Anton Andersen Sandmel ⁴⁷³⁰

   Another name for Anton was Anton Sandmæl.⁴⁷³¹

  General Notes:

Anton Anderson Sandmel (1872-1955) Biographical Sketch


Written by Rueben D Grue, 9 Aug 2013


Anton Andersen Sandmel (Sandmæl) was born on 23 Mar 1872 in the Tufsingdalen area of the Os/Tolga clerical district in Hedmark county, Norway. He was a sixth cousin of my grandfather Lars Thoresen Grue (1887-1958) through the Lars [Syl] Mikkelsen (1830-1922) branch of the family. Anton Sandmel died on 29 Jun 1955 at Everett, Snohomish Co, Washington, United States.

Anton Andersen Sandmel (born in 1872) was the son of Anders Jonsen Sandmæl (1792-1879) and Anne Johnsdtr Moen (1837-1920). Records indicate that he was born 'out of wedlock'. His mother also two other children outside of marriage; she never married.

Around 1895, Anton emigrated to the United States, although I have not been able to find a specific emigration record. It is uncertain where he first went, but according to the 1900 US Census, he was farming in the area around Shelvin, Beltrami Co, Minnesota (present day Clearwater Co). This census also records he was married in 1895 to Gea. Gea Svendsdatter Elgåa [Midtdal] was born on 2 Jul 1869 in the Tufsingdalen area. Her parents were Svend Mortensen Elgåa [Elgåen] (1846-) and Lisbeth Sofie Larsdtr Femundshytta (1846-1931). Gea's grandmother was a sister to Berit Sofie Mikkelsdtr Midtdal (married to Lars Mikkelsen and the mother of Berit Sophie Larsdtr Mikkelsen married to Thore Simensen Grue). Gea and my grandfather, Lars Thoresen Grue (1887-1958), were second cousins.

In addition to farming, Anton Andersen Sandmel had attended Augsburg Seminary, 1903-05, Wahepton Lutheran Bible School, 1905-1906, and Luther Seminary, 1909-1912 (Theology Candidate). He did work as a pastor for while, but it also appears that he continued with farming. According to US Federal Census records Anton and Gea were living in Skagit Co, WA in 1920, 1930, 1940. Anton did work for as pastor \endash in 1913 he was a pastor at the Norwegian Lutheran Mission in Seattle; in 1915 he was a pastor at Port Madison on Brainbridge Island in Washington state. Anton precided over the marriage of the children of his cousin, Ole Olsen Moen (1875-1960) as well as his adopted son, Clarence. However, it appears that most of his working life was a farmer and not as a pastor.

Anton and Gea adopted one son, Clarence Oliver Sandmel (1914-1992). Anton died on 29 Jun 1955 in Everett, Washington and Gea died 18 Feb 1950 at Stanwood, Snohomish Co, WA. It is likely that both are buried at Stanwood, although there is no record on findagrave.com.



Sources:

John Midtdal database, www.geni.com <http://www.geni.com/> (accessed 17 Jun 2013), Mikkel Larsen Midtdal (1793-1877) family data.

"Henning Tønseth Nergaard" database, www.nergaard.se <http://www.nergaard.se/>. 2013

"Norway Parish Registers", National Archives of Norway, "Digitalarkivet - Digitized Parish Records," database and images (www.digitalarkivet.uib.no <http://www.digitalarkivet.uib.no/>). 2013

Olaf Morgan Norlie, Norsk Lutherske Prester I Amerika (Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States: Augsburg Publishing House, 1915), 542; Digital Image accessed 7 May 2013: FamilySearch.org/search/ (search Books)

State of Washington. "Washington State Digital Archives." Database and images. www.digitalarchives.wa.gov : accessed 13 May 2013.

"United States Federal Census Collection, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930"; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 Mar 2013); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623.

  Research Notes:

Summary: Anton was the son of Anne Johnsdtr Moen of Tufsingdalen - see 'about' under his father.
Anne Johnsdtr Moen had a relationship with Anders Johnsen Sandmæl. Anne was not married.

