Jacob Nilsen Langsjoen

  Research Notes:

Summary:

Jacob Nilsen Langsjoen was my third half cousin 3 times removed. My relationship is through my 5th great grandparents [Jacob Nilsen Vargean, 1725-1796) - he was the grandfather to my 3rd great-grandmother, Kirsti Nilsdtr Søndmør [1795-1876] and the great grandfather of my 2nd great grandmother, Olava Olsdtr Røstbakken [ 1823-1919] who was married to Simen Thoresen Grue, 1823-1903.

Jacob grew up on the Langsjoen farm on the far south part of Tolga parish. In June of 1880, along with his 2 brothers Kornelius and Peder and possibly his parents left Tolga parish for North America. Note that I have not found any evidence that Nils and Karoline Langsjoen had actually travelled to North America. It is likely that Jacob and his 2 brothers had joined their other brother, Johannes who had emigrated a year earlier.

Jacob farmed for awhile around the Battle Lake area of Otter Tail Co, MN [Everts twp]. On 8 Mar 1885 he married Karen Thoreson - she was that daughter of Thore Kristoffersen or Christoffersen who had also emigrated from Nannestad parish near Olso. Karen's family consisted of 10 children. Her brother Gustav Thoreson also had moved to LaMoure Co, ND and farmed near Kulm, ND. It appears that her father, Thore Christophersen, aka Kristoffersen, likely came to live with Jacob and Karen - he dies in 1898 there, but was buried at Battle Lake, MN.

Some time around 1883, Jacob and Karen moved to Glen Twp in LaMoure Co, ND - Jacob obtained a homestead, but converted it to a cash entry sale. By 1913 he had accumulated a total of 640 acres of land, abt 5 kms south of the town of Edgely ND. Most of the records in the US, particularly in ND, Jacob's surname is recorded as "Langsjon" and so it appears that at some point he went by the name "Jacob Langsjon".

Some of the available family trees record that Jacob and Karen had a daughter, Anna. However, the 1910 US Census records that Anna was born in Norway about 1883 and that she had emigrated in 1885. But the 1910 Us Census does not indicate that Karen was a mother of any children [the columns are blank] and in the 1900 US Census, Karen's record shows that she was the mother of no children - if this Anna was Jacob and Karen's daughter, Karen's 1900 record should show that she had at least one child.

Most of the Family Trees [FTs] do not note this discrepancy. And to me this shows a lack of research or a lack of anaylsis of the information. Either this Anna was Jacob's daughter prior to his leaving Norway, yet that seems unlikely since the distance from Tolga parish to Olso area is significant. Is this Anna a daughter of Karen, prior to Karen's emigration from Norway - that is a possibility. Also note that Anna is buried at the same cemetery as Jacob Langsjoen and Karen.

After reviewing death records for ND, I found a death certificate for "Anna M. Langsjon", born 6 Dec 1881 in Olso [Akershus County] and died 23 Jul 1948 at Jamestown, Stutsman Co, ND, but her usual residence was Edgeley, ND. Her parents are recorded as Kirsten Antonison, with his birth place recorded as unknown but in Norway. Her mother was recorded as Johanah Thorson, with her birth place in Norway unknown. The informant for the the death certificate was Albert Johnson from Edgeley - he was the son in law of Anna M Langsjon; Anna had daughter named Bernice, but Bernice's father is not known].

I have looked at the birth records for Nannstad parish in Akershus County, and I think I found the baptism record for Anna M - it notes that she was born outside of marriage and that she was born at Christiania [Olso]. Anna's baptism was at Nannestad parish, her home parish and that of her parents. The given name of the father is likely Kristen, but I can't make out the patronmyic; mother recorded is Johanna Thorsdtr. Anna's "middle name" is likely Malfrid, but the handwriting is difficult to read.

