Hans and Silla HENDRICKSON

Hans Ørbech HENDRICKSON was born 26 Nov 1815 in Lærdal, Nodre Bergenhus (now Sogn og Fjordane), Norway to Heinrich HANSEN and Anna OLSDATTER. A month later on 26 Dec, he was baptized in Lærdal.

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Hans's wife Sila BÅRDSDATTER was born 6 Sep 1827 in Lærdal, Nordre Bergenhus, Norway to Bår HOLVERSON and Synneve HALVORSDATTER. She was baptized in Lærdal on 16 Sep 1827.

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I don't yet know when they were married. I'm guessing it was before they immigrated to the US though since they made the journey together. I just haven't yet found their marriage record.  In 1850, they boarded the Ørnen on their journey to their new home. They arrived in New York on 15 Jul 1850, then were in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, Iowa by the birth of their first child in 1853.

The couple had 8 children: Anna born 3 Mar 1853, Synevva (21 Aug 1855), Henrik* (2 Jan 1858), Birthe Helen (1 Nov 1859), Henrik "Henry" (10 Aug 1862), John Martin (25 Dec 1864), Benjamin Olivius (20 May 1868), and Helmer (5 Dec 1872).

Hans died 6 Oct 1890 at the age of 74 and is buried in the Glenwood Lutheran church's cemetery. Sila lived for a few more years before dying at 76 on 1 Aug 1904. She is buried in the same cemetery as her husband.

I have found the couple on the following censuses:

• 1860 US Census, page 195, Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, Iowa
• 1870 US Census, page 10, Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, Iowa
• 1880 US Census, page 16, Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, Iowa

* Their first son, the Henrik born in 1858, must have died in either 1858 or 1859. Possibly early 1860 also as he's not listed in the 1860 census.