Family History

Oconto County WIGenWeb Project
Collected and posted by BILL
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OCONTO COUNTY
Wisconsin
FAMILIES and BIOGRAPHIES

Again, I am still working on the history of this family, and would love to hear from cousins who might be able to help me! Norwegian ancestry and their names, are so difficult to trace backwards!

What I have been able to determine is that the Soren Olson family was one of the earliest Norwegian settlers in Green Vally, Wisconsin, near Pulcifer. They arrived about 1871. They built the Bethel Lutheran church and many of this family are buried in the churchyard. They were early participants in the county government and community.

1. Amelia Olsen, born October 18, 1874 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; died March 02, 1962 in Oconto, WI. She was the daughter of 2. Nielson Olsen and 3. Lisbeth Anderson. She married (1) George Belongia January 07, 1895 in St Peters Catholic Church, Oconto, WI. He was born November 09, 1874 in Oconto, WI, and died February 28, 1939 in Oconto, WI. He was the son of Joseph Azarie Belongia and Mary Eloise Leneau.

Notes for Amelia Olsen:
Amelia told her children that she was born in a log cabin in Pulcifer, WI.

Amelia was baptised Lutheran and converted to Catholic before she married. She was baptised Catholic by Father Vallent (the Good Father) who is buried in the Oconto Catholic Cemetary across from my grandmother Mabel McTavish.

Notes for George Belongia:
George owned a Threshing machine(steam operated) with several teams of horses. He contracted out to bale hay and separate grain. He had a crew of men that often stayed in bunks in the shed in back of the house. Sometimes he was paid in produce, Amelia cooked for the crew. He also owned a hay press and a coal tender. He quit this business when Jo Herald was 3 years old and went to work for the John Marsh Construction company all over the United States. He was the Street Commissioner of Oconto, and when he came back from John Marsh he worked for the Oconto Highway Dept until he retired.

One of Dad's favorite memories was of George taking his hounds Jimmy and Fanny and hunting rabbits with Dad. Dad said this is where his love of hunting started!

2. Nielson Olsen, born August 08, 1855 in Christiania, Norway; died January 27, 1904 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin. He was the son of 4. Soren Olson and 5. Anne Nelsdatter. He married 3. Lisbeth Anderson.
3. Lisbeth Anderson, born September 07, 1847 in Christiania, Norway; died August 01, 1923 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin.

Nelson died of a heart attack. He was driving his team of horses when he died, and they took him home.

BURIED in Section one row 9 of the Bethel East Cemetary of Green Valley (Pulcifer), Wisconsin

More About Nielson Olsen:
Burial: Green Valley Cemetary, Pulcifer, Wisconsin

Notes for Lisbeth Anderson:
Lisbeth used to take the train to Oconto to visit, bringing candy and bananas to the grandchildren.

More About Lisbeth Anderson:
Burial: Green Valley Cemetary, Pulcifer, Wisconsin

Children of Nielson Olsen and Lisbeth Anderson are:
1 i. Amelia Olsen, born October 18, 1874 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; died March 02, 1962 in Oconto, WI; married George Belongia January 07, 1895 in St Peters Catholic Church, Oconto, WI.
ii. Anette Olsen, born November 06, 1878 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; died February 10, 1884 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin.
iii. Albert Olsen, born 1880 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; died 1947; married Jennie Unknown; born 1879; died 1993.

Notes for Albert Olsen:
Albert was a member of the Shawno County board and was killed at a railroad crossing when coming home from a Board meeting.

iv. Louis Olsen, born Abt. 1886 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; died Deceased; married Marie Unknown; born in Navarino, Wisconsin; died Deceased.

Notes for Marie Unknown:
Marie was from Navarino, Wisconsin and it is believed that they both died there.

v. Rudolph Olsen, born 1882 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; died 1947; married Anna Madison; born 1890; died 1942.

More About Anna Madison:
Burial: Green Valley, Shawano County, Wisconsin

vi. Sophia Olsen, born 1879 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; died 1955 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; married Axel Larsen; born 1874; died 1936.
vii. Anna Olsen, born in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; died Deceased in Pulcifer, Wisconsin.

More About Anna Olsen:
Burial: Green Valley Cemetary, Pulcifer, Wisconsin

viii. Ida Olsen, born February 13, 1884 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; died June 18, 1904 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin.

4. Soren Olson, born October 06, 1818 in Norway; died January 06, 1898 in Green Valley, Shawano County, Wisconsin. He was the son of 8. Ole Sivertsen and 9. Malena Pedersdr. He married 5. Anne Nelsdatter December 31, 1848 in Sor Odal, Hedmark, Norway.
5. Anne Nelsdatter1,2, born May 23, 1820 in Norway; died October 13, 1900 in Green Valley, Shawano County, Wisconsin.

OLESON SOREN 4 27 N 18 E 0 08 641 1885/05/25
OLESON SOREN 4 27 N 18 E 131.46 08 641 1885/05/25

More About Soren Olson:
Burial: Green Valley Cemetary, Pulcifer, Wisconsin

Notes for Anne Nelsdatter:
We found Anna in the 1900 Census listed as mother living with Neils and Lizbeth. I went back to the 1880 Census and found Anna living with an Olson with a first name that I could not make out. She was listed as coming to America in the same year on both Census.

Annes last name is on her tombstone in the cemetary in Green Valley. She is buried with Soren, whose tombstone matched the age of her husband on the 1880 Census.

More About Anne Nelsdatter:
Burial: Green Valley Cemetary, Pulcifer, Wisconsin

Children of Soren Olson and Anne Nelsdatter are:
2 i. Nielson Olsen, born August 08, 1855 in Christiania, Norway; died January 27, 1904 in Pulcifer, Wisconsin; married Lisbeth Anderson.
ii. Lina Olsen, born 1863.

8. Ole Sivertsen, born Abt. 1785 in Skogn, Nord-Trondelag, Norway; died Deceased. He married 9. Malena Pedersdr September 03, 1818 in Skogn, Nord-Trondelag, Norway.
9. Malena Pedersdr, born Abt. 1785 in Skogn, Nord-Trondelag, Norway; died Deceased.

More About Ole Sivertsen:
Christening: November 14, 1818, Skogn, Nord-Trondelag, Norway

Child of Ole Sivertsen and Malena Pedersdr is:
4 i. Soren Olson, born October 06, 1818 in Norway; died January 06, 1898 in Green Valley, Shawano County, Wisconsin; married Anne Nelsdatter December 31, 1848 in Sor Odal, Hedmark, Norway.

1. 1900 Census, Anne was identified as living with Nielson on the 1900 Census.
2. tombstone, tombstone in Green Valley Bethel Lutheran church Cemetary identified her maiden name.