Norwegian ancestor from Lawler, Iowa
EchoHello. I know this is a shot in the dark, but I was wondering if anybody could dig up info on a certain Annie Olsen (1869-1956), supposedly of Norwegian descent, who was from Lawler, Iowa. I know she married a John Rudenberg (born June 16, 1856) who was originally from Smaland Sweden, and they had a son named Hilmer Rudenberg, who was my great-grandfather. If anybody could find anything on Annie, please let me know. I'm kind of grasping at straws here... Thanks, --Calli Rudenberg
HopkinsWhat sources have you already consulted? US censuses?, located Lawler in a particular county of Iowa? other records where the family lived? Didn't you say last year that the Rudenberg's were Norwegian? You found some proof otherwise? I don't see any Rudenbergs in the census indexes for the state of Iowa.
EchoYeah, I found out that Rudenbergs are Swedish. John and Annie met in Stoughton, WI (Dane County), and I believe they were married in the area. Afterward, they moved to the Upper Penninsula of Michigan...am pretty sure it was the Ogontz area. Lawler, IA is located in Chickasaw County, but I was unable to find out more. Olsen is such a common last name, and I have no idea who her parents were.
HopkinsIn at least two US censuses - Annie, wife of John Rudenberg, is listed as born in Wisconsin.
Jo Anne SadlerStoughton was originally the West Koshkonong area with a large Norwegian settlement. The Koshkonong Prairie Historical Society can confirm the marriage for an $8.00 charge: http://www.koshkonong.org/ Vesterheim Museum also has a database of Koshkonong weddings up to 1900, cost $15.00.
BriningIn the 1900 census they have been married 7 years. The oldest son Carl E was born July 1891 in Wisconsin, there is the possibility that he is not John's and maybe Annie was married before. Carla
EchoHmmm. If Annie was born in Wisconsin I wonder why everyone in my family thinks she was born in Iowa? When I visit my parents in two weeks I will have to dig through what little information we have and check out the names of the kids...I don't recall a Carl but I could be wrong. I do know two of them were Victor Rudenberg and Hilmer Rudenberg (Hilmer was my great-grandfather) and that there were definately more children then those two. We have a document Victor typed before he passed away, saying that his father John was from Smaland and that Annie was from Lawler IA...he does not give her nationality or the name of her parents, but everyone in the family is sure she was Norwegian for some reason or another... I'll keep digging, but it may take awhile. Thanks all for providing clues to help me on the way. [:)] --Calli
Hopkins1920 US census lists the couple with 8 'children' still living at home. Anna's parents were both born in Norway. 1910 US census lists the couple with 8 children - but lists that at that point Anna had 9 children, only 8 survived until 1910. You really should get the information from all of the US census enumerations that you can - it will probably be of great help to you.
Jerry
quote:
Originally posted by Echo
Hello. I know this is a shot in the dark, but I was wondering if anybody could dig up info on a certain Annie Olsen (1869-1956), supposedly of Norwegian descent, who was from Lawler, Iowa. I know she married a John Rudenberg (born June 16, 1856) who was originally from Smaland Sweden, and they had a son named Hilmer Rudenberg, who was my great-grandfather. If anybody could find anything on Annie, please let me know. I'm kind of grasping at straws here... Thanks, --Calli Rudenberg
Jerry
quote:
Originally posted by Echo
Hello. I know this is a shot in the dark, but I was wondering if anybody could dig up info on a certain Annie Olsen (1869-1956), supposedly of Norwegian descent, who was from Lawler, Iowa. I know she married a John Rudenberg (born June 16, 1856) who was originally from Smaland Sweden, and they had a son named Hilmer Rudenberg, who was my great-grandfather. If anybody could find anything on Annie, please let me know. I'm kind of grasping at straws here... Thanks, --Calli Rudenberg
Calli, I live in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and my home town is Cresco, Iowa. I go through Lawler to go to Cresco. Lawler is not a Norwegian community, but quite a few Norwegians settled north of Lawler, on both sides of the line that divides Howard and Chickasaw Counties. The village in that Norwegian community is Saude, but it may not have existed when Annie Olsen married John Rudenberg. I can look and see what township that is, and what other information I can find. Gerald L. Baker
BriningJohn Rudenberg and Annie Olson were married in Delta County Michigan Jan 12 1893. [url="http://www.grandmastree.com/society/marriage/marriage_ro-ry.htm"]Click Here[/url] The Eddie listed is Carl E. from the 1910 census, he was listed as Eddie in the 1920 census. Other children listed in the 1910 census were Arnel O. (Oscar) age11 or 12, Inger M 10, John 8, Francis 7, Victor 5, all born in Michigan. You need to get copies of birth, death, marriage records and any obituraries you can find. Check out the rest of the databases in the Delta County Genealogical Society website [url="http://www.grandmastree.com/society/index.htm"]Click Here[/url] The Ogontz cemetary in Ensign township has some Rudenbergs and they were living in Nahma township in the census. Carla
