Finnestad Ancestry

Based upon the 1900 Census records, it appears Ole Sr and family rented the property listed as "R. Thorson" located on the top left (#1 quadrant) of the 1900 Alto Township plat map. Ole Jr's father-in-law, John S Quitno resided in the home across the street (#2 quadrant) on 160 acres. Ole Jr and family owned the home listed on the plat map as J S Quitno's (#2 quadrant) 80 acre property.

In 1900 the United States census shows Ole Sr and Ole Jr and their families both living in the same township, Alto in Lee County, Illinois. Based upon the census records, I have estimated that Ole Sr, wife Mari, daughters Mary B and Sarah lived approximately 1/2 mile from Olr Jr, wife Caroline, son Oliver, daughters Josephine, Lettie and Alice, while daughters Evelyn and Lillian were listed as boarders with the Offtedal family a few miles south.

It's not likely the Finnestad family had a camera or the ability to have professional photos taken, so photos of the Finnestad family in the early days probably do not exist. Fortunately, Calvary Lutheran Church located at 19 Perry Road and County Line Road in Lee County, Illinois had kept records from the late 1800's to the present. Above is a photo of Ole Sr and Mari's granddaughter, "Dina" Josephine Finnestad and her confirmation class in 1901. Dina is wearing a ribbon in her hair, middle row, 3rd from the right. (As for all documents, click on them for a larger view)

Until I find a software that will allow me to download the family tree onto this blog site, the following will serve as a preview. Previously I provided a list of Ole Olson Finnestad Sr's children. The 3rd known generation: Elizabeth Olson married O.A. Knutson. As of the 1910 US census, Elizabeth had 10 children but only 4 had survived. The only known child as of this writing was Edith Knutson. The other 3 I have been unable to locate. Ole Finnestad Jr married Caroline Quitno. They had 7 children: "Dina" Josephine, Oliver, Lettie Clara, Alice Marie, (Carrie) Eveyln, Lillian May and Frances Julia Finnestad. Bert Finnestad married Celia Goodmonson. They had 5 children: Oscar, George, Minerva (Minnie), Charlotte and Selma Bertha Finnestad. Rasmus Finnestad married Carrie Goodmonson (Celia's sister). They had 5 children: Mabel, Goodwin Cornel, Rose Clara and Olaf Finnestad. In regards to Ole and Mari's other children: Sarah (Serina), Iverdine, Bertha, Rakel Ma...

Here is another link from a Norwegian website that lists the farm where our ancestors had farmed: http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/navnegransking/rygh_ng/rygh_soek.prl?s=e&AMT=&start=Search&HERRED=&SOGN=&GNAVN=finnestad&GNR=&LITTREF=&REFORDF=&BIND=&SIDE=&SOEKESTRENG=&med_amt=on&med_herred=on&med_sogn=on&konkordanse_streng=hurtigliste&sort_tfunn=-&sort_amt=1&sort_herred=2&sort_sogn=3&sort_gard=4 Click on option #4 (should indicate farm #31) for the correct farm. Sorry but I cannot translate for you. :) Farming in those days and in Norway was different than the way Americans are used to farming, but here is another web link that explains it better (or more confusing) than I could: http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~norway/na27.html

In Norway, the last name of the son of the father became "son" and the daughter of the father became "datter". For example, in our family, Ole Ols had a son Ole, who then became Ole Olson. Ole Ols had a daughter, Marie who became Marie Olsdatter. For more information on the Norwegian naming system, go to the following website: http://www.norwayheritage.com/norwegian-names.htm Ole Sr and Mari Olson had 11 children, though as of this writing, I have only been able to track down 10: Elizabeth, Sarah, Maria, Iverdine, Bertha, Rakel Marie, Ole Jr, Mary B, Bertel O, and Rasmus. Elizabeth, Sarah, Ole Jr, Mary B, Bertel O and Rasmus have been documented moving to the United States, along with their parents, Ole Sr and Mari. Maria died at the age of 3 in Norway. I have been unable to confirm whether Iverdine, Bertha and Rakel Marie left Norway. (For the record, Iverdine and Bertha were twins.)

According to census records: - Bert arrived in America in 1874. - Rasmus arrived in America in 1875 (Prior to June). - Their brother Ole Jr, sisters Mary B and Sarah also came over in 1875. - Their sister Elizabeth arrived in 1879 or 1881. - Their parents Ole Olson Sr and wife Mari arrived in the US 1882 (after June). Again, census records lack legibility and accuracy. But it gives you an idea when the Finnestad family began their life in "the new world". It was common to take the name of the farm on which a family lived as their family name. So 'Olson' became Finnestad. Here are Ole Jr's, Rasmus and Bert's immigration documents, completed in Sycamore, Illinois. (Followed by Bert and Rasmus). These documents were not completed upon entry to the US but rather at a date much later than when they initially arrived. Note that all allegiance and fidelity to the King of Norway & Sweden has been renounced. I also have come to the conclusion that the women an...