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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3020 Posts |
 Posted - 14/10/2013 : 00:53:07
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This is such a rich history Sandra - to think this family of your husband's was so central to the earliest Norwegian settlement of Wisconsin. Emigrating in 1852, they arrived in Wisconsin even before negotiations were finalized with the Menominee tribe of Native Americans to vacate the land that became Scandinavia, Waupaca, Wisconsin (and environs).
More from "Two Men of Old Waupaca" by Malcolm Rosholt (quoted earlier):
"In 1853 Jacob Rosholt was one of a committee of three that solicited subscriptions for Pastor Duuss $300 salary, and he also acted with members of a group from Winchester, Wisconsin, that was sending a call to Norway for a minister. The misunderstanding over Pastor Duuss residence stems from his own repeated references to Waupaca parsonage. [77] Probably there were two main reasons for his doing this: The township of Scandinavia had been organized only a few months before he arrived, and had no post office; and the community was known to the Norwegians as the Waupaca settlement. Hence, when the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation was organized there in 1854, it called itself Waupaca Menighed (congregation), although it was legally incorporated as the Norwegian-Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Waupaca. The meeting was held at Jacob Rosholts home December 1, 1854, and the incorporation was received for record December 5. {3} The name Waupaca Menighed appears early in a blue-paged ledger begun by Duus. On the basis of earlier records preserved by the parishioners, he entered information of ministerial acts performed by his predecessors, Herman Amberg Preus and Nils Brandt, for the year 185354. This was followed by a day-to-day record of his own. The ledger also includes a list of the charter members enrolled in the Waupaca congregation on November 12, 1854. Nearly all the members were from Scandinavia Township and most of them appear in the first tax rolls."
This description of the formation of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Scandinavia suggests detailed records were kept at least as early as 1854. Records of milestones in the lives of the Kjendalen family can probably be found within those church books, perhaps a mention of the death of Jacob Pedersen (Kjendalen), the marriage of his daughter Marthe, and/or other significant milestones. Norwegian citizens of this era would not be familiar with the idea of a county courthouse and registering events there. Instead, in Norway, births and deaths and marriages and more were recorded in the church book of their home parish. Checking the courthouse records was definitely appropriate for that 1913 death, but for earlier info, the church books might work. So that's an idea for more interesting and hopefully enjoyable research to come.
By the way we have Herman Amberg Preus on our own (extended) family tree. :D |
Edited by - JaneC on 14/10/2013 01:03:52 |
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SandraSeverson
Senior member
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 01:42:52
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| I believe I have seen the church books you are talking about. I used them when I was researching a different branch of the family. I believe the oldest book was 1855. This was at the Scandinavia Lutheran Church. Got a chance to take a quick look at them this trip but didn't have a lot of time to really study them. Was looking for a church record on the death of Jacob Pedersen Kjendalen. But in talking to the church secretary I mentioned we wanted to stop at the Scandinavia Lutheran Cemetery to find the grave of Jacob. Her father happens to have all the records for the cemetery. So I have his phone number and hope to call him if I need more information. Everyone in that area is so friendly and helpful. Things are falling into place and this has been quite a journey. And there is still so much to record. |
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3020 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 17:05:00
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| I'm impressed Sandra. Good work. :D |
Edited by - JaneC on 14/10/2013 17:41:01 |
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eibache
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
6495 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 19:48:35
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Marthe Marie Jakobsdatters (1824) mother Karen Olsdatter, Aaklungen was baptized Nov 1 1792, 12th record on right page. Her parents were Ole Stosen, Aaklungen and Ragnild Larsdatter.
The parents were married Sept 27 1780, 3rd record left page.
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Einar |
Edited by - eibache on 14/10/2013 20:02:08 |
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3020 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 20:54:30
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Below, information from the family tree at www.eidangerslekt.org
No family tree online can replace the original research that is being done by eibache,
and by you, in the Norwegian records.
But anyway I'll attempt to translate, below, the page about Karen Olsdatter and Jacob Pedersen, Kjendalen. Obviously it appears to us that Karen and Jacob died in Wisconsin, not at Kjendalen.
Karen Olsdatter, (daughter of Ole Stoesen and Ragnhild Larsdatter) born 1792 på/at Oklungen in Eidanger,
baptized 01.11.1792 in Eidanger church,
confirmed 12.10.1806 in Eidanger church,
died 1897 på/at Kjendalen in Eidanger.
Baptismal/christening record
[Parents are] Ole Stosen Aaklungen and wife Ragnil Larsdatter - [child's name is] Karen
Baptismal sponsors:
1. Ingebor Olsdatter, ibid (ibid = ditto, probably refers to the residence)
2. Maren Sørensdatter, Stusrød
3. Søren Stosen, ibid
4. Gunder Pedersen Ødegd. [abbreviation for Ødegaard]
5. Christen Tomesen Aaklung. [abbreviation for Aaklungen]
"Hun bodde ikke med foreldrene i 1801." - She wasn't living with her parents in 1801 census
"Konfirmert som "Kari Olsdatter Aachlungen 15." - The name on her confirmation record is Kari Olsdatter Aachlungen, age 15
Married 10/9-1819 in Eid. [Eid. is an abbreviation for Eidanger]
Enkemand/widower Jakob Pedersen Kjendalen, age 30. Gaardmand. [gaardmand is a type of farmer. Differing job titles referenced land ownership, rental of land, etc]
Pigen/maiden Karen Olsdatter Aaklungen, age 27. Gaardmandsdatter. [farmer's daughter]
Witnesses: Jakob Olsen and Gumund Jonsen Kjendalen.
Married 10.09.1819 in Eidanger church with Jacob Pedersen, b. 1790 på/at Ødegården in Eidanger, (son of Peder Andersen and Ingeborg Stenersdatter),
baptized 10.01.1790 in Eidanger church,
confirmed 12.10.1806 in Eidanger church,
died 1869 på/at Kjendalen in Eidanger
Jacob's baptismal record:
[Parents are] Peder Andersen Ødegaard and wife Ingebor Stenersdatter. - [child's name is] Jacob
Baptismal sponsors:
1. Marte Marie Pedersdatter, Kiørholt
2. Karen Andersdatter, Røe
3. Ole Grava
4. Abraham Guttormsen
5. Ole Stenersen Kiøndal.
"Konfirmert som "Jacob Persen Kiendalen 17". - Name on his confirmation record is Jacob Persen Kiendalen, age 17. [recall this name Persen occurs again in his records]
"Han giftet seg 2. gang i 1812." - previously Jacob had married in 1812
"Copul. 18.09.1812 in Eid." - Wedding/marriage 18 September 1812 in Eidanger
Ungkarl/bachelor Jakob Pedersen Kiendalen
og Pigen /and maiden (i.e., previously unmarried woman)
Marthe Maria Pedersdatter Solum.
Caut: Mikkel og Anders Sættre. [I don't know what "Caut." means - probably witnesses]
"Bosatt på Kjenndalen." - lived at Kjenndalen. |
Edited by - JaneC on 14/10/2013 21:14:48 |
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SandraSeverson
Senior member
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 22:14:53
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| So Jane, unless I am not reading your post correctly, it appears that Jacob and Karen died in Eidanger , not WI if the online tree is right. But if that is true, why the headstone in the cemetery here? I have no doubt that I have the right people but why didn't I find a death certificate here or one in the Norwegian records. I am going to call the cemetery record keeper I told you about and see what he has to say. Maybe the headstone is just a memorial to Jacob and Karen. Will let you know. |
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SandraSeverson
Senior member
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 22:40:30
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| Jane - I just got off the phone with the man who has the cemetery records. He can't find any evidence that there was an actual burial. All he found was what we know about the stone as far as the names go. Front and back. It is a newer stone and doesn't show the age you would think if it was from that long ago. And the card he was looking at stated that it was a new stone. So maybe they didn't die here in Wisconsin and this is a memorial headstone. All in all I do think it is the right parents. If nothing else I know know the names and dates of more parents. Let me know what you think. |
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3020 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 23:19:49
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1) The family tree online says Jacob died in Eidanger, Norway, 1869. Family trees online are often wrong, either in tiny details and/or in significant ways. As you yourself said, you use such secondary sources as a help, but never rely on them - you rely instead on your own original research in primary soources. (and good for you!)
