Finnestad Ancestry

While trying to locate the missing child of Ole and Mari Finnestad's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, I came across a passenger list for Elizabeth's husband, Ole Andreas Knutson. Ole (listed on line #27) traveled on the Cunard's SS Campania arriving in New York from Liverpool on February 23, 1902.    Here is a postcard of the ship. Ole possibly knew the gentleman listed below him,  Emil (last name indecipherable) since he lived in Leland, Illinois where Elizabeth and Ole first settled after moving to the United States.   Apparently Elizabeth did not travel with her husband on this trip as her name was not listed anywhere on the 12 pages of the passenger list.

Here is a photo taken in January 1968 of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughters, Carshon (Richardson) Johnson and Rita (Richardson) Roots. Carshon and Rita were the daughters of Carrie Evelyn (Finnestad) and Charles Richardson and the granddaughters of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr. * Photo provided by Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great granddaughter, Jill (McKay) Clinton.

Here is a photo* from 1962 of Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter Evelyn (Finnestad) Richardson and family. Pete Svetica, back of Rick Johnson's head, Evelyn (Finnestad) Richardson & Carshon (Richardson) Johnson & "friend". Pete Svetica was the husband of Caroline and Ole Finnestad Jr's youngest daughter, Frances, who probably snapped this photo. Carshon was the daughter of Carrie Evelyn (Finnestad) and Charles Richardson and the granddaughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr. Rick was the son of Carshon and Norman Johnson. * Photo provided by Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great granddaughter, Jill (McKay) Clinton.

Here is a photo* of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter Carshon (Richardson) Johnson and great great grandson, Rick Johnson, taken in 1963. Carshon was the daughter of Carrie Evelyn (Finnestad) and Charles Richardson and the granddaughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr. Rick was the son of Carshon and Norman Johnson. * Photo provided by Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great granddaughter, Jill (McKay) Clinton.

Last month I posted about the Sanderson family and their relationship to the Finnestad family. Here is the preceding page which was missing from the main portion of the document. Seward Sanderson who married Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Ellen Mary (Marie) Vallem is mentioned in his brother Kenneth's history. The Shabbona, Rollo, Lee Museum provided the document and have been an excellent source of information.

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Ellen Jewell Sanderson with her confirmation class of 1932 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Ellen is located on the center, top of the photo. Here is the ledger for the 1932 confirmation class. Sanderson was the last child (of 14) born to Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson (though Seward had one other child with his first wife, Martha Cody).  Ellen's  grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Gordon Delbert Sanderson along with his confirmation class of 1931 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Gordon is in the second column from the left, third down. Here is the ledger for the 1931 class.  Gordon is listed as #13. Gordon was the son of Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson, his grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem. 

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter and grandson, Lillian Ruth Sanderson and Charles LeRoy Sanderson and with their confirmation class of 1927 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Charles is sitting on the far left in the middle row.  His sister Lillian is in the same row, second from the right. Here is the ledger for the 1927 confirmation class. Charles LeRoy Sanderson and Lillian Ruth Sanderson were the children of Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson.  Their  grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Marion Vallem Sanderson with her confirmation class of 1925 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Marion Sanderson is sitting in the chair on the far left side.   Bertha Finnestad is sitting in the same row to the right of the Reverend. Ingmond Finnestad is in the second row from the top, third from the left.   Marvin Finnestad is in the same row, fourth from the right. Below is the church's ledger for the confirmation class: The bloodlines of Marvin, Ingmond and Bertha Finnestad were not related to Ole and Mari Finnestad.  Bertha, Marvin and Ingmond were the children of Elizabeth and Alfred Finnestad.   Ingmond would eventually marry Mildred Knutson which connected Ole and Mari Finnestad's descendants to the Sanderson family.   For more on that, read my previous post by clicking on the link . Marion Vallem Sanderson was the daughter of Ellen Marie/Mary

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Violet Myrle Sanderson along with her confirmation class of 1923 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Violet is seated second from the right (next to the Reverend). Here is the church ledger for the 1923 confirmation class. Violet Myrle Sanderson was the daughter of Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson.  Her  grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Anna Isabella Sanderson along with her confirmation class of 1919 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Anna is standing in the back row, second from the right. Here is the ledger from the same year, which also includes the years 1918 and 1920.    Neither Burdette Sanderson listed in 1919 or Ester Finnestad from 1920 were descendants of Ole and Mari Finnestad.   I haven't checked Burdette's relationship, but Ester was the eldest child of Elizabeth and Alfred Finnestad.   Ester's younger brother Ingmond would eventually marry Mildred Knutson which connected Ole and Mari Finnestad's descendants to the Sanderson family.   Anna Isabella Sanderson was the daughter of Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson.  Her  grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

Here is a photo of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Walter Orlando Sanderson along with his confirmation class of 1915 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Walter is seated on the left side of the photo next to Reverend Johnson. Here is the ledger for the confirmation class of 1915. Walter was the son of Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson, his grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

The next confirmation class with multiple Finnestad descendants was 1913.    I'd posted Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Lillian's photo and ledger in 2009. Ole and Mari's great grandson, Elmer Seward Sanderson was in the same class as Lillian Finnestad. Lillian Finnestad is seated in the bottom row, far right. Lawrence is standing in the back row, second from the left side of the photo. Lawrence's parents were Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson, his grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

Another class confirmation class with Ole and Mari Finnestad's descendants was in 1911.    When I originally posted two years ago , I didn't know of the Sanderson family link. Ole and Mari's granddaughter, Carrie Evelyn Finnestad is seated in the middle row, 3rd from the left.  Carrie's parent's were Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr. Ole and Mari's great grandson, Lawrence Alvin Sanderson is seated next to Carrie on the left.  Lawrence's parents were Ellen Marie/Mary (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson, his grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

A couple of years ago I had posted the 1907 confirmation photo and ledger for Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Alice Marie Finnestad.    I didn't know it at the time but Ole and Mari's step great grandson, Stanley Harland Sanderson was in the same confirmation class at Calvary Lutheran Church. Alice is in the second row on the far right.   Stanley is in the front row, sitting on the far right.

A couple of years ago I had posted a map of the first section of the Union Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois where many of the Finnestad family and descendants were buried.    I didn't know at the time all of the different branches of the Finnestad family that had attended Calvary Lutheran Church and were eventually laid to rest at the adjoining Union Cemetery. Here are sections two, three and four of the cemetery: A thank you to brothers David and Marlin Jordal who provided these maps.

Here is a photo* from 1962 of Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Evelyn (Finnestad) Richardson. Evelyn (Carrie) was the daughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr. * Photo provided by Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great granddaughter, Jill (McKay) Clinton. 

Here is a photo* from Christmas of 1962 of two of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great grandchildren, Simone and Rick Johnson. Simone and Rick were the children of Carshon (Richardson) and Norman Johnson.  Their grandparents were Carrie Evelyn (Finnestad) and Charles Richardson.   Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr were their great grandparents. * Photo provided by Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great granddaughter, Jill (McKay) Clinton.