Finnestad Ancestry

Here is the 1920 US Census for Peter Vallem, his 2nd wife, Sarah (Anderson) and their son Orville.  Living next door Peter's younger sister, Linnie (Vallem) Arndt and her husband Andrew and their children Arthur LeRoy and Leonard. The two families were living in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois.     Both Peter and his brother-in-law were employed as machinists. Due to the spelling and handwriting for Peter Vallem and Linnie Arndt this census was difficult to track down.    1930 US Census also created a search barrier as Linnie was listed as single and reverted to her maiden name, Vallem. Peter and Linnie were the children of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem and grandchildren of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

Here is a photo I took recently of the Vallem plot located at Union Cemetery in Lee county, Illinois. In the background is the Vallem monument, which I posted in August 2010.   In the foreground is the marker for Lena Josephine (Travland), the first wife of Peter John Vallem.    To the left of Lena is Peter's marker. To the left of Peter's marker is that of his second wife, Sarah (Anderson) and to the left of Sarah is the marker for Peter's daughter, Lena Verdelle (Vallem) Dover .   The marker says 'Doner' though I am not sure of the correct spelling.

Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Peter John Vallem died on October 27, 1931 in Rockford, Illinois. Here is a document which contains information obtained from the death certificate. Click here for the photos of his burial site at the Union Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois.

Here is the grave marker for Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Peter Vallem and his first wife, Lena Josephine Travland. Peter was the eldest son of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem. Here is an additional marker for Lena. Lena was born March 24, 1878 and died March 1, 1911. Here is a secondary marker for Peter Vallem.    Peter was born September 17, 1873 and died October 27, 1931. Peter and Lena were laid to rest at the Union Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois.

Here is the WW I draft registration for Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Peter Vallem. Peter was living in Rockford, Illinois and working as a machinist for Ingersoll Milling Machine company when this document was signed on September 12, 1918. Peter was the eldest son of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

Revisiting a document I posted a couple of years ago before I knew Ole and Mari Finnestad's daughter Rachel had married Lewis Vallem, I came across two of their children, Peter and Ole. Peter Vallem was 15 (though the document indicates he was 14) when he was confirmed on May 14, 1889. Ole Vallem was also 15 when he was confirmed on June 1, 1890.

Another previous post , I did not know at the time, but both Peter and brother Ole Vallem were listed on the same Calvary Lutheran church confirmation ledger as 3 of their cousins, Elizabeth Andreas Knutson, Rasmus and Bert Finnestad. Peter Vallem was 14 when he was confirmed May 19, 1889. Ole Vallem was 15 when he was confirmed June 1, 1890. Unfortunately, there were no photos provided by the church until 1897.