11 Olesen, Olsen, Olsdaatter, Olson Sisters from Voss, Norway.

[devon.long@gmail.com]

Hello and Good Moring,

 

Like most here I am searching for someone.

My 3x Great Grandmother Dorthea Olesen/Olson/Olsdatter/Olsdaughter.

Key infromation I have comes from the hand written notes on the letter below.

Dorthea was the youngest of 11 daughters, her father was a soldier and he was killed in a Norwegian war.

The family was broken up and at age 3 Dorthea taken in by a Reverend Berg ( Possibly Johnanne E Beg ) and then onto America.

Evangelical Church Records record her birth as November 1 1836 in Vossi Norge....

Any assistance in track Dorthea and her sisters would be amazing.

 

Jacob Olson Dahle left top row and directly below him seated Dorthea Olsen

Kind regards, 

Devon

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

1 hour ago, devon.long@gmail.com said:

Evangelical Church Records record her birth as November 1 1836 in Vossi Norge

 

For those with access to ancestry.com, the record is at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/60722/41742_315008-00501?pid=3037057. From her death record (#4 in 1913), "hvor født" is given as "Voss i Norge" and Fødsels-datum as Nov. 1, 1836. Her name at death was Dorthy Dahle, with husband Jacob O. Dahle.

Endret August 28, 2018 av Carl-Henry Geschwind

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

1880 census suggests birth about 1843

1895 Minnesota census suggests birth about 1836

1900 census suggests birth about 1847, emigration about 1864

1905 Minnesota census suggests birth about 1845

1910 census suggests birth about 1836, emigration about 1867

 

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

From The History of Renville County, Minnesota (this is the county where Dorthea Olson died): "Rev. Johannes E. Bergh, from Sacred Heart, Minnesota. . . . Rev. Bergh was born in Vos [sic], Norway, May 5, 1842, graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, 1869, died August 21, 1905." See link at Google Books

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

Johannes, son of Ellef Styrksen Berge of Voss parish in Hordaland county, born 5 May 1842, baptised 28 May 1842 - here is his baptismal record: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070524640572 (# 112).

 

Note that this Rev. Berg(h) is same age or possibly younger than Dorthea - in what way did he then educate her?

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

Ellef Størksøn Berge left Voss for America 14 April 1857, together with sons Knud and Johannes (the future Rev. Johannes E. Bergh) and daughter Kari. See list of out-migrants in church book at https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070104620449.

 

In the list of out-migrants from Voss 1856-1864 I have not found any Dorthea (or similar) Olsdatter. I have also not found a Dorthea (or similar) Olsdatter born November 1836 in the Voss churchbook.

 

I believe the key to making progress here may be to find the marriage record of Dorthea Olsdatter and Jakob Olson (Dahle). Per the newspaper article shown above they were married in (or near?) Decorah, IA, in 1867. From the 1880 census it is clear that their first son Ole Martin was born c. 1869 in Iowa. But I have not yet found them in the 1870 census. In scanning the parish book for the Decorah Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church I did not see their marriage, but there are many other Norwegian Lutheran churches in Winneshiek County, IA (of which Decorah is the county seat), so it would be helpful to know exactly where near Decorah they lived in the late 1860s.

Endret August 28, 2018 av Carl-Henry Geschwind

[Torodd Kinn]

? Haus is between Voss and Bergen, closer to Bergen.

 

Name:    Dorthe Olesdatter
Name Note:    
Titles and Terms:    
Gender:    Female
Age:    
Race:    
Birth Date:    01 Nov 1836
Birthplace:    
Christening Date:    27 Nov 1836
Christening Place:    HAUS, HORDALAND, NORWAY
Christening Age:    
Death Date:    
Father's Name:    Ole Davesen
Father's Titles and Terms:    
Father's Birthplace:    
Father's Age:    
Mother's Name:    Martha Magnesdr
Mother's Titles and Terms:    
Mother's Birthplace:    
Mother's Age:    
Paternal Grandfather's Name:    
Paternal Grandmother's Name:    
Maternal Grandfather's Name:    
Maternal Grandmother's Name:    
Note:    
Reference ID:    2:QDZNK8
System Origin:    Norway-VR
GS Film Number:    124523
Indexing Project (Batch) Number:    C42143-4

Citing this Record:
"Norway Baptisms, 1634-1927," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NH4D-Y2Q : 10 February 2018), Dorthe Olesdatter, 01 Nov 1836; citing ; FHL microfilm 124,523.

