Nils Sonmor

  Research Notes:

Summary:

Nils Sonmor was my 2 cousin 3 times removed.

His ancestry goes back to my 4th great-grandfather, Niels Evensen Søndmør [1768-1819]. Niels Evensen was the father of my direct line ancestor and 3rd great-grandmother, Kirsti Nisldatter Søndmør [1795-186] and from there to my 2nd great grandmother, Olava Olsdatter Røstbakken [1823-1919] who was married to my 2nd great grandfather, Simon Thoresen Grue, 1823-1903.

A brother to my 3rd great-grandmother, Kirsti Nisldatter Søndmør was Jacob Nilsen Søndmør [1800-1886] and he had a son named Nils Jacobsen Søndmør [1830-1890]. In 1866, Nils and some of his family emigrated from Tolga parish in Norway to North America. They homesteaded in St Olaf Twp, Otter Tail Co, MN. Nils Jacobsen Søndmør had 12 children. Their 9th child was Nils [Nilson] Sonmor, b 1875. I have not researched all of his family in detail.


Most of the Family Trees on Ancestry note Nils Sonmor's birth as 1875, with a few mentioning 26 Sept 1875. The 1900 US Census that records him living with his brother, Knut N Sonmor in Tordenskjold Twp, Otter Tail Co and his birth as Sep 1875.

There are more than 20 Family Trees on Ancestry. Many FTs also do not record his death, although a few record that he died in 1880 - this is not likely correct, since I have him recorded in Whitecourt Alberta in the 1916 Canada Census. And also there is a record of him crossing the US border in 1932 going to his brother Knut Sonmor living near Ferndale, Whatcom Co, Washington. Nel's last permament address was recorded as Whitecourt and neareast relative in Canada was his uncle, E. J. Sonmor, Ardath, SK. I found no other record that he was still in Whitecourt in 1932 - he is NOT recorded in Whitecourt in the 1916, 1921 or 1926 Canada Census [I reviewed page by page, 6 Jun 2023]

The BC death registration likely records him and that he died in 1954 at Terrace BC. But the death cert has very little information, so it is not certain that this is in fact Nils Sonmor, my relative. The main problems are that the death cert says he was born on 26 Sep 1876 in MN, but he was more likely born in Sep 1875. Additionally, the spelling of his surname as "Sonmore", although there are a number of spelling variations of the surname.

I have few other records that record him. But likely the findagrave id 181500872, burial at Terrace is likely correct - died 22 Aug 1954.

See AB Homestead NW¼, sec 35, Twp 59, Range 12 W5th, next to Andrew and Christian Prestlien. He made entry on 25 Oct 1910 and applied for patent on 21 Dec 1916 and his patent letter sent to Whitecourt, 23 Mar 1918
- see file for a summary of his homestead

[I have assumed he came back to BC sometime after the death of his brother in 1936. Note that there is no record of his death the WA State, Death Records, 1883-1860, collection on Ancestry]

[written by Rueben D Grue, 26 Nov 2020 and then revised 24 Jun 2022]
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Nils Sonmor born in 1875 at Dalton MN
- he had homesteaded in Whitecourt Alberta in in the 1911 Canada Census he is recorded in Whitecourt along with Melvin Prestlien and they were cousins

US, Border Crossings from Canada to US, 1895-1960; image 614
- Canada border Crossing (ancestry collection) 13 Sep 1932, Port of Vancouver
- last pernament address - Whitecourt AB
- uncle E J Sonmor at Adot [sp...] SK [Ardath, SK]; this would be Elias J Sonmor at Ardath, SK
- going to brother Knut N Sonmor - living bet Ferndale and Bellingham West
And under 'distinguishing features', "deaf"

the following is unconfirmed [but likely, as of 24 Nov 2020; re name
from Findagrave, id 181500872
Nels Nelson Sonmore
26 Sep 1876 US; died 22 Aug 1954 at Terrace BC
burial: Kitsumgallum Pioneer Cemetery, Terrace [within the town limits]

Gravesite Details: b USA died, Terrace res Basque BC [res must mean residence]
and then BC Death Registration, 1954-09-008588
- died at Terrace Home for the Aged
- lived "in the municipality" for 3 years, 10 months and 19 days ; length of time in the Province or Canada - unknown
- permanment address: Basque, BC [20-25 kms south of Cache Creek/Ascroft - along the river ravine and at one time the center of the historic Basque Ranch - but is also an indigenous reserversation ]
- single
born 26 Sep 1876 in US; died at age 77 yr, 10 mos 27 days; dementia
- informant is the nursing home residence manager - no information on parents etc;

* I don't understand why he would have lived north of Cache Creek, but then went to Terrace and then maybe later to a nursing type of home in Terrace, a distance of about 1000 kms.

5. a. Vokolet FT on ancestry [ Eddie_Vokolet] [ access 24 Nov 2020; still open, 24 Jun 2022 ]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/9794833/person/-742366134/facts?_phsrc=dGT15&_phstart=successSource
- Nils Jacobsen Sonmor, son: Nils b 26 Sep 1875; but has no information on son Nils - this FT not very useful


1900 US Census Tordenskjold Twp, Otter Tail Co, MN; ED 0197, sheet
Knud Sonmor
... wife and children
line 83. Nils Sonmor, brother [to Knud] age 24 b Sep 1875 in Norway


1916 Canada Census (AB, Sk, MB) District Edmonton West, sub 18, page 9, image 9 [ancestry]; line 26
Nelson Sonmor, age 26, b in US; twp 59, range 11; em 1911; log camp ; looks like he is recorded as a lodger at the camp [next person is Anton Olson; line 42 is Christian Prestlien]

Note: Nels Sonmor is NOT recorded on his homestead land, 35- 59 - 11 in 1916; also he isn't recorded in construction camps in 1921] [Christian Prestlien also is NOT recorded in the 1921 or 1926 census]

[ 1921 Canada, Edmonton West, sub district 032, Whitecourt area ]
- Andrew Prestlien recorded on page 4, line 7
[ 1926 Alberta, Peace River South [51] sub - dis 34 ; ]