Lorna Anderson has studied her Overland family for over 25 years. Two of the nine Overland children born from 1785 to 1805 in central Telemark Norway were her Great Great Grandparents. Their oldest brother, Knut Mevastaul was a famous rosemaler. When Lorna co-authored a 450 page book on the family in 1987, they could not locate the descendents of the rosemaler's family. Recently she discovered that the children of Knut (Overland) Mevastaul immigrated to America and settled in Pelican Lake Township near Ashby in Grant County in 1870.
At a Rosemaling Symposium at Vesterheim in Decorah, Iowa, Lorna gave a presentation on Knut Mevastaul's lifetime of rosemaling with photos of his painting taken during 3 months of research in Telemark, Norway. Two rosemalers from Norway, Nils Ellingsgard and Sigmund Aarseth were in the U.S. to give classes in painting, discusss the future of rosemaling, and to participate in the Symposium program with 183 rosemalers from around the country, from Norway and Japan. Sigmund said that Mevastaul was his favorite of the early Master Rosemalers in 1800's Norway.
During the Symposium Panel Discussion the future of rosemaling was discussed. Rosemaling has been very popular in America for the last 40 years and a new popularity has been developed in Japan. To renew or strengthen interest in rosemaling - both in the United States and Norway it was stressed to look back at the work of the 1800's Rosemaling Masters and especially the best of them.
At the Symposium, Lorna co-presented an hour presentation on the Early Masters with Joanne Mac Vey who had just completed a book on Telemark Rosemaling called, "Rosemaling Heirlooms of Tomorrow". In her book, Joanne has painted in the style of her six favorite rosemalers with Mevastaul topping the list. They also enjoyed the photos of Mevastaul's painting on video and picture panels.
Lorna Anderson scheduled nine presentations so far this year with photos of Mevastaul's rosemaling. One was scheduled at Ashby's 125th Anniversary Celebration in July and at the Flekkefest in Elbow Lake in August. A presentation and 40 foot exhibit of Mevastaul's rosemaling is on display June 23 - September, 2004 at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead.
This 40 foot exhibit includes ten 4' x 4' panels of corregated plastic sheets that fold to 2x4 feet. The panels portray Mevastaul's lifetime of painting. This exhibit is available to travel around the country. I hope to do another display to be sent to Norway as a gift for their Independence Centennial next year - 1905 - 2005. Reproductions of two of Mevastaul's paintings are being sold to raise funds for the exhibits on this site and through organizations and shops. Check site: www.NorwayInnovation.com for information about products available and retail or wholesale prices.

Knut Mevastaul - Telemark Rosemaler 1785-1862

Knut Mevastaul was the oldest of 9 children born to Olav Knutson Overland 1757-1840 and BergitTovsdtr. Langlid 1759-1825
Knut, Tov and neighbor Erik Overland served in the War of 1807-1814. Knut Mevastaul 1785-1862 married before 1810 to Bergit Jensdtr. ? Knut was a well known rosemaler from central Telemark, Norway. His work is studied and admired today. He is known as one of the finest and most innovative rosemalers of his time.

His first known painting was done in 1807. He spent his entire life painting, traveling from farm to farm. The area is lovely with mountains and lakes. He would walk or take a boat part of the way carrying his case of precious ingredients that he had ground from rods of color purchased at the Apothacary. He boiled his own oil to the correct temperature and added ingredients to preserve the color. With such primitive means, it is even more amazing to be able to create so many beautiful chests, cupboards, and homes. Many lovely upper rooms still exist and much of the rosemaling is as beautiful today as when he painted it over 150 years ago. He painted entire ceilings, walls, built in beds etc.
It is unknown where their first child was born but before the second was born they lived at Mevastaul. Knut and Bergit had 5 children: Gunhild 1810, Olav 1817, Ingebjorg 1823, Bergit 1829& Jens 1834 or 44. After the death of the parents the children emigrated to America in 1867 and 1868. They homesteaded near Hampton, Iowa in Fayette County staying there for a couple years. They went to Grant County Minnesota near Ashby in 1870. They stayed in that area for 40 years or more with grandchildren moving to Alberta Canada; Bemidji, Minnesota; Eugene, Oregon; Dunkirk, Montana and other unknown places. We located an obituary sent back to Ashby with more information.

We are trying to locate these families & additional photos of his painting. Five trunks have been located that have been brought to America and we are hoping to locate more of them to get photos.

The family history that we have located so far is:

Knut Olavson Overland Mevastaul was born in Telemark, Norway in 1785 the oldest son of Olav Runningen Overland and Bergit Langlid. He and a brother Tov served in the Napoleanic War from 1807. His first rosemaled trunk was also painted in 1807.
Knut married Bergit Jensdatter? before 1810. They had 5 children:
Gunhild, Olav, Ingebjorg who died in Norway, Bergit and Jens.

