Jill's Genealogy Journey

Stories, Discoveries & Tips

Jill Holman

Atchinson & Packard

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Here we have some updates for the Atchinsons, plus a whole new section for the Packards, who were colonial settlers in Massachusetts. For the earlier generations, I have relied on the source Samuel Packard of Bridgewater, Massachusetts and His Family. Note that there are three possible earlier generations discussed in this other source, but the author himself says on page 6 that it is “based on family lore and sketchy records”. If you want to read an early history of the area from 1897, check out: History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

The Ancestors of Buel Atchinson

Timeline with Sources

25 Feb 1703 – John and Dorcas marry (certificate)

6 Feb 1722 – Deliverance born to John and Dorcas (vital record)

4 Jul 1728 – George Packard married Mary Edson Bridgewater, Plymouth MA (certificate)

20 Jul 1758 – Deliverance and Mercy married Springfield MA (vital record)

28 Jun 1762 – John born Springfield MA (certificate)

15 May 1766 – George Packard married his second wife Abigail Bridgewater, Plymouth MA (certificate)

12 May 1767 – George Packard born (findagrave)

1 May 1786 – Lydia Packard born Jericho Chittendon VT (cousin Linda, findagrave)

1787 – John born North Adams Berkshire MA (cousin Linda, family Bible)

1790 – John died Hampshire MA (will)

22 Jan 1807 – John and Lydia married Jericho VT (register)

4 Apr 1813 – George Packard died Brockton Plymouth MA (findagrave)

25 Sep 1813 – John enlisted, served 1 month 23 days (Roster – War of 1812-14, more details here)

14 Jun 1817 – Buel born VT (family Bible)

1820 – John with 9 people in household Underhill Chittendon VT (census)

12 Sep 1832 – Almira born Franklinville NY (family Bible)

1840 – John with 6 people in household Underhill Chittendon VT (census)

5 Aug 1840 – Lydia died Jericho Chittendon VT (cousin Linda, findagrave)

9 Mar 1843 – Buel married Philena Whitten Jericho Chittendon VT (register)

13 Apr 1846 – George Packard died Jericho Chittendon VT (findagrave)

1850 – John with Lucy and John jr Underhill Chittendon VT (census)

1850 – Buel with Philena and Mary and Lucien living with brother George’s family Underhill Chittendon Co VT (census)

31 Jan 1855 – John died buried Underhill Chittendon VT (findagrave, index)

1 Feb 1858 – Buel got 80 acres in Monroe WI (index)

1860 – Buel 43, Philena, 38, Mary 15 and Alsam-maybe a cousin? Little Falls Monroe WI (census)

Dec 1863 – Philena died Little Falls WI (family Bible)

31 Jan 1865 – Buel married Almira Little Falls Monroe WI (certificate)

14 Mar 1866 – Nellie born Little Falls WI (family Bible)

4 May 1868 or 67 – Efner born Little Falls Monroe WI (family Bible, census)

1870 – Buel 53 VT, Almira 37 NY, Nellie 4 WI, Efner 2 and Nellie Hotchkis Little Falls Monroe WI (census)

25 Dec 1875 – May born Beaver Dam, WI (obit, MN Death Index)

1877 – Buel & HH next door in business in Little Falls WI (Monroe Co WI Pictorial History 1976)

1880 – Buel 63, Almira 47, Nellie 14, Efner 12 Little Falls Monroe WI (census)

13 June 1886 – Almira died Little Falls WI (family Bible)

4 Mar 1891 – Ruben & Nellie married Spart WI (family Bible)

1895 – Buel is with Nellie Kilts & husband & Susan Hecyes is head of household? [hard to make out] Todd Co MN (census)

