Finnestad Ancestry

Continuing with Elizabeth Knutson's branch of the Finnestad family........ Edith Knutson was (as far as I know) the youngest daughter of Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas Knutson. Edith was born in November 1886 and died in 1969. She is buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Note the year 1888 on the marker. This is an example of how grave markers are not always a reliable source of information. Either an error by the company that made the marker, or the individual involved opted to let the world know they were younger than their actual age. Or perhaps family members never really know their real age. Below is the marker for Edith's husband, Charles Ludwig. Edith Olivia Knutson and Charles Edward Ludwig married sometime in 1920. Edith was the granddaughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad.

In 1930, Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Edith Ludwig was living in the city of Rochelle, Ogle County, Illinois with husband Charles and sons Charles Jr and Robert. Edith was the youngest daughter of Elizabeth Knutson, Ole and Mari's eldest daughter.

I have been trying to track down the children of Elizabeth (eldest daughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad) and came across a 1895 Rochelle Public School record which lists 4 of Elizabeth and Ole Knutson's children: Otto, in 6th room "A" class Alfred in 6th room "B" class Annie in 5th room "B" class Edith in 3rd room "A" class The original document can be viewed here .

Elizabeth, Ole and Mari's eldest daughter was listed on the 1900 census with husband Ole Andreas, son Ole Alfred, daughter, Anna (or Annie), daughter Ella (Edith) and a grandson, Elmer, (last name undecipherable). This record was difficult to find because the handwriting was not clear, so I had to individually scan the Flagg township, city of Rochelle census records until I found it. I also have not yet been able to find out which of Elizabeth and Ole's daughters had the child, Elmer. It does state that Elizabeth had 10 children and 5 were living in 1900, so I'm guessing that Elmer's mother had died. I presently have tracked down 7 of Elizabeth and Ole's children, though one I am not 100% positive is their child. The missing 3 others may have been born in Norway and I'm presently reviewing Norwegian records in an attempt to locate them.