Finnestad Ancestry

I had posted the 1910 and 1920 US Federal Census for Ole and Mari Finnestad's grandson, Ole Alfred Knutson but had a difficult time locating the 1930 Census. By the time of the 1930 Census, the Watertown State Hospital changed its name to East Moline State Hospital. The hospital also fell within two areas, Hampton township and a second in the city of East Moline. Alfred's fell within the Hampton township and I had been looking through the city of East Moline's census records. Alfred was never released from the hospital but did work as a steamfitter, most likely at the hospital. Alfred passed away on January 8, 1934, just under four months from his 52nd birthday. Alfred was the son of Elizabeth and Ole Andreas (Andrew) Knutson.

I had posted earlier that Ole and Mari Finnestad's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was never really a Finnestad as she had not lived on the Finnestad farm prior to getting married. I was wrong. I was going through some of my documents and came across a confirmation from the Regional State Archives of Stavanger, that Ole Finnestad had purchased a lot of property (Merknad 387b, which is now property nr. 16) on the Finnestad farm in 1862. Because Elizabeth did not marry Ole Andreas Knutson until 1864, it stand to reason she was most likely living with her parents on the Finnestad farm from 1862 through 1864. I have updated the family tree (right hand column) and added "Finnestad" to Elizabeth's name.

Here is a summary of Ole and Mari Finnestad and their 11 children along with their final resting places: Ole Oleson Finnestad February 14, 1814 - November 22, 1906 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Mari Iversdatter Skaar Finnestad July 12, 1824 - November 1, 1905 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Elizabeth Olsdatter Finnestad Knutson April 10, 1844 - March 14, 1930 Lawnridge Cemetery - Rochelle, Illinois Sarah (Serina) Olsdatter Finnestad July 5, 1846 - August 21, 1923 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Maria Olsdatter March 7, 1848 - May 15, 1851 Fister , Norway Dana (Iverdine) Olsdatter Finnestad Travland December 2, 1850 - November 3, 1879 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Bertha Olsdatter Finnestad Haaland December 2, 1850 - April 29, 1929 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Rachel (Rakkel) Marie Olsdatter Finnestad Vallem December 2, 1853 - April 8, 1932 Lawnridge Cemetery - Rochelle, Illinois Ole Oleson Finnestad June 4, 1856 - July 7, 1928 Fairview Cemet...

Barnel Oluf Oleson was the 11th and final child born to Ole and Mari Finnestad. Church records from the Hetland church in Stavanger, Norway document Barnel's birth and death. Below is a photo* of the "Our Lady Church" or "Hetland Church" Barnel was born July 8, 1866 and died February 18, 1868. *Photo by Arne Toftøy-Anderson

Rachel was the 6th child born to Ole and Mari Finnestad. Rachel is buried at the Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle, Illinois. Rachel was born December 2, 1853 and died April 8, 1932. Coincidentally, her older twin sisters, Bertha and Iverdine were also born on December 2nd. Rachel's husband, Lewis is buried in Norway; I do not have a photo or exact location but believe it is a cemetery in the village of Valheim. Rachel's last name was spelled as 'Vallum' rather than the correct spelling of "Vallem" on the marker.

Bertha was the twin sister of Iverdine, born to Ole and Mari Finnestad. Bertha and her husband, Andrew Haaland are buried at the Union Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois. Bertha was born December 2, 1850 and died April 29, 1929. Unfortunately they spelled her name incorrectly as "Bartha" on her marker.

There was a tie for the 4th born child to Ole and Mari Finnestad; between Iverdine and Bertha, who were twins. Iverdine (or Dana) is buried with her daughter, Ane Maria Travland at the Union Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois. Iverdine was born December 2, 1850 and died November 3, 1879. Ane Maria was born June 1, 1873 and died August 12, 1873. If you look at Trish Hodgen's website , you can see how much of Iverdine's marker has worn away based upon these photos. I am not sure when Trish took the photo on her web page ; the two photos above were taken June 17, 2010.