Peder Tomason ELLESTAD

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1917-MN-003164

Notes:

Known as Peter Thompson after he settled in Minnesota (and from the 1860 census on). Lived in Christiania. Buried as Peter Thompson.

“Life History of Peter Thompson Ellestad” by Thilda Marie (Thompson) Ruh

Peter was not born under a lucky star with a silver spoon in his mouth. His troubles on earth have been many. When nine years old he was sent a Norwegian mile along the King's highway on an errand to the minister. This was in itself a great task and Peter tried hard to remember what to say. He was ushered into the preacher's presence who thundered at him, "Take your cap off when you come to see me!" This scared Peter out of a year's growth and left him in doubt as to preachers.

At ten years old his father gave him a knife and a holster. This he was instructed never to lose. However, his first ramble in the mountains this disappeared never to be found and Peter feared the willow switch on spots most tender. Here he showed his resourcefulness in somehow obtaining a knife and holster which he carried and avoided the willow switch.

At the age of sixteen years old came the great event in Peter's life. He was to emigrate...leave father and mother, sisters and brothers and go to the great and then unknown America. Great was the preparation for Peter's departure. The sheep were sheared and wool spun into yarn for stockings, mittens, scarves, and underwear. A chest full of flatbröd, spike|yot (sic), cheese and all good food was also packed for Peter's journey.

We will pass over his leave taking of his people and on April 3, 1852 he started for Christiania via Drammen. Arriving in Christiania he found to his great dismay the boat he was to take had left. After a tiresome wait of four weeks the real ocean voyage began. Twelve weeks on the Atlantic Ocean in their sail boat they landed at Quebec via Montreal to Buffalo, NY.

Now about the middle of August aboard the steamer "Atlantic" on Lake Erie Peter awoke about midnight amongst the wildest confusion. The steamer "Atlantic" had been purposefully run into by the "Ogdensburgh" (the captains were bitter enemies) and the "Atlantic" was bitterly cut in two. Peter alone and unencumbered managed to get to the deck and climbed the mast and jumped into a life boat just as the "Atlantic" sunk. Of the 830 passengers, more than 500 men, women, and children drowned.

Peter was picked up by the enemy steamer, "Ogdensburgh" and landed in Chicago. All of Peter's possessions now were enough clothes to cover his body. The well-filled chest laboriously prepared went to the bottom of Lake Erie. Peter proceeded from Chicago to Milwaukee where the survivors were given $12.50 each. This was a great fortune and he went on to Koshkonong, Dane Co., Wisconsin on August 22, 1852, his journey's end. Here he met people of his Valdres and amongst them a beautiful blue-eyed maiden, Miss Barbro Olsdatter Noben, but Peter had his own to make.

Note:
Entire document handwritten. Margin note: "This was translated into Norwegian by Andrew Veblen and published in the Valdres Samband issue of November 1916."

In the 1860 census, Peter Thompson, 24, his wife “Barber”, 21, and their son Thomas, 1, were living in Eureka Township. The value of their property is $200.

In the 1870 census, the family is still in Eureka Township. The value of their real estate is now $3000. The family consists of Peter, 36, Barbara, 32, John, 9, Antonio 7, Lora, 4, and Walter, 2.

In the 1880 census, “Peter Thompson,” age 44, is living in Eureka, Dakota County, with his wife Barbra, 42, and their children Anton, 17, Laura, 13, Walter, 11, Nels, 9, Tilda, 6, and Lilly, 3. Also living with the family is Peter Westenberg, a 40 year-old shoemaker.

The Peter Thompsons’ neighbors are James and Helona Pool.

Image 235A.

In the 1900 census, Peter was farming in Eureka Township. The household consisted of Peter Thompson, 63 (born June 1836), a widower, Nels A., his son, 29 (born March 1871), single, and Lillie E., 23 (born April 1877), single. Nels is shown as a school teacher, Lillie as a housekeeper. (Nels is the census enumerator.) Peter is shown as having come to this country in 1852. Living next door was Annie Ellestad, 56, a single woman, born in Norway in August 1843 and having come to this country in 1887. Living a few farms away, and on the same census page, was Betsey Forstrom and her family.

In the 1910 census, Peter is living in Eureka with his single sister, Anna Thompson, age 65. Peter is shown as having come to this country in 1852 and Anna, who is still an alien, in 1889. Anna is a housekeeper; Peter has his “own income.”

Cemetery records note: Veteran of 2nd Minnesota Battery, Light Artillery (Civil War) Civil War records on Ancestry.com show Peter was a member of the 2nd Independent Battery of the Minnesota Light Artillery. He entered service and left service as a Private.

