Working for the Travland family

Here is the letter written by Berta Kingestad from "In Their Own Words: Letters from Norwegian Immigrants" by Solveig Zempl with a mention (2nd paragraph) of working for Taletta and Peder Pederson Travland.

By the end of the year, Bertha had left (4th paragraph) the Travland family.

Traveling from Norway to the United States

It's not often to find personal documents left behind from family members that detailed life and travel in the 1800's.    While this traveler was not a family member, she did work for Taletta and Peder Pederson Travland for a time in the 1890's.     Here is a description of the trip from Norway to America in the 1886.    The traveler arrived in Malta, DeKalb county, Illinois.

The letter above was compiled as a collection for a book by Solveig Zempl, "In Their Own Words: Letters from Norwegian Immigrants".     This particular letter was written by Berta Kingestad who had left her family behind in Norway and traveled alone to the United States, settling in northern Illinois.

Clayton Arno Travland - birth certificate and obituary

Here is the birth certificate for Clayton Arno Travland,  great great grandson of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland. 

Clayton was the son of Mary Pearl (Hanchett) and Willard Winfield Travland, born February 1, 1929 in Port Arthur, Jefferson county, Texas.

Clayton passed away July 5, 2007 in Nueces county, Texas.    Here is his obituary.

Clayton was the grandson of Hannah (Arno) and Peter Andrew Travland.   His great grandparents were Iverdine (Finnestad) and Lewis Travland.

Mary Pearl (Hanchett) Travland - obituary

Here is the obituary for Mary Pearl Travland,  great granddaughter-in-law of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.


Mary Pearl Hanchett married Willard Winfield Travland sometime in 1927.   Willard was the son of Hannah (Arno) and Peter Andrew Travland.   Willard's grandparents were Iverdine (Finnestad) and Lewis Travland.

Benjamin Lewis Travland - death certificate

Here is the death certificate for Benjamin Lewis Travland,  granddaughter of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.

Benjamin was the youngest child born to Matilda (Ogle) and Lewis Travland.   He was born in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois on October 4, 1892.     Benjamin married Louisa Wilson, though I do not know the location or date.

He passed away May 21, 1975 in Beeville, Bee county, Texas and was buried at Colony Cemetery in Bee county.

Virginia Bell (Mortimer) Wyrick - death certificate

Here is the death certificate for Virginia Bell (Mortimer) Wyrick, great granddaughter of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.


Virginia was born November 26, 1916 in Tuleta, Bee county, Texas to Ida (Travland) and William Mortimer.     (I do not have her marriage information)

Virginia passed away April 13, 1972 in Victoria, Victoria county, Texas and is buried at Colony Cemetery in Colony, Texas.

Victoria's grandparents were Matilda (Ogel) and Lewis Travland.

Gladys May (Travland) Coffman - death certificate

Here is the death certificate for Gladys May (Travland) Coffman, great granddaughter of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.

Gladys was born 30, 1919 in Bee county, Texas to Stella (Berkeland) and Thomas Tobias Travland.   I do not have any information about her marriage.

Gladys passed away June 14, 1971 in Corpus Christi, Nueces county, Texas and was buried at Seaside Memorial Park Cemetery.

Gladys' grandparents were Iverdine (Finnestad) and Lewis Travland.