John and Elizabeth (WILTSE) BLAIR

John BLAIR, Jr was born 26 Mar 1799 in Ware, Hampshire county, Massachusetts. I have no other information on him from before he was married.

Elizabeth WILTSE was born in 1807 in Vermont. I have no other information on her before her marriage. I'm guessing that she was born close to the Vermont/Massachusetts border though.

I have no information on when John and Elizabeth were married, but I'm guessing sometime between 1825 and 1829. They had 4 children: Harriet in 1830, George about 1832, Louisa about 1835, and Esra about 1847. Their memorials at findagrave suggest 2 more children: John in 1827 and Jane in 1836.

Elizabeth died in 1873 in Saratoga, Winona county, Minnesota. John lived for about 3 more years and died 24 Jul 1876 in Albany, Albany county, New York. They both have memorial on findagrave (John and Elizabeth).

I have John and Elizabeth on the following censuses:

1850 US Census for Albany, Albany county, New York

John and Elizabeth are on lines 21 and 22. This includes all of the children I listed above.

1857 Minnesota Census for Saratoga township, Winona county, Minnesota

John and Elizabeth (as Betsey) are on lines 7 and 8. I'm unsure of why Esra is mispelled as "Asa."

1860 US Census for Saratoga township, Winona county, Minnesota

John and Elizabeth are on lines 22 and 23.

Please contact me if you'd like to share any of your research.

Valentine James and Harriet (BLAIR) WARREN

Valentine James WARREN was born 14 Feb 1830 in Cambridgeshire, England. He set sail from Liverpool on the America. He arrived in America on 6 Aug 1849¹. He made the trip alone.

Harriet BLAIR was born in 1830 in Bennington, Bennington county, Vermont to John and Elizabeth (WILTSE) BLAIR.

Valentine and Harriet were married in 1853 in New York state. At some point before 1857 they moved to Minnesota. Valentine and Harriet had 2 children: Mary Elizabeth on 4 Jun 1856 and Harriet about 1857. The elder Harriet died 27 Apr 1857 in Winona county, Minnesota. Possibly as a result of childbirth. After that, Valentine moved back to New York with his 2 girls where he married Anna Eliza TYLER on 8 Oct 1859. Valentine and Anna had 7 children: William J in 1861, George about 1863, Emma about 1865, James about 1868, Jessie H in 1871 (female), and another with a name I don't know that died before 1892. Valentine died 14 Jan 1892 in St. Charles township, Winona county, Minnesota. Anna lived for about 9 more years and died in 1911. There are memorials on finagrave for Valentine (included a transcript for an obit), Harriet, and Anna.

I have the following census information for Valentine, Harriet, and Anna (post 1853):

1855 New York census for 10th Ward, Albany county, New York

Valentine and Harriet are family number 481

1870 US Census for Albany, Albany county, New York

Valentine and Anna are on lines 15 and 16

1880 US Census for Albany, Albany county, New York

Valentine and Anna are on lines 26 and 27

1895 Minnesota census for St. Charles township, Winona county

Anna is a part of family number 52 along with 2 of her children William and Jessie

1900 US Census for St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota

Anna is on line 97

1905 Minnesota census for St. Charles township, Winona county

Anna is on line 54

¹Source: The Famine Immigrants: Lists of Irish Immigrants Arriving at the Port of New York 1846-1851, volume IV April 1849 - Sep 1849; pages 461-462; published by Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc - 1984; editor Ira A. Glazier

Charles and Mary (WARREN) MARKS

Charles Valentine MARKS was born 14 Feb 1852 in Somersetshire, England. (I'm unaware of how political boundaries work in the UK, so please inform me of any changes I would have to make.) Charles immigrated to the US from England in 1871.

Mary Elizabeth WARREN was born 4 Jun 1856 in Minnesota to Valentine and Harriet (BLAIR) WARREN.

Charles and Mary were married 19 Oct 1876 in New York. They had 4 children: Lucy Elizabeth on 24 Jul 1877, Charles Ephriam about 1884, Mary Jane (date unknown), and Olive Gertrude on 6 Sep 1892.

Charles died 12 Sep 1926. (I'm assuming he died in Minnesota, but have no evidence to support that other then his burial in Minnesota.) Mary lived for almost 3 more years. She died 3 Jul 1929 in Saratoga township, Winona county, Minnesota of stomach cancer. They both have memorials on findagrave (Charles and Mary).

