Knudt Tomason ELLESTAD

Notes:

Buried as Knudt Thompson. Known as Knudt Thompson as early as the 1860 census. He was the first of his siblings to come to Minnesota.

According to Linda’s notes: came to America in 1855, built log cabin that ended up on the Dakota County fairgrounds, lived in Christiania.

Linda’s notes also suggest that Thomas and Betsy were Knut’s children through Sonova (wrong).

Knut, Ingri, Thomas (b. 12 Apr 1852), and Berith emigrated in 1855 according to the Vestre Slidre church book. Accompanying them were Berith Thomasdatter Ellestad (b. 16 Jan 1823) and Berith Gundersdatter Ellestad (b. 6 May 1854).

In the 1860 census, Knudt Thompson, 38, Ingre, 41, and their children Thomas, 8, Betsey, 6, and Severt, 5, were living in Eureka Townshop. Also living with them was an Ole Thompson, 62. In Tolly Swan’s Thompson papers, it’s speculated that the “Severt” is actually the son of the next-door neighbor.

In the 1870 census, Knudt, 50, was living in Eureka with his wife Susan, 50, Thomas K., 18, Betsey, 17, and a 5-year old girl named, apparently, Lena Johnson. Knudt was living just a few farms away from his brother Peter.

In the 1880 census, “Knut Thompson” was living with his wife Sonova on a farm in Eureka, Dakota County. Also living in the household were 60 or 61 year-old Kristi Oleson, a housekeeper, and 9 year-old E.K. Sun or Seen, helping out on the farm.

His obit:

Knut Thompson, age seventy-three years and nine months, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs Ole E. Forstrom in Eureka and the cause of his death was general decline. Mr Thompson was one of the oldest settlers of this county. He came to this country from Norway in 1854 and settled in Wisconsin, where he lived two years, moving to Eureka in 1856 where he has since resided. Mr Thompson was a man highly esteemed by his neighbors and those who were acquainted with him for his sterling qualities in all that goes to make a good citizen and a Christian gentleman. He has held several positions of trust and was for several years mail carrier from Christiania to Castle Rock. He leaves three brothers, Peter Thompson of Eureka, Andrew Thompson of New Market and Ole Thompson of Norway Lake, Minnesota, and two sisters, Mrs L Soine of Dennison and Miss Anna Thompson of Eureka, and a daughter, Mrs Ole E. (Betsy) Forstrom of Eureka. His wife Ingri preceded him in death in 1863. Funeral services will be held Friday at the Conference Church. Rev Elias Aas will conduct the service.

Lynn Stegmaier, curator of the Dakota City Heritage Village, provided this history of the log cabin that Knudt built:

“The log cabin was built around 1857 by Knudt Thompson, a pioneer from Valdres, Norway. He and his younger brothers, Peter and Andrew and sister, Anna Ellestad were part of a group of Norwegian immigrants who formed Christiania settlement near Chub Lake in Eureka Township, Dakota County, Minnesota. It was desirable land, having a good combination of timber, open prairie and water with a terrain that reminded them of the old country. Knudt Thompson was a carpenter by trade and his careful notching and fitting of the logs reflected his skill.

“Though the Indians had given up their rights to the land in the Treaty of Mendota in 1851, some Sioux lived nearby and paid friendly visits to the cabin.

“Knudt and Sonova Thompson and their children, Thomas and Betsy lived in the cabin for a number of years. Knudt deeded the cabin and land to his brother, Peter who had an adjoining homestead. It served as a home for their sister, Anna Ellestad and others. The longest occupants were their brother Andrew’s son, John who with his wife, Helga and eight children, lived in the cabin from about 1902 to 1917.

“The cabin was passed down and loved by younger generations of Peter Thompson’s family as a summer home. After vandals destroyed the interior, Peter’s granddaughter, Ione van Steenwyk donated the cabin to the Dakota County Fair in 1965. It was rebuilt at its last relocation in Dakota City Heritage Village in 1982.

“The old logs, which had been left uncovered by siding after its move to the Fairgrounds, became infested with carpenter ants, powder post beetles and other destructive insects. After consulting experts in engineering and pest management, the Dakota City Board made the difficult decision to destroy the cabin by fire in March 2003 before the insects resumed additional damage to the cabin and the other historic buildings nearby.”

Birth:
Ellestad

Knudt married Ingri Gulliksdatter EGGE on 17 Oct 1852 in Vestre Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. Ingri (daughter of Gullik Olsen EGGE and Marit Engebretsdatter BEITO) was born on 14 Aug 1819 in Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died in 1863 in Eureka Twp, Dakota County, Minnesota; was buried in Highview Cemetery, Eureka Twp, Dakota County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Thomas Knudt THOMPSON was born on 12 Apr 1852 in Vestre Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died on 31 Jan 1872; was buried in Highview Cemetery, Eureka Twp, Dakota County, Minnesota.
2. Berit Knudsdatter (Betsy E) THOMPSON was born on 21 Oct 1853 in Vestre Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died on 27 Sep 1938 in Dakota County, Minnesota; was buried in Highview Cemetery, Eureka Twp, Dakota County, Minnesota.

Knudt married Soneva K SAMPSON after 1863. Soneva was born in 1820 in Norway; died in 1887; was buried in Highview Cemetery, Eureka Twp, Dakota County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Called Thomas Knutsen Tørstad, I12971, in Jim’s VS.

The FamilySearch entry is for Tomas Knutson, born in 1795 in Torstad II, Vang, Oppland, Norway.

In the 1865 census, shown as Thomas Knudsen, born in 1794 in Wangs, living with son Anders at Høine. His occupation is shown as “Føderaadsmd.”

