Ilsvag Ihle Clan: Introduction and Welcome from James N. Ihle
For those that don't want to read all the details; let me give you a short synopsis of what is detailed. In Norway, the definition of farms is central and there are thousands of named farms. The importance is derived from the simple fact that a man's surname is derived from the farm that he occupies. Only in 1923 did this change to correlate the surname with the parental relationship. With the unique name of Ihle and with Norwegian grandparents, curiosity took over. From many hours; the name Ihle is from a farm named Ihle that describes a farm by virtue of a river or stream flowing through. In the registry of all farms in Norway, there are only 24 currently listed with the name Ile (which has been uniformly modified to Ihle). One is in Ilsvag, ultimately the source of my background and several are around the Mjosa lake in central Norway. Each of these farms ultimately had inhabitants that, as Ihles, immigrated to the US. A significant fraction of this is recorded here although perhaps in not the simplest summary. HAVE FUN EXPLORING.
Welcome, this site was developed to provide an easy way to follow a description of the Ihle clan from Ilsvag, Norway. The origins of the Ihle clan are on a farm/region in Ilsvag Norway, shown below. Although the history of the farm is not completely known the available records indicate that it was initially owned by a church. The origin of the name Ihle, associated with the farm/region was researched by Martin Berakvam. According to a book "Stadnamn i Rogaland" (names of places in Rogaland) Ihle comes from the old Norwegian name for water source "Ile" or Ils vag (vag being bay). Also Ils nes (nes being headlands). Ilsnes is a headland between Ilsvag and Sandeid. For orientation, across the water there is the town of Sandied; the fjord continues to the left. Therefore the point of land on the left into the Fjord (Vindafjord) with Ilsvag would be the "headland". In old documents, Ihle was written IILL in 1519 and IELL in 1521. In the church documents, Martin found both Ihle and Ile.
Text Items from Town/Church Records found for GUDMUND OLAVSEN IHLE
"Lived on the farm Ihle in Ilsvag. Probate 1st and 2nd. October 1690 affter Brynhild. There was land property from 50 farms with 60 laups of butter althogether. Berge Velde writes about this couple: "Rogalands-if not Western Norways richest land owners at their time." The value of all this set at the probate court was 3,483 "Riksdaler". There were 3 silver pots, a silver bowl, silver belt and a silver crown. 22 pewter bowls and 33 pewter plates. This was a huge amount of riches to be shared amongst their 3 children. Gudmund was Sheriff of Vats 1665-1671, and the richest farmer in the years 1670-1680. He owned land property in the following places: Tysse, Haukas, Osterhus, Klubben, Ystabo, Kyte, Nordstokke, Hasto, Gismervik, Gjerde and Klovning. In the Land Registry of 1661-1670 Gudmund is listed as owner and user of the Ihle and Loe, under Ihle. (both in Ilsvag) In the land Registry of 1702 it looks as if Ihle and Loe have been given to the Church at Kristiansand. In 1666 Gudmund is listed as owner of the whole of the farm Ihle at Helgeland in Erfjord after his father. He has Nils Gunnbjornsen born 1644 as "deng" running the farm. Nils had run away from the army and the Kings service so he stayed at Helgeland. Gudmund Olavsen Ihle was also owner of Viland in Ilsvag in 1670"
As detailed in the contents, it should be noted that Ihle is a very common name in Germany and it is possible that a German settled on a farm which subsequently was known as the Ihle farm/region. In research on surnames in Germany, the following definition was found "Ihle (is the) topographic name for someone who lived by or owned a piece of land by the Ihle River, a tributary of the Elbe northeast of Magedeburg". Indeed in Burg, near Magdeburg, there is the IhleGarten on the Ihle River. Ten km northeast of Burg is a region called the Ort (region) Ihleburg.
The problem with geneology research in Norway is that men would acquire their surname from the farm/region they were on. As an example relevant to the Ihle clan story, Ingebret Oppheim was born in a region known as Oppheim near Olen in 1770. He had three sons that were born in Oppheim (Sten, 1807; Anen, 1810 and Nils, 1814). Sten was known as Sten Oppheim and died in 1883 in Oppheim. Anen was known as Anen Ostebo and had other names of Annun Tvert/Dorheim and died in Tvert, Olen. Nils was known as Nils Ingebretsen Ihle and died in Ihle, Ilsvag. He was the second husband of Synnove, the matriarch of the Ilsvag Ihle clan.
The first husband of Synnove provides another example of the complexity of Norwegain surnames. Nils Osmundsen was born in Ovre Hauge as was his brother Thomas Osmundsen. Of the children of Osmund Hauge (born in Storhaug and also known as Osmund Storhaug), only these two boys acquired the surname of Ihle because they acquired acreages in the Ihle farm. In contrast another son Thomas acquired the surname Arak and lived in Arak/Ilsvag note the Arak farm in the picture. One of Thomas Osmundsen Ihle's daughters (Elizabeth Ihle) married Ole Osmundsen Thorsnes who was born in Tornes,Ilsvag, again note site in picture. Lastly Thomas' daughter Anna marrried Erik Olsen Loe and they had a number of children that they raised in Loe u/Ihle. From Martin, Loe u/Ihle is the area south of the river that runs through Ihle.
More simply; an area/farm on a river running to the Vindafjord exists that in Norwegian is a water source Ile, which gets modified to Ihle. The brothers Thomas Osmundsen Hauge and Nils Osmundsen Hauge moved to the area and became Thomas Osmundsen Ihle and Nils Osmundsen Ihle. Independently Nils Ingebretsen Oppheim moves to the area and becomes Nils Ingebretsen Ihle. As detailed below, Nils Osmundsen Ihle marries Synnove Ryen; Nils dies and Synnove marries Nils Ingebretsen Ihle.
Because of the importance of the farm names; Norway has a registry of Norwegian Farm Names. A search for Ihle gives no hits but a search with Ile has 3 hits. One hit is in the municipality of Vikedal and is the farm on which the Ihle clan started, indicated in all records as farm #31 in Vikedal. The surrounding farms can all be found and Tornes is #32, Viland is #30 and Arakebo is #29. The other Ile farms are in the municipalities of Nes and Oier. Ihle lineages can be traced to both these farms as detailed in the research section. The registry also gives a history of the farm names. Thus the Ilsvag farm was Lill in 1563, Ille in 1567, Ill in 1602, Iile in 1610, Iihle in 1661 and Ihle med Loe in 1723. Norway also maintains a registry of current occupants of registered farms. In considering this, Norwegian law from 1923 requires that all surnames are parental names and not acquired by residency. Seven individuals were associated with the Ile or Lo farm in 1950. Among these the only Ihle is Martin O. Ihle but there is also a Bjorn S. Ile who had the largest section.
Information on Norwegian farms can also be found at www.norwayparishes.com where searching for parishes with Ile lists 24 farms or farmsteads. This gives a nice map view of the locations; only one is found in the west. The other Ile farms are either north of lake Mjosa in central Norway (Oyer municipality in Oppland county), close to the lake (Ringsaker and Strange municipalities in Hedmark county) or south of the lake (Nannestand, Ullensaker and Nes municipalities in Akerhaus county). All of the farms had Ihles that immigrated to the US, some of which are indicated in the research section.
Below is given a list of the individuals on the Ihle farm in 1950
This is an evolving website that, as with any geneology project branches into many directions. The program base allows expansion in numerous directions and anyone can submit information that can be linked into the program. The author hopes to primarily focus on the Ihle Clan that evolved from the immigrates from Ilsvag, Norway but also is interested in the origins of the Ihle surname. Send interesting information, including pictures of geneological links to james.ihle@ihleclan.net. There are evolving numerous sites that seek to make understanding family evolutions simple. In the research section, examples and links will be provided.
A map for orientation, note specifically the towns of Vikedal and Olen which are important sites for understanding the origins of the families referenced. Since there is no cemetery in Ilsvag, the Ilsvag Ihle's are buried in the cemetery in Vikedal. There is a large lake that feeds into the Fjord at Ilsvag with the tongue tieing name "Gjerdesdatsvatnet" which is reported to have great trout fishing.
The Origins of the Ilsvag Ihle Clan starts with Synnove Ryen.