Mary's death certificate

I have the following censuses for Charles and Mary:

1880 US Census for Saratoga township, Winona county, Minnesota

Charles and Mary are family number 154

1900 US Census for Saratoga township, Winona county, Minnesota

Charles is on line 100. Mary is on the next page.

Mary is on line 1.

Line of descent
Charles and Mary MARKS
--> Lucy Elizabeth STEVENS
----> Warren Elmer STEVENS
------> Charles Valentine STEVENS
--------> Edward Charles STEVENS
----------> Beverly LOVEN
-------------> Me (Martha)

William and Lucretia (ALBRO) STEVENS

William STEVENS was born Jan 1832 in New York state. I have no information on his parents and any siblings. I also have no clues as to where in New York he was born to try to get baptismal information.

Lucretia ALBRO was born about 1836 also in New York state. Just like William, I have no information on her or family before her marriage.

William and Lucretia were married sometime before 1860. I suspect that they were married between 1855 and 1859. They had 7 children: Ezra around 1860, Emily about 1862, Willie about 1864, Edith D about 1867, Warren Elmer on 25 Jul 1869, George Herman about 1872, and Minnie B about 1875.

As for the deaths of William and Lucretia, all I have are possibilities that William died in either 1911 or 1930. I'll have to order the death certificates to learn more.

I do, however, have the following censuses for William and Lucretia:

1870 US Census for Elba township, Winona county, Minnesota

William and Lucretia are on lines 10 and 11

1880 US Census for St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota

William and Lucretia are on lines 8 and 9

1900 US Census for St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota

Willam and Lucretia are on lines 40 and 41

Line of descent
William and Lucretia STEVENS
--> Warren Elmer STEVENS
----> Charles Valentine STEVENS
------> Edward Charles STEVENS
--------> Beverly LOVEN
----------> Me (Martha)

Warren and Lucy (MARKS) STEVENS

Warren Elmer STEVENS was born 25 Jul 1869 in Minnesota to William and Lucretia (ALBRO) STEVENS. Warren was the 5th of 7 children.

Lucy Elizabeth MARKS was born 24 Jul 1877 in Albany, Albany county, New York to Charles and Mary (WARREN) MARKS. Lucy was the oldest of 4 children.

Warren and Lucy were married 28 Nov 1893 in Winona county, Minnesota. They had 12 children: Herman Leroy "Roy" on 30 Oct 1894, Lula "Loel" on 4 Jul 1896, Charles Valentine "Charlie" on 29 Jul 1898, Alma Maud "Ruby" on 23 May 1900, Noah Lee "Jack" on 25 Jan 1902, a stillborn daughter on 4 Apr 1904, Mary Ruth on 21 Apr 1907, Walter Warren "Jim" on 21 Aug 1909, Rhoda Jane "Toots" on 24 Aug 1912, Joesph Edward "Joe" on 23 Oct 1914, Donald Edward "Sam" on 9 Apr 1917, and Lucy Elizabeth "Bob" on 20 Apr 1920. I was given the nicknames for the children by Joe's daughter Mary along with my mom & her brothers (grandchildren of Charles).

Warren died 24 Oct 1929 in Quincy township, Olmsted county, Minnesota of pancreatic cancer. Lucy lived for another 30 years and died 23 Mar 1959 in St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota. She died of cardo-vascular disease. They both have profiles on findagrave (Warren and Lucy).

Lucy's death certificate

Warren's death certificate

 I have Warren and Lucy on the following censuses after they were married:

1900 US Census for Claremont, Dodge county, Minnesota

Warren and Lucy are on lines 25 and 26

1910 US Census for Dover township, Olmsted county, Minnesota

Warren and Lucy are on lines 18 and 19

1930 US Census for Quincy township, Olmsted township, Minnesota

Lucy is on line 1. She was a widow at this point.

1940 US Census, page 6B, St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota, page 6B

Line of descent
Warren and Lucy STEVENS
--> Charles Valentine STEVENS
----> Edward Charles STEVENS
------> Beverly LOVEN
--------> Me (Martha)

Charles and Alma (WISKOW) STEVENS

Charles Valentine "Charlie" STEVENS was born 29 Jul 1898 in Ellington township, Dodge county, Minnesota to Warren and Lucy (MARKS) STEVENS. He was the 3rd of 12 children.

