Rollef Thorstensen Holte, also known as Rollef Tostensen and Rollef Torsteinsen, was born in February 18111 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway1. Rollef was the second child of Tosten (aka Torsten) Olsen Hegna Under Nedre and Kari Rollefsdatter Fladhaus.
Rollef was baptized on 10 Feb 18111 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway1, at that time the family was living at the Nordguto farm. His sponsors were Hans Jensen, Niels Rollevsen, Sidssel Moen, Gunilla Hansdatter and Kari Persdatter.
His older sister Elbier was born in 1806. She was born at Kari’s Fladhaus. Kari’s father worked the Fladhaus farm as well. By the time Rollef was born, however, Tosten and Kari’s family had moved to the Nordguto farm where all the remaining children were born. The Church Parish register confirms that he and his family were living at the Nordguto farm in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway4 in 1815.
After Rollef, the family expanded with Gunnil (1814), Ole (1817), Tollev (1820), Anne (1822) and Tollef in 1826 (the first Tollev must have passed away by this point). It is surprising that there were not more babies born between 1806 and 1811, but perhaps there were ones that did not survive.
In 1825, when Rollef was 13, he was confirmed5. As 13 was the youngest a parishioner could be confirmed, this perhaps indicates that his family was quite religious.
When Rollef was 35, on 24 September 1846, he married Liv Olsdatter Hagna, daughter of Ole Olsen Hagna and Ingeborg Johnsdatter Voltved, in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway3.
Rollef and Liv had nine children:
1. Torsten Rollefsen Holte, known as T.R., was born on 27 August 184610 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway10. He died on 11 Jul 1929 in Lac qui Parle, Minnesota, USA. He married Anne Hansdatter “Anne Torgersen” Haugen about 1880 in Lac qui Parle, Minnesota, USA.
2. Ole Rollefsen “Big Ole” Holte was born on 04 August 184911 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway11. He possibly died in 1908 (Beltrami).
3. Ingeborg Rollefsdatter Holte was born on 20 December 185112 in Telemark, Norway12 (Sauherad12). She died on 08 May 194213,14 in Clearwater, Minnesota, USA13,14 (Pine Lake; chronic myocardia with auricular fibrillation13,14). She married John Hansen Torgersen on 13 Jun 187815,16 in Lac qui Parle, Minnesota, USA15,16 (lic #A7807615,16).
4. Rollef Rollefsen Holte was born on 27 February 185417 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway17. He died on 01 May 1930 in Pine Lake, Clearwater, Minnesota, USA.
5. Kari Rollefsdatter Holte was born on 16 July 185618 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway18 (Holte18). She died on 14 Jan 1949 in Yellow Medicine, Minnesota, USA. She married Halvor Aslaksen Trovatten about 1880.
6. John Rollefsen “Jon” Holte was born on 23 August 185819 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway19 (Holte19). He died on 31 Mar 1947 in Clearwater, Minnesota, USA. He married Christine G Lucken in 1888.
7. Jens Rollefsen “James Robert” Holte was born on 04 February 186120 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway20 (Holte20). He died on 01 Dec 1941 in Bella Coola, British Columbia, Canada.
8. Tollef Rollefsen “Thomas” Holte was born on 18 February 186421 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway21 (Holte21). He died about 190022.
9. Ole Rollefsen “Little Ole” Holte was born on 26 May 186623 in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway23 (Holte23). He died on 06 Jan 1927 in Clearwater, Minnesota, USA.
The 1865 census indicates that Rollef lived in Sauherad, Telemark, Norway6 in 18656. At that time, he and Liv had Big Ole, Rollef, John, Jens, Tollef and Kari living with them. Rollef and Liv were well respected and admired in the community and prominent in the social and religious life of the community.24
In April 1875, the four oldest children, Tosten, Big Ole, Rollef and Ingeborg set off for America.25 At that time, Rollef and Liv, Jens, Tollef and little Ole were living on the Holte farm.7
Rollef and Liv decided to join their children and, together with John, Jens, Tollef, Little Ole and Kari, they emigrated from to America8 on 08 June 1880.8
Rollef lived with his son T.R24 in Lac qui Parle, Minnesota, USA, until he died on 21 December 18842 at the age of 73.. He was buried on 08 February 18852,9 in Lac qui Parle, Minnesota, USA2,9 at Our Saviours Lutheran Church of Baxter Cemetery2,9.
Link to Rollef Thorstensen Holte in Genealogy
1 Baptisms. Norway, Sauherad, Telemark. 10 February 1811. Tostensen Lovald, Rollef. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/7924/185 : accessed 14 April 2019.
2 Burials. United States, Our Saviour of Baxter, Montevideo, Chippewa, Minnesota. 8 February 1885. Holte, Rollef T. https://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 5 April 2019.
