Ole Travland Part II: Mary Ann (Olson) Travland's New Path Forward

The first few decades of Ole Travland's life took him from western Norway to Illinois.    Following the 1900 US Census, while Ole's wife Mary Ann (Olson) was living in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois and Ole was living with his 2nd wife, Daisy (Bagley) in DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois, Mary had moved to Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois.

Mary Ann (Olson) Travland's residential listing is on the left side of the directory in the first column the third entry at the top.    It lists Mary as a widow which is interesting considering according to her application for her second marriage she had divorced in either 1894 or 1895.   If one is divorced was it common to declare oneself a widow if the ex-husband died AFTER the divorce took place?   Probably due to societal pressures, Mary opted for the less damning choice of 'widow'.

Here is the marriage application from Ogle county, Illinois dated June 17, 1905 for Mary and Adolph Sheveland.     In the middle of the application above the date it states both applicants have been divorced. This application for marriage was denied.

The next year, Mary Ann (Olson) Travland and Adolph Sheveland again applied for a marriage license on March 28, 1906 in Ogle county, Illinois.    

Regarding their respective divorces, Adolph's divorce was granted on June 17, 1905 the same day as their previous marriage application.   This may be the reason their marriage request was denied.   The reason for the divorce given was 'desertion'.    While no date was provided for Mary's divorce, it does state "10 or 11 years ago" and the reason for the divorce was "drunkeness".    As we all know, the future would permanently fix that issue through Prohibition.   

Here is the Ogle county, Illinois marriage register.   Mary Ann (Olson) Travland and Adolph Sheveland are the fifth entry.   Note the misspelling of Mary's last name as 'Oleson' while her father's name is spelled 'Olson'.    It also states Mary's residence is Rochelle, Illinois.   So Mary lived in Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois for only a short time.

In 1910, Mary Ann (Olson) Travland and Adolph Sheveland were living in Rochelle, Flagg township, Ogle county, Illinois.   Their entry can be found on lines 9 and 10.

It is interesting to note that the census indicates Mary had 7 children, 4 of which were surviving as of April 15, 1910.    Comparing to the 1900 US Census, it stated Mary had 5 children, all of which were surviving as of the date of the census.    Mary and Ole Travland's children were:  Lena Josephine, Clara Marie, Peter, Otto, Martin and Wesley.     The 1900 US Census was incorrect as they had 6 children, not 5 and Clara Marie had passed away in 1898.   

The 1910 census is also incorrect or an indicator that Mary and Adolph had one child that died prior to the census of 1910.    Mary's surviving children as of 1910 were:  Lena Josephine, Otto, Martin and Wesley. The key to remember:  Census records are only as accurate as the census taker and the information provided by the resident.   Expect errors and rely upon corroborating documentation to verify the information provided.

In 1920, Mary and Adolph Sheveland were still living in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois.

Mary and Adolph's entry can be found on lines 87 and 88 of the census.    They were living next to what I believe* to be Adolph's brother, Lewis.

Ole Travland's history to be continued....

*The 1890 Census doesn't exist and I've not been able to locate a 1900 US Census for Lewis Sheveland.

1940 US Census - Martin Travland, Mary Ann (Olson) Travland

In 1940, Martin Travland was living with his mother, Mary Ann (Olson) Travland in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois.

Martin was employed as a night watchman for the textile industry.     He was the son of Mary Ann (Olson) and Ole Kristian Travland and the grandson of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland. 

1900 US Census - Mary Ann (Olson) Travland, Martin Travland and Wesley Travland

Here is the 1900 US Census for Mary Ann (Olson) Travland and her two youngest sons, Martin and Wesley living in Flagg township, Ogle County, Illinois.    Their names are listed on lines 22 - 24.

The census indicates Mary was married for 5 years at the time of the census and had 5 children, 5 were surviving.     The 1910 US Census for Mary (by that time had married for a 2nd time to Adolph Sheveland) had 7 children and 4 were surviving.   Her obituary in 1947 indicated she had 3 daughters and 4 sons.    I'm unsure which of the three documents are accurate.    If she had 3 daughters, one must have died as an infant or at birth.

I am not sure where Mary's first husband, Ole Travland was living at the time of this census.   In a December 19th or 20th, 1905 application for marriage, it stated both Adolph Sheveland and Mary Travland had been divorced.    The application for marriage was denied, but Mary and Adolph eventually filed another application and were married on March 26, 1906.   This application stated Mary divorced 10 or 11 years prior due to Ole Travland's 'drunkenness*'.

I've been unable to find any information on Ole Travland after the 1880 US Census.

Martin and Wesley Travland were the children of Mary Ann (Olson) and Ole Kristian Travland and the grandchildren of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.

*It's a good thing Carrie Nation solved that problem.

Mary Ann (Olson) Travland - obituary

Here is the obituary* for Mary Ann (Olson) Travland, daughter-in-law of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.

Mary Ann was born April 19, 1862 to Julia and Ole Olson in Lee county, Illinois.    She married Ole Kristian Peterson Travland in 1877 or 1878.   

Mary Ann passed away in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois on January 21, 1947.   The obituary mentions 3 daughters, though I've only been able to locate two, Lena and Clara so I'm not sure whether this is an error.   Peter was the other son mentioned in the obituary who had preceded her in death.

*From the January 24, 1947 edition of the Rochelle News Leader.

1930 US Census - Mary Ann Travland and Martin Travland

Here is the 1930 US Census for Mary Ann Travland, daughter-in-law and grandson of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.


Mary Ann (Olson) Travland (line #2) and son Martin were living in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois.

Mary Ann was the wife of Ole Kristian Travland.

1900 US Census - Mary, Martin and Wesley Travland

Here is the 1900 US Census for Mary Ann (Olson) Travland, daughter-in-law of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.












































Mary Ann was living in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois with her sons Martin and Wesley.    The census seems to indicate Mary was married and not widowed, though the handwriting isn't very clear.   I haven't been able to locate a death record or census for Mary's husband, Ole Kristian Travland and do not know what happened to him.