The bygdebok says he moved to 26/3 Høyne or Sør-Ellestad in Vestre Slidre.

He married his first cousin.

Birth:
shown as age 23 when he got married

Tomas married Berit Johannesdatter ELLESTAD on 1 Aug 1819 in Vestre Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. Berit (daughter of Johannes Anderson ELLESTAD and Beret Amundsdatter LOMEN) was born on 30 Jul 1796 in Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died after 1865. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Shown in the 1865 census as Berit Thomasdatter born in 1794 in Vestre Slidre. Living with her husband on the Høine farm with her son Anders.

In his VS, Jim also shows her incorrectly as Berit Thomasdatter. She was definitely Berit Johannesdatter in her marriage record.

Shown as age 24 when she got married.

She married her first cousin.

Birth:
Lommen

Notes:

In the 1801 Norwegian census, he was Knud Andersen, 38, living on the Torstad farm in Wangs, Oppland. His wife was Giertrud Pedersdatter, 48, who had been married before to a man named Thomas. Living with them were children of her first marriage as well as children that they had had together. From Giertrud’s first marriage were: Thomes Thomessen, 15, Ole Thomessen, 18, Marit Thomesdatter, 13, Sigrid Thomesdatter, 10, Giertrud Thomesdatter, 8. Children of Giertrud and Knud: Thomes Knudsen, 6, and Anders Knudsen, 4.

The 1801 census did not include place of birth.

He is Knut Andrisson Ellestad, I12871, in Jim’s VS. Jim claims Knut was born in Vestre Slidre on Ellestad 23/1.

Birth:
age 38 in the 1801 census would imply he was born in 1763 or 1764

Died:
Tørstad 105/3 i Høre

Knut married Giertrud Pedersdatter VEBLEN about 1794. Giertrud (daughter of Peder Endreson KATTEVØL and Torø Vilhjølmsdatter BAGETUN) was born about 1753 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died in 1842 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The FamilySearch entry is for Iartrud Pedersdotter, born 1752 in Veflen, Vang, Oppland, Norway. She died in 1842 and her parents were Peder Endresen and Toro Vilhelmsdotter. She had two husbands.

She is Gjartrud Persdatter Veflen, I5902, in Jim’s VS. He has her born in 1753 in Veflen 99/1 in Høre.

Notes:

In the 1801 census, the family is on the Ellestad farm, Lommens Annes, Slidre. The family is Johannes Andersen, 42, Berit Amundsdatter, 40, Anders Johannessen, 13, Ole Johannessen, 9, Amund Johannessen, 3, Anne Johannesdatter, 18, Berit Johannesdatter, 4. Johannes is “Bonde og gaardbeboer” and, for marital status for both Johannes and his wife, “begge i første ægteskab.”

Johannes married Beret Amundsdatter LOMEN on 26 Dec 1781 in Vestre Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. Beret (daughter of Amund Olson LOMEN and Beret Olsdatter) was born in 1764 in Vestre Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died in 1835. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jim calls him Andris Johannesen Hålien, I5819, in his VS.

grb Ellestad 23/1

Jim’s notes:

Han var også på Ellestad 23/1 i VS. han ble konfirmert i 1743 og fikk sønnen Eirik med Guri Øysteinsdatter Kvien. Tore Ey skriver i "Vang og Slire": "Vang 1744. Fogden Peter Dorph tiltaler Anders Johannessen Holien og Guri Østensdtr Kvien, fordi de som beslægtet i andet led har begået leiermål med hinanden, han 18 år og hun 24. - han dømtes til 2 års fæstningsarbeide, og hun at arbeide ved fiskeriene nordenfjelds i 2 år." Her var det om å gjøre å holde

den moralske fanen høyt! Nå var nok ikke Andris av guds beste barn. I 1763 ble han innstevnet for å ha overfalt Peder Jøgersen Stee med hogg og slag. Året etterpå ble han stevnet for å ha ranet 23 riksdaler fra Håkon Stee.

Andris bygslet bort plassen Åsen, og to støler; Ulvild og Bakli, til Ivar Guttormsen i 1764. (17.10.1764). Tore Ey skriver at det er første gang han har sett navnet Ulvild om noen del av Ellestad. Andris byttet bort en teig som kalles Rusteteigen for 60 rd til Nils Håvardson Ellestad Sønnen Johannes overtok gården i 1784.

Birth:
Hålien 109/1

Anders married Anne Torsteinsdatter RØINE on 27 Oct 1751 in Øystre Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. Anne (daughter of Torstein Nilson DALE and Marit Gulbrandsdatter MELBY) was born in 1728 in Øystre Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; died in 1793. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Y

Notes:

He is Per Endreson Kattevold, I1267, in Jim’s VS.

grb Veflen 99/1 i Høre

Jim’s notes:

(BK "Gamalt frå Vang"): "Peder E va gjift med Tora V Baggetun. Dei kjøpte noko kjyrkjegoss paa Vøvle og budde der. Sia kjøpte dei ogso en gar paa Bunde, og der held slekte se enno." Per døde fattig hos sønnen Endre på Skel 20/1 i VS. Per og Tor a hadde tre sønner til, all døde små, to av dem het Ivar og en Trond.

Birth:
Kattevold 44/1 Nigarden

Died:
Skjel 20/1 Nørre

Peder married Torø Vilhjølmsdatter BAGETUN in 1747 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. Torø (daughter of Vilhjølm Andrisson BAGGETUN and Mari Torsteinsdatter KVAM) was born in 1724 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway; was buried on 3 Apr 1801 in Vang i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Baggetun 35/

Buried:
Kvien 96/

Amund married Beret Olsdatter about 1760. Beret was born about 1740; died on 18 May 1796 in Vestre Slidre i Valdres, Oppland, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]