Jehans Nordbu

Who was Jehans Nordbu?

Jehans Persson Nordbu, also Johannes Nordboe was a Norwegian farmer and journalist.

Jehans Persson Nordbu was born at Ringebu in Oppland county, Norway. He and his family resided near the village of Venabygd. In 1832, when Jehan Nordbu was 64 years, he and his family including his wife and four children settled in Texas. This was probably the first family from the region of Gudbrandsdal to emigrated to America.

In 1837, Nordbu wrote an article for Statsborgeren. En tidende for Norges, a Norwegian periodical which was edited by Henrik Wergeland. In this article Nordbu labeled the United States a "free country".

In 1975, Nordbu was portaited by Einar Hovdhaugen in his book Frå Venabygd til Texas. Pioneren Jehans Nordbu.