Gregory Fearon's Family History Blog

A Lot of Great Women

2010-11-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Ten men (eleven if you count me) married well in my family. They were:

Churchill Jonathan Lary married Lucy Hall Watson. Lucy's family line was the Anthoines.
Nicholas Anthoine married Rachel Hawkes.
John Hawkes married Sarah Cushman.
Thomas Cushman married Mary Allerton.
Isaac Allerton married Mary Norris
Edward Norris (1565-1603) married Elizabeth Norreys
Edward Norris (1465-1485) married Frideswide Lovel
John Lovel married Joan Beaumont
John de Beaumont married Eleanor Plantagenet
Henry II of England married Eleanor of Acquitaine

Gregory

Lucy Ellen Watson

2010-11-26T16:41:00.000-08:00

My great great grandmother, Lucy Ellen Watson, can trace her ancestors back to the kings of England, Spain, and France.

Here's how it goes:

Lucy Ellen Watson is my great great grandmother. Lucy's mother, Harriett Anthoine, is the 7th great granddaughter of Sarah Cushman (1641-1695). Sarah's mother, Mary Allerton, is the daughter of Isaac Allerton and Mary Norris, two of the passengers on the Mayflower. Mary Norris, is the 10th great granddaughter of Eleanor Plantagenet (1311-1372). Eleanor is the 2nd granddaughter of Henry II, King of England (1132-1189). Henry's children and grandchildren were the royalty of Europe during the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries. One son was Richard I (the Lion-hearted) of England, and another was Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany. A daughter was Eleanor, Queen of Castille, and another was Joan, Queen of Sicily and Countess of Toulouse.

Henry II, is my 24th great grandfather.

Churchill Jonathan Lary

2010-11-21T19:34:00.000-08:00

Churchill Jonathan Lary, my great grandfather, lived far enough back in my ancestry to have had enough children and grandchildren whose lives left interesting legacies. He’s a good place to examine the English side of my family.

This week, I found another of Churchill’s descendants whom I believe is my 2nd cousin, once removed. She lives in Boston, and her family tree shows that her family traces their connection to Churchill from his son George (1880). Mine traces from George’s older brother Albert (1871). Their middle sister, Harriett (1875), completes the siblings of Churchill’s second family. Their mother, Lucy Ellen Watson, married Churchill in 1868, after the death of his first wife, Louise Anne Peabody. Louise and Churchill were married in July of 1850, and had three children: Frank (1852), Emily (1860), and Louisa (1863). Lucy lived on her own after Churchill died, in a house that she owned free of mortgage from 1896 until she moved in with her younger sister, Elizabeth Holden, on a farm in 1915. At 82, she moved in with the family of her son George until her death in Gorham, New Hampshire after 1930.

Churchill lived his entire life (1821 to 1896) on his father’s farm in Shelburne, New Hampshire. The son of a timber harvester, he made sure that his children all went through high school, and pursued occupations which provided well for their own families in the later part of the 19th century. My great grandfather, Albert, loved travel in his younger years. His training at Worcester Polytechnical School in mechanical engineering led him into automobiles. While starting a family, he used his knowledge to open an automobile garage, and to obtain a position as chauffeur for wealthy new England families, including one which employed him to ship and drive them in their car throughout Europe. Later, he was hired as the Maintenance Manager for the Brown Corporation's Paper Mill in La Tuque, Canada, until his death in 1943. Albert, and his wife Ida Marr, had two sons. His oldest son, Churchill, died as a young man. His younger brother, Everett, was the first of the Lary lineage to attend college. His love of science, encouraged by his brother, led to a degree in chemistry, to a specialization in chemical warfare in the military in World War II, and to a career in oil exploration and production. His daughter, Louisa, became a teacher. His oldest son, Frank, worked for the railroad all his life.

Churchill’s ancestors lived since the mid 1600’s in Rowley and Bradford, Massachusetts and in Sanbornton and Wolfesborough, New Hampshire.

France Roots Trip Successful

2010-07-25T17:52:00.002-07:00

Greetings!

I just realized that I forgot to post the results of our trip to France last fall. We had a wonderful time visiting 6,000 kilometers of France. Beginning with my ancestral home town of Mortagne au Perche, I found even more than I thought possible. The town's church (where my ggggggrandparents were married) has a stain-glass window depicting their landing in Quebec, and a wall placque with their names on it. There is also a museum in the area with an exhibit dedicated to the journey they took (with 98 others) to Quebec in the 1630's.

Here's a link to some posts I made to our travel blog: Mortagne au Perche

Our trip to France continued on to Normandie, Bretagne, and 12 other provinces before spending the last week in Paris. It was an adventure which strengthened my own sense of French history and my French heritage. History is always much more interesting when your own ancestors lived through it. To learn more about the adventure, visit our blog for each day after the link above.

And have fun exploring your heritage.

Gregory

France Roots Trip Successful

2010-07-25T17:52:00.001-07:00

Greetings!

Finding my Ancestors in France

2009-08-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Zacharie Cloutier and Xainte Du Pont were married in Mortagne au Perche, where we're going to spend our first night on our trip to France in a couple of weeks. I'm going to see if I can geotag this post to the church location.

