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slaleike
Junior member
USA
57 Posts |
 Posted - 29/03/2014 : 05:08:07
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I'm still learning my way around this site, so hope that it's OK to start a new topic with the family name in the title to make searching easier.
This family was earlier discussed under the heading "Help with finding info," and was started about a year ago.
My main interest in this family is the youngest child of Samson and Synneve, Robert J.
Here is what I have gathered about him.
Born in Hennepin County, MN on 14 February 1900. Family address at that time was 2419 8th Street, per 1900 census. (Google Maps shows that as now being a busy intersection; I think there are cloverleafs involved, but it's been awhile since I looked.)
WWI Selective Service Registration, dated 12 September 1918, lists him as tall, with blue eyes, and medium build. Address was given as 5025 Xerxes Ave, South Minneapolis. (Google Maps shows this as still a residential neighborhood.) The Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul Railway Company was given as his employer. The 'next of kin' type of info listed just Synneve. Samson was still alive at the time, so not sure why just Robert's mother was listed.
My mother's birth certificate, dated 29 September 1929, lists his age as 29, race as white, birth state as Minnesota, and my mother's status as "legitimate." She carried his surname until her marriage. The address given then was 1218 N. Superior Street, Antigo, WI. (I need to go back and look for that address on the maps; I believe I could not find it previously.) Robert's occupation was given as 'Salesman." (I had my memory confused when I posted on the previous topic page that he had been listed as a house painter.)
Address on the 1930 census is given as 315 5th, Wausau. (Most likely a still extant residential neighborhood, though there are 3 versions of this address, modified by N., S., and street or avenue. One is the address of a house built in 1900. Robert's wife Eleanor had family in Wausau at the time.)
Then, he disappears, until 1 small item I found, prior to his death as registered with Social Security. (SSN = 479-20-7706)
In the Daily Reporter, Spencer IA, dated Tuesday 23 March 1965, under hospital admissions and discharges for local hospitals, Robert Offerdahl, of Hartley, IA, had been discharged from Hartley Community Hospital the prior Monday, presumably 22 March. (Again, didn't look at my notes before posting previously, where I wrote that he had been admitted.)
Death is given as in December, 1966. There is a gravestone for just him in the Dickens Cemetary in Clay County IA. The picture available on Find A Grave shows just his name taking up the whole face of the stone, but the marker is nice enough that it seems as if someone had enough involvement to provide it; or, I suppose he could have made prior arrangements.
The only other thing I have in my notes is a notation of "carpenter," which I believe is from reading a classified listing in an Iowa paper, though that is all I wrote. I am still pretty haphazard in my info gathering. Need to realize that even though I am the essential "end of the line" for this family line, someone somewhere might be able to use it. |
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jkmarler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
7790 Posts |
Posted - 29/03/2014 : 07:46:34
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Here is an address for searchable free Minneapolis city directories online 1859-1922:
http://box2.nmtvault.com/Hennepin2/jsp/RcWebBrowse.jsp
Chronicling America is a free searchable newspaper site 1836-1922. There are some good Minneapolis newspapers in the collection and you will find children of Samson and Synneve mentioned:
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
Chronicling also has the most comprehensive listing of all (not just digitized at the site) available newspapers nationally. You could search for titles to see if there might be a Hartley or Spencer Iowa newspaper with publication dates covering Robert's death to look for an obit. Usually local public libraries have their local paper on microfilm available and depending on the library, they might respond with a look and a copy of obit from the film. If the local library doesn't have the paper, the next best place to look would be the state historical society. State Historical societies will often loan their film via Inter Library Loan for modest fees.
Archives.com have a week long free trial period that may include access to 10 articles from the Newspaper archives site. Newspaper archives has a large number of Iowa papers, so it's possible there may be other mentions.
Genealogybank.com also has a short term subscription for nominal cost ($10) and you might find further mentions in other newspapers. For sure Jennie Farris' obituary is included in their "recent obituary" database.
If Robert had enough assets when he died, he may have an estate record, will or probate record, likely filed in the county of his residence at the time of death. Most counties do charge for copies of and searches in these records.
You might also consider buying Robert's official death certificate from the state of Iowa (or from whichever state he died in.) If nothing else it might have a name of the informant on it, perhaps tell the length of his residence there, plus cause of death (important to know for your own health history.) Likewise you might also consider buying Samson's and Synneve's for the same reasons. |
Edited by - jkmarler on 29/03/2014 08:41:22 |
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jkmarler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
7790 Posts |
Posted - 29/03/2014 : 08:10:14
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One feature of this site is the ability to contact via email through the site's system. You haven't allowed that, you might consider adding that feature to your profile.