Alma Bertha Augusta WISKOW was born 21 Apr 1904 in St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota to William & Magdalena (SELL) WISKOW. She was the 3rd of 11 children.

Charles and Alma were married 2 Jan 1929 in St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota. They had 8 children: Edward Charles "Ed" on 4 Sep 1929, Dora Jane in 1932, William Warren "Bill" in 1934, Robert Bernard "Bob" in 1936, Neva Grace in 1938, Margery Marie in 1940, and twins Janet Mary and Janice Mae in 1945.

Charlie and Alma's wedding certificate. I haven't ordered the government record yet.

Charlie died 3 Jul 1981 in Wabasha, Wabasha county, Minnesota of congestive heart failure. Alma lived on for many years. She died 8 Jul 1991 in St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota at the Whitewater Care Center where she was staying temporarily after breaking her hip. They both have memorials on findagrave (Charlie and Alma). I also have PDFs of their obits from the Rochester Post Bulletin (Rochester, Minnesota). Charlie's obit ran 4 Jul 1981 and Alma's ran 9 Jul 1991.

Alma's death certificate

Charlie's death certificate

I have Charlie and Alma on the following 2 censuses after they were married:

1930 US Census for St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota

Charlie and Alma are on lines 41 and 42.

 1940 US Census for St. Charles township, Winona county, Minnesota.

Charlie and Alma are on lines 21 and 22

Line of descent
Charles and Alma STEVENS
--> Edward Charles STEVENS
--> Beverly LOVEN
----> Me (Martha)

UPDATE: I'd forgetten about the memories I have. I have no memories of Charlie as he died before I was a year old. However, I do have a few of Alma. She quilted. I even have a quilt that she made just for me. She also collected salt and pepper shakers. She had one of those cabinets with windows in the door that she kept them in, and, from what I can remember, it was full. As always, I invite people with memories to feel free to share them in the comments section.

Edward and Ruth (HAKES) STEVENS

This post is on my maternal grandparents.

I believe this was taken sometime in the 1980s

Edward Charles "Ed" STEVENS was born 4 Sep 1929 in St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota to Charles and Alma (WISKOW) STEVENS. Ed was the oldest of 8 children. As of this post, all 7 of his younger siblings are still alive. I don't remember him very well, but he made various things out of wood. At least 1 bunk bed, a lamp/plant stand, and a recipe book holder. I'm sure there's many more that I'm not aware of .

Ruth Elizabeth HAKES was born 6 Apr 1932 in Preson Lake township, Renville county, Minnesota to Leonard and Anna (PAGEL) HAKES. She was the 2nd of 3 children. For hobbies she made various crafts including those necklaces made out of paper beads, plastic canvas items, & crocheted items. After grandpa died (Ed) she made sure that all her kids, grandkids, and other relatives received an ornament in his memory every year until she died. Most years she made them, others she bought something simple that was personalized. They always had a small paper tag that  stated that the ornament was in his memory and the year.

Ruth's birth certificate

Ed and Ruth were married 8 Dec 1956 in Buffalo Lake, Renville county, Minnesota. They ended up settling in St. Charles where they raised their 3 children: Beverly "Bev", Craig, and Wayne. Ed died 8 Jan 1989 of acute pulmonary edema due to ischemic heart disease (a heart attack I believe in layman's terms). He was pronounced dead at the ER at St. Mary's hospital in Rochester, Olmsted county, Minnesota. Ruth died 16 Jun 1998 at her home in St. Charles, Winona county, Minnesota of acute thromboembolism to the heart (blood clot to the heart I was told).

Ed's death certificate

Ruth's death certificate

Both of their obits were posted in the Post Bulletin (Rochester, Minnesota). Ed's on 2 Jan 1989 and Ruth's on 19 Jun 1998. They also both have memorials on findagrave (Ed and Ruth).

Seeing as they were married after 1940 I do not have them on any censuses as a married couple. Thus the censuses I do have with them will be on the future posts of their parents.

I do, however, have PDFs of both of their obits for anybody who would want them.

Line of descent
Ed & Ruth (HAKES) STEVEN
--> Beverly LOVEN
----> Me (Martha)

Charles and Wilhelmina OLDENBURG

Charles William OLDENBURG was born Jun 1858 in Minnesota. I have no other information on him before his marriage at this point in time though.

Wilhelmina GRAGERT was born Feb 1866 in Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota. I also have no other information on her from before her marriage.