A summary of the origins of the Ihle clan must start with the "matriarch" of the family, Synnove Ryen Ihle. Among the most intersting aspects, detailed in the Ancestry profiles provided below are the following. First, she came from the Ryen family in Ryo,Olin Rogaland, Norway and had a brother that also contributed to the Ihle lineage. However, most importantly, Synnove first married Nils Osmundsen Ihle and had two children by Nils, Osmund and Synnove. Osmund married in Norway and with a large family immigrated to the US in 1893. Unfortunately Nils Osmundsen Ihle died, probably fishing with his father by both father and son drowning on Sept. 28 1841. After his death, Synnove married Nils Ingebretsen Ihle. Thanks to Martin we know that Nils Osmund Ihle and Nils Ingebretsen are completely unrelated; see the details below in the lineage records provided by Martin.
Ancestry Reports are available throughout the website, here is the report for Synnove, click to bring it up:
Synnove's Ancestry Home Page.
This is a picture taken from the Carlson house in Ilsvag. It was taken by Jim Ihle during the trip to Norway with Merv and Clare Ihle to celebrate their 50th wedding aniversary. Across the Fjord there is an isolated small white house. This is the school house that Nella attended according to Henry. Go to the movies section for a number of clips from the Carlson Farm with descriptions provided by a grandson of Synnove, Henry Olsen.
Credits to Martin and Kristin Berakvam from Ilsvag
I am extremely grateful to Martin and Kristin Berakvam for all their help in learning about the Ihle origins in Ilsvag. Martin was raised in Ilsvag and lives in Stravanger but developed an incredable desire to document the families in Isvag. This involved going to all the churchs and collecting records which are referenced in the summaries provided. I think all will be deeply appreciative of their efforts.
List of individuals on farm #31 (Ihle Farm) in Vikedal with taxes on properties.
Synnove Ryen Ihle the Matriarch of the Ihles from Ilsvag
Synnove was born in Ryen, Olin in 1816. More details on her family are given below. In 1840 she married Nils Osmundsen Ihle and had a boy, Osmund in 1840. Osmund would marry and his family is the origin of many Ihles in the US. Unfortunately Nils died in 1841 by drowning in an accident in which his father also drowned. Synnove then married Nils Ingebretsen Ihle in 1843 and they went on to have many children, some of which immigrated to the US as detailed. Clearly Synnove earned the title of Matriarch of the Ihle Ilsvag Clan.
Synnove Ihle Family Photo from approximately 1905
This is the only picture that we have that has Synnove Ryen Ihle in it. This picture was taken at the Erik Ihle farm in approximately 1905. The ages of the children and grandchildren are given. Below is shown a simple family tree for Synnove's first and second marriages. She died in 1906 thus shortly after this photo was taken.
Family Tree for Decendents of Synnove Ryen Ihle
Below is a simple family tree indicating the decendents of Synnove. Synnove was first married to Nils Osmundsen Ihle, who died by drowning after the birth of a son. She then married Nils Ingebretsen Ihle and they had 7 children. Nils Osmundsen Ihle and Nils Ingebretsen Ihle were from different families as indicated.
During Synnove's life from 1816 to 1906 she had 8 children. Most of the children stayed in Norway with the exception of Erik who immigrated to the US in 1887 and Anna in 1888, both of which found mates in the US. In contrast Osmund married in Norway and had 6 children in Norway and the entire family immigrated to the US in or around 1893. Among the grandchildren born in Norway, it was only Cecilie's children that immigrated to the US; Carl in 1901, Nella in 1912, Gurine in 1923 and Matilhde in 1925
Ryen Family Tree
Synnove was one of eight children of Erik Ryen and Synnove Heggen. They lived on and the name is derived from the Ryen farm which was near Olen, Norway not far from Ilsvag. As indicated, the Ryen family contributed more to the Ihle clan than just the matriarch. Specifically, the Torres Ryen family had three sons (Nels, Thomas and Knudt) that immigrated to the US together in 1870 to Lisbon, Illinois. Thomas' family moved to the Slater Iowa area in about 1873 and ultimately all the brothers moved to Iowa and died in Slater (Nels, 1903; Thomas 1921 and Knudt 1925).
Thomas' daugther Anne first married John Ryen (born 1862 in Norway, the son of Nels Ryen in 1893. John Ryen died in 1898 and is buried in the Slater Cemetery. Anne then married John Ihle, son of Osmund in 1901. Anna's sister Tena first married John Brown who died and she then married Erick O Ihle, the eldest son of Osmund, to become his third wife.
Just a bit more about the Ryen Family. Anna's sister Rachael married Casper Rimathe and Knudt and Lena's daughter Anna married a Berkow. As noted below, Owen Ihle worked on the Eric N Ryen farm and Eric was a son of Nels T and Carrie Ryen. The Ryen family was clearly as pervasive in the Slater Iowa region as the Ihles. In researching the Ryen family, I came across a remarkable description of how farming in Norway was in the old days that you can pull up below (Berhow Reference). The scenario was written by someone doing research on the Berhow family based on the fact that Knudt's daughter Anna married Seward Berhow.
Osmund'life is described in detail under a section dedicated to his history.
Synnove Nilsdatter Ihle 1842
Synnove was born on March 03 1842 in Ihle, Ilsvaag. She first married Gudman Rassmussen Arak (born 1842 in Viland). Her second husband was Osmund Peterson. The children from the second marriage were Nels, Nilla and Susan Peterson.
Nils Nelson Ihle 1845
Nils was born Feb 02 1845 in Ihle, Ilsvaag. He married Gori Osmundsdatter Lo.
Ingebrigt Nilsen Ihle 1847
Ingebrigt was born Aug. 15 1847 in Ihle, Ilsvaag. He had one daughter, Nilla Ingebretsdatter Ihle who married Throbjorn Thomassen Arak, born 22 Feb 1883.
Guri Nelsdatter Ihle 1850
Guri was born on 14 April 1850. She married Lars Larson Torresdal.
Erik Nilsen Ihle 1852
Erik was born on 26 Sept 1852 in Skigelstrand and died on 04 Jan. 1951. He married Elen Gunnarsdatter Skigelstran. Both are shown above in the picture from about 1905.
Cesilie Nilsdatter Ihle 1855
Cesilie was born 17 Oct 1855 in Ilsvaag. Because of the central role her family plays in the Ihle's in Iowa, her history is covered in a separate section.
Erik Nilsen Ihle 1859
Erik was the sixth child of Synnove and Nels Ingebretsen Ihle and was born in Ilsvag on 18 September 1859 and was baptised in Vikedal. Among the Ilsvag Ihles, he was the first to immigrate to the US, arriving in 1887 at the age of 28. He married Agnete Berntsdatter Nagell in 1893 in Slater, Iowa. Agnete was born in Iowa in 1872 of Norwegian parents (Bernt and Martha Nagelle). Between 1892 and 1913 they had 9 children, 6 boys and 3 girls. Erik died on 18 Feb. 1914 in McCalllsburg, Iowa. The children included: Nels E. 1894, Thomas E. 1897, Elle E.(Wallen) 1900, Anna Emilie (Vanderford) 1901, Sherman (Ned) 1903, Annie E. 1906, Alfred Gehard 1908, Eddie S 1911 and Milford 1913. Many of the children lived in the Blue Earth, Minnesota area. Milford married Ruth Ester Larson on 18 March 1933, the daughter of Trenus Larson and Sophia Roe.
Anna Martha Ihle 1863
Anna was born on 6 Nov. 1863 in Ilsvag. She immigrated to the US in 1888 at the age of 25 and although definitive records are not available, she probably traveled with her brother Erik. In 1892 (Jan. 7) she married Torres Nerem in Roland, Iowa. Torres was born in June 1861 in Olin, Norway and had immigrated to the US in 1884. Torres died in 1944 and Anna died in 1951. They had no children. In the marrige record, Anna is listed as Anna Nilsen. It should be noted that both indicate immigration in 1884 which raises the question of whether they immigrated together.
Osmund Ihle family picture from approximately 1905
Osmund with Martha in the 1900s Travel Option at Home Farm: Osmund at Merv's House
Osmund and Martha
Osmund Ihle was born in Ilsvag, Norway in 1840 and married Martha Jonsdatter Helgeland in Vikedal Norway in 1866. They had 7 children born in Ilsvag, Norway and the family immigrated to Slater, Iowa in 1893. Martha died in 1928 and Osmund in 1934. They are buried together in the Behtleham Cemetery in Slater. Regarding the immigration; the ship list for 1893 contains Osmund, Martha, Josie, Erik, Severen (Owen S.). In the 1900 census the immigration dates for Nels, John, Erck and Eddie are given as 1893. However in a couple of places John gives his immigration date as 1889.
