Minnesota Territorial Pioneers
Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Project
The Minnesota Territorial Pioneers is an active organization of descendants of pioneers who lived in Minnesota Territory.
Minnesota celebrates its Sesquicentennial in 2008, and a group of organizations are sponsoring the Norwegian Statehood Pioneer project, which offers a plaque to descendants of Norwegian settlers who lived in Minnesota when it became a state in 1858.
Descendants of Amund Thorsen (Thor's grandfather) and Bjorn Gunderson (also known as Ben Benson, Gunil's father) lived in Minnesota in the 1850's. In addition, the NSPP is offering "century certificates" for descendants of those of Norwegian descent who lived in Minnesota prior to 1908. Thor, Gunil, Lina, and their oldest children are all qualified for this certificate.
Visit the MTP website for more information and a membership application for Minnesota Territorial Pioneers. Visit the NSPP website for an application for a Pioneer Plaque like the one shown above.
The following documents can be used as proofs for both (all are in pdf format):
| Amund Thorsen | Bjorn Gunderson | |||||||||
| Proof of Minnesota Residence prior to 1858 | ||||||||||
| 1857
Minnesota Territorial Census Houston County - Twp 104 Dwelling 51 Family 54 Click Here for document image |
1857 Land
Patent Accession/Serial# MN2300_.440 Fillmore County - Twp 104-N Click Here for document image |
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| Proof of Descent | ||||||||||
| Sissel as
Amund's Daughter The record of Mikkel & Sissel's marriage Kviteseid Churchbook 1836-1858 (1850) Telemark, Norway Click Here for document image ________ |
Gunil as Bjorn's daughter
The record of Gunild's baptism from the MN: Fillmore County Baptisms 1854-1883 database Click Here for the document image
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| Torger & Thor as
Sissel's Sons 1880 US Census Minnesota, Fillmore Cty, Norway Township Click Here for document image Kristi's Baptism Kviteseid Churchbook 1836-1858 Telemark, Norway Click Here for document image ________ |
Gunil as
Thor's wife Clarifies Gunil's many surnames Gunil & Thor's Marriage License
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Thor's Children Thor's obituary lists all of his children Thor Hegland Obituary McIntosh MN Times October 30, 1941 Page 1 Click Here for the document image
Torger's Children 1910 US Census Minnesota, Fillmore County, Norway Twp Click Here for document image
Kristi's Children 1900 US Census North Dakota, Barnes County, Thordesjold Twp Click Here for the document image
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Sophie & Allette as Gunil's Children Thor Hegland Obituary McIntosh MN Times October 30, 1941 Page 1 Click Here for the document image |
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Proofs for Thor's Grandchildren Click on the parent's name(s) below to view a document that can be used to prove relationship to their children.
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Proofs for Sophie & Alet's Children The 1930 Census can be used as proof of descent for both Sophie's and Allette's children. |
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Proofs for Successive Generations Proofs for successive generations may/may not be on the website. Copies of published obituaries, birth/death certificates, church and school records are acceptable proofs |
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