Beret Sofie Mikkelsdtr Midtdal ¹⁰⁵⁸

  Research Notes:

Note: see John Midtdal's book, Tufsingdalen .... page ... 392
she married Lars Mikkelsen Sylen, b 1830 and the family travelled to North America, 1870
Some researchers have used "Sylen" as a family surname, but there is no direct evidence that the family used this as a surname - it is most likely the name of the farm they lived at before leaving Norway. Some researchers have also used a spelling variation, "Sylplads"

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- Lars Mikkelson (Syl) and Berit Sophie Mikkelsdatter Midtdal were second cousins (common ancester was Mikkel Larson, born about 1729

Mikkel Larsen Midtdal [1729-1783] was the father of 6 children:
his 3rd son: Lars Mikkelsen Midtdal [1762-1850], and he a son also named Mikkel Larsen Midtdal, 1793-1877, and this Mikkel Larsen was the father of Berit Sophie Mikkelsdtr Midtdal [1832-1899]
his 4th son: Nils Mikkelsen Midtdal [1765-11841] and his son was Mikkel Nilsen [1797-1869], and Mikkel Nilsen was the father of Lars Mikkelsen [Sylen], 1830-1922

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See myPC - Lars Mikkelson folder for some photos.
Path: C:\\Users\\ruebe\\OneDrive ... z-Grue Family History - photos ... see 'Pictures icon', left side
[I should be moving all historical type of photos to the above path ... since 'z-Grue ...'] folder is uploaded to google drive .. 21 Jan/25]
Also see: "Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County" [ https://hcsmuseum.pastperfectonline.com/Photo?search_criteria=Mikkelson&onlyimages=false ]. There is likely a copywrite restriction - contact the 'society'
- also on the 'home page', there is a collection "Victor and Agnes [Mikkelson] Hanson" archive collection - Agnes was the daughter of Nels and Sophie Mikkelson.....
Location: Hjemkomst Center, 202 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MN 56560
[9 Mar 2024]

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Ancestry Family Trees, re: Lars Mikkelson, b 1830 and family [I have included this in her page, but it could also be on Lars' page]

MikkelsonHayes-2020-02-06 FT [Terrill Hayes]; last access, 25 Feb 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/166913791/person/152165425855/facts
- this fairly comprehensive - he originally had data on rootweb [no longer accessible], and has
posted some family data on 'geni.com'
- this ancestry FT has 12342 Media, but I have not gone through all the pages.
- he as another FT, "Ancestors of LMH"https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/106182238/person/100051962974/facts
Note: I am not sure why he has the 2 FTs, since both records ancestors of Lars Mikkelson, b 1830. Although there are some spelling variations.

Grue/Duncan/Rydeen FT [jmgrue1]; last access, 25 Feb 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/104815480/person/182162740123/facts

Rokke Family Tree [Arthur Britton]; access, 25 Feb 2024
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/160709420/person/322156010325/facts



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1. Birth at: Midtdalen Søndre, Tufsingdalen, Tolga, Hedmark
- parents - Mikkel Larsen and Berit Semunsdatter

.... Røros parish register, no. 681A09 /1845 - 1859, page 61 no 23 [last entry] - moving in records
on 4 Mar 1853, Berit Sofia, age 22 b in Os, going to Mikkel Syl household
** then, about a year and about 8 days later, Berit Sofia [Mikkelsdtr Midtfal] and Lars Mikkelson son of Mikkel Nilsen are married and their marriage is recorded in the Røros parish register
link to moving-in, https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/view/2399/360 ... 16 Mar 2025


2. findagrave records her name as Berit Sofie Mitdalen

They were the parents of 11 children: Ingeborg, Mickel, Lars, Beret, Martin, Gjertru Sophie, Nels, Louise, Nekoline [ but Nekoline is almost certain to the be daughter of Ingeborg Emma Larsdtr, born 185] , Josephine and Mathilda.

The first seven children were born in Norway. The family immigrated to America in 1870


3. Geni.com FT; John Midtdal [at least as a contributer]; page 'private user' ** 12 Dec 2023
** 12 Dec 2023 - using the link below - Beret

Berit Mikkelsdatter Midtdal
https://www.geni.com/people/Berit-Midtdal/6000000006331186755
- again the "Lars Mikkelson family photo about 1888"
- by clicking on the photo itself, it becomes larger and has the following comments:

In this photo:
Louise Tang, Lars Syl Mikkelson, Jr., Lars Mikkelsen Sylen, Sr., Nels Mikkelson, Martin L. Mikkelson, Sophie Gjertrud Mikkelson, Berit Mikkelsdtr. Midtdal, Berit Mikkelson Grue, Berit Sophia Mikkelsdtr. Midtdal, Lars Mikkelson
Location: MN, United States
Description:
Taken in the log cabin homestead of Lars and Berit Midtdal Mikkelsen. Probably about 1888.
Uploaded on: November 30, 2009 at 6:35 PM
From the album "Mikkelson" by "Terrill Grant Hayes"
... Another Family Tree on Ancestry:
Naddy-Herstad Tree_2019 FT [bherbst2] ; access 20 Jan 2025
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/162809747/person/432118695978/facts
.. includes the family photo from Terril Hayes
- note sure of family relationship ... FT owner from WA State
- comment on photo: Naddy-Herstad Tree_2019 FT [bherbst2] ; access 20 Jan 2025
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/162809747/person/432118695978/facts
.. includes the family photo from Terril Hayes
- note sure of family relationship ... FT owner from WA State


