Clifford Benard SONDROL

Family/Spouse: Audrey Inez HOFF. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Joann Kay SONDROL was born on 1 Sep 1957 in Pope County, Minnesota; died in 2000; was buried in West Norway Lake Lutheran Cemetery, Sunburg, Norway Lake Twp, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1952-MN-016343

Notes:

He was still single and the head of household in the 1910 census when the family lived in Kerkhoven Twp, Swift County, near the Ole O. Ellingboes (#5122 ). The household consisted of Ole, his brother Martin, his sister Clara, and their mother, Julia.

An article in the Willmar Tribune mentioning his marriage called him a well-to-do Swift County farmer.

He registered for the draft in Benson on September 12, 1918. He gave his age as 40 and his birthdate as September 24, 1877. He was a farmer at Route #2, Kerkhoven. He gave as his nearest relative his wife, Mrs. Alma Sondrol. He was described as of medium height and build with blue eyes and light hair.

In the 1930 census, he and his wife and five children are living on a farm in Kerkhoven Twp near his brother Theodore.

Birth:
the date on his draft registration card

Ole married Alma Louise LANDSVERK on 16 Apr 1914 in Swift County, Minnesota. Alma (daughter of Bjorn Endresen LANSVERK and Engeborg Dorthea SVALSTAD) was born on 4 Jul 1892 in Norway Lake Twp, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota; died on 27 Aug 1994 in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota; was buried in West Norway Lake Lutheran Cemetery, Sunburg, Norway Lake Twp, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 24 Sep 1837, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway

Notes:

He is Knut Torsteinsson Villand, I7029, in Jim’s Ellingboe tree. That’s also what the bygdebok calls him (Vang A, p. 816).

He is I13908 in Jim’s VS, which shows him as born on Syndrol 48/1 Villand.

Knut and Marit were from different Søndrol farms and may be distant cousins. Jim calls him Knut Torsteinsson Villand.

The Norway Lake Lutheran church records have this entry for him: “Knut T. Sondrol, born in Balders. Came to the U.S. with his mother. Married Marit Tostenson, born in Balders. Came to Norway Lake 1872. Married second time with Julia Brandvold, born in Solor. Came to Norway Lake in 1883.”

In the 1875 Minnesota census, he (as Knut T Sonderal) and his family live in Kerkhoven Twp.

In the 1880 census, Knut and Marit lived with their family in Kerkhoven Twp, Swift County. The household consists of Knut, 42, Marit, 33, Tosten, 7, Theodor, 4, Ole, 3, and Mina 5 months. Also living in the household is Marit Sundrol, 73, mother, and Ole Johnson, 21, servant.

In the 1885 state census, Knudt is apparently a widower. The family lives in Kerkoven Twp. Julia Brandval, 32, already is listed as part of his household.

In the 1900 census, Knudt and Julia and family (indexed as Sandral) live in Kerkhoven Twp, Swift County, Minnesota. Living with them are four of Knudt’s sons (Thosten, Theodore, Ole, and Martin) and Clara, his daughter with Julia.

Not listed in the MHS death index so he may have died before 1904.

Earl Knutson’s write-up for nllha.org:

Knut and Marit Sondrol, Charter Members of West Norway Lake Lutheran Church
Baptism records show that Knut Tostenson Sondrol was born 9 August 1837 in Vang, Oppland, Norway. The parents are Tosten Knudsen Sondrahle-Eie and Marith Olsdatter.
Knut “Thorstajnson” appears in the 1865 census from Vang. The listed residence is the farm called Viland Øvre and his housemates are his widowed mother Marit Olsdatter and his sister Dorthe Thorstajnsdatter. Their birth years are 1806 and 1848, respectively.
Knut Tostenson, along with his mother Marit Olsdatter and sister Dorthe Tostensdatter are in the passenger list of the ship Fredrick Peterson that sailed from Bergen, Norway on May 1, 1866 and arrived in Quebec on June 2, 1866. All three have the last name Sønderol and hail from Vang Valdres. Their ages are 30, 59 and 16, respectively. (Dorthe’s age mismatches that from the census by 3 years.) It is surprising that they left from Bergen, as that is a long way, across mountains, from Vang.
The name Knut T. Søndreol appears thrice as a parent in baptism records from the Norway lake Congregation. The children are Tosten (born 14 Nov 1872), Theodor (born 4 August 1875), and Martin (born 16 September 1881) The mother of all three is Mari (or Marit) Thostensdatter.
Regarding Marit, her birth and emigration information are uncertain. Census records, below, state that she was born in Norway. There are two possibilities from Vang Parish. She could be from other areas of Norway as well.
The 1875 census of Swift County has Knut T. “Sonderal,” age 38, and Marit, age 28. With them are Tosten, age 2, and Marit Olson, age 69. (By coincidence, both the mother and the wife are named Marit.)
The 1880 census of Kerkhoven Township, Swift County has Knut Sundrol (age 42, born Norway) and Marit (33, born Norway). Others: “Fosten” (7), Theodor (4), Ole (3), Mina (5 months) and Marit Sundrol (mother, 73).
Knut’s wife Marit passed in 1883. This is indicated by a grave marker at the West Norway Lutheran Church, which reads Marit Sondrol, 1847-1883.
Knut (here spelled Knudt, age 47) is also in the 1885 census, same township. The children in the household are: Tosten, 12; Theodor, 9; Ole, 6; and Martin, 3. Others in the household are: Julia Brandvol, age 32, and Ole Bjornson, 22. Knut’s mother Marit Olsdatter, age 78, is listed in the neighboring house. Very likely, Julia was hired to keep house and raise the children after Marit’s death. Eventually, Knut and Julia married.
In the 1895 census of Kerkhoven Township, Swift County, we find Knut T. Sondrol (age 57, born in Norway, in MN 29 years, in enumeration district 26 years) and Julia Sondrol (age 48?, born in Norway, in MN and the enumeration district 22 years). There are 5 children, aged 2 to 22, all born in Minnesota, and an adult, Marit Sondrol, age 88, born in Norway.
The 1900 census of Kerkhoven Township, Swift County has Knudt T. Sandrol (born August 1837 in Norway, immigrated 1866) and Julie Sandrol (born April 1852 in Norway, immigrated 1882). Also in the house are 4 sons and a daughter, all born in Minnesota.
In the 1905 census of Kerkhoven Township, Swift County, MN we find Knut T. Sondrol (age 67), born in Norway, a state resident for 39 years, and a resident of the enumeration district for 36 years. Also in the household are Julia (53), born in Norway, an enumeration district resident for 22 years and 10 others, ages 32 to 5 months, all born in Minnesota. Included are a daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren.
The above census record shows that Knut arrived in Swift County in 1869, having lived the prior three years at another Minnesota location. That location is not known.
Among the many Sondrol grave markers at the West Norway Lake Lutheran Church are these:
Knut T. Sondrol, 1837-1905
Marit Sondrol, 1847-1883.
Julie K. Sondrol, 1852-1932.

