Knud Sønsteby and Kristiane Sørenson

Mac's Great Grandparents

Knute came to the United States as a young man. He was with another young man, perhaps a brother or good friend. He was a tailor and so had lived in a town or city before he arrived. He probably left relatives behind. The picture on the left was signed in a very childish hand, Janny Sonsteby. The couple on the right are not identified.

Kristiane Sorenson was "fra Neishim ved Farsund." She died in 1879 in Milwaukee, WI. She was married to Knud Sonsteby born August 1846 "fra Sonsteby i Numedal." They had a son, John Johnsen Sonsteby who was born in Milwaukee January 15, 1879. There is no marriage certificate there, no death certificate for her.

My mother-in-law once said that she might have died in a fire and that her family was in the ship building business. She said that her father told him that they had gone back to Norway to visit many times and that they were wealthy. Now, Knut was a vestmaker and tailor so he probably wasn't wealthy.

He is listed in the 1880 census as Knutt Johnson, age 33. Living with him was his son John age 1, Ole Olson, Henry Henrikson and William Sorenson, listed as servants and tailors, and Gunda and Louisa Neilson,listed as age 20 and servants, all on Van Buren. He married Gunda that year.

Milwaukee City directory listings

• 1876 John Johnson, vestmaker, re 354 Cass
• 1877 Knud Johnson, vestmaker, 354 Cass, res same
• William Sorenson, buttonmaker, bds 354 Cass
• 1878 John Johnson, tailor, bds 181 2nd
• John Johnson, tailor. 354 Cass, res same
• Knut Johnson, vestmaker res 354 Cass
• William Sorenson, button-holemkr, res 354 Cass
• 1879 John Johnson, res 354 Cass
• Knud Johnsen res 354 Cass
• William Sorenson, vestmaker, bds 354 Cass
• 1880 Knudt John, tailor 354 Cass, res 358 Van Buren
• William Sorenson, tailor, bds, 358 Van Buren
• 1881 K. Johnsen Sonsteby, clothier, merch. tailor, 172 Reed
• 1882 K. Johnsen Sonsteby, merchant tailor, 354 Cass

• 1885 Newton Sonsteby, tailor, house 345 North(W. D.)
• 1886 Knut J. Sonsteby, tailor, rear 51 W. Erie(W.D.)
• William Sorenson, clk 256 W. Indiana, bds, rear 51 W. Erie

the original of this photograph is very dark. I will repost it when I can get a professionally enhanced copy. this is Knut, Gunda and three of their younger children.

Family Links

John Johnsen Sonsteby, Knut's son
Knut and John's Mystery photos
Back to Sue's Genealogical Page

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