Johanna Maria Narjord

  Research Notes:

Summary:

Johanna is my half-third cousin twice removed. I have a double relationship with Johanna and her brother Sonvis through her mother's side, the Bakkens, and through her father's, the Narjords. See her father research page for more detail and also see her mother's father's page for the Bakken family relationship.

Johanna was born in Norway and came with her parents as a baby to Allamakee Co, Iowa in 1879. Her father died when she was only 8 years old. Her mother and brother continued to live in Waterloo Twp, Allamakee Co, until around 1900-1901. Johanna and Sonvis and their mother Ingrid left Iowa and likely first went to the area around Maddock, Benson Co, North Dakota and for awhile stayed with Ingrid's sister likely Dorthe Paulson [nee Bakken]. But, it also possible that Ingrid, Johanna, and Sonvis went to Towner Co, ND where Ingrid's daughter Gea had moved to and who was married to John H Olson. Gea and John married in 1894 [see my summary notes on John H Olson's research page]. Note that the distance between Maddock, ND and Cando ND is about 85 kms.

I did find a photo on the Ancestry Family Tree [Bailey FT] that records Johanna/Mary with her half-sister, Gea. Gea was married to John H Olson. Gea and John had left Iowa in 1884 for Towner County in North Dakota. Gea is holding her daugther Irene who was born in 1898 - in the photo Irene would be no more that 1 year old. This means that Johanna/Mary most likely had moved to ND by 1899, and Mary's mother and brother may also had gone to ND prior to 1900. However, as indicated she is not indexed in the 1900 US Census, nor her mother and brother. Of course, it is possible that Johanna/Mary had gone back to Iowa sometime after that photo, but it is more likely that she, her mother and brother had left Iowa in the late 1890s, but for an unknown reason, were not recorded in the 1900 Census. I have not found a 1900 US Census record for Johanna, Ingrid, or Sonvis in Allamakee or Winnisheik, Iowa or in Benson or Towner Co, ND [they are not indexed on Ancestry or FamilySearch]. So it is possible that they were traveling at the time.


The first record that I have found in ND for Johanna is a birth/baptism record for her son Melvin. This is found on the records for the Viking Lutheran Church in Viking Twp, Benson Co, ND [south of Maddock] and near the homesteads of Johanna's sisters. Melvin was born 27 Mar 1902 and baptized on 20 July 1902. The parents are recorded as Robert and Marie Halseth, with witnesses as Mr and Mrs Hans Paulson, Anna Bakke [a sister of Johanna/Mary's mother Ingrid], and Mikkel Paulson, all living only about .

All of the Ancestry Family Trees [FTs] record Johanna/Marie or Mary was married to Robert Halseth. However, the FTs record only mininal information on him like his birth, but do not record his death dates. I also found a marriage record for Johanna/Mary and Robert Halseth. They were married on 27 May 1902, with the marriage recorded on the Viking Lutheran Church records, Maddock, Benson Co, ND [near her mother's sister's homestead]

Johanna is recorded with her mother in the 1895 Iowa census as a single person, but in the 1910 US Census for Sheridan Co, she is recorded as a widow. This of course, implies that her husband Robert Halseth died before 15 April 1910. Therefore, is must have died between 17 Feb 1902 and 15 Apr 1910.

I have spent considerable time trying to find out if Robert had died earlier than 15 Apr 1910. However, I haven't found any record of his death. One Ancestry FT notes his death is unknown and questions whether he died in Canada. Three of Robert's brothers had gone to Alberta, Canada - I found that Andrew, Mons and Albert all had taken homestead enteries for land near Wiste, Alberta [south of Consort] in 1909, but Albert's entry was in 1911. There is no evidence that Robert also had traveled to Albert with his brothers or that he had traveled into Saskatchewan.


Mary Helseth's [Johanna Narjord] was married on 17 Feb 1902 at Fessenden, Wells Co, ND to Robert M Halseth. The Heimdal Lutheran Church marriage record records that Mary was from Bowdon and Robert from "vestren pond" [but it is unclear what the last word actually is due to poor quality of the image, but the phrase likely means he from the western background or country - see point 1]. The next record is Mary Narjord's receipt for the homestead land entry at Denoff, Sherdian county, with a date of 25 Feb 1902. Why was the receipt only in her name with her maiden name - her and Robert were married 8 days earlier and you would think that the receipt would at least be in the name of Mary Halseth and/or Robert. The next record we have is the birth of Mary's son, Melvin, on 27 May 1902, and this record is recorded at the Viking Lutheran Church south of Maddock in Benson Co and near the homesteads of Mary/Johanna's mother's sisters and mother. Melvin's birth/baptism record notes that the parents are Robert and Mary Halseth.

