Pederson, Paul

Georg Pederson was born on July 6, 1854 in Norway. He attended Tromsø Seminary for religious and educational training and taught at various places in Norway. Georg married Anna Hundseth and they had eight children. Only three survived into modern times, Olga, Torvald, and Paul. Anna died in 1909 and Georg married Martine Aalberg, who had a son, Olav Johanson. In 1912, Georg and Anna’s son, Paul immigrated to America, eventually residing in Lakewood, Washington with his wife, Magda Nilsen. Paul and Magda had two children, Arne and Mildred.

George and Anna’s son, Paul, immigrated to America in 1912 on the “Oscar II.” He took a train from Ellis Island to Anacortes, Washington, where he met up with some friends from Norway and got a job in a cannery. He attended Bethania College in Everett to learn English. Paul met Magda Nilsen in Lakewood. They were married in Seattle in 1917. Magda was born 25 April 1896 at the farmstead Vatnet on lake Vassvatnet, Southeast of Aldersundet near. Her mother, Marianne Johnson, raised the children by herself when Magda’s father, Kristian Nilsen, died in 1909. Magda immigrated to Lakewood, Washington, in 1913 with help from her aunt and uncle, Sara and Mathias Nilsen. In Lakewood she worked for Sara and did housework in the area. Magda’s two sisters, Gidsken and Bergljot, married and stayed in Norway.

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