Martha was the daughter of John Paulsen Helgeland (born 1806 Olen, died 1891 Sandied). The surname Helgeland comes from the fram he resided on. Martha had a sister Sigria (Sarah) that immigrated to Ill. in the US in 1866 and married in 1869. She also had a brother Niels (Nels) Johnson that immigrated to Ill. in the US in 1881 and married in 1887. Both families lived in Elliott, Ill. Another brother, Vellik Johnson Apeland born 1854, stayed in Norway and died in Stavanger in 1929.
After arrival in Story County, Iowa in 1893, by 1900, Osmund had purchased a farm which was mortgaged. In 1900, sons Nels, John, Erick and Eddie lived with their parents. Nels O. was a farm hand on the farm of Erick Frovig. The daughters had already married. By 1910, Osmund and Martha lived with Eddie on the farm he now owned. John had moved to a farm that he owned that was mortgaged. By 1910 he and Anna had a number of children living with them including Cora (Anna's daughter from her first marriage to John Ryen), Mabel, Joseph, Amos and Theresa. Meanwhile, Nels O was single and lived on a farm alone that was owned but mortgaged. As detailed under the Nels O and Nella descriptions; Erick Frovig died in 1901 and it is possible that Nels O purchased the farm on which he had worked. More strikingly, Nels O would ultimately buy three additional farms prior to his death to insure that each of his sons had a farm.
More details on spreading out in Story County. In 1900 Osmund and Martha were living with John, Erik, Eddie, Nels while Nels O was working on the Frovig farm. By the 1905 census Osmund and Martha only had Eddie at home. John had married Anna they are listed with Cora, Mable, Joseph; Nels is listed alone; Nels O, Erik, Oli Thorsness and Suzzane. Nels is listed next to Casper Rimathe. In 1910, Osmund and Martha are alone and Eddie is working on the E.N. Ryen farm as a single man, Nels O is alone at his farm, John and family are together. Lastly Nels is with Nellie on a farm he owns with Amund and Elizabeth.
1910 summary: Josie is married to Severn; Susanne is married to Ole; Erik married to Anna; Osmund and Martha live with Eddie; Nels O is alone; John has his family and Nels has married Nellie. Another view of history based on marriage date: Josie 1897, John 1901, Suusanne 1904, Nels 1905, Erik 1907, Nels O 1914 and Eddie 1919.
Nels was born in Ilsvag and immigrated with the Osmund family to Slater, Iowa in 1893. He married Nellie A Highland in Slater on Sept. 12 in 1905. Nellie was born in 1873 in Alleman, Iowa. Nels and Nellie had four children, Amund (b 1906), Elizabeth (b 1910), Cyrus (b 1911) and Evertt (b 1916). Nels and Nellie are buried together in the Slater cemetery.
John was born in Ilsvag. He immigrated to the Slater, Iowa in either 1889 (as indicated on a passport application) or in 1893 (as indicated in the 1900 census). The ship passenger list for 1893 indicated that Osmund and Martha traveled with Josie, Erik and Owen S. In 1901 he married Anna Ryen in Huxley. They went on to have five children; Cora 1895, Mabel 1902, Joseph 1904, Amos 1906 and Theresa 1909. In 1923 John and Anna with Nels O and Nella returned for a summer visit to Ilsvag pictures of which are shown below. John died in Slater in 1952.
Exactly when Suzanne arrived in Iowa is problematic. She is not listed on the ship rooster with Osmund/Martha, Josie, Erik and Severin in 1893. The immigration dates in various US censuses are 1897 (1920), 1893 (1910) and 1895 (1930). She married Ole Thorsness 29 Dec. 1904. Oli immigrated from Norway in 1902 and was born in Norway in 1880. The status of children is unknown. In the 1910 (US), 1925 (Iowa), 1930 (US) and 1940 (US) censuses only Oli and Susan are listed, thus no indication of children being present. The only issue is that in the 1920 US census, a daughter (Francis) is listed that is 16 (thus born about 1904) but is listed as divorced. Also in the Bethelem Church in Slater, Iowa confirmation records from May 7, 1916 list the confirmation of a Francis Pearl Walden, age 14 with parents Oli and Susan Thorsness is recorded. In the same class was Mabel Ihle, daughter of John and Anne Ihle. In the 1920 census, Francis Thorsness (age 16, born Iowa) is living with Oli and Susan and is listed as divorced. Searches for additional information regarding Francis Pearl Walden have been unproductive.
Some additional history is worth mentioning. Ole Thorsness (born 1880) was the son of Ole Osmundsen Thorsness (born in Ilsvag 1838 and died in Tornes, Norway in 1927) who had married Elizabeth Ihle in 1869 in Vikedal. Elizabeth was born in Ilsvag in 1850 and was the daughter of Thomas Osmundsen Ihle. She died in Tornes, Ilsvag,Norway in 1888. Thomas was a brother of Nels Osmundsen who married Synnove Ryen, the parents of Osmund Ihle. Thus, Ole's and Suzzane's grandfathers were brothers.
Summary of research on Franscis. The first record of Franscis is her confirmation at Betheham Church 7 May, 1916 under the name Franscis Pearl Walden at age 14 (thus presumably born in 1902). The parents are listed as Oli and Susanne Thorsness; interestingly in the records there is a notation after Oli and Susanne's names (foresatte; which is norwegian for parents). This clearly provides further confirmation that Franscis was a daughter of Oli and Susanne. Importantly, in the 1910 census, Franscis is not found in the home with Oli and Susanne. However in the 1920 census, Franscis Thorsness is in the home, is listed as 16, daughter and status, divorced. In the 1930 census, Franscis is not present. In the 1910 census for Huxley, there is a home of George Walden and Carrie Sydnes Walden. The male family members were Byron (born 19 Jul, 1898) and Earl (age 0). The females listed were Franscis P (age 7), Beatrice (age 4) and Viola (age 9). Although the birth place for Franscis P is South Dakota, there is no evidence the family was in South Dakota and the children listed were all born in Iowa. On Aug. 2, 1933 Franscis Pearl Walden married Frederick Peel in Des Moines. Thus, the possibility exists that Bryon and Franscis were married prior to 1916 and divorced prior to 1920.
Suzzane died in 1956 in Slater, Ole returned to Norway and married Ingeborg H. Forre in 1957 and the pair returned to Slater with Ingeborg's children from her first marriage (Oge and Solfred). Ole died in Slater in 1969.
Josie immigrated with the family in 1893 and was listed with Osmund and Martha in the ship rooster of Sept. 1893. She married Severt Houge on Jan 21, 1897. Severt was born in Story County on March 19, 1867, the son of Throbr and Madelia Houge. The family moved to Jackson county Minn. in 1911 where they resided for 17 years. They then moved to Dickinson county Iowa where they farmed until 1934 until they moved to Superior Iowa. Severt died in 1941 in Superior, Josie had died in 1962 in Esterville. They had eight children (Thorben, Amos, Joseph, Milford, Loyd, Theresa, Martin and Elmer). In the Ancestry DNA links for James Ihle; descendents of Thorbon, Amos and Milford are represented as 2-3 cousins. As noted in the genetics section, the Josie Houge branch is extensively represented.
A picture of Josie and Severt found posted in Ancestry
Nels O (as apposed to Big Nels) was born in Ilsvag 28 Sept. 1876. He immigrated to the US with the family in 1893. In 1900 is was working as a farm hand on the Frovog farm. He married Nella Carlson on 10 October 1914. The wedding picture is shown below. Brothers Nels with wife Nellie and John with wife Anna are also pictured. Another possibility is that it is Owen with his wife to be Petra rather than Nels and Nellie. The identity of the individuals according to Nilus, who wrote the names on the back of the picture are: Cora Ryan Ihle (daughter of John Ryan and Anna Ryan; and step daughter of John Ihle who married Anna after John Ryan died; Owen Ihle; Carl Carlson (Nella's brother) and Elise Rimathe Weeks, a good friend of Nella's.
Eric was born 21 Oct. 1879 in Ilsvag and immigrated with his family to Iowa. He first married Anna Louise Sheldal on 27 March 1907. She died in 1911. Eric then married Bertha Sandeno in 1923 who died in 1935. On 6 Aug. 1936 Eric married Tena Brown. Of interest Tena was the sister of Anne Ryen Ihle (wife of John Ihle). Tena first married John Martin Brown in 1903 and they had 7 children prior to John's death in 1924. Tena died 14 Dec. 1976 while Eric died in 1964 and is buried in Slater. A bit more history, John's father was Martin J Brown born in Time, Rogaland, Norway (south of Stravanger) in 1858. He immigrated to the US in 1874 and married Inger Sheldahl and farmed in Palestine, Story County, Iowa. Inger died in 1896 and Martin married Martha Berhow in 1898. Martin died in Slater in 1937 and is buried the Slater Cemetery.
