Re: searching for lost family
WITHEE, WITHEY, OLSON, ANDERSON, WHITE, HOWELL, BRAMBEL, HOGAN, COOKS, MORELAND
Posted By: LuAnn Goeke (email) In Response To: Re: searching for lost family (Kim)
Date: 5/16/2011 at 19:48:54
Often, it helps to broaden our search options and don’t fret about proper spelling. For example, even when clerks and officials could read and write, they often couldn’t spell and tried to write words the way they sounded. Immigrants made this doubly difficult since they frequently didn’t know how to spell their own names and possibly spoke with a thick accent, which the writer would also have to interpret. In addition, in earlier times, people were pretty informal about names and even ages. This was true even if they were talking about a legal document. And they would often convert to the English/American version of their names, such as Bottolf to Butler. Also check neighboring townships and counties. They may have said they lived in Frankville, the nearest village, even if their address was officially in Allamakee Co.
I have seen Olson spelled: Olson, Olsen, Olesen or Oleson. Oline could also go by Olina, Olena or Lena or even Marie or Mary. And starting with the 1850 census, the name of every person in the household was recorded. She should be there somewhere.
In the 1870 census for Ludlow Twp., Allamakee Co., Iowa, there is an Olena Olsen, b.abt 1863, with father, Ole Olsen, b.Norway. His wife is called Sophia, but she could be Oline’s stepmother. Ludlow is not far from either Frankville or Glenwood, even though it’s in the next county.
I find a Botolf Hanson listed as single in the 1905 census for Glenwood Twp., Winneshiek Co. I also find one in the 1900 census for Clay Co., Minnesota and one in the 1920 census in Clear Lake, Hamilton Co., Iowa. All or none of these might be the man you are seeking.
I wish you the best of luck in your search. I have found people with less information. But I don’t want to overlook them just because their information did not match exactly.
Allamakee Queries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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