GF-PK Traveling to France

2009-08-24T17:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

The non-stop flight is paid for, the 2009 Peugeot Trendy is leased, the Villa Beaumarchais in Paris is leased. We're reading seven books on France, and the route is beginning to take shape. Our trip to France begins on September 17th at 7:35am at the San Francisco Airport, and ends at the same place forty-one days and one minute less than twelve hours later on October 28th at 7:34pm.

But it actually all began in 1544 in the town of St. Jean, Mortagne, Perche, France. That's the town we're headed to once we land in Paris.

Nicholas Cloutier was born there, and was his son (Denis) and grandson (Zacharie). They were carpenters who struggled to keep their families alive in the late 1500's and early 1600's. On January 15, 1634, Surgeon Robert Giffard, a notable proponent of a Canadian community, was soliciting potential emigrants when he received notice that he had been awarded the Seigneurie of Beauport from the One Hundred Associates. Giffard had been in New France before, from 1621 to 1626 and again in 1628. In 1634, he successfully recruited several citizens of Perche as prospective residents for his newly acquired realm, one of which was Zacharie Cloutier. The work he signed on to was to expand the colony of New France by settling the Beauport area near Quebec City.

There's a nice family history website at Zacharie Cloutier
which gives you a short history. A look into his wife, Xaintes Du Pont, is at: Xaintes Du Pont> and their family is chronicled at: Cloutier

We'll be spending the first week of our trip visiting the home towns of my french ancestors in and around the Perche area, sixty miles west of Paris.

Gregory

Family's French Roots to be explored this year

2009-07-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

This fall, we'll be traveling to Mortagne au Perche, in northwestern France, to learn more about my french ancestors.

Here is a YouTube video of the Paris celebration last year of the 400th anniversary of Zachary Cloutier and his colleagues founding the city of Quebec.

Gregory

My Norwegian Settler Family Movie

2008-12-09T18:56:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Yesterday, I posted a video on YouTube which contains a short look at the Soine family, and my journey to research my family history. Hope you enjoy it.

Gregory

Cousins

2008-09-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

One evening on our recent trip to the Mid-West, Pat asked for an explanation of how the numbering of cousins worked. Understanding that the children of my father's brothers and sisters are my first cousins, and that the grandchildren of my grandfather's brothers and sisters are my second cousins, what are the grandchildren of my father's brothers and sisters to me?

The answer is that we are first cousins, once removed. Cousinship exists if we have a common ancestor, and do not share a common parent. The number of generations apart we are from each other determines the number of times we are removed - up or down.

Thus my first cousins are:

Austin Chick and Jonathan Chick, sons of Kathleen Lary Chick, my mother's sister.
Theodore, Roger, Carol, and Terry Skare, children of Eloise Skare, my father's sister.
Patricia Shaw, daughter of Laverna Savedes, my father's sister.
Children of any of them are my first cousins, once removed.

Similarly, the children of my grandmother's (Edna Leen Fearon Maxwell) brothers and sisters are also my first cousins, once removed: Arvid, Dawn, Leslie, Norman, Derald, and Larry Leen. Their grandchildren are my second cousins.

The children of my great grandmother's (Anne Marie Jonsdatter Soine) brothers and sisters (Jon, Juliane, Anne Marie, Ove, Eva, Emma, Geneva, Julia, Syver, Alfred, Sever, and Clare Soine) are my first cousins, twice removed. Their grandchildren are my second cousins, once removed. Their great grandchildren are my third cousins (Aaron Soine and his brothers).

The children of my great great grandfather's (Jon Johnson Lajord Soine) brothers and sisters (Lars, Anne, Marit, Syver, and Ole Soine) are my first cousins, thrice removed. Their grandchildren are my second cousins, twice removed. Their great grandchildren are my third cousins, once removed (Shirley Manning). Their great great grandchildren are my fourth cousins (Bob Skogman).

On our trip, we also met up with eighth cousin Trudy Wasson.

Gregory

Adventurers - My Family's 400 years of French, English, Norwegian, and Irish Settlers

2008-09-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

The single clearest characteristic defining who I am is my family's history of picking up and traveling somewhere else to make their lives. In future posts on this blog, I will write about their stories.

Gregory

Gravesite

2008-09-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

After many years of telling myself that I travel to Minnesota, meet my cousins, and find my grandfather and grandmother's graves, I have almost succeeded. Over the past week, I have met with three cousins, one of them a first cousin. I have found my grandfather's grave (pictured below), and will look for my grandmother's in Prior Lake in a couple of days. I've spent time with my Aunt Eloise, who at 93 is still active and enthusiastic about her life.

In the next week, my wife and I will be traveling to Ray, North Dakota to try to learn more about the lives of my grandparents and their siblings. As usual, I'll be posting journals and photos to our travel blog (http://gfpktravels.blogspot.com).

William Walker Fearon

2008-02-25T12:37:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

As he sat in the office on that windy June day in 1917, the 26 year-old, North Dakota Police Chief probably had a lot to consider as he filled out the paperwork to register himself for service in World War I. A married father of three young daughters, he also had the responsibility for the town's security.