BUT FamilySearch FT, id MTLW-N6N
- the above photo with names identified; [contributed by "Barbara 02" - Barb Grahn (nee Grue), 21 Jan 2018]
- I had identified the people before seeing Barb's photo on familysearch

Standing: [left to right], Louise [Tang] Lars M. Jr., Nils M, Martin M
Sitting: Sophie Gertrude, Lars Mikkelson Sr, Berit Sophia, most likely Mathilda [not Berit Mikkelson Grue]
standing in front of Lars sr, unknown

*** in late 2023, I had further reviewed this photo, and I believe that the photo of the person labeled as "Berit Mikkelson Grue" is NOT Correct ... AND / OR ...... the date of 'about 1888' is NOT Correct
Reasons:

1. Berit was married to Thore Grue in 1881. They initially lived at the Tordenskjold Twp, Ottertail Co. In the 1885 MN State census, Thore and Berit, Simon are recorded living in Stony Brook Twp, Grant Co. I have not been able to confirm the date they started living at Stony Brook Twp. However according to the land record, Thore's father had made the initial payment on the land at Stoney Brook Twp at the end of July 1877. It is likely that shortly after they were married in 1881, they started to build dwellings at Stony Brook Twp, or perhaps Thore had been to Stony Brook Twp before their marriage.
2.If this photo was taken around 1888, Berit would have been about 27 years old. The person on the left leanning towards the mother, appears to be younger than 27 years old.
3.On other photos that I have of Berit Mikkelson-Grue, from their marriage photo in 1881 and family photo 1894, it seems that she looks different than on the person in this family group photo.
4.Lars' daughter, Ingeborg was married in 1883 and living in the Lake Park, MN according to the 1885 MN Census. Son Mikkel was married in 1879 and living at Highland Grove Twp, Clay Co. Sons Lars, Martin and Nels were likely living at home.
5. In this photo, 3 adult daughters are noted. Louise did not marry until 1902. The two other daughters at home would have been Gertrude Sophia born in 1866 and Matilda born in 1875. Since Gertrude Sophia is older, she is likely the person sitting to the left of Lars. The person to the right of Berit Sofie is most likely Matilda. If the photo was taken around 1888, Matilda would have been about 13 years old. In the photo she appears to be older than 13. In my view, she appears to be closer to 16 or 17 - if this is the case, then the date of the photo would be closer to 1890 [age 15] or 1891 [age 16] or possibly 1892 [age 16].
6.When I first saw this photo I thought the younger person standing in front of Lars was about age 4. I thought maybe she was Nekoline b 1870 [Nekoline was Lars' grand-daughter - daughter of Ingeborg prior to her marriage to Hartvig Kildahl]. But Nekoline died in 1886. I also thought that she was possibly Lars' daughter, Josephine b 1873. But Josephine died in 1884.
A comment on the Naddy-Herstad FT on ancestry by Laural Bowman [LTMBowman1] made about 2021-22 notes: "...is Mical Kildal. Son of Ingeborg (Emma) and Hartvig. Mical really enjoyed the being on the farm". Laura also mentions that it might be Nels or Ted Grue, sons of Beret and Thorse, but Nels was born in Alberta and Ted / Theodore was born in 1893. Laura also mentions that the boy might be Beret's son Simon - he was born in 1885 and could be a possibilty but it is unlikely, since Beret is NOT in the photo.

If the date for the photo is 1888 or later, then the young person could not be either Nekoline or Josephine.

If the date is closer to 1890-1892, then who is the young person??? The most likely explanation would be another grandchild of Lars, born around 1884-1886. It is difficult to determine the gender, so the most likely contenders would be Kari b 1886, daughter of Lars' son Mikkel. But Kari died in 1887, so it can't be her on the photo. Or possibly Ingeborg's youngest boys Michael b 1884 or Jacob b 1886. Possibly the young person could be Martin/Martinus b in 1888 [son of Mikkel].

I'm not sure if I will ever be able to know for sure of the date of the photo or who the young person is.

Conclusion: 1. the person leaning towards the mother is most likely Mathilda. 2. the date of the photo is most likely later that 1888, and likely between 1890-1892. The young person standing in front of Lars is undetermined.

Written by Rueben D Grue, 29 Feb 2024. ¹⁵²²

Beret married Lars Mikkelson, son of Mikkel Nilsen and Ingeborg Larsdtr, on 12 Mar 1854 in Røros, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway.¹⁵⁷⁸ (Lars Mikkelson was born on 20 Jan 1830 in Røros, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway,¹⁵⁸² died on 24 Jan 1922 in Eglon Twp, Clay Co, Minnesota, United States ¹⁵⁸³ and was buried on 3 Feb 1922 in Solem Lutheran Church Cemetery, Eglon Twp, Clay Co, Minnesota, USA ^1584,1585.)