Owen Severin (Eddy) Ihle was born in Ilsvag in 1887 and arrived in Iowa with his parents in 1893 as indicated in the ship's rooster in which he is listed with the name Severin. In the 1910 census he is single and living with his parents but on his WWI draft registration he indicates that he is working on the E.N. Ryen farm in Slater (Eric N was the son of Nels T and Carrie Ryen). He was on an outbound transport of the #7 Infantry from Holboken, NJ on Sept. 23 1918 and returned to the US on a transport from France. He was discharged March 8, 1919 and married Petra lee on 25 Sept. 1919 in Palo Alto, Iowa. He was the only Osmund son that served in WWI. Owen and Petra had 4 children (Peral Mae 1921, Jacob 1923, Mildred 1926, Omer 1928) and resided with them in Fairfield, Palo Alto, Iowa. He has a military headstone in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Among their children Jacob Omar Ihle (1923-2006) introduced one source of the Ihle name to Michigan and died in Saugatuck, Michigan. His son, Peter M. Ihle (1948-2011) lived in Michigan.
Petra Gunhilda Lee was born in Feb. 1899 in Illinois. Her parents were Jacob Osmund Lee (Loe) born 1863 in Vikedal and Pauline Martine Peterson born 1876 in Forsuant Norway. Jacob immigrated in 1888 to Ill. while Pauline immigrated in 1897. They married in 1898 in Ill. They moved to Iowa and Petra was confirmed in Oct. 1912 in Cylinder, Iowa. Her grandfather was Osmund Kristenson Loe, born 1820 in Ilsvag. Thus Petra had the same roots in Norway as Owen.
One of Owen's daughters, Pearl Mae Ihle was born in Cylinder, Iowa in 1921. But was a clerk typist and in 1943 was in Bremeton Washington. In 1943 she married a US marine, Clyde Arthur Dykhuis from Michigan. They lived in Fairfield Iowa and she died in Emmetsburg. Interestingly Owen's son Jacob Omar Ihle mentioned above, married Gertrude Dykhuis in 1944 in Cylinder, Iowa. Gertrude was born in Michigan and died in 1983 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Another of Owen's sons, Omer S. Ihle was born in Cylinder, Iowa in 1928. He married Martha Belle Hill in 1962 and raised a family in Ohio. He died in 1994 in Maryville, Ohio.
1923 Trip
In 1923 Nella was homesick for Norway and therefore a summer trip to Ilsvag, Norway. Nella and Nels, with children Kenneth, Mervin and Otis were joined by John (Nels' brother) and and his wife Anne. Below is a collection of pictures from the trip. In some pictures Nella is joined by her sisters Gurine and Mathilda who later immigrated to Iowa or with Karoline who stayed in Norway. Her sister Karoline is also present but she never immigrated but married and had a family in Norway. The group departed on May 8, 1923 on the ship "Stravanger" and returned on 18 August, 1923 on the ship "Aquatana" which left Southampton, England for New York.
Left, John, Anna, Nels, Nella with Kenneth, Mervin and Otis in front. Right, Gurine, Nella (center), Karoline with Kenneth laying in front.
Left, from left, Anna, John kneeling, Karoline (best guess), Knut Karlson or Nels, Cecilie. Right. John and Anna (Anna holding Mervin and Otis), lady in doorway probably Cecilie. Note the drying fish.
On the ship going or returning.
The Ihle boys participating in the Cod fishing harvest during the trip.
A picnic in Norway in 1923
Nels O and Nella Ihle
Nels O immigrated with his family from Norway in 1893. In the 1900 Census Nels O is listed as a farm hand on the farm of Erick Frovig. Erick (B Norway, 1842) and Anna (B Norway 1854) had one son Lorence (B Iowa 1884). Erick and Anna had immigrated from Norway in 1862. In the 1900 Census there is also in Slater Lars Frovig (B Norway 1829) and his wife Sarah (also Serine B Norway 1832) who immigrated from Norway in 1858. They had a son Oli (B Iowa 1870) and a daughter Emile baptised at the Fjeldberg Church in Huxley in 1867. This is interesting since there had been talk about Nels O buying the Mervin Ihle homestead from a Norwegian that went broke building the house. In this regard it should be noted that Erick lived next to Jake Rimathe.
Perhaps the most remarkable feat of Nels O was the fact that by the time he died in 1947 he was able to give each son a farm. Nilus took over the initial homestead that Nels O had farmed since about 1910. Mervin was given the one mentioned above. Otis, around 1945, shared the large home Mervin was given until he acquired a farm immediately west of Mervin's farm. Kenneth was given a farm that was about 1.5 miles north and slightly west. One additional farm near these was the farm John Ihle obtained from Osmund and on which one of his sons, Amos, farmed after his death.
In the 1910 Census Nels O is listed as single living alone in dwelling #83. Interestingly #81 housed the John Ihle family, #82 was the Casper Rimathe family and #84 Ole Thorsness (note the house numbers are arbitrary but are the order in which the census taker visited the home. For those that know the area #81 is likely the Osmund home place, then south on the road one passes the Rimathe home place, turning left at the corner takes you past the Otis and then the Mervin Ihle homes then going east on the right is the Ole Thorness home.
On 10 October 1914, Nels O married Nella Severine Carlson (Karlson) in Slater. Nella had immigrated to the US in 1912. She is the daughter of Karoline and Knut Karlson. Her brother Carl had immigrated to Iowa in 1909. Her sisters Gurine and Matelda would immigrate later. Importantly, Nella's mother was the daughter of Synnove Ryen Ihle and Nels Ingebretson Ihle. Since Nels O was the son of Osmund a son of Synnove by husband Nels Osmundsen Ihle, Nels and Nella share a grandmother but have different grandfathers. In the 1920 Census Nels and Nella live in dwelling #74; Casper Rimathe is in dwelling #73 and Erick Ihle in #75. By 1920, there were three additions to the family Kenneth 1915, Mervin (listed as Arnold) 1917 and Otis 1919.
Picture prior to the birth of Nilus (1924). As detailed in the Osmund section, Nella got homesick for Norway and this group traveled to Norway for a summer vacation in 1923.
The grown up boys, Patricia and Nancy in front.
Gladys Ryen (B 1909) was the daughter of Charles and Mattie Ryen, Charles was the son of Knudt and Olena Ryen.
Kenneth Born 17 Aug. 1915
Left, Nella with newborn Kenneth.
Married Jean Ardis Bengtson on 9 March 1938
Children: Patricia 1940, Leon 1945
Mervin Born 2 March 1917
Married Clare Schumacher on 14 October 1944
Children: James 1945, Everett 1946, Mary 1950, Janice 1959
Nels and Nella with Grandchildren about 1947, parents indicated.
From left Leon (Kenneth), Jim (Mervin), Patricia (Kenneth), Nancy (Otis), Dennis (Otis)
Movie Clip
When Mervin and Clare returned to Iowa in 1945, Merv acquired an 8mm movie camera. He used it over several years and many years ago Jim acquired the many reels of film and had them first compiled and then had the content digitalized. He then had Mervin narrate the film by recording his comments as he watched the compiled film. The entire content is shown here, without any editing,so as not to eliminate anything that a relative might enjoy. The clip is about 35 minutes in length. I can provide edited clips for anyone that wants a specific region. Just Email your request to james.ihle@ihleclan.net.
Nels and Nellie Ihle
Nels and Nellie Ihle
Nels was born in Ihle/Ilsvag in 1873 while Nellie was born in 1873 in Lincoln, Polk, Iowa. Her parents were Cyrus Highland who was born in Strandson, Norway in 1848 and Isabel Masker, born 1854, In the 1880 Lincoln, Polk census Cyrus (32) and Isabella (26) are present with Nellie (6) and Rasmus (2). Nels and Nellie were married on Sept 12 1905. On the marriage certificate Nellie is listed as Anna Nelyne Highland and is 32 while Nels is 38.
Children of Nels and Nellie Ihle
Amund Matthew Ihle
Amund Matthew Ihle was born on June 23, 1906 in Slater. In 1930 he was single and living with his parents. On 25 March 1931 he married Opal M. Woods in Des Moines. Opal was born in 1906 in Cambridge and baptized in Huxley on 9 Jan. 1907. Amund and Opal lived in Slater and had two children. Ronald Woods Ihle who was born on 1 Sept. 1937 and Deanna Sue Ihle was born 12 Feb. 1943. Deanna attended Ballard School and was in the same class as Patricia Ihle (Kenneth's daughter). Amund died May 25, 2004 in Slater and Opal died in Slater in 1981.