From the History of Dakota County, Eureka Twp, published in 1882. Peter Thompson is a native of Northern Norway, born in 1836. Came to the United States at the age of sixteen years and settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, resided there three years. His education was acquired in Norway and Wisconsin. Coming to Minnesota in 1857, he took a claim on the site of his present farm, and has since made it his home. Has held the office of town supervisor, and has been re-elected town treasurer since 1878. Married at Eureka in 1858, to Miss Barbara Oleson, of Hastings. Seven children, four boys and three girls have been born to them. Mr. Thompson enlisted in 1864, in the Second Minnesota Light Artillery, and served until the close of hostilities; was discharged at Fort Snelling in August, 1865.

From the History of Dakota and Goodhue Counties, published in 1910. Peter Thompson, of Eureka township, has the honor of having served as postmaster of Christiania post office for the long period of twenty-five years, and he would have been retained in service for a still longer period had not the rural free delivery been established and the office abolished. He has also been treasurer of the township for forty years, which covers nearly the whole time of his residence here. Peter Thompson was born at Ellestad, Lommen, Slidre, Norway, June 10, 1836, and came to America in 1852, settling in Wisconsin, where he remained until 1856. In the early spring of that year he pre-empted 160 acres of land in Eureka township, in sections 21 and 28. This he improved and prepared for cultivation, and has since made his home here carrying on general farming. At the beginning of the Indian uprising he went to St. Peter (Mendota) and joined a company, which was sent to the relief of Fort Ridgely. In the summer of 1864 he enlisted in the 2nd Minn. Battery of Light Artillery, going to Chatanooga, Tenn., where he remained until the close of the war after which he returned home to the farm. He was married May 18, 1858, to Barbara Olson, a native of Norway, who came to this country in 1851. To this union were born nine children, of whom six are living: O.J., now of Seattle, Wash.; A. N., now of Virginia, Minn.; Walter M., now of Duluth, Minn.; Nels A., now of Superior, Wis; Laura (deceased); Tilda M., now of Superior, Wis.; Lillie E., who is a trained nurse in St. Paul; Edward (deceased), who graduated from the state agricultural school; and one child who died in infancy. Mr. Thompson is a Republican in politics and the family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.

He is listed in “The Valdris Book”, a history of the Valdris Samband published in 1920 (available on Google Books) as Peder Thompson of Farmington. He was a member of the Samband between 1902 and his death in 1917.

Buried:
“urarmia, atherosclerosis”

Peder married Barbro Olsdatter NOBEN in 1858 in Eureka Twp, Dakota County, Minnesota. Barbro was born in 1838; died on 5 Jan 1897; was buried in East Christiania Lutheran Cemetery, Eureka Twp, Dakota County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried as Thomas Thompson.

The first child with this name born to Peter and Barbro.

Cemetery records show date of birth as April 22nd.

“died, consumption”

Not included with the family at the time of the 1870 census.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Washington Death Certificate: 22661

Notes:

Called John in the 1870 census. Not living with his parents in the 1880 census.

May be the Olai J. Thompson, age 19, who was a druggist clerk in Fergus Falls in the 1880 census. This Olai was born in Minnesota and both of his parents in Norway. He was a boarder with a druggist named A. Shore.

In the 1910 census, may be the Olai Thompson, 49, living with his wife Mary in Seattle. They live in a house that they own, have been married for 26 years, and have no children. Olai works in the grocery business. Olai was born in Minnesota and both of his parents were born in Norway. Mary, also 49, was born in South Dakota and both of her parents were born in Norway.

In the 1930 census, he is probably the Olai J. Thompson, a 69 year-old widower, living alone in Elliott, King County, Washington. This Olai was born in Minnesota and both of his parents were born in Norway. He was first married at age 23.

Probably is the Olai J. Thompson, age 91, who died in Washington on December 10, 1951. The death certificate number shown here assumes that.

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1916-MN-025231

Notes:

An article in the Virginia Enterprise (7 Oct 1898) describing a visit to Anton by Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Thompson, said that Walter was a “closer” for the Singer Manufacturing Company in Duluth and that Walter was a member of the Republican county committee, a political difference from Anton who is chairman of the “local Towne and Lind Club.”

Anton ran for mayor in 1899 and lost by 4 votes.

In August of 1907, the Virginia newspaper reported that Anton was “seriously ill at his home on Central, … [suffering] from acute appendicitis in conjunction with his recent injury received in a runaway, and his condition is said to be critical.”

By 1909, Anton was manager of the Singer Agency in Virginia. Anton got out of the business in July of 1912.

He lived in Virginia, Minnesota, in 1910 when his father’s entry in the Dakota/Goodhue County history was written.

