Finnestad Ancestry

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.

In 1940 Ellen Marie 'Mary' (Vallem) Sanderson was living near her step-son, Stanley.    Both families were living in Milan township, DeKalb county, Illinois.    Mary can be found on lines 41 - 43 living with husband, Seward Oscar Sanderson and their youngest son, Gordon.     Both Seward and his son were employed as farmers. Found on lines 67 - 68, Stanley Harland Sanderson was living a few homes away with wife Myrtle Edna (Colby).   Stanley was also employed as a farmer. Ellen Marie (Vallem) Sanderson was the daughter of of Rachel (Olsdatter Finnestad) and Lewis (Lars Pederson Valheim) Vallem and granddaughter of Mari Iversdatter Nordskår and Ole Olson Finnestad. Stanley Harland Sanderson was the son of Martha (Cody) and Seward Oscar Sanderson.  He was born September 23, 1892, two and a half years before Mary (Vallem) married Seward Sanderson.

Here is the 1940 US census for Elma Matilda (Johnson) Wright living with her husband, Frank J Wright.   Their entry is listed on lines 17 - 18, living in the town of Cylinder, Fairfield township, Palo Alto county, Iowa.    Frank was employed as a trucker. Elma, also known as 'Lillie' was the daughter of Andrea Elizabeth 'Lizzie' (Knutson) and Lambert Johnson, the granddaughter of Elizabeth (Olsdatter) and Ole Andreas Knutson and the great granddaughter of Mari Iversdatter Nordskår and Ole Olson Finnestad.

Here is the 1940 US Census for Edith (Knutson) Ludwig daughter of Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas (Andrew) Knutson and the granddaughter of Mari Iversdatter Nordskår and Ole Olson Finnestad. Lines 6 - 7 list Edith, living in the city of Rochelle, Flagg township, Ogle county, Illinois with daughter Elizabeth.     Employment information is not provided for Edith.  Edith's husband, Charles Ludwig was serving a sentence in the Illinois State Penitentiary at Lockport, Will county, Illinois, known as Stateville Correctional Center.    There were some infamous inmates that served time at Statesville, from John Wayne Gacy to Leopold and Loeb.      Apparently the section of US route 66 that ran past the prison was changed to Illinois state highway 53 sometime after 1940. Charles is listed on line 77 of the census.    Charles was arrested and charged for arson and admitted to setting several tavern fires acc...

In 1940 there were different branches of the family living in Bee county in Texas.   Here is the 1940 US Census for  Ole Travland, Peter Travland, Otto Travland and Ben Travland. All were living in Normanna, Justice precinct 8, Bee county, Texas.    Ole Travland was living alone and is listed on line 60.      Ole was employed as a farmer. Ole was the son of  Iverdine (Olsdatter Finnestad) and Lewis (Peterson) Travland and the grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nordskår) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad. Peter Travland and family are listed on lines 61 - 65.   Peter was living with wife Blanche (Hallberg) and daughter Alice.   Also living at the same residence was Peter's father, John Otto Travland and Peter's brother, Odin.     Peter was also employed as a farmer and Odin was employed at a cafe. Peter and Odin were the sons of Annie (Helling) and John Otto Travland, the grandsons of Susanne (Iversdatter No...

Below is the 1940 US Census for Olaf Finnestad.    1940 US Census - Olaf Finnestad Olaf was living at 1511 Lombard Avenue, Everett, Snohomish County in the state of Washington with wife Myrtle and daughters Gwendolyn and Carmen.     Olaf was employed as a fireman for the city of Everett. Olaf's father, Rasmus also resided in the home, but the census takers had listed him on a separate page (census record was posted yesterday).

Here is the 1940 US Census for Rasmus Finnestad, son of Mari (Iversdatter) and Ole Finnestad Sr. 1940 US Census - Rasmus Finnestad Rasmus was living at 1511 Lombard Avenue, Everett, Snohomish County in the state of Washington.    Rasmus was living with his son and daughter-in-law.    For some reason the 1940 census for a few households living on Lombard Avenue was amended and an additional family member (in this case, Rasmus) was listed on a separate sheet.

Here is the 1940 US Census for Lettie (Finnestad) Risetter, granddaughter of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole Finnestad Sr. Lettie is listed (lines 43 - 46 at the top of the census) with husband Christopher and their son, Hamilton  and niece, Betty Lou Risetter. Lettie was the daughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr.     Betty Lou was the daughter of Lettie's younger sister, Lillian May (Finnestad) and George Risetter. The Risetters were living in Willow Creek township, Lee county, Illinois.

The 1940 US Census was released last week.       Here is the census for my great grandparents, Mary (Kurth) and Oliver Finnestad (starting at line 53). In 1940, three of their six sons, Oliver Jr, Verlis and Robert and two of their three daughters, Lois and (Alice) Leota were living with their parents.    Mary and Oliver Finnestad were living in Creston, Ogle county, Illinois. Oliver and was still employed as a farm laborer.     Oliver Jr was working as a meat cutter at a retail establishment and Verlis was employed with a grain company. Some of the questions on the census are difficult to read.   Below is a legible blank census form as an explanation of symbols. Oliver was the son of Carline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Sr.    His grandparents were Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole Finnestad Sr.