I do not understand why Robert Halseth was not recorded on either the initial payment receipt or final payment receipt in the US Track Books or on the Land patent. Infact, the Land patent letter dated 11 June 1908 notes, "Whereas, Mary Halseth, formerly Mary Narjord ..." and so, this record likely means that Robert had died prior to 11 Jun 1908.

So if Robert did die before Jun 1908 then he most likely would have died at the homestead in Denhoff Twp, Sherdian Co due to an accident or possibly ill health. But he may have died even as early as the spring of 1902. Either he died as a result of some accident at the homestead or on his travels from the Bowdon area to the Denoff area. This distance is only about 50 kms, but of course in 1900 it would be still be quite a trek over the open prairie.

Since there is no definitive record of his death, I have recorded his death between 17 Feb 1902 and 15 Apr 1910, with the location as either Sheridan or Wells Co. My Legacy database/program will not allow for the place death as either or, and so I have recorded Denhoof Twp as the location, but I don't really know for sure.

As indicated below, it seems that Mary continued living and working on the homestead until sometime in the late 1920s. Her mother died in Apr 1928 and her brother died in 1930. Her son Melvin was living at Fargo according to the 1930 US Census, but I have not found Mary in the 1930 US Census [she is not indexed on either Ancestry or FamilySearch]. She is recorded living with her son Melvin and his wife starting in 1934 - they were living at Fargo [see point 4 below].

Mary died on 13 Oct 1968 at Fargo, ND. She was buried at the Denhoff Cemetery, just a short distance from her homestead. Her mother and brother are also buried there.



Note: 3 photos .... under Grue FT... Jon Simensen Grue, b 1729 ... Sigrud J Grue, b1763
... 7] Sønvis P Narjord, b 1800 .. Johanna Maria m. Robert Halseth

.. Halseth siblings from Andert-Halseth FT and a text document
.. Halseth Extended Family, mid 1950s and a text document
.. Mary Narjord-Halseth and Gea Narjord-Olson

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1. Marriage:
... marrIage: Wells Co, ND ... 17 Feb 1902
https://statemuseum.nd.gov/marriages/details?UNIQUE%20ID=66532e25799911ef991500224843a3b6
- this link brings to the initial page for marriages and then you need to enter information ... Robert Halseth ... Wells Co

added ...
marriage: Heimdal, North Dakota, [30 kms southwest of Maddock; Wells Co
Hoff Lutheran Church records ... at corner of 3rd Ave and Highland Street, Heimdal
image 22/30
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/654291:60722?tid=&pid=&queryid=a7cd90cc-d58a-4b91-bab6-bc80bd436907&_phsrc=evn2110&_phstart=successSource
Translation of the Norwegian to English, the vesten foon

17 Feb 1902 Robert Halseth, age 21 [1881]. Hedmarkens, Norway; Robert's birth was in 1882 and so on the marriage record, Robert's age would actually be 19 yrs old and 10 months [14 days]
parents, Martin and Anite/Anita
... Marie Narjord, age 23 [1879], Iowa (near Spring Grove, Minn)... her actual birth was 1878 and so on the marriage record, Mary's gare would actually be 23 yrs and 11 months [12 days]
records her parents: Lars Narjord ??? and wife, Ingeborg ... her parents names are not correct and I don't know why

Sted, hvor Vielsen skede Anmerkning = Place, where the wedding took place, Note
Fessenden, 18kms south of Heimdal; note for Robert Fra vesten fond - the last word is hard to read or make ... it looks like foon or fond. Using Einar Haugen Nor-Eng dictionary, possibly 'from western background or backdrop' or possibley 'western country', or possibly 'from western store'
... This may mean that Robert had gone west looking for land and didn't have a place of residence, although he could have used his brother's at Bowdon.