But his life had provided ample experience to bring to miliary service in Europe. Born in Belfast, Ireland in 1890, his family history was based in Cumberland, England. Coming to America in 1892 from Ireland with his parents, John and Mary Fearon, the family spent some time in Illinois before finally stopping in Scammon, Kansas. Joining the Kansas Infantry in Topeka when he was 18, he rose to a non-commissioned officer in four years. Upon dischage, he traveled to Ray, North Dakota in 1912, and married the eldest daughter of a local Norwegian farm family. Accepting a position on the police force, he rose to the position of Police Chief over the past five years. In the block asking if the were any reason why he should be excluded, he wrote a large emphatic "NO", and handed his registration to Roy Enerson, Chief Registrar. Nevertheless, he remained in his post through the war, and had one more child eight years later - my father.

Continuing Research

2007-11-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Here are the continuing questions which drive my research currently:

1. Who were my father's father's parents? My grandfather's selective service record in 1917 indicates that he was born in Belfast to John Fearon and Mary Walker. I'm looking for William Walker Fearon's birth certificate, or record of birth, in November 9, 1896. I'm also looking for any records of his parents.

2. Who were Pat's father's parents? Jan Kuta and Katherine Olearski were born in Poland. We think we know the town names, and have located hers.

3. Who were my wife's brother's wife's father's great-grandfather's parents (Marvin Miller, born in 1817 in New York)? Who were her father's grandmother's parents (mary A.Miller, born in 1858 in Massachusetts)? Who were her father's mother's father's parents (John Monigle, born in 1869 in Ireland)? Who were her father's mother's mother's parents (Joseph Laware, born in 1824 in French Canada, and Mary Laware, born in 1832 in French Canada)?

4. I'm doing some research on the family of a friend of mine, Jim Evans. We are looking for his father's father's parents, and have located .

Back from Scandinavia (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway)

2007-09-03T22:44:00.001-07:00

Greetings!

For a detailed report of the trip, go to the travel blog I used to write up the daily adventures (GFPK Travels).

I also am correcting and augmenting the Ancestry.com family tree that I have established, and will be posting photos and documents, and other info into individuals in the family tree. Email me at gfearon@sonic.net if you want to gain access to the tree.

And so many thanks to all of you who provided me with information and contacts. I could not have had nearly as successful a trip researching my Norwegian ancestry without you.

Gregory

Preparing a visit to the Valdres Area in late July

2007-07-01T11:57:00.002-07:00

Greetings!

I've read the materials from Trudy Sondrol Wasson, and integrated the information from them into this blog and the family tree information on my Ancestry.com account. That history connects the earlier information on my Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota relatives which I received from Shirley Manning and my aunt aunt Eloise Skare - to relatives around the towns of Vang and Hedmark in Norway.

Of my ancestors in Vang, I know much more due to the many resources I've been guided toward from the Valdres Samband. I've obtained many texts, a DVD, and links to quite a few websites and other materials. I have less information on the my great grandfather's side of the family (from Hedmark), and may learn more research connections while traveling to there.

But my main hope is to see the farms where my great great grandfather (Jon Johan Johnson Lajord Soine) and his wife (Ingaborg Ovesdatter Kattevold), and their parents, were born. Those are the farms with the following names and gardnummers: Ovre Kvale (38/7-8); Berge (22); Norde Tune/Sender (36/2); Soine (50); Lajord (51/3); Myre (47/1); Kattevold (44/1-4); Boe (42); Sore Ellingboe (34); and Norde Haen (70).

I'm going to contact the genealogist for the Valdres Samband to see if he can help me make contact with someone in Vang who might be of help during the four days I will be there. Some have said that the local residents wouldn't mind my showing up without notice, but I would feel much better with someone in the area who knew our relatives or who could direct me to best use my time.

We leave this Thursday, July 6th, and will be gone until mid August. I'll post trip journals as I can on our travel blog (www.gfpktravels.blogspot.com). When I return, I'll make a slide show and post it on YouTube.com for those interested in what we saw and did.

Have a great summer.

Gregory Fearon
Pat Kuta

Soyne family farm photos

2007-02-22T09:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

My friend and cousin, Trudy Sondrol Wasson, sent me these photos of the Soyne family farm. She is helping me better understand the locations and histories of my family's Norwegian ancestry. She has also sent me maps and other information about several of my family's ancestral farms in the area in and around Vang.

Norwegian Connections

2007-02-20T20:37:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

With the help of the Digitalarkivet, I was able to locate some key family farms in Vang, and some key relatives living there in the 1801 Census:

Anne Madsdtr Myhre - Mother of Ann Sjugurdsdatter Lajord, 22 years old and living on the Myhre farm with her brothers John (28) and Thron (32), and sisters Marit (34) and Randi (19). Also living there is his father Mads Johnsen Myhre (64), and mother Anne Evensdtr Myhre (60).

Endre Trondsen Kattevold - grandfather of Ingeborg Ovesdatter Kattevold (her father's side), wife of Jon Johnsen Soine. At 24, he is living on the Kattevold farm with his brother Ove (22), and sisters (Ambior (26), Gertrud (17), Dorthe (15), and Kirsti (12). Also living there is his father Thron Johnsen Kattevold (60), and mother Kiersti Boyesdtr Kattevold (56).

