NOTE: Written by Rachelle Humble, who also added this story to www.familysearch.org for Ronnaug "Rena" Olsdatter Loftus. This history was updated (year 2021) from the previous one I wrote with more correct information found. Previously I thought Ole's father was Rasmus Christensen. This is incorrect. His father was Rasmus Torkildson (paternal grandfather of Ronnaug "Rena" Olsdatter Loftus).
Ronnaug Olsdatter was born at the farm called Kringelhaugen, which is in the village of Gaupar, in the Lom parish, Oppland, Norway to Ole Rasmusson and Anne Syversdotter. Her correct birth date is 6 July 1844, according to the parish records in Lom, Norway. The birth date information on her tombstone is off by one year. Her birth record states she was born on the Øyjordet farm; which is incorrect. For some reason, by mistake, the Kringelhaugen farm was given the same farm number as the Øyjordet farm after the division, according to the farm book called "Bygdabok" for Lom (Volume 4, pages 112-113; by Jon Kolden). But according to the farm books, Ole and Anne owned the Kringelhaugen farm from 1843 to 1847.
In 1847 the family moved to the Vole Farm and operated it until the day they immigrated to the United States in 1873. The Vole farm was located in the village of Røysheim in the Lom Parish. It no longer exists in Norway today, but there is an old map showing where it was located from the Bygdabok for Lom, Volume 4. See attached current google map showing the approximate location of the Vole farm under "Memories" on the FamilySearch website. According to the farm book called "Bygdabok" for Lom, the Vole farm was taken down after the last national road was widened. But luckily a piece of the Vole farm exists. The cottage that Ole and Anne and their daughters lived in was relocated to the Røysheim farmyard in 1910 and is used as a guest room for tourists. The cottage is called "Fjellstugu" which means "Mountain Cottage". (SOURCE: Bygdabok for Lom, Volume 4, page 179; by Jon Kolden).
Ronnaug immigrated to the USA 8 years before her parents and sisters in 1865. She may have come to the United States first to get a job and secure a place for the rest of her family. Ronnaug departed Bergen, Norway on 24 April 1865 and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 14 June 1865. She then would have traveled by train to Winona, Minnesota. In 1865 she was living with the Blackmen family in the 1865 Minnesota Census. She's listed as "Rena Olson". Her name Ronnaug is pronounced as "Ron-a" in Norwegian. The census taker probably heard "Rena" and wrote it that way. It appears that she adopted the Americanized spelling of Rena for her name while living in the United States.
In 1873, Ronnaug's parents Ole and Anne and 4 other family members left the docks of Christiana, Norway and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 30 May 1873. They then traveled by train to Minnesota and then to Wisconsin. In the United States, Ole took on the name of his farm as his last name. His farm in Norway was called "Vole". So in the USA, he was known as Ole Vole. But in Norway he was known as Ole Rasmussen (because he was the son of Rasmus Torkildson). Ole is listed as Ole Rasmussen in all of his daughter's birth records. In some of his daughter's birth records it mentions that Ole was from the Vole farm. In the 1865 Norway Census it shows Ole and his family living on the farm called "Vole."
Ronnaug first married Thomas Carr on the 3rd of June 1871 in Winona, Minnesota. According to her daughter Elizabeth's birth record, Rena's last name was listed as "Roberts". The last name of "Roberts" is also found on 1870 Winona, Minnesota US Census record (before her marriage to Thomas Carr). It is unknown why she went by the last name of Roberts; possibly because she was trying to Americanize her name, or she was married to a Mr. Roberts before Thomas Carr. Although she went by the last name of "Roberts" for a short time in the U.S., she definitely was the daughter of Ole Rasmussen of Vole and Anne Syversdatter (both from Norway) according to Ansoph Carr (wife of William Carr, and daughter-in-law of Rena). Another source of who her parents were comes from the book "Memoirs of Vernon County." And of course her birth lists her parents as Ole Rasmussen and Anne Syversdotter.
