Bræin immigrant(s) to U.S.
fteleglow	My grandfather's brother, Matthias Olsen Bræin, emigrated to the U.S. (date unknown). He lived and died in Minneapolis (d. 21 Jan 1923) and had a grocery store "Mat O Brain & Son". I don't know who his son or wife were. Also two other family members (nephews?) Sigurd & Christian came over in 1911 and 1901 respectively. I don't know if they ever left again. They were all from Faaberg. Their names show up on Ellis Island as "Brain". When Matthias died in 1923 he was Mathews O. Brain (just goes to show how names change!). Anyway I'm looking for any descendants, although my uncle in Norway says there weren't any. Anybody in Minnesota know of this family? Thanks!
Jo Anne Sadler	I could not find anything for Christian but here is what I found for the rest: 1920 census, MN, Hennepin, Minneapolis, ED 185, page 3B - Sigurd Brain, 34, Emigrated 1894/1899-hard to read), Naturalized 1905, born Norway. Nurse for the railroad. Ada Brain, wife, 34, born Wisconsin. 1930 census, MN, Hennepin, Minneapolis - Sigurd Brain, 44, 29 at first marriage, immigrated 1911, born Norway, First aid attendant for railroad. Addie Brain, 32, 28 at first marriage, born Wisconsin. MN Death Index - http://people.mnhs.org/dci/Search.cfm Siguid Brain, died January 29, 1862, Hennepin County, Mother's maiden name - Balberg. Ada Fay Brain, died July 6, 1849, Hennepin County 1920 census, MN, Hennepin County, Minneapolisy, ED 25, page 7B Mathews O. Brais, 69, Immigrated 1880, born Norway, Dealer Corrine (hard to read), 58, Immigrated-can't read, born Norway Oscar, son, 31, born Minnesota, driver-truck ice Mabel, daughter 25, born Minnesota, sales lady, dept. store MN death index - Oscar Brain, born October 18, 1888, died August 30, 1871, Hennepin County. Mother's maiden name - Simonson. No online indexes for 1900 and 1910 census. You should have enough information to proceed, ie: order death certificates, post on message boards, research the other census'. If his business was "and son" there probably were more chldren. Good luck[:D]
fteleglow	Wow! Thank you for that! I'll have to double check the MN death index - Did Oscar really die before he was born?? I am so impressed with this board - it's my first time posting to anything and it'll be a hard act to follow.
Jo Anne Sadler	Sorry, Oscar died in 1971.[:0] I found a couple of more items.: I was questioning Mathews wife's name, Corrine, didn't sound very Norwegian to me. I found her in the 1930 census: MN, Hennepin, Mpls., ED 27-2, page 4A Karien Brain, 69, own, has radio, emigrated 1894, born Norway. Oscar, son, 41, born Minnesota, electrician, Milling Co. Mabel C., daughter, 31 (?), clerk Oscar was born in 1888 so the 1894 emigration date is questionable. MN Death Index - Karen Brain, died December 14, 1937, Hennepin County. Also, I did a search of the MN Death Index by first name and mother's maiden name and this may be Mabel. Mabel G. Angel, Born August 1, 1894, died March 27, 1978, Scott County, Mother's maiden name - Simonsen (same as Oscar). In the 1920 census, Mabel was 25 and in the 1930 census she was 31.
fteleglow	Thanks again! You know, I posted my original message Wed afternoon before going to Sons of Norway, where I was going to give a talk on genealogy. I told them how I'd posted to this board & was anxiously awaiting results. It was quite a surprise when I got home from the meeting to find a response! I haven't had a chance yet to go back into the MN Death Index - my death certificate for Matthias is en route now, so I may send for some more although we'll see how the exchange rate affects the price. I also found two pictures of his grocery which I'm thinking of ordering. Thanks for looking in the census for me - much appreciated.
thelebrity	I guess that also Sigurd and Ada died in the 1900s instead of the 1800s...§;c)
fteleglow	Ha! I never even noticed that! I'm still waiting for Mat(t)hias' death certificate to come in the mail from Minnesota, then I'll tackle the rest of them. My family in Norway doesn't think there were any children from any of these families but I would love to prove them wrong and find some long-lost cousins...