Individual Details

Hans Jensen Gronset, his son John Hansen Eggen and Descendants
By Becky Moore, Blanchard, Oklahoma—3rd Great Granddaughter of John Hansen Eggen.
This story is about two families that came from Haltdalen, Sor-Trondelag, Norway. One the father, finally settled in Allamakee Co, IA and the other, his son finally settled in Hendricks, Lincoln Co, MN.

Hans Jensen Gronset was born in 1800 in Haltdalen, Sor-Trondelag, Norway to Jens Hansen Sundan and Kari Olsdatter Gronset. On 23 July 1829, he married Ingeborg Jonsdatter Eggen. She was born in 1810 to Jon Gudbranson Eggen and Berit Ingebrigtsdatter Megaard. Together they had seven known children that lived to adulthood.
The oldest son Gunbrand Hansen Eggen married Ingeborg Borren. Together with Hans and Ingeborg they immigrated to America in March of 1857 under the name of Eggen. The family settled in Highland Township, Winneshiek Co, IA under the name of Jensen. Around 1860, the third oldest son, John Hansen left in search of a life of his own but came back. He is found living in Spring Grove, Houston Co, MN under the name of John Hanson.
On 5 October 1861 Jens and Ole enlisted with the IA 12th Infantry, Company B to fight for the Union side in the American Civil War. They were both reported missing in action six months later at Shiloh, Tennessee. Jens died a prisoner of war in October of 1862, and is buried at Andersonville National Cemetery in Georgia. Ole died in June of 1862 in Atlanta, Georgia and is buried at Marietta National Cemetery, also in Georgia.
Sometime after the war ended, the family moved to Waterloo Township, Allamakee Co, IA under the Hanson name. John may have already returned to IA from MN with his wife, Gertrude Hendrickson. John and Gertrude met while they were living and working at the Amundson farm in Spring Grove and were married in December of 1860. Gertrude was born on 1 Dec 1841 in Roros, Sor-Trondelag, Norway to Henrik Jacobson Svartvika and Anne Svendsdatter Ferragen. They emigrated in 1854. Hans Hanson and oldest son Gilbert remained in Waterloo Township. It is not known when either died. Gilbert’s wife Ingeborg died in 1862 and in 1863 he married Elizabeth Snakohl from Faaberg, Kristians, Norway. In 1880 they went by the name Eagen. It is not known when Hans, his wife or Gilbert died.
In the fall of 1875 John H. Eggen traveled to Lincoln Co, MN. He selected land in the southeast quarter of section 6 of Hendricks Township. He returned to IA and the following spring moved his family to the new land in MN.
In the early 1900s, John retired from farming and moved to the town of Hendricks. They had one of the finest houses in town located on Park Street. John’s sister Kari and her husband, Mr. G. Gilbert, visited for a time in Hendricks after they retired from their merchandise store. They were reported as being well-to-do and had traveled to various areas in the United States. John and Gertrude did return once to Allamakee Co for six weeks in August and September in 1903. They returned to IA for a delightful trip of visiting with family and old friends. They remained in Hendricks until their deaths, enjoying visits with family and friends. John died on 6 September 1920 and Gertrude died on 28 August 1926.
Two of John and Gertrude’s sons, Hans J. and John J. were proprietors of their own store named the Eggen Bros. They advertised in selling furs and outer wear but also sold other general merchandise. In 1902, a new one-story brick building with a cellar was constructed and the store was moved to that location in September. In the same year, Hans sold his share of the business and moved his family to Canby where his wife, Mina Grasswick was from.
Eventually, most of the family moved away. Some went as far west as California and Washington. The few that remained were married into other families. Either way, as with all descendants of immigrants, we are left with a legacy of overcoming the hard, difficult times and embracing the joyous and good times.

Birth	1 Jul 1840	Haltdalen, Sor-Trøndelag, Norway
Emigration	17 Mar 1857	Haltdalen, Sor-Trøndelag, Norway
Census	1860	Spring Grove, Houston County, Minnesota; Census: 1860 Minnesota Census
Marriage	15 Dec 1860	Gjertrud Hendricksdatter
Census	1870	Waterloo, Allamakee Co, Iowa; Census: 1870 US Census
Census	1880	Hendricks, Lincoln Co, Minnesota; Census: United States Federal Census
Death	6 Sep 1920	Uremia, Nephritis, Bronchitis - Hendricks, Lincoln Co., MN
Death	6 Sep 1920	Hendricks, Lincoln Co, Minnesota

Spouse	Gjertrud Hendricksdatter (1841 - 1926)
Child	Ingebor Eggen (1861 - )
Child	Anna Eggen (1862 - 1938)
Child	Jens Eggen (1864 - 1934)
Child	Henry J. Eggen (1865 - 1945)
Child	Johanna Eggen (1869 - 1916)
Child	Ole Eggen (1873 - 1970)
Child	Hans J Eggen (1875 - )
Child	Beret Eggen (1877 - )
Child	John J. Eggen (1879 - )
Child	Ingebrigt Eggen (1880 - 1880)
Child	Ingebrigt Eggen (1881 - )
Child	Martin Eggen (1884 - 1885)
Child	Marie Eggen (1885 - 1885)
Child	Maria Eggen (1887 - )
Child	Gustav J. Eggen (1889 - 1955)

Father	Hans Jensen Gronset (1800 - )
Mother	Ingeborg Joensdatter Eggen (1810 - )