Florence Lillian Anderson

  Research Notes:

Summary [written by Rueben D Grue, 3 Feb 2021]

Florence Lillian Anderson was the oldest child of William A Anderson and Caroline Lena Johnson. Her given name on historical records is recorded as either Florence or Lillian and only on a couple records, both are recorded.

Florence was married 3 times, as I have indicated below. Her first marriage to Robert Christie was in 1921 when she was 16 years old.
They had 3 children, all born in Koochiching Co. Florence Lillian and Robert divorced sometime between 1927 and 1930.

In 1937, Florence Lillian married Clarence Jornlin. He had been previously married and had at least 2 children. He died in 1959.
Florence Lillian married again in 1974 to Orin Tollefsrud who died in 1991. Florence Lillian died in 1992.

It appears that Florence Lillian lived all of her life in Koochiching Co, with her adult years at International Falls.


Modified Chronological Record:

Florence Lillian, b 17 Mar 1906, Wright Co; died 17 Nov 1992, International Falls, Koochiching Co, MN
1st Married: 27 Oct 1921, Koochiching Co, MN, but divorced
Robert Christie, b 20 Jul 1897 in Soo Ste Marie, MI; died 19 May 1971, Astoria, OR

Children: *
Clarence Leroy Christie, b 1 Feb 1922, Koochiching Co; died 13 Apr 1992 Koochiching Ci;
married 10 Oct 1946, Koochiching Co, to Alma DeMarchi, 1923-1999. One son
Helen Ramona Christie, 27 Feb 1925, Koochiching Co; died 29 May 2010, Sonoma Co, California
married married 21 Dec 1946, Koochiching Co, to Vern Craig Valentine, 1924-1996. 4 Children
Marilyn Ione Christie, 15 Sep 1926, Koochiching Co; died 1 Aug 2011, Hibbing, St Louis Co, MN
married 28 Feb 1946, Koochiching Co, to Sulo Kalle Itkonen, 1910-1963. 5 Children

Florence
2nd Marriage: 29 Sept 1937, Koochiching
Clarence G Jornlin, 6 Jan 1896 Brookings SD, died 1 May 1959 at St Louis Co, MN
3rd Marriage: 2 Oct, 1974, Koochiching; Orin Tollefsrud, b 22 Sep 1902, Clay County, MN; died 21 Feb 1991, International Falls,
Koochiching Co, MN

* children births from MNHS birth index; marriages on MN official Marriage index (MOMS...). Other information from a variety of sources, as indicated below.

findagrave: There are 2 findagrave posts:
180470993: name as Lillian "Florence" Anderson Tollefsrud ; no burial - but a note, "cremated"
192248747: name as Lillian Tollefsrud; gravemarker name: Lillian Jornlin Tollefsrud

MOMS .... Koochiching 27 Oct 1921; Robert Christie
MOMS .... Koochiching 29 Sept 1937; Clarence G Jornlin and Florence L Christie
[Clarence G Jornlin 1st marriage - likely in South Dakota]
MOMS .... Koochiching 2 Oct, 1974; Orin Tollefsrud and Lillian Jornlin
[Orin Tollefsrud 1st marriage on 9 Jun 1929 to Elma B Kennedy]

2. First Lutheran Church (Bethel) at International Falls; image 178
27 Oct 1921: Robert Christie age 24, from Loman, MN and Florence Lillian Anderson, age 16 from Loman
image 166: birth/baptism, Clarence Leroy (Christie), b 1 Feb 1922 from Loman; Robert Christie and wife Lillian (she a member)
** image for years 1925 and 1926 missing; 1924 is recorded with image 126 and then the next page jumps to 1927 ???

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554877-00449?pId=30296899

3. 1930/1940 US Census

1930 US Census, International Falls, Koochiching Co, ED 36-21; sheet 9A; dw 168, fam 178, line 14
Clarence G Jornlin, age 34 widow
brother, Martin O, age 28, single
son Cecil O age 11
dau, Nadine T H, age 5
then,
Lillian F Christie, servant, age 24; divorced [her children with her mother]

*
1940 US Census, International Falls, Koochiching Co, ED 36-19A; sheet 1A and 1B; line 36
Clarence G Jornlin, age 44 born in S Dakota; same place 1935 pipe fitter, papermill
wife Florence, age 34, b in MN; same place 1935
son Cecil, age 21 b in MN; scaler in finishing room, paper mill
daughter, Nadine, age 15 b in MN [abt 1915] [sp on MNHS birth, Frila Nadine Journlin, b 8 Jul 1924]
Clarence Christie, step-son age 18 [high school, 3 yrs]; same place 1935
Helen Christie, step-daughter, age 15
Marilyn Christie, step-daughter, age 13
findagrave for Clarence Jornlin, b 6 Jan 1896, died 1 May 1959 at St Louis Co
and buried at Forest Hill Cemetery at International Falls, Koochiching Co
id, 143235318; 1st marriage to Clara N Johnson, b 6 Mar 1898 in MN (maybe JohansI=on)
died 30 Oct 1925, Koochiching Co and buried at Marshall Co, MN

