Finnestad Ancestry

 I had previously written two posts regarding the death of Rasmus Finnestad.   Those can be found here and here . Here is his Washington state death certificate: The death certificate incorrectly lists his father as "Oluf".    His father was Ole (Olson) Finnestad.    His mother was Mari Skaar, misspelled as "Skaare" on the death certificate.

Rasmsus Finnestad, son of Mari (Iversdatter) and Ole Finnestad moved to Canada in 1912 from Fenton township, Kossuth county, Iowa.    Here is the 1916 Canada census. They were living in District 20 (Last Mountain), sub-district 12 (Townships 29 and 30, ranges 5, 6 and 7, west of third meridian, including the villages of Glenside and Broderick), Saskatchewan province, Canada.    Living with Rasmsus was wife Carrie (Derdall) and their two youngest children, Clara and Oluf.    Rasmus was still a Norwegian citizen in 1916 and employed as a farmer.

Here is the 1940 US Census for Rasmus Finnestad, son of Mari (Iversdatter) and Ole Finnestad Sr. 1940 US Census - Rasmus Finnestad Rasmus was living at 1511 Lombard Avenue, Everett, Snohomish County in the state of Washington.    Rasmus was living with his son and daughter-in-law.    For some reason the 1940 census for a few households living on Lombard Avenue was amended and an additional family member (in this case, Rasmus) was listed on a separate sheet.

While searching for the 1940 US Census for Mari (Iversdatter) and Ole Finnestad Sr's son, Rasmus, I came across his 1930 US Census. The census listed the last name as "Finister", which is why I was unable to track it down earlier using an index system. Rasmus and wife Carrie (Dirdall) were living in Ludwig precinct, Snohomish county, Washington.  The 1930 US Census reflects the first US Census for Rasmus since he left for Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada sometime after 1910.

When Bert and Rasmus Finnestad, the sons of Ole and Mari Finnestad completed the process of naturalization , the local paper, the Sycamore True Republican noted the event in their October 24, 1888 edition. My great great grandfather Ole Finnestad (Jr) had completed the process February 25, 1884 so he may have been mentioned a few years earlier.

Here is the death certificate information for Rasmus Finnestad, the 10th child born to Ole and Mari Finnestad. Rasmus was the first child born to Ole and Mari while they were living on the Finnestad farm, unlike his preceding siblings who were born in a different parish, northeast of Stavanger. Rasmus was born November 20, 1863 in Norway and died September 5, 1945 in Everett, Washington. Ole Finnestad is misspelled as Olief and Mari Skaar is misspelled as "Skaire".

Rasmus Finnestad, brother Ole and sisters Sarah and Mary all arrived in the United States in 1875.  I had attempted to locate the 1880 census records for them under the name "Finnestad" but was unable to find anything.     Then I decided to use "Oleson" and found Rasmus. Below is the 1880 US Census for Dement Township in Ogle County, Illinois. On line 34 is Rasmus Oleson, a hired hand for the Countryman family.   Rasmus Oleson Finnestad was born November 20, 1863 in Norway, so his age at the date of the census on June 11, 1880 would match.  It's not too far-fetched to believe I am on the right track as by the time of the 1900 US Census, Rasmus and family were still living in Ogle County. Growing up, I was told our ancestors used the name Oleson and then changed it to Finnestad after discovering there were so many Oleson (Olson, Olsen) families living in the area. This also fits with the history of Norwegian naming patterns . ...

I have completed cleaning up the family tree and added a final tab for Ole and Mari Finnestad's son, Rasmus. Six of Ole and Mari's eleven children produced the most descendants; the last 6 tabs include those six children and the two subsequent generations.  Here is a summary and links to the additional tabs: - Elizabeth Knutson - Iverdine (Dana) Travland - Rachel Vallem - Ole Finnestad (Jr) - Bert Finnestad - Rasmus Finnestad The family tree will always be available on the right hand margin for easy access. In the future, subsequent generations will be listed on a new spreadsheet to reduce any confusion.   The additional spreadsheets will be listed in the right hand margin below the original family tree.

Here is a entry document into the United States. The port of entry is Portal, North Dakota. When I obtained the document, the year indicated was 1909, though I looked through the document and didn't see the actual date. Elizabeth (eldest daughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad) and husband Ole Andreas Knutson had come through Portal on their way back from Outlook, Saskatchewan. If you look closely, on the right side (line 25 and 26), the form indicates they were visiting Ole Knutson's brother-in-law, Berthel Finnestad (Elizabeth's younger brother). While I can't read the final columns due to a smudge, it most likely indicates Rochelle, where they were living at the time. I also am assuming they took the train to Canada and back to Illinois. (You get used to making assumptions when encountering documents that lack detailed information.) As I had stated in a previous post, Bert Finnestad and wife Celia had moved to Saskatchewan in 1904. While the document doesn...

Rasmus, the 3rd son of Ole and Mari Finnestad has the distinction of having a headstone in Saskatchewan and also in Everett , Washington, though he his buried in Washington. There is an error regarding the year of birth. Rasmus was born November 20, 1863 in Norway. I called the cemetery and an employee was kind enough to take a photo and email me.

Rasmus Finnestad, wife Carrie and their children, Mabel, Goodwin, (Rose) Clara and Olaf lived in Iowa during the 1905 Census. Rasmus and family were living in Flagg Township, Ogle County, Illinois during the 1900 census , so they moved sometime between 1900 and 1905 to Iowa, before eventually moving to Canada where Rasmus' brother Bert and family were living in Saskatchewan. Rasmus was the youngest living son of Ole and Mari Finnestad

According to the Hetland/Frue Parish records, Rasmus (last entry) was born to Ole and Mari on November 20, 1863 and was baptized November 26, 1863. Rasmus confirmation records were previously posted on September 11, 2008.

Today I received in the mail a book from Carmen Hurd, the great-granddaughter of Ole Sr and Mari Finnestad, granddaughter of Rasmus and Kari Finnestad, and daughter of Olaf and Myrtle Finnestad. This book contains photos and helps complete the descendant information of Rasmus and brother Bert Finnestad. I will be updating the Finnestad family tree and adding information from the book in a sequential order. Again, to access the Finnestad family tree, click on the profile for this webpage (with the picture of my dog) which will provide a link to the worksheet.

These confirmation records of 3 Finnestad ancestors are located on this document from Calvary Lutheran Church in Lee, Illinois. Andrea Elizabeth Knutson, daughter of Ole Andreas and Elizabeth Finnestad and granddaughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad was confirmed May 19, 1889. She was 16 at the time of her confirmation. Rasmus Finnestad was confirmed March 4, 1890. He was 25 at the time of his confirmation. Bert Finnestad was confirmed December 25, 1891. He was 30 at the time of his confirmation. Both Rasmus and Bert were the sons of Ole and Mari Finnestad.

According to the 1900 United States Census, Ole Sr's son, Rasmus and family lived in Flagg Township, Ogle County, Illinois. Flagg township is located on the southern border with Lee County. Rasmus and family would have lived just north of his brother Bert to the southwest of Flagg township and father Ole Sr, brother Ole Jr to the southeast of Flagg township.