Finnestad Ancestry

The 1930 US Census lists Arthur LeRoy Arndt living with his aunt and uncle, Mary (Arndt) and Wallace L. Toole and their daughter Alfa.        They are listed on lines 65 - 68 of the census. The Toole family were living in South Haven township, Van Buren county, Michigan.    I do not know why Arthur didn't live with his mother though it may have had to do with economics.   This census was taken the year following the Great Depression of 1929. Arthur was the son of Linnie (Vallem) and David Andrew Arndt, the grandson of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem and great-grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

The 1930 US Census for Leonard A Arndt lists him living in Lincoln City, Logan county, Illinois at the "Institute for Feeble Minded Children".     Leonard was 12 years old when the census was taken April 1, 1930.      Leonard's mother, Linnie was living in Dement township, Ogle county, Illinois at the time of the 1930 census.      This census incorrectly states Linnie was single. The "Institute" opened in 1877 in Lincoln, Illinois, at the time, as an 'appendage' for the deaf and dumb.  More can be found here , here , here and here . This photo of the "Institute" was taken between 1890 and 1901: Leonard was the son of Linnie (Vallem) and David Andrew Arndt, the grandson of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem and great-grandson of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr..

Here is the 1920 US Census for Peter Vallem, his 2nd wife, Sarah (Anderson) and their son Orville.  Living next door Peter's younger sister, Linnie (Vallem) Arndt and her husband Andrew and their children Arthur LeRoy and Leonard. The two families were living in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois.     Both Peter and his brother-in-law were employed as machinists. Due to the spelling and handwriting for Peter Vallem and Linnie Arndt this census was difficult to track down.    1930 US Census also created a search barrier as Linnie was listed as single and reverted to her maiden name, Vallem. Peter and Linnie were the children of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem and grandchildren of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.

I have been searching for the husband of Mary (Finnestad) Bell for quite awhile.    Her death certificate from Snohomish county, state of Washington lists Mary as a widow.    No name was listed in the space for her husband but "no one knew".     That might apply to her actual birth month and day but I can only guess.    Apparently her brother, Rasmus couldn't remember the name of his brother-in-law.   I have yet to encounter a descendant of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr that does know his name. I previously posted  information on Mary's two burials hoping the original burial place would have more information on the name of Mary's husband, however, they did not have any additional documents. At this point I believe the closest I will get to discovering Mr. Bell's first name will be the deposition Mary provided to the prosecutor's office during the trial in which she was a witness.    The courthouse in Dixon, Illinois has a copy

Ole Finnestad, son of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr. was employed as a farmer according to the 1900 , 1910 and 1920 US Census records.     Ole most likely worked for his father-in-law, Jon (Sampson) Quitno who had owned farm property in Section 2 of Alto township , Lee county, Illinois where the Finnestad family lived.  In 1900 Ole ran for elected office as constable and tax collector for the township.   I first came across Ole mentioned as having been a tax collector in the book, 'The Sage of Sinnissippi' by Kinnie A Ostewig, published in 1907.    Ole Finnestad and the list of tax collectors from 1860 - 1908 are listed on page 309 and 310. Page 4 of the April 4, 1900 edition of the Dixon Evening Telegraph published the results of the 1900 township elections. Ole received 121 votes and Mortie Smith received 82 votes for tax collector.   For the position of constable, Ole received 16 votes and apparently no opponent.   The low number of votes for c

Just over 10 years ago I posted the death certificate of Lillian Thompson who had died as a result of a plane crash.   At the time, I was unable to track down a newspaper article with the details of the crash.    I recently obtained front page articles. During my search for the newspaper articles, I had been told another passenger, Lillian's fiancé (name unknown) was also in the plane and had died as a result.   The news reports confirm there were only two people on the plane, the pilot and Lillian.    Lillian was the daughter of Dena (Vallem) and Axel Thompson, the granddaughter of Rachel (Finnestad) and Lewis Vallem and great granddaughter of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.   

Here is a photo of Lillian Jordal and Kenneth Finnestad taken in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.   I am not sure of the date of the photo but I believe it to be sometime in the 1930's. Kenneth was the second son of Oliver and Mary Finnestad, the grandson of Caroline (Jonsdatter Quitno) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Jr. and the granddaughter of  Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.   

Mary (Finnestad) Bell was placed in the International Order of Odd Fellows cemetery in Marysville, Washington at the time of her death in 1937.     The Marysville Cemetery is no longer part of the Order.  Following instructions of her brother, Rasmus, her body was disinterred in 1945 and placed at the Evergreen Cemetery in Everett, Washington next to her brother following his death. Mary was daughter of Mari (Iversdatter Nord-Skaar) and Ole (Olson) Finnestad Sr.