Kerstin Larsdatter

  Research Notes:

Summary

Kerstin Larson was my 2nd cousin 4 times removed. Her direct ancestors go back to one of the earliest settlements in Tolga parish at the farm Søndmør. Her mother's father was Ole Evensen [1782-1872], also known as Ole Evensen the younger. Ole Evensen was a brother to my 4th great-grandfather, Niels Evensen Søndmør, 1768-1819. Their father was Even Bersvendsen Søndmør [1734-1795].

As I have indicated below, there is very little information on Ancestry or FamilySearch for Kerstin. But there is one Family Tree that might provide a clue, but as with most FTs, very little source information is noted.
Note: Most of the Family Trees [FTs] and other family reseachers have very minimal information on Kerstin, other that she was born in 1845 in Norway. Many FTs have misleading information.

Using the information from John Mason's book on Otter Tail Co, MN, published in 1916, we have a sense of the family movements after they arrived in 1852 [see mother Ingrid's page]. They first went to Wisconsin until about 1857 when the family moved to Houston Co, MN and then to Fillmore Co, MN where is father purchased land, and lived there until around 1861, when her father went to Jackson Co, MN for about 1 year before moving back to Fillmore Co. Her father lived there until about 1869 when he moved to Otter Tail Co, MN.

John Mason's book records the following for Ingrid Olsdtr and Lars Estensen's family: "E and Inger were the parents of Esten, Maret, Ole, Chesten [likely Christine or Kerstin] and Segri." John Mason's book is likely fairly accurate and the information provided was likely from Ole E Larson, son of Ingrid.

Unfortunately John Mason's book does not specify a specific location in Fillmore Co [Note that a sister to my 3rd great-father Simen T Grue was Anne Margaret Grue [1832-1921] married to Peder Olsen Bye. They came to Petersen, Fillmore Co. in 1870.

There is another source that is very similiar to John Mason's book. A booklet written by Bersvend J. Blikstad, The Nelson-Moen Family of the Town of Tumuli, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, also written in 1916. This booklet doesn't add any new information to the John Mason's book.

I also reviewed the book, "History of Fillmore Co, MN" by Curtis-Wedge, published in 1912. However, I could not any reference to Lars Estensen or Ole Larson [10 Apr 2024] or their daughter Kerstin.

However, as I have indicated below there are 4 Family Trees [3 on ancestry and 1 from FamilySearch] that provide some hints as to the family situation. And from this, I have made a couple of conclusions:

Firstly, the 1865 MN State Census for Rushford Twp, Fillmore Co, suggests that Kerstin Larsdatter b 1845 was married to Isak Olsen Houg and they had one child, Ole L Olsen. The 1865 census record also most likely records Isak Houg's parents, Ole C Houg and wife Beret. And also significantly, the 1865 census record most likely records Kerstin's parents, Ole Estensen and Ingrid, and Kerstin's sister Sigrie [Sigrud] b in 1847. It is important to note that the available information notes that Ole Estensen and Ingrid had lived in Fillmore Co from about 1862 to 1868/69.

Secondly, the FTs provide a basic outline of the Kerstin's family. Married in 1862 to Isak Andreas Olsen Houg, with one son, Ole Lewis Olsen Houg and a daughter Kerstine Olsen Houg. It appears that Isak Houg drowned in Apr 1866. And then it is likely that Kerstin Larsdatter died in Apr 1867, most likely due to complications following the birth of daughter Kerstine in 1866 - Kerstine likely died at birth or shortly thereafter.

Note: much of what I have written includes some hunches and most likely a few assumptions. It is clear that more research would be needed to confirm or deny the above 2 conclusions. However, I am uncertain if I will ever be able to find collaborating evidence.


Written by Rueben D Grue, 7 May 2024
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Ancestry Family Tree

1. Nelson-Larson FT [slien189]; access 29 Mar 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/175027040/person/142295082535/facts
... this FT has a comment, re; Lars Estensen: ... died 14 May 1877 .. Left home at Tolga, Norway, in Feb 1852 to board ship in Kristiania at the beginning of April, 1852. Sailed for 8 weeks on the "Baldalla" (sp??) arriving in Quebec, Canada, in June, 1852.
... and another thing ... Lars Estensen Hodal vestre .. parents Esten Larsen Hodal and Marit Olsdatter .... is this Marit Olsdatter the person that many FTs confuses as the wife of Lars Estensen ???? BUT he was married to Ingrid Olsen Kaasen in 1833
.. www.tolgaskelt.no ... records name as Marit Olsdatter Eide, b 3 Jun 1781 and died 24 Dec 1836 married to Esten Larsen, father of Lars Estensen, b 13 Jun 1807