Osten Torstensen Boe - grandfather of Ingaborg Ovesdatter Kattevold (her mother's side). At 20, he is living on the Boe Sondre farm with his sister Giertrude (15), his father Torsten Torstensen Boe (54), and his mother Giertrude Ostensdtr Boe (55).

Per (Peder) Johnsen Kvale (Qvale) - grandfather of Jon Johnsen Soine (his father's side). At 25, he is living on the Qvale farm with his brothers Iver (23), John (15), and Anders (9). His sisters were Randi (19) and Anne (18). Also living there is his father John Pedersen Qvale (58), and his mother Ingeborg Iversdtr Qvale (47).

Ingeborg Andersdtr Thune - grandmother of Jon Johnsen Soine (his father's side). At 24, she is living with her brothers Anders (27) Torsten (21), and Iver (38). Also living there is her father Anders Iversen Thune (65) and her mother Ingri Johnsdtr Thune (65).

Important Questions

2007-01-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Well, I've gotten a few more pieces of information since my last post here, so I thought that I would summarize the important questions I'm pursuing so I can focus the work ahead. Most of the questions concern the period of 1800-1860, and relate to the transition from Norway to the U.S.

1. Who lived on the Soine farm in Vang, Valdres, Norway? Who from that farm traveled to the U.S., and became members of the Soine family here? and when, and where did they settle? I've gotten a referral from my cousins Bob Skogman and Shirley Manning to Erling Nefstad. Erling lives on the Soine farm, in a house directly across the street from the site of the original house.

2. Where do the Lajordes fit into the Vang, Valdres, Norway history? If my great great grandfather, John Johnsen Soine, came to the U.S. on the Statsraad Vogt in 1848 with two others his same age from Vang (Nils Tronsen Lajordes and Anders Andersen Lajordes) whose names are nearly the same as that reported to be his mothers name (Anna Sjugurdsdatter Lajord) - could these be his cousins? Where did they settle into in the U.S.? My latest information seems to indicate they are cousins of my great great grandfather, and that they settled in Minnesota.

3. Some of the others who came over on the Statsraad seem to have names which relate to my family. Do they have relatives or farms in Vang which can be located? The names (and ages) are: Knud Halvorsen Strand (30), Anne Halvorsdatter (26), Anne Haaversdatter Berge (22), Halvor Haldorsen Hagen (20), and Ingebret Christophersen Heen (49). Do they have descendants in the U.S.?

4. There are names from the ancestry of my great great great grandmother mentioned in #3 above) which are Haen, Kvale, Kattevold, and Bo. What can be found out about their descendants? I found farms in Vang for Bo, Ellingboe, Haen, Kattevol, and Kvale in the database online.

This is a start at some key questions I'm interested in getting any information which readers can provide.

Soine Family Information

2007-01-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

My Soine heritage begins in the Valdres Valley in Norway, around the town of Vang. I spent some time ten years ago corresponding with a cousin of mine in North Dakota - Shirley Manning. Shirley sent me several long letters filled with information on her and my Soine ancestors, and helped me assemble at rudimentary family tree with the information I had gathered. There were still many pieces missing, and I remember making a vow to try to fill them in when I reached retirement.

One of the most interesting genealogical tools was a photograph taken by Torger Soine at the farm of my great grandfather - Julius Michaelsen Leen - in 1915 a few miles west of Ray, North Dakota. It was a panoramic view of 73 relatives and neighbors standing between the barn and the house on the farm. Appearing in the picture are the my great-grandmother's brothers and sisters or their children. I thought that It would be interesting to write up the story of how they got to that moment.

John Persson Kvale - Great-great-great-grandfather.
John Persson Kvale was born in 1800 in Valdres, Norway. At the age of 26, he and Anna Sjugursdatter Lajord (19) had a son, Jon Johan Johnsen Soine. They were never married. John later married Marit Torsteinsdatter Skelhaugen, and had children from that marriage.

Anna Sjugursdatter Lajord - Great-great-great grandmother.
Anna was born on the Lajord farm (Gardnummer 51/3 Berget) in Vang, Valdres, Norway, in 1805. She had a child with John Persson Kvale (Jon Johan Johnsen Soine) in 1826. She married Christopher Larson Heen in 1829. Between 1830 and 1844, Anna gave birth to three sons (Lars in 1830, Syver in 1842, and Ole in 1844), and two daughters (Anne in 1833 and Marith in 1836). She died of dipteria with her husband Christopher and their daughter Marith in Michigan in 1853.

Lars Soine - Great-great uncle.
Lars Soine was born in 1830 in Norway. He married Anna, and they emmigrated to the U.S. in 1858. There is an indication that they were living in Warsaw Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota in 1867. The 1910 Census indicates them still living there. Their son, Tars Larson Soine, was born in Wisconsin in 1860. Neither Lars, nor his wife Anne, are in the photo.

