Ingeborg Evensdatter Søndmør

  General Notes:

Biographical SketchIngeborg Evensdatter Søndmør (1835-1927)


Written by Rueben D Grue, 27 Nov 2016. Copywrite, 2016


Birth, Immigration and Death

Ingeborg Evensdatter Søndmør was born on 14 May 1835 at the Søndmør sondre farm in the Tolga Parish of Hedmark County in Norway. Her father was Even Olsen (Søndmør). Ingeborg Evensdatter's father had 4 marriages/relationships. Ingeborg Evensdatter's mother was Johanna Jonsdtr Narjord. She had two brothers: Ole Johan Evensen who died as an infant and Ole Iver Evensen (also known as Oliver Evensen). Ingeborg Evensdatter also 4 half-brothers (two died as an infant) and two half-sisters. The births and baptisms of Ingeborg Evensdatter's siblings are recorded in the Norway Parish Registers (source citations are provided in the Legacy database).

In addition to Ingeborg Evensdatter's birth/baptism (farm name recorded as Sÿnmÿr), the Norway Parish Registers also record her confirmation in 1851 in Tolga parish for North America. She also is recorded in the "moving out records" (Utflyttede) for the 21 Mar 1858. This record notes that Ingeborg Evensdatter's younger half brother, Mikkel Evensen, is also leaving Tolga parishi. There are additional people recorded as leaving Tolga for North America on the same date or a short period before or after. I have not established a family relationship with these other people, but one person (Peder Larsen Holøyen) is from what is now known as the Prestlien farm, but I don't believe he is related to the Søndmør's. I have not found Ingeborg Evensdatter or Mikkel Evensen recorded on any of the various transcribed ship lists, nor I have found any of the other possible traveling companions.

Using a general name and birth date search for Ingeborg Evensdatter on Ancestry.com, I found a number of Public Member Trees (I have used mainly 3 trees, as noted on the Legacy database and on the "sources" page of this document). Ingeborg Evensdatter's surname is generally recorded as Evenson in most North American records. On the Ancestry trees there is a post of her obituary (she died 29 Jul 1927) that was found at the Jackson County MN Historical Society. There is no direct source for this obituary since it is a photocopy from a newspaper. The left hand column of the photocopy has a masthead, "Citizen". Researching for newspapers in the area, the town of Windom (in Cottonwood Co) has a newspaper called "Cottonwood County Citizen", and so it is likely the obituary is from this paper.

Ingeborg Evensdatter's obituary includes a number of interesting statements. However, by itself, the obituary provides very marginal evidence of 'our' Ingeborg Evensdatter. The obituary does not record Ingeborg's father or mother. There are a few verifiable facts in the obituary but only one fact that could lead to 'our' Ingeborg Evensdatter is the noted date of birth. The obituary says that "Ingeborg Evenson" was born in Tolgen, Norway, on the 14th of May 1835. She was baptized, attended school, and confirmed in her native land." As indicated above, 'our' Ingeborg Evensdatter's birth is recorded on 14 May 1835 in the Norway Parish Registers. I further reviewed births for this time frame and this is the only female child born on this date in the Tolga parish registers (recorded in both the Minestrialbok and the Klokkerbok). There are a number of other female children born in 1835 but none with the given name of Ingeborg and the patronymic name of Evensdatter (or the US version of Evenson). Most of the records I have reviewed (outlined throughout the rest of this biographical sketch) regarding Ingeborg Evensdatter, records her birth as 1835. Taking all of the sources together, it is reasonable to conclude that the noted obituary is the obituary of 'our' Ingeborg Evensdatter and increasing the reliability of the information recorded.

Although the reliability of the obituary is a reasonable conclusion, it is not known who the writer was. The writer is likely one of her children, although it could have been a staff person from the newspaper, using information from family members. From reviewing the information recorded in the obituary, it appears that much of the information can be collaborated with other records, but there are some facts that are difficult to prove. This obituary records her name as Mrs. John J. Egge and that she died at the age of 92, at the home of her son on Friday, 29 July 1927. The obituary also notes that she was married twice.

Tollef Olson Slaabakken, Ingeborg's first marriage

Ingeborg Evensdatter's first marriage was to Tollef Olson Slaabakken in 1860. Her obituary says that "...they lived for one year at Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin, then in the spring of 1861 they moved, by ox team, to Jackson County, Minnesota." I have been able to find another reference of Ingeborg and Tollef's marriage. This is from the Wisconsin Historical Society vital records index and records their marriage on 8 May 1860 in Rock Co, WI. The index gives no other information, but it is possible that the original marriage record or return may provide additional details. Ancestry.com (WI Birth, Marriage, Death Collection) provides the same information.
Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin was one of the early Norwegian settlements in Wisconsin, with the first Norwegians arriving about 1838. Jefferson Prairie is located in just south of the town of Clinton in Rock Co, Wisconsin and extends into the northern part of Boone Co, Illinois. I do not know the specific location within Jefferson Prairie for Ingeborg but it is likely they lived in the southern sections of Clinton Township where there appeared to be a concentration of Norwegians, even into the 1920's. In fact the Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church cemetery is located on South Bergen Road in Wisconsin and the current Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church a short distance south in Illinois. By the 1850's and 1860's most of the land was settled and as Ingeborg's obituary indicates, she initially worked on a number of farms in the area. I have not been able to find Tollef and Ingeborg in the 1860 US Federal Census for Rock Co. There is a recording for Tolle Oleson with wife Emily and daughter Ella. Although the ages for Tolle and Emily match Tollef and Ingeborg's birth year, they are recorded living in Iowa with another son named Ole (following this family into the 1870 US Census). Based on this census record, it is most likely a different family.

