Finnestad Ancestry

 Here is the 1940 US Census for Gladys May (Travland) Hunt living with her husband, Eugene Walton Hunt and their sons Larry Wade and Eugene Walton Hunt.   Their entries can be found on lines 1 - 4. The Hunt family was living in Alice City, Jim Wells County, Texas.    The 1940 US Census includes residency information for 1935; Gladys and Eugene were living in Tuleta, Bee County, Texas. Gladys May (Travland) Hunt was the daughter of Stella (Berkeland) and Thomas Tobias Travland, the granddaughter of Iverdine (Finnestad) and Lewis Travland and great granddaughter of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.

Divorce records are difficult to obtain.   Few states have digitized that information, even if you know what state AND county someone filed for divorce.    Newspaper reports of a divorce are a source, but they aren't always published and even rarer they are digitized or microfilmed.     Here is the divorce record for Orville Ilin Olson and Margaret (Chapman) Olson.     This document is helpful as it does confirm the Olson's had 2 children as a result of their marriage.   At this point the only information family have provided is that Margaret and Orville had two girls, one named Margaret and the name of her sister is unknown. As is common with genealogical research, this document does have an error.     Orville's birthdate is correct, but his birthplace was Steward, Lee county, Illinois, not Minnesota.   The date of the divorce is February 18, 1972 and was processed in Seattle, King county, Washington....

The records from the Methodist Episcopal Church recorded Perry Orlando Vallem, his sister Lena Verdel Vallem and their cousin Lillian Rosabelle were baptized in Ogle county, Illinois on June 4, 1904.   Their entries are located near the bottom of the page.      The baptism record indicates Perry's birthdate was February 19, 1904, Lena's birthdate was July 20, 1907 and Lillian's birthdate was February 2, 1911.    I do not know whether Lena's middle name was spelled 'Verdelle' or as in the baptism record, 'Verdel'. The record indicates the baptisms took place in Ogle county, Illinois; I do not know where in Ogle county.  Perhaps the reverend made house calls for baptisms.   The Methodist Episcopal Church still stands today and is located at 507 Main Street, Steward, Lee county, Illinois.    It is currently named the Steward United Methodist Church.   A little bit of history about the church can be found here .  Scr...

Orville Olin Olson was baptized on June 2, 1889 in Steward, Lee county, Illinois at the Methodist Episcopal Church.     His sister Alma Elizabeth Olson was baptized on June 21, 1891. Orville's baptism record can be found on line 8.   This is the earliest entry that included the use of his middle name and the only document I've encountered with the spelling of 'Ilin' as 'Iling'.   His birth is confirmed as March 24, 1889.    Alma's record is located further down the page on line 30 and her birth is confirmed as March 19, 1891.  Alma Elizabeth Olson passed away sometime before the family moved to Independence township, Palo Alto County, Iowa.    Her death can be narrowed down as sometime between June 21, 1891 and June 14, 1900 based upon the census data.   I do not know the date the family moved so Alma died either in Illinois or Iowa. Orville and Alma were the first two children born to Mary (Knutson) and Stephen Olso...

I had previously posted 12 years ago regarding the untimely death of Otto Bert Knutson.   Those posts can be found here and here .    I found another article about the incident that led to his death on page 1 of the August 3, 1895 edition of the Ogle County Press. This is the first time I'd encountered anything that included the name of the person that caused Otto's death.   A traveling man named 'Crall'.    Unfortunately the article did not include the first name or residence of Mr. Crall. While the July 31, 1895 edition of the Rochelle Herald reported that internment would take place at the Norwegian Cemetery near Lee, I later discovered his funeral took place at the First Lutheran Church in Lee county, Illinois.    Based upon the other listings in the church records, the burial appears to have taken place at Lawnridge Cemetery, Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois.     Below is a copy of the parish funeral record. Otto's en...

Here is the death certificate for Orville Ilin Olson who passed away December 2, 1973 in Seattle, King County, Washington. Margaret J (Chapman) Carlson Olson, Orville's ex-wife provided information to the medical examiner.   Orville was buried at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.    His plot does not have a marker.     The photo above is a view looking north.    The blue flag designates the plot in section 1 PA. The photo below is a view looking west. The photo below is a view looking northeast. The photo below is a view looking south. Here is a map of the cemetery with the plot marked with a star indicating the burial location in the event you wish to visit Orville's gravesite. Orville was born March 24, 1889 in Steward, Lee county, Illinois.    He married Ida Julia Govig in Cylinder, Iowa on January 10, 1911.   Several years following Ida's death in 1923, Orville married Ruth Rosemary (Horner) Wilson in C...

