Finnestad Ancestry

I had posted this photo of the Finnestad family taken about 1870 in Norway and recently* located the original, which is slightly clearer than the one I posted in March 2010.  The correct positions are, based upon what was written on the back of the photo: Back row: Bert, Mary, Rasmus, Ole Jr, Bertha, Serina (Sarah) Front row: Rachel, Ole Sr, Mari and Elizabeth My original guess that the photo was taken just before Iverdine and Rachel left Stavanger in May 1871 and moved to the United States was based upon the copy I'd received from Trish Hodgens.      This photo was probably taken prior to the 1900 US Census, the last census before Rasmus appeared in the 1905 Iowa Census and Bert had moved to Saskatchewan in 1903.    This makes more sense than my original post as Bert would have been 10 and Rasmus would have been 8 in a photo taken in 1871.     Iverdine passed away November 3, 1879 prior to this photo.  Narr...

Yesterday I posted photographs of Mari and Ole Finnestad's great grandson, Burdette Finnestad and wife Alice (Barnes) who were buried at the Belvidere Cemetery in Boone county, Illinois.    Just a few yards to the east of their burial plot is a chapel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright called the Pettit Chapel. Here is a photo of the signage for the chapel. Here are photos of each side of the chapel. The chapel was built in 1906 as a memorial to Dr. William Pettit by his wife, Emma.    The Pettit Chapel was just one of a couple of chapels designed by Frank Lloyd Wright during his career.

Mari and Ole Finnestad's grandson, Burdette Finnestad was buried at the Belvidere Cemetery in Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois. Here is a photo of the Finnestad plot. Here is a closeup of their monument. Here is a photo of the Belvidere Cemetery. Here is a map of the Belvidere Cemetery.   The Finnestad plot is located at 5th Edition, Block 9, Lot 6. Burdette, the eldest son of Mary (Kurth) and Oliver Finnestad was born July 11, 1912 in Lyneville township, Ogle county, Illinois.    Alice was born February 20, 1918 in Esmond, DeKalb county, Illinois to Helen (Gustafson) and George Barnes.    Alice and Burdette were married May 6, 1939 in Creston, Ogle county, Illinois. Burdette died May 27, 1984 in Belvidere and Alice died September 24 1970 in Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. Burdette was the grandson of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr....

Here is a photo taken last month of the marker for my great great great grandparents, Mari and Ole Finnestad, their daughter, Sarah and their granddaughter, Josephine.   Josephine was the daughter of Caroline (Quitno) and Ole Finnestad Jr. The recap posted last year of the burials of their children can be found here .     As I posted yesterday , Mari's year of birth was 1923, not 1924. Here is a photo of the Union Cemetery in Lee County, Illinois.    The marker above is located in the second row up from the left side of the Union Cemetery arch.

With the information available in the lawsuit I mentioned earlier this week, I was able to locate the original parish record for my great great great grandmother, Mari (Iversdatter Skaar) Finnestad. Here is the official Hjelmeland Årdal parish record for her baptism.   Mari is listed as the last entry on the right side. Mari was born July 5, 1823 on the Nord-Skaar farm in Fister and baptized August 3, 1823.   Mari's parents were Iver Reiersen and Siri Rasmusdatter.   The baptism record states she was born on the Nord-Skaar farm but the family was actually living on Kaltvedt søndre (southern) farm, which is where she was baptized. Here is the Hjelmeland Årdal copy of the parish record, which may or may not be more legible than the official record.   Mari is listed on the right side as number 14. Had I known this information when I had Ole and Mari's marker placed at their burial site, I would have listed the c...

Here is a photo I took recently of the Vallem plot located at Union Cemetery in Lee county, Illinois. In the background is the Vallem monument, which I posted in August 2010.   In the foreground is the marker for Lena Josephine (Travland), the first wife of Peter John Vallem.    To the left of Lena is Peter's marker. To the left of Peter's marker is that of his second wife, Sarah (Anderson) and to the left of Sarah is the marker for Peter's daughter, Lena Verdelle (Vallem) Dover .   The marker says 'Doner' though I am not sure of the correct spelling.

Here is a photo taken last month at the Union cemetery in Lee county, Illinois, of the headstone for Ole and Mari Finnestad's daughter, Iverdine Travland.   Because it was made of either limestone or concrete it's difficult to read but may be slightly more legible than previous versions I've posted . Iverdine's daughter Ane Marie is listed at the lower section of the marker, having passed away after 2 months of age.