Ingeborg's obituary notes that in the spring of 1861 they left Wisconsin and traveled to Jackson County, Minnesota where they "took a claim here in what was known as Belmont." In researching for general historical information on Jackson Co, I found the book, An Illustrated History of Jackson County, Minnesota. In this book it is noted that beginning in the 1860's, Norwegians settled along the banks of the Des Moines river in the current Des Moines and Belmont townships. Then on page 98 it is stated that "...several more [settlers] by the name Slaabaken, commonly known by the name Olson, came in 1861. These included John Olson Slaabaken, Mikkel Olson Slaabaken, and Tollef Olson Slaabaken and their families, and Simen and Peder single men." The book further notes, "Part of these [some of the people] drove through from Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin, with ox teams, the voyage taking 2 month's time. The other[s] drove through Fillmore county, Minnesota."

Slaabakken family

Although I have found little information on Tollef Olsen Slaabakken, there is much more information on his siblings and their descendants. Ancestry.com has a number of Public Member Trees regarding the Slaabakken family. I researched a lot about the Slaabakken's hoping to find more information on Tollef and Ingeborg, but unfortunately I found very little on them. The Slaabakken family originates from the farm Slaabakken in Tolgen parish and is located about 3 kms north and west from the town of Tolga in Hedmark county, Norway. I have not found a family relationship with the Slaabakken's other than the marriage of the eldest Slaabakken daughter, Kirsti Olsdtr (1821-1910) who married Anders Pedersen Lien, the grandson of Simen Mortensen Hulbækdal (Simen was my fifth great-grandfather).

Tollef Olsen Slaabakken was born on 28 Jan 1828 in Tolga parish. He was the nineth child of Ole Embretsen (Ingebritsen or Engebretsen) (1790-1839) and Kirsti Helgesdatter Eide (1791-1876). Ole Engebretsen and Kirsti had 14 children, although 3 children died in infancy and another son died at the age of 22. On 15 July 1856, Tollef (single) along with his his mother, his oldest brother Ingrebret and his family, his brother Mikkel and his family, brothers Simen and Peder and sister Ingeborg, left Tolga Parish for North America (moving out records, Norway Parish Records). Tollef's brother John and his family had left in 1851 for North America. Tollef's two other brothers, Ole and Anders had left Tolga, but the parish register records them leaving for Nordmør (likely Nordmore region of the county Møre og Romsdal, on the coast, west of Tolga) with Ole leaving Tolga in 1845 and Anders leaving in 1847. From some of the information through Ancestry, it appears that Ole Olsen stayed in Norway. Anders Olsen Slaabakken had emigrated to North America, but I have not found any Norwegian record that provides a date for leaving Norway.

In the book An Illustrated History of Jackson County, Minnesota, it is noted on page 93 and 94, that in 1858 Anders Olson Slaabakken had set out on foot from Rock Co, WI "...to explore the great western country and to locate a suitable place for himself and his friends to build homes. He traveled through parts of Minnesota, Nebraska, and Dakota..." By 1860, Anders Olson had returned to Rock Co and in 1860 he and a number of people came to Belmont Twp in Jackson Co. Anders Olson Slaabaken took land on the SW¼ of Sec 34, Belmont and his brother Engebret SE¼ Sec 22, Belmont, and in 1861 others of Anders Olson's family came to Jackson Co. An Illustrated History of Jackson County, Minnesota does not note the section of land that Tollef Olson took, but on page 99, it is noted that he owned land since he was recorded on the tax list for the settled parts of Jackson Co.

Tollef Olson (Slaabakken), Civil War record and death

I have researched Tollef's likely involvement in the US Civil War and have posted this under his Legacy file, under general notes.

Ingeborg Evensdatter's obituary notes that in the summer of 1861 (shortly after they arrived in Jackson Co), Tollef was "...drafted and entered the service at Fort Snelling in October..."(the outbreak of the US Civil War was in April 1861). On pages 98 and 99 of An Illustrated History of Jackson County, Minnesota it is recorded that "...Captain D. M. West, of the home guards, enlisted 22 of his company [from the home guard] into the United States Army in September [1861]…. The company … served for a time as the second company of the Minnesota cavalry, but later became company "I" of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry. Of the twenty-two enrolled from Jackson county following are the names of nineteen..." included in the nineteen [men enrolled] are Tollef Olson, Peter Olson and Simon Olsen (Tollef's brothers). Although it is not noted in this book, Peder Olson Slaabakken died in 1862, Tollef's brother Anders Olson Slaabakken and his nephew, Ole Engebretson Slaabakken (son of Engebret), also served in the Civil war, but their date of enlistment are not recorded in above book.

Ingeborg's obituary notes that after the Dakota Sioux Indian attack on farms in Belmont twp (see below), she and others had fled to Fillmore Co. While here, she found out that her husband had "died in the army." I haven't been able to determine his exact date of death. There are some on-line indexes, but these record some conflict for Tollef (for example, name is recorded as Zollef Olson or Tollef Oleson). However there is some agreement and it appears that he was discharged due to disability on 14 May 1862 at either Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh, Tennesse. If the above is correct, then Tollef died after his discharge date. On the Legacy database, I have recorded his death between May 14 and June 30, 1862 (see his Civil War record summary under his file under general notes).

Birth of Tollef Olson and Ingeborg's children

Tollef and Ingeborg had 2 children Ole and Kersti who were twins. As I have indicated on the Legacy data, the only direct source that I have found regarding Ole and Kersti's birth is from their Confirmation Record from Bethany Lutheran Church at Windom, MN (records on Ancestry.com). Windom, MN is in Cottonwood Co and would have be only about 10 kms north of Ingeborg's home in Christiania Twp, Jackson Co. The confirmation record records their parents as Tollef Olsen and Ingeborg Evenson and that they are twins born on 3 Feb 1861 in Wisconsin. The record does not record Rock Co, but that is most likely. Ingeborg's obituary of 1927 notes, "...Tollef Olsen Slaabakken … was drafted in summer [of 1861] …. [he left MN] in October leaving her alone on the claim in the wilderness with a pair of twins only nine months old [thus, their birth in Jan-Feb 1861]."
I will come back to some detail on Ole and Kersti, but before this, there was a very significant event at Belmont Township.

