There is some "mystery" about John Idso. His granddaughter, my mother-in-law said that no one talked about his life in Norway much at all. He left for America and did what many Norwegians did, took the name of where they lived in Norway for his surname. This board gave me details of his life in Norway, the almost certain fact that his parents were not married to each other. A census shows he lived on a farm located on Idso with his unmarried mother who worked as a "spinner" and they lodged with a family. John's name in Norway was Johan Mikkelsen. Then when he came to America, he changed it. He joined some other Idsos in Iowa in the late 1880's but where they really cousins or just people that lived on Idso Island in Norway? No one really knows.
Why the father of Carl Johan (John Idso) did not marry his mother is not possible to tell - they both lived at the farm Qvelvaagnæs - she was probably a servant. The fact that he was born an "uægte" child is evident from #28 In the column for notes it is stated "begges første leiermål ble garantert av Gunder Larssen datter." - the first "uægte" for both of them garantied by Gunder Larssens daughter. (Gunder Larssen was one of the godfathers.) Michels wife Marthe was 8 years younger than him and came from one of the Jørpeland farms.
John M Idso and Grethe Gabrielsdotter Melling
Posted - 31/01/2007 : 00:55:17