I'm unsure of when Charles and Wilhelmina were married. I suspect 1883 though. They did have 6 children that I know of from census records: Maria Johanna Elizabeth on 29 May 1884, Lena W on 10 Sep 1886, Arnold F on 14 Oct 1888, Frank G on 16 Nov 1891, Alma in Nov 1896, and Elwin C in Nov 1896. I also have no information on the deaths of either Charles or Wilhelmina.

I have Charles and Wilhelmina on the following censuses:

1895 Minnesota census for Blakely township in Scott county

Charles and Wilhelmina are family number 144.

1900 US Census for Blakely township, Scott county, Minnesota

Charles and Wilehlmina are on lines 25 and 26.

1905 Minnesota census for Blakely township in Scott county.

Charles and Wilhelmina are on lines 1 and 2. It also shows a Fred BLOOM that I believe is the Louis Fred BLUME that their daughter Maria married.

• 1910 US Census, page 6A, Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota

UPDATES

• Marriage record

Frederich and Wilhelmina (POTTSCHMIDT) BLUME

Frederich BLUME was born in Aug 1827 in Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany. He immigrated to the us in 1853 (census records). He was a member of Co. A, 1st Regiment, Minnesota Heavy Artillery between 1864 and 1865 from 1 pension papers I received from my grandma (his granddaughter.

Wilhelmina POTTSCHMIDT was born 25 Sep 1843 in Prussia (Germany) to William and Henrietta POTTSCHMIDT. She came to the US in 1846.

Frederich and Wilhelmina were married about 1861. Most likely in Minnesota. They had 10 children: William Fred about 1864, Elizabeth about 1866, Anna in Apr 1867, Henry Fred about 1868, Louis Fred "Fred" and Charles Fred on 1 Oct 1871, Emma about 1876, Edward Fred in Oct 1878, Minna in Jan 1882, and Ida in Apr 1886. I don't know when Frederich died other then it was before 5 Aug 1908, but Wilhelmina died 28 Oct 1936 in Jordan, Scott county, Minnesota. I also have a memorial for Wilhelmina at findagrave.

Wilhelmina's death certificate.

Part of Frederich's pension record

Wilhelmina's affidavit to receive a widow's pension.

I have found Fred and Wilhelmina on the following censuses:

1875 Minnesota census for Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota.

Fred & Wilhelmina are on lines 15 and 16 of the first page

1880 US Census for Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota

Fred and Wilhelmina are on lines 14 and 15

1885 Minnesota Census for Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota

Fred and Wilhelmina are on lines 38 and 39 of the first page

1900 US Census for Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota

Fred and Wilhelmina are on lines 31 and 32.

Line of descent
Frederich and Wilhelmina (POTTSCHMIDT) BLUME
--> Louis Fred BLUME
----> Lois LOVEN
------> James LOVEN
--------> Me (Martha)

Louis Fred & Maria (OLDENBURG) BLUME

I've decided that I like the approach of doing a post about a married couple better then splitting them up into 2 separate posts. Thus, I'll be doing that from now on until I get through the information that I already have.

Louis Fred BLUME was born 1 Oct 1871 in Scott county, Minnesota to Frederich and Wilhelmina (POTTSCHMIDT) BLUME. Louis started to go by his middle name of Fred at a young age for a reason that I'm (along with his daughter Lois) are unaware of. Fred was the 5th or 6th of 10 children (he had a twin brother Charles). I currently don't have a copy of his baptismal record or a clue as to which church his family was attending at the time of his birth.

Maria Johanna Elizabeth was born 29 May 1884 in Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota to Charles William and Wilhelmina (GRAGERT) OLDENBURG. Maria was the oldest of 6 children. I don't have her baptismal record as of yet.

Fred and Maria were married 22 Jun 1905 in Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota. They had 7 children: Loren Henry on 23 Jan 1906, Lester Carl on 4 Feb 1908, Ervin Henry on 14 Oct 1909, Florence Lena on 19 Dec 1912, Howard Edwin on 28 Jan 1916, Lucille A on 17 Jan 1919, and Lois Marie on 18 Sep 1925. The only one of their children still living at the time I write this post is Lois.

Fred died 8 Nov 1853 in Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota. Maria lived for a few years after Fred died. She spent her final years living with her daughter Lois and her family and died 15 Apr 1972 in Peterson, Fillmore county, Minnesota. They both have profiles on findagrave (Fred and Maria).

