Niels Johannes Halvorsen was born on September 15, 1902 in Stockholm, Sweden. His parents were Halvor and Mathilde Halvorsen, and his siblings included Magdalene and Harriet. The family lived in Oslo, Norway.
Niels left Norway for New York in 1922 aboard the ship SS Stavangerfjord (a Norwegian passenger ocean liner that sailed for the Norwegian America Line between Norway and the United States). He arrived in New York on May 9th, 1922.
In 1924, Niels filed a Declaration of Intention to obtain his U.S. citizenship. His occupation was noted as Bookeeper and lists his address as 618 49th Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. During this period, this neighborhood was known as “Little Norway” as it was an enclave for Norwegians and other Scandinavian immigrants.
Niels married Mary Elisabeth Heggeli, a native of Oslo, Norway on June 9th, 1928 in Brooklyn. In 1940, Niels and Mary lived at 152 E. 94th Street in Manhattan. Neils and Mary had three children: George Robert (born 1941), Norman, and Grace. Mary worked as a waitress for 30 years and retired in 1978. She passed away in 1981 after a short illness.
Niels passed away on January 11, 1981.