I haven't been following too closely on the Akern/Akem/Ekern/Tostenson posting, but I've picked up a few names along the way. I apologize if I'm "way off" on this: But, could this be your Sarah married to Thore Topper Rognaas (possibly spelled Rognes in Wisconsin?) Seems the birth years are a close match and you did mention that they lived in Blue Mounds..... From: the 1880 Census-Norwegians in Wisconsin: O Tore Rognes m 39 N N N 235 Blue Mounds Dane Co. Sarah Rognes f 40   N N N 235 Blue Mounds Dane Co. Ole Rognes m 13   N N N 235 Blue Mounds Dane Co. Ann Mary Rognes f 10 W N N 235 Blue Mounds Dane Co. Torwald Rognes m 9 W N N 235 Blue Mounds Dane Co. Martin Rognes m 7   W N N 235 Blue Mounds Dane Co. Olof Rognes m 5 W N N 235 Blue Mounds Dane Co. John Rognes m 1   W N N 235 Blue Mounds Dane Co. Ole Rognes m 76 lab N N N 235 Blue Mounds Dane Co. Good Luck, Vickie in Minnesota ----------------------- In a message dated 2/15/01 11:42:35 PM, niteowl@islc.net writes: << Hei Betty, Are you trying to tell me that I need to order the LDS microfilms for that time frame (1859) to see if there ever really was a Sarah/Sigrid, Sirine Akern recorded? I know from past experience that the LDS transcription are based on the transcribers interpretation of the entry. If there is no farm in Valdres named Akern/Akem......where on earth would she have gotten that name? Oh well, maybe in another year I will find another useless clue that will tie together Tostensen/Akem in Wisconsin. God help Matilda when we meet in the wild blue yonder!!!!!!!!!!! Is there any logical way that my Sarah Akern/Akem could have married Abram Tostensen from Nærbø, Varhaug if she was born in Valdres unless they didn't marry until they both were in Wisconsin? .......Peggy > Subject: Re: [VALDRES-L] Akern from "Valders" > Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 09:07:30 -0600 > From: Betty Rockswold <bettylou@spacestar.net> > To: VALDRES-L@rootsweb.com > > Hei Peggy, > > Valders is the spelling used in Wisconsin, Valdres is used in Norway. > Sarah is an American name, which could have been changed from something > like Sigrid. > > The Rugnøs farm is in Vestre Slidre in Valdres. There is a > Rudlang/Røllang farm in North Aurdal in Valdres. I can't find a farm > name in Valdres like Akern. > > If you find a few more clues, maybe I can help. > Betty > > P.S. See our Valdres Samband Lag website below - www.valdressamband.org > > Peggy wrote: > > > > Does any of this look familiar to anyone on the list? > > Shouldn't Valders, be Valdres? (YES) > > This info is from LDS site and I am thinkng that this is the Sarah AkeM > > and Tostensen/Torstensen combination I have been looking for that would > > be the parents of my Matilda Tostensen. The other possibility is that > > Sarah married the first time to Abram Tostensen and this was a second > > marriage when Matilda, my ggrandmother was 2 years old. In old > > handwriting the Akern could easily have been mistaken for Akem and the > > date for the marriage is after the birthdate I have for Matilda > > Tostensen that was 1959 according to her own entry in the bible. That > > would make Thore Topper her stepfather and possibly explain why I have > > not been able to find "Sarah Tostensen" after the 1860 census which > > shows her in Avon, Rock County, Wisconsin. > > > > Sarah AKERN > > > > B: 2 Feb 1838 > > > > , Valders, Norway > > > > D: 7 Feb 1918 > > > > Blue Mounds, Dane Co, Wi > > > > M: 1861 > > > > > > > > Thore TOPPER (RAGNAAS) > > > > B: 22 May 1841 > > > > Northern Urdahl, Valders, Norway > > > > D: 1 Jan 1928 > > > > Blue Mounds, Dane Co, Wi