Norwegians in Illinois - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

First Name Spencer born 1919 in Illnois

farrinfleming — 2012-03-22 17:43:43Z

This is all I know -

Spencer (I don't know last name but know it is Norwegian)
Born approx 1919 in Illinois
Resided in Illinois
Mechanic
In 1977 he was a widow and had one son and one daughter from previous.
Spencer had 2 siblings, brother who was deceased in 1977 and a living younger sister (approx 8 yrs younger).

If you have any ideas for me on how to track down Spencer please let me know.

Thank you!!

Re: First Name Spencer born 1919 in Illnois

rshelfer1 — 2011-12-14 03:22:31Z

-- farrinfleming

I think you need to work from the point this Spencer enters your family (I assume that he enters your family at some point and that's why you're interested in him? If not, then why are you interested in him?).

Where did you get the information you listed? If there's no document, then someone must have told you these things. Is that person still around to tell you something more? Are you sure that what this person told you is correct -- was true in the first place and was remembered correctly?

What else do you know about your Spencer? You say he was a widower in 1977, which I assume is the date of some specific event -- a marriage, maybe? If so, who did he marry? Can you find a record of this marriage? If not a marriage, what happened in 1977 to cause someone to remember anything about him (and these specific details in particular) and pass this on to you?

Where did he live? Where was the unknown event of 1977? Is there anyone still around who might remember the event?

As I said, I don't really know where to look beyond what I have suggested. And I can't think of any way to confirm that Spencer C Peterson is the Spencer you are looking for without knowing more about your mystery Spencer.

Re: First Name Spencer born 1919 in Illnois

farrinfleming — 2011-12-14 02:56:25Z

Thank you for your reply. I was only told his first name is Spencer, I wish I had some documentation. When I searched for him on Ancestry I came up with the the same Spencer C Peterson that you did. I tried researching that family more just now and could not come up with anything. Do you have any ideas for researching them to verify if this is the right Spencer?

Re: First Name Spencer born 1919 in Illnois

rshelfer1 — 2011-12-14 01:24:37Z

You have a very large amount of information about this person, but don't know his surname?

Is the information you have from a document of some sort? If so, I would suggest going back to this document to see if there are any further clues.

If that fails you might look in some of the available document collections for people named Spencer who were born in Illinois around 1919 and try to identify possible Norwegian surnames. You could try searching in the US census for 1920 and 1930. And you could try searching the Cook County birth certificates for 1878-1922 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://h...) in case he was born in Cook County.

I did see a Spencer C Peterson, likely birth year 1919, with parents Andrew (born Illinois, but both parents born Norway) and Anna (born Norway). In the 1920 census this family is in Dayton Township, La Salle County, with an older brother Ambrose. In the 1930 census this family is in Mission, La Salle County, with older brother Ambrose and younger sister Annetta (but Annetta is only 3 years younger than Spencer).

I don't know what else to suggest.

Re: Descendant of Nels J and Ingeborg Hetland

heda0402 — 2011-08-25 20:50:50Z

Hello Geir,

I hope this message finds you well.

My name is David Hetland and I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota - USA. I did a recent Google search of my grandfather, Clair M. Hetland, and came across your post on Ancestry.com.

My father, Richard Hetland, is the youngest son of Clair, who passed away in 1997. Their family grew up in Belvidere, Illinois, where Clair was a town Mayor, State Police Officer, and World War 2 veteran. His wife was Loretta and they had another son named William (Bill) who currently resides in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Are you still interested in gathering more information about your Hetland lineage in the United States? I would love to help you if I can.

Thanks so much and I look forward to your response.

Best,
David

Re: Desantens of John and Marie Jorgensen

hengei — 2010-05-14 08:09:19Z

Hi John, nice hearing from you.
Witch e-mail adress was returned ?
I got several and here is two:
geirancestry@gmail.com
geir@hendum.com
I hope we have information to share and I'm sure we have. I got several picture.
Send me a mail and I will return all the pictures that I have. You probably got access to my Ancestry information ?

Re: Desantens of John and Marie Jorgensen

john16534 — 2010-05-14 01:21:04Z

John and Marie Jorgensen were my grandparents. I remember your great grandmother's visit in the early 1960s. I would like to share information about the family, but an e-mail to your address was returned as undeliverable. Is there another way to contact you?