.. AND ...
... his FT has some information on daughter Kirstin "Christine" Larson m. Isak Andreas Olesen Houg, 1840-1866; she dies on 21 Apr 1867 Fillmore Co; findagrave, id 124894645
married 15 Dec 1862, Bethleham Lutheran Church under Lanesboro; ...age at marriage 18 [abt 1844] ... no other identifiying information for"Christine Larsdatter"
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60722/images/41742_314738-00923?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=1351157491
.. church cemetery in Norway Parish is about 13 kms south of Peterson, MN, cross country roads and close to 30 kms north of Iowa border
.. Highland Prairie Lutheran church records are under "Peterson", but it seems the early funerals didn't start until 1871 or 1872
... this is the familySearch FT id for father to Isak, Ole Christiansen Haug, KHC3-8BC. Isak is noted but not his death or marriage

And then, another Ancestry FT

2. Benke/Ewert/Larson/Bergom FT [lee_benke]; access 9 Apr 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/47601554/person/24658397220/facts
- above link is to Isak ... and a comment: "Death: Drowned in Root River" .. there is a Root River that flows easterly by Peterson and Rushford and empties into the Mississippi ... given the date of death as 8 Apr 1866, likely at spring runoff or freshet...
- the owner of the above FT has a note: Why 3 members of the family died in 1866 ... most likely the daughter Kerstine Olsen died at or shortly after her birth and it is likely 'our' Kirsten died from birthing complications ... the boy not so sure, unless he was traveling with father
- nothing on the parents of Kristine/Kristen Larsdatter
- links to findagrave 124894645 - Kristen Larsdatter Houg ** says she was born 1845, Norway; references her marriage in 1862, but marriage record [see link above] records birth in Röraas ???
... Note that the gravestone marker is very difficult to read. I tried to enhance it - see photo saved under myPC, Pictures ... In reviewing the grave marker it appears that Kerstin Larsdatter b 1845 and died 1867 is not recorded, but the maker is of Isak, his brother Gunerius, and Isak and Kerstin's children, Kerstine and Ole Lewis Houg
.... findagrave id links to husband, 113617923:

Isak Andreas Olsen Haug b 13 May 1840, Nord-Trøndelag parish, Norway and died 1866
- the above FT does not make the following connection, but the on the page for Isak, there are "comments" that refer to:
the 1865 Minnesota State Census:

1865 MN State Census, Rushford Twp, Fillmore Co, MN
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-YP6Q-N?i=7&wc=M839-949%3A66835301%2C66894701&cc=1503054
... unfortunately the 1865 MN State census only records the person's name and gender ... age and place of birth are not recorded

BUT on image 8, 2nd side: records:
.. family 138: Ole C Hang or possibly Hung, and wife Beret .. this is most likely Isak/Isaac's parents
.. family 139: Isaac A Oleson, wife Kistine, and [son?] Ole L Oleson
THEN .. family 140:
Lars Ostenson, wife Ingrid, and Sigrie [daughter ?]
... not absolute proof, but it is likely this is Lars Estenson, Ingrid and daughter Sigrie or Sigrud


4. "Mindrum Family Hitory"
https://www.mindrumfamilyhistory.com/getperson.php?personID=I1426&tree=mindrum .... Norwegian type of site

- interesting site, with one thing ... the son of Issac and Kirstine Larsdatter, Ole Lewis Olson born 1 Mar 1864 and died .. 2 May 1868, age 4
- another, Isak's brother Baard Olsen was married on 15 Dec 1862
- note that Isak, Kristine and son Ole are recorded on the 1865 MN State Census .. at first I didn't find them .. but later, found them on image 8, Rushford Township

- also uses: "Old Book, Highland Prairie Lutheran Church Records, Norway Twp., Minnesota, Deaths, page 221, line 34" - this refers to the funeral for Isak A Houg. On 7 May 2024 I reviewed the Ancestry collection [every 20-25 pages; Highland Prairie Lutheran Church] and did not find the above "book 1", even though the first image notes, "Book 1)

.. it appears that the youngest brother of Isak A Houg, was Peter Magnus Olsen Haug [1845-1931].. apparently some of his children used the surname "Mindrum" in the US.


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NOTE: the difficulty with the above information from FTs is:
.. I haven't been able to find much evidence that actually collaborates the information.
But since there is little information on Kerstin, it is quite possble that she did die aound 1866-1868 and her children also died and so there are no descendants for her ......

10 Apr 2024
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