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X Chromosome Redux: Sogndal v. Hafslo

Following up on my X-Chromosome post from a couple months ago,((See it here. )) I found two new DNA matches on my X Chromosome that allow me to assign even deeper Norwegian ancestry to some segments. As background, the image above shows…

My 1961 Norwegian Penpal

My Mother's memorabilia boxes are revealing all kinds of cool stuff.  I knew my Mother was a nostalgic person, but it's just amazing that she apparently kept every letter and card ever received!  She truly treasured each and every relationship. Amidst…
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Charcoal Drawings of Bernt & Bertha Bonn

In a previous post (here), I unveiled new photographs of Bernt Olsen Bonn (1856-1937) and Bertha Pettersdatter Aaberge (1865-1936) which were obtained last year from our Norwegian cousins in the Sogndal area. This summer, we brought…

Photo Discovery: 3GG Berthe Mikkelsdatter Vikheim

Boy, do I love finding new photographs of ancestors! A DNA match reached out to me last week.  It turned out she is one of our many Albertson cousins in Minnesota and has several 19th century images she was kind enough to share.  The key…

Norwegian Death Song Circa 1880

In going through my Mother's file boxes and papers, my brother came across a carton of stuff left by her uncle Jack Bonn (1896-1985).  Jack was an interesting character whom I will write more about in the future.  Growing up, I always heard…

Berthe Mikkelsdatter Vikheim Emigrated from Norway in 1866

  We've talked a lot about Bertha Bonn, my great-grandmother, who immigrated to America in 1883 at the age of 17 and became a milliner in Montevideo, Minnesota.  (See blog posts here and here.)  In the family chart shown above, she…
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New Photographs of Bonn Great-Grandparents

This is a newly-obtained photograph of my great-grandfather, Bernt Olsen Bonn (1856-1937).  I got it last month from cousins in Sogndal, Norway.  I had never seen it before.  It seems to show Bernt in his late 30s or early 40s. Because…
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Ancestry Discovery: Photographs of Sogndal Ancestors

To me, discovering photos or images of an ancestor is as important as determining their vital statistics.  It puts a face to a name and reveals character and personality.  Even cooler, sometimes you can see a physical resemblance to yourself…