4. Additional information regarding daughter Helen Ramona

Adams FT on Ancestry; [samueljayadams]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/87013688/person/46557338938/facts
- names husband and 4 children
* Helen Ramona married ... Vern Craig Valentine
obit: Legacy.com
- died 29 May 2010 at age 85; in a car accident, from Rodeo
- mother of 5 children - but they are not named
Published in Contra Costa Times from Jun. 3 to Jun. 5, 2010.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/eastbaytimes/obituary.aspx?n=helen-valentine&pid=143294065

** the family FT notes that Helen Ramona Christie's mother was Florence Jornlin b 1906 and links to a 1940 US Census for Koochiching - as I have indicated above. BUT then this FT links to another 1940 census for Chicago and then with head of household as William J Christie and a daughter Helen D. Christie age 15 [1925] AND records this William J Christie as Helena Ramona Christie's father ?????? - this doesn't make sense

Another FT, Valentine FT [Allison Vallentine]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/80272428/person/46421025969/facts
- records Lillian Christie and her parents - William Anderson and Caroline Johnson (and her parents)
BUT records Lillian married to Clarence Christie, b 1896 in SD and references 1940 US Census for Clarence Jornlin and Florence
- but this isn't correct
- the above FT only records daughter Helen ... married to ...Valentine

- Vern Craig Valentine born 24 Oct 1924 at South International Falls,

There is a brief obit for : Helen R Valentine
- only name, death, mother of 5 with grandchildren - NO names are noted
https://www.ifallsjournal.com/multimedia/photos/helen-r-valentine-85/article_58488023-167e-5bb1-b6ea-cf49b19493b5.html

- another FT re; Vern Graig Valentine;
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/120785887/person/132002267524/facts


5. Additional information, Robert Christie.

Most of the Family Trees on Ancestry only include his name, and no other information. One FT noted that he was born in MI and this lead me to research him a bit more. Many times I have found the with the Ancestry data, you can start searching with a name and approximate birth year and ideally a location of birth. By clicking on some of the 'hits', other possible records are noted and then I can start to confirm more information about the person. This was the case with Robert Christie. After recording the following, I found the marriage record in the First Lutheran Church records at International Falls.

Robert Christie - I haven't found conclusive proof, but I think this is the right person:
- dates of birth and location matches; as well as the ages at marriage and place matches

In the 1900 US Census the family was living at Bruce, Chippewa Co, MI
and Robert's birth at Jul 1897
AND findagrave, id 146802392; Astoria, Clatsop Co, OR; Greenwood Cemetery
b 20 Jul 1897 at Chippewa Co, MI; died 19 May 1971, likely Astoria OR
-- and looking at OR Death Index, 1898-2008
Robert Christie, died 19 May 1951; age 97; spouse Cora Alvira died 13 Jul 1977

US WW 2 draft; registered 24 Apr 1943
Robert Christie, b 20 Jul 1897 in Soo Ste Marie, MI
living at Internation al Falls, Koochiching MN
contact: Mrs Mary Pullian Box 63 Altoona Washington

US WW 1 draft; registered 24 Aug 1918
Robert Christie, b 20 Jul 1897, Soo Ste Marie, MI;
living at Bannock, MN; works for father, John Christie, Bannock

1920 US Census, Bannock Twp, Koochiching Co, MN; ED 42; sheet 5A, dw 75, fam 76
family of John Christie, age 54, b in New York
wife, Tinnie [Jennnie] age 46, b in Michigan
..
Robert, son, age 22 [1898] b in MI; farm worker - likely with his father

then:
1930 US Census, Bayport, Washington Co, MN ED 004; sheet 6A
line 27, Robert Christie, age 32 b in MI; divorced; prison farm
and in 1940 MN State prison, line 45. Robert Christie age 42 b in MI
but in Apr 1935 lived at International Falls, Koochiching Co, MN

++ 1925 plat for the above areas on historical map works
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/1603798/Koochiching+++Bannock++Watrous++Indus++Rapid+River++Rainy+River++Township+158+Ranges+27+and+28/Minnesota+State+Atlas+1925c/Minnesota/

- enlarge - on the bottom right area, but section 27 is Nels Alstermark and E P Johnson and then section 26, [N] Anderson
AND then using the same map page, move to the left and there is an area of Bannock Twp and on Section 28 is J Christie - likely the father of Robert Christie who had married Florence Lillian Anderson

Florence married Robert Christie on 27 Oct 1921 in International Falls, Koochiching Co, Minnesota, United States. (Robert Christie was born on 20 Jul 1897 in Chippewa Co, Michigan, United States and died on 19 May 1971 in Astoria, Oregon, United States.)

Florence next married Glarence G Jornlin on 29 Sep 1937 in Koochiching Co, Minnesota, United States. (Glarence G Jornlin was born on 6 Jan 1896 in Brookings, Brookings Co, South Dakota, United States and died on 1 May 1959 in St Louis Co, Minnesota, United States.)

Florence next married Orin E Tollefsrud on 2 Oct 1974 in Koochiching Co, Minnesota, United States. (Orin E Tollefsrud was born on 22 Sep 1902 in Clay Co, Minnesota, United States, died on 21 Feb 1991 in International Falls, Koochiching Co, Minnesota, United States and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, International Falls, Koochiching Co, Minnesota, United States.)