Re: Jens Hoitomt of Steger - additional info

find_kin — 2009-04-10 04:03:14Z

Did you know that JENS HOITOMT was a former mayor of Steger? And in April 1932 he, along with former village trustee (John Thorndike) and former village clerk and collector (Charles Stein), were standing trial for embezzling $20,000 (Stein became a prosecution witness)? Wonder what the outcome of the trial was? Bet his descendants have more details, or is covering it up?

The only reference I found (by plugging in "HOITOMT") was a Chicago Tribune article that talked about a Steger village-owned automobile, containing records, that was stolen while parked outside the Cook County Criminal Court Building (at 26th Street and S. California Ave). Jury selection was suspended until the vehicle, and its records, were later recovered.

I suspect that the local newspapers at the Steger Public Library may have more details/results about the embezzlement case, and possibly Jens' obituary.

Or you might be able to locate the court records, if available on microfilm, to learn the results of the trial.
Check out "Archives" on www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org, then "Requesting Case Searches" to see fee schedule.
(Don't know how to locate specific case.)

------------
Since you already found photos of the baseball team, I suspect you already contacted "Myron Hoitomt" whose grandfather was Jen's younger brother, and like you is looking for any information about Jens?

And located all the "Jens HOITOMT" references online?

www.archive.org/stream/historyofnorwegi00stra/historyofnorwe...
Full text of "A history of the Norwegians of Illinois"

Jens HOITOMT and Olai HOITOMT were officers of various Norwegian-American organizations between 1895 and 1900s, as transcribed in "THE NORWEGIANS IN CHICAGO" chapter.

There were several others names HOITOMT in the US census living in Illinois or other states, or even Canada.

Contact me off list and I'll give you my research (6 hours so far).

Re: Jens Hoitomt of Steger - found 1920 census

find_kin — 2009-04-10 01:58:38Z

Greetings J C Mann,

----- CENSUS -----
Please provide more details on the censuses you found.
Please share Exact Spelling (forename, surname) under which you found along with Series & Roll & Page (I can view an image using Series, Roll, Page if I cannot match a name).

I am assuming you used Ancestry where used the indexes to locate "Jeno Hoitomt" in 1900 (wife Louisa and children); "Jens Hoitomt" in 1930 index (wife Louise); even "Jens Höitomt" (double-dot over O - Swedish-style) arriving in New York. I am assuming you found these too?

I used HeritageQuest (a head-of-household database indexed by Exact spelling of surname as interpreted by transcriber), so I assumed that his name would be mistranscribed or enumerator wrote it incorrectly. (HeritageQuest does not have 1930 for all states.)

I checked all censuses (it took 3 hours) - and discovered:
"HOITOMT, Jens" in 1900;
"HOITONIT, Gens" in 1910;
"HOETOML, Jans" in 1920.
TIP: I finally searched 1920 census by assuming "Illinois", "Cook", "BLOOM", and looking for everyone born in Norway - luckily only 13.
(I am not a subscriber to Ancestry, but used the census index to look for alternate Surname spellings.)

----- DEATH INDEX -----
Are you familiar with the Illinois Secretary of State databases (IL Marriage Index pre-1900; IL Death Index 1915-1950; IL Death Index pre-1915 [incomplete])?

Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950 shows:
Adolph - Sept 20, 1948 in Decatur, Macon, IL
Jens B - Aug 13, 1948 in Chicago, Cook, IL
Louise (69) - Oct 19, 1935 in Chicago Heights, Cook, IL
(Presumably you already ordered their death certificates either though the respective counties, or Springfield? If not, I can send you links to fee-based researchers I've used that can provide photocopies of DC from microfilm.)

FYI: Decatur is near Springfield in Central Illinois; Chicago Heights is a southern suburb;
Jens might have died in a hospital in Chicago or in Marget's home (as few suburbs had hospitals in 1948).

----- ARE YOU SEARCHING BACK INTO NORWAY? -----
Have you already traced the family through the Norwegian databases (census, emigration) using the patronymic naming method prevalent at that time, as well as a farm name? Or aren't you tracing back that far? (Suggest subscribing to NORWAY-L; I can point you to the Norwegian databases.)

You can reach me through this list, or using my YAHOO email address (uses my login name above). I can send you my findings off-list if you send me your email address.

Ralph from Chicago

Jens Hoitomt of Steger

jcmanns — 2009-04-08 20:22:23Z

I am looking for Jens Hoitomt of Steger, IL. I found him on the 1900, 1910 and 1930 census (I can't find him on the 1920 yet. Jens was born about 1869, his wife was named Louise and he had a daughter Marget and a son Adolph. He owned a boarding house and tavern in Steger and he sponsored the baseball team. I would be interested if anyone is researching him such as grandchildren, etc. He would be my great great uncle.

