Christopher Christensen/Sophia Johnson/Twin sons

Christensen Twins – born August 18, 1889 in St. James, Watonwan Co. Minnesota I am assisting the grandson of William Severn Christensen (who later goes by surname “Lee” after adoption). He has authorized me to provide the family’s detailed personal information in hopes of breaking through the brick wall beyond his grandfather. This grandson is attempting to find the Norwegian ancestors of the biological parents of his grandfather, William Severn Christensen Lee. These individuals are: Christopher Christensen (born about 1865) and Sophia K. Johnson (born about 1866), both parents shown as being born in Norway It would be very much appreciated if you could reply to me if any of the following information pertains to any of your family or if you recognize any connections. Thank you. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Watonwan County Court House - Birth and Death records showed the entries of these twin boys: Christopher John (Charley) and William S. Christensen male white twins marked illegitimate - born to Christopher Christensen and Sophia K Johnson aged 24 and 23 respectively, both parents shown as being born in Norway. The twins were born August 16, 1889 and registered August 17, 1889. The interesting thing is that of all of the “illegitimate” births in the register, these twins were the only listings that showed the father; also it was one of the few written in ink – the others were just penciled in. Assume that pencil was used so that the names could be changed later on? The county records show that the boys were with their mother Sophia in St. James, MN, for several years after their birth. These twin boys were also referred to as the “Palmer Twins” in various Lee family later correspondence. The precise reason for this is not known, other than the fact that a large Palmer family lived next door to Sophia and her twins in St. James when she and her boys were being provided with lodging by Henry Berentson and his wife at the expense of the county. The county had a Poor Fund –the 19th century version of Welfare - with a good bit of Victorian condescending going on: “poor”. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watonwan County Commissioners Meetings Payment issued: POOR FUND Year Ending Dec. 31, 1889 Henry Berentson for boarding Sophia K. Johnson $65.00 January 8, 1890 Henry Berentson for boarding Sophia Johnson $65.00 March 24, 1890 H. Berentson boarding of Sophia Johnson $55.00 July 12, 1890 Mathias Vagstad boarding of Sophia Johnson $86.00 Henry Berentson boarding of Sophia Johnson $95.00 Year Ending Dec. 31, 1890 Henry Berentson, boarding Sophia Johnson $155.00 M.M. Vagstad boarding Sophia Johnson $92.00 Jan. 16, 1891 M.M. Vagstad boarding Sophia Johnson $40.00 July 10, 1891 M.M. Vagstad, boarding Sophia Johnson $68.00 October 20, 1891 M.M. Vagstad, boarding Sophia Johnson $56.00 March 22, 1892 M.M. Vagstad, boarding Sophia Johnson and children $44.00 July 12, 1892 M.M. Vagstad, boarding Sophia Johnson and children $64.0 Year Ended 1893 County Commissioner Report County Poor Sophia Johnson and children (3rd district)…………………$238.28 1/3/1894 Tollack Tveit boarding Sophia Johnson’s children 3 days………..$1.50 Year Ended 1894 Sophia Johnson’s 2 boys…………….$151.5 ---------------------------------------------------------- Later (1895?) The boys were adopted by the Torkel Lee family (my great uncle), who lived on a farm a few miles south of St. James in Long Lake Township. The boys were given the last name “Lee”, which they went by for the rest of their lives. Torkel Lee and family were residing in Long Lake Township, Watonwan County 1895 Census. The 1895 census records show 2 young boys living with Torkel and his wife Thora and their 12 year old daughter Bertina. Christopher Christianson Male 5 years old born in Minnesota. Wilhelm Christianson Male 5 years old born in Minnesota. In the 1900 Census the twin boys John C. Christianson (note that his name is shown as John C. instead of Christopher John) and his brother Wilhelm Christianson are still living with Torkel and Thora Lee. In 1905 the two young boys, who would be 15, do not appear at the home of Torkel Lee. But Torkel's sister Mari (Lee) Sulem (Sulheim) has with her: William Lee, male 15 years old born in Minnesota Occupation: Farm Laborer . --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the U.S. Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Records: Church Name: Long Lake Lutheran Church Location: St James, Minnesota Wilhelm S Lee in the US Evangelical Lutheran Churh of America Records Name: Wilhelm S Lee Event Type: Confirmation Birth Date: 16 Aug 1889 Confirmation Date: 18 Oct 1903 Father: John Christenson Mother: Sophia Johnson Christian J Lee in the U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1826-1940 Name: Christian J Lee Event Type: Confirmation Birth Date: 16 Aug 1889 Confirmation Date: 18 Oct 1903 Father: John Kristenson Mother: Sophia Johnson Church Name: Long Lake Lutheran Church Location: St James, Minnesota. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William S. Lee and Christopher (Charley) Lee moved to Minneapolis sometime around 1906-1907. There is a WS Lee (in family records) transcript from the University of Minnesota. He got A's in Banking, Accounting, Math, but did not do well in some of the other subjects. William Lee also took courses at William Mitchell College of Law at some point. William Lee started with the Minneapolis Gas Company as a bookkeeper 1909-1910 William Lee met Lula McDougal in 1913. They were married in 1914 and moved in with Lula’s sister Leah Morehouse and her husband Cyrus Morehouse in South Minneapolis. In the summer of 1914 William Lee and Lula Lee went to Havre Montana to homestead on 320 acres. They took the train there, purchased a team of horses, a wagon, plow and supplies and went to the land. The first summer they cut sod and planted wheat. After harvest in late August, they returned to Minneapolis and William returned to his job(?). William Lee Draft Registration 1917 WWI - we assume that he was not drafted because he was married(?) Also he listed Manager Accounting Department Cedar Lake Ice Company as occupation. This was one of the companies that cut ice from the Lakes in the winter and stored it in huge cold houses insulated with sawdust for use in the refrigerator cars on the railroads and for retail sales to residential and commercial customers. Christopher (Charley) Lee visited William in Havre during the summer. Charley got a job at a saloon on Main Street in Havre. He stayed and later got his own saloon in Glasgow, Montana. Charley was very gregarious and stayed in Glasgow for many years and the two did not see each other as often. Charlie entered the Army before WWI (assume 1916?) and was in the 3rd Company 166th Depot Brigade - Camp Lewis, Washington. Charlie entered the Army before WWI (assume 1916?). Charley was married and then later divorced to Margaret Mcgrath in the Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950 Name: Margaret Mcgrath Gender: Female Race: White Marital Status: Single Birth Date: 1889 Birth Place: Minnesota Father: D. F. Mcgrath Mother: Anna Mcginnes Spouse: C. J. Lee C. J. Lee in the Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950 Name: C. J. Lee Gender: Male Race: White Marital Status: Single Age: 28 Birth Date: 1889 Birth Place: Minnesota Marriage Date: 30 Jun 1917 Marriage Place: Cascade County, , Montana Father: T. S. Lee Mother: Sophia Johnson Spouse: Margaret Mcgrath FHL Film Number: 1940167 Charley ended up at a VA Sanitarium / Home in Marion County Indiana. From the record he was listed as a cook(?) He was taken ill in the 1930s and was then spent his remaining years there. The illness that he had initially appears and then goes into remission for a time – perhaps he worked during those times. VA Records: Christopher J. Lee died April 23, 1966 Buried at Marion National Cemetery, Marion, Grant County, Indiana. He was a WWI Veteran from Montana. Christopher J Lee in the U.S. Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 Name: Christopher J Lee Service Info.: PVT US ARMY WORLD WAR I Birth Date: 16 Aug 1889 Death Date: 23 Apr 1966 Interment Date: 23 Apr 1966 Cemetery: Marion National Cemetery Cemetery Address: Vamc, 1700 East 38th Street Marion, IN 46952 Buried At: Section 6 Site 3951 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William S Lee in the 1920 United States Federal Census Name: William S Lee Age: 31 Birth Year: abt 1889 Home in 1920: Excelsior, Hennepin, Minnesota Street: Smithtown Road Relation to Head of House: Son-in-law Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Lela Lee Father's Birthplace: Norway Mother's Birthplace: Norway Native Tongue: English Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Accountant Industry: Trust Co Wm S Lee in the 1930 United States Federal Census Name: Wm S Lee Birth Year: abt 1889 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Minnesota Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Home in 1930: Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota Street address: Irving Avenue S Ward of City: 8 Block: 404 House Number in Cities or Towns: 3309 Dwelling Number: 70 Family Number: 104 Home Owned or Rented: Owned Home Value: 9000 Radio Set: Yes Lives on Farm: No Age at First Marriage: 26 Attended School: No Able to Read and Write: Yes Father's Birthplace: Norway Mother's Birthplace: Norway Able to Speak English: Yes Occupation: Pincharing ?? [purchasing bonds??] Industry: Bond House Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker Employment: Yes Wm S Lee in the 1930 United States Federal Census Name Age Wm S Lee 41 Lula Lee 41 [WIFE] Jane C Lee 11 Phyllis Lee 9 [DAUGHTERS] Clorinda Mcdougall 67 [Lula’s MOTHER] Leah Morehouse 43 Mrs. Cyrus Morehouse [LULA’S SISTER] Clorinda Jane Lee in the Web: Minnesota, Birth Index, 1900-1934 Name: Clorinda Jane Lee Birth Date: 20 Jul 1918 Birth Place: Hennepin, Minnesota, USA Father's Surname: Lee Mother's Maiden Name: MacDougall Certificate Number: 1918-45883 URL: http://people.mnhs.org/bci/Res... William Severn Lee in the U.S., World War II Dra Registration Cards, 1942 Name: William Severn Lee Gender: Male Residence Age: 52 Birth Date: 16 Aug 1889 Birth Place: St James, Minnesota, USA Residence Date: 1942 Residence Place: Minneapolis, Minnesota Height: 5 9 Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Gray Weight: 165 Complexion: Light William Lee moved to the bond firm of Wells Dickey in Minneapolis. After WWII William move to Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG). William retired at 65 in 1954, however, William was called back every year for months at a time for the next 15 years. William passed away at age 93 in 1981. William S . Lee in the Minnesota, Death Index, 1908-2002 Name: William S . Lee Birth Date: 16 Aug 1889 Death Date: 3 Dec 1981 Death County: Hennepin Mother's Maiden Name: Johnson State File Number: 030387 Certificate Number: 030387 Certificate Year: 1981 Record Number: 2063051