3 Marriages. Norway, Sauherad, Telemark. 24 September 1846. Thorstensen Holte, Rollef and Olsdatter Hagna, Liv. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/5982/273 : accessed 22 April 2021.
4 Church Parish Register. Norway, 1815. Nordguto, Sauherad, Telemark. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/7924/201 : accessed 23 April 2021.
5 Confirmations. Norway, Sauherad, Telemark. 1911. Tostensen, Rollef.https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/7928/39512/32 : accessed 23 April 2021.
6 Census, 1865. Norway. Sauherad, Telemark. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/38139/25 : accessed 31 March 2019.
7 Census, 1875. Norway. Holte, Sauherad, Telemark. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/view/52174/541 : accessed 7 May 2021.
8 Parish records. Norway, In and Out Migrated. Norway, Sauherad, Telemark. Holte, Ingeborg Rollefsdatter. 24 April 1875. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5984/184 : accessed 7 May 2021.
9 Monumental Inscriptions, United States. Section II Row H Number 5, Our Saviours Lutheran Church of Baxter Cemetery, Lac qui Parle, Minnesota. Holte, Rollef T. Her hviler i Fred Rollef T. Holte död 21 Dec. 1884, i ev Alder af 74 Aar go 11 maa’dr. Gud aabne os Dören lil Himlens Stad! Der nav nes de Kaarnes Navne. Gud lade os Alle der mödes glad Og ingen af Vore savne! Here rests in peace Rollef T Holte died 21 December 1884, at the age of 74 years and 11 months. God opens the door to the city of heaven. There are the names of the [blessed] God let us all who meet be happy and none of us missed. Transcription and translation: Ross, Kathleen 4 November 2020. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91384323/rollef-torstensen-holte : accessed 5 April 2019.
10 Baptisms. Norway, Sauherad, Telemark. 4 October 1846. Rollefsen, Torsten. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5982/122 : accessed 31 March 2019.
11 Baptisms. Norway, Sauherad, Telemark. 12 August 1849. Rollefsen, Ole. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5982/140 : accessed 31 March 2019.
12 Baptisms, Norway. Sauherad, Telemark. HolteT, Inegborg Rollefsdatter. 01 January 1852. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5983/7 : accessed April 2019
13 Deaths (CR) USA. Pine Lake, Clearwater, Minnesota. 8 May 1942. TORGETSON, Ingeborg. No. 2829.
14 Monumental Inscriptions. USA. Silver Creek, Clearbrook, Clearwater, Minnesota. 27 November 1926. Torgerson, Ingeborg. https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2010/110/51450907_127190893990.jpg : accessed April 2019.
15 Census. 1900. USA. Baxter, Lac qui Parle, Minnesota. http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed April 2019.
16 Marriages (CR) United States, Lac Qui Parle, Minnesota. 13 June 1878. Haugen, John H. and Holte, Ingebor R.
17 Baptisms. Norway, Sauherad, Telemark. 26 March 1854. Rollefsen, Rollef. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5983/20 : accessed 31 March 2019.
18 Baptisms. Norway, Holte, Sauherad, Telemark. 20 July 1856. Rollefsdatter, Kari. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5983/34 : accessed 31 March 2019.
19 Baptisms. Norway, Holte, Sauherad, Telemark. 29 August 1858. Rollefsen, John. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5983/48 : accessed 31 March 2019.
20 Baptisms. Norway, Kirken (the church) Sauherad, Telemark. 16 June 1861. Rollefsen, Jens. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5983/65 : accessed 31 March 2019.
21 Baptisms. Norway, Kirken (the church), Sauherad, Telemark. 24 July 1864. Rollefsen, Tollef. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5983/81 : accessed 31 March 2019.
22 Monumental Inscriptions, United States. Silver Creek Cemetery, Clearbrook, Clearwater, Minnesota. 1900. Holt, Thomas R. Thomas R. Holte 1864 – 1900. Transcription: Ross, Kathleen 4 November 2020. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17977779 : accessed 5 April 2019.
23 Baptisms. Norway, Holte, Sauherad, Telemark. 7 October 1866. Rollefsen, Ole. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5983/93 : accessed 31 March 2019.
24 Moyer, L.R. and Dale, O.G. (1981) History of Chippewa and Lac Qui Parle counties, Minnesota: their people, industries and institutions. Volume 2. Minneapolis, Minnesota : A.L. Finnell. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/30204-history-of-chippewa-and-lac-qui-parle-counties-minnesota-their-people-industries-and-institutions-v-2?viewer=1&offset=0#page=574&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q= : accessed 9 June 2021.
25Parish records: In and Out Migrated. Norway, Sauherad, Telemark. HOLTE, Ingeborg Rollefsdatter. 24 April 1875. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/5984/176: accessed April 2019.