Anton died of stomach cancer. He was a clerk for the Park Board of the city of Virginia which is where he resided. The informant for his death certificate was Nels A. Thompson of Duluth.

Died:
died at St. Luke’s Hospital, Duluth

Family/Spouse: Carrie S KNUTSON. Carrie (daughter of Martha L) was born about 1867 in Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried as Laura Thompson

Buried:
“with Peter & Barbro” 230 EA 32

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 1 Nov 1868, Eureka Twp, Dakota County, Minnesota

Notes:

An article in the Virginia Enterprise (7 Oct 1898) describing a visit to his brother Anton by “Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Thompson,” says that Walter was a “closer” for the Singer Manufacturing Company in Duluth and that Walter was a member of the Republican county committee.

In the 1900 census, Walter, 31 (b. March 1869 in Minnesota), Lillian, 27 (b. May 1873 in Michigan), and Walter’s sister Tillie M., 24 (b. Nov 1875 in Minnesota) were living in Duluth at 715 West 2nd Street. Walter was a manager of a sewing machine company.

In March of 1900, Walter was appointed city clerk by Mayor Hugo of Duluth.

An article in the Virginia Enterprise (2 Jan 1903) notes that “N. A. Thompson has gone to Superior where he assumes the agency of the Singer Manufacturing Co., succeeding Walter M. Thompson, who has been assigned to the management of the Duluth house.”

In the 1905 state census, he and Lillian live in Duluth at 617 East 3rd. He is an agent for a sewing machine company. Living with him and Lillian are two men who, like Lillian, also sell sewing machines. The two men, apparently boarders, are Edward Hanson, 45, and John A Johnson, 35.

In 1910, he (as Wilter M. Townsend) and his family are living at 617 East 3rd Street in Duluth. They now have a daughter, the only child Lillian has had. They also have a servant: Emmy Carlson, age 19, born in Minnesota of Swedish parents. Walter is a “local agent” for a sewing machine company.

Birth:
per Highview baptism record, ELCA

Baptism:
Highview

Walter married Lillian THORP on 6 Dec 1897 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Lillian (daughter of Henry T THORP and Louisa A MELITZER) was born on 3 Apr 1873 in Manistee County, Michigan; died on 2 Jan 1927 in Cook County, Illinois; was buried in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1930-MN-026193

Notes:

An article in the Virginia Enterprise (2 Jan 1903) notes that “N. A. Thompson has gone to Superior where he assumes the agency of the Singer Manufacturing Co., succeeding Walter M. Thompson, who has been assigned to the management of the Duluth house.”

Nels and his family were living at 119 East 7th Street in Duluth at the time of the 1910 census. Nels was an agent for the Singer Company.

Nels was the informant for his brother Anton’s death certificate.

He is listed in “The Valdris Book”, a history of the Valdris Samband published in 1920 (available on Google Books), as N A Thompson of Duluth. He was a member of the Samband in 1920 and had been since 1906.

In the 1920 census, the family is living at 1820 East 7th Street in Duluth. Living with the family is a 75 year-old single woman named Anna _stad, born in Norway, andd shown as “aunt.” Nels is now a clerk in the post office.

In the 1930 census (April 7th), the family is still living at 1820 East 7th Street in Duluth. Nels is still a postal clerk and Bessie, living with them and still single, is a public school teacher. Peter is also living at home, no occupation shown. Two days after the census-taker visited, Nels was dead.

Nels married Jennie G ENGER on 14 Sep 1904 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Jennie (daughter of ENSTAD) was born on 8 Jun 1880 in Zumbrota, Goodhue County, Minnesota; died on 7 Dec 1962 in St. Louis County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1963-MN-028313

Notes:

Single and living in Duluth with her brother Walter and his wife in the 1900 census.

She lived in Superior, Wisconsin, in 1910 when the entry for her father was written for the Dakota/Goodhue County history.

Married Edwin, a widower.

No mention of Edwin in the cemetery records. Listed in cemetery records as Thilda M. Thompson. Buried with her parents.

Died as Thilma M. Ruh. Buried as Thilda M. Thompson.

Buried:
“with Peter & Barbro”

Thilda married Edwin P RUH after 1930. Edwin (son of Olof Peterson RUH and Marit Knutsdatter) was born in Jan 1867 in Minnesota; died on 7 Dec 1939 in Ramsey County, Minnesota; was buried in Highview Cemetery, Eureka Twp, Dakota County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1924-MN-022548

Notes:

Single and living at home with her widowed father and brother Nels at the time of the 1900 census.

