Grave marker is a bit of the old country

By CARLOS VILLATORO
Register Staff Writer

The year was 1825. 18-year-old Jacob Anderson had left his small farm in Norway as part of the first organized mass migration from the Scandinavian country to the United States. Anderson, who changed his last name from Slogvik after arriving at his destination, never returned to that farm.

But on Saturday at the Tulocay Cemetery, where Anderson rests alongside his wife, Serena Madland Anderson, a piece of that farm made its way back to him.

The unveiling of a 9-foot stone monument at the cemetery, commemorating Anderson's historic journey, attracted dozens of Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans who gathered first at Fairview Park for a little meeting, greeting and swapping of Norwegian lore, and then at the cemetery.

It was Trinity County resident Keith Wheeler, Jacob Anderson's great-great grandson, who came up with the idea to transport the Viking monument stone that once rested on the pioneer's farm.

"It's a nice little idea that turned (into a) huge (one)," Wheeler said with a smile.

Wheeler's fascination with his lineage began while he was recovering from a heart attack. He said he needed a hobby to help him pass the time.

After months of researching the topic he discovered that he was Jacob Anderson's descendent. From there his interest skyrocketed, taking him to Norway and to the old Slogvik farm, now occupied by Einar and Rotraud Slogvik.

"They are close friends," Wheeler said, adding that they helped bring the stone to the United States.

Many others assisted Wheeler in bringing the monument stone to this country, including the Napa County Historical Society, the Norwegian government, various chapters of the Sons of Norway, the staff at Turlock Marble & Granite Works in Turlock and others.

"It's Norway's gift to the United States," said Ingvar Froyland, cultural officer from Tysvaer, Norway, where the farm is located. "It brings Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans together."

Froyland said the cost of transporting the stone to the United States was $800. The stone arrived in California last October and Turlock Marble & Granite Works agreed to carve it into a monument worthy of the pioneers.

"Monetary value on a historical theme like this is pretty (large)," said Ira Kessey, sculptor at Turlock Marble & Granite Works.

Kessey's partner, Stewart Saugstad, said that it was a pleasure to be part of this project.

"I have a kindred spirit with these people," he said. "For us this is a holiday."

Both men are of Norwegian heritage and many of their countrymen and countrywomen came from as far away as Florida, Canada and Norway to be part of the unveiling.

"It's a tribute to those people that came and formed the country," said Luella Stuart, who came to Napa from Canada to be part of the unveiling.

Stuart said that she has a special interest in the monument because she can trace her roots to Serena Anderson's family. Serena Anderson sailed on the Restoration along with Jacob, who she married years later.

Wheeler said that the voyage of the sloop Restoration, which began on July 4, 1825, was the first organized immigration from Norway to the United States and is an event that is taught to Norwegian children at schools across Norway. The Andersons were among 50 or more Quakers and Quaker sympathizers who left Norway, which was predominately Lutheran at the time, to experience religious freedom in the U.S.

Hans Storhaug, director of Norwegian-American Immigration Center in Stavenger, Norway, said that although the Restoration voyage was the first organized immigration to the United States, Kleng Peerson was the "true father" of immigration in Norway. Peerson was sent to the United States to scout it out, years before the Restoration made its voyage, according to Storhaug.

"He returned and reported favorably (about the United States)," Storhaug said, adding that Peerson's reports prompted many Norwegians to make the journey to the United States.

Wheeler added that many people left Norway because of the economy. The first son in an Norwegian family always inherited the farm or land, so the second son or daughter was left with nothing. They had to find better opportunities, he said.

Other tidbits of Norwegian information floated around the gathering.

"Did you know that Norway is the No. 8 supplier of oil to the United States?" said Jerry Bragstad, of the Eureka chapter of the Sons of Norway. "It's history."

Zinc from Norway is used in American coins and ships internationally, said Knut Hildal, who traveled from Norway to be a part of the celebration and works at a zinc plant in his home country.

"(Norwegian-Americans) like to call the Restoration the Norwegian Mayflower,"

he said. "I think that it's a good expression."

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