Hello I am new to this list and haven't had much success finding records regarding my great grandfather Christian P. Halbostad in Minnesota. What I do know, or think I know, is that Christian Halbostad was born in about 1856 in Hoylandet, Norway, and emigrated with several relatives on the Allan Line S/S Caspian, arriving in Halifax, Canada 20 May 1881. Their destination was recorded as Avoca (Murray County) Minnesota. His relatives, Halle and Karen Rosendal, appear in the 1900 US Census in Cass County. I have found brief references to Christian the 1897 and 1898 Minneapolis City Directories, and a reference to a land transaction in his name dated 2 May 1905 regarding 80 acres located in the 5th Meridian, Township 138 N, Range 30 W, Section 26. I do not know if he was buying or selling this land but would appreciate help finding just where this parcel of land is located. Christian Halbostad (last name may be spelled as Holbostad, Helbasted, Helabostad, etc.) married a cousin Levina Halbostad, most likely in MN between 1881 and 1889, and we believe they had at least three children; Julia, Ellen and Kenneth. Family stories state that Levina Halbostad died during childbirth about 1895 and that after he remarried, Christian Halbostad died in 1906 - I am hoping that some kind soul will be able to tell me where I may find records of their marriage, deaths and the births of their children. Any assistance is sincerely appreciated. Betty Ann

Meridian lines run north and south. Here's a good page that shows how to figure out the township & section numbering system: http://www.outfitters.com/genealogy/land/twprangemap.html I have a Faribault county plat map online. http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnfariba/images/plat/faribault_co.jpg If you stare along the top border of that plat map you'll see that the western most range is 28. So you can guess that the land you are looking for will be one to two miles *west* of the western most edge of Faribault county. Now tip your head to the left and read along the western edge of the Faribault county plat map. Notice the "T104." That's the township 104 notation. I see that T138N runs along the southern edge of Becker county. http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnbecker/townships.htm So I *think* the land you are looking for is in western Cass county. I'm guessing it's in that chain of lakes just west of Pine River. A Cass county plat map would determine that for you. Did Ellen marry A. W. Cook and Julia marry Fred Freer? http://www2.whidbey.net/forrest/pub/web/roam59a.html Had a card from Mr. and Mrs. Fred Freer and Mrs. A. W. Cook of Heron Lake who were spending a short vacation at Hot Springs, Ark. The ladies are sisters and former Lake Wilson residents. Mrs. Cook (Ellen Halbostad) became interested in hospital work in her home town several years ago. The city council turned over the running of the city hospital to a board of competent women and men and Ellen is a member. She had been chairman of this group which had done a wonderful job. The women on the board are in touch at all times with qualified and willing helpers who can be had when needed and when the crisis is over they return to their homes. The hospital has been in the black lots more times than it has been in the red. Ellen used to baby sit for us in the old days at Lake Wilson Kathy Betty Ann wrote: > > Hello > > I am new to this list and haven't had much success finding records > regarding my great grandfather Christian P. Halbostad in Minnesota. > > What I do know, or think I know, is that Christian Halbostad was born in > about 1856 in Hoylandet, Norway, and emigrated with several relatives on > the Allan Line S/S Caspian, arriving in Halifax, Canada 20 May 1881. > Their destination was recorded as Avoca (Murray County) Minnesota. His > relatives, Halle and Karen Rosendal, appear in the 1900 US Census in > Cass County. I have found brief references to Christian the 1897 and > 1898 Minneapolis City Directories, and a reference to a land transaction > in his name dated 2 May 1905 regarding 80 acres located in the 5th > Meridian, Township 138 N, Range 30 W, Section 26. I do not know if he > was buying or selling this land but would appreciate help finding just > where this parcel of land is located. > > Christian Halbostad (last name may be spelled as Holbostad, Helbasted, > Helabostad, etc.) married a cousin Levina Halbostad, most likely in MN > between 1881 and 1889, and we believe they had at least three children; > Julia, Ellen and Kenneth. Family stories state that Levina Halbostad > died during childbirth about 1895 and that after he remarried, Christian > Halbostad died in 1906 - I am hoping that some kind soul will be able to > tell me where I may find records of their marriage, deaths and the > births of their children. > > Any assistance is sincerely appreciated. > > Betty Ann > > ==== MINNESOTA Mailing List ==== > Want to unsubscribe from the Minnesota-L list (Single message mode)? Send an e-mail message to MINNESOTA-L-request@rootsweb.com On the first line of text, enter only the following word: Unsubscribe > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx