This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/wg.2ADE/1547.1.1 Message Board Post: For lea Sharp,pls. Thannnks a lot for information. I confiirm that the persons are indeed the requested missing persons. based on your inf. I now have a fair good record of the family which consisted of Ole H. Johnson and wife Caroline Riersen. O.H.Johnson, or Ole Jenssen Saudasjoen as he is called in local Norwegian records, was son of Jens Henrikson Totland (Hjelmeland,Norway)(1809-?) Married in 1835 Siri Olsdatter (1809-) from Ytre Ramsfjell, also iin Hjelmeland. Jens and Siri had three childre: Ola(1835),Ola(1839) and Anna(1842). Siri died around 1846, and Jens remarried Lydia Knutsdatter Hellot from Sauda aand moved to a small farm in her parish of Sauda. Jens was acting master of the local saw-work. I have a fairly good record of their roots in/around Hjelmeland, and I shall write a short history whhich can be despathed to anyone interested. Anyway Ole came to America in 1856, and in Stavanger, a distant relative has several of the letters which Ole wrote which describe the jurney accross the Atlantic, and later with a vivid description from life as a privat during the Civil War. In 1866 he married Karen gurine Reiersdatter. According to my notes she was born 17/10 1843, but according to your information she is listed as born 27/7 1844. There might be a mistake in my own notes, and I shall check. Karen came to America in 1854, together with her sister Elisabeth,3 brothers and father. Their mother, Guri Sivertsdatter, and their oldest brother, Sivert,born 1833, stayed back in Stavanger. According to my notes, one of the brothers died during the transit, and one more of the brothers died soon after arrival. I have nnnone of these informations documented. In fact I have found no traces of the family for the periode from they left Stavanger, till I have seen documents of the two sisters marriages in Ill. In 1880, the old father, Reiar, (born 17/12 1797), did live with Ole H. and Caroline in Saratoga (see p. 365). The sister Elisabeth, married also a person from Norwegian origin, viz.. Torris Johannesen Mehus (1837-1943) from Hardanger, Norway. Also for hhis part i have a good record of his family background and family history, leading up to his deparrrrrture for America. Torris and Elisabeth obvioously married in Newark 16/2 1865, and they are recorded having the following children: Carrie 1886-1960; m. Clif Wunder (no children?) Hattie 1886(+)-1956, unmarried John Edward 1880-1962, married Carrie Larson in 1902. Are told to have had several children, but no further information at hand. Jonny 1878-1880 Joseph 1876-1876 Emma 1873-1954 m Roy Anderson (no children?) Rufus 1870-1956; m. twicea) nelly fruland b) Mary Aske. rercorded having children, but no further inf. Cassy 1868-1898 m Emma Fruland. Children? Isabelle 1866-1867 I assume that Torris and his family lived in Big Grove, Kendal, and as late as in 1930, Torris and dauther Hattie lived on the farm. Torris also participated in the Civil war, but I have not read any documents relating to this periode. The two remaining challenges for me is now: - What became of the Reiersen family from they arrived in Quebeck in 1854, until the two sisters got married. Did their brothers died, or did one or two of them survive and started family. Did the old father, Reiar, farm, or did he spend his life in America as casual labourer.I can not find any information in the papaers to which I have access. -The children of Ole H. and Caroline are according to the combined information from you, and the few notes I have: w/ wife Caroline: Ole b. 1867 unrecorded/undocumented Hallie(Henry Richard)1867 good documented in your notes( appreciate to be informed about any decendants still alive) Sidney according to you, still alive in Chicago 1940, but would llike furtheer inf. Erastus 1867 -1886 Joe(Joseph) 1877- un-recorded, unknown Liddie(Lydia?), obvioously married a Jefferson, and alive in 1940. Need more inf. Obey ? 1882-1883 w/wife Helen: Karen 1886-1886 w/wife Christina: none. In order to get a broader knowledge of the sosial setting , I would appreciate to receive a link to good refeerance books, maps and/or general history of the district. A coupple of years ago, I did drive through the area from Chicago, via Ottawa to Norway anf Fox River. I visted Lisbon, and I did vist some of the small graveyards and Churches. I did not have the pressent knowledge of the the family and I was unable to get in contact with anyone who could guide me. I plan a new trip in a year or two, and I hope to be better prepared. Looking forward to any information which can add to the basic inf. above, and in return I shall send you all the earlier history from theeir Norwegian roots. By the way, Reiar, above, is my great-great grandfather, and the sisters caroline and Elisabeth are sisters of my great grandfather, Sivert. Svein