Sofie and Zakarias Melby - where did they go?
BertaHello! On. June 3rd. 1887, Sofie Melby and Zakarias Melby departs from Kristiania with destination: "Madison". I think their parents name are: Magnus Zachariassen Melleby (Melby) and Karen Thorine Olsen Sofie and Zakarias departure from Norway: http://digitalarkivet.uib.no/cgi-win/webcens.exe?slag=visbase&filnamn=emikra1&brukar=&loc=0&spraak=n&postnr=95660&previous=10 Sofie is listed as 18 years old Zakarias is listed as 10,5 years old. Where it states that: - Their destination is: Madison, - Their "line" is A Sharp - Their Ship is: Angelo - Their trip is prepaid By searching this site, I have found that This is the ship: The Angelo: http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=angel and this is the corresponding ships: http://www.norwayheritage.com/t_corresp.asp?id=2139 I think that they are brother and sister of Richard Melby, who departs the preseeding year: http://www.norwayheritage.com/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1360 But I have no absolute confirmation here. Now. My questions are as follows: 1. Does anyone find them in any censuses in America? 2. Madison is quite the common name for a place as I have figured, but can anyon give me possible clues? 3. Their trip was prepaid, I guess that this makes it possible that they are brother and sister of Richard. But how could he prepay a trip? Any other information about these two people, are of course more than welcome! Berta
BertaI have searched the SSDI and I did not find any of the two. Maybe they died before the regristration there began. Hopkins: You said that there were 153 persons who had Melby as their last name. How many of them are Norwegian? And where is the predominant population located? If it states that the Sofie Melby you found were widowed. Does it say where she married, or how many years she has been a widow? Is she Norwegian? Are her parents Norwegian? Does it say what year she emigrated ? TC Torunn C
BertaHello. I am trying to bring this up again. Maybe somone see my topic and recognise these two. I think that they are brother and sister, so they probably ended up together. But their "paths" may have divided later on of course. Since their emigration was after the 1880-cenus and before the database on "Ellis Island" it is quite difficult to know where to start. But in the 1910 - census, does the names "Sofie Melby" and "zakarias (sakarias, Zacharias) Melby" appear anywhere? I belive that their names are not as common, so maybe I could start of from there? I have not found them, when I have traced Richards journey and life in the USA. So.. I figured maybe somone found any of these two in the 1910 nationwide census? Berta
Rennae MilletteIn my ship list searches I have found that the states are not on the ship destination list. So Madison was probably Madison, Wisconsin. Its just a thought and another way to trace the Melby family Good luck and blessings....
BertaHello Rennea. Thank you for your posting. I have been thinkning that Madison was not a state, but when I did a search on "Madison" on Rootsweb, I got a lot of alternatives, including Madison, Wisconsin. So, that is why I now tried to post here. Maybe somone find them in the census for me. But thank you, again, Rennea for your contribution! Berta
Rennae MilletteHi Berta- I noted your reply to my message yesterday and read again your request for help in finding the Melby family. So I looked at the ship list from Kristiana and noticed that the emigrants on the list were people that come from my area in western Minnesota- Fertile, Warren, Crookston, and there IS a Madison Minnesota!! So the destination may be Minnesota!! Go under www.google.com and put in Madison, Minnesota and you will have options to click on the county where you can request information. This may be where they went!! It makes sense to me!! Good luck, my friend!! Go to Google!!
BertaHello again Rennae ! ( I appoligise for the misspelling earlier) Thank you for your thoughts! I will try and search for them there. I hope that it might help me further on in my search. Do you have acess to the 1910 census? Berta
Rennae MilletteHi Berta- I went online and found the address and phone number for the County Recorder at Lac qui Parle County (Madison, Minnesota). The number is 320-598-3724 and the address is 600 6th Street, Madison, Minnesota, 56256. Neither the 1900 nor the 1910 census for that county were online, but the county recorder should be able to direct you to the right office or county historians for help with your question. Good luck and Blessings......
HopkinsThe 1910 US census index does not indicate ANY Zacharius (and other spelling variations I could think of) Melby. The 1910 census index shows one Sofie Melby - 10 years difference in age from what you say you are seeking. She is a widow living in Brooklyn, NY. Just searching for households headed by Norway born persons named Melby produced 153 responses scattered across 17 different states.