Here is the 1950 US Census for Verlis Frederick Finnestad living with wife Lyola Marie (Allen) and their daughter Sherran in Creston, Ogle county, Illinois. Their entries can be found on lines 13 - 15 of the census.     Verlis was employed as a manger of a grain elevator.   Verlis Finnestad was the son of Mary (Kurth) and Oliver Finnestad, grandson of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the great grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

The 1950 US Census lists brothers Oliver Kurth Finnestad and Robert Charles Finnestad on the same sheet.    Oliver Finnestad Jr was living with his wife, Pearl Margaret (Thompson) and their sons Michael and Ronald along with a lodger, Emile Harris in Creston, Ogle county, Illinois.    Oliver's younger brother Robert was living next door with his wife Doris (Pollock). Oliver, Robert and Doris worked for a canning company.    Pearl worked as a spinner for a spinning company.      Oliver and Robert Finnestad were the sons of Mary (Kurth) and Oliver Finnestad, grandsons of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the great grandsons of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

Here is the 1950 US Census for Harland 'Jack' Adam Finnestad living in DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois with wife Clevia LaRhea (Hursey) and their children Darlene and Jerald. The Finnestad family is located on lines 3 - 6 of the census.    Harland was employed as a meat cutter for a meat market. Harland Finnestad was the son of Mary (Kurth) and Oliver Finnestad, grandson of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the great grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

Burdette Louis Finnestad, wife Alice Helen (Barnes) and their two sons, Roger and David were living in Bonus township, Boone county, Illinois at the time of the 1950 US Census. Their entries on the census are located on lines 5 - 8.   Burdette was employed as a farmer.    Burdette Finnestad was the son of Mary (Kurth) and Oliver Finnestad, grandson of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the great grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

Here is the 1950 US Census for Frances Julia (Finnestad) Svetica and her husband, Peter Svetica. Frances and Peter, located on lines 15 and 16 of the census, were living in DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois.    Peter was employed as a manager of a food store. Frances Julia (Finnestad) Svetica was the daughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the granddaughter of  Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.    

In 1950, Lillian (Finnestad) Risetter and her husband George were living in DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois with two of their three children, Betty Lou and Rodney. The Risetter family can be located on lines 7 - 10 of the US Census.    George was employed as a night  manager for a trucking company.   Betty Lou worked in the meter department for the electric company and Rodney was a milling machine operator for an electric factory. Lillian was the daughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the granddaughter of  Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.    

Here is the 1950 US Census for Alice Marie (Finnestad) Gittleson and her husband Selmer, listed as Sal.  They were living at 200 Grove Street in DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois the same place they were living during the 1940 census . Their entries are located on lines 19 and 20.   Selmer was employed in construction.     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.

In 1950, Oliver Finnestad, wife Mary (Kurth) and daughter Alice Leota Finnestad were living in Creston, Ogle county, Illinois. The family is listed on lines 28 - 30.    Oliver was employed as a carpenter, Mary worked for a coat factory 'running a sewing machine' and Leota was a stenographer for a locomotive company. The other 8 children of Oliver and Mary had married and were living elsewhere.    Oliver was the son of Carline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad and the grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole Finnestad Sr.

I was watching a YouTube video recently regarding the Norwegian government's plan for a continuous coastal highway including floating bridges and tunnels on the western side of the country when this popped up: I previously posted about the area of Finnestad, located northwest of Stavanger, county of Rogaland, Norway in my three part series, The Finnestad farm.    You can find those posts: Part 1 , Part 2 and Part 3 .  When Ole Olson Søndenå and Mari Iversdatter Nordskår lived there from 1863 through the 1870's until they left for the United States the area was essentially farmland.      The video on the coastal highway can be viewed here .     

On July 26, 1913 Mary (Vallem) Sanderson, her husband Seward, 6 of their children and a nurse were on their way home when the vehicle died while crossing a railroad track near Sugar Grove, Kane County, Illinois.    Seward, the driver, attempted to crank the vehicle in order to start the engine while a train was approaching.   As he saw the Burlington Express #57 lights he yelled for the family to flee the vehicle.    Unfortunately Mary and Seward's daughter, Lillian was thrown forty feet from the vehicle and died.    Her sister Violet was found nearby but fortunately only received injuries as did their mother.    Everyone else survived with apparently no injuries. The Ashton Gazette reported the accident on the front page of their July 31, 1913 edition. Seward Sanderson was the driver, his wife Mary (Vallem) was in the front passenger seat with daughter Violet Myrle and son Charles LeRoy.     Sitting in the back seat were ...

Ellen Marie (Mary) the 4th child of Rachel and Lewis Vallem lived with her husband, Seward Sanderson and two of their children, Lawrence and Elmer in Milan township, DeKalb County, Illinois during the 1900 US Federal Census. They also had a servant - the name is not very clear.      Ellen was one of many grandchildren of Ole and Mari Finnestad.

In 1910, Mary (Vallem) Sanderson, husband Seward and children Stanley (not sure why he wasn't listed as living with his parents on the 1900 census) Lawrence, Elmer, Walter, Anna, Lillian and Violet. Again, as you can see, the census records are not 100% accurate. They indicate Mary had 8 children, 6 were living as of the 1910 census, though 7 children resided with Mary and Seward. It's a guess where the error would be and makes tracing your genealogy very tedious and difficult. The Sanderson family was still living in Milan Township, DeKalb County, Illinois.  

