Kristi Olavsdatter, Matriarch of an American Family

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Kristi Olavsdatter Lien-Graver-Aslacksen-Lee

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Kristi Olavsdatter Lien  (1796-1867), was born in Telemark Norway.  She was the second wife of Aslak Tarjeison Skrei. They had four children who lived to adulthood:  Ole, Tarje, Aase and Tone. 

Kristi also had a brother named Aslak. He and his family left the Lien farm to make their home in the Telemark settlement of Koshkonong in Wisconsin in 1843.   In February of 1846, Kristi's husband Aslak was injured during a stallion fight and died.  Later that year, Kristi and her children made the trip to America, landing in New Orleans. Kristi Graver and her children worked their way up the river to Decatur, Illinois, and then traveled across country to Dane County, Wisconsin, where they joined Aslak and his family. Kristi Aslacksen and her children were recorded on the 1850 census living in Koshkonong.

 

About 1850, Kristi's daughter Tone and her cousin Ole Lee were married. They settled in Worth County, Iowa.  Her sons Ole and Tarje homesteaded in Houston County MN in the early 1850's. Kristi and her daughter Aase lived in Minnesota until her sons married. In the late 1850's, Kristi and Aase moved to Iowa and lived with Tone and her family.  Although she was known as "the widow Grover" in Houston County MN, Kristi was buried under the name Lee.

 

Kristi Lee is buried in North Shell Rock Cemetery near Northwood Iowa.

 

Kristi's ancestry can be traced back to the 1500's. Click Here to link to the family tree created by her son Tarje's family and learn about her ancestors and descendants!

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email graphic Send email to preparer: [email protected]