Dakota Sioux Uprising of 1862

In Jackson Co, MN the attack by the Dakota Sioux occurred on 22 Aug 1862 and was generally known as the "Belmont Massacre". This attack was a part of the general Sioux Uprising or Dakota War of 1862 that had centered on the Minnesota River Valley, in the general area the area of New Ulm (about 100 kms to the north east of Jackson Co). There were numerous incidents in this conflict, along with numerous complex causes. In very general terms, the Dakota Sioux had ceded their traditional lands (that stretched from the upper Mississippi river to the Missouri river) in the area of southern Minnesota in treaties of 1851 and agreed to a reservation land along the Minnesota River valley. In addition to the reservation, the Sioux were to receive annuity payments. As with much of the history of the US government and the natives, treaties were often ignored, their administration left to Indian agents and traders who sold goods to the natives, often at highly inflated rates. Tensions and frustrations increased throughout the 1850's for the Dakota Sioux. In August of 1862, annuity payments were late and at the lower agency (Redwood area, about 50 kms north west of New Ulm), the Indian trader refused to provide goods on credit. Around this time, a small group of natives had been out hunting and came across some eggs that a settler's hen had laid. The natives took the eggs; the farmer was upset, and within minutes, 3 male settlers, a women and 15 year old girl were dead (this occurred on Aug 17). With this incident violence and killing broke out at the Redwood Agency with up to 44 settlers and whites being killed, and quickly spread throughout the area. In the next few days over 200 were killed by the natives at New Ulm and with a second attack at New Ulm, the town was burned. The US army had been able to free the native siege at Fort Ridgely, and with this, there was an organized American army military effort to defeat and punish the Sioux began. By September 23, the Battle of Wood Lake resulted in heavy Sioux casualties and by the end of the month most of the Sioux had surrendered. The army had formed a military commission to "try summarily" those Sioux responsible for the killings of white Americans with 323 natives convicted and 303 sentenced to death with a planned mass hanging/execution. President Lincoln had two of his clerks to review the condemned men's cases to determine the natives involved in the killing of settlers. This resulted in President Lincoln's order of execution that included 39 names and on December 28, 1862, thirty eight (Lincoln reprieved one person) were hung at Mankota.

The Norwegian Settlement at Belmont Twp Massacre

On 24 Aug 1862 (Sunday) a small number of Dakota Sioux had attacked the Norwegian Settlement along the Des Moines River in Belmont Twp in Jackson Co. This attack became known as the Belmont Massacre. There are a number of accounts on the attack; the following is mostly from the book, An Illustrated History of Jackson Co by Arthur Rose. The Belmont settlers had heard of native hostilities further north and had planned to build some stockades, planning to start building on 25 Aug. Of course they were a day late. A group of about 50 natives from the White Lodge band of the Sissiton/Sisseton Sioux (band of the Dakota Sioux) came to the banks of the Des Moines River, near the home of Tollef's brother, Engebret Olson Slaabakken's home, but had not been noticed (the book has a map of the area and I have copied this map in the file folder). They then started to proceed north along the river and around 10 AM they came to the farm of Ole Førde (Forhe), where the women and children had hidden in the cellar. The natives broke into the cabin, killing at least three men inside. Ole Fohre had been away from the cabin, but when the natives left they came across him in the woods, and he was killed. At the Engebret Olson's cabin (about 0.6 kms to the south), Engebret's brother, Mikkel Olson and Engebret's son, Anders were walking to Ole Fohre's cabin when they heard gunfire. There were natives along the trees of the trail and Mikkel and Anders were shot, with Mikkel being killed and Anders wounded. After the Ole Fohre cabin, the natives went to Engebret Olson's cabin but it was empty since everyone was at a church service; the natives plundered the cabin and then traveled up river to the Langeland cabin where 5 settlers were killed. By night fall, the natives were further up the river at the cabin of Ole Torgerson and Ole Estenson who had barricaded themselves and their families in one of the cabins. The natives tried to attack but were turned back from muskets of the two Ole's. The natives retreated and spent the night on the other side of the river. The next day, the natives left with no further hostilities in this area. In total, 13 settlers were killed and 3 were wounded. Other settlers hearing of the fighting, fled on foot or wagon south to the Spirit Lake settlement in Iowa and some went to Estherville, Iowa.

There is no written account of events of the day for Ingeborg Evensdatter and her twin children who were about 1.5 years old at this time. Ingeborg's obit only indicates that she had fled with other families, traveling with some of them to Fillmore Co. It appears that Engebret, John, and Simon Olson Slaabakken (Tollef's brothers) along with Tollef's sister Ingeborg and Mikkel Olson's widow and all their families returned to Belmont Twp (page 111). Some got caught in a prairie fire where Engebret's wife and infant child died due to injuries of the fire (page 112). This group made it back to their land claims but found everything had been plundered with only the cabins left in tack. They stayed most of the winter at their places in Belmont Twp. In the spring of 1863 there were concerns about further native attacks, so the Slaabakken's fled to Spirit Lake and it seems they returned to Belmont Twp in the spring/summer of 1864. In June 1864 a small group previously from Jackson Co, including Anders Olson Slaabakken (just discharged from the army) Simon Olson Slaabakken (he had left Jackson Co in the fall of 1863) and his new wife, returned to Jackson Co (page 113).

