This book is excellent. It's well worth the cost and then some. It traces the Barsness family back to Norway to 1490 with many photos of people and places and an index.
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From the book, "Look to the Rock...The Urness/Barsness Episode" by Ann Urness Gesme (Iowa), 413 pages, copyright 1988, recorded with the Library of Congress.

Here's a sample of what's in the book.

John and Siri Barsness built a home in Black Earth and moved there in 1902, after Herman and Otelia took over the home farm in Vermont. Sal Urness lived with them while she attended high school in Black Earth. She tells that John had an aristocratic attitude, but Siri was full of fun and told her stories. Siri made toast for Sal by holding bread over the hot coals in the heating stove. She also ground peanuts for Sal's sandwiches. When Sal's father asked Siri what he should pay her for Sal's room and board, Siri asked for the money to buy a pair of eye glasses. John Barsness died in Lodi, Wisconsin while visiting his daughter, Nelsina.

OBIT - (as it appeared in the Lodi newspaper)
Death Called Him While Visiting His Daughter
J. H. Barsness of Black Earth who, with his wife, was visiting their daughter at the Methodist parsonage, was taken suddenly ill during the night last week Thursday and passed away the following evening. Heart failure was given as the cause of death. With him when he died were Mrs. Carver and her mother, Rev. Carver and Mr. and Mrs. Nels Barsness. The remains were taken Saturday to the home of the deceased at Black Earth where the funeral was held from the Lutheran church Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock. John H. Barsness was born in Sogn, Norway, April 14, 1836, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. G. R. Carver at Lodi, Wisconsin at 8:30 p.m., May 23, 1913, at the age of 77 years, one month and nine days. He had been in poor health for several weeks but was able to be around as usual until the day of his death. Six days before his death he and his wife had come to Lodi to visit their daughter, Mrs. G. R. Carver, and her husband. He retired Thursday night, expecting to return to his home at Black Earth the next morning but was taken seriously ill in the early morning and passed away the same evening. When he was seventeen years of age (should be 19 years) he left Norway and came to this country and resided in Vermont, Dane County, Wisconsin, until about twelve years ago, when he moved to the village of Black Earth, where he resided until the time of his death. During the Civil War he answered his country's call and enlisted as a private in Company G 16th Wisconsin regiment of Wisconsin Infantry of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was united in marriage to Sarah Nelson June 15, 1866, in the town of Vermont, Wisconsin. To this union twelve children were born. One son, Nels, departed this life 18 years ago and one daughter, Hannah, died ten years ago. The deceased was a kind and devoted husband, a loving father, a good neighbor and citizen. The cause of civic righteousness found in him a loyal supporter. In early life he united with the Norwegian Lutheran Church and remained a faithful member of the same until the time when his Master, whom he had learned to love and serve, called him to be with Him. He leaves to mourn his departure his bereaved wife, four daughters - Mrs. Hans Urness of Vermont, Wisconsin, Mrs. Ralph Sutcliffe of Vermillion, South Dakota, Mrs. G. R. Carver of Lodi and Ada at home, and six sons - Peter S. of Madison, Herman J. of Vermont, Edward S. at home, Joseph of Vermont, Melvin H. of Superior, Gerhard N. at home and fifteen grandchildren and other relatives and many friends.


From the book, "Look to the Rock...The Urness/Barsness Episode" by Ann Urness Gesme (Iowa), 413 pages, copyright 1988, recorded with the Library of Congress.

John Olsen's Paternal Ancestors
(NOTE: John Olsen Nes was John Hermundsen Barsness's grandfather)
John Olsen was born at Talle in Luster, later moving to Nes, where he was living at the time of his marriage in 1799. He descends from Ole Johnsen Lavoll, who was born about 1649 and got a lease to the Lavoll farm in Dale parish about 1685. The farm is located in the west side of the Lusterfjord, about two miles from the Dale church.
Ole Jonsen or Jonannessen (he is identified by both patryonymics) Lavoll was married in 1680 to Siri Johannesdatter, who was born about 1660 and died about 1725 at Lavoll. They had at least three children: two sons, John and Johannes and a daughter, Rannei. Ole was past 90 years of age when he died at Lavoll and buried January 24, 1740.
Hanging on to a farm was extremely difficult during the time Ole lived at Lavoll, but he managed to do so until his sons were old enough to take over. In 1705 he leased most of the farm to his oldest son, Johannes. March 18, 1715, he divided the farm equally between his two sons, Johannes and John.
When the younger son (John) was called out to serve in the army during the Great Northern War, Ole and his older son (Johannes) operated the entire farm. John survived the war and returned to his home, securing the deed to his part of the property April 4, 1724. In 1737 John borrowed about 180 riksdalar from the chief magistrate in Luster in order to purchase Johannes' half of the farm. For six years he had the farm before selling it to a "Captain Hirch." John was able to insure himself an adequare pension from the new owner; having the use of about three acres of land, two cows and four sheep or goats. He was to have a small house which was to be moved to another location on the farm.