Tars Larson Soine -
Tars was born in Wisconsin in 1860, and married Anne T ?. Both the 1900 and 1910 Census shows them living in Warsaw, Goodhue County, Minnesota. Their children were: Ludwig O. (1898), Clarence E. (1900), Carl J. (1903), Anna S. (1905), Bernhart (1907), and Selma B. (1908).

Anne Soine - Great-great aunt.
Anne was born in 1833 in Norway. In 1867, she was living in Warsaw Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. In 1871, she was living in Wang, Renville County, Minnesota. She married Torger Strand.

Torger Strand - Great-great uncle-in-law.
Torger was born in 1845. He emmigrated to the U.S. in 1854. The 1900 Census indicates he was living in Wang, Renville County, Minnesota.

Marith Soine - Great-great aunt.
Marith was born in 1836 in Norway. Soon after arriving in the U.S. with her parents and family, she died of diptheria in Michigan in 1853.

Syver Soine - Great-great uncle.
Syver was born in Norway in 1842. In 1867, he was living in Maynard, Minnesota.

Ole Christopher Soine - Great-great uncle.
Ole was born in 1844 in Norway. He emmigrated with his parents and family in 1854. In 1867, he was living in Warsaw Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. In 1871, he was living in Wang, Renville County, Minnesota. He married Gjertrud Tordsdrer Eltun before 1870. Their children were: Bertha (1871), Anna (1872), Christopher (1875), Torger (1876), Mary (1878), Gertina (1880), Theoline (1884), Olans G. (1885) and Gerhard Olaus (1885). Gjertrud died in 1885, due to complications during the birth of Gerhard Olaus. Torger married Sigrid Gulbrandsdatter Steinde-el Lundseiga in 1886. Their children were: Martin (1892), Olaf (1896), and Syver (1896).

Gjertrud Tordsdrer Eltun

Bertha Soine
Bertha was born in 1871, and married a Mr. Dahl.

Anna Soine
Anna was born in 1872, and married a Mr. Brekke. Their children were: William (), Cara (), Benny (), Anton (), and Myrtle ().

Christopher Soine
Christopher was born in 1875.

Torger Soine
Torger was born in 1876.

Mary Soine
Mary was born in 1878.

Gertina Soine
Gertina was born in 1880. She married a Mr. Huseby.

Theoline Soine
Theoline was born in Minnesota in 1884.

Olans G. Soine

Gerhard Olaus Soine
Gerhard was born in 1885. He married Emma Leuken. Their children were: Edith (1908), Muriel (1910), Arnold Ovester (1914), and Joseph (1915). All are in the photograph.

Sigrid Gulbrandsdatter Steinde-el Lundseiga

Martin Soine

Olaf Soine

Syver Soine

Jon Johan Johnsen Soine - Great-great grandfather.
Jon Johan was born to the union of John Persson Kvale and Anna Sjugursdatter Lajord on November 23, 1826 in Berget at Lajord, Vang, Valdres, Norway. After the death of his father, his mother married Christopher Larson Heen in 1828, and he had five brothers and sisters. He left the family just after turning 21 in 1847. He traveled to Bergen early in 1848, and sailed on the Statsrsad Vogt to New York, arriving there on July 3, 1848. He made his way to Minnesota, where spent the rest of his life farming. He married Ingaborg Ovesdatter Kattevold in the Holden Lutheran Church in Goodhue County in 1862. Their children were: Anne Marie (1865), Ove Julius Johnsen (1867), Emma (1871), Geneva Marguerita (1877), Julia Cecilia (1878), Alfred J. (1882), and Clare Claude (1887). Jon Johan died on November 14, 1888 in Renville City, Renville County, Minnesota. While Jon Johan signed his name "Soine" on the passenger list in 1848, the earliest use of it for others is in the photo taken on the family farm in 1915, and in the listings for Ole and Sigri Soine in the 1910 Census.

Ingaborg Ovesdatter Kattevold - Great-great grandmother.
Ingaborg was not on the farm the day the picture was taken. Ingaborg was born on the Kattevold farm (Gardnummer 44/4 Sustoga av Sygarden)in Vang, Valdres, Norway on March 4, 1842 to Ove Endresen Kattevold and Gjartrude Oysteinsdtr Boe. She married Jon Johan Johnsen Lajord Soine in the Holden Lutheran Church in Goodhue County in 1862. Their children were: Anne Marie (1865), Ove Julius Johnsen (1867), Emma (about 1871), Carl (February, 1871), Geneva Marguerita (October, 1877), Julia Cecilia (1878), Alfred J. (February 19, 1882), and Clare Claude (1887). She died on January 1, 1930 in Equality Township, Williams County, ND.

Ove Julius Johnsen Soine
Ove was born on July 15, 1867 in Warsaw Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. He was confirmed in the Hawk Creek Church on October 15, 1882. He married Christine Maria Anderson in November of 1903 in Williston, North Dakota. Their children were: Vernon Noble (), Hazel Evangeline (), Mamie Idella (), Lillian Evelyn (), Cora Orine (), Ernest Ervin (), Violet Adeline ().