Three children were born to Rena and Thomas Carr:
1. ELIZABETH BELL CARR
born: 1 May 1872 in Winona, Minnesota
married: William Nichols
died: 9 January 1958 in Wisconsin (possibly in Caledonia, Trempealeau, Wisconsin)
2. WILLIAM MITCHEL CARR
born: 24 Nov 1874 in Winona, Winona, Minnesota
married: Ansoph Larson
died: 28 September 1946 in Lakota, Nelson, North Dakota
NOTE: William was a judge in North Dakota.
3. ANNA LOUISE CARR
born: 25 April 1876 in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
marriage #1: James William Miller (later divorced)
marriage #2: Frank L. Kirby (later divorced)
marriage #3: Florentine Merk
Not much is known about Thomas Carr, Rena's first husband. One story is that they divorced and he moved to Chicago, Illinois and remarried. The other story which comes from the book "Memoirs of Vernon County" it states that Rena was the widow of Thomas Carr. However, a newspaper article found dated 27 March 1878 in Viroqua, Wisconsin mentions Rena Carr requesting her husband Thomas Carr to come to court. It appears that Thomas was still alive in 1878 and Rena wanted to divorce him. That same year, Rena married Martin Loftus.
Rena later married Martin Loftus about 1878. They had the following children:
1. LENA REGINA LOFTUS
born: May of 1879 in Wisconsin
married: Maurice Hoyne
died: February of 1915 in Dubuque, Dubuqe, Iowa
2. MARTIN LEO LOFTUS
born: 19 January 1880 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin
died: 25 July 1881 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin (buried in De Soto Cemetery next to parents).
3. LILLY LOFTUS
born: 28 August 1881 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin
died: 8 September 1884 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin (buried in De Soto Cemetery next to her parents).
Ronnaug (or "Rena") died at her sister Sigrid (Olsdatter) Borgen's home, according to Ansoph Carr in a letter written to my mother. Sigrid and Willie (Rena's son) took her remains by train to De Soto, Wisconsin where she was buried at the De Soto Cemetery in Wisconsin.
Ronnaug Olsdatter was born at the farm called Kringelhaugen, which is in the village of Gaupar, in the Lom parish, Oppland, Norway to Ole Rasmusson and Anne Syversdotter. Her correct birth date is 6 July 1844, according to the parish records in Lom, Norway. The birth date information on her tombstone is off by one year. Her birth record states she was born on the Øyjordet farm; which is incorrect. For some reason, by mistake, the Kringelhaugen farm was given the same farm number as the Øyjordet farm after the division, according to the farm book called "Bygdabok" for Lom (Volume 4, pages 112-113; by Jon Kolden). But according to the farm books, Ole and Anne owned the Kringelhaugen farm from 1843 to 1847.
In 1847 the family moved to the Vole Farm and operated it until the day they immigrated to the United States in 1873. The Vole farm was located in the village of Røysheim in the Lom Parish. It no longer exists in Norway today, but there is an old map showing where it was located from the Bygdabok for Lom, Volume 4. See attached current google map showing the approximate location of the Vole farm under "Memories" on the FamilySearch website. According to the farm book called "Bygdabok" for Lom, the Vole farm was taken down after the last national road was widened. But luckily a piece of the Vole farm exists. The cottage that Ole and Anne and their daughters lived in was relocated to the Røysheim farmyard in 1910 and is used as a guest room for tourists. The cottage is called "Fjellstugu" which means "Mountain Cottage". (SOURCE: Bygdabok for Lom, Volume 4, page 179; by Jon Kolden).
Ronnaug immigrated to the USA 8 years before her parents and sisters in 1865. She may have come to the United States first to get a job and secure a place for the rest of her family. Ronnaug departed Bergen, Norway on 24 April 1865 and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 14 June 1865. She then would have traveled by train to Winona, Minnesota. In 1865 she was living with the Blackmen family in the 1865 Minnesota Census. She's listed as "Rena Olson". Her name Ronnaug is pronounced as "Ron-a" in Norwegian. The census taker probably heard "Rena" and wrote it that way. It appears that she adopted the Americanized spelling of Rena for her name while living in the United States.
