Even Evenson was born in Telemark, Norway on July 10, 1856. In 1862 Even’s father and mother decided to migrate to the United States. The trip took eleven weeks and illness and hardship was on board the cumbersome sailing vessel. After sailing to Canada and traveling south to the United States, the family of seven arrived in Iowa County, Wisconsin. The trading center was Hollendale, Wisconsin. Even’s father died shortly after their arrival. The children needed to be farmed out to neighbors, as their mother could not care for them all by herself. After reaching manhood in 1886, Even traveled to Portland,
ND where his brother Tom had a farm. Even then traveled to a town located near a lake, Devils Lake and filed a Homestead patent on 160 acres. The claim was 6 miles east of town. He returned to Portland and married Ingeborg Nordskog, on April 18, 1887.
Ingeborg was born on January 10, 1865, in the county of Telemark, Norway in the town of Lunde. After being wed, Ingaborg and Even traveled to the 160 acres and built a sod house They had their first born son, Ted, the next year. Even sharpened plow shears and other blacksmith trades, besides raising wheat and flax, milked cows and raised chickens and pigs.
Ingeborg brought her sewing machine and sewed for others and also served as the area midwife. They built a 2 story house in 1890 and added an addition in 1907. They had another son, George, and two daughters, Marie and Ida. Even and Ingeborg were members of the Zion Lutheran Church, approximately 6 miles to east of the homestead. Even was a Lay minister and held church services when travel was a challenge for neighbors. Even and Ingeborg were followers of William Jennings Bryan and attended with their children, Bryan’s speech at Chautauqua at Lakewood.
Even and Ingeborg sold their homestead to their son George in 1917 and moved to Seattle, Washington. They bought a cottage on Puget Sound and lived there for 3 years before moving into Tacoma, Washington. They are buried in the old Tacoma Cemetery.
Their Great Grandson and Collin and his wife Beth Michel Evenson continue to live on the Evenson Homestead.