Cyrus Nathaniel Ihle
Cyrus was born 25 August 1911 in Slater. In the 1930 census he was living with his parents. In 1935 his residence was given as Ames. He married Doris J. Ames who was born on 23 Feb. 1917. In 1930 she was 13 and living with her parents in Des Moines. She is also listed as living in Des Moines in 1939 and 1941. Cyrus had a son, Jack Dean Ihle, that was born July 3, 1933 in Slater and according to the Lutheran Church records the parents were Cyrus and Dorothy Ihle. In the 1940 Nevada census, Jack Dean Ihle is in the home of Ray and Dorothy Prescott. He is listed as a step son and Dorothy and Jack are listed as living in Ames in 1935 while Ray is listed as living in Nevada. In a family tree in Ancestry, Doris J Ames is indicated to have married Cyrus on 28 June 1941 in Bethany Missouri. Records indicate that Cyrus lived on 24th street in Des Moines until about 1958 after which he resides in Slater. The gravestones in Slater are engraved, Doris J (1917-1996) and Cyrus N (1911-1980). Further information on Dorothy comes from grave site information: Raymond A Prescott/Dorothy Maxine Prescott head stone: Father Charles Edward Callahan; Mother Lena Belle Callahan; died 1999 and buried in Nevada. Further an obiturary in an Ames paper for Jack, born 3 Jul, 1933 and died 6 April 2013 lists Cyrus N. as parent and Ray Prescott as father. Dorothty Callahan was born in 1916 and in 1920 lived with her family in Colifax, Boone, Iowa. In 1933 she would have been 17. It would appear that Jack Dean was the son of Cyrus and Dorothy Callahan and that Cyrus and Dorothy went their separate ways and Cyrus married Doris J Ames and Dorothy Maxine Callahan married Ray Prescott on 17 Jun 1935. After the death of Raymond, Dorothy married Galen J. Carr on 19 May 1973.
Everett Ihle
Everett Samuel Ihle was born on 9 Jan. 1916 in Slater. He was in the confirmation class of Oct. 27 1929. Kenneth Ihle was also in this class. He registered for the draft on 16 Oct. 1940 and enlisted in the army on Sept. 14, 1943. On 27 Dec. 1943 he married Mary Alice Crew in Arkansas. Mary was born 10 Dec. 1915 in Marion,Iowa. She attended college to become a school teacher. In 1940 she was teaching in Miles, Iowa. In 1941 she was teaching in Slater, Iowa. In the Slater centennial book, a picture of the school teachers of that year includes Mary Crew (shown in the information link below). In 1943, the marriage license indicated her residence was in Cedar Rapids and Everett's residence is Slater. Everett became a flight officer in the US Army. He served as a pilot to ferrry command and ferried bombers to different European countries. He was stationed in the US with the 4th ferry group in Memphis, TN and headquartered at the Armored Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky. According to the papers that can be obtained below; he arrived from someplace, not readable, in Washington DC on 2/20/1944. He traveled on to Memphis, TN. On July 14,1944 he was flying from Memphis To Fort Knox and crashed in Chattanooga, TN. It should be noted that it had been widely held that he died in a plane crash over the Pacific for reasons that are not obvious. He is buried in the Slater cemetery. Mary went on to marry and died Mary Bausch on 7 March 2011 in St. Louis.
Elizabeth was born at Slater, Iowa Aug. 17, 1909. She graduated from Slater High School in 1927. In 1940 she was single and living as a roomer in Nevada. She married Vern Merlin Hackler. Vern was born on 21 March 1897 in Buffalo, Missouri. By 1930 he had moved to Collins, Iowa and was single in 1940 in Collins. He served in the Army from 16 Sept. 1942-24 March 1943. He married Elizabeth in 1951 although one source says Okalahoma and another is in Randolph, Arkansas. Vern died on 22 Oct. 1980 in Collins. Elizabeth died at 99 while at the Story County Long Term Care in Nevada, Iowa.
Picture of Elizabeth and Vern, taken 1979. Obtained from Ancestry Family Tree.
John and Anna Ryen Ihle
John was born on July 3, 1869 in Isvag, the second son of Osmund and Martha. He immigrated to Slater with his family in 1893 and in 1900 was living with his parents on a farm they had purchased. He married Anne Ryen on 2 Jan. 1901. By 1905 he had bought his own farm and lived there with Anna, his sister Suzzane and her husband Oli Thorsnes, his brothers Nels O and Erik. The children present were Cora (Anna's daughter by her first marriage), Mable and Joseph. By 1910, Ole and Suzzane had there own farm, Erik and Anna had their own farm, Nels O had his own farm. The children present were Cora, Mable (1902), Joseph (1904), Amos (1906) and Theresa (1909). John died in Slater on 15 March 1952.
Anna Ryen Ihle
As detailed elsewhere, Anna was born on 1 Nov. 1870 in Gardner, Ill to Thomas Torresen and Brita Ryen. In the 1880 census her family is in Palestine, Story, Iowa. On 10 March, 1893 she married her cousin John Ryen in Huxley. On 6 May, 1895 their daughter Carrie (Cora) Ryen was born in Huxley. On 30 Aug. 1898 John Ryen died. As noted above, Anna then married John Ihle on 2 Jan. 1901. Anna died on 14 Dec. 1957 in Slater and is buried with John in the Slater Cemetery.As detailed elsewhere, Anna and John, with Nels O and Nella visited Ilsvag in 1923.
Some information for clarification.
As noted below; Amos married Thelma Larson, Joseph married Martha Marie Larson and Theresa married James Johanas Larson. Therefore a bit of background of the Larson family involved is useful. Thelma and Martha were daughters of Lars T. Larson and James Johanas was his son. Their mother was Sophia Cecilie Roe Larson. In searching records however Lars T. is sometimes Lars Tornus, Trunius and Thorness Larson. Lars T and Sophia had children Clara 1904, James 1905, Martha 1908, Sarah 1909, Ruth 1912, Melvin 1915 and Thelma 1916. Lars T died Aug. 22, 1915 thus presumably prior to Thelma's birth. In the 1930 census, Sophia is 50 and widowed living with Ruth 18, Melvin 15 and Thelma L S 14 (Lorraine Sophia). Sophia Cecilie Larson died 2 Oct. 1961 and is buried in the Fjeldberg cemetery in Huxley. As noted below, another of Lars and Sophia's daughters, Ruth Ester married a son, Milford Ihle, of Erick Nels Ihle. Lars T was the son of Michael B. Larson (Born 1844 in Norway) and Christine Johanneson (Born 1853 in Norway). Michael and Christine immigrated to Story County in 1857 and 1864 respectively. They had a number of children in addition to Lars T. and are buried in the Story City Cemetery.
Cora Ryen Ihle
Cora was born on 6 May 1895 to John and Anna Ryen. Her father died on 30 Aug. 1898 and her mother married John Ihle in 1901 as detailed above. She was confirmed in Slater on 10 Oct. 1909. In the 1910/1920/1930/1940 censuses she is listed as single and living with her parents. She died single in Jan. 1983 and is buried in the Slater Cemetery. The gravestone has the name Cora B. Ryan Ihle.
Mabel Ihle
Mabel was born on 10 May 1902. She was living with her parents in 1910 and 1920. On 6 Sept. 1924 she married Halder Lein who was born in 1903 in Kelley. They had one daughter, Lucille born on 27 June 1926 in Slater. In the 1940 census, Mable and Lucille are living in Story City and were there in 1935. In the 1940 census, Mable indicates she is divorced. Marriage records show that Halder married Garland Elizabeth Rinker in 1939 and is listed as living with her in Des Moines in the 1940 Des Moines census and in 1944. Halder and Gardner have a son born in 1932. Lucille attended school in Ames and is the High School books from 1943 and 1945. Mabel died in Jan. 1951 in Slater and is buried in the Slater Cemetery. Halder died in April 1974 in Phoenix. Lucile Jean Lein married Lawerence Gale Benedict in 1955 and died 21 March 2009 in Alaska.
Joseph and Martha Ihle
Joseph J Ihle was born in Slater on 18 March 1904. In 1910 and 1920 he is living, single, with his parents. On 30 August 1927 he married Martha Marie Larson from Kelley daughter of Lars T Larson. In the 1930 and 1940 census, Joseph and Martha farmed in Palestine, Story, Iowa. In the 1930 census the farm is between the Torgeson and Nernes farms. In 1947 Joseph and Martha moved to Williams, Iowa. They had 3 sons and 1 daughter; Marion (1930), Norman (1937), Herbert (1939) and Mary Lou. Joseph died on 23 August 1981 in Huxley and Martha in 1972. They are buried at the Slater Cemetery.