Fred's death certificate

Maria's death certificate

I have Fred & Maria on the following censuses after they were married:

• 1910 US Census, page 6A, Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota
• 1920 US Census, page 2A, Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota
• 1930 US Census, page 12A, Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota
• 1940 US Census, page 7B, Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minnesota

UPDATES

• Marriage Record
• 
  

Aslak and Anna LOVEN

I'm covering both of my great-great-great grandparents in the LOVEN line in this post. They are the LOVENs that decided to leave Norway for Iowa.

Aslak (Aslag) was born as Aslak OLSEN LOVEN (the 2 names explained on my post about John LOVEN) on 27 May 1826 in Aurland, Nodre Bergenhus (now Sogn og Fjordane), Norway to Ole ASLAKSEN and Signe ALVSDATTER.

Aslak is number 46.  The translation is "Date of birth 27 May [1826], date of baptism 28 Jun, name Aslack, born in wedlock, parents cotter Ole ASLAKSEN and Signe ALVSDATTER LOVEN, witnesses Trjer ALVSEN, Ivar ALVSEN, Knud ELLINGSEN, og Marie GJERTSDATTER LOVEN, also Ingebor ASLAKSDATTER BEIRGUM."

Anna was born as Anna JOHANNESDATTER SKAJEM on 21 Jun 1828 in Aurland, Nodre Bergenhus, Norway to Johannes ANDERSEN and Methe NIELSDATTER.

Anna is number 47.  The translation is "Date of birth 21 June [1828], date of baptism 29 June, name Anna, parents farmer Johannes ANDERSEN and Metthe NIELSDATTER SCHAJEM [SKAJEM], witnesses Ole ANDERSEN SCHAJEM, Jens ENOCHSEN VIGESLAND, Gjert TORJURSEN LOVE, Martha ERICHSDATTER SCHAJEM, Bergilda NEILSDATTER VIGESLAND, and Anna NEILSDATTER SCHAJEM."

Aslak and Anna were married 31 May 1858 in Aurland, Nodre Bergenhus, Norway.

Aslak and Anna's marriage is number 5. Translation "Wedding date 31 May [1858] The wedded couple Unwed man Aslak OLSEN LOVEN [age 32] and unwed woman Anna JOHANNESDATTER [age 29], his fatehr Ole ASLAKSEN, her father Johannes OLSEN, best man Lars INGVARDSEN and Johannes OLSEN SKAJEM, annoucements dates May 16, 24, and 30; wedding requested by groom when vaccinated for smallpox."

Aslak and Anna had 4 children before they came to America in 1869: Sigrid "Sarah" on 4 Jul 1861, Johannes on 2 Nov 1862, Metta on 5 Jan 1865, and Ole on 14 Mar 1868. They set sail on 12 Apr 1869 on the bark Alma and landed in Quebec on 1 Jun 1869. (The passenger list is at norwayheritage.com.) After settling around Decorah, Iowa, Aslak and Anna had 2 more children Nels Johannes on 15 May 1872 and Hannah on 10 Oct 1875. They stayed living on their farm in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, Iowa and the Decorah area for the rest of their lives. Aslak died 24 Oct 1900 in Decorah, Winneshiek county, Iowa. while Anna lived for a few more years and died 21 May 1910 in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, Iowa. I do not have obits for either one of them, but they both do have memorials up on findagrave [Aslak and Anna].

Before his death, Aslak did become a naturalized citizen in 1869. This process also made Anna a citizen as, at that time, wives gained their citizenship through their husbands and underaged daughters through their fathers. I only have Aslak's 2nd papers though.

I have found them on the following censuses:

• 1865 Norwegian Census for Aurland, Sogn og Fjordane.
• 1870 US Census, page 15, Glenwood towsnhip, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1880 US Census, page 1, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1895 IA Census, page 474, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1900 US Census, page 1A, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1910 US Census, page 9A, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa (Anna only)

UPDATES:

• Death Certificate
• 
  

Berte Maria "Mary" (LYSTAD) LOVEN

Berte Maria (or in some records Bertha Mary) LYSTAD was born 29 Dec 1863 in Sørum, Akershus, Norway as Berte Maria HANSEN to Hans OLSON and Anne ANDERSDATTER. (HANSEN, OLSON, and ANDERSDATTER all being surnames based on the name of the father as explained in my last post.) My grandma (her granddaughter-in-law) has told me that she went by Mary.