SOURCE of that information on the family tree online: Bygdebok for Eidanger, Bind 2 av Per Chr. Nagell Svendsen, side 272.
Source should be checked; presumably the family tree creator got it wrong. The bygdebok is like a local history book - more detailed than the local history books we found about Waupaca County, but in a way containing similar material - stories and narratives instead of just census records and tax records etc. It is not clear to me to what extent the online information is transcribed from original bygdebok or to what extent it is shaped into the format seen online.
2) Jan Peter searched for Jacob's 1869 death in Norway: "I did a quick look in the church record, but couldn't see his burial." See page 1 of this thread. It would be quite remarkable for a pastor in Norway to forget to register a death that occurred in his parish. All deaths were supposed to be registered in the church book. You might want to look at the church books yourself. I don't do that - gives me a headache, honestly - sorry.
So now you've sorted out two sources in Norway for the death - one hasn't been checked, the other did not show Jacob dying in Norway.
3) Jacob Pedersen Kjendalen and wife Karen registered to emigrate to America.
4) Jacob wrote a letter FROM QUEBEC stating that they had quite a nice ride across the Atlantic. That letter was published in a newspaper. Local history books in Waupaca, Wisconsin, referred to Jacob Petersen Kjendalen. They mention church meetings at his home, ca 1854, among other happenings. Conclusion: Jacob traveled to North America and went to Wisconsin.
5) Deaths of people of this era (1869) were usually not registered at the county courthouse. Any failure to find a death record there is not at all remarkable.
6) Double check the church book in Wisconsin for Jacob's death. It should be noted there.
7) Keep his two "surnames" in mind. He could be called Jacob/Jakob Pedersen/Petersen. Remember that Kjendalen was just an address name to him, to be changed when a person moved, We don't know how his name would have been entered - I'm just saying stay alert.
8) Yes, the newer stone suggests it could be a memorial and not a burial. This came up earlier. Couple things: When was Scandinavia Cemetery created? Could it be that Jacob died there in the Wisconsin community but isn't actually buried at that church cemetery? Another possibility, he and Karen were buried there, but they had no stone, or an inadequate stone, or the stone had crumbled or fallen. Family members could have put up a new stone. Presumably there should be a record of WHO ordered the new stone.
9) Could Jacob and Karen have returned to Norway? Yes. Their local parish churchbooks should then have a record of them. I will guess no record was made of them returning there. Their family was in America; return would have been possible, but highly unusual. |
Edited by - JaneC on 14/10/2013 23:59:23 |
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SandraSeverson
Senior member
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 23:36:51
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Wow! There is still a lot of research to do. I had forgotten about the letter from Quebec. There has been a lot of information in a short time. I guess I will have to go back to Scandinavia but by myself. It's easier to do the looking alone.
There is a relative in that area that died and there were no cemeteries so she was buried in a farmers field. In fact, it was the first wife of Christian Olson who then married Marthe Maria Jacobsdatter. I will do some research into when the cemetery was started. But at least I know who the correct parents are. However, it will bother me until I know the whole story or at least as much as I can find out.