As indicated in her obituary, Ingeborg Evensdatter return to Jackson Co in the spring of 1865. The obituary states, "...only to find everything destroyed and her claim contested." I have not found any further information where she lived in the summer of 1865 and the following winter. Her obituary says that in 1866 she remarried and they took up a homestead in Christiania Twp, Jackson Co.

Although the obituary says that she returned to Jackson Co in the spring of 1865, I wonder if this is correct. It is reasonable to assume that Anders Olson (Tollef's brother) who was discharged in the spring of 1864 would have known that his brothers had died (Tollef likely died in May or June of 1862; Peder died 5 Jul 1862). Anders Olson had returned to Houston County (after his discharge and left for Jackson Co with his other brother Simon in June 1864. It would make sense that Ingeborg Evensdatter with her twins at an age of about 3 years, would have left the same time with her only family, her in-laws. It also seems more reasonable that she went to Houston Co versus Fillmore Co. A large Norwegian settlement was located at Spring Grove in Houston Co, very near the close to Allamakee and Winneshiek Counties in Iowa. The general area was known as "Norwegian Ridge."

Ingeborg is recorded using the name Isabelle Olson followed by Ole Olson and Kirstri Olson on a list from the 1 Jun 1865 census for Jackson Co, MN (recorded on page 116 of An Illustrated History of Jackson County, Minnesota…."). Even though this is the wrong given name, this person is likely Ingeborg. In the 1870 Census she is also recorded with the given name Isabel and in this record she is married to John Johnson; both Ole and Christie (Kersti) with their age as 10 are recorded. The ages and thus the birth dates for "Isabelle", Ole and Kersti all correspond with other records; additionally names and ages correspond throughout the US Federal and the MN States census records for Jackson County, even though spellings are often different (see Legacy data for source citations).

Ingeborg Evenson's (Olson), second marriage, John Johnson Egge

As indicated above (pages 2 and 3), Tollef and Ingeborg were parents of twins, Kersti and Ole, who were infants when they made the trek to Jackson Co, MN from Rock Co, WI, in the spring of 1861. In Aug 1862, Ingeborg fled to Fillmore Co (or possibly Houston Co) from Jackson Co due to the Dakota Sioux Uprising; she returned to Jackson Co possibly in the early summer of 1864 (or possibly in the spring of 1865). She returned to Jackson a widow with twins who were 3-4 years old. I do not know where Ingeborg and the twins lived in Jackson Co when she returned, but it is likely she lived with one of her in-law's family (Slaabakken's). What we do know from her obituary and from many of the other sources (for example, ancestry Public Member Trees and other family databases) that sometime in 1866, she married John Johnson Egge. They homesteaded in Christiania Twp, Jackson Co.

According to the US Track Books (homestead records) John Johnson homesteaded on the S½SW¼, Sec 32, Twp 104N Range 35W. He made entry on 1 Oct 1866 with final certificate on 10 Mar 1876 (#3969). John Johnson Egge's Land Patent was issued 20 Apr 1876.

Kersti Tollefsdatter / Tollefson, Tollef Olson Slaabakken and Ingeborg Evensdatter's child

As previously indicated Kersti (Christie, Christine, Christina) was the twin sister to Ole Tollefson; they were born 3 Feb 1861 in Rock Co, WI. Kersti lived with her mother and step-father in Jackson Co. On 24 Dec 1876, at the age of 15, she married Henry Knudson who had a homestead in Des Moines Twp, Jackson Co. By 1880 US Census, they were living at Heron Lake Twp, Jackson Co, with one child, Ida A (also living with them was Kersti's brother, Ole Tollefson).

According to the book, An Illustrated History of Jackson Co, MN … (page 367), Henry and Kersti's daughter, Ida Anna was born on 18 Mar 1879. They had one other child, Christian Henry born on 16 Oct 1880 and he died on 17 Oct 1880; Kersti died 17 Oct 1880, likely due to birth complications. I have found little information on Ida Anna Knudson other than a record of her in 1900 US Census, living at her great aunt's place Esther [Christie/Christy] Nordvold who was a half sister to Ida Anna's father, Henry Knudson). In this record she is recorded as a School Teacher. The evidence for Ida Anna Knudson after the 1900 US Census is very marginal. One of the Ancestry Public Member Trees (beauhanks) indicates that in the 1905 MN State Census, she is living in Minneapolis working as a Stenographer. This same ancestry tree records that she died on 4 Apr 1969 at Cincinnati Ohio in a nursing home. She was never married. I have not found any corresponding evidence of this so this may or may not be accurate.

Ole Tollefsen, Tollef Olson Slaabakken and Ingeborg Evensdatter's child

Ole Tollefsen was the twin brother to Kersti Tollefsen (married to Henry Knudson). He was born in 1861 in Wisconsin and he died in 1917 in Illinios.

I have written a Biographical Sketch for Ole Tollefsen and his descendants. The final revision was 6 Nov 2016. See his Legacy database file, "general notes".

Ingeborg Evenson's (Olson), second marriage to:
John Johnson Egge

John was born on 12 Aug 1835 in Vestre Slidre parish in Oppland County, Norway [about 100 kms west of Lilliehammer]. His father was John (Jon) Pedersen Egge and his mother's given name was likely Sisel Knudsdatter. John Johnsen Egge emigrated to North America in 1861. He is recorded as leaving Vestre Slidre parish on 3 Apr 1861. One source (An Illustrated History of Jackson Co, MN; page 502) notes that he had worked as a blacksmith in Decorah, Iowa and came to Jackson Co in 1865. This same book (pages 115-117) records an "unofficial" census of Jackson Co for 1 June 1865. John is not recorded and so he would likley have come after the first of June. As indicate above (page 6) John Johnson made his homestead entry claim on 1 Oct 1866

Ingeborg married John Johnson Egge in 1866. In addition to her two children from her first marriage, John and Ingeborg had 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls. I have been able to find information of their children and they are recorded on my Legacy database; I will only make a few comments in this document. I also have a document in my file folders titled "Ingeborg Evensen Olsen Egge, research notes document" and in this document I recorded a variety of information from differing sources and can be used as a guide. My Legacy database has used this document's information and sources as a guide.

