Spurkeland Information

From Mary Jo Thorsheim

One of our cousins asked about Anna Spurkeland. Here is some background that I have been told or read. Please correct any errors that you may see.

My information is that she was our great-grandmother, mother of grandpa Rasmus Thorsheim (for those of us in this “rank” of first cousins who are children of Sig, Iver, Joe, Ruth, Hank, Bud, or Alma). Anna Spurkeland was born in 1849 and died in 1924. In her later years she lived with her daughter in Bergen and great-aunt Gertrude actually lived there for awhile (don’t know how long) and helped with Anna, I think. Anna’s parents were Anders Olson Spurkeland (1821-1860) and Sesilia GullaksdatterToskeim (1821-1888).

Anna, like great-grandfather Ivar Rasmussen Thorsheim (1846-1912), was born north of Bergen at Seim. They moved to Bremnes on the island south of Bergen when Ivar was asked to establish the first schools there (previous to that time, the brightest confirmation class students were designated “teachers” by the pastors and then proceeded to teach in homes, I am told). As you know, Ivar went on to become mayor of the island (as was Marta’s father Knut Thorsheim, in our time) and was asked to run for Parliament (Storting), but declined. He was a leader in education and politics in the whole province of Hordaland, and his name appeared in records of meetings in Bergen where he actively participated. There was one instance where discussion centered on the problem of a particular bird feeding on fish that fishermen in the area needed to harvest. The group talked about whether or not to have the birds shot, but Ivar spoke for the birds and the balance of the ecology of the region. On one trip to Bremnes, I was told that Ivar organized groups of school children to go to neighboring islands where there were trees to harvest saplings and transplant them to their area. Before that time, the island did not have many trees on that rocky surface.

From Marta Thorsheim

To Mary Jo:  As always, so good to hear from you.Here is some information you may share with the others:

Anna Spurkeland grow up on the farm Spurkeland, where we are going to have lunch on Friday. It was me who had the idea to integrate also our great grandmother and her history. Traditionally we focus on the great grandfather, Ivar, and he was a remarkable man.

The Spurkeland farm is still in the family, and the young man who is running it now is building up a concept linked to the viking history of the place.

The information I have (from my father Knut) on great grandmother is:

Anna Andersdotter Spurkeland born 4th November 1849-died 4th January 1923. And your information about her parents is the same as I have.

In anyone is intersted I have information about some more of the ancestors.

And a little correction, my father Knut was not the major, he took part in politics with a great interest in the environment (his poem about Boemlo reveals his passion for the environment and the island) , but never wanted to be a major. Since his father, Olaf Thorsheim, died early, my father was asked to take over the business his father and mother (Jenny Georga Hay Hoel) had build up in Maelandsvaagen, Bremnes. In a radio interview in the seventies he says to the journalist when asked if he regretted this decison: “No, never”.

He was known as a knowledgable man, who spoke many languages and was of great importance for many people in the area.