Marie ... from Bowdon is 50 kms south of Heimdal


2. Census given name should be Johanna Maria, but it looks like she went by Mary

a. 1910 US, Denhoff Twp, Sheridan Co, ND, p 4

- head of Household - Mary Halseth, age 32, Widow, mother of 1 child, 1 living; born in Iowa; housekeeper; own mortaged farm
- Melvin Halseth, age 7, born in ND
- Ingrid Narjord, age 69, mother (relation to head of household), widow, born in Norway
- Sonvis J Narjord, age 37, brother (as above), born in Norway; naturalized; farmer;
- note, born Ingrid and Sonvis emigration as 1884???

b. 1920 US, Denhoff Twp, Sheridan Co, ND, p 6

- Sonvis J Narjord, head of household, age 46, single, emigrated 1880; farmer
- Mary Halseth, sister, age 41 born in Norway, widow emigrated 1880;
- Melvin Halseth, son [??], age 17 born in ND; laborer
- Ingrid Narjord, mother, age 78, widow, born in Nor, emigrate 1881 [???]

c. 1915 & 1925 ND State census, Denhoff Twp, Sheridan Co

- 1915, S J Narjord, Ingrid Narjord, Mrs Mary Halseth, Melvin Halseth
- 1925, Mary Halseth age 47, Melvin Halseth age 23, Ingrid Narjord age 84, Sonvis J Narjord age 53
* note Ingrid is living as of 1 Apr 1925 - conflicts with cemetery index with death in 1924

d. 1900 US ??? [ 23 Feb 2013 ]

- can't find Mary or Johanna Halseth or Narjord anyplace
- can't find Sonvis Narjord or variation spellings anyplace
- not on scan of Denhoff Twp, Sheridan Co, ND
- not on scan of Waterloo Twp, Allamakee Co, IA

e. 1930 US

- can`t find Mary Halseth or Sonvis Narjord in Denhoff Twp scan,

- Melvin Halseth - 1930 at Fargo, Cass Co (Ed 34, page 19), age 27, as a Lodger and working as Barber in a Barbershop
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4547406_00767?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=JEe52&_phstart=successSource&pId=108458014


f. 1940 US Fargo, Cass Co, (ED 9-92, page 2)

- Melvin, age 37 - Barber; grade 8, worked 52 hours the wk of Mar 24, worked 52 weeks 1939 earnings of $780 married to Anna,
- Anna, age 25 born in MN, grade 8, worked 45 hours the wk of Mar 24, usual work as Beauty Operator in a Beauty Shop, worked 50 weeks in 1939 earnings of $700;
- Mary Halseth, mother age 62 <1878> born in Norway, grade 5
- living at the same place in 1935
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/M-T0627-02997-00005?pId=100651190

g. 1950 US Census, Fargo, Cass Co, ND; Ed 9-29; sheet 78; dw 268; line 13
Melvin Halseth, age 47 b in ND; carpenter with building contractor
wife, Ann, age 38, b in MN
mother, Mary age 72 b in Nor, widow
note ... Ancestry has him indexed as Melvin Talseth
https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/62308/images/43290879-North_Dakota-066715-0036?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=7319284


3. Death

findagrave

Maria Halseth - Denhoff Cemetery, Sheridan Co, ND; death 1968;
-- Sheridan Co USGenWeb --- Halseth, Maria Ms Robert; p. 32 , but no date;;;;;
Sheridan County, North Dakota Cemeteries - Special Index to "Cemeteries of Sheridan County, North Dakota" 1998. and a part of the James River Genealogy Club ...
This index is posted by special permission from George L. Barron, compiler, and The James River Genealogy Club, publisher of the book; see http://files.usgwarchives.net/nd/sheridan/cemetery/shercem.txt

and another link: with a transcription ....
Denhoff Church of the Nazarene Cemetery [ google maps record this as "Denoff Catholic Cemetery" .. why is the this term applied?]
Approximately one half mile west and one half mile north of Denhoff .... but google maps street view shows the cemetery sign that is the same as findagrave photo

Recorded by Lorraine L. Werner, August 1985 according to the location of the burials
Name: Date of birth/Date of death
Halseth, Maria: 1878/1968. Mrs. Robert Halseth
then,
Norjard, Ingrid: 1841/1928
Norjard, Sonvis: 1872/1930

above, link, http://www.odessa3.org/collections/cemeteries/nodak/link/sherind.txt
- this appears to be a transcription from the North Dakota Cemeteries

-- ND Death Index; Mary Halseth, born 5 Mar 1878, died 13 Oct 1968, Cass Co

4. Residence 1934-1948

- Ancestry.com - US Cities Directories

1934 ... image 106 .... Mary Halseth (wid Robt), res 1613-8 St North

address: 1613-8 St North; 717-9St North usually same as son, Melvin
- Halseth, Mary - wid Robt

1930 ... image ...132 .... Melvin Halseth, barber, with S J Hjornvevik res 717 N 9th