Ingeborg Evenson's Olson Egge and John Johnson Egge's children:

Tollef Johnson Egge was their oldest son, born in 1866 in Jackson Co. Tollef was married twice, with his first wife Mary (Selnes) dying in 1914. Tollef and Mary had 3 children. Tollef and Mary had a farm in Weimar Twp in Jackson Co (near the farm of his parents). For the most part, Tollef farmed throughout his life. His daughter Ella and her husband continued farming the home place and this farm continued with the family to this day. His other daughter Olga married a farmer in Nobles Co (north of Jackson Co); she did not have children. Tollef's son, Elai, also farmed in Weimar Twp and his farm was likely a part of his father's original farm. Ellai M Egge was married and had 2 children.

Maria Cecila Egge was the second oldest in the family. In 1887 she married Knute C Jackson. Of interest, Knute was a first cousin to Esther Christy, the wife of Ole Tollesen (a half brother to Maria). Maria and Knute first lived in Nobles Co, Minnesota which was a bit north of Jackson Co. They then moved to Red Lake Falls in Red Lake Co, Minnesota (1910 census). Knute worked at a variety of jobs. Knute and Maria had 11 children. Anna was the oldest (born 1888) and she married Elmer Erickson in 1922. They operated a hotel in Northwood in North Dakota until at least 1940. They had 2 children. I have not found any other information on Anna after the 1940 census. Ida was the next oldest in the family. She was married around 1914, likely in North Dakota. Clarence and Ida farmed in Pembina Co, south of the Canadian border. They had 5 children. Ida died in May 1953 in Polk Co, MN. James Isaac Jackson was Knute and Maria's oldest son. He was born in 1890 in MN. In 1920 he married Alice Williams. James worked at a number of jobs including some farming. In the 1940's he worked in a Lumber Yard. James and Alice did not have children. He died in 1958 in Red Lake Co, Minnesota. Ella was the next oldest child. She was born in 1893, but I have not found any further information. The next child was Morris. He was born in 1894 but died before 1900 since he wasn't recorded in the 1900 census. The sixth oldest in the family was Arthur who was born in 1895. He was married to Alice Mae. Arthur was a WWI veteran but it is not clear if he served overseas. It appears that he was a telephone lineman and in 1940 he and Alice are recorded living in Des Moines, Iowa (I haven't been able to find a 1920 or 1930 census record). Arthur died in 1958 in Iowa. I have not found any recorded children. Mable was the next oldest, born in 1898. It is likely that in 1922 she married Elmer Vidette in Cleveland Ohio. I have found a 1930 US Census record for her and Elmer living in Chicago. At some point they moved to Los Angeles. Mable died in 1963 and Elmer (also known as Albert) died in 1971. It doesn't seem that they had children. Lottie is the eighth oldest in Maria's family. She was born in 1899 and in 1922 she married Elmer Bjelland. They farmed in the Polk Co, Minnesota. Lottie and Elmer had 3 children. Lottie and Elmer moved to Oregon in 1946, close to where their two sons had moved. Lottie died in 1976 in Marion Co, OR. The next oldest in the family was William Roosevelt Jackson, born in 1902. He married Erna MacLean in 1931 in Minnesota and lived in a Minneapolis suburb. They had one daughter, Muriel. William died in 1984. The second youngest child was Clara. She was born in 1904. By 1930 she had moved to Chicago (recorded living with her sister, Mabel, in the 1930 Census. She died in 1972 in Chicago. She was married to Peter A Bauler, but I do not know the marriage date or location. No children are recorded in her obituary. The youngest child of Marie and Knute Jackson was Morris Robert Jackson. He was born in 1908 in Polk County, MN. In 1959 he married Stella Wiltrack. They lived in a suburb of Minneapolis and they had 1 daughter, Marylyn.

Ella Johanna Egge was the third oldest in the family. She died in 1890 (between the ages of 19-21) and was unmarried. According to her mother's obituary Ella died due to an outbreak of diphtheria (as did her younger brother, Elia).

John Johnson Egge (Jr) was the fourth oldest in the family. He was married in 1899 to Martha Niemann. John died in 1947 in Minnesota and Martha died in 1962 in Butte Co, California. John and Martha had 7 children and were raised on the family farm in Christina Twp, Jackson Co, MN. This likely was the home farm of John J Egge and Ingeborg. John's oldest child, Ethel who was a nurse first moved to Seattle, California (Santa Ana) and moved in 1948 to Chico, Butte Co (California). She was married twice (first Lawrence Hammond and then Leslie Beer) and they were divorced prior to 1930 since she is recorded as divorced in the 1930 US Census. Ethel died in 1982 and it appears that she did not have any children. Elma Egge (born in 1903) was also a nurse and had moved to Santa Ana, California in 1925 and in 1948 she also moved to Butte Co (CA). Elma was not married and had no children. She died in 1973. Carl Egge (born 1905) farmed the family farm. He was not married and did not have children. He had moved to the Butte Co, California area by the mid-1970's. He died in 1980. Oreta Egge, known as Meta, was married to Ronald Hanson in Iowa. They had at least one child, Ronald (Jr). By the mid-1930's they were living in Bakersfield, California. I have not been able find a death record for her (or her husband), but in Mar of 1982 she was living in Woodland, CA (Yolo Co which is just south of Butte Co). Della Egge married Edward Sirovy and they farmed in Jackson Co, Minnesota. They had 2 children. Della died in 2001. John Donwen Egge was born in 1918. By 1935 he had moved to Bakersfield, California. In 1941 he enlisted in the US Army and was, at least initially, assigned to the National Guards at Santa Maria Army Airfield in Santa Barbara County. I have not found any further information on his Army service. After the war, he (with his wife) moved to Yolo County in California and for awhile he worked as a salesman with a Reality Co. He died in 1986 and his wife died in 2012. They had two children. The youngest of John J Egge's family was Maxine (born in 1922). She had married Ray Clinger in Iowa. I have not found a lot of information on this family; I believe they lived most of the time in Jackson Co. Maxine and Ray had 2 children. Maxine died in 1980.