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

Dorthe Olsdatter of Haus's parents had total of 13 children, with last one being Ole Olsen born in 1843. See family tree at https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LHCF-K52?1=1&parents=LCZC-MWC_LZ8S-BP3.

 

The father Ole Davidsen died in 1854, age 65, a pladsmand at Stamnesfundet in Haus. See death record at https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20050823010086, record #53.

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

Dorthe Olsdatter of Haus was confirmed at Stamnæs church in Haus clerical district in 1852: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/view/279/pk00000000486692

Endret August 28, 2018 av Carl-Henry Geschwind

[Torodd Kinn]

Clearly, it's possible that the Dorte of Stamnessundet in Haus may be leading us astray. Anyway:

 

This is from Vaksdal bygdebok, vol. 3, p. 327, about Sundet (Stamnessundet). (The earlier Haus is now partly in Vaksdal.)

No information about Dorte's life after she was born. The younger brother Magne lived in the U.S.A but appears to have returned.

 

[devon.long@gmail.com]

Greetings Torodd and Carl 

 

Thanks so much for your assistance in this I do appreciate the time and effort.

There's so much to reply to if I miss something please forgive my slip but I have read all of your posts.

 

The info on the hand written notes is supplied by Dorthea's Grand Daughter Helen Dahle, I can not verify it's accuracy but feel safe in saying the info is likely true.

It states Dorothy either came to America with or was given to Mr/Reverend Berg/Bergh when she was 3 years old, date 1939-1840'ish based on an estimated birth of 1836.

The date of birth could also be a baptismal date??? 

 

Decorah, Iowa is a mystery. I have tried to track Jacob and Dorothy in Decorah. A marriage or the birth of two children ( Ole 1868 and Anna 1870 ) but have had no success. A key date is Jacob's arrival, in 1866 via Quebec. So he and Dorothy must have been married between June 1866 and February 1868. Allowing 9 months for Dorthea to be pregnant with Ole.

 

Ole Davidson is not likely the correct family as Dorthea's family was split when she was three due to her Fathers's death, the family also did not have 11 daughters.

I have nooooooooooooooooo idea what Norwegian War her father was killed in as I can't seem to find one for these dates *L*

 

I had hope that having 11 sisters and a father in the military would be easy to spot, but apparently not so much *LOL*

 

Please feel free to share anything you find might be helpful.

 

Kind regards, 

 

Devon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Torodd Kinn]

Hi, Devon,

 

It's absolutely possible that the girl I found in Stamnessundet, Haus, is not your Dortea. 

 

As regards wars: Norway was not involved in war between 1814 and 1940. From 1814 until 1905, Norway was in a union with Sweden, but Sweden has not been involved in war since 1814. So it's hard to see how Dortea's father could have died in a Norwegian war. 

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

Found Ole Martin's baptism (son of Jacob Olsen and Dorthe Olsdatter, born 11 Oct 1868 and baptised 15 Nov 1868 at Big Canoe Lutheran Church, 13 miles northeast of Decorah, IA: see entry 105 at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/60722/41742_314972-00516?pid=641277

[devon.long@gmail.com]

Good day Torodd,

 

I believe I just found them in the Iowa Marriage Index. Jacob Oleson and Doorthe Oleson 21, Jan 1868 .

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60284&h=867210&ssrc=pt&tid=57328692&pid=34051628517&usePUB=true

 

Yes, the "Norwegian War" was always an issue because I could find no war, back to the drawing board.

