Simon I Prestlien

  Research Notes:

Summary:

Simon was the second oldest son of Kjersti S Grue (1854-1900) and Iver M Mikkelson (1845-1931). Kjersti is my great aunt [she was a sister to my grandfather, Thore S Grue, 1853-1932]. Iver was my 1st cousin, 4 times removed. So Kjersti and Iver were related when they married [see Iver's page for a more thorough discussion of family relationships].

Simon was born in 1878 at Tordensjkold Twp, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. He moved with his parents to Norman/Silvana area in Snohomish Co, Washington, around 1884. His parents, along with an uncle (Nils M Prestlien) and his family were most likely one the earliest families in in the Norman, WA area.

Simon was married in 1902 to Tilda Gedstad. In the spring of 1910*, Simon and family emigrated to Alberta Canada. Simon gained entry to a homestead in the area south of Amisk-Hughenden in the eastern part of Alberta [about 1 hour drive east of Camrose].

It is likely that Simon and his family made a stop in the Camrose area. His brother Nels [b 1892] likely was living with their uncle, Cornelius S Grue [b 1863] in the Hay Lakes/Armena area. Also living in this area was his wife Tilda's aunt, [also known as Tillie Larson, married to Lewis Qualley]. Tillie Larson [Qualley] was a sister to Julia Larson [married to Alex Gestad] and she was the mother of Tilda Gestad [m. to Simon Prestlien]. Tilda/Tillie Amelia Larson [1876-1913]was married to Lewis Qualley [1869-1935] and they first lived in the Stanwood area of Snohomish Co, WA - this is the area Simon and Tilda Gedstad's parents had settled. Tilda Amelia and Lewis Qualley had first come to the area south of Bardo/Round Hill in 1901 [about 4 kms north of Round Hill]. Lewis Qualley and family moved between 1906 and 1910, to Killiam, east of Camrose. Lewis and a partner had built and operated the Florence Hotel at Killiam. By the end of June 1910, Lewis Qualley had finalized payment of a half section of land from the CPR - this land was about 8 kms south of Amisk, and not far from Simon Prestlien's homestead*

On 13 Jul 1910 at the Red Deer Dominion Land Office, Simon had made a homestead entry application for the
NW¼ sec 30-39-8-4. This area became known locally as the Sugar Bowl district.

* see my text document, "Lewis Qualley and family" saved in Simen's folder on myPC

Modified Descendant report

Simon I Prestlien, b 3 May 1878, Otter Tail Co, MN; died 20 Mar 1957, Camrose, Alberta
married: 18 May 1902, Everett, Snohomish Co, WA,
Tilda Gedstad, b 21 Sep 1879, Lincoln Co, South Datoka; died 28 Jun 1979, Camrose, Alberta

Children:

1]. Ella May Prestlien, b 14 Mar 1903, Snohomish Co, WA; died 7 Dec 1989, Coronation, Alberta
m. 29 Aug 1930, Alberta. John James [Jack] McClarty, 1907-1955. 4 children
2]. Leonora Ireen Prestlien, b 26 Sep 1904, Snohomish Co, WA; died 29 Jul 1983, Czar, Alberta
m. 8 Aug 1932, Czar. Arthur Jay Flynn, 1910 Feb -1984. 6 children
3]. Louise Adelia Prestlien, b 8 Feb 1908, Snohomish Co, WA; died 2 May 1910, Hughenden, AB
4]. Simon Gordon Prestlien, b 8 May 1910, Alberta, died 27 Nov 1927, Alberta
5]. Amelia Ruth Prestlien, b 21 Jun 1912, Hughenden, AB; dies 30 Jul 1990, Camrose, AB
m. 20 Jul 1940, Hardisty, AB. Gordon Elmer Homan, 1922-1997. 4 children
6]. Bertel Thomas Prestlien, b 23 Jul 1914, Alberta, died 8 Feb 1961, Alberta
m. 5 Aug 1946, Alberta. Chkirus Bertha Bower, 1914-1999. 1 son
7]. George Washington Prestlien, b 4 Jul 1916, Czar AB; died 22 Sep 1944, France
8]. Ester Lillian Prestilein, b 14 Jul 1918, Hughenden, AB; died 14 Jan 1973, Hardisty, AB
m. 25 Jul 1941, Coronation, AB. Alfred (Bud) Homan, 1911-1966. 6 children
9]. Orville Prestlien, b 15 Feb 1921, Alberta; died 27 Feb 1921, Alberta
10] Amy Melvina Prestlien, b 1 May 1922, Alberta, died 26 Apr 2013, Alberta
m. 16 Nov 1942, Alberta. Elmer L Jacobs, 1915-2008. 4 children


written by Rueben D Grue, 17 Oct 2022. All rights reserved.

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+++ see ancestry.com
Prestlien Family Tree, [sr_homan1]; last access 17 Oct 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/45726907/person/6408747773/facts
- has some photos; also some obituaries and funeral brochures
- also has records Iver M Prestlien's father, Mikkel and marriage to Anna Beate Prestlien and her father indicating there marriage was on Sonmor
Go to sr_homan1 profile page and click on "media gallery" = 4 pages,

Another Ancestry.com FT; Urban FT; [jurban191] access 8 Jun 2023
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/106839445/person/312017036365/facts

Ralph Libby FT [Joan Libby]; access 14 Jun 2023 **
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/56024326/person/42174594846/facts
** this FT links Simon's wife, Tillie with Lewis Qualley's wife, Tillie who was Tilda's aunt [a sister to Tilda's mother, Gunhild married to Alex Gedstad.


------------------------------------------------------------
See 2 folders, in z-folder ... added Oct 2022+Whitecourt .... for Nils and Simon Prestliens homestead land photos from Jul 2023; and a collection of misc photos for the family
------------------------------------------------------------


1. Source: The Lantern Years, Buffalo Park to Neutral Hills (page 198)

- emigrated to the Amisk, AB district 1910
- homestead NW 1/4, Sec 30, Twp 34 (39), Range 8, W 4th [* twp 34 - likely a misprint or mistake, since homestead records and family information indicate Twp 39 ]
- gives marriage location
- Simon (along with JJ McKenna) operated the first garage in Hughenden
BUT this account on Tilda's aunt, Gunhild Qualley has a different time line than the one presented in the Round Hill history book - see my notes, Lewis Qualley under Simon Prestlien's folder

2. Source: Marriage Cert

- gives Simon's address as Norman, Snohomish Co, WA; Tilda's as Florence
also: Our Savior's Lutheran Church records; Everett Washington, [ancestry collection]; image 104, no 35
marriage: 18 May 1902, Simon Prestlien [born in MN; his parents, Iver and Kirsti Prestlien]
and Tilda Gedstad [born in South Dakota; her parents, O. and Julia Gedstad]
witnesses: Theodore Larson and Olga Prestlien


3. 1910 Platt, Twp 32 North, Range 4 E (Snohomish Co, WA); see photo of land
- indicates Simon had 40 acres; SW of SW quarter, Sec 21

BUT: I have not found Simon and family recorded in the 1910 US census at either Silvana or Florence precincts in Snohomish Co, WA [I reviewed scanned images for both precincts, 8 Jun 2023]
- so it is possible that


4. Birth Return and Notary Public Oath for daughter Leonora (1904) & for Ella May [1903]

- indicates that Simon's occupation as a Shingler
- residence as Florence

5. source: Western Land Grants; AB homestead
[see file folder for doc and photos, Simon and Nils homestead lands, 1 Jul 2022]

- NW, Section 30, Twp 39, Range 8, W of the 4th


Simon
Reel 2808; file # 1608805; images 448-452
entry application, 13 Jul 1910 at Red Deer; address Hughenden; NW¼ Sec 30, Twp 39, Range 8, W4th
- house Jul 1910; residence, 15 Jul 1910 - to 1 Dec 1913
- self, wife, 4 children

191020 acres broke0 cropped
19111220
19122032
1913052

191010 cattle3 horses
1911164
1912164
191346

house, 17 by 24 and 10 by 17 lumber, $350
barn, granary, hen house, blacksmith and well, $500
fence $150

patent letter, 20 Mar 1914

Why did Simon Prestlien come to this area in 1910 (rather than some other area in AB)? Who did he know? ????
- possibly he knew Oscar Grue who went to the Czar area in Feb 1910. There may have been
others from the Stanwood/Silvana, but I don't know. Is it possible that Tilda's parents came at the same time, but Alex Gedstad didn't apply for his homestead until Jul 1912????

