Looking for obituary or descendants of Hans Cleven (he was 78 on 1930 census in Burdick Township, Perkins Co). Born in Norway. Wife Susan. Children included Nils, Jacob, Esther, James, Anna, George, Otis

I am researching my grandson's family tree. I believe your Hans Cleven may be the brother of his gr --- grandfather Nilson (Nils Nelson) Cleven who is located in the 1880 census in Winnebago County, Iowa. Hans is located in that same location with his wife Susan. Are we talking about the same Hans

Yes this is the same Hans Nelson Cleven. He was born in Norway and emigrated in 1858. He first appears on census records as living in Center Township-Winnebago County-Iowa in the 1870 census. He was born in 1852 in Norway and his wife Susan was born in 1860 in Wisconsin. He had ten children and I can account for nine of them. Nels was born in 1877 in Iowa, Jacob in 1879 in Iowa, and Otis in 1883 in Iowa. Census recordsfor 1890 and 1900 are not available or unreadable. I know he moved to Burdick Township-Perkins County-South Dakota by the 1880's. He knew Sitting Bull who died in 1890.

His children born in South Dakota are Esther (1-31-1887), Amy (8-26-1890), James (3-16-1892), Otis (1894), Anna M (1897), and George A (4-16-1901).

I have a picture of him as a young man with my grandfather and his brother and one of him as an old man. My father went to South Dakota to visit him in the 1920's.

Hans Cleven died January 24, 1936, in White Butte, Perkins County, SD aged 84 years, 3 months, 8 days. Case of death was "Senile changes-bedridden 5 years"

I've been trying to find his father's name and where he came from in Norway.

My great-grandfather came from Aamodtsdal, Siljord, Telemark, on the Sjofna in 1858 but the passenger list is incomplete.

I'd be happy to exchange pictures or any information. Hans Cleven was my grandfather's cousin and looks so much like him that I believe they're related on the paternal side.

Hans Nelson Cleven is my ancestor. He was born in 1852 in Norway and emigrated in 1858. He was married to Susan who was born in Wisconsin in 1860.

He first appears on census records in 1870 in Center Township-Winnebago County-Iowa. His first three children were born in Iowa: Nels in 1877, Jacob in 1879, and Otis in 1883.

His cousin, my grandfather Theodore Selstad, lived just across the border in Freeborn County MN. I have a picture of Cleven and my grandfather and his brother as young men.

Hans moved to Burdick Township-Perkins County-SD in the 1880's. His children from 1887 on were born in South Dakota. He knew Sitting Bull who died in 1890. The children born in SD were: Esther (1-31-1887), Amy (8-26-1890), James (3-16-1892), Otis (1894), Anna M (1897), and George A (4-16-1901). He had 10 children and this accounts for nine of them

My great-grandfather (Vetle Olsen Selstad) emigrated in 1858 on the Sjofna with his brother Ole Olsen Selstad and Ole's wife and 3 children. They were from Aamodtsdal, Siljord, Telemark. There was a Nils Olson from Laurdal on that ship. Could this be Hans and Nil's father?

My father went to SD to see Hans Cleven in the 1920's. He said Hans was his father's cousin. I have a picture of Hans from that visit.

Hans Nelson Cleven died January 24, 1936, in White Butte, Perkins County SD aged 84 years 3 month 8 days. Cause of death was "Senile changes-bedridden 5 years".

Dear Ramona,

I have attempted to contact you by e-mail, but am unable to reach you. I have an address of a granddaughter of Hans Cleven. The dates, locations and names appear to be identical --except the immigration year to the "U.S.A" (which may explain the difference, since the Sofrona docked at Quebec, Canada in the prior year).

The information that was sent to me, indicates the grandfather of Hans, Nils Cleven and your Theodore Selstad, should be Olav Nilson Grovum (sp?) b. 1763 d. 1822. Do you have any documentation to comfirm this information?

The father of Nils and Hans Cleven was given as Nils O. Kleven (Kleivi/Kleiva) b. Aug 1812 d. Jan 1877. Nils O. Kleven should be the brother to your grandfather's mother, if Theodore was a first cousin to Nils and Hans.

Would appreciate exchanging information. I plan to send your address to Han's granddaughter. Please let me know if you are contacted by her.

Many thanks.

mickey

Just some family lore to add to your information...
I am a great grandson of Hans. Ann was my Grandmother. Marraired George Trampe a wildcat oil driller in the 20's. Ann had quite a bit of land in S.D. but her brothers were rotten poker players, and lost it all when she was a nurse on resevation. Ann and George moved to Round Prairie MN and had 5 kids. Dean, Loy, Joy, Dave and Dan. Family lore says Hans hid Sitting Bull for a period of time.

I found this old thread because I have recently received a lot of information about Hans, my great-grandfather. I have something entitled "Paper given at Twenty-Fifth Annual Dakota History Conference, June 3-5, 1993 at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, by Birgit Jaastad Brokenleg" where she researched in the Norwegian-American Historical Archives at St. Olaf and found hand-written notes and stories by Hans in some files compiled by an editor named Torkel Oftelie, also a friend of Hans. She had no biographical data & amazingly enough, asked an Alane Cleven in her Norwegian class if she had by any chance heard of him & turned out he is her great-grandfather. Alane wrote his biography in Norwegian. Then I have a document entitled "Part of my life's happenings Hans Nelson Cleven written in 1926". He writes down many details about himself, stating he was born October 16, 1851 in Nassedal Ovre Tillermarken Norge on a small farm called Kleiva. At 8, in 1859, he left from Porsgrunn, Norway on the Sail Ship Amalia with Captain Peterson of Porskerund, landing 6 weeks later in Quebec. Many more details follow if anyone is still interested. I see that Ross Puppe made a post on this too - Hi Ross! - I am sending you a large packet of this information, it's really wonderful stuff!