An Emigrant with Faith in His Own Abilities and Opportunities
Halvor Johannessen had shown a remarkable ability to improve his social standing and relocate successfully while living in Norway. From being a young orphan with no possessions, he worked his way up to become a respected farmer and head of household, holding several important community roles. Confident in his own abilities, he made the bold decision to take his family to America—believing it might offer even greater opportunities.
In the spring of 1850, Halvor, his wife Ingeborg, and their large family boarded the ship Ebenezer. Their destination was New York, with plans to continue inland from there. In a newspaper interview shortly before departure, Halvor was described as “a testament to what diligence and hard work can achieve.”
You can read more about Halvor and his family, as well as the preparations they made for the journey, in the online exhibition: Halvor Johannessen – The Orphan Who Became a Family Man and Emigrated to America with His Wife and Children