Re: Birth Place in Norway Translation

dahlmo — 2008-12-23 16:37:47Z

Hi Mary,

Hammer prgj means Hammer prestegjeld (parish). Have been mentioned Hammer and Hamre during the last 200 years. It was a smaller parish north from Bergen, including in the bigger parish,Bergen... Difficult to explain, sorry. Today Hamre is a part of the community Meland. Church records (kirkebøker)you'll find here :

http://www.disnorge.no/genress/index.php?todo=visKategori&am...

God jul ! (Merry Christmas)

Birth Place in Norway Translation

TaliJiggs — 2008-12-23 15:03:34Z

Am trying to understand what Hammers Prgj. Bergen stift means exactly. Parents of a family were born there. There children were listed as being born in Bergen.

Thank you.

Mary

Desantens of John and Marie Jorgensen

hengei — 2008-02-18 14:52:23Z

John and Marie lived in Rochelle,Ogle,Ill. Marie 1982 - 1985, emigrated from Bratt-Hetland, Fister, Rogaland, Norway in 1906.Marie's surname could have been Kindingstad, Bratthetland or Hetland. Her fathers full name was Ole Johannes Olsen Kindingstad.
She was married to John and I asume they lived most of their lives in Rochelle. I found John's Social Security Death Index that he was born 1883 and past away 1969.
They had several children but I have not been able to find any. I know rom som letters written that they have/had a daughter named Rut(h).
I also have a family picture that I could send to anybody that could know anybody in the family. This picture is probably in late 50th og early 60th.

Marie is half sister to my great grand mother. She was sister to Nels J Hetland that I'm asking for on another place in the community.

Anybody know anybody in that family, please email me on adress: geir@hendum.com

Geir Hendum
Norway

Descendant of Nels J and Ingeborg Hetland

hengei — 2008-02-18 14:38:20Z

Nels Johannessen Hetland was born in Bratt-hetland, Fister, Rogaland, Norway 1887 - 1987. He emigrated to US in 1904. In 1910 he lived in Reynolds, Nebraska and in 1917 -1918 he did Army Service in Dement, Ogle, Ill. and he past away in Dec-197 in Rochelle, Ogle.
I found in US sources that he have 4 children:
Clair M.Hetland 1919-1997
Melvin J.Hetland 1920-1998
Arnold Hetland 1923- ?
Margery Hetland 1924-?
I have also found his wife Ingeborg Hetland but have not found her last name. But I found her in the 1930 US Census.
But Nels could also been married to a Frances Hetland.
Nels Hetland was half brother of my great grand mother and I would like to fill in on my pedigree.

Do anybody have more information about desantens family of Nels ?
Any information or question could be mailed me on: geir@hendum.com

Geir Hendum
Norway

Re: Petra Marie Berg - locations

2007-01-16 22:44:33Z

Re: Petra Marie Berg

2007-01-16 22:43:12Z

Jeanie --

Kimball Ave. is a rather long north/south street that runs pretty much the length of the city. It goes through a number of neighborhoods, some of which had Norwegian settlements around 1915. It runs 3 blocks west of Humboldt Park, the center of a number of Norwegian events and settlement in the early to mid 1900s. It also runs just west of Logan Square, center of another Norwegian settlement of the early 1900s.

Do you have the actual street address for Martin Berg?

Robert

Petra Marie Berg

2007-01-16 22:42:10Z

I am looking for the grave of my great grandmother Petra Marie Berg born 18 April 1842 in Brevik Norway. Immigrated to Chicago in 1890.
She died 30 June 1915 while visiting one of her sons in Superior Wisconsin. Her remains were 'removed' to chicago for burial on 1 July 1915. At the time of death she was living in chicago.
in the 1910 census for Cook County she was living with her son Martin T. Berg on Kimball Ave Chicago.
She also had a nephew named Einar Gronseth.
Does anyone have access to obit's, city directories or grave finding. Also of interest is the neighborhood that Kimball ave is located. Is this a Norwegian settlement. Is there a Norwegian Lutheran Church in the area?
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated
Thank You
Jeanie Goff
Port Angeles, Wa
widowgof@olypen.com

Mary ANDERSON STRAND, Conrad HANSON

2006-11-19 22:34:26Z

I have recently found identifying information on my adopted grandmother Laura, that confirms her birth parents. She knew she was adopted & knew what her birth name was. She was born Mar 1897 in Chicago, ILL, her mother, Mary ANDERSON b:ca 1869 Norway, her father, Conrad HANSON, b:? (one source says Denmark, one says Sweden, one says Norway). I have been able to find a little information on Mary ANDERSON. I found where she married Conrad STRAND in 1888, Chicago, ILL. Conrad STRAND died 1895. In the 1900 census Mary is listed as head of house with 3 STRAND children and 2 HANSON children. I have not been able to find any information on a Conrad HANSON. The adoption papers say he was born Sweden, the 1900 census says Laura's fahter was born Norway ,the 1910 census for Laura says her father was born Denmark (she always said she was part Danish). The adoption papers said Conrad HANSON had abandoned the child and was supposed to be living in Chicago, ILL in 1903, the mother Mary ANDERSON STRAND had died in 1902, her death cert says she died as Mary STRAND. Laura's adoption papers say her birth mother was Mary STRAND HANSON, or Ida HANSON. I have searched for the marriage of Mary (or Ida) STRAND or ANDERSON to a Conrad HANSON, nothing is found. I have searched for the births of the HANSON children, nothing is found. Is there another Scandinavan name for Conrad? I would appreciate any ideas on what to look for or where.
Thanks, Donna

Re: Petra Marie Berg

2006-09-20 22:30:06Z

Ralph
I just wanted to write to you again (also hope you received my first =
e-mail as I didn't have it labeled right) and thank you again. Going =
through all the responses that I received, I was overwhelmed with all of =
yours. You were most generous with your time and I appreciate all the =
info and suggestions. =20
I have worked some with the ELCA micro film tapes on some other =
research. I have rented their films and researched them myself. What I =
did not know is that they would do a research for you for a fee. Since =
the films are $15.00, I may check into having them do the search for me =
and see how much that is. What I would hope to find is an indication of =
when she (and my grandfather Peter Martinus) came to Chicago and from =
where.
My biggest thing with Petra is that I know she immigrated in 1890 (or =
there about) but I am not sure exactly where she went. Some family =
members said she went to Superior Wi to be with her son Ole Berg. =
Others indicated that she went to Chicago. Since there is no 1890 =
census to fall back on, I don't have a way to find that out. So we know =
that she went to Chicago by 1900 (according to the census) and lived =
there until her death. I also know she did die in Superior and was =
buried in Chicago. Her son Peter Martinus Berg is my grandfather. I =
have found him in the 1910 census with my grandmother and their 3 =
children. =20
I have done extensive research on this family and just a couple months =
ago, I visited their homes in Norway. I am now working on closing the =
gaps. =20
So again I do most sincerely thank you for your kind interest.
Jeanie Goff
Ps I guess I am a bit confusted on exactly where to send my replies so hope this is the right thing to do

Re: Petra Marie Berg

2006-09-20 04:34:44Z

Re: Petra Marie Berg

genebug2 — 2006-09-19 19:51:17Z

Hi Jeanie,

I looked at the Chicago Tribune Archive & could find nothing for that name or any combination. Here is a link to Lutheran churches in Chicago. http://www.elca.org/archives/chicagochurches/chicago.html I’m not familiar with the address of Kimball St, but I’m sure someone on the list will know where Kimball St is or was.

Re: John Anderson....for Al if you're out there!!

AAskevold — 2006-07-12 16:37:41Z

Hi Jinger!

The mail list is hard to find, it's listed under "Ethnic-Norwegian". I received a copy of your Board email through the mail list, Thanks.

I am not sure if I have seen the Naeseth pages pages, my sources are listed as Kindem's Vossaboki and his Glimmeætti. Also Rene's book, I have the translated CD by Dr. Nuland.

I have Anders Knudsen and Knut Anderson listed as Bø's in my database. I know Knut was born at Saude but keep the Bø name in my data for the line of my 4th great Brynjulv Gitleson Bø (who was born at Øvre Graudo). My farm names are a mess but I use what's easy for me to find in my data.

Thanks for the Olaf Kjerre data. I see some dates that I am missing and I do not have Lars Anderson or Anders Anderson in my data yet. I just worked on some of this Bø/Bøe line last week, this came at a good time.

I will have a look at this again and might change a few farm names to Saue/Saude this time.

Al

John Anderson....for Al if you're out there!!

Jingerm — 2006-07-12 15:01:48Z

Did your Norwegian ancestors settle in Illinois?

2006-06-06 18:09:02Z