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John Martin Lee; Andrew & Anna Lee from Norway

John Martin Lee; Andrew & Anna Lee from Norway

Posted: 16 May 2015 7:55PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Lee, Li, Lie, Lia, Lid, Lien, Vold
My husband's great grandfather was John Martin Lee. Supposedly he was born January 12, 1879 in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and died November 11, 1955 in Max, North Dakota. He married Kima/Kema Betsy Vold and they had a daughter Myrtle Louise Lee, my husband's grandmother. I am looking for John's parents who, according to the 1880 census, are Andrew and Anna Lee; both born in Norway. That census lists Andrew as "Andrew H. Lee." The Minnesota Birth and Christenings Index shows the birth of John Martin Lee and lists the father as Andrew Sans Lee and the mother as Annie Lee. I have found no other record anywhere of an Andrew Sans Lee. I have wondered if it could be Hans instead; but a search for Andrew Hans Lee also got me nowhere. I found no record of Andrew or Anna/Annie in any other census besides 1880. I have also wondered if Andrew could have been Anders and changed his name upon arriving in the US. And I have tried searching for other forms of Lee such as Li, Lie, Lid, Lia, and Lien - all with no success. All I have from the census is their names, birth years of approximately 1832 and 1849 both in Norway, and an 1880 residence of White Bear, Minnesota.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Re: John Martin Lee; Andrew & Anna Lee from Norway

Posted: 25 May 2015 8:40PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 25 May 2015 8:50PM GMT
You could expect that John M Lee's father could have been originally an Andrew Hansen from a farm in Norway (or even Sweden) which had it's name or part of it's name like 'Lie' which would sound like Lee in the US.

John M had an older brother listed as Henry Lee as seen in the 1880 census. I believe he shows up still in White Bear Lake, Ramsey County in the 1885 Minnesota state census with his mother and younger brother (John) Martin.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQXL-JYS
(Note that the mother is listed as born Sweden...)

Look for death and/or burial records for Andrew/Anders/Andreas H Lee in Ramsey Co. between 1880-1885. A Lutheran church where a funeral was held might even have additional notes in old records of where he was baptised and/or confirmed.

Very common name combinations - you have to hope to find a bit more information.

The Ramsey County poor farm would have been in their area.

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