Here is a link to your prior post on Offerdahl at norwayheritage:
http://www.norwayheritage.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5670&whichpage=2 |
Edited by - jkmarler on 29/03/2014 08:47:10 |
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
Posted - 29/03/2014 : 21:38:49
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I see in the 1930 Census that Robert and Eleanor have a daughter, Helen.
1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Robert J Offerdahl
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1900
Birthplace: Minnesota
Race: White
Home in 1930: Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin
Map of Home:
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Eleanor S Offerdahl
Father's Birthplace: Norway
Mother's Birthplace: Norway
Household Members:
Name Age
Robert J Offerdahl 30
Eleanor S Offerdahl 28
Helen L Offerdahl 0 |
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
Posted - 29/03/2014 : 21:42:04
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In the 1940 Census, Helen is living with I assume her mother, here listed as Cleaver but probably Eleanor. Eleanor is listed as a sister-in-law and Helen is liisted as a niece. Also Eleanor is isted as divorced.
1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Helen Offerdahl
Age: 10
Estimated birth year: abt 1930
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Niece
Home in 1940: Stevens Point, Portage, Wisconsin
Map of Home in 1940:
Street: St Louis Avenue
House Number: 227
Inferred Residence in 1935: Stevens Point, Portage, Wisconsin
Residence in 1935: Same House
Sheet Number: 3A
Attended School or College: Yes
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 4th grade
Neighbors:
Household Members:
Name Age
Carl Larson 51
Inez Larson 46
Cleaver Offerdahl 37
Helen Offerdahl 10
Charles Brown 65 |
Edited by - AntonH on 29/03/2014 21:56:56 |
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
Posted - 29/03/2014 : 22:58:37
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There is a Family Tree on Ancestry.com for Robert J Offerdahl. It is owned by Stephen Degnan. Perhaps he can fill in some of the missing years.
Robert John Offerdahl
Birth 02-14-1900 in Minnesota
Death December 1966 in Spencer, Clay, Iowa |
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 01:32:54
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quote:
Family address at that time was 2419 8th Street, per 1900 census. (Google Maps shows that as now being a busy intersection; I think there are cloverleafs involved, but it's been awhile since I looked.
Most likely part of either the University of Minnesota Campus or Augsburg University today. Buildings now cut off 8th Street from 21st Avenue to 26th Avenue. However Xerxes is as you mentioned still a very busy residential-business street serving southwest Minneapolis. |
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 01:41:38
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In 1915 he was living with his sister Dagny in Minneapolis, it would appear that Samson was living there as well. From there he lived on Xerxes Avenue from about 1916 to 1920.
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Robert J Offerdahl
Residence Year: 1915
Street address: 2102 Como av
Residence Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Occupation: Messenger
Publication Title: Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1915
Dagny Amanda Offerdahl
Birth 10-17-1896 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
Death |
Edited by - AntonH on 30/03/2014 01:52:02 |
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slaleike
Junior member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 07:44:30
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[quote]Originally posted by jkmarler
Here is an address for searchable free Minneapolis city directories online 1859-1922:
http://box2.nmtvault.com/Hennepin2/jsp/RcWebBrowse.jsp
These will be my next major browse. Thanks for the link. Meanwhile.....
Chronicling America is a free searchable newspaper site 1836-1922. There are some good Minneapolis newspapers in the collection and you will find children of Samson and Synneve mentioned:
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
Thank you ever so much for this link! I had never heard of this resource, but spent a good hour or more looking through it last night. I was hooked by the very first search result. There was a mention in the Society Column about a "parcel shower" given by the oldest daughter. Robert was mentioned, as was Dagny, when relating the little gift-loaded cart "drawn by Dagny.....and driven by Master Robert Offerdahl."
I also obtained 2 other addresses for the family through my above searching...will put those in a separate post to lessen confusion.
I will likely be pursuing other of your suggestions about death certificates and seeking other clues in obituaries by various means, in the future and as funds permit. There actually is one health aspect that may be at play already, that I have been pondering. Not life-threatening, just interesting.
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slaleike
Junior member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 07:53:19
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[quote]Originally posted by lyndal40
I see in the 1930 Census that Robert and Eleanor have a daughter, Helen.
Yes, Helen was my mother. I am wondering when the census was taken that year? That might help narrow down the time-frame for when Robert was still with Eleanor and my mom. I heard 2 basic stories, when anyone would talk about it. One was that he had died (per my grandma), and the other that he had simply abandoned them, from my mom. Grandma's hints that he had died began early, so I grew up believing that. I was in HS before my mom said he had left them behind when she was very young....but that was all she would say, and I have a feeling that was all she really knew.