Knut’s mother Marit Olsdatter deserves special mention. A widow, she emigrated at age 59. In a more gender-equal world, she would surely have been listed as a charter member of the West Norway Lake Church. Records at the Swift County Historical Society state that she died 23 March1898. Her place of interment is not recorded.

Birth:
Eugene has this date as 8 Aug 1837 and place of birth as Vestre Slidre in Valdres.

Died:
Eugene has Knut’s death as 9 Jun 1905. Knut is listed in the 1905 Minnesota state census. Find A Grave says 1906.

Knut married Marit Torsteinsdotter SØNDROL. Marit (daughter of Torstein Olsson SÖNDROL and Ragndi Olsdotter ELLINGBØE) was born on 3 Mar 1847 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died before 1885 in Minnesota; was buried in West Norway Lake Lutheran Cemetery, Sunburg, Norway Lake Twp, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 14 Mar 1847, Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway

Notes:

She is Marit Torsteinsdatter Syndrol, I7028, in Jim’s Ellingboe tree. She is I13907 in Jim’s VS.

Knut and Marit were from different Søndrol farms and may be distant cousins.

In the 1865 Norwegian census, she was 19 years old, still single, and living with her parents and siblings on Søndrohl, mitre in Vang.

Vang A, p. 816, says she came to the U.S. in 1865. Earl Knutson’s research of the West Norway Lake Lutheran Church says that Marit died in 1883.

According to a Norway Lake church record, she came to Norway Lake in 1872.

She is not listed in the 1885 state census.

Died:
Kevin Thompson’s Find A Grave entry for her says 1883.

Notes:

Or Landsverk.

In the 1900 census, as Bjorne E Landswerk, he was a farmer in Kerkhoven Twp, Swift County.

Bjorn married Engeborg Dorthea SVALSTAD. Engeborg was born in Feb 1856 in Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Eugene calls her Dorothea Swalstad. Bjorn’s wife in the 1900 census, with whom he had been married 17 years, was called Engeborg.

In the 1900 census, Engeborg had had 11 children, 9 still living. And all still at home.

Notes:

He doesn’t seem to be included in Jim’s VS or Ellingboe trees.

Vang A, p. 828, as Torstein Knutsson (Lajord?), a husmann on Øvre Villand under 48/1 Midtre Syndrol.

Richard Duhoux calls him Tortstein Knutsson Lajord Øvre Villand.

Torstein married Marit Olsdatter SYNDROL. Marit (daughter of Ola Johannessen BØE and Dorte Knutsdatter SYNDROL) was born about 1807 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died on 23 Mar 1898 in Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She is probably Marit Olsdatter Syndrol, I17705 in Jim’s VS. That is assumed here and is consistent with the bygdebok (Vang A, p.828).

Eugene shows Knut as having three sisters: Dorthea, Marit, and ?. The 1865 Norwegian census, at which time Marit Olsdatter was a widow on Viland øvre in Vang, Knud and Dorthe (b. 1848) were the only two children living with Marit.

She was living wih Knut and Marit in Kerkhoven Twp in the 1875 census.

An 88 year-old Marit, born in Norway, is living with Knut and Julia in Kerkhoven Twp in the 1895 Minnesota state census.

Altarking’s Tarbox Family Tree incorrectly calls her Maren Evensdatter. (Maren E gave birth to an Ole on 22 Oct 1832. The father was Tosten Olsen Søndre-Bøe.)

Notes:

Of Syndrol 48/1 according to Trudy.

In the 1865 Norwegian census he was Thorstajn Olsson, 51, living with his family on Søndrohl, mitre, in Vang. He had two sons named Ole.

Birth:
Syndrol 48/1

Died:
the date on his gravestone

Torstein married Ragndi Olsdotter ELLINGBØE on 25 Jun 1846 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. Ragndi (daughter of Ola Torleivsson ELLINGBØE and Ågot Helgesdotter ELLINGBØE) was born on 6 Jul 1826 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died on 10 Apr 1898 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Of Ellingbø Skøre 34/1 according to Trudy.

Died:
Nerre Søndrol