Hans Klemetsen & Lisa Aslaksdatter

Hans Klemetsen was born in 1839 and grew up on Lindtvedt farm near the town of Oyestad in Norway. His father, Klemet Hansen, bought the farm in 1831 when he married Ingeborg Marie Ommundsdatter. Lindtvedt was approximately thirty acres, only a few acres of which were farmed. The rest was left forested and probably provided firewood for the long cold winters. The members of the family were not primarily farmers but boat builders. Like many families in Norway, farming was a second job.

Hans continued working as a boatbuilder when he moved away from Lindtvedt as an adult. He married Lisa Aslaksdatter, daughter of Aslak Pedersen and Gunhild Amundsdatter, in 1870. Hans and Lisa raised a family of twelve children: Ingeborg Marie, Gundhild Kristine, Karen Andrea, Anne Gurine, Clemmet, Aslak, Thora Elise, Hansine, Thorolf Severine, Elise, Ommund, and Bertha Marie. The family moved around and lived in several counties before returning to Lindtvedt farm after the death of Hans’s father in 1888. Hans maintained the farm for about ten years before giving ownership to his sons Clemmet and Aslak. Hans resided at the farm until his death in 1900. The Lindtvedt farm remained in the family for over 150 years and may still be owned by descendants of the original Hansen family.

Lisa, known to her family as Besta Lisa (Grandmother Lisa), came from a long-lived family and was well regarded by her many grandchildren.

A fun fact to note about Lindtveit was that in the early 1900’s, a Roman coin dating from approximately 40-45 A.D was found on the farm along with a few other items dating from the same period. Romans may have lived in the area around Lindtveit or traded with someone who traveled to the area. The coin was donated to the local museum in Arendal.