Finnestad Ancestry

Here is the World War I draft registration for Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Stanley Harland Sanderson. Stanley was the first child born to Ellen Marie (Vallem) and Seward Sanderson.   His grandparents were Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem. Stanley was living in Shabbona, Illinois and employed as a farmer when he completed his draft registration on June 5, 1917.

Here is the World War I draft registration for George Adolf Hausske,  husband of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughter,  Ragna Lavina Nelson. George was employed as an electrical draftsman for Sargent and Lundy Engineers in Chicago, Illinois at the time he completed his draft registration on June 5, 1917. Ragna was the granddaughter of Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas (Andrew) Knutson, the daughter of Clara (Knutson) and Edward Nelson.

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.

Occasionally you run across information you do not expect to find. Ole and Mari Finnestad's great-grandson, Elmer Levi Johnson's World War I draft registration was completed on September 12, 1918. Listed as his disqualification was "....unable to leave his room having dropsy". Dropsy is an accumulation of liquid in the cells, tissues or other cavities. Elmer was the grandchild of Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas Knutson that was listed on the 1900 and 1910 US census after the death of Elmer's mother, Andrea Elizabeth (Knutson) Johnson. Due to the handwriting and incorrect name, it took me a couple of years to figure this out. Elmer passed away on March 20, 1919, a few months after this document was completed.

On June 5, 1919, Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Stanley August Olson completed his World War I draft registration card. Stanley, the son of Mary (Knutson) and Stephen Olson was 19 at the time and living in Algona, Iowa, working at Algona Automotive (can't quite read the 2nd word).

Here is the WW I draft registration for Ole and Mari Finnestad's great grandson, Oral Irving Hall. According to this document, Oral worked on a farm for his father, Ole Hall. Oral was the son of Isabel (Vallem) Hall and grandson of Rachel (Finnestad) and husband Lewis Vallem.

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.

Here is a copy of the draft registration of Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Ole L Vallem. Ole was a farmer living in Rochelle, Illinois at the time this was completed on September 12, 1918. Also mentioned in the document was his wife, Sophia. Ole was the son of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem.

A couple of weeks ago I posted the World War II registration for Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandchild, Elmer Vallem. I recently located his World War I draft registration. He was living in Creston, Illinois at the time this document was completed on June 5, 1917. Note the incorrect year of birth (1883) even though it indicates he was 24 at the time. Elmer was the youngest child born to Rachel (Finnestad) Vallem; his father was Jacob Johnson who apparently never married Rachel after the death of her first husband, Lewis.

Yesterday I posted the 1910 US Census record for Alfred Knutson living, at the Watertown State Hospital. I had located the record several months ago, but was not sure I had the correct Knutson. Then a couple of days ago I found his World War I registration, dated September 12, 1918, which confirmed I had the correct Alfred Knutson, as it stated the name of his mother, "Mrs. O. A. Knutson, Rochelle, Ill".

On June 5, 1917, my great grandfather Oliver registered for the draft. He claimed an exemption because he was married and had 4 children (Burdette, Kenneth, Harland and Oliver Jr) at the time of his registration. The United States had entered the war just two months prior to this document.