Amos Ihle
Amos was born on 01 Aug. 1906 in Kelley. In the 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses he is single living with his parents. On 12 Nov. 1932 he married Thelma Larson, daughter of Lars T. Larson. In the 1940 census he is renting a farm. In the census his farm is number 130 visited, 131 is John Ihle, 132 is Nels Vespested, 134 is Nels O, and 133 is Estrem. Amos and Thelma had four boys; Arnold born, 1935, Donald born 1937 and Roger born 1944. Amos died at the Madrid home on 04 Sept. 1995. Thelma died 12 June 1981.
Theresa Ihle
Theresa was born 11 Feb. 1909 in Slater. In 1910 and 1920 she is living with her parents and is single. On 12 Jan. 1929 she married James Johanas Larson, son of Lars T. Larson and brother of Thelma Larson. They were in Palestine, Story in 1930. In the 1940 census they are living in Garden, Boone on a farm. Remarkably,between 1931 and 1949 they had 10 children. Theresa died on 02 Sept. 2001 in Ames. James died in Sept. 1989. The children were: Joyce (Leora) 1931, Harlan 1933, David Eugene 1936, Janet 1938, Paul 1939, Ronald 1941, Harvey 1944, Karen 1945, Wayne 1947, Keith 1949.
Pictures taken from Ancestry Posts
Wedding pictures: Theresa/James and Mabel/Halder
Cora, Theresa, Amos
Norwegian Farm Research
Cecilie Ihle Carlson Family
Cesilie was born on 17 Oct. 1855 the 5th child of Synnove and Nels Ingebretsen Ihle. She married Knut Lars Karlson on 16 June 1888. They had seven children, Carl 1891, Kari, Nella 1893, Nils 1897, Gurine 1898, Karoline 1902 and Mathilda 1903. Among the children and as detailed below, Carl, Nella, Gurina and Mathilda independently immigrated to the US. The other children stayed in Norway. Of these, Karoline married Oyvind Olsen and they had three children, Henry, Knut and Gerd. Henry is particularly notable since he visited his aunt Nella in the US and served in the US army during the Korean War as noted below in detail.
Picture of Knud and Cecilie Carlson from about 1900
Knud Lars Carlson and Cecilie Carlson
Knud was born 4 Nov. 1851 in Nerheim, Olen and was baptised on 23 Jan. 1853 at the Fjielberg church, Hordaland. He was the son of Karl Johan Knudsen Nerheim and Kari Nilsdatter Stumo. He married Cecilie on 16 June 1888 in Vikedal, at which time his surname was Ihle, indicating that he had moved to the Ihle farm area. Another name for Knud was Knud Lars Stumo. In Ihle, he had a postoffice and dock area. The movie clips from Ilsvag are mostly from the Carlson property. With Cecilie he had seven children; Carl Johan, Kari Johan, Nella, Nils Kornelius, Bertha Gurine, Cecilie Karoline and Severine Mathilde; four of which are detailed below. Knud died on 22 June 1903 in Ihle/Ilsvag and is buried in Vikedal.
Cecilie Nilsdatter Ihle was born on 17 Oct. 1855 in Ihle/Ilsvag and was christened on 4 Nov. 1855 in Vikedal. She died on 10 Sept. 1941 in Vikedal at the age of 85 and is buried in the cemetery in Vikedal.
Carl Johan Carlson
Carl and Nettie wedding picture. Carl, Nettie, Chloris. Chloris and Ray wedding.
Carl was the first of Knud and Cecilie's children to immigrate. He was born on 24 Nov. 1891 and immigrated to the US in 1909. In 1920 he was in Armstrong, Iowa. On 22 April, 1920 he married Nettie Marie Wood who was born on 18 Dec.1901 in Armstrong, Iowa. They had one daughter, Chloris Jean Carlson, born in 1926. The above picture is a family portrait of Carl, Nettie and Chloris from about 1940. Chloris married Roy Stoll on June 10, 1949. Roy was born on 29 Aug. 1926 in Bondurant, Iowa. Roy and Chloris had a son Carleton and a daughter Christine. Nettie died in Esterville, on Jan 24, 1976 and Carl died on 27 June, 1973 in Esterville. Carl and Nettie routinely hosted Ihle family reunions in Esterville.
Karoline Olsen
Karoline Cesilie Karlson was born on 16 May 1901 in ILsvag. She married Oyvind Aleksander Olsen (born 21 Jan. 1896 in Oslo) on 19 Nov. 1925. They had three children born in Ilsvag. Knut Olsen born 18 May 1926, Henry Kaare Olsen born 27 Oct. 1932 and Gerd K. Olsen born 9 Jan. 1934. Henry was the adventurous one based on his travels. He first arrived in NY on 28 Feb. 1951, traveled to the Tangeros family in Chicago and then traveled to Iowa and did a bit of work on Mervin's farm (Feb. to March 1952). He then joined the Army and served from May 8, 1952 until April 30, 1954. After Army service, he went back to Norway and quickly came back to the US from Stravanger arriving in NY 13 Sept. 1954. In the ship records his destination in the US was the Tangeros household (Henry's aunt) in Chicago. Then, from Henry, he had a hard time finding a job in Chicago but saw an advertisement for a deckhand on a private yacht. He got the job and worked on the yacht as it went from Lake Michigan, down the Mississipi and eventually docked in Miami. In his request for Naturalization his address is yacht "sis". Henry made it back to Chicago and meet Gerd Odegaard who had arrived in Chicago in Feb. 1955. They were married in Nov. 1955. They returned to Norway and raised a family in Kristiansand. Knut had a home near Stravanger.
Nella is descripted under the Nels O and Nella section.
Henry, Gerd and Knud visited Nella for her 100th Birthday. Henry in 1946
Gurine
Gurine was born on 12 March 1898 in Ihle/Ilsvag. She arrived in the US on the same ship that Nels O and Nella used to return to the US on 18 August, 1923 (Aquatana). After arriving in the US she married Klaus Kristofferson Tangeros on 29 Dec. 1923. Klaus was born on Sept. 24, 1896 in Hardanger, Norway and had immigrated to the US, entering in March 12, 1923. They had one son in Iowa, Kermit Christopher on 19 Jan. 1925. They then moved to Chicago and had a second son, Karl Sigvald on 16 July 1927. Gurine died in Chicago on 5 April 1972 and Klaus died in Chicago on 8 Jan. 1954. Kermit and Karl play a special role in this author's past. Mervin Ihle was in the Navy and his last assignment was at Navy Pier in Chicago in early 1944. Since his mother's sister, Gurine, lived in Chicago, he visited his cousins. Well, the cousins knew a cute girl that lived on the block that might be just right for Mervin; her name was Clare Schumacher. Suffice it to close by saying that this author was born in Chicago, Aug. 1945 to Merv and Clare Ihle.
Left, sisters Gurine, Mathilda, Nella. Center Kermit's marriage. Gurine/Klaus.
Mathilda
Severina Mathilda was born on 03 June 1903 in Ihle/Ilsvag to Cecilia and Knud Carlson. She immmigrated on 28 April,1925. On 31 Dec. 1925 she married Lewis Magnus Malmin. Lewis was born on 04 March 1901 in Stravanger and immigrated to the US, arriving on 18 Aug. 1923. They had a son Selmer (Kerner Selmer) born 16 Jan. 1927 in Slater. In 1930 they lived in Chicago and had another son Lief Mervin, born 11 May 1929. They returned to Slater and were in Slater in 1935 and 1940. Mathilda died on 19 Nov. 1988 in Des Moines and Lewis died 15 March 1988. Selmer had a career in the Army serving 1946-1969. He married Phillis Kenyon from Ames and they had a son Yates, born in Madrid, Spain. Selmer (1993) and Phillis (2007) died in Colorado Springs. In 1955 Leif was attending Bible College in Des Moines. In 1953 he is listed as Rev. Leif M Malmin iin St. Joseph, Missouri. During 1993-2002 he is listed as Rev. Lief Malmin in Portland, Oregan. In 1993/1994 he was in Portland, Oregan.
Geneology Research
General Observations
It is interesting that the Ihle's that came from Norway in almost all cases the "Ihle" was a modification of Ile or was adopted from the name of the farm. In contrast "Ihle" in Germany is always Ihle as illustrated by the examples given below. While the examples I have given are Germans going to the US, I traced an interesting German family that introduced the name "Ihle" to Australia as described. I should also mention that the German Ihles always came from small towns in areas of farms; none from any large town. A central question is whether all the Ihle families in Germany originated from a common Ihle ancestory to populate a variety of German towns from which members immigrated to various regions, perhaps including Norway.
If you use Ancestry.com, try this exercise. Do a search in which you select a search of immigration entries and search for Ihle. To limit the output to a readible list start with birthdate 1875 and use plus/minus 2 years. Move the birthday up or down to scan all the Ihle's that traveled to the United States. Since Nels O Ihle was born in 1876, his travels will be in the list.
Ryan Family Research
Research on the Ryan family started from the simple question of whether there was a relationship between Synnove Ryen Ihle (the matriarch) and the Anne Ryen that married John Ihle, son of Osmund Ihle. Again Martin's help was instrumental in understanding the relationship. Attached will be some of the information including Martin's research below. However, the relationship starts with Erik Ryen (B 1779) and Synnove Olsdatter Heggen (B 1785) in Olen, Hordaland, Norway. They had 8 chidren which included Synnove Eriksdatter Ryen (Ryo in the Norwegian records) (B 1816) and Torres Eriksen Ryen (B1 808). Torres married Anna Nilsdatter Hauge (B 1806) and among their children were Nels T (B 1838), Thomas T (B 1841) and Knudt T (B 1845). The three brothers immigrated to Lisbon, Ill in 1870. They subsequently ended up in Slater Iowa and indeed Nels T died in slater in 1903, Thomas T in 1921 and Knudt T in 1920. Nels T immigrated with 5 children and had another 6 in Ill before moving to Iowa. Thomas had no children from Norway but had 2 children while in Ill and another 3 in Iowa. Knudt had no children from Norway but had 7 in Ill.prior to moving to Iowa.
So after the research the results regarding John's wife Anna and Synnove are the following. First, Anna was the eldest daughter of Thomas T Ryen born in Ill in 1870. So Anna Ryen's grandfather was a sister to Synnove Ryen Ihle. There were other interesting items. For example the first husband of Anna was Nels T Ryen's son John Ryen (her cousin) and they had one child (Cora, born 1895) prior to John dieing in 1898. Cora lived in Iowa but used the name Cora Ihle. Anna then married John Ihle in 1901, Osmunds's son. Thus John's grandmother was a sister of Anna's grandfather!! The other interesting fact is that Anna's sister, Tina (B 1882) first married John Brown who died and she married Erik Ihle as his third wife.
Those that know Slater will recognize the Ryen (often in records Ryan) name. In addition the Ryan girls married many men with known families including Ryg, Severson, Christianson, Berkow, Rimathe and Haverson.
The Ole Larson Ihle family lived in Thief River Falls MN. The history of the family was found on Ancestry with a well written family history by Ihleen Wold Goetz. Below there is a click to pull up her work. As a short story however, Lars and Oline Larson Ihle were from an "Ihle Farm" near Hamar, Norway. Hamar is north of Oslo near a very large lake. They immigrated to Pelcian Falls, MN in 1879 with a son, Ole Larson Ihle (B Oct 23, 1878). Ole married Ann Maria Augusta Gast (B Germany, 1880) on Dec. 17,1901 and moved to Thief River Falls, MN. Ole died in 1962 and Anna in 1944. Lars and Oline had two sons after immigrating to MN, John (1889-1913) and Melvin (1884-1969) which are mentioned in Ihleen's notes. Not mentioned are the other children (Gena, 1880; Lena, 1882; Millie, 1892; Chester, 1893; Anna,
The children of Ole Larson Ihle included Lee Ihle (B 1903; married Mary Springer), Orden (1905-1975), Ruby (1911-1995) who married Theadore Wold (thus, Ihleen Wold, a daugher, married Goetz; who gave us the history) and Lester Ihle (1914-1975).
A second family that came from the Hamar Ihle farm was that of Erick L Ihle. Erick was born in Furnes (very close to Hamar) the son of Lars Sorensen. He was born and baptised in Furnes in 1858. He immigrated to the US in 1880 and married in Fairfax, Minn in 1883 to Martha Evansdatter, born in Hamar. They had a son Einar born in Franklan, MN who ultimately lived in Missouri, a son Christan born in Chicago and lived in Chicago. His three daughters ended up at various places.
A simple description. John Ihle was born near Baden-Baden in southern Germany from a family of Ihle's in the area. He immigrated to the US in 1881 with his parents (Alois Ihle married to Mary Anna Kraus) to Short Mountain, Arkansas. In 1895 he married Theresis and they had one child Clare Ihle (1896-1960 and with a brother Leo (B 1860) and sisters (Victoria B 1865 and Anna B 1872)). Theresis died in 1896 and he married Josephine in 1898. Their childre were Annie, Leo, Joseph and Theresia. All of these Ihle's stayed in the Paris Arkansas area.
As another example in Ballendorf Germany, a small town near Ulm a family can be traced from Johannes Ihle (1709-1776). The lineage led to Andreas Ihle born Oct. 4, 1847. Andreas, with his wife and 5 children immigrated to the US in 1880 and lived in Queens, New York. One son Conrad Ihle (1871-1965) had a son Henry C Ihle (1901-1976) who lived in Queens most of his life.
A Norwegian Ihle in North Dakota/Minneapolis
John S Ihle was born in Norway in Nov. 1857 and immigrated to Wisconsin in 1876. He married Ida Neprud ( born in Wisconsin 1861; daughter of Anders and Bertha Reprud; both orginally from the Neprud farm in Biki, Norway) in 1887 in Cool Valey Wisconsin. In the 1900 census they were in Hamburg, Wisconsin with children Arthur, Benjamin and Irine. In the 1910 census they were in North Dakota with children Arthur, Benjamin and Irene. Arthur marries in North Dakota in 1917 and has a son John W. Ihle (B 1923). Irene marries Anfrid Odland (B 1884 in Norway) and they move to Minneapolis. Benjamine goes into the military WWI 1918 and marries in 1930 to Olga. They reside in Minneapolis in 1942 and Benjamine was buried with a WWI memorial cemetery (the Fort Snelling Cemetery) in 1962 in Minneapolis. John S Ihle died in 1962 and is buried in the Crystal Lake Cemetery in Minneapolis while Ida died in MN in 1933.
For orientation; there is a large lake north of Oslo named Mjosa. Towns on the lake that US Ihle's came from are Hamar and Biri; both of which had Ihle farms. At the north end of the lake is Lilliehammer.
From Germany to Russia to North Dakota
From 1814-1842 more than 9,000 germans from the Baden area in southern Germany immigrated to Krasna, Bessaradia (a Russian area at the Black Sea). This migration was associated with a recruitment of Germans to Russia by the government giving Reisepass (passport); an example is the reisepass issued to Jacob Ihle (age 43) and his wife and 3 children on Nov. 15, 1808 to immigrate for Unterbeuren in southern Germany to Russia. This was the only passport issued to an Ihle in the available database. In 1899 Thomas Ihle (born 1864 in Russia) and his wife Genevievie Schafer (born 1870 in Russia) immigrated to Duck Creek, North Dakota from Krasna. They immigrated with 4 children born in Russia and had an additional 7 children in North Dakota. It should be noted that in the 1920 census and others, while the birthplace is given as Russia, the native tongue is given as German. Thomas died in 1932 and is buried in Haynes, North Dakota. In 1940 one of his sons (Anton, born 1898 Russia) farmed in Kansas City, North Dakota with a family of 6.
In Ancestry there is a Ihle Family Tree maintained by Sue Missman. It helps to understand the origins of a lot of Ihles one runs across when searching the name Ihle. So, these Ihle's came from GLucksburg, Germany which is way up north near the border with Denmark. Carl L (B 1815) and his wife Anna Hansen (B 1820) had a number of children in Germany. Among these Charles (B 1848) immigrated to the US in 1872 to western Iowa (Pauline) where he had a son in 1881 who had a son Merle Ihle among other family. His brother Carl L Ihle (B 1852-1912) immigrated to Iowa in 1888 with sons John Ihle (B 1882) and Carl (B 1878) had immigrated in 1881 and lived in Union and Caledonia Iowa. Both sons moved to Colorado.
Update: the founding family is Carl Gustave Ludwig Ihle (B 1815 Glucksburg) and Anna Magdalena Hansen (B 1820 Glucksburg). They had six children. Their two boys immigrated independently to the the O'Brien area of Iowa. Charles (Carl Emilius, B 1848) was the first to immigrate in 1872. He married Anna Mary McAfee and they had 8 children. His brother Carl Ludwig Gustav Ihle (B 1852) immigrated to the US in 1888 with his wife and a son John. In the 1900 Iowa census he is widowed and living with his son.
