Looking for emigrant Susan B. Nelson

Printed from: Norway Heritage Community
Topic URL: http://www.norwayheritage.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6276
Printed on: 26/09/2025

Topic:

Topic author: Ron Iverson
Subject: Looking for emigrant Susan B. Nelson
Posted on: 23/06/2015 05:56:34
Message:

According to a history compiled for my family, this person was born in Norway about 1848 and emigrated with her family from Christiania to the USA at age 11.

Wonder whether she appears on any passenger list. Digitalarkivet emigrantar records don't go back that early.

I believe I have found her in the 1870 census in Janesville, Wisconsin. In 1872 in Wisconsin she married Hans Christian Tweedt, my great-grandfather's brother.

Replies:

Reply author: Hopkins
Replied on: 23/06/2015 16:05:44
Message:

The 1900 US federal census lists this woman with vastly different year of birth and year of emigration.

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 23/06/2015 16:37:17
Message:

Probably the record the poster refers to from the 1870 US Census.

Susan Nelson
in the 1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Susan Nelson
Age in 1870: 22
Birth Year: abt 1848
Birthplace: Norway
Home in 1870: Janesville Ward 3, Rock, Wisconsin
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Janesville
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
A P Richard 43
Agusta E Richard 28
Chartollert Richard 4
Lyman B Richard 2
Abbie Dearborn 50
Susan Nelson 22

A family tree states that this Susan Nelson married Hans C. J. Tweedt in 1872 in Waupaca, Wisconsin.

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 23/06/2015 16:59:46
Message:

Probably the family in the 1880 US Census.

Susan Tweed
in the 1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Susan Tweed
Age: 28
Birth Year: abt 1852
Birthplace: Norway
Home in 1880: Nez Perce, Idaho
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Hanson Tweed
Father's Birthplace: Norway
Mother's Birthplace: Norway
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeping House
Household Members:
Name Age
Hanson Tweed 34
Susan Tweed 28
Carl Tweed 7
Emma Tweed 5
Lewis Tweed 1

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 23/06/2015 17:06:20
Message:

Interesting discussion of the family on this site.

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Christiansen-420

And here

https://familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=33737&disp=A+Norwegian+and+American+family+-+Myks

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 23/06/2015 17:37:02
Message:

At a different family tree the owner lists this record as being the arrival of Susan Nelson

Susanne Niledatter
in the Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
Name: Susanne Niledatter
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Birth Year: abt 1848
Date of Arrival: Jun 1866
Vessel: Dei Gratia
Search Ship Database: Search for the Dei Gratia in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: Canada

The ship

http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_year.asp?ye=1866

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 23/06/2015 18:00:02
Message:

I suppose it is possible that Susan Nelson was from Hordaland and knew the family of Hans Tweedt before they were married. However there is no Susan or variant of that name in the NHDC 1865 Norwegian Census for Hordaland. There are two candidates from Manger, which is close to Myksvoll the area where the family of Hans is supposdely from.

A Søgni Nilsdatter born 1852
http://www.rhd.uit.no/folketellinger/ftliste_e.aspx?ft=1865&knr=1261&kenr=003&bnr=0056&lnr=000

A Steffine K Nilsdatter born 1847
http://www.rhd.uit.no/folketellinger/ftliste_e.aspx?ft=1865&knr=1261&kenr=012&bnr=0092&lnr=000

Reply author: Ron Iverson
Replied on: 23/06/2015 18:24:24
Message:

There is something intriguing about this woman and her husband...may be of interest to any posters with feminist views. After bearing 15 CHILDREN, Susan was divorced by husband Hans in the early 1900s, according to 1910 census entries. She seems to disappear from records until her death notices in 1925, in Washington state. Hans retires, moves to Hawaii, marries a woman 50 years younger than himself, lives into his late 80s.
A privately-published history of my family extolls the successes of Hans Tweedt and descendants but makes no mention of the divorce etc. No offense intended to anyone living but there may be an interesting story hidden here.

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 23/06/2015 21:00:14
Message:

One of Anton's links is to a story in which Susan's parents are named John & Amelia Nelson in Waupaca county, Wisconsin. If this is true, in Norway Susan's name would more than likely be a Jonsdatter rather than a Nelson.

What name is Susan found under in the Washington state death index since she died there in 1925? Sometimes parents are named in the online transcriptions.

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 24/06/2015 00:22:48
Message:

Can not find Susan in Washington State Death Index.

Here is a John and Seina Nelson living in Waupaca County Wisconsin in 1880. Amelia is a daughter.

Seina Nelson
in the 1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Seina Nelson
Age: 37
Birth Year: abt 1843
Birthplace: Norway
Home in 1880: Iola, Waupaca, Wisconsin
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: John Nelson
Father's Birthplace: Norway
Mother's Birthplace: Norway
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Keeping House
Household Members:
Name Age
John Nelson 47
Seina Nelson 37
Nels Nelson 11
John Nelson 9
Amelia Nelson 7
Gena Nelson 5
Edwin Nelson 3

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 24/06/2015 00:28:53
Message:

Here is the closest I found for a death certificate for a person dying in 1925 in Washington State.

Susan Tiviedt
in the Washington, Select Death Certificates, 1907-1960
Name: Susan Tiviedt
Gender: Female
Age: 66
Estimated birth year: abt 1859
Death Date: 27 Feb 1925
Death Place: Medical Lake, Spokane, Washington
Burial Date: 28 Feb 1925
Burial Place: Spokane, Wash.
FHL Film Number: 2022255
Reference ID: 65

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 24/06/2015 01:54:32
Message:

Bummer, no parents named on the transcription:
http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/83B8A8B86D08375A1AFF72F39C19425F

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 24/06/2015 02:01:59
Message:

Looks like the reason she disappeared from view is that she was in an inmate in a hospital.

Susan Tweedt
in the 1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Susan Tweedt
Age: 60
Birth Year: abt 1860
Birthplace: Norway
Home in 1920: Espanola, Spokane, Washington
Street: Eastern State Hospital
Race: White
Gender: Female
Immigration Year: 1870
Relation to Head of House: Inmate
Marital Status: Married
Father's Birthplace: Norway
Mother's Birthplace: Norway
Native Tongue: Norwegian
Able to Speak English: Yes
Naturalization Status: Naturalized
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes

And she was there in 1910 as well

Mrs Susan Twreide
in the 1910 United States Federal Census
Mrs
[Mrs Susan Twreide]
[Mrs Susan Mrs Tweede]
Age in 1910: 48
Birth Year: abt 1862
Birthplace: Norway
Home in 1910: Espanola, Spokane, Washington
Race: White
Gender: Female
Immigration Year: 1870
Relation to Head of House: Inmate
Marital Status: Married
[Widowed]
Father's Birthplace: Norway
Mother's Birthplace: Sweden

Reply author: Ron Iverson
Replied on: 24/06/2015 03:54:51
Message:

jk marler and lyndal40 I believe you have found her. Eastern State is a mental hospital...explains why she was not living in old age with one of her many children, and why mention of her stops in our published family history, which tends to gloss over all negatives.

As always I can only shake my head in wonder at the detective skills of you NHForum veterans.

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 24/06/2015 05:29:01
Message:

Here's a wikipedia about the Eastern State Hospital:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_State_Hospital_%28Washington%29

Reply author: vivi
Replied on: 24/06/2015 13:53:31
Message:

Hi

Is it possible to verify the birth-year of Susan?
Difficult to look for a girl with a norwegian variation of the name Susan born somewhere between 1848 and 1862 to unknown parents.
She might have used Nelson because she was the daughter of Nils/Nels/Niels or she might have used her father's surname - many did so in US.

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 25/06/2015 02:22:21
Message:

In the original subject Susan is ascribed a B middle initial what record does that come from?

Reply author: JaneC
Replied on: 25/06/2015 05:02:06
Message:

Can't speak to Ron's sources - but transcription of son Louis's death record at Washington State Digital Archives shows mother Susen B. Nelson:
http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/3EA659BF026C1DDC567F94312FE4D050


I haven't seen the 1900 census. That would add a month of birth, as well as another notation of her immigration year. A Myksvoll Family history website calls her Susanna Sarah Nelson (I'll search and post if I find it again). I think the site creator mentioned Earl Allen Tweedt as a source (born 1899, he may not have known his mother well). Nothing on parents but Johan and Amelia Nelson. My interpretation of Susanna Sarah is of two American versions of one first name, rather than a middle name added to Susan. Just a guess of course.

Back with the Myksvoll family website:
http://www.remmick.org/Hubert.Vikings/Page12.html

And here: http://www.remmick.org/Hubert.Vikings/Page17.html

Checking originals of Susan's marriage and death records are obvious next steps, but often when there's no blood relationship these purchases aren't high on the to-do list.

The Wisconsin Historical Society online genealogy index does not include an 1872 marriage record in Waupaca county, not that I found anyway. Seems to me many other times we've found that index to be incomplete. So we don't know the source yet for that, which would be the earliest sighting of Susan. The family tree passenger manifest 1866 for Susanne Niledatter might be a stab in the dark by the tree creator, unless the original shows her traveling with parents Johan and Amelia (and how could it? She should be Johansdatter or similar).

