Melvin Johnson Midtdal

  Research Notes:

1. Freeways West, 1974, page 951 (Wetaskiwin & District "community history book"; Alberta Heritage Digitization Project)

- NW¼ Sec 34, Twp, 45, Range 1 - the land was left to him by his grandparents, John Moen
- farmed until 1925, then moved to Vancouver
- served in the Navy


2. Canadain Soldiers of W W 1

- registered in Calgary, born 10 May 1895 [ wanted / needed to be older to join ??? ]
- address, Westakwin
- next of kin, John Midtal, Battle Lake
- age 22 , born Roros, Norway [ not correct - he was born in at family farm in Tufsingdalen, Os-Tolga, Hedmark ]
- trade - locumotive fireman
- height, 5'7.5"; blue eyes, brown hair, medium complexion

birth conflict ??? 30 May 1898

- Bygdebok for Os - 1898
- 1906 Canada census - about 1898
- 1911 Canada census - March 1897
- WW 1 draft - May 1895
- BC Archives, death cert - born 30 May 1945 (died 30 Mar 1945; age 49)


Conclusion: I have concluded his birth date as 30 May 1898 and recorded this date on the Legacy database. This is because the date corresponds to his birth record in the Norway Parish Records which would have been recorded close to this event.


3. Burial: Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver

4. BC Archives, Death Cert

- Melvin - Reg # 1945-09-660869; Film B13187 (GSU # 2032324) - image on PDF in folder file
- Hertha - Reg # 1985-09-022224; Film B16578


5. 1921 Canada Census Strathcona, sub 17, p 9 ancestry Sec 34, Twp 45, Range 1, W5th


- Melvin, head, age 23<1897-1898>, born in Nor; emigrated 1905, nat 1908; Norwegian .. Lutheran; farmer - own account; owns house of wood construction
- [ ?? - Hertha ], wife age 22 born in Russia; emigrated 1905, nat
- Arthur, son, age 10/12 <1920> months born in AB

- John, father, age 49 born in Nor; emigrated 1905, nat 1908; Norwegian .. Lutheran; retired farmer
- Sofie, mother, age 48 born in Nor; emigrated 1905, nat
- Olava Moen, grandmother, age 81 born in Nor; emigrated 1906; naturalized

6. Ancestry. com - Canada Border Crossing, 2 Jun 1916, Sweetgrass, MT -- John age 22 and Melvin age 19

- contact, Father, John at Battle Lake
- designation as Melby, MT
- John's occupation is recorded as Engine worker...?; Melvin as Rig Foreman

also: Ap 1917 crossing at Blaine WA going to Bellingham - father John Midtdal, Battle Lake; rig firemen ??


Then, in 29 May 1948, crossing at Blaine WA, Beatrice Annie Midtdal traveling with daughter, Marlene Joanne, born 19 Jul 1945 in Vancouver. Traveling to see husband, Arthur Midtdal at 1030 E 47, Chicago; purpose - reside permamently
- her father James Thaw from Vancouver; she was born in 8 Mar 1924 in Nordegg, AB


7. Death Certificate, BC Archives; date of death - 30 May 1945

- residence as 347 Douglas Road, Lulu Island, Richmond, BC
- born 30 May 1895, but birth date in Alberta [??? error];
- age at death, 49 yrs, 10 months; cause of death Pulmonary Tuberculous, with duration of 10 years; died at the Tuberculous Control Unit, Vancouver (no street address recorded)
- retired Saw-mill Foreman
- name of father, mother unknown; informant - son, ??? Midtdal [can't make out the handwriting],


8. Ancestry.com Public Member Tree 'Learie Family Tree owner obdewill' with last logon 23 Mar 2014; no source citations; surety at level 1 - marginal evidence; not clear on family relationship

- records four children, 3 male, 1 female; Arthur and Clarence dates for birth and death

- records Arthur married to Beatrice Thaw, with 3 children, private, female; one married to McDonald who died in 1973; the 2 others, no record of marriage


9. www.geni.com - John Midtdal's data

- indicates birth in 1926 of daughter Marion - no source, no other information; - supports #8, re; 1 female child
^1177,1178

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Military Service: World War I, 1918, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Canada. ¹¹⁷⁹

Melvin married Hertha Grinde in 1919. (Hertha Grinde was born on 26 Sep 1898 in Russia,¹¹⁸⁰ died on 27 Dec 1985 in Surrey, Bristish Columbia, Canada ¹¹⁸⁰ and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada ¹¹⁸¹.)