Elia Johnson Egge was the second youngest in the family. He died in 1890 and was unmarried. According to her mother's obituary Elia died due to an outbreak of diphtheria (as did his older sister, Ella).

Theodore Johnson Egge was the youngest child of the family. He was born in 1878 and died in 1941. He farmed most of his life in Jackson Co, Minnesota. Theodore was married in 1905 to Hannah Sevalrud. Theodore and Hannah had 5 children. Tillie was the oldest and she had married Alfred Gilbertson. Tillie taught school for much of her life. She died in 2011. Helen was the next oldest in the family. I haven't found much information on her life. She was married to someone with a surname of 'Otto' and in 2011 lived in Winona, Minnesota (from her sister's obituary). Gladys was the third oldest in the family. She was born in 1910 in Jackson Co, MN and in 1934 she married Leon Hildreth. Gladys taught school for a few years. Although I am not certain, it is likely they farmed in the area of Jackson or Cottonwood counties in Minnesota. Gladys died in 2008 in Tucson, Arizona. Ernest was the oldest son of the family. He was born in 1912. In Jul 1940 he enlisted in the US Navy at Minneapolis and was sent to the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida until at least end of Dec 1941 (Pearl Harbor was attacked on 7 Dec 1941). It is not clear where he served during World War II, but there is one record of him aboard the USS Orizaba in Jul 1944 (leaving San Francisco). Sometime after the war he was married to Maude Hamilton. Ernest died in 1969 in Grants Pass in Oregon (about 250-300 kms south of Portland). Theodore and Hannah had adopted on child, Harlan Truman born in Jan 1915. However, this boy died in Sept 1915. Hazel is the youngest daughter of Theodore and Hannah. She was born in 1916 and in 1934 she married Iner Larson. They farmed for awhile in Jackson Co, Minnesota. Hazel and Iner had 2 children. I have not found much information on this family. One of the Ancestry Public Member Trees note that she died 2006 in Mesa, Arizona. Orville is the youngest in this family. He was born in born in 1918 and in 1943 he was married to Nelva Roberts. Orville took over his father's farm in Delafield Twp, Jackson Co, and they lived in the area most of their life. Orville and Nora had 5 children. Their oldest child was Clifford Dean Egge who had joined the Air Force and served in Vietnam. Clifford died in 1993 in Oklahoma and is buried at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery. He was married in 1977, but no children are recorded. The other 4 children were females and according to Clifford's obituary three were married. I have not found additional information on them (their mother's obit of 2008 records their first names only).

Index [page numbers refer to the 'word document' and are not relevant to the above record]
Birth, Immigration and Death page 1
Tollef Olson Slaabakken, Ingeborg's first marriagepage 2
Slaabakken family page 3
Tollef Olson (Slaabakken), Civil War record and deathpage 3, 4
Birth of Tollef Olson and Ingeborg's children page 4
Dakota Sioux Uprising of 1862 page 4, 5
The Norwegian Settlement at Belmont Twp Massacrepage 5, 6
Ingeborg and Tollef Olson Slaabakken;s children
Kersti page 7
Ole page 7
Ingeborg Evenson's (Olson), second marriage to: John Johnson Eggepage 8
Ingeborg Evenson's Olson Egge and John Johnson Egge's childrenpage 8
Tollef J Egge page 8
Marie C Egge page 8, 9
Ella J Egge page 9
John J Egge (Jr) page 9
Elia J Egge page 10
Theodore J Egge page 10


Sources: See Legacy data for source citiations for facts and events


Ancestry Public Member Trees, <http://home.ancestry.com/>, 2016
[Ancestry Family Trees, links /paths have changed from the original notations, 6 Dec 2022]


Theodore Egge
"R Pedersen Family Tree owner TerryAHoff" ; accessed 6 Dec 2022
link, to Theodore, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/34420033/person/20430936950/facts
and "Gilbertson Family Tree owner kgilbertson181"; accessed 6 Dec 2022

link to Theodore, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/2264089/person/6091986592/facts

[ nothing on other children of Ingeborg and John Johnson Egge ]

"Knutson Family Tree owner nutman80" with last login on 25 Aug 2016
[ re; Theodore Egge '96 son, Orville '96 son, Clifford ]

"Nathan Woodruff Kin owner rgunder1" with last login on 28 Aug 2016
link to Theodore J. Egge, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/12650258/person/-138275053/facts>
[ nothing on other children of Ingeborg and John Johnson Egge ]

"Louden Family Tree owner deniseloudon1" nothing new or different

"Spencer-Gieser Family Tree owner littlemunk" with last login in Dec 2015
link to Theodore, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/7075198/person/-1164244728/facts> ;; [relationship
likely through Hazel's husband's ancestor etc] ]

"Riedel Family Tree owner Daniel Riedel" with last login first of Aug 2016
link to Theodore J Egge, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/60605472/person/34292066795/facts>
[relationship likely through Gladys Egge's husband ancestors etc]

John Johnsen Egge, Jr
Ancestry tree, "Small Family Tree owner Klynnea: fr Washington state with last login 26 Aug 2016
link to Meta, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/43320789/person/26431671755/facts>

Elmquist / Clow family tree owner jjelmquist1 with last login on abt Apr 2016
link to John J Egge, jr; http://person.ancestry.com/tree/9448552/person/-789864019/facts
- some information but lacks sources

