Thorson/Ois/Thoresen?
tobiano65	I am searching for information on my gg-parents, Otto and Mary Thorson, who came from Norway (1880 and 1881/4 respectively). In the 1900 Census for Michigan, they used the surname "Ois" and after that used the surname "Thorson". Some of the children used "Thorsen", but most used the spelling "Thorson". They had at least two children born in Norway, Charles/Charley about 1879 in January and Josephine about 1881 in April, children born in the USA were Fred, George and Anna and there was also a child named Amelia of which we have no information, except that she was a child of Otto and Mary, information from a living child of Fred Thorson. The Census records show that Mary had 6 children, but only 5 were living, we have been unable to find if she actually had 7 or 6, as we know of 6 children that were living. In the Digitalarkivet I have found an Otto Thoresen traveling to Big Rapids, MI in 1880, Big Rapids is the area my Otto and Mary settled in. I also found an Otto (birth place, Eidskog) and Marie (birth place, Ullensaker) Thoresen listed in 1875 in Kristiana and Otto Thoresen in 1865 in Eidskog. The ages are correct for all of these findings, but not knowing Norway, I am unsure I have right Otto and Mary!! On Otto's Death Certificate, his father is listed as "Torrey Olson" and his age at death was 64 years, 10 months, 0 days on March 22, 1913 (date of death). In Census listings, his birth month was listed as March and year of birth as 1849. We have been unable to locate a death certificate for Mary at this time, but she records her birth month as December and year as 1845 in the Census. On some of the children's birth and death certificates, Mary is listed as the mother using the surnames of "Ois", "Olson" and "Oleson", except for the death certificate of Charles, the mother is listed as "Unknown". Any help locating parents, places and years of birth, years of immigration to the US, marriage of Otto and Mary, or any other information would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!! Thank-you.
Brining	Hi There is a Michigan marriage record on LDS for Amelia Swanson [?] but the parents are listed as Otto Thorson and Mary Ohlson. [url="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/IGI/individual_record.asp?recid=500123766135&lds=1®ion=11®ionfriendly=North+America&frompage=99"]Click Here[/url] Possibly she was married before (pretty young for that), or it is a typo. You may be able to tell from the original record. Also there is a christening record for Olava Emilie (Amelia??) on the LDS born to Otto and Mary in Oslo in 1876. [url="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/IGI/individual_record.asp?recid=100235385020&lds=1®ion=12®ionfriendly=Norway&frompage=99"]click here[/url] The records you found sure seem to match. Torrey Olson listed as father matches as an Americanization of Thore Ols. listed in the 1865 census with Otto. I did find a Kristian Thoresen (brother from the 1865 census?) going to Big Rapids. About the only way to prove that this is your Otto is to look at the church records for Eidskog and find any referances to the Otto you found. If you find him married to someone else than it's not but you might find him going to Kristiana or match the birth date The microfilms can be rented at the LDS Carla
Brining	This site [url="http://data.wmgs.org:591/KentCountyObits/FMPro?-db=KentCountyObituaries&-lay=Listing&-format=search.htm&-view"]Click Here[/url] has an obituray database for Kent county and has an Amelia and Sven Erikson and a Mary Thorson listed. There might be information in the Obit if they are the correct ones. Carla
tobiano65	Thank you for your help!!!! That is definately the right Amelia, I was told she married a Swan Erickson and lived in Cadillac, MI., I just couldn't find the info on her. Does the LDS have access to the church records for Eidskog? I haven't been there yet, but do live about 10 minutes from a FHC. Would anyone have any idea of the meaning of the name "Ois"??? A middle name maybe? Thank you again for any help!!!!
tobiano65	Could "Ois" in English be "Aas" in Norwegian??? If so, I have found Mary (Marie) emmigrating from Norway in 1881....at least the ages are right (and ages), although the names are different.
thelebrity	Ois could very well be Aas. At least Ois is not a norwegian name. Ois could also be a misread of Ols. (short for Olsen or Olsdatter).
Brining	Hi Here is the list of films for Eidskog from the LDS [url="http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/fhlcatalog/titlefilmnotesframe.asp?display=titlefilmnotes&titleno=359675&disp=Kirkeb%C3%B8ker++&first=undefined&last=undefined"]Click Here[/url] Carla