MORE THAN A MONUMENT

It is a real pleasure to be here in the shadow of the Sierra-Nevada Mountains. I have always loved mountains. I believe I have inherited this love from my ancestors who were mountain people from Tinn, Telemark, Norway. Many of us have come long distances to honor "Snowshoe" Thompson, a mountain man from Tinn, Telemark and a legend of the old west.

In 1907, Norwegian-Americans of the American Midwest came together to form an organization called Telelaget. For many years, Torkel Oftelie of Fergus Falls, Minnesota was the guiding force of this organization. His slogan was "we must see to it that the 'Telers' are not forgotten." With Telesoga as the official publication of this organization, the story of a people has been reported until this day, so that 'Telers' are not forgotten. It is my pleasure to be here at the Snowshoe Thompson Festival as a representative of Telelaget.

Why is it that we are attracted to this place and this festival? Why is it that we have come so far to witness the unveiling of a monument to Snowshoe Thompson? I have thought about it at length and I believe I have an answer. It is more than a monument, it is greater than that. It is a reminder. It is a reminder of the hardships endured by our ancestors from Norway as they set forth for a place they called "Amerika." This monument represents your ancestors as well as mine.

This monument could be to the mother of Snowshoe Thompson, Gro Jonsdatter. When her husband Torstein Olsen died, she was left to support three of their children, and a number of his children from a previous marriage. What kind of courage did it take to set sail for America, in the first wave of emigration from Norway? She took Jon, age 10, with her on the voyage. There was not enough money to take all of the children. She had to believe that one day she could send for the rest of the children. I have recently been to the shore of Lake Tinn, at Sandven, where they said their goodbyes. I can tell you that it is an emotional experience to visit that spot because that is where my ancestors said good-bye to their mothers and fathers.

This monument could be to the Norwegian families at Muskego in Wisconsin where sickness and disease raged in the early days of the settlement. The Reverend J. W. C. Dietrichson visited the settlement in 1844 and reported to the people of Norway that these settlers had gained nothing by exchanging America for Norway. Outraged by this commentary on life in America, the men of Muskego wrote one of the memorable documents in our Norwegian-American history, the Muskego Manifesto. To the newspapers of Norway they wrote "We have no expectation of gaining riches; but we live under a liberal government in a fruitful land, where freedom and equality are the rule in religious as in civil matters…We have, therefore, no reason to regret the decision that brought us to this country." I urge everyone to read this long and beautiful document. About 25 of the 80 signatures on the Manifesto are of men from Tinn, Telemark.

This monument could be to the men of the 15th Wisconsin regiment of the American Civil War. Called the "Norwegian Regiment", it was commanded by Hans Christian Heg, husband to Gunhild Jacobsdatter Einung of Tinn, Telemark. Two of my great-great-uncles from Tinn died in the South with the "Norwegian Regiment." The process of sending sons off to the Civil War led to Norwegians living in America becoming Norwegian-Americans.

Yes, it is more than a monument, it is a reminder. Each of us here today has a story to tell about our ancestors from Norway. We have been drawn to this place on this day to honor a hero and a legend of the old west. And we have gathered here to remember the heroes of our own families from Norway. We must see to it that the 'Telers" are not forgotten. We are the voice of our ancestors.

Written and delivered by Gene Estensen for the Snowshoe Thompson Festival of 2001