6 May 1896 – Buel died Todd Co MN (family Bible)

27 Oct 1897 – Efner and May married Thomastown, Todd MN (family Bible)

2 Sep 1898 – Clara born to Mary and EM in Todd Co MN (certificate)

4 Mar 1891 – Reuben Kilts married Nellie Atchison Sparta Monroe WI (certificate)

1900 – Efner 33 born 1867 WI, May 24 born 1875 WI, Clare 1 born 1898 MN Staples, Todd Co MN (census)

1905 – Efner 37 WI, Mary 28 WI, Claire 7 MN, Glenn 5 MN Todd Co MN (census)

19 Feb 1908 – Milton was born (death index)

28 Oct 1909 – Efner died Minneapolis (certificate)

1910 – Mary 34, Claire 12, Glen 10, Milton 2 Todd Co MN and brother Edward Williams. It says she was divorced!? (census)

1910 – Ruben & Nellie – he is a well driller Staples Todd Co MN (census)

1916 – Mary 39, Claire 17, Glen 15, Milton 8 Sasman Saskatchewan! Came from USA in 1913. Methodist. (census)

1919 – Pete and Claire married Hendricks MN (Fran & Margaret)

1920 – Pete 24 MN, Claire 21 MN Deuel Co SD (census)

1920 – Ruben & Nellie – he is a well driller Staples Todd Co MN (census)

1930 – Ruben & Nellie – he is a well driller Staples Todd Co MN (census)

5 Nov 1939 – Ruben died Staples MN (family Bible)

29 Nov 1942 – Nellie died Staples MN (family Bible)

30 Aug 1951 – Claire died Ramsey Co MN buried Staples (certificate)

15 Dec 1971 – May died Todd Co MN (MN Death index) “May was one of Staples oldest residents when she died” (obit)

17 Aug 1990 – Milton died Minneapolis MN (MN Death index)

Lastly, if you want to see some pictures of the younger Atchisons, check out this post.

Rootstech 2023

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It is that time again. Here are my favorite sessions from Rootstech 2023 . . .

Diahan Southard did a great job with these three sessions:

I also enjoyed these sessions:

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Many of the recordings are still available for free with your FamilySearch login.

Vipond and Taylor: A Timeline

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While I would like a bit more documentation to be sure we can trace our Viponds back to this Nicholas Vipond, this is a cool document from 1742 showing Nicholas Vipond became an indentured apprentice to John Hill.

Vipond Document from 1742

This part of the family is pretty confusing! They like to use the same names over and over again – lots of Isaacs and lots of Harrisons. Here are the facts and sources I have sorted out so far:

  • 23 Aug 1833 – Isaac born to Harrison & Ann Vipond (index)
  • 1841 – Harrison and Ann and 3 kids are in Penrith, he was a lead miner (census)
  • 1851 – Harrison (born 1805) and Ann (born 1808) and 5 kids are in Penrith, he was a lead miner (census)
  • 1861 – Isaac and Catherine and 2 kids are in Penrith, he was a lead miner (census)
  • 1863 – James in Darby, Pickaway, OH (draft record)
  • 10 Oct 1864 – Isaac was born (death cert) (birth index says Dec 1865)
  • 22 Nov 1866 – James and Birtie marry Pickaway, Ohio, USA (county marriage record)
  • 1870 – James and Bertie and 2 kids are in Wayne, Pickaway, OH (census)
  • 1871 – Isaac and Catherine and 5 kids are in Penrith, Cumberland, England, he was a laborer born 1834 (census)
  • 28 Oct 1878 – possibly Isaac was naturalized in Rock Island IL, came to the US in 1871 (it says Isaac in the index and Harrison on the card)
  • 1880 – Isaac and Katherine and 5 kids in Watertown, Rock Island IL, he’s a coal miner from England (census)
  • 1880 – James and Roberty and 3 kids are in Pleasant, Fulton IL. They are from OH. He’s a day laborer with parents from NY and her parents are from VA. (census)
  • 29 Jun 1887 – Isaac and Belle married in Rock Island IL (state index)
  • 1895 – Isaac and Belle and 4 kids in Bellair, Appanoose, IA (census)
  • 1900 – Isaac, Belle and 7 kids in Greene, Mercer IL. He was born 1865 England, she was born 1870 OH. He was a coal miner. Isaac immigrated 1895. (census)
  • 1900 – Brother Frank, Bertha and Rosie Vipond are next door (census)
  • 1900 – Catherine and son Harrison are nearby. She was born 1855 & came to the US in 1871 (census)
  • 1910 – Isaac, Belle and 5 kids are in Otrey, Big Stone MN (census)
  • 29 Oct 1918 – Frank died in Greene, Mercer IL (state index)
  • 1920 – Isaac, Belle and James are in Big Stone MN. They came in 1871. Belle was born in OH (census)
  • 29 Sep 1924 – Harrison died in Greene, Mercer IL (state index) – which Harrison!?
  • 29 Jan 1920 – Catherine died in Greene, Mercer IL (state index)
  • 24 Feb 1928 – Louise Belle died Big Stone, MN (index)
  • 1930 – Isaac is in Davenport, IA (census)
  • 1940 – Isaac with daughter Mabel’s family in Ortonville, Big Stone, MN (census)
  • 12 Mar 1944 – Isaac died Minneapolis, Hennepin MN. He was a farmer, not a vet (death cert)