Christina Maria Anderson

Vernon Noble Soine

Hazel Evangeline Soine

Mamie Idella Soine
Mamie was born on August 14, 1904 in Equality Township, North Dakota. She married Simon Pepper on June 28, 1930 in Williston, North Dakota. She is in the photo, standing next to her sisters, Lillian and Cora.

Lillian Evelyn Soine
Lillian was born in Rugby, North dakota on September 15, 1905. She graduated from Ray High School in Ray, Equality Township, North Dakota in 1923. In 1990, she was living in a retirement home with her brother in Anoka, Minnesota. She is in the photo, standing with her sisters, Mamie and Lillian.

Cora Orine Soine
Cora was born on April 7, 1912 in Equality Township, North Dakota. She later married Juel Myron Holland. She is in the photo, with her sisters, Lillian and Mamie.

Ernest Ervin Soine
Ernest was born on January 6, 1914 in Equality Township, North Dakota. He later married Ruth Heaselet. He is not in the photo.

Violet Adeline Soine
Violet was born on March 30, 1915. She died on July 4, 1915.

Emma Soine
Emma Soine was born in 1871 in Minnesota. I believe that she married Ed Rodberg, as the photo contains an Emma Rodberg, Ed Rodberg, Grandpa Rodberg, and Grandmother Rodberg.

Geneva Marguerita Soine
Geneva (Eva) was born in October of 1877 in Minnesota. She married Carl Sanders. Eva and Carl, and their children Ruth and Nobel are in the photograph.

Julia Cecelia Soine
Born about 1878, and known as "Cissie" in 1900 Census; Sisselia in 1910.

Alfred J. Soine
Alfred J. Soine was born in Maynard, Minnesota on February 19, 1882. In 1905 he was living in Ray, Equality Township, North Dakota. In 1902, he married Seneva (Lula) Laila Nygard Katterud. Their children were: Leslie Orville (1906), Jessmond Telford (1908), Mariel Irene (1910), Maurice Harold (1912), Martha Ornell (1919), Jean Ardis (1923), and Margaret Eleanor (1925). In 1955, Alfred married Prudence Fatland Karpen. Alfred died on December 25, 1967(8) at US Consulate, Canada. From 1935 to 1965, Fred carried mail by horse north of Ray for 10 years, and then on the south route for 20 years.

Seneva (Lula) Laila Nygard Katterud
Seneva was born in Sacred Heart, Minnesota on June 24, 1889. She married Alfred J Soine, and had the children named above. Lula died in 1953.

Leslie Orville Soine
Leslie was born in 1906 in Ray, Equality Township, North Dakota. He married Marion Zevalney Mavis.

Jessmond (Jessie) Telford Soine
Jessie was born in Ray, Equality Township, North Dakota on January 19, 1908. He married Ellen Crawford Crolley. He and Jessie Soine are pictured on the far left and the far right in the photograph. The camera was a panorama type, and the complete photo panned from left to right. The two children ran around the photographer's back and got into the photo again on the far right before the shutter closed.

Mariel Irene Soine
Mariel was born on September 19, 1910 in Ray, Equality Township, North Dakota. She married Richard Meredith. Mariel is in the photograph.

Maurice Harold Soine
Maurice was born on August 20, 1912 in Ray, Equality Township, North Dakota. He married Donalda Gordon.

Martha Ornell Soine
Martha was born in Ray, Equality Township, North Dakota on June 8, 1919. She married Wendell McNulty.

Jean Ardis Soine
Jean was born on JUne 17, 1923 in Ray, Equality Township, North Dakota. She married Manfred Arnold Safstrom.

Margaret Eleanor Soine
Margaret was born on March 26, 1925 in Ray, Equality Township, North Dakota. She married Donald Haugh.

Clare Claude Soine
Clare was born April of 1887. She married Anton Holman. Both Clara and Anton are in the photograph.

Julius Mikelsen Leen - Great grandfather.
Julius is in the photo holding his granddaughter Beatrice. Julius was born about 1871 in Wisconsin, married Anne Marie Soine on July 1, 1893 in Minnesota, and died in May of 1954 in King County, Washington.

Annie Marie Soine - Great grandmother.
Anne Marie Soine was born on July 19, 1865 in Minnesota. She married Julius Mikkelsen Leen on 1 July 1893 in Barron County, Wisconsin. Their children are: Elodie (), Edna (1894), Clarence (1897), Lillian (1900), Homer (1903), and Floyd (1906). She is in the photo holding her daughter Elodie Leen. She died on July 18, 1940 in Ray, ND.

Elodie Leen - Great aunt.
Elodie is being held by her mother, Annie, in the photo. She was born about 1891 in Minnesota. She married Mr. Halvorsen.

Edna Leen - Grandmother.
Edna is in the photo, standing next to her mother, Annie. She was born on January 27, 1894 in Minnesota. She married William Walker Fearon. She lived a long life, and died near 101 in Apple Valley, Minnesota. He died on September 11, 1962 in Long Beach, CA.

Clarence Leen - Great uncle. He was born in 1897 in Minnesota. He married Nellie. He died on June 13, 1965 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Lillian Leen - Great aunt.
Lillian is in the photo. She was born in 1899 in Minnesota.