Marie/Maria Egge '96 Jackson
one Ancestry Public Tree, "Dunaychuk Family Tree owner cutiefeet715" with last login 26 Aug 2016 ;; link
to Knute Jackson, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/68631540/person/74022292538/facts> ;; links to
Lottie and Elmer findagrave, to son E Lyle [as above] and then 'private'

"Mahar/Cone Family Tree owner Lbast11" with last login on 24 Aug 2016;
link to Maria Celica Egge, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/45916232/person/6961067822/facts>

"Lynn's Family Tree owner Betsy Christopherson" with last login 20 Aug 2016
link to Marica Cecelia Egge and her descendants, married to Knute E Jackson
<http://person.ancestry.com/tree/36839571/person/18996694285/facts>

Tollef J Egge
"Frederickson-Haakenstad-Kullungstad formerly of Gubransdal, Norway owner Kokabena" with last login
27 Aug 2016;; link to Tollef Egge, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/5423625/person/-1205333382/facts>
[ nothing on other children of Ingeborg and John Johnson Egge]

"Meyer Family Tree owner wtmeyer", with last login n Jul 2016
link to Elai, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/5159631/person/25804141759/facts>
[records descendants of son Elai '96 nothing on the other two children of Tollef]

"Clewett/Larson Family Tree owner LindaLarson" fr Albuquerque, NM with last login on 26 Aug 2016
link to Tollef, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/12241638/person/26897187656/facts>
[records marriage to Anna M with link to 1920 US Census, but then doesn't record her as a second
marriage and keeps her as Mary Selnes]

General:
"Ebenezer Lee Family Tree" owner beauhanks fr Miami, FL with last login
link to Ingeborg, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/9440387/person/6059676217/facts>

"Slaabakken Olson Family" owner DelorisAnderson75 with last login 27 Jul 2016 [ photos/documents ]
link, <http://person.ancestry.com/tree/15896411/person/332263046/facts>

Other sources:

Family Search Historical Records. <https://familysearch.org/> 2016.

Flom, George T. A History of Norwegian Immigration to the United States, from the earliest beginnings down to the year 1848. Iowa City, Iowa. Privately Printed. 1909
<https://archive.org/stream/historyofnorwegi00flomuoft#page/n5/mode/1up>

Dakota War of 1862; from Wikipedia, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakota_War_of_1862>. Last updated 18 Nov 2016.

Norway Parish Registers. <http://arkivverket.no/Digitalarkivet>. 2016

Rose, Arthur P. An Illustrated History of Jackson County, Minnesota. Northern History Publishing Company, 1910), Accessed: Nov 2016. http://archive.org/stream/anillustratedhi00rosegoog#page/n9/mode/1up

Wisconsin Historical Society. Pre 1907, Vital Records Collection. 2016. <http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Content.aspx?dsNav=N:1220>

  Research Notes:

NOTE:

A. See 'general' notes for a Biographical Sketch for Ingeborg Evensdatter Søndmør, finalized/written 28 Nov 2016
To complete this document I had first used a number of Ancestry Public Members (many with wrong information or only small amounts of information) and then used a number of other sources (primary and secondary) to complete the data. See the Legacy database for individual source citations.

B. I have also created two other documents that contain research notes. These documents contain a variety of information from various sources and in some cases basic summaries from those sources. These documents have been used to create the 'biographical sketches' or summaries/proof arguments. These are saved in my computer's file folders. (1) Ingeborg Evenson Olson Egge, research notes document; (2) Even Olsen Søndmør, 1798 or 1799 to 1852, research notes document

NOTE: the location of the above information on Ingeborg ... Egge [documents noted above], including the following path: This PC ... documents...family genealogy...Grue Family Tree...Prestlien...Prestlien's...Ole Evensen the Elder folder [this path noted: 6 Dec 2022]


SEE:
Email received: 6 Dec 2022 from Mira Olson; mail4mirao@yahoo.com

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1. Tolga moving out records

21 Mar 1858, Michel Evensen Sønmør and Ingeborg Evensdtr Sønmør to ??? Ligessa ??? -- I can't find this place name or parish, but I can't really figure out the handwriting ;; I have done general google searches and used the familysearch.org wiki; maybe Leka in the Namdalen area, but they are not recorded in this area in the 1865 Norway census
looks like a number of people have gone there, but still I don't know where this place is;

[25 Jul 2016] see note '96 I then reviewed the pages from the parish registers and there is one google result under a search for "Ligssaa Norway" and included in the description, "…. ligs saa … ". With this and using Tri Translate, comes the following: lig, see lik, meaning "like, similar, equal"; and saa, see "se" or "så" meaning "therefore, thus or next"

So, using the Tolga Klokkerbok, I looked again at the entries for 1858 and the first entry is Esten Jonsen … ? born 1833 and going to Nortamcrika '96 North America [line 1, 1858]. Then on line 5-6, "Ligssaa" and then one line 10 (Mikkel Evensen), Ligssaa

So, my conclusion: "ligssaa" refers to 'the same as above, that is, North America'; equivalent to our "ditto". Therefore, this record refers to Michel (Mikkel) Evensen and Ingeborg Evensdtr leaving Tolga Parish for North America in 1858.


link to Minestrialbok, <https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/8907/327>
link to Klokkerbok, <https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/9221/264>

NOTE: Part D, Tolga Slekshistorie website '96 records both Ingeborg and Mikkel traveling to America in 1858 ^6154,6155

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Confirmation - 1851, 22 Jun 1851, Tolga, Hedmark, Norway. ⁶¹⁵⁶

2. Migration - 1858, 21 Mar 1858, Tolga, Hedmark, Norway. ⁶¹⁵⁷ Leaving Tolga Parish for North America. She is also recorded with her brother, Mikkel Evensen. There are additional people recorded as leaving Tolga for North America on the same date or a short period before or after. I have not established a family relationship with these other people, but one person (Peder Larsen Holøyen) is from what is now known as the Prestlien farm; but no relationship to the Søndmør's.