In 1873, Ronnaug's parents Ole and Anne and 4 other family members left the docks of Christiana, Norway and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 30 May 1873. They then traveled by train to Minnesota and then to Wisconsin. In the United States, Ole took on the name of his farm as his last name. His farm in Norway was called "Vole". So in the USA, he was known as Ole Vole. But in Norway he was known as Ole Rasmussen (because he was the son of Rasmus Torkildson). Ole is listed as Ole Rasmussen in all of his daughter's birth records. In some of his daughter's birth records it mentions that Ole was from the Vole farm. In the 1865 Norway Census it shows Ole and his family living on the farm called "Vole."
Ronnaug first married Thomas Carr on the 3rd of June 1871 in Winona, Minnesota. According to her daughter Elizabeth's birth record, Rena's last name was listed as "Roberts". The last name of "Roberts" is also found on 1870 Winona, Minnesota US Census record (before her marriage to Thomas Carr). It is unknown why she went by the last name of Roberts; possibly because she was trying to Americanize her name, or she was married to a Mr. Roberts before Thomas Carr. Although she went by the last name of "Roberts" for a short time in the U.S., she definitely was the daughter of Ole Rasmussen of Vole and Anne Syversdatter (both from Norway) according to Ansoph Carr (wife of William Carr, and daughter-in-law of Rena). Another source of who her parents were comes from the book "Memoirs of Vernon County." And of course her birth lists her parents as Ole Rasmussen and Anne Syversdotter.
Three children were born to Rena and Thomas Carr:
1. ELIZABETH BELL CARR
born: 1 May 1872 in Winona, Minnesota
married: William Nichols
died: 9 January 1958 in Wisconsin (possibly in Caledonia, Trempealeau, Wisconsin)
2. WILLIAM MITCHEL CARR
born: 24 Nov 1874 in Winona, Winona, Minnesota
married: Ansoph Larson
died: 28 September 1946 in Lakota, Nelson, North Dakota
NOTE: William was a judge in North Dakota.
3. ANNA LOUISE CARR
born: 25 April 1876 in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
marriage #1: James William Miller (later divorced)
marriage #2: Frank L. Kirby (later divorced)
marriage #3: Florentine Merk
Not much is known about Thomas Carr, Rena's first husband. One story is that they divorced and he moved to Chicago, Illinois and remarried. The other story which comes from the book "Memoirs of Vernon County" it states that Rena was the widow of Thomas Carr. However, a newspaper article found dated 27 March 1878 in Viroqua, Wisconsin mentions Rena Carr requesting her husband Thomas Carr to come to court. It appears that Thomas was still alive in 1878 and Rena wanted to divorce him. That same year, Rena married Martin Loftus.
Rena later married Martin Loftus about 1878. They had the following children:
1. LENA REGINA LOFTUS
born: May of 1879 in Wisconsin
married: Maurice Hoyne
died: February of 1915 in Dubuque, Dubuqe, Iowa
2. MARTIN LEO LOFTUS
born: 19 January 1880 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin
died: 25 July 1881 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin (buried in De Soto Cemetery next to parents).
3. LILLY LOFTUS
born: 28 August 1881 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin
died: 8 September 1884 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin (buried in De Soto Cemetery next to her parents).
Ronnaug (or "Rena") died at her sister Sigrid (Olsdatter) Borgen's home, according to Ansoph Carr in a letter written to my mother. Sigrid and Willie (Rena's son) took her remains by train to De Soto, Wisconsin where she was buried at the De Soto Cemetery in Wisconsin.
NOTE: Written by Rachelle Humble, who also added this story to www.familysearch.org for Ronnaug "Rena" Olsdatter Loftus. This history was updated (year 2021) from the previous one I wrote with more correct information found. Previously I thought Ole's father was Rasmus Christensen. This is incorrect. His father was Rasmus Torkildson (paternal grandfather of Ronnaug "Rena" Olsdatter Loftus).
