Ben Olson

   Another name for Ben was Bernt Olsen Moen.

  Research Notes:

Summary:

Ben is my 1st cousin 3 times removed. Ben's mother, Benedikte Mikkelsdatter Midtdal [1882-1898] was a sister to my 2nd great-grandmother, Beret Sofie Mikkelsdatter Midtdal [1832-1899] - Beret Sofie was married to Lars Mikkelson, 1830-1922 and their daughter was my great grandmother, Berit Sophie Larsdtr Midtdal [1861-1952]. Ben and my great-grandparents, Thore Simensen Grue [1853-1932] and Berit Sophie Larsdtr were of the same generation.

Ben Olson, b 1852, was also as Bernt Olsen Moen in many of the Norway records. He was born in Tolga Parish, Hedmark at the farm, Moen in Tufsingdalen and in 1872 he left for North America. Ben/Bernt went to McGregor, Clayton Co IA where his brother, Mikkel Olsen Moen, had gone in 1870.

It appears that as early as 1900, Bernt Olsen Moen, began using the name Ben Olson in the Iowa - this is the name that was recorded on the 1900 US Census and on First Lutheran Church marriage record [see point 3]. Ben was married to Maria Eriksdotter b in 1865 in Sweden. Ben and Maria continued to live in Clayton Co, IA, as noted in the 1880 US Census [see point 4]. Likely in the summer or late fall of 1900, Ben and his family had gone to Manistique, Michigan, but had left there for Madison, MN at the end of Apr 1902. As I have noted in point 5.c. below, it is possible that they went to Manistique to be with Maria's sister, Frida.

Ben and his family moved to Madison, Lac Qui Parle, Co, Minnesota from the spring of 1902 where he worked as a house carpenter and a janitor. Ben died at the age of 76 on 1 Dec 1928 at Madison, Lac qui Parle Co, MN. Mary continued to live in Madison, and she died 8 Dec 1940.


Modified Descendant

Ben Olson [Bernt Olsen Moen], b 9 Feb 1852, Tolga, Norway; 4 children
d. 1 Dec 1928, Lac qui Parle Co, MN.
m. 25 Aug 1886, McGregor, Clayton Co, IA
Maria Eriksdotter, b 2 Aug 1865, Sweden, d. 8 Dec 1940, Lac qui Parle Co, MN

Children:

1.] Ole/Olof Bernt Olson, b 12 Jan 1887, McGregor, Clayton Co, IA; d. 27 Dec 1965, Salem, Marion Co, OR. 3 children
m. 1901, Madison, Lac qui Parle Co, MN. Ragna A Laremore, 1893-1977
2.] Maria Olson, b 8 Apr 1889, McGregor, Clayton Co, IA; d. 28 Jan 1965, Madison, Lac qui Parle Co, MN 4 children
m. 1 Nov 1905, Lac qui Parle Co, MN. Ole Andreas Skobba, 1882-1939
3]. Elmer Olson, b 15 Jun 1897, McGregor, Clayton Co, IA; d. 24 Apr 1920, Madison, Lac qui Parle Co, MN No children
4]. Bessie [Beda], b 25 May 1903, Madison, Lac qui Parle Co, MN; d. unknown


Written by Rueben D Grue, 10 Nov 2024. All rights reserved

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1. Bygebok for Os, Vol 3, page 280 ... farm Øybakken

Bernt, b 1852 .... left for America, 1872

Member ship lists ... First Lutheran, McGregor, IA
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60722/images/41742_315072-00044?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=300301445
image 8:
Bernt Olsen Moen, born 9 Feb 1852 Tolgen... left in 1872
married 25 Aug 1886, McGregor County, IA to
wife Maria Eriksdotter, bson Ole f 12 Jan 1887 McGregor County, IA
dau Maria, b 8 Apr 1889, McGregor County, IA

1. b. Geni.com FT, https://www.geni.com/people/Bernt-Moen/6000000007329467444
managed by Rolf Inge Holden, last Updated:April 27, 2022
... has a single photo of Bernt Olsen Moen, posted by John Midtdal and from his photo album February 11, 2010
AND a photo of Mikkel Olsen Moen