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 25/06/2015 14:28:54
Message:

Here is a long shot possible on NorwayHeritage site Synneve Johannesdatter Vigoren #141 age 13 arriving 1867:
http://norwayheritage.com/p_list.asp?jo=274&ps=54258

One of 257 Syn* Jo* born 185*, here she is on Vigoren in 1865:
http://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no/ft/person/pf01038253000385

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 25/06/2015 16:19:39
Message:

Her arrival, nothing of note in the original manifest.

Synneve Johannesen
in the Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
Name: Synneve Johannesen
Gender: Female
Age: 13
Birth Year: abt 1854
Date of Arrival: May 1867
Vessel: Brodrene
Search Ship Database: Search for the Brodrene in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: Canada

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 25/06/2015 16:33:45
Message:

quote:

---

I haven't seen the 1900 census. That would add a month of birth, as well as another notation of her immigration year

---

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 25/06/2015 23:31:24
Message:

The family of Hans in the 1865 Norwegian Census.

NHDC 1865

Reply author: JaneC
Replied on: 26/06/2015 00:18:32
Message:

quote:

---

Originally posted by jkmarler

Here is a long shot possible on NorwayHeritage site Synneve Johannesdatter Vigoren #141 age 13 arriving 1867:
http://norwayheritage.com/p_list.asp?jo=274&ps=54258

One of 257 Syn* Jo* born 185*, here she is on Vigoren in 1865:
http://digitalarkivet.arkivverket.no/ft/person/pf01038253000385

---

Reply author: JaneC
Replied on: 26/06/2015 00:40:35
Message:

Hans C J Tweedt - the following poking at him didn't help, but it's possible that in one of the family members birth, baptism, confirmation, marriage, death record etc. some additional snip of a clue might be found.


1910
Kennewick, Benton, Washington
H C Tweedt 70 b abt 1840 Norway, divorced, to USA 1853, county road commissioner
Sarah May Tweedt 15 b Idaho
Earl Tweedt 10 b Idaho
C G Tweedt 28 b Idaho
Ethel M Tweedt 25 [26] daughter-in-law, b Idaho
Kenneth Tweedt 1 [1 1/12] b Washington, grandson


Here's the woman he's said to have married:

1900
Makawao, Maui, Hawaii Territory
Henry Long 40 b Hawaii
Mary K Long 29 b Hawaii
Eva Long 3 adopted daughter, b Jan 1897 Hawaii, father b Sweden, mother b Hawaiian Islands, race: Polynesian Hawaiian (Polynesian)


A trip departing Honolulu, Hawaii, on the Wilhelmina
Destination San Francisco
Arrival 28 June 1922
includes the birth date of Hans - I was curious:

Hans Tweedt age 75, b 29 Nov 1846 Norway, naturalized at Lewiston, Idaho 1880, address in the United States is Honolulu
Eva Tweedt age 25 b 12 June 1897 in Honolulu



So Susan had long been living in an institution by the time Hans married Eva (presuming they've not been married too many years before this trip)

1920
Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii Territory
Nano Tweedt 73 married, b abt 1847 Norway, immigration 1886
Eva Tweedt 22 b Hawaii, married, father b Sweden mother b Hawaii

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 27/06/2015 08:57:58
Message:

Hans' 2nd marriage:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FW8H-8BV

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 27/06/2015 10:29:22
Message:

In a series of notices published in Oct -Nov 1906, Susan is listed as "an insane person" and Hans has been appointed as of 6 Aug 1906 guardian of her estate:
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093029/1906-11-09/ed-1/seq-8/#date1=1836&index=2&rows=20&words=TWEEDT+Tweedt&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=Washington&date2=1922&proxtext=tweedt&y=12&x=18&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 28/06/2015 03:12:27
Message:

I wonder if this is not Susan Nelson in the 1870 US Census living in Waupaca, Wisconsin. Looking at the orginal census form I would say the transcriber misread Nelson as Helson. Father is John Nelson and birth year is correct for some of what we know.

I think the Susan Nelson in Rock County is just too far from Waupaca to have been married in Waupaca in 1872.

Susan Helson
in the 1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Susan Helson
Age in 1870: 18
Birth Year: abt 1852
Birthplace: Norway
Home in 1870: Scandinavia, Waupaca, Wisconsin
Race: White
Gender: Female
Post Office: Scandinavia
Value of Real Estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
John Helson 54
Lucy Helson 54
Elizabeth Helson 20
Susan Helson 18
Andrew J Helson 15
Louisa Jenson 25

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 28/06/2015 08:13:49
Message:

Excellent find Anton!

