Cornelius (Mortensen) Gran (1841 - 1914)

Born 23 Mar 1841 in Vestre Gausdal, Opland, Norway

Ancestors

Husband of Kari F. (Jonsdatter) Gran — married 4 Apr 1864 in Ostre Gausdal, Oppland County, Norway

Descendants

Died 5 Jun 1914 at age 73 in Turkey Ridge, Turner, South Dakota, United States

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Biography

Cornelius Mortensen was the oldest of five children born to Morten Nielsen and Ellene Nielsdatter. He was born on 23 March 23 1841 at Forset-lien, Vester Gausdal, Oppland, Norway.^[1][2]

He was baptized 4 April 1841 in Nykirken, Vestre Gaustal, Norway.^[2]

Cornelius married Kari F Jonsdatter 4 April 1864 in Østre Gausdal, Opland, Norway. Seven children were born to this union.

Daughter Nella Corneliusdatter immigrated to America in 1880 at the age of 16 with her Uncle and Aunt John and Helene Lee going directly to the Yankton, Dakota Territories area upon their arrival.

He was called Kornelius Mortensen Gran for the first time when he emigrated with wife and 4 children (Anton, Elise, Martin & Mina) 23 Mar 1884^[3]

Kornelius, Kari and five (?) children immigrated to America in 1884 settling in the same area of the Dakota Territories as daughter Nilla. The first letter from Kornelius and Kari in America to parents in Norway was dated 3 October 1884. Youngest daughter Minnie was born 7 February 1884. It is not certain whether Minnie was born in transit, or after arrival in USA. [She was born 7 January 1884 in Gausdal]

Above accounts for 6 of 7 children coming to America. There is no mention of Mathias (born 1869) in any of the many letters from Kornelius and Kari etal back to parents in Norway but none mention Mathias. From this, it is assumed that Mathias died in Norway prior to 1884. Find A Grave does not allow entering "Before 1884" as the DOD which is the assumption from the Gran Family History. Mathias would have been 15 in 1884 and it is possible that he stayed in Norway but no death record has been found for Mathias in either Norway or USA to date.^[4]

Kornelius died 5 June 1914 in Turkey Ridge, South Dakota and was buried in the Bang Cemetery in Turner County, South Dakota.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Gausdal prestekontor, SAH/PREST-090/H/Ha/Haa/L0007: Parish register (official) no. 7, 1840-1850, p. 16 Quick link: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070201610069
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Gausdalsslekt https://kmikkelsen.net/Webprosjekt/ps23/ps23_154.html Accessed May 15, 2024.
3. ↑ Gausdal prestekontor, SAH/PREST-090/H/Ha/Haa/L0010: Parish register (official) no. 10, 1867-1886, p. 478 Quick link: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070116630030
4. ↑ Howard-Fund Family Tree https://howardfund.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?view=0&rand=870011571&pid=1372&userid=howardfund (accessed April 9, 2020)
5. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 26 March 2019), memorial page for Kornelius Mortenson Gran (23 Mar 1841–5 Jun 1914), Find A Grave: Memorial #14894319, citing Bang Cemetery, Turner County, South Dakota, USA ; Maintained by Del Gran (contributor 47366987).