Homer Leen - Great uncle.
Homer is in the photo. He was born on August 4, 1903 in North Dakota. He married Roseanne Hilde.

Floyd Leen - Great uncle.
Floyd is in the photo. He was born on June 13, 1906 in North Dakota. He married Joyce Ruby Fraiser. He and Jessie Soine are pictured on the far left and the far right in the photograph. The camera was a panorama type, and the complete photo panned from left to right. The two children ran around the photographer's back and got into the photo again on the far right before the shutter closed.

Other research resources I used

2006-12-27T11:38:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Valdres Samband

Ellis Island

Norwegian Passengers

2006-12-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

There is a website which contains the names of 61,127 passengers from Norway who sailed on 425 ships to the U.S. from 1825 to 1873.

Norway Heritage

It shows that 26 passengers named Lien traveled to the U.S. during that time, on ships from 1843 to 1871:
Name Age Sex Ship
?? Lien 34 F Frederik Peterson 1866
Anders Hansen Lien 24 M Bravo 1868
Anne G Lien 50 F Norden 1867
Bergit Lien 22 F Argo 1843
Christopher A. Lien 17 M Claus Thomesen 1849
Gulik Lien 40 M Iris 1866
Halvor H. Lien 26 M Hebe 1866
Ingeborg Lien 40 F Emigrant 1852
Ingebrigt Hansen Lien 41 F Frigate 1868
Johannes Lien 20 M Hebe 1866
Kirsten Lien 40 F Iris 1866
Knud Lien 34 M Christiane 1850
Lars Hansen Lien ? M Hannah Parr 1868
Marit Alaksdatter Lien 21 F Augusta 1848
Mathias Tonnesen Lien 27 M Undine 1871
Niels Andersen Lien 26 M Norden 1867
Niels Olsen Lien 28 M Olaf 1868
Nils A. Lien ? M Olaf 1868
Ole Nielsen ? M Laurdal 1869
Ole Olsen Lien 50 M Augusta 1848
Ole O. Lien ? M Emerald 1867
Peder Abrahamsen Lien 19 M Harmone 1870
Peder Larsen Lien 26 M Rogaland 1852
Thor Thorsen Lien 31 M Hannah Parr 1868
Wraal Olsen Lien 49 M Rukan 1868

There was one Leen:
Ingeborg Olsdatter Leen 75 F Heros 1868

Leen

2006-12-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

In this post, I'm going to try to describe the work being done to find out about the Leens in my family. My great grandfather, Julius Mikkelsen Leen, has been the focal point of the Leen lineage. My father referred to him as Julius Mikkelsen, and the story was that the name was somehow changed to Leen once he got the the U.S. The easy answer to those name changes was always the clerks at Ellis Island, or the Registrar on the passenger ships, who couldn't pronounce foreign names. The answer that I have determined from correspondence with other documents that it was Lien in Norway, but was changed by some to Leen when they came to the U.S. The passenger records on Norwegian ships are consistently spelled Lien from Norway. Those named Leen almost always came from Ireland or England.

My grandmother, Edna, had three brothers (Homer, Clarence, and Floyd), and two sisters (Eloise and Lillian). Homer had children who carry on the Leen name. I believe that they live in Oregon and Washington, and I'll be contacting them to let them know of my renewed interest in the family history.

A couple of weeks ago, I used the search mechanism within Ancestry.com to look for Leen and Lien information in the U.S. Census records. I was responding to an email from Alan Peterson, who had let me know about his ancestor (Christian Mikkelson Leen), who had brought a family over to the Wisconsin area in the 1860's. He indicated that Barron County History records contained information that one of Christian's sons was named Julius.

I searched the 1860 to 1930 Census records for Leens who were born before before about 1850, and who could have brought family over in the 1860's:

Ole Leen was born in Norway in 1815. In the 1860 Census, he was living with his wife, Dera (b.1813 - Norway), and three sons, Avon (b.1847), John (b.1850), and Oldor (b.1854) in New Hope, Portage County, Wisc.

Oler Leen was born in 1817 in Norway. His wife, Marthey, was born there in 1824. In the 1880 Census, they were living in Leon, Monroe County, Wisconsin with their son Hans, who was born in Norway in 1854.

John Leen was born in Norway in 1821. The 1880 Census indicates that he was living at the time in Schlewig, Manitowoc, Wisc. His wife (Mary - 1828), son (Gilbert - 1860), and daughter (Mary - 1864) were all born in Norway. The census does not indicate when they arrived.

C.C. Leen was born in Norway in July, 1821. His wife, Maria, was born in Norway in January of 1834. He came to the U.S, in 1861 and she in 1869. Their daughter, Jessie (b.1873), and sons Oscar (b.1875) and John (b.1878) were born in Wisconsin. In the 1900 Census, they were all living in Strongs Prairie, Adams County, Wisc.

Annie Leen was born in 1830 in Norway, and arrived in 1866. In 1920, she was living with her son, George, in Pleasant Valley, St Croix, Wisc.

Anton Leen was born in Norway in 1833. He emmigrated with his wife Kristin (b.1831) to the U.S. in 1868. In the 1900 Cesnsus, they were living with their son, John (b.1875) in Alden Township, Polk County, Wis.