*** One possibility is:
Louis [Thomas] Qualley, b 1869 in Iowa but their oldest son, George LeRoy Qualley born in 1893 at Stanwood, Snohomish Co - Yes. This is likely the person they knew - see Tilda's reseach = Louis/Lewis Qualley's wife was Tilda's aunt
see Ralph Libby FT on Ancestry [search name, birth US, lived in AB]
- from son George Qualley's findagrave 157783705
a short obit: George Qualley was born in Stanwood, Washington, March 3rd, 1893, and moved to Bardo, Alberta, with his parents and sister Florence in the year 1900. In 1910 they moved to the Hughendon district, where he resided until his death.



6. 1911 Canada Census: District Red Deer, Sub-District 51, page 2 [indexed as Presilion]

- location: Sec 30, Twp 39, Range 8, W4th
Simon Prestlien, age 33, born Mar 1877 in US; emigrated 1909 [same for next three]; farmer
wife Tilda, age 31 b Nov 1879 in US
dau Ella May, age 8 b Mar 1903
dau Leonora, age 6, b Sep 1906
son Simon G, age 1 b May 1910, in Alberta

note: image quality is poor

7. 1916 Canada Census, District 32, Battle River; sub-dis 12 [twp 39, range 8]


Simon I Prestlein, age 38; b in US emigrated 1910 [?] farmer
wife Tilda, age 36 b in US
dau Ella May, age 13 b in US
dau Leonora, age 11, b in US
son Gordon, age 6 b , in AB
dau Amelia, age 3 b in AB
son Bertel T, age 1, b in AB

David Ward age 21 b in Us; servant
Lucy A Ward, age ? [15??]

1921 Canada Census; Alberta, Battle River (218), sub-district 18, page 1 and 3 [on Ancestry]; dw/fam 10/10 [line 46]; location: Sec 30 Twp 39 Range 8, W4th

Simon I Prestlien, age 44; b in US emigrated 1910; na 1913; own single house, wood, 4 rooms; farmer
wife Tilda, age 42 b in US
dau Leonora, age 16, b in US
son Gordon, age 11 b , in AB
dau Amelia, age 9 b in AB
son Bertel T, age 6, b in AB
dau Ester, age 9, b in AB
son George, age 4, b in AB

Simon's last name is recorded/indexed as Fauteux [???] on Lib and Archives Canada, bottom of page 1
and of the top of page 2, is Leonora recorded/indexed as Prestilian

** For some reason, the enumerator missed the 3 girls but then they are then recorded on page 3


1926 Canada prairie provinces Census, Alberta, Battle River; page 13; dw/fam 116/116 [line 41]
[NE¼ Sec 1, Twp 39, Range 1, W4th; homestead by his father in law, Alex O Gedstad, in Jul 1912]

Simon Prestlien, age 48; b in US emigrated 1910 farmer
wife Tilda, age 46 b in US
dau Leonora, age 21, b in US
son Gordon, age 16 b , in AB
dau Amelia, age 14 b in AB
son Bertel T, age 12, b in AB
dau Ester, age 8, b in AB
dau Amy, age 4, b in AB

1931 Canada Census, Alberta, Battle River, ED [sub-dis] 15, Stocks Rural Municipality 363, page 13, dw/fam 132/132 [line 1] Sec 2 - 39-9-4

Simon Prestlien, age 54 b in US; em 1910, na 1914; home*, stone [foundation] wood, 4 rooms; farm - general farm
wife Tilda, age 51 b in US; em 1910, na 1914
son Bertel T, age 17 b in AB; farm labor - working for no wages [code: NP]
son George, age 15 b in AB
dau Ester, age 13 b in AB
dau Melvina, age 9 b in AB

* col 5 - home own or rent - appears that there is an "O" but then it seems that "R" is written over it;
similar for col 30
Thus, it seems to me that Simon rented this farm - not sure if the Alex Gedstad homestead was sold?
and it seems that Simon's homestead had been sold previously [after 1921]

https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/62640/images/1931_213-e011745370?usePUB=true&pId=5735851