 

Thanks again,

Devon

[devon.long@gmail.com]

Carl,

 

That is awesome~!

A second, and third pair of eyes and brains... is always helpful~!

Wow...

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

5 minutes ago, devon.long@gmail.com said:

I believe I just found them in the Iowa Marriage Index. Jacob Oleson and Doorthe Oleson 21, Jan 1868

 

Great, we're making progress. Unfortunately they did not get married at Big Canoe Lutheran Church - I checked that church's marriage register at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/60722/41742_314972-00616

Endret August 29, 2018 av Carl-Henry Geschwind

[devon.long@gmail.com]

Carl,

It doesn't appear their daughter Anne K Dahle's birth was not recorded at Big Canoe either.. or I'm just missing it. 

August 1870.

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

I have now checked the parish books for all Norwegian Lutheran congregations near Decorah at that time - they did not get married at Big Canoe, at Decorah Norwegian, or at Washington Prairie. Unfortunately the record book for Glenwood Lutheran Church for this period is missing.

[Randi Elisabeth Haugros]

You may ask the Family search center in Salt Lake City, Utah for a copy of the marriage record.

Take a look here:

 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCHQ-1SM

[Randi Elisabeth Haugros]

Here is Ellef Størksen Berge's familytree:

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/11224970/person/13123822560/facts?ssrc=

 

He came to the US with his to sons, Knut and Johannes and daugther Mari, not Kari, mentionen in # 6. 

 

At Ole Martin's baptism, one of the witnesses is a Marie Ellefsdtr. Rev. Berge's sister?

Endret August 29, 2018 av Randi Elisabeth Haugros

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

4 minutes ago, Randi Elisabeth Haugros said:

At Ole Martin's baptism, one of the witnesses is a Marie Ellefsdtr. Rev. Berge's sister?

 

Very likely, as Ellef (according to the 1870 census attached to that family tree) settled in Highland Township in Winneshiek County, which is where most of the members of Big Canoe Lutheran Church lived (the church itself was located just south of the township).

[Randi Elisabeth Haugros]

Here is the baptism of Anna, born in 1870, no 103:

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/60722/41742_314972-00514?pid=641231&backurl=https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?viewrecord%3D1%26r%3Dan%26db%3DELCAbmd%26indiv%3Dtry%26h%3D641231&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true#?imageId=41742_314972-00523

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

8 minutes ago, Carl-Henry Geschwind said:

15 minutes ago, Randi Elisabeth Haugros said:

At Ole Martin's baptism, one of the witnesses is a Marie Ellefsdtr. Rev. Berge's sister?

 

Very likely, as Ellef (according to the 1870 census attached to that family tree) settled in Highland Township in Winneshiek County, which is where most of the members of Big Canoe Lutheran Church lived (the church itself was located just south of the township).

 

Another of the witnesses at Ole Martin's baptism was Jens Andersen Sollien. Per the family tree cited in post #20, this was Mari Ellefsdatter Berge's husband (they are named as the parents in baptism #90 at https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/60722/41742_314972-00515). So yes, Dorthea Olsdatter was definitely associated with Rev. Johannes Ellefsen Berg(h)'s family in Iowa.

[Randi Elisabeth Haugros]

Jacob Olsen Dahle's familytree:

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/57328692/person/34051628517/facts

[Carl-Henry Geschwind]

3 hours ago, Torodd Kinn said:

As regards wars: Norway was not involved in war between 1814 and 1940. From 1814 until 1905, Norway was in a union with Sweden, but Sweden has not been involved in war since 1814. So it's hard to see how Dortea's father could have died in a Norwegian war. 

 

The Dortea Olsdatter born in Haus in 1836 - her father Olav Davidsson Haugland was born c. 1789 and thus of the right age to have fought in the Napoleonic wars. Is there any way to check whether he might have been a soldier in the timeframe 1807-1814 (and thus not killed in a Norwegian war, but still a veteran of a Norwegian war)?