Martin Leonard Grue

   Other names for Martin were Leonard Knudson, Leonard Knutsen and Leonard Knutson.

  Research Notes:

Summary: based on new research [24 Ma 2023], I think it is reasonable to conclude, that Martin Leonard Grue's father was Hans Grue. Martin's mother was Marie Grotte.

However, there is very limited evidence that Martin's father was in fact Hans Grue


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The following information was researched on 24 Mar 2023

Ancestry Family Trees

Grotte2 FT [Sarge Douglas]; access 24 Mar 2023
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/181185881/person/272352191664/facts?
- link is to Christian Lars Grotte, and some of the info below is from FT links

registration 27 Apr 1942, Fergus Falls
Christ L Grotte, b 10 Sep 1888 in Minneapolis
address: 526 Alcott Ave, Fergus Falls, MN
contact: Mrs Selma Grotte
employer: Fergus Falls State Hospital


WW 1 Draft: registration 5 Jun 1917, Fergus Falls
- address: 222 Bismark Ave, Fergus Falls
- married and a child

2 marriages:
1st: 31 Oct 1912, Otter Tail: Ellen Sofia Johnson [1884-1918]. one son, Theodore Oliver Grotte [1915-1944]
2nd: 18 Jun 1921, Fergus Falls: Selma Elizabeth Haugen [1890-1963]: 3 children
Vivian, 1923-1991; Luther Orlin, 1925-2014; Sylvia Clarena, 1929-2011

Christian Lars Grotte

- father: Lars [aka, Louis] Grotte, b 1846, Orkdal, Sør Trøndelag and died 10 Feb 1923
- mother: Marin Knudsdatter [aka Mary Sunled], b 1845, Orkdal, Sør Trøndelag; and died 8 of Jan 1890, Hennipen Co, MN
married: Mary Sunled [I'm not sure of "Sunled" surname - it is likely a anglicalized name]
Marriage: 16 Dec 1881 Hennepin

Lars Grotte: a daughter, Marie b 21 Sep 1893 and wife Maren
from Evangelical Lutheran Church recordes: Minneapolis, Trinity Lutheran; image 718
image 750, line 44 - records marriage of Louis Grotte and Mary Sundid [sp/], both born in Orkall

Charles Grotte Family Tree [Charles Grotte]; access 24 Mar 2023
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/107577176/person/300059362809/facts?
- this records that daughter of Lars/Louis Grotte was Marie Grotte
b 21 Sep 1883 Minneapolis [link Trinity Lutheran records]
and that she died bet 1905 and 1910 in Grant Co, MN [ *** no death cert on MNHS people search, but there is a death record for Marie Grotte in 10 Oct 1917 in Nobles Co, MN - but no other information is noted *** ]

AND she had a relationship with Hans Grue [born 2 May 1867 in Nor; died 3 Mar 1923, Dalton] and that they had a son: Lenard Martin Knutson, 1903-1947 [no further info on Hans Grue]

and another FT

Bergerud Ongstad Grotte Haugne FT [mhf60076]; access 24 Mar 2023
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/52455911/person/412338098222/facts?
- indicates the same link betwee Hans Grue and Marie Grotte and son Leonard Martin (Grotte) Knutson
as the Charles Grotte Family Tree from above
- BUT this FT does record some ancestors for Hans Grue - father, grandfather
- link to 1905 MN State, Grant Co - Marie and Christian Grotte and Martin Leonard Grue

-- ---------------------------- added 25 Mar 2023
***** BUT this FT has a number of other links, and I have made a brief summary as follows:

- Christian L Grotte and Marie Grotte were born in Minneapolis and were the children of Lars aka Louis Grotte and
- Mary Sundli [various spellings] aka Maren Knutsdatter, b on 31 May 1845 in Orkdal parish, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway.
Mary/Maren died on 8 JAN 1890 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, MN and her residence was 611 Fillmore N.E. [findagrave id, 158377405]
Mary/Maren's parents were Knud Siverston [Kvamskbak], b 27 Feb 1821 at Qvamsbak, Orkdal parish and died 21 Dec 1870, same place.

- A brother to Mary was Johan Knudston [Sundli], b 27 May 1849 at Qvamsbak, Orkdal parish and died 2 Apr 1929, Otter Tail Co, MN.³
- Johan Knudston was married to Henrikke Johnsdatter Grue b 9 Oct 1844, Røros and died 14 Dec 1927, Otter Tail Co, MN²
- Johan Knudston and Henrikke had a son, Carl Johan Knudston b 24 Nov 1873 at Ihlen, Trondhjem and died 20 Jul 1874 Ihlen, Trondhjem¹

¹. Trondheim parish, Vår Frue local parish. Line 13. Date of birth: 24 Nov 1873. Date of baptism: 18 Jan 1874. Carl Johan.
Parents: Laborer Johan Knudtsen and Henrika Johnsdatter. 24.29.1. Ihlen.
Sør-Trøndelag; Ministerialbok nr. 602A16, 1873-1879, s. 22
and death: Trondheim parish, Vår Frue local parish. Line 75. Date of death: 20 Jul 1874. Date of burial: 25 Jul 1874.
Laborer Johan Knudtsens child Carl Johan. Birthplace: Ihlen, born 24 Nov 1873.