Ronnaug Olsdatter was born at the farm called Kringelhaugen, which is in the village of Gaupar, in the Lom parish, Oppland, Norway to Ole Rasmusson and Anne Syversdotter. Her correct birth date is 6 July 1844, according to the parish records in Lom, Norway. The birth date information on her tombstone is off by one year. Her birth record states she was born on the Øyjordet farm; which is incorrect. For some reason, by mistake, the Kringelhaugen farm was given the same farm number as the Øyjordet farm after the division, according to the farm book called "Bygdabok" for Lom (Volume 4, pages 112-113; by Jon Kolden). But according to the farm books, Ole and Anne owned the Kringelhaugen farm from 1843 to 1847.
In 1847 the family moved to the Vole Farm and operated it until the day they immigrated to the United States in 1873. The Vole farm was located in the village of Røysheim in the Lom Parish. It no longer exists in Norway today, but there is an old map showing where it was located from the Bygdabok for Lom, Volume 4. See attached current google map showing the approximate location of the Vole farm under "Memories" on the FamilySearch website. According to the farm book called "Bygdabok" for Lom, the Vole farm was taken down after the last national road was widened. But luckily a piece of the Vole farm exists. The cottage that Ole and Anne and their daughters lived in was relocated to the Røysheim farmyard in 1910 and is used as a guest room for tourists. The cottage is called "Fjellstugu" which means "Mountain Cottage". (SOURCE: Bygdabok for Lom, Volume 4, page 179; by Jon Kolden).
Ronnaug immigrated to the USA 8 years before her parents and sisters in 1865. She may have come to the United States first to get a job and secure a place for the rest of her family. Ronnaug departed Bergen, Norway on 24 April 1865 and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 14 June 1865. She then would have traveled by train to Winona, Minnesota. In 1865 she was living with the Blackmen family in the 1865 Minnesota Census. She's listed as "Rena Olson". Her name Ronnaug is pronounced as "Ron-a" in Norwegian. The census taker probably heard "Rena" and wrote it that way. It appears that she adopted the Americanized spelling of Rena for her name while living in the United States.
In 1873, Ronnaug's parents Ole and Anne and 4 other family members left the docks of Christiana, Norway and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 30 May 1873. They then traveled by train to Minnesota and then to Wisconsin. In the United States, Ole took on the name of his farm as his last name. His farm in Norway was called "Vole". So in the USA, he was known as Ole Vole. But in Norway he was known as Ole Rasmussen (because he was the son of Rasmus Torkildson). Ole is listed as Ole Rasmussen in all of his daughter's birth records. In some of his daughter's birth records it mentions that Ole was from the Vole farm. In the 1865 Norway Census it shows Ole and his family living on the farm called "Vole."
Ronnaug first married Thomas Carr on the 3rd of June 1871 in Winona, Minnesota. According to her daughter Elizabeth's birth record, Rena's last name was listed as "Roberts". The last name of "Roberts" is also found on 1870 Winona, Minnesota US Census record (before her marriage to Thomas Carr). It is unknown why she went by the last name of Roberts; possibly because she was trying to Americanize her name, or she was married to a Mr. Roberts before Thomas Carr. Although she went by the last name of "Roberts" for a short time in the U.S., she definitely was the daughter of Ole Rasmussen of Vole and Anne Syversdatter (both from Norway) according to Ansoph Carr (wife of William Carr, and daughter-in-law of Rena). Another source of who her parents were comes from the book "Memoirs of Vernon County." And of course her birth lists her parents as Ole Rasmussen and Anne Syversdotter.
Three children were born to Rena and Thomas Carr:
1. ELIZABETH BELL CARR
born: 1 May 1872 in Winona, Minnesota
married: William Nichols
died: 9 January 1958 in Wisconsin (possibly in Caledonia, Trempealeau, Wisconsin)
2. WILLIAM MITCHEL CARR
born: 24 Nov 1874 in Winona, Winona, Minnesota
married: Ansoph Larson
died: 28 September 1946 in Lakota, Nelson, North Dakota
NOTE: William was a judge in North Dakota.
3. ANNA LOUISE CARR
born: 25 April 1876 in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
marriage #1: James William Miller (later divorced)
marriage #2: Frank L. Kirby (later divorced)
marriage #3: Florentine Merk
Not much is known about Thomas Carr, Rena's first husband. One story is that they divorced and he moved to Chicago, Illinois and remarried. The other story which comes from the book "Memoirs of Vernon County" it states that Rena was the widow of Thomas Carr. However, a newspaper article found dated 27 March 1878 in Viroqua, Wisconsin mentions Rena Carr requesting her husband Thomas Carr to come to court. It appears that Thomas was still alive in 1878 and Rena wanted to divorce him. That same year, Rena married Martin Loftus.
Rena later married Martin Loftus about 1878. They had the following children:
1. LENA REGINA LOFTUS
born: May of 1879 in Wisconsin
married: Maurice Hoyne
died: February of 1915 in Dubuque, Dubuqe, Iowa
2. MARTIN LEO LOFTUS
born: 19 January 1880 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin
died: 25 July 1881 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin (buried in De Soto Cemetery next to parents).
3. LILLY LOFTUS
born: 28 August 1881 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin
died: 8 September 1884 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin (buried in De Soto Cemetery next to her parents).
Ronnaug (or "Rena") died at her sister Sigrid (Olsdatter) Borgen's home, according to Ansoph Carr in a letter written to my mother. Sigrid and Willie (Rena's son) took her remains by train to De Soto, Wisconsin where she was buried at the De Soto Cemetery in Wisconsin.
Ronnaug Olsdatter was born at the farm called Kringelhaugen, which is in the village of Gaupar, in the Lom parish, Oppland, Norway to Ole Rasmusson and Anne Syversdotter. Her correct birth date is 6 July 1844, according to the parish records in Lom, Norway. The birth date information on her tombstone is off by one year. Her birth record states she was born on the Øyjordet farm; which is incorrect. For some reason, by mistake, the Kringelhaugen farm was given the same farm number as the Øyjordet farm after the division, according to the farm book called "Bygdabok" for Lom (Volume 4, pages 112-113; by Jon Kolden). But according to the farm books, Ole and Anne owned the Kringelhaugen farm from 1843 to 1847.
In 1847 the family moved to the Vole Farm and operated it until the day they immigrated to the United States in 1873. The Vole farm was located in the village of Røysheim in the Lom Parish. It no longer exists in Norway today, but there is an old map showing where it was located from the Bygdabok for Lom, Volume 4. See attached current google map showing the approximate location of the Vole farm under "Memories" on the FamilySearch website. According to the farm book called "Bygdabok" for Lom, the Vole farm was taken down after the last national road was widened. But luckily a piece of the Vole farm exists. The cottage that Ole and Anne and their daughters lived in was relocated to the Røysheim farmyard in 1910 and is used as a guest room for tourists. The cottage is called "Fjellstugu" which means "Mountain Cottage". (SOURCE: Bygdabok for Lom, Volume 4, page 179; by Jon Kolden).
Ronnaug immigrated to the USA 8 years before her parents and sisters in 1865. She may have come to the United States first to get a job and secure a place for the rest of her family. Ronnaug departed Bergen, Norway on 24 April 1865 and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 14 June 1865. She then would have traveled by train to Winona, Minnesota. In 1865 she was living with the Blackmen family in the 1865 Minnesota Census. She's listed as "Rena Olson". Her name Ronnaug is pronounced as "Ron-a" in Norwegian. The census taker probably heard "Rena" and wrote it that way. It appears that she adopted the Americanized spelling of Rena for her name while living in the United States.