Anton was married to Gea Svensdtr Midtdal. He was Norwegian Minister and attended Augsburg Seminary, 1903-1905; and then in 1912 he was ordained at Luther Seminary in St Paul/Minneapolis. Around 1893-94, Anton had also attended the Hammer Seminary in Norway.

In the US, Anton and Gea spent most of their time in Skagit Co, although they did live in Minnesota when they first came to the US. In addition to his pastor activities, Anton also farmed. Anton and Gea had 1 son, Clarence.

Anton was my 6th cousin twice removed. His wife Gea was my 2nd cousin twice removed.


Although I do not have an actual date, sometime after his ordination in 1912 [likely the spring/summer], Anton [and maybe Gea] traveled to Alaska. I haven't found an organized entity that had sponsored or assisted him, he is noted to have organized the Norwegian Lutheran Church and congregation by the summer of 1913 at Petersburg, Alaska. Petersburg, AK is about 200 kms south of Juneau and close to 400 kms south of Skagway. He was also briefly involved in a mission house in Seattle in 1913.

I have not found a lot of biographical information on Anton and his family.

Written by Rueben D. Grue, 30 Apr 2023. All Rights reserved.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


John Midtdal "Tufsingdalen Gårder og Slekter, 1991; Moen nordre page 419, 420 [notes, 23 Dec 2022]

- family went to North America in 1895 to Seattle
Anton , b 23 Mar 1872, married in 1895 to Gea Svensdtr Midtal, b 2 Jul 1869 [see also under Midtdal søndre
where Anton trained as a priest and where he later worked. He has given the money to the church in Vingelen twice
[ hvor Anton utdannet seg til prest og hvor han senere virket. Han har to gager ydet penget til kirken in Vingelen ]

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

1. a. Norway parish register

- Tolga i Tolga Klokkerbok 1814-1877, births - page 336-337, line 3

- Anton Anderson (Sandmæl) born on E[G, K]ammersplad [??]; born 23 Mar 1872, bap 13 Apr - Tolgen church
- parents - Enkemann (Widower) Anders Johnsen Sandmæl and Pige (unmarried female, female servant)
Anne Johnsdtr Moen of Tufsingdalen (some other comments, but can't make it out) [she was a daughter of John Johnsen Moen [1822-1912]

[ 18 Jul 2014 --- Jake Langsjoen's manuscript , page 1, reported from Edwin Langsjoen on 2 Oct 1953 ---
"Rev. Sanmel is a grandson of John Moen Sr. ... " ]

b. emigration

- nothing for Anton or Gea Svensdtr [b 1869] on Emigrants from Trondheim
- also nothing on "leaving" Tolga - Os i Tolga or Tolga i Togla (or Røros or Engerdal or Tolga or Narbovoll i Tolga) --- Norway Parish Registers
- --- 1900 census indicates he emigrated in 1895 [ BUT 1910 US records 1896 and then 1920 US records 1895 ] and she emigrated 1898

c. confirmation, 27 May 1888 - Os i Tolga Klokkerbok, page 88, line 11

- birth as 23 Mar 1872 at Sandmel;
- residence - 1888 at Lilliebak
- father - Enekman, Anders Jonsen; mother, pige Anne Jonsdtr

d. - marriage
- no record in Parish records
- --- 1900 census indicates married for 4 years, thus 1896, but where ???

-- nergarrd indicates 1895 but doesn't give location and records no source
- see, Acestors Henning T Nergaard [mysite64]; access 27 Apr 2023
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/59593910/person/30049326702/facts?
- note: his individual website is not available [not clear if this is active, since his last log-in was more than 1 yr ago]

note: other Family trees on Ancestry and Familysearch do not add anything new. The geni.com FT likely gives the most detail.