Funny thing I noticed: Catherine, Harrison and Frank all died on the 29th! Same county, different months and years, but they all died on the 29th – how weird is that?

Mabel Vipond’s Ancestors

Notes:

  • On Isaac’s death certificate in 1944, it says his father was Harrison. I don’t find any evidence that this is true, so it is likely that the informant was mistaken.
  • We are not completely sure about James Taylor. That was a common name and we will need to look more at the whole family to be sure our James Taylor is the one who died in Iowa in 1925.

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The Fjerstad Timeline

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Here is the most current and correct information for the Fjerstads now that a few more documents have surfaced.

Pete Fjerstad’s Ancestors
  • 5 Jan 1778 – Ole & Ingri marry Leikanger, Sogn Og Fjordane, Norway (index)
  • 1801 – Povel & Christi & kids are in Leikanger, Sogn Og Fjordane, Norway (census)
  • 26 Oct 1835 – Sjur Nilssen & Guri marry in Etne, Hordaland, Norway (marriage)
  • 2 Oct 1864 – Lasse born to Johannes Paulsen & Anna Lassedr in Balestrand, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway (baptism)
  • 13 Sep 1866 – Anna born Norway to Nils & Anna(death cert, 1900 census)
  • 1875 – Nels O Sjurson is in Martin, Rock, MN (census)
  • 8 Apr 1885 – Anna immigrated (emigration database)
  • 12 Apr 1886 – Lasse immigrated (emigration database)
  • 22 Nov 1889 – Lasse Fjerstad & Anna Jordahl married Arendahl, Fillmore, MN (marriage cert)
  • 14 Jan 1893 – Johannes Paulsen Fjarestad buried in Balestrand, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway (buriel)
  • 15 Jun 1893 – Anna immigrated (emigration database)
  • 1895 – Lars & Anna & baby Johan are with brother Ole & a mother Anna in Arendahl, Fillmore, MN (census)
Pic of Fjerstads1922
Amanda, her son, her husband, Anna holding Fran & Atchie circa 1922
  • 2 Oct 1895 – Pete b. Fillmore MN (grandma, death cert, draft card)
  • 2 Sep 1898 – Claire Fjerstad born Staples MN (funeral card, death cert)
  • 1900 – Lasse & Anna with 4 kids & brother Ole in Arendahl, Fillmore, MN (census)
  • 1910 – Louis & Anna with 6 kids in Brookings SD (census)
  • 7 Feb 1914 – Lars died
  • 1915 – Anna owned land in Hansonville (plat book)
  • 1917 – Pete farmed in Hendricks MN (draft card)
  • 1919 – Claire & Pete married Hendricks MN, she worked in a bank at the time (Fran & Margaret)
Pic of Fjerstads1922
Claire holding Fran
circa 1922
  • 1920 – Pete & Claire in Toronto, Deuel SD, he worked in a restaurant (census)
  • 1920 – Anna & 2 sons in Hansonville Lincoln MN (census)
  • 23 Jan 1920 – Frances Fjerstad born to Peter and Clair Deuel SD (birth cert)
  • 1930 – Pete & Claire in Yellow Medicine MN with 7 kids, he’s a car mechanic (census)
  • 1930 – Anna is with son Henry’s family in Saginaw, Saginaw, MI (census)
  • 1934 – Anna is in Mpls at 3853 44th Ave (city dir)
  • 16 Feb 1937 – Glen and Fran married in Milbank living in Ortonville MN (marriage cert)
Pic of Fjerstads1940
Fran & her father Pete
His mother Anna holding Fran’s son Boyd
Four Generations!