Will keep you posted on what I find. |
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3020 Posts |
Posted - 14/10/2013 : 23:41:06
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Great. Yeah, lots of fun stuff you can still poke around in. It's nice that you don't have a frustrating road block in front of you. Mostly you'll be seeking ways to further identify people and expand your sense of who they were, what their lives were. You are certainly creating a wonderful heritage story for your family. :D
Eidanger is a rural parish and former municipality of Porsgrunn, in Telemark County, Norway. "Lags" are clubs in America for people who wish to maintain ties and/or restore ties to Norway. People with ancestors in Eidanger would join the Telemark lag - called the Telelaget. The group holds yearly meetings. Some people in the group would probably own the Eidanger bygdebok.
http://www.telelaget.com/
Probably those bygdeboks and more are also available at the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library in Madison, Wisconsin.
http://www.nagcnl.org/
Probably the above is known to you and so can be a help maybe to someone else some time.
And now a note of thanks to eibache for carrying forward with the original research in Norway that is ESSENTIAL. |
Edited by - JaneC on 15/10/2013 00:08:02 |
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SandraSeverson
Senior member
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 21:06:10
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| Jane - I am a member of the Norwegian American Genealogical Society and Naeseth Library in Madison. I called them this morning and they are getting the Eidanger Bygdebok from the University of Wisconsin library. I have an appointment for Wednesday of next week to do some research with them. They have helped me with another branch of the family. It has been well worth the drive to Madison. Also sent an email to the historical society in Waupaca so see if they might have any information. |
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3020 Posts |
Posted - 15/10/2013 : 21:37:00
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Perfect!
About Scandinavia Cemetery: It was dedicated in 1853 and the first burials are in Section A.:
http://www.wigenweb.org/waupaca/Scancem/scancem2.htm
The burial site for Jacob and wife is in the oldest part of the cemetery. Thus the newly erected stone was not placed on a newly chosen site, but rather on an old site.
Jacob Pederson Kjendalen (1789-1869) is buried in Section A, Row 19, Lot 151, inscription "Father"
Anne Karen Kjendalen (1792-1879) is buried in Section A, Row 19, Lot 152, inscription "Mother"
Back of the stone: "Parents of Maren, Ole, Marthe, Anders, Soren, Ragnhild"
http://www.wigenweb.org/waupaca/Scancem/S3.htm
This is kind of interesting - also noted in Section A:
Section A, Row 22, Lot 170
Anders/Andrew Jacobson b 04 Dec. 1827, d 04 Oct 1875
and
Section A, Row 19, Lot 151
Anders Jacobson Kjendalen born 04 Dec 1827, d 04 Oct 1875
NOTES: Son of Jacob P., Husb. of Anne; Death date not on monument
So the supposed burial place for "Anders Jacobson Kjendalen" is HIS FATHER"S burial place. "Anders Jacobson" has his own burial place. The cemetery seems to have entered the same Anders's name twice, perhaps because Anders's name is inscribed on the parents' tombstone.
We now rest our case about the confusing way that the "surname" can be the patronymic name OR the place name for these early Norwegian settlers. Anders is buried as "Jacobson" and his brothers as "Kjendalen." |
Edited by - JaneC on 15/10/2013 22:33:55 |
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SandraSeverson
Senior member
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 16/10/2013 : 00:18:14
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| I took a picture of the front and back of the grave. And of several others with the Kjendalen name. But I didn't see the one in row 22. Certainly can be confusing. I am anxious to get to Madison and see what I can find there. |
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JaneC
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
3020 Posts |
Posted - 16/10/2013 : 02:33:55
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| Yes, but not so much confusing after one recognizes that both "surnames" were used, wouldn't you agree? Have fun in Madison! And tell your husband from me that he should have a big bunch of roses delivered to you, lol. :D |
Edited by - JaneC on 16/10/2013 16:09:37 |
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SandraSeverson
Senior member
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 16/10/2013 : 03:05:04
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| I agree with you. On the names and roses. Will let you know how it goes in Madison. Thanks. |
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Jacob Pedersen
