Finnestad Ancestry

In 2011 I had posted information regarding a lawsuit filed following the death of Martha Iversdatter Nordskar* Peterson, the sister of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) Finnestad.    I later posted the location of the property subject of the lawsuit. You can find a copy of the lawsuit and other documents filed as the lawsuit proceeded through the court system by clicking on this link . *There are several different variations on the name:   Nordskar, Nord-Skaar, Nordskår.  Occasionally I've seen the "nord" dropped altogether, such as this lawsuit.

I have posted a few obituaries for Elizabeth (Olsdatter Finnestad) Knutson and found another from The DeKalb Daily Chronicle.    The obituary appeared in the March 19, 1930 edition, page 6 in the 5th column. There are a few omissions in the obituary.   Based upon the 1900 US Census , Elizabeth had 10 children, 5 of which had passed away prior to June 12, 1900.    The 1910 US Census also stated that Elizabeth had 10 children and 4 had survived as of April 15, 1910. The 6 children that proceeded her in death were: - Anna Knutson, the eldest daughter.    I believe she passed away sometime after October 19, 1879, the date of her confirmation and prior to July 1884 when her younger sister, Annie was born.   It seems unusual to have named another daughter Anna. - Clara (Knutson) Nelson, the third daughter born to Elizabeth and Ole Andreas Knutson. - Olava Edvarda Knutson, the fifth daughter. - Otto Bert Knutson, the sixth child...

10 years ago I posted immigration documents for Ole Andreas Knutson, husband of Elizabeth (Olsdatter Finnestad) Knutson.    I recently came across a document that states Ole had obtained a homestead in Canada and subsequently became a naturalized citizen of Canada. I have not been able to confirm the allegations in the July 14, 1909 letter.    If anyone can confirm a homestead in Canada for Ole Andreas Knutson or a Canadian citizenship, please contact me.    In the  1910 US Census  Ole and family were living in Rochelle, Flagg township, Ogle county, Illinois with no indication of a Canadian home or citizenship. The above letter references a June 23, 1909 entry into the United States, I had posted the immigration document referring to that port entry. Ole Andreas 'Andrew' Knutson was the son-in-law of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

I had posted the Dixon Evening Telegraph obituary for Ole Finnestad Jr.     Here is an obituary from The DeKalb Daily Chronicle, July 7, 1928 edition.   The obituary appeared on the front page. The surviving sisters of Ole that were not mentioned in the obituary were Elizabeth Knutson of Rochelle, Illinois, Sarah 'Serina' Finnestad of Lee county, Illinois, Bertha Haaland of Rochelle, Illinois, Rachel Vallem of Dement township, Ogle county, Illinois and Mary Bell of Lee county, Illinois. Ole Finnestad was the son of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

On January 3, 1917, the Oliver Finnestad family had to flee their home due to a fire that destroyed the house they were renting, as reported by The Ashton Gazette on the front page of their January 4, 1917 edition. Oliver Finnestad was the son of of Caroline (Jonsdatter Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the granddaughter of  Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.    Oliver's wife, Mary (Kurth) and her parents, Amelia (Witzel) and Christian Kurth were also at the home at the time of the fire. Of the 9 children born to Mary and Oliver Finnestad, only 4 had been born by this time, Burdette, Kenneth, Harland and Oliver Jr who had escaped the fire.

Mabel (Finnestad) Bell, daughter of Carrie (Derdall) and Rasmus Finnestad and granddaughter of Mari (Iversdatter) and Ole Finnestad was living in Fenton township, Kossuth county, Iowa when the 1915 Iowa census was taken.    Here is the census card for husband Edward Bell.  Here is the census card for their son Ronald Bell. Here is the census card for their daughter Vivian Bell.

Here is the death certificate for Mary (Kurth) Finnestad. Mary was the daughter of Amelia (Witzel) and Christian Kurth.    She married Oliver Finnestad, the son of Caroline Marine (Jonsdatter Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the granddaughter of  Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

I had previously posted the 1930 US Census for Alice (Finnestad) Gittleson.   At the time I did not know she had a prior marriage which is why I was unable to locate a 1920 US Census for her.    Here is the 1940 US Census for Alice, living with husband, Selmer Gittleson. The Gittleson's were living in DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois.  Their entry can be found on lines 60 - 61.    Selmer was employed as a butcher. Alice Marie (Finnestad) Gittleson was the daughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the granddaughter of  Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

Alice Marie (Finnestad) Reigard, daughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the granddaughter of  Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr filed for divorce in September 1927 The divorce filing was reported by the DeKalb Daily Chronicle on September 26, 1927, page 2, column 3.      As far as I know, no children resulted from this marriage.