The Ignatius Ihle Family
In ancestry there is another Ihle Family Tree maintained by Lauren Ihle. It describes a family that originated in Kappelwindek Germany, in the southern part of Germany. Sons of Ignatius Ihle (1818-1892) immigrated to the US in 1860,1867,1868 and 1872. Karl settled in Cinninati and had a large family of Ihles in the area. John (1845-1923) initially went to Cinninati but moved to Cobden, Ill where he farmed. He had son William M Ihle, who had son Leonard Sr. and he had a son Leonard John Jr. Ihle who died in 2005 in Thousand Oaks, California.
An Ihle family Germany to Lousisana to Washington State
Another German Ihle family immigration record. John J Ihle (B 1860 in Germany) immigrated in 1880 to Lousisana and had at least 6 children in Lousisana including a son Charles Ihle born in Nov. 1892. In 1940 Charles lived with his family in Cowhitz, Longview, Washington. His children born in Washington were John Engle Ihle, Mary Pauline and Carl Ernset Ihle.
Australian Ihle Families
There are many Ihles near Brisbane, Australia. Many of these can be traced to three brothers (Johann, B 1835; Jacob, B 1836; Andrew, B 1852) who, and their sister Sophia, B 1831 left Weinberg, Germany (a small town north of Stuttgart) in 1853 for Australia. They traveled to Australia on the sailing ship Helena which transported 220 German emigrants to Australia.
Another example; Ernst Heinrich Ihle, born in Egidian German had two sons. Carol Otto was born in Germany in 1857 and Ernst Heinrich was born in 1859. They immigrated to Melbourne, Australia in 1883 and both died in Melbourne. Interestingly Ernst make a quick trip back to England in 1926 leaving from Brisbane to England and returning from England to Melbourne in 1926.
German Ihles in Meigs County, Ohio
The origin of Ihles in Meigs County, Ohio can be traced to Johann Jacob Ihle born in southern Germany near Mannheim in 1726. A son Christoper Ihle lived and died in Edigheim, Germany between Karlsruhe and Heidelberg (1776-1826). His wife Elizabeth Margarette (B 1814) immigrated to Ohio with her sons, Abraham (B 1803) and Wilhem (B 1779) and their children in about 1835. Wilhem's family consisted of 9 children of ages 1 to 15.
First German Ihle to Georgia in US
The first family with the surname Ihle to come to the US arrived in Georgia on the 4th Palatine Transport, on ship "Judith" on 22 Jan. 1746. The family was that of John Jacob Ihle, born 28 Nov. 1706 in Waldhof, Germany, his wife Agnes and sons Andreas (B 1732), Wilhelm (1735-1775), Michael and Jacob. Their trip was part of a large migration in 1700s and consisted of Germans from the Palatine region and out of Salzburg, Austria. Their particular trip was not without adventure. The group was initially Germans recruited to migrate to Pennsylvania. In route the ship was seized by Spanish warships and the ship returned to England. Most of the passengers boarded the ship Judith headed for Georgia. In 1771, Michael was granted lands along the Savanna River and Rae's creek. While in Georgia, John Jacob had a second wife and sons' John Jacob II (1757), Johan (1758), and Samuel (1760).
Story County IA, a very popular landing site for Norwegians.
In researching the Ilsvag, Norway Ihles in Story County, I found a remarkable summary of the 1900 Federal Census for Story County. It is remarkable in compiling all 1900 censuses and lists the information for each residence with origin and date immigration information. It is striking to see the number of Story County families that came from Norway. There is also a summary compilied by Arlen Twedt that details the statistics of the early settlers of Norwegian Hertiage.
Comments on Ongoing Research on Ile farms in Norway
In searching for Norwegian records, Ile can be found both in parish names and in farms. The best starting point is www.norwayparishes.com where searches can be done by county. In the results, there is a tab for "farm list" which will give all the farms in the county from a separate site. The search can be filtered by also indicating a municipality in the search. From my searches, there are a number of parishes with Ile (including Norde Ile, Sondre Ile, etc, including one that is Ile meieri, which is Ile dairy farming). The Ile (alone) parishes are in (muncipality/county) Ullensaker, Akershus; Nannestad, Akershus; Ringsaker, Hedmark; Strange, Hedmark; Oyer, Oppland; Nels, Akershus; and Vindafjord, Rogaland. In searching it is also important to note that the county Oppland prior to 1919 was Kristans. In searching farms with the name Ile, only 3 are found. Ile, #98 in parish Balleshol in the muncipality of Nes in Hedemark county. Ile #6 in parish Oyer, muncipality Oyer and Oppland county. Lastly Ile, #31 in Vikedal parish in the muncipality of Vikedal and the county of Stravanger. In Hedmark county, Furnes muncipality, Furnes parish there are the farms #257 Stor-Ile (big-Ile), #258 Lille-Ile (little-Ile), #259 Sor-Ile and in the municipality of Stange, parish Stange there is farm #126 Ile-vestre.
Another excellent site to search for farms in Norway is https://kart.finn.no . An organization that is focused on the descendents in North America from Norway is www.fellesraad.com .
Ihle Farm near Furnes
In the Norwegian registry of farms there are two farms in Hedemarkers (Hedemark) district. Farm #257 is Stor-Ile; Ejlle in 1520, Store Ile in 1578, Sotre Iile 1604, Stor Ihle 1669 and Stor Iile in 1723. Farm #259 is Sor-Ile and Soer Ihle in 1669. Furnes is near Hamar on lake Mjosa in central Norway. Erick L Ihle was born in Furnes, Hedmark and baptized there in 21 Nov. 1858. He married Marthine E. and they immigrated to the US in 1881. In 1900 they were in Chicago with sons Christ Martin Ihle, born 1886 in Ill., Einer, born 1885 and daughter Martha, born 1896.
Norwegian Counties
The Immigrants from the Ihle farm in Oppland
Decendents from inhabitants of the #6 Ihle farm in Oyer, Oppland settled in Coon Valley, Wisconsin. Simon Olsen Ihle (born Bagstad) was born on 22 Dec, 1829 in Oyer, Oppland and died in Coon Valley, Wisconsin in 1909. His son, Peder Simensen Ihle was born 8 April, 1855 in Oyer and immigrated to the US in 1877. He married in 1857 to Maria Stromstad and they had several children: Selmer Ihle (1883), Edwin Ihle (1886), Theodore Ihle (1889), Emil Ihle (1893) and daughter Eleonara (1895)
Immigrants from Stor-Ihle farm in Furnes, Hedmark
Farm #257 in Hedmark was the Stor-Ihle farm (big Ihle farm). Lars L Ihle, born 1854 in Norway with his wife Oline were on the farm and immigrated in 1879 to the US to the New Folden, MN area.
The results are sorted based on degree of match which is given as the total length of DNA matched in cM over the number of fragments involved. A quick summary of the results includes that both the German (Mother) and Norwegian (Father) sides contain matches. On the German side there is a predominance of matches through the Brandt lineage. On the Norwegian side the Ryen branch with Synnove Ryen being the contributor to James is highly represented.
In ancestry, the Norwegian connection is extensive. For example; starting with Torkel Endreson (1702-1765; born in Heggen, Olen, Fjelberg Parish, Hordaland), his daughter Synnove Torkildsdatter married Ole Olsen Heggan (1753-1816). Among their children, there are 28 individuals with DNA matches to JI through Ole Olsen Heggen (1784-1867); 24 individuals with matches through Synnove Heggen (Ryen, 1785-1862); 22 matches with Godskalk Heggen (1796-1876) and 2 matches with Johannes Heggen(1796-1858).
In 1995 Jim and Sheila Ihle surprised Merv and Clare by giving them a trip for their 50th wedding aniversary. The first part of the trip was to Germany since Clare's family came from Germany. Unfortunately we did not know at that time exactly where but have subsequently discovered her Schumacher background immigrated from a small town (uberaltersheim) near Wurzberg. The second part of the trip was to Norway, landing in Stravanger. Henry Olsen, (Merv's mother Nella is a sister to Karoline, Henry's mother) was our guide and the trip from Stravanger to Ilsvag is a interesting trip by tunnels, ferries and country roads. Most of the clips deal with Nella's home. One clip is a visit to the current Ihle farm.
Having driven from Stravanger, arriving at Ilsvag
Henry looking down lake Gjerdesdatsvatlet to Ilsvag
Exploring the remaining foundation of the Carlson home.
Visiting with the current Ihle farm farmer who raises salmon.