Here is a link to the image of the 1870 page at familysearch. Familysearch transcribed the name as Nelson but looking at the original one can see how an H might be found instead of an N:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNSX-K7H

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 28/06/2015 15:47:44
Message:

Here is part of the article Anton linked to earlier:

"Hans C. J. Tweedt was born in Bergen, Norway, on November 29, 1846, being the son of Christian J. and Anna (Seim) Tweedt, large farmers in that country. Our subject received a good education and at the age of seventeen years started for himself. Three years later, 1866, he came to America, and spent two years in the vicinity of Madison, Wisconsin, working and then went to Wausau, in the same state, where four years were spent in the timber in 1874 Mr. Tweedt came to Marion County, Oregon, purchased a farm and tilled the soil there until 1877, when he came to his present location, one and one-half miles northeast from Genesee, this being Nez Perces County then. He took a homestead and soon began to add further land by purchase until he now owns five hundred and sixty acres, which is abundant in producing crops, giving as high as eleven thousand bushels in one year. Mr. Tweedt has a fine twelve-room residence, large barn, forty by eighty, with plenty of substantial out buildings, and a blacksmith shop, while a fine orchard and other tasty and valuable improvements make his home one of rural beauty and comfort. On an adjoining farm he has good buildings also. Mr. Tweedt has thirty head of cattle and plenty of stock and utensils for his large estate, and is one of the most progressive and skillful men of the county. In political matters, Mr. Tweedt has always taken an active interest and in 1898 the people called him to serve in the responsible position of county commissioner, running on the Republican ticket against A. Beardsley on the Fusion ticket and gaining the day by a handsome majority. Also the school interests have gained by his service on the boards. In 1872 Mr. Tweedt married Miss Susana, daughter of John and Amelia Nelson, of Waupaca County, Wisconsin, and they have become the parents of fifteen children, five of whom are dead and ten living, as follows: Carl J., living in Nez Perces County on a fine farm of one quarter section; Emma B., attending the normal and at present teaching school; Louis A., a student at the Idaho University, from which he will graduate in 1903; Christ G., at home; Fred, at home; Annie C., a student at the university; George E., Henry E., Sarah M., Earl A., the last four also at home...."

The reason I bolded the Marion county, Oregon detail is that there is a John Nelson b abt 1816 Norway living in Marion county in 1880. A few ripples on other details but....

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCL-1CF

John Nelson Self M 64 Norway
Emma Nelson Wife F 65 Germany
L Andrew Nelson Son M 25 Germany

District: 84 , Sheet Number and Letter: 98A , GS Film Number: 1255082 , Digital Folder Number: 004243850 , Image Number: 00541
Citing this Record

"United States Census, 1880," Database with images, FamilySearch (: accessed 28 June 2015), John Nelson, Abiqua, Marion, Oregon, United States; citing enumeration district 84, sheet 98A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1082; FHL microfilm 1,255,082.

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 28/06/2015 16:39:51
Message:

Great find Jackie, And in the orginal on Ancestry.com the birth place of Emma and L. Andrew is not Germany but Bergen.

Emma Nelson
in the 1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Emma Nelson
Age: 65
Birth Year: abt 1815
Birthplace: Birgen
Home in 1880: Abiqua, Marion, Oregon
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: John Nelson
Father's Birthplace: Birgen
Mother's Birthplace: Birgen

Reply author: jkmarler
Replied on: 29/06/2015 22:36:21
Message:

Another thing is that Amelia and Emma are very similar names.

Reply author: AntonH
Replied on: 30/06/2015 00:04:03
Message:

Here is a possible arrival of John Nelson. The family consists of two parents and three children, one male two females or maybe two more older children 20 and 16, male and female, not quite clear. . The age of the female parent is not quite right. listed at 40, a little young.

John Nilsen
in the Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
Name: John Nilsen
Gender: Male
Age: 51
Birth Year: abt 1815
Date of Arrival: May 1866
Vessel: Roska
Search Ship Database: Search for the Roska in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: Canada

The Norway Heritage website lists John Nilsen and seven passengers. John and female age 40 and three older children and three younger children. See number 50 and below. So maybe not the right one? Also did not leave from Bergen.

http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_list.asp?jo=1613

This is probably this family in the 1865 Norwegian Census. In Telemark.

http://www.rhd.uit.no/folketellinger/ftliste_e.aspx?ft=1865&knr=0827&kenr=007&bnr=0013&lnr=000

And probably them leaving Telemark in 1866. See number 9 in 1866.

http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:kb_read?idx_kildeid=5963&idx_id=5963&uid=ny&idx_side=-375

It wold be a stretch to connect this family with the Susan Nelson family in Wisconsin.

Reply author: Ron Iverson
Replied on: 30/06/2015 21:53:45
Message:

It has been my good fortune that my query attracted the attention of several highly skilled NHF family researchers. So much new information about my family has come to light here.

Another puzzle or mystery, set entirely in Norway, persists in my family history. I have posted it here in the past but it remains unsolved so will try again soon, hoping for help from our expert members.

Ron Iverson

Norway Heritage Community : http://www.norwayheritage.com/snitz/