Johannes Estensen Øfstie (1849 - 1932)

Born 25 Nov 1849 in Stjørdal, Nordre Trondhjems amt, Norway

Husband of Wilhelmina (Vieg) Ofstie — married 17 Oct 1885 in Fort Dodge, Iowa

Died 30 Jul 1932 at age 82 in Marysville, Snohomish, Washington, United States

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Biography

John was born in Stjørdalen, Norway, the youngest of 13 children of Esten Johansen and Ane Martha Thoresdatter.^[1][2][3]He appears to have been the only child living with his parents in 1865.^[4] He emigrated to the United States when he was about 19. He may be the John Ofstie identified as a laborer for R. J. Baldwin in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1871.^[5] By 1877, John Ofstie had a retail clothing store at 227 Washington Ave. S. in Minneapolis^[6] and later at 112 Hennepin Ave.^[7]

John married Minnie Vieg in Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1885.^[8] They were living in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1886-1889, where their first two children were born.^[9][10] John moved to Appleton, Minnesota in March 1890, where he was "to devote his time to his mercantile business." He was then in partnership with at man named Hove. His family was to follow him later.^[11]

John sold his interests in Appleton in March 1892 and the family left for Norway^[12] perhaps to help his aging parents and to buy a farm at Nordre Øfsti near Stjørdal.^[13] Their daughter Elsie was born in Norway about 1895.^[14] John sold his farm in Nordre Øfsti in 1896, and returned to the US.

John bought the stock and fixtures of a clothing store in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, at auction at a considerable discount to their value. He planned to run the store himself, sell the existing stock and then "replenish the store with an entire line of new goods."^[15] In April 1898, John told the Eau Claire newspaper, they had come on a one year trial basis and had decided to stay. His business "has grown larger and larger every month," and he and his wife "like Eau Claire better than any place they have lived." They had purchased a home in "one of the most delightful locations in the city," and the house was "being overhauled in great shape."^[16][17] They remained in Eau Claire through 1910.^[18] John applied for US citizenship that year, identifying himself as a retired merchant.^[19] John had invested in land in Western Canada by 1910, returning from a trip there and reporting on the "worst year the farmers there ever experienced" from drought, frost, hail, and then rain. He had "quite an extensive farm," and remained optimistic having had "great advancement of values" in the land.^[20]

John was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1914, representing Eau Claire County as a member of the Republican Party.^[21]

John later moved to Washington with his family.^[22][23] He died there of chronic lung disease at age 82.^[24] He is buried in the family plot in Lakeview Cemetery, in Eau Claire.^[25]

Sources

1. ↑ Church book from Stjørdal/Nedre Stjørdal (Værnes) parish 1845-1858 (1714Q)
2. ↑ "Norway Baptisms, 1634-1927," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWHX-48G : 27 December 2014), Johannes Estensen, 25 Nov 1849; citing ; FHL microfilm 307,067.
3. ↑ John Eisteinson Ofstie at FamilySearch.
4. ↑ 1865 census for Nedre Stjørdal
5. ↑ Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1871, p. 87
6. ↑ Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1877. p. 420.
7. ↑ Minneapolis, Minnesota, City Directory, 1884, p. 728, found on Ancestry.com
8. ↑ "Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJY1-MSB : accessed 23 January 2016), John E. Ofstie and Wilhelmina Weig, 17 Oct 1885; citing Fort Dodge, Webster, Iowa, reference 2:3CNWCSH; FHL microfilm 1,401,652.
9. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2K-HCYR : 13 December 2015), Esther C. Ofstie, 1917; Burial, Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States of America, Lakeview Cemetery; citing record ID 70373078, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
10. ↑ "Minnesota Births and Christenings, 1840-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDMZ-376 : 4 December 2014), John E. Ofstie in entry for Valborg Ofstie, 01 Jan 1889; citing Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, reference yr 1889; FHL microfilm 1,498,816.
11. ↑ Appleton Area Centennial Issue, June 1973, Section 2, p. 7, col. 2
12. ↑ Appleton, Press, Appleton Area Centennial Issue, June 1973, Section 2, p. 9, col. 3,
13. ↑ 1956 Admiral Ralph Ofsite
14. ↑ Church book from Nedre Stjørdal parish, Værnes local parish 1880-1895 (1714P)
15. ↑ "Holm & Co.'s Stock Sold," Eau Claire Leader, 2 February 1897, p. 5.
16. ↑ "Come To Stay," Eau Claire Leader, 2 April 1898, p. 7.
17. ↑ "Wisconsin, State Census, 1905," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12380-43394-14?cc=1443899 : accessed 16 May 2015), Eau Claire > Eau Claire city, ward 05 > image 16 of 16; State Historical Society, Madison.
18. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMKN-QS9 : accessed 16 May 2015), Minnie Ofatie in household of John Ofatie, Eau Claire city Ward 5, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States; citing sheet 9A, family 188, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,787.
19. ↑ "Wisconsin, County Naturalization Records, 1807-1992", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZNLF-PXW2 : 1 March 2021), John Esensen Ofstie, 1910.
20. ↑ "Manitou Water is Wonderful," Eau Claire Leader, October 20, 1911, p. 2.
21. ↑ The Wisconsin Blue Book, p. 510 on Google Books.
22. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJC-HXC : Thu Nov 09 06:25:14 UTC 2023), Entry for John E Ofstie and Minnie Osstie, 1920.
23. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCQC-DH3 : accessed 12 January 2015), John E Ofstie, Everett, Snohomish, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0032, sheet 2B, family 52, line 76, NARA microfilm publication T626, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2519; FHL microfilm 2,342,253.
24. ↑ "Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N356-7Z1 : accessed 23 January 2016), John E. Ofstie, 30 Jul 1932; citing Marysville, Snohomish, Washington, reference 282, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Olympia; FHL microfilm 2,022,968.
25. ↑ John E. Ofstie at Find A Grave #70372961.

• The National Archives of Norway-Arkivverket; Norway; Church Books 1815-1960; Reference Number: SAT/A-1458/709/L0077
• Washington, U.S., Select Death Index, 1907-1960 FHL Film Number: 2022968 Reference ID: 282