  • 1940 – Claire has 8 kids in Madison, Lac Qui Parle, MN (census)
  • 1940 – Pete is in the State Reformatory in St Cloud (census)
  • 1940 – Anna is with Bert and Harold & 2 kids on 44th Ave (census)
  • 1942 – Pete is in Madison, Lac Qui Parle, MN (WWII draft card)
  • 8 May 1950 – Anna is with daughter Bertha’s family in Brooklyn, Hennepin, MN (census)
  • 7 Jun 1950 – Anna dies Hennepin MN (death cert)
  • 30 Aug 1951 – Claire dies St Paul MN, marriage box says separated (funeral card, death cert)
  • 23 Jan 1968 – Glen Holman dies Hennepin Co MN (death cert)
  • 2 Aug 1974 – Pete dies Hennepin MN (death cert)
  • 17 May 2002 – Fran dies Hennepin Co MN (death cert)
  • (As always, there are no details about living descendants to protect their privacy.)
Pic of Fjerstads1941
“Fjerstad Brats August 24, 1941”
(that was written on the back)
L-R back: Fran, Robert, Margaret, Lorraine
front: Paul, Mary Ann, Dick, Dean, Jody


 
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Ancestor Ornaments

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Do you find it hard to know what to do with all your research?

What if there are some easy and fun options?

How about ancestor ornaments!?

Ancestor Ornaments: Holman, Fjerstad, Laitala & Middendorp

What a nice way to honor our ancestors!

Click here if you want to see these ancestor ornaments up close.

If you want more context on these pictures:

P.S. Thinking about doing this yourself? It was a little fussy to design these, but if you have some technical skills and you already have done the genealogy research, it isn’t too difficult. You can even use mine to get started and customize ornaments yourself!

Immigrant Exhibits

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Recently, I discovered that the Minnesota Digital Library launched several online exhibits about Minnesota immigrants. In the one on immigrant experiences, something jumped out at me: Lars Fjeseth. You might recall that this is not our Lars, but the two have similar names and lived at the same time near each other: https://jillholman.com/genealogy/fjerestad-versus-fjeseth/

The new exhibits are:

  • Minnesota Immigrants: People on the Move
  • Minnesota Immigrants: Immigrant Experiences
  • Minnesota Immigrants: Preserving Culture

There also is an older exhibit called Farm to Table. Find all four exhibits here.

Next, I clicked through and explored some of the Primary Source Sets, which were very interesting. Here are three of my favorites:

  • Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota
  • Lumber Industry in Minnesota
  • Mining on the Iron Range

They have added a lot of resources since the last time I checked! Let’s see what they have for Chisholm.

Here we see that we get 151 items when we search for Chisholm in the Minnesota Digital Library.

There are several pictures of the mines and also the ruins after the 1908 fire. While few of the people are labeled, you can get an idea of what it looked like to be there in the early 1900s, which is when William and Katri Laitala arrived in Chisholm. I think these two pictures might be my favorite:

That could be my great-grandfather William standing there!