3. Residence - 1860, 8 May 1860, Clinton Twp, Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. ^195,197 The Wisconsin Historical database records their marriage in Rock Co, WI. Ingeborg's obituary records that she and Tollef Olsen lived for one year at Jefferson Prairie before travelling to Jackson Co, MN. Jefferson Prairie was within the boundaries of Clinton Twp, about 6-8 kms south of the current town of Clinton. It is not clear, but the area known as Jefferson Prairie was one of the earliest Norwegian Settlements in Wisconson. It seems to border the Illinois State line.

4. Residence, 1861, Abt Mar 1861, Belmont Twp, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States. ^195,6158 Ingeborg Evensdatter obituary (of 1927) says that in the spring of 1861, she and Olof traveled by ox team to Jackson Co, MN to an area known as Belmont. In the book, An Illustrated History of Jackson County, Minnesota, it is noted on the top of page 98, first column, "Several more by the name Slaabaken, commonly known by the name Olson, came in 1861. These included John Olson Slaabaken, Mikkel Olson Slaabaken, and Tollef Olson Slaabaken and their families, and Simen and Peder single men. Part of these drove through from Jefferson Prairie, Wisconsin, with ox teams, the voyage taking 2 month's time. The other drove through Fillmore county, Minnesota."

5. Residence - 1862-1865, 1862-1865, Fillmore Co, Minnesota, United States. ¹⁹⁵ Ingeborg's obituary (of 1927) says that she fled Jackson Co after the "Indian attack" of Aug 1862 for Fillmore Co. She then returned to Jackson Co in the spring of 1865.

6. Residence - 1865, 1 Jun 1865, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁶¹⁵⁹ An Illustrated History of Jackson Co records the names of a county Census on 1 June 1865. On page 116, second column, about 2/3 down are the names: " Isabella Olson, Ole Olson, and Kirsti Olson. Although this record does not clearly and definitely provide evidence of their residence, it is likely. Isabella would likely be Ingeborg (the 1880 US Federal census records her name as Isabell Johnson, married to John Johnson Egge), although I do not have direct evidence that Ingeborg used the given name Isabella, other than the 1870 US census.

7. Residence - 1870, 1 Jun 1870, Belmont Twp, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁶¹⁶⁰ This records records her name as Isabel Johnson, age 35, married to John Johnson age 35 <1835>. Children: Ole age 10, Christie age 10, Tollef age 5, Sarah age 3 [likely Maria Cecilia], and Ella age 5.

8. Residence - 1875, 1 May 1875, Christiania Twp, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁶¹⁶¹ I'm not clear if the family moved to Christiania Twp or if Chirstiania Twp was formed after 1870.

Names recorded with family 44 (page 219 at Familysearch.org): John Johnson age 40, Inggebor age 40, Ole age 14, Christina age 14, Tollef age 2, Sissel age 7 [likely Sarah on 1870 US ]<1868>, Ella age 5, John age 3

9. Residence 1880, 1 Jun 1880, Christiania Twp, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁶¹⁶² John Johnson household: John age 44, Ingebor age 45, Tollef age 14 <1866> [likely Ole], Sissel M age 12, Ellie J [Ella] age 10, John A age 8, Elia age 4, Theodor age 1

10. Residence, 1885, 1 May 1885, Christiania Twp, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁶¹⁶³

11. Residence, 1900, 1 Jun 1900, Christiania Twp, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁶¹⁶⁴ John J Egge (age 64, born July 1835 in Norway; married 34 years <1866>; in US for 39 yrs, emigrated in 1861; owns farm) and Ingeborg (age 65, born May 1835 in Norway); in US for 41 yrs, emigrated in 1859; mother of 8 children, 5 living.

Note: dwelling 67 and family 69 is son, John J Egge and Martha household.

12. Residence 1905, 1 Jun 1905, Christiania Twp, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁶¹⁶⁵ John J Egge age 69 and Mrs Ingeborg age 70

13. Residence 1910, 15 Apr 1910, Christiania Twp, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁶¹⁶⁶ John Johnsen Egge (Sr), age 75 married 44 years, born in US; emigrated 1865 [?], retired farmer. Ingeborg (recorded as Engenberl ???; family search as indexed name as Engebert), wife age 75 married 44 years, mother of 8 children with 5 living; born in Norway; emigrated 1865 [? her actual immigration was more likely in 1858; she left Togla Norway in Mar 1858 ]

14. Residence - 1920, 1 Jan 1920, Windom, Cottonwood Co, Minnesota, United States. ⁶¹⁶⁷ Ingeborg Egge was 84 years old and is recorded as a Widow. She owned her home in Windom (a town about 10 kms or so north of the farm in Christiania Twp). Emigration as 1857 (actually she left Tolga parish in Norway on 21 Mar 1858).

Ingeborg married Tollef Olsen Slaabakken on 8 May 1860 in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States.¹⁹⁷ (Tollef Olsen Slaabakken was born on 28 Jan 1828 in Tolga, Hedmark, Norway ¹⁹⁴ and died between 14 May and 30 Jun 1862 in United States ¹⁹⁵.)

Ingeborg next married John Johnson Egge in 1866 in Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States.¹⁹⁵ (John Johnson Egge was born on 12 Aug 1835 in Vestre Slidre, Oppland County, Norway ^195,6168, baptized on 6 Sep 1835 in Slidre, Oppland County, Norway,⁶¹⁶⁸ died on 5 Jan 1913 in Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States ^195,6169 and was buried in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Bergen, Jackson Co, Minnesota, United States.)