According to the entry for her father in the Dakota/Goodhue county history, she was a trained nurse living in St. Paul in 1910.

She is listed in “The Valdris Book”, a history of the Valdris Samband published in 1920 (available on Google Books), as Lillie E Thompson of Farmington. She was a member of the Samband between 1906 and 1911.

Also according to the Valdris Book, Lillie served in World War I as a Red Cross Army Nurse.

Her brother Nels A. was the informant for her death certificate. He had her buried in Duluth. Lillie died from tuberculosis.

Single. Never married.

Birth:
according to her death certificate

Died:
at St. Luke’s Hospital which was also her residence

Notes:

The second child with this name born to Peter and Barbro. Buried as Edward Thompson beside his mother and sister.

He graduated from the “state agricultural school.”

Buried:
“with Peter & Barbro”

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Birth Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1906-42670

Notes:

Shown as Barbro, her parents’ first child, on her birth certificate.

Her first name, then, was her father’s mother’s name and her middle name was her mother’s mother’s name.

In the 1920 census, she is Barbara, age 13 and living in Duluth with her widowed mother.

She was “Miss Barbro Louise Thompson,” a member of the Ziegfeld Follies at the time of the death of her mother, “Mrs. Lillian T. Thompson, age 53, of Duluth and New York.” She inherited all of her mother’s $10,500 estate. An Associated Press article (e.g., Racine’s Journal Times, 8 Jan 1927) said that, “The girl gets the interest on her money until she is 30 years old, when she comes into the principal.”

Family/Spouse: William ORVIN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1996-MN-032507
• Occupation: School teacher

Notes:

She was Bessie M on her birth record.

She was “Miss Bess Thompson” of Duluth in her mother’s obituary.

Birth:
Wisconsin Genealogical index

Other Events and Attributes:

• Social Security Number: 185-36-7604 issued in Pennsylvania in 1962

Notes:

She was Marion L in her birth record (Wisconsin Genealogical Index).

She was Mrs. E. A. Steenwyk of Ambler, Pennsylvania, in her mother’s obituary.

Family/Spouse: Elmer Arthur VAN STEENWYK. Elmer was born about 1905 in Sioux Center, Sioux County, Iowa; died in Mar 1962; was buried in Church of the Messiah Cemetery, Gwynedd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1910-35063
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1988-MN-003642

Notes:

He lived in Minneapolis at the time of his mother’s death.

Peter married Dorothy E BARSTAD on 25 Sep 1937 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Dorothy was born on 29 May 1913 in Hennepin County, Minnesota; died on 10 Jan 2003 in Edina, Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried in Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Birth Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1931-37918

Notes:

Shown as child #1.



His Ancestry profile says that he has a graduate degree and is retired from a career in consulting services.

John Joseph van Steenwyk, a native of Ambler, Pennsylvania, died on January 9th, 2020, at the age of 89.

John graduated from Ambler High School in 1949, and went on to receive an AB in Economics from Oberlin College in 1953 and an MBA in Insurance from The Wharton School at Penn in 1955.

Professionally, John was the president and founder of Health Economics (a resource for HMOs, Medicaid agencies, hospitals and other organizations involved in health care finance and "health reform") from June 1982 until his retirement in December 2014. Previously he was a vice president/ consultant for the Segal Company in New York City from October 1957 to September 1981. At the Segal Company he worked with developing HMOs, coordinating actuarial services provided under a Federal contract and consulted with State Medicaid agencies on the financial aspects of capitation contracting. As an Account Executive, he worked with International Unions (mainly Carpenters and Service Employees), nonprofit organizations including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, American Arbitration Association, large corporations, and joint labor-management pension and welfare funds. Prior to this he spent two years in the US Navy, swabbing the decks of submarines and editing a newspaper.

John was always the biggest presence in any room. At 89 years, he defied the "little old man" stereotype. Huge laugh. Huge voice. Huge personality. He laughed loudly when enjoying a joke, and encouraged others to do the same. He accomplished much in his time on this planet, but he was the proudest of his people, three children: Ed (Margaret) of Newtown Square, PA, Jen (Freeman) of Wyndmoor, PA and Julie of Washington DC, two grandchildren (Marco, and Matthew), five nieces and two nephews, and one much beloved sister, Linda. This past year was cruel to many, and John was not spared its harm. Although he never contracted Covid, his death and final year were undeniably marred by it. Passionate above all else about his people, he died without them. John was preceded in death by his dear wife Janice.

Family/Spouse: Janice Kevin SHARP. Janice was born on 18 Mar 1933 in Pennsylvania; died on 4 May 2001 in Ambler, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; was buried in Church of the Messiah Cemetery, Gwynedd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]