This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/wg.2ADE/1643.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Kay, Andrew N. Sorem and Mons N. Sorem applied for citizenship 6 April 1875. Their final papers were signed 5 Nov. 1877 (all in Grundy Co, IL). The papers just said that they renounced the King of Norway & Sweden. There was no personal information. "Morris, Daily Herald", Morris, IL Wed, March 17, 1920 Mons N. Sorem, formerly of Grundy county, Illinois, died Feb. 29, 1920, at 12:15 o'clock, p.m., at the age of 79 years, 9 months and 17 days. Funeral services were held on Wednesday in Ransom church, Minnesota. Mr. Sorem was born in Etna, Norway, May 12, 1840. His parents were Nels and Bertha Sorem. He was married to Sarah Ostrem on May 6, 1864, and having been drafted for the Danish-German war, left home two days after the wedding for Christania where the soldiers remained in reserve for many months, but war was settled before they had to go farther. Mr. Sorem was a drummer in the regular army. They left Etna on April 23, 1867, for America, and with their two sons, Nels and Severt, came to Morris, Ill., on June 18, and his brother Andrew Sorem came at the same time. After twelve years they bought a farm near Morris, on which they lived until 1886 when they sold and came to Nobles county, Minnesota, and bought land, and where they have since resided, with the exception of three years. After having sold their farm near Bigelow they moved to Jewell, Iowa, where Mrs. Sorem had three brothers and a sister living. They were blessed with ten children, seven boys and three girls. One son, who died in infancy, was laid to rest in the Lisbon church cemetery. After having lived in Jewell three years, longing to go back to their children in Minnesota, they moved back to Bigelow in 1913, and built a home. There they resided until Mrs. Sorem died, July 29, 1916, being permitted to pass yonder to her heavenly home, which she long had sought, and thus Mr. Sorem being left alone, and also longing for his heavenly heritage and to be with his savior and dear ones, and where there is a home prepared for those that love their savior, Jesus. Mr. Sorem had been making his home with the children since his wife died, and at his death was with his youngest daughter, Carrie Eide, residing south of Rushmore. Nine children still survive and are left to mourn a loving father: Nels M. Sorem, Worthington, Minn., Severt M. Sorem, Story City, Ia.; Michael Sorem, Modesto, Cal., the only one who could not come to the funeral; Mrs. Isabel Stangeland, Lismore, Minn.; Ben and Ole, residing near Bigelow, Lewis Sorem and Mrs. Bessie Hokeness, Northfield, Minn. Besides the children, Mr. Sorem leaves to mourn his death 34 grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the house on Wednesday afternoon with a short prayer service, after which they proceeded to the Ransom church, where funeral services were held. Interment was made in the Norwegian cemetery west of Ransom church. Relatives from out of town were: Oscar Ostrem, Jewell, Iowa, a brother of Mrs. Sorem; Mrs. Isabel Male and Mr. and Mrs. John Male of Garden City, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Anderson, of Morris, Ill.; Mrs. Iverson of Yorkville, Ill., and Nels A. Sorem, Morris, Ill. Rev. J. O. Mundal of Luvern, Minn., officiated at the funeral assisted by Rev. J. H. Hanson of Lake Mills, Iowa. Mr. Sorem was a loving father and a good neighbor and loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed. No, I haven't heard of Lars Ole Sorem. In the Morris paper, I ran across a reference to Martin Nelson Sorem, aged 88, who died 4 March 1898. He came from Norway some 50 years ago & settled in Kendall Co. Stayed there a short time & then moved to Grundy. He was survived by his wife & her two children by a former marriage, Mrs. Gunnerson & Mrs. Skoegen. Funeral was held at the Lutheran church west of Lisbon, Kendall Co, IL. Lea