8. Memories and Milestones, page 1018-102; written by Jean Bridge, granddaughter

- had bought a small farm in Silvana, but too small - supplemented income with working in logging
- moved to AB in the spring of 1910 [but they were here before 2 May 1910, when their daughter Louise had died]
- homesteaded in the Sugar Bowl district - children went to the Sugar Bowl school, 3 miles away
- 1916-1920* - rented the farm land and moved to Hugheneden - he and McKenna operated the garage
- returned to homestead in 1920 and also rented the Gedstad place
- 1924 moved to the Silver Heights District** - to the farm of Alex [Ole] Gedstad who was Tilda's father
(NE¼ Sec 1, Twp 39, Range 1, W4th; entry on 4 Jul 1912) and his sons Ben and Albert (Alex and homesteaded in 1913; 1919 Alex moved back to WA; Ben and Albert continued for a couple of years, but then rented to Simon Prestlien) [Silver Heights - east of Brownfield, in County of Paintearth - borders the western boundary of Provost Municipality]
- in the 1940's lived in Amisk and Hughenden - worked in garages
- in the late 1940's lived in Czar (retired) and then went to Coronation
- Tilda stayed at Cornation for a few years after Simon died (1957) - daughter Ella came to the area to teach school; Tilda moved to Camrose in 1965

* Edmonton Journal, issue 25 Oct 1919, page 24 [newspapers.com]
"Hughenden" - Mr S Prestlien, having sold his farm at Sugar Bowl to Mr. Cousineau, has now posters out advertising his stock

** Silver Heights:
[close to 15 km east of Brownfield - take Twp Road 390 East to Range Road 93 and then south about 0.5 km]
[ https://www.roadonmap.com/ca/where-is/Silver_Heights,alberta ]



9. History of Snohomish Co, 1926 [edited by William Whitefield]

- pages 612-615 - biographical sketch of Alex O Gedstad, Tilly's father [also photo of her father and mother]
- indicates that Tilly's father had homesteaded 160 acres near Hughenden, AB - lived there from abt 1910-1917 when he returned to Stanwood
- 1926 ? - Alex O Gedstad owned a section of land in AB [Canadian Western Land Grants indicate land in NE¼ Sec 1,Twp 39, Range 9, W of the 4th - - Alex NE of Sec 1; Albert, NW of Sec 1; Ole B, SW of Sec 1 and NE of Sec 2]

-- ??? it may be possible that Alex Gedstad had not sold his homestand quarter when they left around 1917, but rented the land, and then later in 1924, Simon Prestlien family moved to the Gedstad homestead

-- note 1920 US Census, Florence, Snohomish Co, WA has Tilly's mother and father living with their daughter's family, Caroline and Carl Satra [sp?]

10. The Camrose Canadian; searched on-line (AB Heritage Digitization Project)
- couldn't find obit for Simon Prestlien
- 27 March 1957 - notation under "Armena News" - - Mr & Mrs Nels Grue attended a funeral last Wed [Mar 20] in Amisk - funeral for Mr Prestlien


11. Findagrave.com -- photos of graves of Simon and many family [20 May 2013] ^{367,369,370,372}

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Land - 1910, 1910, Snohomish Co, Washington, USA. ³⁷³

2. Land - 1911, 1911, Czar, Alberta, Canada. ³⁷⁴

3. Residence - 1911, 1911, Czar, Alberta, Canada. ³⁷⁵

4. Residence - 1916, 16-17 Jun 1916, Czar, Alberta, Canada. ³⁷⁶

Simon married Tilda Gedstad on 18 May 1902 in Silvana, Snohomish Co, Washington, United States ^366,367.^,368 (Tilda Gedstad was born on 21 Sep 1879 in Lincoln Co, South Dakota, United States, died on 28 Jun 1979 in Camrose, Alberta, Canada ³⁷⁰ and was buried in Fairfield Cemetery, Brownfield, Alberta, Canada ³⁷¹.)

  Marriage Notes:

Witnesses: Theodore Larson and Olga Prestlien


Ancestry Link, http://interactive.ancestry.com/60722/41742_314154-00083?pid=5052227&backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2f%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3findiv%3d1%26db%3dELCAbmd%26gss%3dangs-d%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26gsln%3dPrestlien%26gsln_x%3d1%26MSAV%3d1%26uidh%3dbj2%26pcat%3dBMD_BIRTH%26fh%3d0%26h%3d5052227%26recoff%3d%26ml_rpos%3d1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true#?imageId=41742_314154-00130