Reviewing the death certicate, I also wondered who "Johannah Thorson" is, but since Karen, the wife of Jacob, "surname is Thorsen" is it possible that Johannah is a sister to Karen? There are a couple of family trees that outline the family of Karen Thorsen. As indicated above, Karen's parents were Thore Kristoffersen and Marie Jacobsdatter - they had 10 children, and one daughter is recorded as Johanna or Johanne Thoresdatter, born in 1854. The 1865 Norway Census records some of Thore's family, including daughters Karen age 14, and Johanne age 12. The 1875 Census notes Thore and his wife along with daughter Johanne Thorsdtr b in 1854 whose usual residence is Kristiania [Olso].

Thus, the 2 Norway census records and at 2 FTs [Family Trees on Ancestry] support that Karen, the wife of Jacob Langsjoen/Langsjon, and Johanna or Johanne are sisters. Therefore, my hunch is that Anna M Langsjon is in fact the daughter of Johanne Thorsdatter, who was a sister to Karen Thorsdatter who married Jacob Nilsen Langsjoen/Langsjon. And a further hunch is that Anna came to the US around 1882 [at the age only 1 year old]. Anna came may have emigrated with Karen since that is the year that Karen emigrated according to the 1900 and 1910 US census records [I haven't found any emigration records for Karen or Anna]. This may mean that Johanne Thorsdatter died around this time or shortly after the birth of Anna. And, this also likely means that Karen had "informally adopted" Anna.

There are limited records of Jacob, Karen and Anna in the ND Dakota records - I have not found any local histories that record them, and the ND States Census. Jacob had intially taken out an homestead entry in 1883, but then purchased the quarter sectiion shortly thereafter, and by 1913 he had obtained about 640 acres of land, about 5 kms south of the current town of Edgeley, ND.

Jacob died on 17 June 1922 and Karen died in 1929.

It is likely that Anna Langsjon had a daughter, Bernice Lucille who was also likely raised on the home farm of Jacob and Karen Langsjon. Bernice was born in 1906l; her father is not known. She had married Albert Johnson from the Edegely area in LaMoure Co in 1931 and she died in 1943. Interestingly her ND Death Certicage completed Albert Johnson records her father as Jacob Langsjon and mother as Karen Kringle [Thorsen]. I don't think this right; it might be possible but is unlikely. Bernice was born in 1906 and the 1910 US Census she is recorded as a grand-daughter to Jacob and implies that her mother was Anna Langsjon. However, I have not found a birth certicate for Bernice. Despite very little evidence, I think it is reasonable to conclude that Bernice was a grand daughter even though she may have felt that Jacob and Karen were like her parents since they had, at least for the most, part raised her.

Hopefully over time, more evidence will surface.


Notes written by Rueben D Grue, 30 Apr 2025
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Death: at Fargo, Cass Co ... usual residence, Edgeley
died 17 Jun 1922 at St Luke's hospital in Fargo [he had been in the hospital ro 11 days] .... died at age of 70 yrs, 10 months, 7 days
[birth 10 Aug 1851 in Norway]]
- retired farmer .... informant Mrs Jacob Langsjoen ..... his parents ... Jacob Nilsen ????, mother not known
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61747/images/49142_302022005541_1211-00250?queryId=60ec12cf-fbf6-4d16-98c0-40d8f81d33b8&usePUB=true&_phsrc=QeA171&_phstart=successSource&pId=469281

BLO - GLO Records

NW¼ Sec 22, Twp 133N, Range 64W of the 5th,
US track books ..... Vol 53, image 57
NW¼ of Sec 22 .... homestead land ... Jacob N Langsjoen initial payment of $10 and then on 15 Jun 1883 converted to cash - $200
patent issued: 20 Jun 1889

... and 1913 Plat, Golden Glen Twp [image 35 on Ancestry Indexed US county land ownership for LaMoure Co]
sec 22, NW¼, as above ... but also SW¼ of Sec 15, and the east half of Sec 16 ... total of 640 acres
... this is abt 3 miles or abt 5 kms south of the town of Edgeley .... the platt is not clear where the house and farm buildings were located

1900 US Census, LaMoure Co, ND
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/records/68196689

Jacob Langsjoen [indexed on Ancestry as Langsfor?], b Aug 1851 in Norway, age 48, m. 15 yrs; em 1880; farmer
wife Carrie, b Dec 1851 in Norway; age 48, m. 15 yrs; mother of 0 children; em 1882

