Tweiten, Carl O., 1909-

Carl Tweiten was born on June 12, 1909 in Deming, Washington. His parents were Omund Tweiten and Pauline Liland, and he was the eldest of eight children, including Martha (Handeland), Oscar, Anna (Hopen), Alma, Bertha, Jørgen, and Thor. Carl's father first came to America from Tweiten, Sirdal, Norway in 1897-1898, and made three trips back and forth before settling in Tacoma, WA. In Tacoma, Omund met Pauline Liland, who had emigrated from Liland, Sirdal, Norway in 1905. They were married in 1908 and then moved to Deming. In 1920, Carl's parents decided to go back to Sirdal, Norway, where Omund became a chauffeur and the family lived and worked on a small farm belonging to Carl's uncle. In Norway, Carl attended "omskole," summarized high school, and trapped birds, harvested hay, and helped his uncle with cattle trading to make money. After seven years, Carl decided to return to America with his sister Martha. They stayed with an aunt and uncle in Tacoma, WA for one year, and Carl worked in a local sawmill. Carl later began working in logging camps, and then did trapping and mining in Alaska. While mining, Carl was caught in a dynamite blast, and had to have surgery to save his eyes. Nevertheless, he still lost much of his eyesight. After the accident, Carl went back to Tacoma and began working for a plywood company. He also built a house for himself despite his poor eyesight. Carl has not participated much in Scandinavian organizations but does belong to Gloria Dei Church. He appreciates his Norwegian heritage and has taken two trips back to Norway.

Lineage

Full Name: Carl Omundson Tweiten. Father: Omund Karlson Tweiten. Mother: Pauline Omundsdatter Tweiten. Paternal Grandfather: Carl Person Tweiten. Paternal Grandmother: Marte Jørgensdatter Lunde. Maternal Grandfather: Omund Pearson Hampland Liland. Maternal Grandmother: Anne Malena Jonsdatter Espeveit. Brothers and Sisters: Martha Handeland, Oscar Tweiten, Anna Hopen, Alma Johanna Tweiten, Bertha Berg Jørgen Tweiten, Thor Bernard Tweiten.

From the guide to the Carl Omundson Tweiten Oral History Interview, 1982, (Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection Archives and Special Collections Department)

Carl O. Tweiten was born in a logging camp in Deming, Washington on 12 June 1909. He was the first of eight children in his family. His parents had both emigrated to the U.S. around the early 1900’s, and had met and married in Tacoma. Carl’s family moved to Tacoma when he was a year old, and the children attended school there. When Carl was eleven, the family moved to Sirdal, Norway, and he finished his schooling there. Carl returned to Tacoma when he was eighteen and worked in a sawmill for a while before moving to Alaska in 1929. Here he lived and worked for over fifteen years, trapping, mining, and prospecting at a time when much of the land was still rough and untamed. It was hard work, and Carl didn’t have much luck at mining, but he was still fond of the area and his lifestyle. In the early 1940’s, Carl was involved in an accident with some mining dynamite, and lost sight in one eye. Shortly after this, he lost interest in mining and moved back to Washington in 1946. He settled in University Place and worked first in lumber and plywood mills and later ran his own nursery. During this time, he also made several land and forest investments, reflecting his continuing interest in the wilderness. He later retired and moved to Gig Harbor, running a small tree farm and selling land. He traveled back to Norway twice during this time, and also kept in touch with his friends and family who still resided in Alaska.

From the guide to the Carl O. Tweiten - Autobiography, 1909-1988, (Pacific Lutheran University Archives and Special Collections/Library Services)