2. US Census

a. 1900 - Shelvin, Beltrami Co, MN [ I believe this is now Clearwater Co, MN ]

- Anton Sandmel, age 28, born in Mar 1872 in Norway; married 4 years <1896>; emigrated in 1895; farmer; farm schedule #47
- Gea, wife, age 30, born in July 1869 in Norway; married 4 yrs; 0 children, 0 living; emigrated in 1898

b. 1910 - Bay View, Skagit Co, WA

- Anton[e] Sandmel, age 38, born in Norway; married 15 yrs <1895>; emigrated 1896; farmer; farm schedule # 108
- Gea, wife, age 41 born in Norway; 0 children, 0 living

---- also appears that another family is living in the same dwelling - family #98;
- O. Moen [looks like Moon], age 33 <1887>, born Norway; married 14 yrs; emigrated in 1904; farm labor
[Ole Moen was a
- Olivia, wife, age 33 born in Norway
- Melkor, son, age 10 <1900> born in Norway -- see wedding notice - Anton was the pastor
- Olga, daughter, age 7 <1903> born in Norway; Ivar, son, age 1, born in WA

see, geni.com; http://www.geni.com/people/Ole-Moen/6000000007676586674?through=6000000009347428652 ;;; John Midtdal's data base [but is managed by others now]
- Ole Olsen Moen born 1875 in Norway, married to Olava, with son Melkor and daugther Olga
- Olava was a half-sister to Gea Svensdtr --- mother was Lisbet Sophie Larsdtr Midtdal/Femundshytta
- see Legacy data for Ole Olsen Moen and biographical sketch

Also see, geni.com
see, https://www.geni.com/people/Rev-Anton-Sandmel/6000000006327176249 [links to Anton]
- includes a thumbnail of some article from the "Douglas Island News", 5 Feb 1913 - their link to MyHeritage
BUT scanned by Newspapers.com - above issue, page 3, bottom of first column



c. 1920 - Tingley, Skagit Co, WA [ not indexed on ancestry)

- Anton, age 47 born in Norway; emigrated 1895; farmer - dairy
- Gea, wife, age 50 born in Norway; emigrated 1897
- Clarence O, son, age 6 <1914> born in WA


d. 1930 - Tingley, Skagit Co, WA

- Anton Sandmel, age 57 born in Norway, emigrated in 1895; farmer; farm schedule 31
- Gea, age 60 born in Norway, emigrated 1897
- Clarence O, adopted son, age 16 <1914>, born in WA


e. 1940 - Tingley, Skagit Co, WA

- Anton Sandemel, age 68 born in Norway; 3 years of College; no occupation; not looking work; no work in 1939
- Gea, wife, age 70 born in Norway; 8 yrs of schooling

- same house on 1 Apr 1935


3. Death

a. Camwood Obit Project; http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wasigs/camwoodST.htm

SANDMEL Anton Anderson 23 Mar 1872 Tolga, Hedmark*, NOR 29 Jun 1955 (publication)
SANDMEL Gea (Elgoven) 2 Jul 1869 Elgoven, Norway 18 Feb 1950

b. Washington State Digital - Death Records

- Anton, died 29 Jun 1955 at Everett, age 82; burial at East Stanwood, WA
- Gea, died 18 Feb 1950 at Stanwood, age 80; father Svend Martinsen; mother Ana
death cert for Anton, died at the Bethany home in Everett; lived there for 3.5 yrs; widow; retired Minister;
parents not known; informant: Ole Moen

*** [28 Sep 2014 -- no record on findagrave.... there are a few cemeteries with only a partial - Stanwood Pioneer, Happy Valley, etc ]



4. Seattle City Directories; ancestry.com ---- R L Polk

1913, page 1401 (ancestry p. 707)
- Sandmel, Anton Rev (Gea), pastor Norwegian Lutheran Mission, home 1308 30th Ave S

1915 -- Kitsap Co and Bremerten - Barinbridge Island ; page 168 (ancestry p 88)
- Sandmel, Anton ; Port Madison
- no other information - directory has nothing in relation to churches or religious organizations - there is a list of cleryman, but Anton isn't noted, page 179 or p 93 on ancestry (Torval Norby is listed for Poulso)


1946, 1947, 1948, 1951 Kelso, Cowlitz County, WA
Clarence O Sandmel (along with Veryl N) - logger in 1946 & 1951; driver 1947 and 1948;


5. misc Norwegian Lutheran Pastors

- Norwegian Lutheran Pastors - apparently there is biography and a photo ( http://www.genealogyreprints.com/s1.htm --- as of 21 Apr 2023 website no longer exists )

but Norlie, O M , Norske Lutherske ....