5. BLO-GLO - 4 entries

Mary Halseth - Mary Narjord, 6 Nov 1908, date of issue; SE¼ of the NW quarter and Lots 3, 4, 5, Sec 6, Twp 146N, Range 75 W, 5th Meridian; (40 acres, then 39.94, then 35.68, then 36.49 for a total of 152.11 acres)

at the 'town of Denoff', a little north is Highway 200 ... on the same road as the Denoff Cemetery, ... go on 1st NE, and this curves into 13th Ave NE ... about 0.5 kms north is the cemetery on the west side of the road ... travel to the junction of Hwy 200 and continue north on 13th Ave NE.
... but in fact, at the junction of Hwy 200 and 13th Ave NE, on the left or west of 13th Ave NE is the Sonvis Narjord's land, the SE¼ of Sec 6 and then further north on 13th NE would be the land of Ingrid Narjord [Bakken] and then to the east of this is Mary Helseth, nee Narjord. There is a small "lake" or larger slough on Mary's land - this is likely why her and her mother's land contains "lots" and border the shore of this lake


SEE: BLO -GLO records .... on brother Sonvis Narjord research page, ....

Mary Narjord/Mary Helseth .... SE¼NW¼ Sec 6 and lots 3, 4, and 5 ... 152.11 acres ...Sheridan Co,.... patent issued 11 Jun 1908
US Track Books, Vol 131, image 67 .... initial payment 25 Feb 1902 ... final payment 5 Dec 1907
[most likely Johanna Maria Narjord and married to Robert Helseth]
- image 67 clearly records the name on the initial payment on 25 Feb 1902 as Mary Narjord, with her mother Ingri Narjord on 14 Feb 1902 and brother Sonvis J Narjord on 12 Apr 1902

Question: ???
Mary Narjord was married on 17 Feb 1902, but then the initial payment receipt on the homestead was 8 days later on 25 Feb and she likely used her maiden name, Narjord on the initial payments [US Track books]. But why? She was already married. Additionally, why wasn't Robert Halseth on either the initial payment receipt or recorded in the US Track Books.
The Accession Number was NDMTAA 025317, with the land office recorded as the Montana State Office,
then, a second Accession Number MV-0786-448 with land office recorded as Bismark.

The Land Patent image document dated 11 Jun 1908 records: "Whereas, Mary Halseth, formerly Mary Narjord" ..... Robert is not recorded on the patent.

Question: ???
The birth/baptism record for Mary's son Melvin [27 May 1902 ... recorded at Viking Lutheran Church records, image 168; Maddock, Benson Co, ND] with parents as Robert and Mary Halseth

----------------------------

Newspaper 1909. The McClusky Gazatte, issue 9 Sep 1909, page 1
- compensation for the building of a road
L J Narjord, SE¼ Sec 6, 146-75 [this is likely S J Narjord - Sonvis since that is his homestead land]
Mary Halseth, NW¼ Sec 6 [note that Robert Halseth is not named]

https://ndarchives.historyarchives.online/viewer?k=halseth&i=f&d=01011900-12311910&m=between&ord=k1&fn=mcclusky_gazette_usa_north_dakota_mcclusky_19090909_english_1&df=1&dt=10&cid=2904 ⁴⁷²⁶

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Land - 1908, 1908, Denhoff Twp, Sheridan Co, North Dakota, United States. ⁴⁸⁰⁴ Mary Halseth - Mary Narjord, 6 Nov 1908, date of issue; SE¼ of the NW quarter and Lots 3, 4, 5, Sec 6, Twp 146N, Range 75 W, 5th Meridian; (40 acres, then 39.94, then 35.68, then 36.49 for a total of 152.11 acres)

2. Residence - 1910, 1910, Denhoff Twp, Sheridan Co, North Dakota, United States. ⁴⁷⁹⁷

3. Residence - 1920, 1920, Denhoff Twp, Sheridan Co, North Dakota, United States. ⁴⁷⁹⁸

4. Residence - 1932-1948, 1932-1948, Fargo, Cass Co, North Dakota, United States. ⁴⁸⁰⁰

5. Residence - 1940, 1 Apr 1940, Fargo, Cass Co, North Dakota, United States. ⁴⁸⁰⁵ Address: 1613-8th St (N)

Johanna married Robert Mortensen Halseth, son of Morten Børresen Halseth and Agnethe Andersdatter, on 17 Feb 1902 in Wells Co, North Dakota, United States ⁴⁷⁹⁹.^,4800 (Robert Mortensen Halseth was born on 3 Apr 1882 in Nes, Hedmark, Norway ⁴⁸⁰⁶ and died between 17 Feb 1902 and 15 Apr 1910 in Denhoff Twp, Sheridan Co, North Dakota, United States.)