Her baptismal record in the Ministralbok for Gjerdum, Akershus, Norway as Berte Maria.

From what I've gathered, Mary's father left her family around the time that she was born. While I don't know when she came to America, I suspect that she came with her mother and her older half-sister. I can say that she came sometime between 1865 (when she showed up on the census in Norway) and her marriage in 1887. I suspect her arrival was closer to 1887.

She married John LOVEN 1 Mar 1887 in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, Iowa. They had 9 children: Albert Herman on 15 Jun 1887, Adolph Melvin on 16 Oct 1887 (he went by Melvin), Henry Rudolph on 1 Oct 1890, Anga Cornelia on 6 May 1892 (she died 7 Sep 1893), Carl Alfred on 7 Dec 1893, Julius Bernard on 25 Sep 1895, Anga Cornelia Minerva on 30 Sep 1897, Hannah Violeta "Violet" on 5 Apr 1899, and Roy Philip on 17 Jun 1903.

Mary died 10 Apr 1948 in Waukon, Alamakee county, Iowa. I do have a PDF of her obit which was posted in the Decorah Journal (Decorah, Iowa) on 15 Apr 1948. She also has a memorial on findagrave.

I have Mary on the following censuses.

• 1865 Norwegian census for the Lystad farm in Ullensager
• 1895 IA Census, page 474, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1910 US Census, page 8B, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa.
• 1920 US Census, page 3A, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa.
• 1930 US Census, page 2B, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1940 US Census, page 3B, Glenwood township, Winnehsiek, Iowa

UPDATES:

Johannes "John" LOVEN

My great-grandfather was born as Johannes ASLAKSEN LOVEN on 2 November 1862 in Aurland, Nodre Bergenhus (now Sogn og Fjordane), Norway. At that time in Norway, surnames were based on the name of the father. Thus, ASLAKSEN means "son of Aslak." The LOVEN in his name was, at that time, the family's farm name. Simply meaning that they lived on the farm named Loven. He was born to Aslak OLSEN and Anna JOHANNESDATTER, both with the farm name of LOVEN.

From the Mineserialbok for Aurland. John is entry 49. It's been translated to "Date of birth Nov 7th, date of baptism Nov 9th, name Johannes, born in wedlock parents cotter Aslak OLSEN LOVEN and wife Anna JOHANNESDATTER, witnessess Alf MORTENSEN, Morten AUGUSTINUSSEN, Gjert OLSEN, Britha SJURSDATTER, and Monsine GJERTSDATTER LOVEN.

John left Norway 12 Apr 1869 from Bergen, Norway on the Bark Alma at the age of 6 with his parents, 2 sisters (Sigrid "Sarah" and Metta), and  1 brother (Ole). The ship landed in Quebec on 1 Jun 1869. The passenger list can be viewed at www.norwayheritage.com. On that particular list, the family is on lines 69-74 with John on line 72. He became a naturalized US citizen on 28 Oct 1880. I only have his 2nd papers at this time though.

John's 2nd papers

Sometime between 1800 and 1887 the surname was changed to LOVEN. John married Berte Maria "Mary" LYSTAD on 1 Mar 1887 in Glenwood township, Winneshiek county, Iowa. They had 9 children together: Albert Herman on 15 Jun 1887, Adolph Melvin on 16 Oct 1888 (who went by Melvin), Henry Rudolph on 1 Oct 1890, Anga Cornelia on 6 May 1892 (who died 7 Sep 1893), Carl Alfred on 7 Dec 1893, Julius Bernard on 25 Sep 1895, Anga Cornelia Minerva on 30 Sep 1897, Hanna Violeta "Violet" on 5 Apr 1899, and Roy Philip on 17 Jun 1903.

John & Mary's marriage record. I also have a PDF of this.

John became a widow 10 Apr 1948 when Mary died. He died a few months later on 4 Sep 1948 in Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa. I do have a PDF of his obit and he has a memorial at findagrave.com.

I've found John on the following censuses:

• 1865 Norwegian census for Aurland.
• 1870 US Census, page 15, Glenwood towsnhip, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1880 US Census, page 1, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1895 IA Census, page 474, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1910 US Census, page 8B, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1920 US Census, page 3A, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1930 US Census, page 2B, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa
• 1940 US Census, page 3B, Glenwood township, Winneshiek, Iowa

UPDATES: