Martin Anton Olsen Berg

  Research Notes:

Brief Summary:

Martin Anton Olsen Berg is my half- 3rd cousin, three times removed. Our common ancestor was Magnhild Jonsdatter Grue [1756-1832] and Magnhild was the daughter of my 4th great-grandfather, Jon Simensen Grue [1729-1807] and his first wife, Sigrid Estensdtr Berg [1734-1774]. My family descends from Jon Simensen Grue and his second wife's son Thore Jonsen Grue.

Martin Anton Olsen Berg was born in 1851 in Norway. His father was Ole Olsen Berg b in 1822 - Ole's mother was Marit Eriksdatter Berg [1799-1883], and Marit's mother was Magnhild Jonsdatter Grue, b 1756, a daughter of Jon Simenson Grue, b 1729, and his first wife, Sigrud.

Martin Anton Berg left Norway in 1868 with his father. They first settled in Dunn and Eau Claire counties in Wisconsin, working at lumber camps. Around 1903, Martin Anton Berg and his wife and family left Wisconsin to homestead in the Claresholm area in southern Alberta, Canada. Martin also traveled with his married daughter Thea and her family and with his daughter Mina and her family, in the spring of 1904. Martin's son, Ole John Berg and his family also homestead around the same time in the Claresholm, and as well, his son Alfred M Berg - Alfred was not married at the time.

Martin was 52 years old when he came to Claresholm. Martin died in 1910 at Claresholm.

Note that I have done some research on Martin's family and his children's families, but the research is not complete - more will eventually be needed.

Notes by Rueben D Grue, Jun 2024
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1. source: www.tomren.org (www.worldconnect.rootsweb.com; contact: Holly Tomren) - no longer active, 14 Jun 2024
... In 2012, I had download a descendant view of her "Tomren/Keene Family Tree" from rootweb - see folder on myPC
..Grue FT ... Magnhild Jonsdtr ... Ole Olsen Berg folder


[ 26 Jan 2012 - www.tomren.org no longer active; data still on rootsweb world connect, but it is not on ancestry.com Public Members Tree; has she died ??; note she has information on earlier generations, has contributed to Norway Digital Archives; ; there are a number of 'family trees' on ancestry.com - likely the most realiable are 'Russell Berg' and 'Grace Admunson'; note, 7 Feb 2012: '' follows the family of Alfred M Berg, BUT the owner has Alfred M Berg, son of Martin Anton Berg, mixed up with someone different Alfred's wife is not the correct person ]

... In 2012, I had download a descendant view of her "Tomren/Keene Family Tree" from rootweb - see folder on myPC
..Grue FT ... Magnhild Jonsdtr ... Ole Olsen Berg folder;
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Ancestry Family Trees

Grace Amundsen FT [ brussell77]; last access, 14 Jun 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/233818/person/-344736794/facts
.. comment for Martin Anton Berg:
*** Martin Immigrated to the US from norway at the age of 17 (aprox. 1868) He worked in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in a sawmill. Returned to Norway and brought back a wife Olava and his parents. Homesteaded in Dunn, Wisconsin (near Menomonic) where their 6 children were born, Mina (Minnie), Ole, Thea, Anne, Karren & Alfred. Times were hard while the children were growing up. Martin had continued his job at the sawmill in Eau Claire, 25 miles from home. He walked there Sunday afternoon, returning Saturday. Moved to Claresholm, Alberta in 1904. Martin died in 1910 and Olava died in 1916. Both were laid to rest in Five Mile Cemetery.
.. comment for Ole John Berg
Married Ida in 1897. Had 4 children, Oden, Morris, Clarence & Edna while they lived near Menomonic Wisconsin. Moved to Claresholm, Alberta in May 1904. Arrived with 4 children, 4 horses, 1 sack of flour & 50 cents. They then had 4 more children, Nora, Anker, Russell & Vivian. Had a threshing partnership with Gus Gunderson and Martin Matson around 1915. They threshed until combines were used. Move to Spokane, Washington in the fall of 1926 (to farm) returned to Claresholm in 1929.

*** this comment is repeated on a few Ancestry Family Trees, but the information is questionable. It seems reasonable that Martin O Berg and his father, Ole Olsen Berg left Norway via Trondheim in 1868 [Canada Passenger Lists], but there is no evidence that Martin returned to Norway, nor is there is any evidence that Martin married in Norway. The available information is that Olava Myelleberg was born in Nannestad, Akershus Co, Norway [about 70 kms north of Olso) and that Martin Berg was born in Trøms Co, Norway in the very far tip of Northern Norway. It doesn't seem reasonble, given the available information, that Martin and Olava would would have known each other in Norway

*** 15 Jun 2024. FamilySearch.org Family Tree: id, KGMN-JRM ... Martin Anton Olsen Berg

- as with most FTs on FamilySearch it is difficult to determine who is entering information. Much of the information on Martin Berg is from 2018 [Furlough Margurder] and from 2016 [L R Johnson]. Most of information corresponds to information that I had previously researched in 2012.
- on Martin Berg's wife page [Olava Christine Olsen Myelleberg] there are 2 interesting "memories": One is a photo of Martin and Olava's family; and two, a pdf from the History of the Ladies Aide at Little Elk Lutheran Church [at least 2 children of their daughter Mina were baptised at this church]. There is a posted note about Olava on this pdf.
.. this same photo and note is posted on Olava's findagrave page [id, 111005836]
.. there is one issue I have with the photo, other than the poor quality - as far as I know, Martin and Olava had 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls that survived to adulthood, but this photo shows 4 boys and 2 girls. The 2 boys to the left are likely Ole John Berg, born 1874, and Alfred Martin b 1881. Both Ole Johna and Alfred have a mustache and look very similar. The other 2 boys on the right are younger that Ole and Alfred - the 2 boys look similar and seem to have a family resemblance, but who are they???
.. the above mentioned photo would have to been taken before 1910, since Martin died in 1910.


Page scans from "History of Little Elk Creek Ladies' Aid" from the Little Elk Creek Church Archives (Dunn County Wisconsin) courtesy of Lynette Smith.

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Mudbrook Folks FT [ mudbrook2001 ] ; access 15 Jun 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/5403158/person/-545266215/facts
- link to Martin Anton Berg, b 1851 ... records their children but only follows descendants of Alfred M Berg ... BUT this is Not Correct = see statement above ... also, it appears that the owner used the 1920, 1930, 1940 US for a person named "Martin M Berg"


Birth - also at Digitalarkivet ---- Troms Co, Tromsø Parish --- this is about 1150 kms north of Trondhiem


2. source: "Where the Wheatlands meet the Range", 1974 (community history book; Willow Creek / Claresholm, Alberta); Page 158

- left Norway at age 17 for the US; returned to Norway and then back to Wisconsin with wife
- gives location and family history
- gives descendents
- came to Canada (Claresholm, AB area) in the early 1900's -- note that in son Ole's article, they came in 1904
- homesteaded sections 22 in Twp 12;
- when Martin died, Olava stayed on the homestead - lived with Ole and Thea Finstad (who farmed the homestead)
https://digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/archive/Where-the-Wheatlands-Meet-the-Range-2R3BF1OH8D0YU.html

Nidoras Lutheran Church page 33 - founding members include Martin O Berg family, Mike Frederickson family, O J Berg family, Ole Finstad family, and Alfred Berg
[note: Ancestry does not have any Norwegian church books for Canada, only US)
see: Norsk lutherske menigheter i Amerika : 1843-1916
by Norlie, Olaf Morgan; image 422

Five Mile Cemetery page 29 (NW quarter of Sec 22) - land donated by Martin O Berg and Mike Frederickson

Five Mile School page 60 - 1905, Ole Finstad as Secretary, Ole Berg and Mike Frederickson as Trustees


3. 1870 US Census: Dunn Twp, Dunn Co, WI: Martin Berg, age 20 <1850> and listed as working in a sawmill
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6XM9-R1F?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMN98-HXP&action=view
- does not record marital status

--- Martin's father, Ole O Berg is not indexed on 1870 US Census


4. 1880 US Census: Eau Claire Twp, Eau Clarie Co, WI

- Martin and Olive with daughters Minnie (age 7), Lena (age 4), Mary (age 2), Carrie (age 2) and son Ole (age 6); children born in Wisconsin
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4244709-00763?pId=28492854
- does Not record any information re, marriage


5. 1900 US Census: Spring Brook Twp, Dunn Co, WI; ED 0096; sheet 3A; dw/fam 50

- Martin, Olava, Alfred M
- Martin emigrated 1868; married for 27 years, thus, about 1873
- Olava emigrated 1869; mother of 2 children, 2 living ????, but see above 1880 Census ... Ole is not recorded
- appears that Mary and Carrie died before 1900 or married by 1900
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63225233:7602?tid=&pid=&queryId=7d3c34ab-d30a-4f77-bf2c-a86d2a481357&_phsrc=evn1185&_phstart=successSource


6. source: Western Land Grants (www.collectionscanada.ca): NW Section 22, Twp 12, Range 26, W4th

7. 1906 Canada Census, Alberta, sub-district 23, page 12 [image 7 on ancestry]

- recorded as M Otto Berg age 55 [ ancestry indexed as M Atta Berg ], wife Olava age 66, son Alfred age 24
- emigrated 1904
- farm location, Sec 22, Twp, 12 or 13, Range 26, W4 +++ Twp 13 - appears at first to be 12, then heavier writing as 13 or possibly even the other way around -- (land patent is for Twp 12 - see 6 above)
- had 5 horses, 4 milk cows, 5 other cattle, 2 sheep

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8827/images/e001211613?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=evn1246&_phstart=successSource&pId=1946657

++++ note wife Olava is recorded in 1911 with daughter Thea and Ole Finstad and
1916 Census - Twp 12, Range 26 .. with Thea and Ole Finstad
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/759572608:1556?tid=&pid=&queryId=5737079d-7dbc-47c6-a993-aaeac157e18c&_phsrc=evn1247&_phstart=successSource

8. Ancestry.com - Public Member Tree --- owner brussell77 [ 27 Jan 2012 - likely Barbara Russell, daughter of Russell Irving Berg ]


Martin Immigrated to the US from norway at the age of 17 (aprox. 1868) He worked in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in a sawmill. Returned to Norway and brought back a wife Olava and his parents. Homesteaded in Dunn, Wisconsin (near Menomonic) where their 6 children were born, Mina (Minnie), Ole, Thea, Anne, Karren & Alfred. Times were hard while the children were growing up. Martin had continued his job at the sawmill in Eau Claire, 25 miles from home. He walked there Sunday afternoon, returning Saturday. Moved to Claresholm, Alberta in 1904. Martin died in 1910 and Olava died in 1916. Both were laid to rest in Five Mile Cemetery.

9. Obit - Claresholm Review; 1910

- died Mar 24; age 58 yrs and 21 days - this would put birth as 3 Mar 1852 ++ BUT this conflicts with Norway Parish Registers birth of 3 Aug 1851, Holly Tomren data and Ancestry.com Family Tree, Russell Berg data --- Conclusion - birth as 3 Aug 1851
- native of Norway - moved to Wisconsin 35 yrs ago <1875> and to Alberta 6 yrs ago <1904>
- survived by widow, 2 sons (O J and Alf), 2 daughters (Mrs Finstad and Mrs Frederickson) ^738,739,980

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Emigration: from Norway with his father, Ole O Berg; Arrival at Quebec on 28 Sept 1868, aboard the Ship Dasmascus; left Liverpool on 7 Aug 1868;. ⁹⁸¹

2. Residence - 1870, 1 Jun 1870, Memonmie Twp, Dunn Co, Wisconsin, United States. ⁹⁸²

3. Residence - 1880, 1 Jun 1880, Eau Claire Twp, Eau Claire Co, Wisconsin, United States. ⁹⁸³

4. Residence - 1900, 1 Jun 1900, Spring Brook Twp, Dunn Co, Wisconsin, United States. ⁹⁸⁴

5. Land, 1904, Claresholm, Alberta, Canada. ⁹⁸⁵

6. Residence - 1906: Sections 22 & 28, Twp 12, Range 26, W4; Five Mile area;, 6 Jul 1906, Claresholm, Alberta, Canada. ⁹⁸⁶

Martin married Olava Kirstine Myelleberg on 28 Nov 1871 in Bloomer, Chippewa Co, Wisconsin, United States.⁹⁷⁵ (Olava Kirstine Myelleberg was born on 9 Nov 1839 in Norway,^739,977 died on 17 Nov 1916 in Claresholm, Alberta, Canada ⁹⁷⁷ and was buried at Five Mile Cemetery, Claresholm, Alberta, Canada ^740,977.)