BertaThank you Rennae and Hopkins. Sad that there is no Sofie or Zacharias in the 1910-census whom may be the ones I was looking for. They may have changed their name.. But I forgot to mention that Sofie's middle name was Marie. Maybe I could search the SSDI for them, or they may of course have died before the 1910 cenus. It is almost 30 years. Anyway. Any more information is of course helpful! Berta
Hopkins1910 US census - What I found was 153 HOUSEHOLDS or families where the head of household was born in Norway and was using the surname Melby (I have no idea how many different individuals that would mean - how persons in each family group?) 17 different states - with the largest number being in Minnesota, second largest number in Wisconsin and the third largest in North Dakota. The 1910 US census did not record WHERE anyone was married, or how long a widow. I only recall that the woman's age was at least 10 years different than what you were looking for - and this woman probably became a Melby when she married. Her husband, being dead, is of course not listed at all in the census. So there is no information about him. This woman is 53 yrs old, the immigration year starts with 187...?., she has had 5 children (3 still living in 1910) and an 18 yr old son living in her household.
BertaHopkins! What are her childrens name? This Sophie may be a cousin of the original Sophie I was looking for... Berta
HopkinsI can't read it. It looks like it starts with an H and might be six or seven letters in length.
BertaIt seems that I was too quick with just looking for Sophie and Zacarias. Also another brother, Harald emigrated. ( I did not know that he existed before now) So to recap : This should then be the family: Father: Magnus Melby Mother: Karen Thorine Olsen Children: Sophie Marie Melby born 1869 Richard Ocar Melby, born 1872 Agnes Kathinka Melby, born late 1872 Zacharias Melby born 1874 Inga Signe Melby, born 1876 Harald Melby born 1878. The family moved from Skjeberg in Østfold to the capital Kristiania ( both places in Norway) in 1886. I do not think that there are more children in this family, but I guess that I can be wrong once more. Richard Oscar emigrates in 1886. And I believe that Sophie and Zacharias emigrates in 1887, with destination Madison And now I have found that a Harald Melby emigrates in 1898: He is listed as a "kontorist" which means that he worked in an office. His destination is listed as Minneapolis He travels with the ship "Hekla" which was a transatlantic voyage His trip was prepaid. I have found him in the Ellis Island database and here is what is listed: First Name: Harold Last Name: Melbze Ethnicity: Norwegian Last Place of Residence: Christiania Date of Arrival: May 21, 1898 Age at Arrival: 19 y 5 m Gender: M Marital Status: S Ship of Travel: Hekla Port of Departure: Christiania Manifest Line Number: 0009 So.. I guess I am looking for further information about the members of this family. I do not think the parents emigrated. Berta
BertaI have now gone more into the Ellis Island Record. I just discovered that you can see the whole manifest, and that there was more information which is importent to present: This is what the manifest states: No on List: 9 Name in Full: Harald Melbye Age: 19yrs, 5 Mon Sex: M Marriied or Single: Sgl Calling or Occupation: Clerk Abel to Read: Yes, Write: Yes Natinonality: Norwegian Last Residence: Christiania Seaport for landing in the United States: N. Y. Final destination inthe United States ( State City or Town): Minneopolis, Minn. Whether having a ticket to such final destination: Yes By whom was passage paid: of his sister Wheter in possesion of money, if as wheter more tha $30 usd how much of $30 or less: $18,- Wheter ever before in the United States, and of so, when and where: No Wheter going to join a relative, and if so, what relative, their name and adress: Sister Sofie Klem(??)g Minneapolis, Minnesot Ever in Prison or ?? or supported by charity, if yes, state which: No Wheter a Polygamist: No Wheter under Contract, expr?? or implied in Factor in the United States: No Condition of Health, Mental and Physical: Good. Derformed or Crippled, Nature and Cause: No So this show that Harald was going to his sister Sofie. She is not named Melby, but something starting with Klem..... Can anyone find her in 1910, maybe in Minneapolis, Minn? If so, I can get to a webforum concering their further destiny. It is amazing how you can miss such "goldmines" of information. I have used Ellis Island for a long time, and I have never seen this function before now.. Berta
BertaRennae! It seems that Sofie may have gone to Minnesota after all! So thank you for all help! Berta
BriningIn the 1910 census MELBY HAROLD E age 31born NORW State MN County HENNEPIN Location 11-WD MINNEAPOLIS On the original the E could be a S. Immigrated 1898 Can't read his wifes name. Married 6 yrs. Sons Wil??? age 5 and Lester age 4. Carla
Jo Anne SadlerIn the 1910 census, it appears her name is Olga, born New Hampshire, parents born Sweden. Found Olga Melby in the 1910 and 1920 census in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, widowed, born New Hampshire, sons Waldo H. and Lester G., born Minnesota. The Minnesota Historical Society Death Index has alot of Melby's listed and you can also search by mother's maiden name. http://people.mnhs.org/dci/Search.cfm There is a Harold Melby, died Hennepin County, October 2, 1915. Also, Olga, Waldo and Lester. Death certificates are usually signed by a close relative, getting a copy can give you further clues. Just a note, with a few exceptions, the 1900, 1910 and 1920 census only has a head of household index. Some of the subscription databases are being transcribed to expand the indexes but currently, only the 1880 and 1930 census' have each person indexes. The Social Security death index is only for people who died after 1962, the year they went computerized. Registration started in 1937.
