Finnestad Ancestry

When I began this blog a couple of years ago, I had posted the 1900 Alto Township plat map for Lee County, Illinois, along with my guess as to where our ancestors resided . Long after that post, I had discovered that Rachel Vallem was Ole and Mari Finnestad's daughter. Here is an updated map, along with my best guesstimate as to where the families were living in 1900, based upon the plat map and the 1900 US Federal census records. Included on this map are the home sites for Ole Sr and family, Ole Jr and family, Rachel Vallem and family, Peter Vallem and family*, Isabel Hall and family* along with the location of the Finnestad school (also known as the Carlson school #135). As you can see from the map, many family members lived rather close to one another, even after they married and started their own families. *Based upon the census records, it seems possible that Peter and sister Isabel were renting a house and sharing with their respective families.

Here is the 1910 US Census for Ole and Mari Finnestad's granddaughter, Isabel Josephine Hall, her husband Ole and son Oral. They were living in Malta Township, DeKalb County, Illinois during the 1910 census. Isabel Josephine Hall was the daughter of Rachel and Lewis Vallem.

Below is a photo* of Ole and Mari Finnestad's great granddaughters, Wanda Risetter (Dearth) and Betty Risetter (Shipman). Wanda and Betty were the daughters of Lillian (Finnestad) and George Risetter; granddaughters of Ole and Caroline Finnestad. I'm guessing that the photo was taken probably sometime in the early 1940's. *Photo provided by Roxanne (Dearth) Hamilton

Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Elmer James Vallem, completed a World War II registration card in April 1942.  Elmer was youngest child of Rachel Olson Finnestad Vallem.   His father was Jacob Johnson At the time, he was living in Rochelle, Illinois and listed his sister, Ella Bertina Vallem Olson's daughter-in-law, Mrs George Olson as someone that would know his whereabouts. According to Elmer's niece Genevieve Fern Olson Berg, Elmer never served in World War II, but he did serve in World War I.

Olava Edvarda Knutson, granddaughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad, was born to Elizabeth and Ole Andreas Knutson on July 12, 1878 and baptized on July 28, 1878. Here is the official parish record from the St. Petri church of Stavanger, Norway (entry #174). Here is the copy of the parish record from the St Petri church of Stavanger, Norway (entry #174). I have now found 9 of Elizabeth and Ole's 10 children. I am not sure whether the unknown 10th child was born in Norway or in Illinois. Since the 1890 US census records were destroyed by fire (as well as the local paper for Rochelle, Illinois), nor do I know know what church they attended after the 1890's, it is questionable that I'll be able to locate the missing child.

Andrea Elizabeth Knutson, granddaughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad, was born to Elizabeth and Ole Andreas Knutson on January 29, 1873 and baptized on February 16, 1873. Here is the official parish record from the St. Petri church of Stavanger, Norway (entry #60). Here is the copy of the parish record from the St Petri church of Stavanger, Norway (entry #60).

Clara Dorthea Knutson, granddaughter of Ole and Mari Finnestad, was born to Elizabeth and Ole Andreas Knutson on February 27, 1870 and baptized on March 27, 1870. Here is the official parish record from the St. Petri church of Stavanger, Norway (entry #130). Here is the copy of the parish record from the St Petri church of Stavanger, Norway (entry #130).