Finnestad Ancestry

Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Elmer James Vallem was born August 2, 1893 in Steward, Lee County, Illinois to Rachel (Finnestad) Vallem and Jacob Jacobson (after the death of Rachel's husband, Lewis Vallem). Elmer died November 28, 1943 in Rochelle, Ogle county and was buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery.    No marker or headstone was placed to indicate his plot, but here is a photo of the burial space next to his brother-in-law Ole P Hall and half sister, Isabel (Vallem) Hall. Here is a photo of the Vallem and Hall family plot.   Rachel (Finnestad) Vallem's headstone is in the foreground, her daughter Isabel Hall is buried next to her, Ole P Hall, then Elmer Vallem.

Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great grandson, Verol Truman Johnson was buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois. Verol was born June 22, 1923 to Matilda "Tilda" S (Hansen) and Truman Levi Johnson in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois.   He died on July 22, 1954 in Velasco, Brazoria county, Texas due to an accidental drowning . Lambert's grandparents were Andrea Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Knutson) and Lambert Johnson.   His great grandparents were Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas "Andrew" Knutson. 

Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great grandson, Lambert Quentin Johnson was buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois. Lambert was born December 3, 1918 in Algona, Kossuth county, Iowa to Matilda "Tilda" S (Hansen) and Truman Levi Johnson.   He died on July 24, 2000 in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. Lambert's grandparents were Andrea Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Knutson) and Lambert Johnson.   His great grandparents were Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas "Andrew" Knutson.

Elmer Levi Johnson 's sister-in-law, Matilda "Tilda" S (Hansen), the wife of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Truman Levi Johnson was buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois. Tilda was born October 29, 1892 in Illinois and died August 1979 in Rochelle, Ogle County, Illinois. Tilda was buried alongside her parents, sister Mary (Hansen) and brother-in-law, Ralph Ruckman.  Here is a photo of the family plot. There is no record that Truman, who had passed away 10 years earlier, was buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery.   He died in Oak Park, Cook county, Illinois so he may be buried at a cemetery in the Cook county area.

Last month I posted an obituary for Mary Olson, the granddaughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad. The photo with the obituary wasn't very clear but thanks to Mary's granddaughter, Beverly, I have a slightly clearer photo from the obituary. It looks like Mary is holding a cake. Here is a 2nd obituary that Beverly also provided. This 2nd obituary was the only one of the two that mentioned a sibling (Edith) which may indicate that her younger sister, Anna (Knutson) Larson had passed away sometime between 1930 and 1943. Mary was buried at the Lawnridge cemetery in Rochelle; her marker can be viewed here .

Here is a photo of the marker for Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson Robert Ludwig. Robert was the grandson of Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas Knutson and the second child born to  Edith (Knutson) and Charles Edward Ludwig. Robert was born March 5, 1924 in Rochelle, Illinois and died April 21, 1992 in Sycamore, Illinois.   He is buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois.

Elmer and Stanley Olson's younger brother Olaf, was also buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Olaf A Olson was born July 25, 1906 and died December 4, 1972. His marker was misspelled as "Olsen".

Stanley's older brother, Elmer Olson is also buried at Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Elmer was born August 16, 1893 and died January 27, 1967.     Elmer was the son of Mary (Knutson) and Stephen Olson, grandson of Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas Knutson and great grandson of Ole and Mari Finnestad.

Here is a photo of the marker for Stanley August Olson 's grave located at Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Stanley was born August 24, 1895 and died September 23, 1976. Stanley's wife, Ann Olson was born March 21, 1894 and died March 23, 1977. 

Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Isabel Josephine (Vallem) and husband Ole P Hall were buried at Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Here is a closeup of Isabel's marker. Isabel Josephine Vallem was born July 29, 1882 and died January 5, 1938. Isabel was the daughter of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem. Below is a close-up of Ole's marker.

After moving to the United States from Norway, there would eventually be two different Olson families as part of the Finnestad family tree. One branch via Elizabeth (Finnestad) Knutson and the other via Rachel (Finnestad) Vallem. (I posted the marker of one of Rachel's grandchildren, Stanley, a few days ago.) Below is the grave marker for Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Mary (Knutson) Olson. Mary was born May 16, 1867 in Norway as Maria Berthea Knutson, the daughter of Elizabeth and Ole Andreas Knutson. She died February 24, 1943. Mary was laid to rest at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois.

Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Stanley Arnold Olson is buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Stanley was the 4th child born to Elabata (Ella) Bertina (Vallem) and George Olson. Stanley was born December 30, 1913 and died September 17, 2001.

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.

Here is a summary of Ole and Mari Finnestad and their 11 children along with their final resting places: Ole Oleson Finnestad February 14, 1814 - November 22, 1906 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Mari Iversdatter Skaar Finnestad July 12, 1824 - November 1, 1905 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Elizabeth Olsdatter Finnestad Knutson April 10, 1844 - March 14, 1930 Lawnridge Cemetery - Rochelle, Illinois Sarah (Serina) Olsdatter Finnestad July 5, 1846 - August 21, 1923 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Maria Olsdatter March 7, 1848 - May 15, 1851 Fister , Norway Dana (Iverdine) Olsdatter Finnestad Travland December 2, 1850 - November 3, 1879 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Bertha Olsdatter Finnestad Haaland December 2, 1850 - April 29, 1929 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Rachel (Rakkel) Marie Olsdatter Finnestad Vallem December 2, 1853 - April 8, 1932 Lawnridge Cemetery - Rochelle, Illinois Ole Oleson Finnestad June 4, 1856 - July 7, 1928 Fairview Cemet...

Rachel was the 6th child born to Ole and Mari Finnestad. Rachel is buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Rachel was born December 2, 1853 and died April 8, 1932. Coincidentally, her older twin sisters, Bertha and Iverdine were also born on December 2nd. Rachel's husband, Lewis is buried in Norway; I do not have a photo or exact location but believe it is a cemetery in the village of Valheim. Rachel's last name was spelled as 'Vallum' rather than the correct spelling of "Vallem" on the marker.

Ole and Mari Finnestad's eldest daughter, Elizabeth was laid to rest at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Elizabeth was born April 10, 1844 and died March 14, 1930. Here is another photo of Elizabeth's marker. I do not know when Elizabeth's husband Ole Andreas Knutson died, but it was sometime between 1910 and 1920. I also do not know the facts surrounding his death so I do not know why he wasn't buried next to Elizabeth or whether his burial place is even located in a cemetery in Illinois. Here is a photo of the entrance to the Lawnridge Cemetery, Rochelle, Illinois.

Several of the Finnestad family members were laid to rest at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Two of Ole and Mari Finnestad's daughters are located there: Rachel Vallem and Elizabeth Knutson. Rachel's daughter Isabel Josephine, husband Ole Hall and Rachel's son, Elmer in Section B #21. There is also a "Hall" though I do not yet know who is buried there. Elizabeth's daughter Edith, husband Charles Ludwig and their son Robert, in Section B #22. I will post photos once I obtain them. Lawnridge is located in Ogle County, on 8th Avenue in Rochelle.