HopkinsPutting in Harold Melby on Rootsweb.com homepage (in the Rootsweb search) returns a Harold Melby, wife named Olga and son named Lester G. Melby (b. 1906-1979). The submitter's name, email address and a source is available through that WorldConnect page on Rootsweb. Lester Melby also appears in the online Minnesota Death Index - where it appears to list his mother's maiden name as Johnson.
BertaThank you very much, Carla, Jo Anne and Hopkins! I will certinaly check out the websites suggested! Carla! It is interesting to see that his name is listed as Harold E. I was looking at a City Directory for Minneapolis in 1909 I find a Harold E Melby that is listed as a bartender. But I couldn't be sure that this was "my " Harold, since I did not know if he still lived in Minneapolis. But I wrote it down. Does the census list his occupation? Jo Anne: Thank you for the name of the wife and the children. I will look at the MHS site. Hopkins: Thank you for your tip, I will follow up on this. I guess I typed Harald instead of Harold when I tried the "Rootsweb" , so that is how much a little letter means... I will check out this path. Berta
BertaI have just gotten an email with some information of an accident in Minneapolis in 1915: This is extrated from Minneapolis Tribune Sunday 10/3/15 page 2 and Minneapolis Tribune, Monday 10/4/15 It states that Hotel Emplye Harold E Melby was hit by an auto. It also states that Harold worked at the Golden West Hotel in Minneapolis. The article also has details about who drove the car and so forth. In the obituary it states that Harold was survived by a widow and two sons and that he was a member of Central Council No. 2, Moders Samritans. This last puzzels me. What could it mean? Berta
Jo Anne SadlerModers Samritans was probably a fraternal organization. Check a Minneapolis city directory for that time and it would list all the social organizations. Yes, in the 1910 census, there was another Harold A. Melby, 39, born Norway, immigrated 1881, born Norway, bartender. Wife Selma, 36, Elenor A. 4 9/12, Bernice, 3/12 born Minnesota. The other Harold Melby's occupation was clerk. You have gotten to the point where you need to get the actual records, death certificates, city directories, etc, You have alot of names that may or may not be related to your family. Getting the death certificate from 1915 should tell you whether or not this is the correct Harold.
BertaThank you for your posting Jo Anne. You suggested that Harold A was a bartender. But in the City Directory, Harold E was a bartender ( from 1909). And the immigration of "my" Harold was in 1898, that would be 17 years difference from the Harold A you menttion. The entry Carla (Brining) is mentioned is more likely to be "my " Harold. But of course. I have to go into the deathcert. of Harold Melby. At MHS I found Harold Melby dead October 2nd 1915, which probably is the Harold who dies in the tragic Auto-accident. So, I do have to go more into this. But I have not yet found any trace of Sofie. But I keep on trying. Thank you everybody who has contributed! Berta
BertaI wanted to update the information regarding this topic: I have recieved the information from the MHS death index: ( regarding Harold: Harold Melby born 10/6/1877 in Norway died 10/2/1915 in Minneapolis. Married. Fathe,r Melby, mother not known, both parents born in Norway. Occupation, clerk. Length of time in place of death, 17 years. Length of time in state 17 years. Residence 2912 East Franklin Ave. Informant, Olga Melby, 2306 E. Franklin. Burial, Laymans, 10/5/1915. Undertaker,N. L. Enger, 412 Cedar ave. So it seems that the Harold I had narrowed in on, was the correct one. Tragically Harold died fairly young. But what happened to his sister, Sofie, and his brother Zacharias? Harold got two children:, Waldo H. Melby, who married Irene and got at least two daughters, Shirley and Linda. and Lester G. Melby, who married Alberta. I have found Lester and Alberta buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery , Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Harolds wife were Olga Johnson. She was born 6/11/1883 in Manchester, New Hampshire and died 11/15/1963 in Minneapolis. Her father was Andrew Johnson and mother: Erika Noren. They were born in Sweden. She had lived 78 years in Minneapolis. She was surivived by two sisters: Mrs. Adelia Fegan, Battle Creek, Mich., and Mrs. Agnes Lundberg, Minneapolis. On the Ellis Island manifest, it says that he is going to his sister "Sofie