Ole "Lee" Norway to Fargo, North Dakota, USA

[gj09068]

Hejsan DISNorge!

Below you'll find two photographs of Ole "LEE" as he was known in America, b. October 13, 1877 or August 13, 1876 in Christiania, Norway (I was originally given the 1877 date which was taken from the headstone but my Aunt later sent me the information that was written in the family bible, 1876 date). He emigrated to USA sometime before 1905 and there he married Christine Marie OLSON on July 8, 1905 at the Salem Lutheren Church in Deerwood, Minnesota USA. He died on April 10, 1907 in Fargo, North Dakota USA and was buried at Scandia Cemetery, Deerwood, Minnesota USA.

He lived in Fargo with his wife and he was a Tailor by trade and had his own business there. The only information my Aunt could give me on Ole LEE was that his parents names were AUGUST and GERTRUDE. She also said that he had a brother that immigrated to USA (name unknown) who died on the streets of Chicago, Illinois USA. I don't believe that Ole's parents immigrated with him but I'm not sure. I've gotten naturalization papers for an Ole LEE and John Lee dated 5 day of November 1894 but there is also a record of a Paul LEE and Ole Lee dated July 12, 1900.....both naturalization papers are for Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota....these were the only Ole LEE's for North Dakota.

Is there anyone that could help me locate Ole "LEE" (Lie, Lier? possibly farm name?) with father AUGUST and mother GERTRUDE (Gjertrud?) and with possibly one brother in Norway? I've been helping my Aunt locate as much information as possible from the American end i.e., naturalization records, death records, burial records, marriage etc....I also contacted the Salem Lutheren Church where Ole and Christine married, hoping for records. Unfortunately they tore down the original church (see photo below) and I was told there were no records from 1905. I've also tried looking at the records in Digitalarkivet.no with no luck...

Christine Marie Lee (nee Olson) never remarried and told of how when she was pregnant with her 1st child, Ole would carry her in his arms up the stairs so she wouldn't exert herself. Very sweet.

Christine was pregnant with their second child (a boy) when Ole died during the diptheria epidemic at that time. The ribbon he's wearing in one photo is for I.O.G.T International Order of Good Templars.....any chance that he could have been a member of that society in Norway?

Do these photos look familiar to anyone? Hoping that someone will recognise the photos and or the names. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected]

Sincerely and with thanks,

Lynette Skoglund Kleve