1910 US Census, Golden Glen Twp, LaMoure Co, ND; ED 0121; sheet 11A .. dw/fam 180/175
Jacob Langsjoen [indexed as Langsjon], age 59 b in US; em 1888; farmer
wife Carrie, age 59 b in Nor; em 1882
daughter, Anna, age 27 b in Nor [b 1883]; em 1885 [emigrated at age 2?] **
grand daugther, Bernice age 3 b in ND [abt 1907]
... hired workers
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884/records/170198658

** findagrave, 16778689, d. 1948 .... Mount Hope Cemetery, Edgeley, LaMoure Co, ND ... no other information noted, other than photo


1915 ND State... LaMoure Co ..... image 53 of 190 on ancestry .. dw/fam 23 [there is no age or other identifying infor on the census]
J N Langsjon
Carrie
Anna
Bernice on the next page
... note Carri, Anna, and Bernice are recorded on the 1925 ND State, but again limited information


1920 US Census, Golden Glen Twp, LaMoure Co, ND; ED 0146; sheet 4B; fam/dw 77/80 [line 95]
Jacob Langsjon [indexed by Ancestry as Lansjan], age 69 b in Nor; retired farmer ?
wife Carry, age 69 b in Norway
dau, Anna, age 38 b in Norway **
dau Bernice, age 13 b in ND ** I don't think that either Bernice is daughter of Jacob - Bernice is the daughter of Anna and Anna is the daughter of Johanne or Johanna Thoresen who was a sister to Karen, wife of Jacob Langsjon [this census sheet records her as Carry]

1940 US Census, Edgeley city, LaMoure Co, ND, ED23-8
Albert Johnson, age 35 b in ND .... farm labor
wife Bernice, age 35 b in ND *
Anna Langsjon, age 58 widow b in Norway; mother in law
* Bernice L Johnson findagrave 16778685 ... 1906-1943; died at age 37 .... they were married in 10 Oct 1931**
* Albert Johnson, findagrave 23616399 ... 1905-1982 - he likely remarried to Hazel....

** https://statemuseum.nd.gov/marriages?LAST_NAME=Johnson&FIRST_NAME=Albert&LAST_NAME2=&FIRST_NAME2=Bernice&Soundex=&MARRIAGE_DATE_op=between&MARRIAGE_DATE%5Bvalue%5D=&MARRIAGE_DATE%5Bmin%5D=&MARRIAGE_DATE%5Bmax%5D=&LICENSE_COUNTY=23&items_per_page=50&antibot_key=iLAxfoC4TyhDAx916bxkILPlXU7-YxpaLEjEAQkumjw

** Bernice was born on 16 sep 1906 at Fargo, Cass County .... died 4 Mar 1943


1950 US Census, Glen Twp, Alfred village, LaMoure Co, N ....
Albert Johnson, age 45 .... grain elevator
wife Hazel, age 41 b in ND ... school teacher
..... no children are noted ^{10364,10365,10366}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Emirgration, 1880, 8 Jun 1880, Tronheim, Sør-Trondelag, Norway. ¹⁰³⁶⁷ Jacob Langsjoen, along with 2 of his brothers Kornelius and Peder and his parents, are registered on Trondheim emigrant protcols on 8 Jun 1880. Their designation is recorded as Dalton MN. I have not found a record in the "out-migration" records in the Norway Parish registers, nor have I found them recorded on ship lists, such as Canadian Passenger records or Ellis Island.

I have no information that Nils and Karolina Langsjoen in the US. Perhaps they planned to go, but then decided not to. Or they had emigrated, but then came back to Norway - Nils and Karolina are recorded in the 1891 Norway Census.

Jacob married Karen Thoresen on 8 Mar 1885 in Otter Tail Co, Minnesota, United States.¹⁰³⁶⁰ (Karen Thoresen was born on 14 Dec 1851 in Kringler, Nannestad parish, Akerhus Co, Norway, died in 1929 in Edgeley, LaMoure County, North Dakota, United States and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Edgeley, LaMoure County, North Dakota, United States.)