ARNTZEN
BIOGRAPHY
Contributed by: Dennis P. Arntzen
ANDREAS Arnesen and Sarah Kristoffer gra Larsen are the first generation of this Norwegian/American family. Andreas' parents were Arne Henriksen (Born 9 July 1816 at Rakkestad, Ostfold County) and Inger Andersdatter. Arne also had a sister Andrine (Born 1 March 1818). Their parents were Henrik and Maria Frideriksen. The family's occupations were farming and fishing at the Lofoten Islands.
NORWAY is so mountainous and heavily forested that only 4% of its area is cultivated. The average farm is only nine and a half acres. Yet, agriculture is the country's leading occupation. Many farmers, who were either tenants or did not own enough land to support their families, became fishermen or lumbermen in the winter months. Others made tools, harness, shoes, furniture, and objects carved from wood or fashioned from wrought iron. Women spun, weaved, dyed tapestries, and excelled in embroidery and knitting. (Source: Axel H. Oxholm, 'Country Life in Norway.' The National Geographic Magazine. April, 1939.)
THE over population of Norway and the limited opportunities of land ownership and employment were the main factors that led to Andreas' decision to emigrate. In the 1890s, the United States placed quotas on the number of Europeans that could immigrate to the country. But there were no restrictions placed on Canadian immigration. Because of this loophole, the steamship companies offered passage to the United States via Canada. The condition was that the US bound immigrants had to reside in Canada for five years.
IN 1893, Andreas and his family left Norway for Fort Williams (Thunderbay), Ontario, Canada. During their stay there, the older family members earned an income as farm hands within the present Finnish communities. The younger children also supplemented their family's income by taking on odd jobs that were available there.
IN 1898, the family left Canada for the United States. They entered Washington state through the Sumas border crossing. The reason they chose the state was that a lot of publications of the time portrayed Washington's landscape as 'Old Norway.' But the difference between them was the state's unlimited opportunities as compared to Norway.
WHEN they first entered Canada or when they passed through US customs, Andreas' pronounced his surname with his nordic accent and immigration registered his entry as Arntzen. As a result, this family's current surname is a misspelling of Arnesen. They proceeded onto and resided in Fairhaven, which is now part of Bellingham, Whatcom County. The rest of the family story will be told through the individual members of this family and their decendants.
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