2. Norway Parish Records: Tolga moving-out no. 6 /1852 - 1876, page 347, no 5 ... 18 Mar 1872 ..
Bernt Olsen Moen, age 20 from Narbuvold

3. Membership lists ... First Lutheran Evangelical Norweigan Church, McGregor, IA [Clayton Co] Hauges Norsk Evangelical
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60722/images/41742_315072-00077?pId=150301445

Image 41 and image 8, and image 129: Brent O Moen born 9 Feb 1852 Tolga
M. 25 Aug 1886. Maria Eriksdotter, b 2 Aug 1865 Värmland, Sweden
Children:
Ole b 12 Jan 1887, IA
Maria b 8 April 1889, IA

AND marriage record: image 100 ... Bernt Olson and Mary Erikson ... witness names is not clear Ole Heden ??; Katarine E Langen
image 129: family recorded and then left the parish/congregation in 1896 ... his name maybe is spelled "Beren"
[starting on image 124 there is another format for "Membership"]

Maria Eriksdotter, b 2 Aug 1865 ---
her family, 1880 US Census, Clayton Twp, Clayton Co, IA, page 9
Erik Erikson, age 60, b in Swe; farmer
Erik's wife Mary, age 49, b in Swe
dau, Mary, age 15 b in Swe

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4240678-00260?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=JEe190&_phstart=successSource&pId=23125050

4. US Census records

.. Bernt/Ben Olsen/Moen is not indexed in 1880 census and I reviewed McGregor and Clayton Twps .... 6 Nov 2024

1900 US Census, Clayton, Clayton Twp, IA; ED0046; sheet 1B; dw/fam 12/12
Ben Olson b. Feb 1852 in Nor, m.13 yrs, em 1871 ??; ????? ; farmer
wife Mary b Aug 1865 b in Swe, age 34, mother of 3 children, 3 living; em 1871
son Ole, b Jan 1887 age 13 b in IA
dau Mary, b Apr 1889, age 11 b in IA [IA delayed birth - 8 Apr 1889, McGregor]
son Elmer, b June 1897, age 2 b in IA
then,
Erik Erikson, father in law, b Jan 1820 in Swe, age 80, em 1870 * see 1880 census
his wife Mary, b Jun 1831 age 69 mother of 6 children, 1 living, em 1871

Maria Eriksdotter, b 2 Aug 1865 ---
her family, 1880 US Census, Clayton Twp, Clayton Co, IA, page 9
Erik Erikson, age 60, b in Swe; farmer
Erik's wife Mary, age 49, b in Swe
dau, Mary, age 15 b in Swe
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4240678-00260?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=JEe190&_phstart=successSource&pId=23125050


1910 US Census, Madison ward 2, Lac Qui Parle Co, MN, ED 0068; sheet 2A; dw/fa 26/27
Ben Olson, age 47 ?[should be age 57] b in Nor married 23 yrs; em 1871 ???; house carpenter
wife Mary, age 44 in Swe; m. 43 yrs; mother of 4 children, 4 living
son Ole, age 22 b in IA
son Elmer, age 12 b in IA
dau Bessie, age 6 b in MN [1904] *
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4330233-00431?pId=13172727

1920 US Census, Madison, Lac Qui Parle Co, MN, ED 0098; sheet 21A;
dw/fam 117/130; living on 8th Ave

Ben Olson, age 68 b in Nor, em 1871 ???; janitor church
wife, Mary, age 54 b in Swe
then, ancestry indexed as Alma age 22 b in IA , daughter ??? [BUT age and birth in IA puts birth as 1888 ... so, Elmer, but he is a son ]
Bessie, age 16 b in MN

1930 US Census, Madison, Lac Qui Parle Co, MN, ED 0017; sheet 3B; dw/fam38/73
Mary Olson, age 64 b in Swe, Widow

1940 US Census, Madison, Lac Qui Parle Co, MN, ED 37-17; sheet 3B; house visit, 431 [line 77]
Mary Olson, age 64 b in Swe, Widow


5. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947

5. a. Providence Valley Lutheran Church ... near Dawson, Lac que Parle Co, MN. West of Minneapolis abt 230 kms ... and about 500 kms to the south of Hallock, Kittson Co, MN
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/48258_555023-00168?pId=62515131 Swedish American Church Records .. MN...Providence Valley
.. image 340 .... family Record ... similar to the First Lutheran at McGeogor, IA
.... nothing new other than: received 1 Jun 1902 and then removed on 20 Feb 1903 ... to Madison, MN
but came from Manistique, Michigan
... Providence Valley church is about 25 kms to the south of Madison, and close to 10 kms to the south Dawson, MN


5. b. Zion Lutheran Church, Manistique, Michigan ... Swedish Lutheran Church
image 460 out of 692 images
family register * .... similar as other as the one from Providence Valley ... But:
son Olof b 12 Jan 1887 in McGregor Iowa .. Confirmed 28 Jul 1901 at Manistique
received on the 6 Jan 1901 ... but removed from the register 29 Apr 1902 going to Davison, Minn [likely Madison]

* appears to be in the same group [couple of lines below son Elmer's infor:
Frida Carolina Erikson, b 31 Mar 1882 at Maria parish, Stockholm, Swe
.. arrived on 6 Jan 1901 [same date as above] .... arrived in America on 1900
.. transferred to page 5 .. she was married to Frans Julius Larson and has 2 children m. 1 Oct 1903

* is Frida a sister to Maria/Mary Erikson ??? and is this the reason that they went to Manistique, MI ????

5. c. Ness Lutheran Church, Madison, Lac qui Parle Co. MN

image 180 out of 265 images, no 560
birth: Beda b 25 May 1903, bap 31 May 1903; parents: Ben and Mary Olson
also: image 200 ... confirmation for Elmer Olson, age 15, parents as above
image 196... confirmation for Marie Olson, age 14, parents as above
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60722/images/41742_315072-00044?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=300301445


6. Ancestry Family Trees

Frost Family Tree [Anders Frost]; accessed 9 Nov 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/51351628/person/102087778589/facts
.. link to Benjamin Olson
** it appears that in the early years that Berndt O Moen live in Iowa he adopted the name "Ben Olson"
... in the First Lutheran Church records at McGregor, Clayton Co, IA he is recorded with the name "Berndt Olsen Moen" [image 42 and image 8]
.. But the marriage record from 1886 at First Lutheran Church records record his name as "Bernt Olson" ... image 100
............. thus, it is not certain, but likely that he used the name Ben Olson in the US as early as 1886

Lloyd Wakefield FT [diannaigeyer]; last acces 9 Nov 2024
https://www.ancestry.ca/family-tree/person/tree/118550980/person/280171630823/facts
- basic

Melino FT [Carmine Melino]; accessed 9 Nov 2024
https://www.ancestry.ca/family-tree/person/tree/162399519/person/252147410554/facts
- has a link to the following [Maria Olson page] ... but nothing on her children, etc

7. Findagrave, id 99755388 .... posts a Brief bio: .... 10 Nov 2024
**** Note: some of the above information from the "Bio" is not completely accurate or complete. I'm not sure why this writer posted this ... I have view many findagrave pages and there is only a few that provides as much information as this. A similar bio is posted on Ben's wife's page ^10183,10186

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Emigration, 1872, 18 Mar 1872, Tolga, Hedmark, Norway. ¹⁰¹⁸⁷ Bernt Olsen Moen was registered as leaving Tolga parish for America on 18 Mar 1872. It appears that he travelled alone. He also likely to Trondheim and from there took a ship to either Hull or Glasgow. And then likely took a ship from Liverpool to America, most likely arriving at the Port of Quebec, Canada in May 1872. Bernt then most likely traveled to his brother, Mikkel Olsen Moen [b 1848] who was living at McGregor, Clayton Co, Iowa.

Ben married Maria Eriksdotter on 25 Aug 1886 in McGregor, Clayton Co, Iowa, United States.¹⁰¹⁸³ (Maria Eriksdotter was born on 2 Aug 1865 in Värmland län, Sweden,¹⁰¹⁸³ died on 8 Dec 1940 in Madison, Lac Qui Parle Co, Minnesota, United States and was buried in Hayden Cemetery, Madison, Lac Qui Parle Co, Minnesota, United States.)