Finnestad Ancestry

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.

Continuing from yesterday's post, here is the 1880 US Census taken June 21st.  I believe this census pertains to Ole Jr and sister Mary Finnestad (line 7 & 8), living in the village of Malta, DeKalb County, Illinois. The 1880 Census documents the age at last birthday prior to June 1, 1880.    Ole was born June 4, 1856 and Mary was born January 19, 1859.    Ole's age would be 23 and Mary's age would be 21.    Since Ole would be 24 a few days after the 'requirement' and it looks like they indicated Mary was 21, I'm probably on the right track that this is the correct Oleson siblings who have not yet adopted Finnestad as their last name. The name that is unclear is that of their nephew.   It looks like the first name and middle initial is "Ole J".    The last name is difficult to read, but starts with a "T".  After looking through the list of potential relatives, Ole and Mary's sister Ive...

Here is the 1930 US Federal Census record for Ole and Mari Finnestad's youngest daughter, Mary. Mary was living in Willow Creek Township, Lee County, Illinois at the time the census was taken. 1930 was the first census record that listed Mary Finnestad's married name, Bell. I had originally thought that this might be the same person as there was a "Mary" of the same age living as a servant for a James Kennedy in 1920 as well, but it wasn't until Ole and Mari's great-great granddaughter Rose confirmed that Mary had married someone named "Bell".

In 1920, Mary (daughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad) Bell was living in Willow Township, Lee County Illinois. She is listed as "servant" residing with James Kennedy. Note the census record lists Mary's maiden name, Finnestad, rather than her married name of Bell.

Mary, the youngest daughter of Ole and Mari was buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Everett, Washington next to her brother, Rasmus. Mary had moved from Illinois to Washington sometime between the 1930 US Federal census and the time of her death in 1937. Mary was born in 1859 , not 1857; her brother Rasmus' marker also misstated his birth year. According to the "family service advisor" at Evergreen Cemetery, Mary "was placed in the International Order of Odd Fellows cemetery in Marysville WA - she was disinterred in 1945 and placed next to Rasmus on the same day he was placed 09/07/1945. They both are located in Block 49, Lot 144 - Rasmus on the right, Mary on the left."

Of Ole and Mari's children I was able to track down, I have been unable to locate the whereabouts of Ole and Mari Finnestad's daughter, Mary for the 1910 US Federal Census. I imagine getting 100% accuracy of all US residents is quite a difficult task. She does pop up in 1920 which I will post at a later date. Bert and family were already living in Saskatchewan by 1910. Maria, as I had stated in a previous post, had died at the age of 3 in Norway. The twins, Iverdine and Bertha, along with Rakel I have been unable to trace and do not know whether they left Norway, following their siblings and parents.