Hans Gabriel Rasmussen, my great-grandfather, was born 150 years ago today in Stavanger, Norway (9 Jan 1863). In celebration and remembrance, here are some highlights of his life:
He was christened April 19, 1863, at the Domkirken (Cathedral) in Stavanger, the son of Hans Rasmussen and Ane Gurine Gaudesdatter.
His siblings were: Rasmus (1850-1869), Serine (1853-1931), Anne Marie (1856-1866), Olava (1859-1923) and Andreas (1866-1866).
His father was the captain of the brig, "Favoriten". He and his son, Rasmus, died when "Favoriten" was wrecked in a storm off the island of Løno (west of Bergen) 10 days after Hans Gabriel's 6th birthday, January 19, 1869.
His mother died when Hans was only 14 years old. It was said she never recovered from the loss of her husband and son.
He enlisted as a seaman May 28, 1883, and was discharged December 17, 1884, having sailed on the "Saga" on a voyage to Galveston, TX, (according to the Seamen's List of Stavanger). He arrived in the US Jun 16, 1884, and became a naturalized citizen in 1892 (according to his passport application of 1921). There are two stories about how he came to the US. One cousin says she heard that he was in Chicago and sent money to Alberthine Wesnes and her father, Johannes, so they could join him there. Grandma-the-Great said Alberthine and Johannes had moved to Chicago and when Hans G. found out where they were he "jumped ship in Key West" and made his way to them. There is more evidence for the second version. Alberthine and Johannes arrived in 1882 and Hans in 1884. There is no record of him on any passenger list. It is more likely he was a member of a ship's crew.
Hans and Alberthine Wesnes were married in Chicago on August 3, 1886. Their children were: Anna Gunhilda (1887-1968), Karen "Carrie" Helene (1889-1977), Mimmer (1891-1894), Jennie Marie (1893-1933), Harry (1895-1974), Albert Carsten (1898-1975) and George William (1900-1902) born in Chicago and Irene Olive (1902-1973) and Mildred Elaine (1905-1986) born in Madison.
He was widowed in 1907 and parented his young children with the help of his older daughters moving from Madison to Black Earth and then Mazomanie. He was a painter and worked at the University of Wisconsin.
In 1921 he applied for a passport to return to Norway for a summer-long visit to his sisters and nieces. On his passport he is described as 5ft, 6 inches tall with grey hair, blue eyes, a fair complexion, square chin and a prominent, turned up nose.
He died in Mazomanie, WI, on November 2, 1926, and is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, WI, with Alberthine and infant son, George William.