Ole M Leen was born in 1848 in Norway, and emmigrated in 1868. In 1893, he married Marie (22 at the time), who had emmigrated in 1892. Their daughter, Agnes, was born later that year. In 1920, they were all living in Christiana Township, Vernon, Wisconsin.

Iver Leen was born in Norway in 1949, and emmigrated in 1866. In the 1900 Census, he was living with his wife, Karen (b.1840, emmigrated 1872) and their two daughters, Ranghin (b.1875) and Ida (b1879) in Arcadia, Trempealeau County, Wisc.

Next, I searched for those who might have been born in Norway, emmigrated a little later, and had children in the U.S, in Wisconsin:

Ole Leen (57) came over in 1866 at the age of 3. The 1920 Census lists, at the time, that he had a wife, Theresa Leen (48), and two children - Etela (24), and Curtis (18), and were living in Milwaukee.

Andrew Leen was born in Norway in 1842, and emmigrated in 1888. The 1910 Census lists him living alone in Maple Grove, Barron County, Wisc.

Christian Lien was born in Norway in 1860. The 1880 Census lists him as living with the Oleson family in Bergen, Vernon, Wisc as a nephew. His occupation is listed as a blacksmith.

Christian Leen was born in 1850 in Norway. The 1870 Census lists him as a laborer, living in the 2nd Ward, city of LaCrosse, Wisc.

Christian L. Leen was born in Norway in 1850. The 1880 Census indicates that he was living with his wife, Anna (b.1857 in Denmark), and his daughter Agnes (b.1879), and brother, Andrew (b.1857 in Norway). Christian listed his occupation as an apothecary, and Andrew as an apprentice apothecary.

Christian Lien was born in Norway in July of 1849, and emmigrated to the U.S. in 1885. The 1900 Census list him living with his wife, Anna C. (b.July 1857 in Denmark, emmigrated in 1869), and their daughter, Agnes J. (b.Oct 1879 in Wisc) in LaCrosse City, LaCrosse County, Wisc. His occupation is listed as druggist.

Christian L. Leen was born in Norway in 1850. The 1910 Census indicates that he had emmigrated in 1875, was a widower, and was living in LaCrosse Ward 19, LaCrosse, Wisc. His occupation is listed as a proprieter of a drugstore.

Christian L. Leen was born in Norway in 1850, and emmigrated in 1869, naturalized in 1892. The 1920 Census lists him as living with his wife, Dora (b.1872 in Wisconsin). His occupation is listed as a merchant in retail drugs.

John O. Leen was born in Norway in 1858, and emmigrated in 1892. The 1910 Census indicates that he was living with his wife, Marrie (b.1857, emmigrated in 1888) his two sons, Albert J. (b.1893), and Lewis M. (b.1897), and daughter , Minne (b.1900) in Ean Galli, St Croix, Wisc. Also with them were a sister-in-law, Engeborg Tangen (b. 1859) and nephew Asbyburn Tangen (b.1900).

Because they was named in the Barron County History, and linked to Christian Leen, I've included these records:

Charlie M. Leen was born in 1869 in Wisconsin. His parents are listed as having been born in Norway. In the 1920 Census, he is isted as living with his wife, Julia (b. 1865), and two daughters, Gertie (b.1901- Wisc.) and Maurine (b.1910 - Wisc) in Dovre, Barron County, Wisc.

Martin Lien was born in Wisconsin in 1859 of Norwegian parents. The 1920 Census lists him as living with his wife, Hannah (b.1864 - Wisconsin), and son, Emmett (b.1903-Wisc). His occupation is listed as shoemaker.

Clara Lien was born in Wisconsin in 1887. The 1910 Census lists her as living with her mother, Julia (b.1832 in Norway, emmigrated in 1859) on 221 East Division Street, Troy Township, St Croix County, Wisc.

The 1900 Census lists Clara (b.1880) and Rena (b,1883) Lien as iving with the Nadwick family as boarders in Rice Lake, Barron County, Wisconsin.

Mention of my Julius comes in with these:

Julius M. Leen was born in Minnesota in 1871. The 1900 Census list him as living with his wife, Annie (b. 1868 in Minn.), two daughters, Edna L. E. (b.1894), Lillian E. (b.1899), and Clarance J. O. (b.1896) in Stoneham, Chippewa, Minn. Living with them were Charles (21) and Oscar Peterson (17).

Julius M Leen is listed in the 1910 Census as living with his wife, Annie, and their children (Edna S. A, Clarence J. O., Lillian E., Horger T., and Floyd Z.) in Equality, Williams County, North Dakota.

Julius M. Leen is listed in the 1920 Census as living with his wife, Annie M., and their children (Elodie L., Homer T., and Floyd T.). Elodie is listed as having been born in Minnesota; Floyd and Homer in North Dakota. Elodie's occupation (at 19) is a school teacher in a public school.

Searching my Ancestry for trips to Norway and Ireland

2006-12-26T11:42:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

I'm using this blog to display some key ancestors I'm researching in order to get some comments from those I come across who might have something to add about these people in my family.