K??" As I have stated before, I have trouble reading her last name, maybe someone can read it more clearly than me? Here is the link: [url="http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passRecord.asp?FNM=HAROLD&LNM=MELBZE&PLNM=MELBZE&first_kind=1&RF=1&pID=602554070080&MID=00120965920256229184&"]Ellis Island[/url] And I have thought about the issue more than one city that is named "Minneapolis" in Minnesota, is this the case? I have tried searching "ancestry.com" for "sofie melby" and I got a "hit" there. But since I am not a subscriber yet, could someone help me look at this? The hit is in the "New York Passenger Lists 1851-1891". So this is in the range of period which Sofie emigrated from Norway, so maybe there are some information on her and her brother? I hope that someone out there can help me further in my search. I am really grateful for any help! Berta
Jo Anne SadlerWell, Berta, I was born in Minneapolis and do not think there is any other city in Minnesota with this name[:p] I find Sofie as follows: Arriving from Christiania & Copenhagen to the Port of New York on August 30, 1882 on the ship Geiser. Sofie Melby, wife, 25, steerage, destination U.S. Alfred Melby, son, 3 At this time, they would have been processed for immigration at Castle Garden.
BertaJo Anne! First of all, Forgive me for my lack of detailed information on Minnesota geography.... [:)] Second, thank you for your lookup. This could not have been "my" Sofie, since she in 1886 was with her family in Norway. So the search goes on.. Did you look at the Ellis Island Manifest I placed a link to? Berta
kmarshAccording to the 1910 census, a Harold E. Melby (age 31) lived in Minneapolis (Hennipen Co.), Minnesota. Wife: Olga L. (age 26) born New Hampshire, US. and her parents were Swedish. Children: Waldo H age 5 born Minn.; Lester age 4 born Minn. Harold came to the US in 1898, married for 6 years, and was a bartender in a saloon. In 1920, the census lists only Olga and the 2 children. She is the head of the household and teaches music. Also in the same area is a Jens Melby age 27 and Sigrud age 23.
Jo Anne SadlerYes, I looked at the link but I all can guess is - Kleinerberg or Klemerberg[:(]. Maybe it you printed it out; enlarged it, then put a piece of yellow transparency on the copy glass and the enlargement on top and print another copy you may get a better idea of what it says. This works with faint copies too. Sometimes looking at writing upside down and sideways helps.
BertaJo Anne and Kathy: Thank you for the tip! Berta
BertaI am still looking for Sofie Maria Melby. I have been thinking... In 1898, when her brother Harold arrives in the US, he lists her sister Sofie Kl?? as his destination in Minneapolis. This is just two small years before the 1900 Census. So.. she may be listed there. But she is of course not listed as Sofie Melby, but as Sofie Kl... (something.. ) I searched the MHS death certificate database, and I found Sophia Klingberg in Scott county, dead 1919, but I do not really think this is the one I am looking for.. I just can't believe that it is so difficult to find her! Maybe she used "Sophie M." or "Marie".... hmm... I hope that someone can help me to look in the 1900 Census for Sofie Kl... ? Maybe there exists City Directories for the surrounding years? I know that the 1900 and 1910 Census isn't on the Internet, but maybe someone possible could do the lookup for me other ways? other channels. It is so frustrating to sit here in Norway, because it is quite limited to what I can do. Any help is gratfully appriciated! Berta
BertaI have now found that Sophie married Charles Clements. (Clementson) . In the 1900 Cenus of Minneapolis, Sophie Mary Melby and her husband Charles Clementson ( he is a bartender) lives together with their children: Arthir C. Clementson, Hazel F. Clementson, Roy William Clementson and Charles Oscar Clementson. Also living with them is Agnes Melby (immigrated 1891) and Harold E. Melby (bartender) So this is 3 of the siblings. Zakkarias "Sam" is not listed in this household. in 1910 the family lives also in Minneapolis, but now without Agnes and Harold. Their last name is now Clements. Sophie is listed as dead in 1915, (mhs.org) So it seemd that Agnes Kathinka also emigrated. She should then have emigrated in 1891. But I have not found her after 1900 Census yet. maybe someone out there with a connection to the 1910, 1920 and 1930 Census can find her? It is strange how sometimes information comes along.. ;) Berta