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Brown Family, Stories

A Brown By Any Other Name

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Many would with reason, conclude that the Brown surname is in fact a German name. Braun after all is a long dated and historic family name from the Germanic states. However in this case, in so far as we have been able to research, the Brown name in this case is Norwegian.

Johan Johannessen Brown was born in Sogn og Fjordane in Norway in 1833.  The use of a family name in Norway was unique around this time. It would be another 50 years before this practice became common. Little is known about the family origins and it is reasonable to assume that they may have been immigrants around that time as well into Norway. What is known however is that Johan Brown did immigrate to the US in 1860 and served an enlistment in the US Civil War. He died quite young in 1871 at age 37.

Bly Family, Stories

Origins of the Surname – Bly

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First it is important to recognize that there are a large number of families which use the surname of Bly. Our family has only used this name since the early 20th century. The family immigrated under the name Andersen from Norway in the late 19th century.

The story carried down over the years tells of two homesteads about ten miles apart. Back then groceries, supplies and other goods would be delivered to the farms. Unfortunately both farms were under the name Anderson and this resulted in confusion. It is said that Andrew first took the name of Bly to avoid this issue.  In fact the original homestead claim is the first time where Andrew’s name is shown as Andrew Anderson Bly in 1902. Christ later adopted this surname as well.

It is said that they chose the name Bly because of a creek where they liked to fish. Interestingly Bly in Norwegian is their word for “lead” like the metal. While they surely would have known this, no part of the story mentions this. However we have found that in Douglas County where the family lived for a short time after arriving in Minnesota, there was in fact a Bly Creek which to this day is a very popular fishing location.

Pearson Family

Opsahl in America

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In the course of researching genealogy there are no shortages of mysteries to ascertain. One of those mysteries still outstanding is that behind a young girl named Annie Opsahl who came to America in 1915. Settling in Northfield she took a job as a housekeeper before she met Per Algot (later Algot Pearson) who she would marry.

She is one of the cases of an immigrant who appears to have come without her family. In fact researching girls her age with a similar name it would appear that Annie was an orphan. At a young age a girl matching her name and age was living with a family west of Oslo (then Christiania) as a “house servant”. Later in her 20s she can be found east of Oslo working as a house keeper and her religion is listed as “Salvation Army”. This is a unique situation which has not been explained by experienced genealogists from Norway.

Whatever the case this young woman would go on to help create a new name for their family in America.

UPDATE, 2023: Annie was finally identified as Anna Gurine Olsen, born July 29th, 1887 in Delbekk, Opsal, Nes, Akershus, Norway. She was the daughter of Sigvart Olsen of Opsaldelbekk and Elen Indiane Halvorsdatter of Skogen.

Smith Family, Stories

Bistodeau Babies

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If there was a family which took the phrase “go forth and multiply” seriously it was the Bistodeau’s. In fact there are hundreds documented in the family tree. At a recent reunion for a small part of the family, the sign posted only had a letter “B” because they didn’t want to put out the call to the hundreds of people who might just happen by.

If you are a Bistodeau from Albertville, MN or related to one, you very likely descent of Louis Oliver Bistodeau who immigrated from Canada. Louis had 13 children. His children went on to have double digit families. There are in essense innumerable numbers of Bistodeaus out there and amongst the many families launched from them.

Much is known about Louis. He was a doctor and he obviously liked delivering babies. (Or making them. This topic is not currently under great speculation.) Either way, he was successful in the process. Pictures of Louis are posted and of much of the family. Click here for a direct link.