- farmer from 1895-1909;
- attended Augsburg Seminary, 1903-05; Wahpeton Lutheran Bible School, 1905-1906; Luther Seminary, 1909-1912 (Theology Candidate), prest (pastor/priest) - Seattle, 1912-1913; Spokane, 1913; Port Madison, WA, 1913-
- Norske Synod

- from Norlie's other book about various churches, etc: Anton served a few different places in 1913 to possibly 1915-16, in Kitsap Co and once in Spokane [this book does was published in 1916-1917]

Augsberg Seminary, Minneapolis ; Augsberg Seminary Catalog

1903-1904; page 20
Preparatory Dept, first year; Anton Sandmel ...... address ... Grand Forks, ND
1904-1905, page 23
Greek Department ... Special .... Anton Sandmel .... address .... Minneapolis, MN


5. b. Douglas Island News, issue 5 Feb 1913, page 3

"Rev Anton Sandmel, a Norwegian Lutheran minister, will preach in the Lutheran church tomorrow (Thursday)
evening at 8 o'clock in the Norwegian language. All Norwegians are heartily invited to be present, as this will be the only opporunity that Rev Sandmel has to address his countrymen in this locality."

note: Douglas Island is essentially across the bay from Juneau, Alaska. The Lutheran church is likely a Swedish Lutheran since there are mention notices of services, etc at the Swedish Lutheran ....
note: I checked for a Swedish Lutheran church record for Douglas Island - on ancestry and arkivdigital - nothing for Alaska


5. c.

Luther College Archives: Pastors of the Norwegian Lutheran Synods (1843-1927)
https://norlie.luther.edu/finalpageresults.php?moreinfo=11970

Anton Anderson Sandmel ...
Position TitleCityStateStart DateEnd Date
FARMERFarmer18951909
PASTORPastorSeattleWash.19121913
PASTORPastor (organized first Norw. Luth. Cong. in Alaska)PetersburgAlaska1913***
PASTORPastorSpokaneWash.1913
PASTORPastorLymanWash.1916

***
the frame corresponds with the above newspaper article: 5 Feb 1913
but the only record that shows the history of the Lutheran Church in Petersburg is through the current website
[https://www.petersburglutheran.com/about/] that gives a brief history:

Founded in 1898 by Norwegian fishermen, the city of Petersburg was incorporated as a town in 1910.
In the fall of 1913, the Mission Board of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America sent Pastor T. K. Torvilsen
to serve as resident pastor of a newly organized church. Pastor Torvilsen's held his first service on November 23rd of that year and thus began the Lutheran backbone of Petersburg's spiritual life.

-- thus Anton Sandmel isn't noted [nor he is noted in O M Norlie's boook on congregations in Alaska [vol 2, page 391] -
congregation organized in 1913 with 28 members and then the first paster, T K Thorvilsson.


5. d.

Spokane: Spokesman Review, issue 14 Sep 1913, page 30
- Norwegian Lutheran Synod - a recent seminary graduate .... to replace Rev A O Sandmel who went to Seattle to "take charge of several congregations along the Sound". See point 4, Norwegian Lutheran Mission

Note: there are a few notices in the Spokane Chronicle in May 1913, re Rev Sandmel to give a sermon, Norwegian Synod


5. e. Familysearch FT: GC9N-SW4
- doesn't add anything new

------------------------------------------------------ son Clarence
6. Clarence O Sandmel

1940 US Census Tower, Cowlitz Co, WA
- Clarence O, age 26 born in WA; 2 yrs high school; worked 40 hrs as a logger wk of Mar 24; worked 20 wks in 1939; rents home at $8
- Isabel B, age 28 <1912> born in WA; 2 yrs high school; housework
- Robert C, age 6 <1934> born in WA