In 1873, Ronnaug's parents Ole and Anne and 4 other family members left the docks of Christiana, Norway and arrived in Quebec, Canada on 30 May 1873. They then traveled by train to Minnesota and then to Wisconsin. In the United States, Ole took on the name of his farm as his last name. His farm in Norway was called "Vole". So in the USA, he was known as Ole Vole. But in Norway he was known as Ole Rasmussen (because he was the son of Rasmus Torkildson). Ole is listed as Ole Rasmussen in all of his daughter's birth records. In some of his daughter's birth records it mentions that Ole was from the Vole farm. In the 1865 Norway Census it shows Ole and his family living on the farm called "Vole."
Ronnaug first married Thomas Carr on the 3rd of June 1871 in Winona, Minnesota. According to her daughter Elizabeth's birth record, Rena's last name was listed as "Roberts". The last name of "Roberts" is also found on 1870 Winona, Minnesota US Census record (before her marriage to Thomas Carr). It is unknown why she went by the last name of Roberts; possibly because she was trying to Americanize her name, or she was married to a Mr. Roberts before Thomas Carr. Although she went by the last name of "Roberts" for a short time in the U.S., she definitely was the daughter of Ole Rasmussen of Vole and Anne Syversdatter (both from Norway) according to Ansoph Carr (wife of William Carr, and daughter-in-law of Rena). Another source of who her parents were comes from the book "Memoirs of Vernon County." And of course her birth lists her parents as Ole Rasmussen and Anne Syversdotter.
Three children were born to Rena and Thomas Carr:
1. ELIZABETH BELL CARR
born: 1 May 1872 in Winona, Minnesota
married: William Nichols
died: 9 January 1958 in Wisconsin (possibly in Caledonia, Trempealeau, Wisconsin)
2. WILLIAM MITCHEL CARR
born: 24 Nov 1874 in Winona, Winona, Minnesota
married: Ansoph Larson
died: 28 September 1946 in Lakota, Nelson, North Dakota
NOTE: William was a judge in North Dakota.
3. ANNA LOUISE CARR
born: 25 April 1876 in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
marriage #1: James William Miller (later divorced)
marriage #2: Frank L. Kirby (later divorced)
marriage #3: Florentine Merk
Not much is known about Thomas Carr, Rena's first husband. One story is that they divorced and he moved to Chicago, Illinois and remarried. The other story which comes from the book "Memoirs of Vernon County" it states that Rena was the widow of Thomas Carr. However, a newspaper article found dated 27 March 1878 in Viroqua, Wisconsin mentions Rena Carr requesting her husband Thomas Carr to come to court. It appears that Thomas was still alive in 1878 and Rena wanted to divorce him. That same year, Rena married Martin Loftus.
Rena later married Martin Loftus about 1878. They had the following children:
1. LENA REGINA LOFTUS
born: May of 1879 in Wisconsin
married: Maurice Hoyne
died: February of 1915 in Dubuque, Dubuqe, Iowa
2. MARTIN LEO LOFTUS
born: 19 January 1880 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin
died: 25 July 1881 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin (buried in De Soto Cemetery next to parents).
3. LILLY LOFTUS
born: 28 August 1881 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin
died: 8 September 1884 in De Soto, Vernon, Wisconsin (buried in De Soto Cemetery next to her parents).
Ronnaug (or "Rena") died at her sister Sigrid (Olsdatter) Borgen's home, according to Ansoph Carr in a letter written to my mother. Sigrid and Willie (Rena's son) took her remains by train to De Soto, Wisconsin where she was buried at the De Soto Cemetery in Wisconsin.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Carr Loftus or Olsdatter memorials in:
- De Soto Cemetery Carr Loftus or Olsdatter
- De Soto Carr Loftus or Olsdatter
- Vernon County Carr Loftus or Olsdatter
- Wisconsin Carr Loftus or Olsdatter
- USA Carr Loftus or Olsdatter
- Find a Grave Carr Loftus or Olsdatter
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
