Rare old picture from Fjotland around 1850 If our information about this picture is correct, it is a rare opportunity for us to present such an old photograph. The little girl’s name is Asgerd, born 1851. She is sitting on her mother, Torborg Eielsdatter Engedal’s lap. Torborg Engedal born 1822 – died 1874. The father, … Continue reading Tuesday Newsday
Goodale/Goodall/Goodell Family We had always been aware that my husband had New England ancestry. His grandmother had been told stories of Patriot ancestors that fought during the Revolutionary War and she had passed those stories on to her children and grandchildren. That particular branch - the Ehle family - had come to the colonies in … Continue reading Ancestors in Salem, Massachusetts
Nels Olavus Thorson Nels Olavus Thorson ca. 1861 Nels Olavus Thorson was born at Eiesland Gaard, Eiken, Haeggebostad, Vest-Agder, Norway on 8 January 1842. He was the second child born to Thor Oddson Eiesland and his first wife, Asgerd Gassesdatter Veggeland. Asgerd died when Nels was just 5 years old, leaving him and his older … Continue reading Portraits
Finding family in New England wills and probate records I have been spending a lot of time in New England records over the past few months. Finding the family of Harriet Elizabeth Sharp Ehle (the 2x great grandmother of my husband) opened up a huge new door to research in New York and beyond. (You … Continue reading Proving Connections
Oscar Carl Widmann Oscar Carl Widmann was the second son of John A. Widmann and Anna Christina Eckhoff. He was born on 2 May 1893 on the family farm near the community known as Riverside. This community was located at the corner of the present day State Highway 97 and County Highway T north of … Continue reading Saturday Mourning
Jacob Weigel and Viola Widmann wedding party Wedding Memorabilia from Jacob and Viola Widmann Weigel I was fortunate to have a few things passed down from my great grandparent's wedding in October of 1933. Widmann/Weigel wedding booklet My great grandmother saved her wedding booklet from the florist, TD Hefko. It is printed on textured paper … Continue reading Thursday Treasures
William Roderich Smith William R. Smith William R. Smith is another figure in my husband's family that came with a family story. William was my husband's great great grandfather on his father's side. William was born in England in 1848 and came to the US with his family in 1851. The family settled in Milwaukee … Continue reading Family Lore: Fact vs Fiction
Lost at Gaming Table This is What Aged Defendant in Municipal Court Declares on Thursday When Arraigned on the Charge of Using Abusive Language - Says Son was Victim Appleton, Wis - Friday, April 15 Nels O. Thorson, an aged farmer, residing in the town of Greenville, was complained of by Wallace and Elmer Christianson, … Continue reading Tuesday News Day
Finding the Family of Libby Sharp Part 7 - Addendum When I last left off on the search for the family of Harriet Elizabeth "Libby" Sharp, I had found many sources of indirect evidence to support my hypothesis about Harriet's parents and siblings. Since I last wrote, I was made aware of some non-indexed records … Continue reading Breaking Through a Brick Wall
Ponczoch The Ponczochs have been a thorn in my side for as many years as I have been doing family research. The surname alone makes them a difficult family to trace. I have seen the name spelled: Ponshock, Ponchoch, Toushock, Punshok, and many other ways. Searching any database for this surname is extremely challenging. Mary … Continue reading Sunday Surname
WitzEnd Family History 