My Sampson line was in the Riceland Twp., Freeborn Co., MN area around 1870 - ? and were originally from Norway. The spelling of SAMPSON may be a corruption of SEMSON, SEMSEN, SAMSON, etc. Anyone researching in this line? Anna Marie SAMPSON b 1868 MN - is a 2yr old dau in the home of Sans (b1833 Norway) and Britta (b1849 Norway) Sampson in the 1870 Riceland Twp, Freeborn Co., MN census. Anna Marie married Gilbert FODNESS 08 Jan 1890 in Blue Earth, MN. Think it's Blue Earth, Faribault Co. rather than Blue Earth County but don't know for sure yet. Gilbert was born in Nord Aurdahl, Valdres, Norway c1854 and emigrated with his parents and some siblings in 1855. Am thinking that Sam Sampson (first name may have also been Sen or Sans) may have been from Valdres as there is a Sem Sempson living in Decorah in 1860, which is where my Fodness line (Knud Halvorsen Riste Fodnes) was in 1860, also. The death certificate that I have for Anna Marie says her father was Sam SAMPSON and her mother was Johanna NASHEIM. This is the only reference to a Johanna NASHEIM that I have heard of. Oral family history says Anna was born in 1870, her death cert says 1871 yet there is a 2yr old Anna in the 1870 census. Anna Marie may have had the following siblings: Andrew A. b 18 Feb 1871 to Sam and Betsey SAMPSON, Freeborn Co., MN Anna Sophia b 28 March 1873 d 28 Mar 1873 Freeborn Co., MN born to Sam and Betsey SAMPSON Freeborn Co., MN. Parents born Norway, farmer. Sophia b 11 June 1874 born to Sam and Betsey SAMPSON, Freeborn Co., MN Tine Randine b 7 June 1877 born to Sam and Britta SAMPSON, Freeborn Co., MN Thank you in advance for any suggestions, hints or help, Cheryl Cummings