Finnestad Ancestry

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...

I have not had any updates lately so thought I would start a new decade by catching up to the 1920's. In 1920, Ole Finnestad, wife Caroline and daughter Frances had moved one township south of Alto and had moved to Willow Township, Lee County, Illinois. They moved in with daughter Lettie, son-in-law Christopher Risetter and their two children, Hamilton and Verdell. Living next door was Ole and Caroline's daughter, Lillian, husband George Risetter and their daughter Betty Lou.

Here is the obituary for my great, great grandfather, Ole Finnestad Jr from the Dixon Evening Telegraph of July 9, 1928. Note the misspelling of his first and last name, though Finnestad was spelled correctly within the content of the article. You will also note that his brother Rasmus had moved from Canada to Washington by the time of his brother's death. Oddly, there is no mention of the sisters that survived him, leading me to believe they may have lost touch by the time of his death.

Standing, left to right: Frances, Alice and Lillian Seated: Caroline and Ole Jr Finnestad I would guess this photo was taken sometime between 1915 and 1917. I base this on the previous photo I have of Frances, taken in 1914 of her confirmation and Lillian was not married until 1918. This is the only photo I have seen of my great great grandparents, Ole and Caroline Finnestad. Thank you to Joan Bays, the great granddaughter of Ole and Caroline for providing this photo.

Ole Jr and wife Caroline were still living in Alto township, Lee, Illinois by the time of the 1910 US Federal Census, along with their children, Oliver, (note they indicate "Olive" - another example of errors and inaccuracies one encounters when trying to research history), Alice, Evelyn, Lillian and Frances. Ole and Caroline's daughter, Clara, had married a year earlier and was living with her new husband, Christopher Risetter in Willow Creek Township, Lee, County, Illinois. Also living with them in 1910 was a hired hand by the name of George Walker.

From the Hetland/Frue Parish records, Ole Jr (entry #20) was confirmed on October 2, 1870.

According to the Hjelmeland/Fister parish records, Ole Jr was born to Ole and Mari on June 4, 1856 and baptized September 7, 1856.

The top photo shows the location of Ole Sr's home. As of August 2008, the house no longer exists and is a field. It is located approximately 1/2 mile south of Gurler Road on the east side of Woodlawn Road in Lee County, Illinois. The middle photo is the site of Ole Jr's father-in-law, John S Quitno, as of August, 2008. The home is no longer in the Quitno or Finnestad family. It is located approximately 6/10ths of a mile south of Gurler Road on the west side of Woodlawn Road in Lee County, Illinois. The bottom photo is the site of Ole Jr's home. As of August 2008, the house no longer exists and is a field. It is located approximately 9/10ths of a mile south of Gurler Road on the west side of Woodlawn Road in Lee County, Illinois.

In 1900 the United States census shows Ole Sr and Ole Jr and their families both living in the same township, Alto in Lee County, Illinois. Based upon the census records, I have estimated that Ole Sr, wife Mari, daughters Mary B and Sarah lived approximately 1/2 mile from Olr Jr, wife Caroline, son Oliver, daughters Josephine, Lettie and Alice, while daughters Evelyn and Lillian were listed as boarders with the Offtedal family a few miles south.