1. Gunhild Knutsdtr. born 1810 d. USA after 1885 (Ashby MN)
1845 married Olav Halvorsson Kleivstaul 1811-188? (see Nystal)
Two children were born at Kleivstaul in Norway.
Gunhild and Olav, Gunhild and Knut went to America in 1867.

a. Gunhild born in December 1845
Married in Iowa to Thomas Gulickson born February 1841
Children may have used Thomson or Thompson name?
1) Caroline (F) born in Iowa 1869
2) Gustav Cornelius (M) born 25 Sept. 1871 Ashby MN
3) Gina B. (F) born 1874-2/26/1944 Ashby, MN
4) Olava (F) born 1877 Ashby, MN
5) Thilda (F) born Sept. 1879 Ashby, MN
m. Anton Thorsen 4/21/1896
6) Thom Julius Gullickson (M) born Nov. 1884
7) Oscar Gulickson (M) born July 1886
b. Knut born 1851 Olson?
c. ?? Thor ?? 1855 listed with Gunhil Halvorson in 1885 with 26 year old Sondre Oveland

2. Olav Knutson (Mevastaul) born 1817 emigrated to US in 1868
Was sponsor for baptism in 1886 with Gunhild Hoieson

3. Ingebjorg born 1823 died 1836 at 13 years in Norway

4. Bergit born 1829 died in the US in 1851 married Tor or Tuv Knutsson (Langlid 30) Emigrated to the US in 1868
a. Ingebjorg born 1851 (living in Ashby in 1890 with relatives) d. 10/17/1907

5. Jens Knutson born 1834 married Andrine Larson born 1838
a. Betsey (F) 15 Nov. 1869 in Iowa
b. Ludvig Elias Knutson (M) 24 April 1871 in Minnesota
c. Gine (F) 1873 d. 2/26/1944
m. Andrew Grothe d. 12/17/1952 Bemidji, MN
d. Josephine (F) 11 Jan 1875
e. Carl Knutson (M) 1877
(from obituary in Grant County Museum)
f. John J. Knutson born December 13, 1878 in Pelican Lake Township, Minnesota, baptized and confirmed by Rev. O.A. Norman of Ashby at Pelican Lake (Peace) Lutheran Church.
On December 2, 1916 he was married to Elma Olson of Ashby.
They had 7 children. Lived at Eugene, Oregon at the time of his death on November 28, 1940
1) James Knutson (in US Navy in 1940)
2) Kenneth Knutson (may have son Gary in Portland OR
3) Helen Knutson
4) Junez Knutson
5) Beverly Knutson
6) Ruth Knutson
7) John Knutson

g. Aletta (F) 1880
h. Perdia (F) 1882
i. Julius Knutson (M) 1884

At the time of John J. Knutson's death in 1940 his 3 brother's and one sister must have died previously as he is survived by 4 sisters:
Mrs. Andrew Grothe Bemidji, Minnesota
Mrs. Chris Hanson Dunkirk, Montana
Mrs. Joe Vann Alberta, Canada
Mrs. Cal Omstead Alberta Canada

We are still hunting for living relatives and would appreciate any help to locate them.

Information collected by:
Lorna Anderson
43581 Paul Lake Lane
Perham, MN 56573
218 / 346 - 6284
glenandlorna@hotmail.com

Please send any information and pictures that you may have on this family or of his rosemaling to Lorna Anderson for inclusion in book and video on Knut Mevastaul's life. I have recently located 3 additional rosemaled trunks which were painted by Mevastaul, so far 5 were brought to America.

Two reproductions of Knut Mevastaul's beautiful painting have been produced in a framed picture, print or laminated designs in two sizes and 8 colors. Two 16"x22" window designs are made in vinyl window clings selling for $10 each to fund the research and exhibits.

I was asked how I started this research. I did my first family history in 50 years ago for a 7th grade class project, my second was done while in college in 1960. After teaching Home Ec. For 4 years, I opened a fabric shop in Appleton. In 1971 I earned a trip to Sweden selling Viking Sewing Machines. I took my Mother Marion Erickson and Aunt Olga Brinkman along spending 2 weeks in Norway locating Klefstad and Teigen relatives in Kvam, Gudbrandsdal. In 1972 we were charter members of the Son's of Norway Chapter in Ortonville. We were quite active promoting our love for Norway at celebrations; on Television; and in parades. Our children attended Skogfjorden and we hosted a couple young people from Norway.
At our fabric shop I provided space for local artists in the basement and took rosemaling classes from Karen Jensen. I rosemaled a major project - an 18 foot cornice in our dining room in 1976. As a gift for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary, I decided to do their family histories. My husband, Glen served in the legislature with Gene Wenstrom from Elbow Lake. In 1979 we attended his father's funeral and met the Telelag president, Hilbert and Lillian Thompson of Fergus Falls. We hosted the Telelag reorganizational meeting in Appleton in 1980 and a family reunion in Fillmore County with 400 relatives. With a small grant from the Minnesota Historical Society and the help of Joe Gardner of the Fillmore County Historical Society, we produced a slide presentation on the Overland Family called, "Over Land Over Sea". I also produced a slide show on Knut Mevastaul - Telemark Rosemaler which I shared with a number of people and groups interested in rosemaling.
My dad's Telemark history was so interesting - I spent 6 weeks researching in Norway and doing photography in '84. I co-authored the book "The Overland Family History" and helped the Telelag write a number of books on genealogy, emigration and settlement history.

In 2002 I joined the Telemark Tour spending a month researching in Norway. I met Halvor Bringa, a relative from Gvarv who spent 3 years translating and publishing our Overland book into Norwegian. In 2003 I developed a video and DVD of our "Tour to Telemark 2002". Now I plan to share my research through presentations, exhibits and writing. Work is in progress on a book about the old oak tree on the Overland farm "Millenium Oak - Weaving the Story of 1000 Years of Life".