Leonard A Arndt spent most of his life, from sometime in the 1920's until around 1973 at the Lincoln State School, previously known as "Institute for Feeble Minded Children", where his younger brother, Russell Burdett Arndt had died in 1926 .  Sometime around 1973 due to a Supreme Court decision, those residents living at the facility were to be paid at the same rate as regular employees.   As a result, many residents were moved to other facilities.    Leonard was sent to Rock Falls Manor in Rock Falls, Whiteside County, Illinois.      A notice of birthdays by the facility was published in the Sterling Daily Gazette in their September 6, 1975 edition.    Leonard was listed for his birthday on September 8th of that year. The following year, the Sterling Daily Gazette published a list of birthdays coming up in their September 1, 1976 edition and Leonard was listed once again. In the November 17, 1975 edition of the Sterling Daily Gaz...

Arthur LeRoy Arndt took his own life on January 12, 1955 in Benton Harbor, Berrien County, Michigan.  His suicide was reported on page 2 in the South Haven Daily Tribune on January 13, 1955.    His death occurred a year following that of his mother .     Arthur LeRoy Arndt was the son of Linnie (Vallem) and David Andrew Arndt, the grandson of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem and great-grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

The January 1, 1954 edition of the Hardin County Index mentioned the funeral of Linnie Rebecca (Vallem) Arndt which had taken place earlier that day. Linnie had passed away a few days earlier on December 28, 1953 in Eldora, Hardin County, Iowa.    There was no mention of her married name, Arndt, similar to the 1930 US Census .     Her memorial can be found here .    I was unable to locate a marker at the cemetery.   It's possible one was never placed at the burial site. Linnie was the daughter of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem and granddaughter of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

Here is the 1940 US Census for Arthur LeRoy Arndt living with his aunt and uncle,  Mary (Arndt) and Wallace L. Toole and their daughter Alfa and son Neil.    The census incorrectly lists Arthur's last name as Toole.    He is also listed as a ward on this census as opposed to the previous census in which he was listed as the Toole's nephew. Arthur LeRoy Arndt was living in South Haven township, Van Buren county, Michigan.  He was employed as a clerk for a grocery store.      Arthur was the son of Linnie (Vallem) and David Andrew Arndt, the grandson of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem and great-grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

According to the 1940 US Census, Leonard A Arndt was living at the same facility as he was during the 1930 US Census. Leonard can be found on line #30.   According to an obituary of his uncle, Ole Vallem which appeared in the August 22, 1940 edition of the Harvard Herald Newspaper, Leonard's mother, Linnie (Vallem) Arndt was living in Iowa.    I have not found the 1940 census for his father, Daniel Andrew Arndt though I know he was living in New York City by 1942 according to his WW II draft registration. Leonard was the son of Linnie (Vallem) and David Andrew Arndt, the grandson of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem and great-grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr..

Here is a copy of Rachel (Finnestad) Vallem's last will and testament: The will was dated by the executor June 27, 1932, two months following her death . Her youngest son, Elmer Vallem was listed first as a recipient of $3000 which today would be $60,864.53 reflecting the rate of inflation over the past 90 years.    Elmer was born over 4 years following the death of Rachel's husband, Lars Vallem.    Elmer's father was Jacob Johnson . The balance of the estate was to be divided amongst her 7 surviving children:  Peter, Ole, Mary Sanderson, Josephine Hall, Ella Olson, Dena Thompson and Linnie Arndt.   The only child that preceded her in death was Ellen Mary Vallem  as well as her husband, Lars 'Lewis" Vallem . Rachel was the daughter of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr. 

In my initial research into the Finnestad family tree, I was provided information from one of Rachel Vallem's descendants that her eldest child, Marie Vallem had died as an infant.     I recently stumbled upon the death information for Ellen Mary Vallem in the database,  'Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999'.  Her name was misspelled as Vallim which is one reason why it was difficult to track down this record. The listing states Ellen was born and died in Dement township, Ogle county, Illinois.   The database indicates she was buried in Alta township, Lee county, Illinois.   Dement township is on the northern border of Alta township, Lee county. Ellen Mary Vallem was the eldest daughter born to Rachel (Finnestad) and Lars 'Lewis' Vallem.    She was the granddaughter of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.      Following her death, one year later Rachel and Lars had another daughter and n...

The 1930 US Census lists David Andrew Arndt on a 'Crew of Vessels'.     The ship named S.S. Tulsagas was based in San Francisco and owned by Associated Oil Company .    Andrew can be found at line #26.  Error:   David Andrew Arndt.   Census lists Arndt, Andrew C.    The last column states "Address of wife or next of kin": Rochille (sic), Illinois.     Wife Linnie (Vallem) Arndt was living in Dement township adjoining Rochelle located in Flagg township, Ogle county, Illinois in 1930 with her mother Rachel and brother Elmer so this is the correct Andrew Arndt. Here is the 1930 US census for Leonard A Arndt, the eldest son of Linnie (Vallem) and David Andrew Arndt. Here is the 1930 US census for their second eldest son, Arthur LeRoy Arndt. Their  youngest son, Russell Burdett Arndt died a few years earlier on May 30, 1926.        According to 'Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index,...