament of the love the Knutson children had for their parents.

The Knutson spelling was changed to Knudson which is the common spelling of the descendants of Ingebrigt and Kari Knutson. Knut E. Knutson married Anna Dahley. Iver E. Knutson married Anna Seim. Nels E. Knudson married Ellen Iverson. Jacob E. Knudson married Ida Hardman and later married Emma Herbster. Ellen R. Knutson married John F. Shoger and later Ole I. Dahley. It is interesting to note that Knut E.Knutson's wife, Anna, was a sister to Ole I. Dahley and Iver E. Knutson’s wife, Anna, was a first cousin to Ole I. Dahley and his sister, Anna.