Emigration from Norway to America, in the period from 1825 to 1940, is a core part of our cultural history. Cleng Peerson, it started with, who’s been called father, and immigrants “Restaurationen” boat that sailed from Stavanger, Norway 4. July 1825 with 52 passengers on board. When they arrived at New York 14 weeks later they were 53. On the way across the Atlantic had Martha, the wife of skipper Lars Larsen Geilan, born a daughter who was nicknamed “The sloop baby”.
From 1825 until 1940, a total of 856.000 people emigrated to America. Of the 155,000 856.000 came back to their home country, many with both capital, expertise and networks that they invested and spent in the development of our society.
The exodus from Selbu to America began in 1857. From 1857 to 1900 the 2,300 people emigrated from Selbu and Tydal parishes. This accounted for 45% of the population in the Valley. In 1920 the 72 people lived in Selbu, which for shorter or longer time had lived in the United States. Christian p. Garberg who along with his wife Ingeborg Tomasdatter Garberg built their farm Granby, was one of the 72.
Christian p. Garberg (1870 ˆ 1928) was no. 1. seven of nine in a søskenrekke. Five of the nine emigrated to America and four of the once again moved back to Selbu. Christian living in the United States from 1891 to 1909, in a total of 18 years. The early years were Christian lumberjack in Washington State based in Silvana, one of the first Norwegian settlement areas in Snohomish County, North of Seattle.
In 1897, travelled to Alaska, where Christian worked in gold mining at Douglas Iceland for about 2 years.
In the fall of 1896, there was a huge find of gold in the Yukon Territory, Klondike, in Canada. The summer after, this was known in the United States in economic crisis, and people flocked to the new goldfields. In the winter of 1897/98 brought 20,000 people to the areas after the famous “international route” over the Chilkoot Pass. The trip went on foot from Dyea, Alaska to Yukon-Lakes, a stretch of about six miles, in Norwegian ulent terrain and with an inclination of approx. 1000 meters. From the Yukon-waters went carrying selvbygd boat for about 90 miles through the perilous rapids of Norway up to the gold fields at Dawson City. In order to be allowed to pass the border with Canada had to each person carry out rations and equipment equivalent to a year’s supply and accommodation. A load out of 800-1000 kg. per person.
In the winter of 1897/98 went three guys from Innbygda in Selbu across Chilikoot pass. Two of the brethren Christian p. Garberg, p. and Peder Andreas p. Garberg from Ustigarden Garberg and neighbor John Garberg from Oppistoggo Garberg.
In the fall of 1898, there was another large find of gold in America, this time in Nome, Alaska. This is the last great gold found in American history. The discovery was made by two Swedes and a Norwegian. They were called “The Three Lucky Swedes”. Norway was at that time governed by Sweden. Now large crowds flocked to the gold fields around Nome.
In the autumn of 1898 was Nome a deserted estuary by the Barents Sea. In the summer of 1900 was Alaska’s largest city in Nome with a population of about 20,000 inhabitants. The four “Garbergskarene” from Innbygda in Selbu is all part of the last great gold rush in u.s. history. Andreas left, already in the autumn of 1899, from Dawson City to Nome. He traveled by steamboat up the Yukonelven to the Barents Sea and again by boat to Nome. In the summer of 1900, during the big rush, got his brothers Peder and Kristen and neighbor John to Nome. Christian traveled from Seattle, Peder and John from Dawson.
John was a year in Nome, Andreas four years, seven years and Peder Christian nine years. John, Peder and Christian traveled from Nome and home to Selbu. Andreas traveled to Nevada and new find of gold.
In American history, there are several major find of gold.The first major discovery was in California in 1848 and the last one in Nome, Alaska, fifty years later, 1898. In the result of the various goldfields there were many Norwegians. Expatriates living in the Americas emigrated and Norwegians who traveled from Norway and out to the individual fields. Several of these returned to Norway with significant capital. Many, like Christian p. Garberg, invested their “gold money” in the structure of the agricultural business in the home country Other their “gold money invested” in the development of other business activities both at home and in America. The u.s. Gold findings and gold rushene gold fields is such a part of our cultural history and Granby Gård is again a part of the story.