Finnestad Ancestry

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.

Yesterday I posted Truman Johnson's WW I draft registration. Below is his draft registration for World War II, completed on April 26, 1942. Truman was employed at E & W Clothing House in Rockford, Illinois and living in a hotel, also in Rockford. This document did not list Truman's wife or children, but instead listed his sister, Lillie Wright who was living in Iowa. Truman's wife Tilda was buried in 1979 at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois.  I am not sure why she was not mentioned on the draft registration card.

Elmer's older brother Truman (also carried the same middle name, "Levi") completed his World War I draft registration on June 5, 1916. The document indicates he has a wife (Tilda Hansen) and 1 child. Daughter Virginia was born April 12, 1917 so there must have been another child born to the Johnson family that passed away not long after birth.

By the time of the 1930 US census, Lillie's brother Truman had moved from Illinois (via Iowa) to Michigan. Truman, wife Tilda (Hansen), daughter Virginia and sons Lambert, Howard and Verol were living in Berkley Village, Michigan.

In 1915, the mid-decade, Iowa census did not list family members on a single sheet, but rather an index card so you have to do some hunting to locate members of the household and other relatives. Here is the 1915 census for Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter, Lillie (Johnson) Wright. The census record for Lillie's husband, Frank Wright. The census record for Ole and Mari Finnestad's great great granddaughter, Evelyn Wright, daughter of Lillie and Frank. And the 1915 census for Ole and Mari's great grandson, Truman Johnson. (Lillie's brother) They were all still living in Cylinder, Iowa when this census was taken. Lillie and Truman were the children of Andrea (Lizzie) Elizabeth (Knutson) and Lambert Johnson, the grandchildren of Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas Knutson.

In 1910, Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson Truman Johnson was still living with his aunt and uncle. His sister, Lillie had moved out and was living with her new husband, Frank Wright and their father was living nearby.

By 1905, Andrea's widower, Lambert (#528) had moved back to Iowa and was living in the town of Cylinder, Fairfield township, Palo Alto County. The 1905 Iowa census doesn't provide sufficient information to determine if he was living at the same household as Ida Govig, though the 1910 US Cenus does confirm they were living at the same household. Ida Govig was eventually the wife of Orville Olson, son of Mary and Stephen Olson. Mary was Andrea's older sister. Lambert's children, Lillie and Truman (#664 and #665) were still residing with their aunt and uncle, Benjamin and Ellen Govig, also in Cylinder, Iowa. (This census document reverted "Helen" back to "Ellen"). Lambert and Andrea's youngest child, Elmer was still living with his grandmother, Elizabeth Knutson, though no census record was taken mid-decade in Illinois.

Continuing from yesterday's post...... After Andrea's death in 1898, her husband went to live with his brother and sister-in-law in Chicago and their youngest son went to live with his grandparents, Elizabeth and Andrew Knutson in Rochelle, Illinois. Andrea and Lambert's other two children, Lillie and Truman went to live at the home of Benjamin and Helen Govig in Fairfield township, Palo Alto County, Iowa. The 1900 Census indicates Lillie and Truman were Benjamin and Helen's niece and nephew. Because the Knutson family did not move to the United States until 1880, Helen must be the sister of Lambert (Despite the 1880 census listing her name as "Ellen" and a one year age difference) rather than the sister of Andrea. Another future connection to the family: Benjamin had been born in Illinois, living in Alto Township, Lee County, Illinois. I would guess he was probably related to Ida Govig who would eventually marry Andrea's nephew, Orville Olson. As you...