- residence 1 Apr 1935, Callum Bay, Callum Co, WA [ abt 100 kms west of Port Anegles, WA ]


US SSDI
- born 14 May 1913; died 6 Mar 1992

ancestry [ 28 Sep 2014 - tree no longer on ancestry ]
- has one family tree - Clarence Oliver Sandmel; owner 'tj'; asle1 with last login in Feb 2013
- mother Gea Svensdtr Midtdal (born 2 Jul 1869, died at Stanwood 18 Feb 1950) ; no father listed

[ Note: follow the tree to Gea's father, Svend Mortensen Elgaaen and then Svend's mother as Berit Lucie Mikkelsdtr Midtdal, a sister to Berit Sophie Mikkelsdtr Midtdal, b. 1832- d. 1899 in Elgon Twp, Clay Co, MN BUT doesn't show her marriage to Lars Mikkelsen, but gives names and dates for their children ]


- Clarence - born in Poulso, WA; died in Port Orford, Curry Co, OR [on the coast, about 100 kms north and then another 100 kms west from Medford, OR ] ;; not on findagrave database
- no spouse(s) listed; one living son (any details withheld); the other Robert Clarence Sandmel born 24 Mar 1934, died 8 Aug 1996 (US SSDI indicates death in Coos Bay, OR); burial at Lakeside Cemetery, Lakeside, Coos Co, OR; airforce


Washington Digital Archives
- Clarence O, died 6 Mar 1992, birth 14 May 1914; no location for death; SSN - 538-01-4540

- Clarence from Skagit Co - marriage on 20 Nov 1932 to Isabel B Todd from Whatcom Co -- clergy - Anton Sandmel, Sedro Wooley, WA (Post office) -- Isable was married a second time in 1946 to Raymond Marsh, so they divorced between 1940-1946 ; then a second marriage for Clarence -- Clarence from Grays Harbor, WA, marriage to Alice C Gleason from Grays Harbor, married on 25 Jan 1969 at Vancouver, Clark Co, WA; Robert C Sandmel as a witness ;;; then he also was married or lived common-law with Veryl Mae Hecht - see her obit and above for R L Polk city directory for 1946-1951
- Robert C Sandmel of Marion Co, WA, married on 15 Aug 1969 at Olympia, Thurston Co, WA to Joan A Synder of Sonoma Co, CA ;; and then a second marriage (again he lives in Marion Co), married on 12 May 1979 at Vancouver, Clark Co to Annabelle Lee Austed of Marion Co, WA [ abt 125 kms south of Portland, east of Salem ]


NOTE: Anton was a first cousin to Tobias Johnsen Moen ⁴⁷³⁰

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence - 1900, 1900, Shelvin, Beltrami Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁴⁷³²

2. Residence - 1910, 15 Apr 1910, Bay View, Skagit Co, Washington, United States. ⁴⁷³³ Enumeration on 12 May 1910

3. Residence - 1920, 1 Jan 1920, Tingley, Skagit Co, Washington, United States. ⁴⁷³⁴

4. Residence - 1930, 1 Apr 1930, Tingley, Skagit Co, Washington, United States. ⁴⁷³⁵ Enumeration on 26 April 1930

5. Residence - 1940, 1 Apr 1940, Tingley, Skagit Co, Washington, United States. ⁴⁷³⁶ Enumeration on 14 May 1940; address - Norwegian Road

Anton married Gea Svensdtr Midtdal, daughter of Svend Mortensen Elgåa and Lisbet Sofie Larsdatter Femundshytta, on 24 Sep 1895 in Vingelen, Tolga, Hedmark, Norway ¹¹³⁴.^,4724 (Gea Svensdtr Midtdal was born on 2 Jul 1869 in Os, Tolga, Hedmark, Norway ^1730,4725, baptized on 3 Oct 1869 in Røros, Sør Trondelag, Norway,⁴⁷²⁶ died on 18 Feb 1950 in Stanwood, Snohomish Co, Washington, United States ⁴⁷²⁷ and was buried in Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery, Standwood, Snohomish Co, Washington, United States.)