My next "official" searching over the next few weeks will probably be to pursue the divorce records and then both of my grandma's marriage records. Those are things no one else will likely be looking for, as my mom was an only child. |
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slaleike
Junior member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 08:01:29
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[quote]Originally posted by lyndal40
In the 1940 Census, Helen is living with I assume her mother, here listed as Cleaver but probably Eleanor. Eleanor is listed as a sister-in-law and Helen is liisted as a niece. Also Eleanor is isted as divorced.
Yes, they were living with my grandma's older sister and her husband. He was an immigrant from Norway, who came over by himself as a teenager, I was told. That's some future research for me.
They were my Auntie and Uncle Carl, and I loved them dearly and they doted on me. They were childless, so they spoiled my mom and my brother and I. And of the 5 aunts and uncles on that side in that county, these were the only ones I ever met or even heard about.....in hindsight, I suspect it's because things were "scandalous" enough for that time period that Auntie and Uncle Carl were the only port in the storm. I never knew that they had been living with Auntie until shortly before my mom died, when she let it slip. A postcard I found in her belongings aided my search for info about this period in their lives.
The other person named must have been a boarder; I think the census may have listed him as such. |
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slaleike
Junior member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 08:06:51
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quote:
Originally posted by lyndal40
There is a Family Tree on Ancestry.com for Robert J Offerdahl. It is owned by Stephen Degnan. Perhaps he can fill in some of the missing years.
Robert John Offerdahl
Birth 02-14-1900 in Minnesota
Death December 1966 in Spencer, Clay, Iowa
Thank you so much for this! This is extremely exciting/promising...if he has any info! This would be the right person; amazing how many Robert and John/Jon Offerdahls there were/are!
I have no experience with Ancestry.com. Our library has access, but the last time I checked, you have to use their in-house computers, and they are almost 20 miles away, and the computers see very heavy use, with no appointments and a one hour limit. But I will ask around, in hopes that someone I know can start researching this, since it's such a concrete clue. |
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slaleike
Junior member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 08:12:02
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quote:
Originally posted by lyndal40
quote:
Family address at that time was 2419 8th Street, per 1900 census. (Google Maps shows that as now being a busy intersection; I think there are cloverleafs involved, but it's been awhile since I looked.
Most likely part of either the University of Minnesota Campus or Augsburg University today. Buildings now cut off 8th Street from 21st Avenue to 26th Avenue. However Xerxes is as you mentioned still a very busy residential-business street serving southwest Minneapolis.
quote:
Originally posted by lyndal40
quote:
Family address at that time was 2419 8th Street, per 1900 census. (Google Maps shows that as now being a busy intersection; I think there are cloverleafs involved, but it's been awhile since I looked.
Most likely part of either the University of Minnesota Campus or Augsburg University today. Buildings now cut off 8th Street from 21st Avenue to 26th Avenue. However Xerxes is as you mentioned still a very busy residential-business street serving southwest Minneapolis.
These are the little details I delight in, like the image of my unknown grandpa, at the age of 6, "driving" a gift cart pulled by his slightly older sister. Thanks much!
I looked on Google Maps for the locations of the 2 new family addresses I'll post below. One was apparently torn down, but the other, on Como Street, looks to have been lovingly maintained and remodeled a bit through the years. |
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slaleike
Junior member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 08:32:44
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2 more addresses for the Samson Offerdahl family, circa 1900 to 1905.
I see lyndal40 posted the Como Ave one above, already. But here they are, with a different source.
According to the Minneapolis Journal, 23 September 1905:
S.O.J. Offerdahl, of 1412 Rollins Avenue SE, applied for a building permit for a new construction of a home at 2102 Como Avenue SE.
It was to be a frame cottage, 28' x 28' with "modern interior finish." $2800.00 was the cost given.
If Google Maps is correct, the house still stands. Lovely place on a corner in a residential neighborhood.
In a similar notice on 21 September 1905, same newspaper, the permit was also mentioned, this time in the name of Samuel O. F. Offerdahl. The building was mentioned as a 1 and a half story dwelling.
And finally, referencing my previous post about the parcel-shower party, the event was described as being attended by 40 young women at the Offerdahl's Como Street residence.
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Kåarto
Norway Heritage Veteran
Norway
5861 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 11:23:29
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Ofredal, Oprexdale, Øffredall, Offeerdahlen, Offerdal, various names over the centuries is located to Øvre Årdal
Offerdal, The Upper Valley in Upper Årdal.
Photos from "Indre" Inner and "Øvre" Upper Offerdal
Kåre |
Edited by - Kåarto on 30/03/2014 11:30:18 |
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
Posted - 30/03/2014 : 19:52:32
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quote:
Yes, Helen was my mother. I am wondering when the census was taken that year?
The page on which your family is listed, has a date of April 12 at the top of the page. |
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Offerdahl family: Samson, Synneve, & children