JerryCalli, I looked in the Iowa 1870 Census Index, HA371.5 1870, and couldn't find Olsons in Stapleton Township of Chickasaw County, Iowa, (where Lawler is located.) Also couldn't find any in Utica Twp., where Saude is located. Across the line in Jackson Twp. of Winneshiek County, I found households headed by Anan Olson, 51, and Jans Olson, 50. Both were prosperous farmers, but there was no child under 5 in either household. They were on Census Roll 426, Page 210. In Calmar Township, the next one east in Winneshiek, I found several Olsons,including Peder, 24, and wife, Anna, 26, who may be husband and wife, since they are both on Roll 426, Page 71, of that Census, according to that Index. Don't have time to look for them today, to see if they have a 1-year-old child named "Anne." Jerry
EchoWow. Thank you all very much. I did not know John and Annie were married in Delta county. Makes sense though, as my family has lots of roots there. Thanks especially for those websites, Carla (very very helpful). And I appreciate very much you looking up info in Iowa, Gerald. All the info you provide is something I would probably never be able to get ahold of myself, being way up here in the tundra of northern Minnesota. I guess it looks like the next time I visit my relatives in the U.P. I'll have to dig around in Escanaba's public library to put more pieces in the puzzle. Again, many many thanks for the info and clues. I am still very wet behind the ears at this whole genealogy thing and really appreciate the help. :)
BriningYou seem to have a "cousin" who has done quite an extensive family tree [url="http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2300675&id=I506066645"]Click Here[/url] There are some family members that lived in Chickasaw County,IA, since Anna's parents died when she was young, maybe she lived there for a while. Carla
JerryHello again, Calli, That 1870 Iowa Census Index is a book published by the Mormons, in Salt Lake City. I know from experience that it has omissions. The University of Northern Iowa library, here in Cedar Falls, has that Index and also "Soundex" Indexes, for 1870 and other dates, too. That library also has all the Iowa Census microfilms that are available. Since there may not have been any Norwegian community near Lawler in 1869, it's possible that Anne's father was there only temporarily, building the railroad. The Milwaukee Railroad was extended into the extreme northeast of Iowa in the late 1860s, and reached Howard County, my birthplace, in 1867, on its way from Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin to Austin, Minnesota. If Anne's parents were at Lawler in 1869, they may have gone farther along the line by the time of the 1870 Census. This branch of the railroad went west, through New Hampton toward Charles City. I'm so used to looking up farmers, that I'm not used to looking up people who move, like that. Tomorrow I have to go to my doctor for kind of "chemotherapy" (or more accurately "immune therapy") so I have to get to bed early. I wonder where you live. I could mail you photocopies of some of the items I find, such as pages from Andreas' 1875 "Atlas Of Iowa," which shows Counties. Townships and railroad lines at that time. Maybe it would help you to know some of that. I could also send you photocopies of all the Olson names published in that census index book., which list the counties and townships where they occur. I don't think any of these counties have birth, marriage or death records that go back that far. Maybe I could leave a note on the Ancestry.com Message boards for Chickasaw and some other counties, and see if ther's any reply. Jerry
JerryHello Again, Calli-- I posted a message on the Chickasaw County, Iowa Message Board, and am starting to get some responses. If you send me your e-mail address I can forward them to you. My e-mail address is: glbaker50613@yahoo.com. Jerry
EchoWow...! That family tree is very helpful. Funny how its such a small world. Thank you so much, Carla! I would have never found that on my own. Yeah, the Iowa thing is still kinda puzzling. Again, muchas gracias for looking into that, Jerry. (BTW, I live in Duluth, MN...if you want my address I'd be happy to email it to ya.) Well everyone, again, all I can do is express my gratitude. I never though I'd be able to find out as much as I have about Annie. (And its good to know that there's some Norwegian in me after all! I KNEW it was there somewhere...) :-) --Calli
JerryHello Calli, I'd like to have your address, although I'm not sure what to send you. I was going to send maps of Chickasaw and Winneshiek Counties of Iowa, from Andreas' 1875 Atlas, but they may not be much good to you now. Maybe if I could find it I'd send you a copy of an article that was written about me in the Duluth paper in June of 1979. [8)]Jerry