² Marriage: 27 Dec 1872. Sør-Trøndelag, Ministerialbok nr. 602A13, 1860-1872, s. 292

³ Johan Knudtsen's birth: 27 May 1849. Line 76. Born: 27 May 1849. Baptized: 22 Jul 1849.
Johan Knudsen. Born in wedlock. Parents: Lodger Knud Sivertsen Qvamsbakken and Ane Johnsdatter.
Sør-Trøndelag, Ministerialbok nr. 668A05, 1840-1853, s. 73 no 76 [second from top]


Note: in the 1910 US Census for Stony Brook Twp, Grant Co, MN
- Christian L Grotte is recorded as a nephew - Christian was the son of Johan Knudtsen's sister, Mary

Note: this FT also links to MN, Wills and Probate collection on Ancestry; 22 Feb 1913
[ Otter Tail, Will Records, Vol G, 1925-1925, image 514
John Knudson - my estate to wife Henrikka and when she dies to "... my beloved adopted son, Martin Leonard Knudson ..."



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1. Census

a) 1905 MN (Stony Brook Twp, Grant Co) listed under/with John Knutson family
John Knudtson, age 56 6/12 b in Norway; married; in MN for 23 yrs, 1 month and same with this ED; farmer
wife Henrika, age 60, 7/12 b in Norway; married; in MN and this ED, same as John
Maria Grote, age 21 and 8/12 b in MN [Oct 1883] ; single; in MN and this ED, 21 yrs and 8 months
Christian Grote, age 16 and 8/12 b in MN [Oct 1888]; single; in MN and this ED, 16 yrs and 8 months
Martin Grote, age 2 and 3/12, b in MN [Feb 1902]; single; in MN and this ED, 2 yrs and 3 months ???
father b in Nor and mother born in MN


from: familysearch: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9Q97-YSYC-VB4?i=1&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3ASPS5-NCV

b) 1910 US Census Stony Brook Twp, Grant Co. MN; ED 35; sheet 2A; dw/fam 24 [see Henerika's page]

---- Martin Lenoard Grue, age 7 <1903> in MN - listed as nephew to head of household, Johan Knutson - did not attend school (as of/since 1 Sept 1909)


c) 1920 US (Fergus Falls, Otter Tail) - listed with John and Henerika Knutson (spelled Kenuston), as Martin L with the surname Kenuston

d) 1930 US Census (Fergus Falls, ward 1, Otter Tail) [ 29 Aug 2009 ]

- Lenard Knutson, age 27 <1903> in Fergus Falls, 115 Brancroft Ave; lodger; works as a house painter (appears to be a rooming house, since there are a number of lodgers listed - family 462, Vernon A Bjorklund as head of household with wife, daughter and son; occupation - Secretary Treasure, Commerical Building [ ???? difficult to make out handwriting ]);
- another Martin Knutson, age 26 <1904> in Beauford Twp, Blue Earth Co, MN; married with a daughter; works as a cleryman but not likely
- no other Martin or Lenard Knutson, born about 1903, indexed in 1930 US Federal (MN or otherwise)

e) 1940 US Census Fergus Falls, Ward 4; 319 Union Street (same address as Occidental Hotel);
line 67

- Lenard Knutson, age 37, single, born in MN; grade 8 [9?] relation to head of household is a Lodger; did not work the wk of Mar 24; worked as a Painter with construction industry; worked 32 wks in 1939 earning $800
- 1 Apr 1939 - same -- ??? the address is different from City Directories



2. MN Birth/Death Index [ 29 Aug 2009 ]

- no listing for Martin Knutson, Otter Tail Co or Grant or any MN county
- listing for Leonard Knutson, Otter Tail Co (as above); certid# 1947-MN-012142 with date of death 8 Nov 1947; but no birth-location information of birth or mother's maiden name given ++++ search Fergus Falls newspaper

+++ from: familysearch.org; MN Death Collection, 1835-1990 !!!!!!!!!!! [ 15 Oct 2011 ]

- Leonard Knutson, father - Hans Grue, mother - Marie
- died, 8 Nov 1947 at Fergus Falls, age 45, birth 1902 [actual, 1903]
- source film # 2139205; reference # 12142

-- from the Familysearch.org file: Minnesota Death Certificate Index 1904-2001. This database indexes the death cards from 1904 to 1907 and the death certificates from 1908 to 2001. Do not use the reference numbers listed in the "Minnesota Deaths and Burials, 1835-1990" as certificate numbers. They may not correspond to any other index. They are reference numbers used in processing the names for this index and as such usually do not reflect an actual certificate number.

Conclusion: 23 Dec 2013 - given the limited information, I have not included Leonard as a son of Hans Johnsen Grue; however, this is quite possible. See "to do list"

-- as of 1 May 2017, I have not found Martin Lenard Grue's birth record in the US Evangelical Lutheran Church records on Ancestry. No record at Wendall, Tinitry Lutheran or Elbow Lake, United Lutheran; no index record



3. Ancestry.com; US City Directories - Fergus Falls City and Rural Directory - Keiter Directory Co,

1935-1936 and 1937-1938
- page 117 (ancestry p 61 - 1935-1937); page 116 (ancestry p 59 - 1937-1938)
- Leonard Knudson, painter, r. 1027 Sheridan S

1941-1942
- page 112 (ancestry p 56)
- Leonard Knutson, painter, r. rms. Occidental Hotel, 319 Union Ave S

- not listed in 1939-1940 or 1948

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence - 1930, 1 Apr 1930, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail Co, Minnesota, United States. ²⁷¹⁴

2. Residence - 1940, 1 Apr 1940, Fergus Falls, Otter Tail Co, Minnesota, United States. ²⁷¹⁵ 319 Union St