Martin Travland - Obituary

Here is an obituary for Martin Travland, son of Mary Ann (Olson) and Ole Kristian Travland and the grandson of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.

The headstone and the filing with the Veterans Administration indicates the date of death was a day prior, August 13, 1969.   

Like all documents, errors are made.    It's best to verify with corroborating documents though that isn't always possible the further back in time we look.

Martin Travland - Baptism

Here is the baptism record for Martin Travland, son of Mary Ann (Olson) and Ole Kristian Travland and the grandson of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.

Martin's baptism is the 6th entry listed.     He was baptized on March 13, 1887 in Steward, Lee county, Illinois at the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Methodist Episcopal Church still stands today and is located at 507 Main Street.   It is currently named the Steward United Methodist Church.   A little bit of history about the church can be found here.  Scroll down to the bottom and look for 'Steward Methodist Church'.

What is interesting about this baptism record is what is missing.   Review the second entry, a baptism that took place June 20, 1886.    No name is listed but it does include the parent's entry of Lewis Travland but the mother is excluded as is the date of birth.    Lewis was the second child born to Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland; he was baptized in Norway in 1850 so possibly he had a second baptism.    It might have been for the cousin of Martin Travland, Martin Lewis Travland. 

If it was for Martin Lewis Travland, the second child born to Matilda (Vogel) and Lewis Travland (following the death of Lewis' first wife, Iverdine Finnestad) the baptism took place in Lee, Lee county, Illinois on June 20, 1886.  Martin Lewis Travland was born October 15, 1885.   I have reviewed the documents and unless a page is missing, I've not encountered a listing for Martin Lewis Travland, son of Matilda (Vogel) and Lewis Travland, so I'm inclined to believe this may be his baptism record.

1950 US Census - Martin Lewis Travland

Here is the 1950 US Census for Martin Lewis Travland with wife Nellie Katherine (Nance) in Bee county, Texas.   Martin and Nellie can be found on lines 22 and 23 of the census.

Martin was employed as a farmer and spent 60 hours working the week prior to the census.

Martin was the second child born to Matilda (Vogel) and Lewis Travland (following the death of Lewis' first wife, Iverdine Finnestad) and the granddaughter of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland. 

Martin Travland - Veterans Administration Death

As a result of the death of Martin Travland on August 13, 1969, the Veterans Administration documented important dates of Martin's life.

The index card lists his date of birth, February 16, 1887, his enlistment September 5, 1917 and discharge  on February 9, 1919 and his death.

Martin Travland was the son of Mary Ann (Olson) and Ole Kristian Travland and the grandson of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.

1950 US Census - Martin and Wesley Travland

In 1950, brothers Martin and Wesley Travland were residing together in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois along with Wesley's wife, Pearl A (Clark).

The Travland family can be located on lines 25 - 27.    Wesley was employed as a watchman for a locomotive company.     Nothing is listed regarding Martin's possible employment.

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

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.

Martin Lewis Travland - death certificate

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


Martin was born October 15, 1885 to Matilda (Ogel) and Lewis Travland in Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois.    He married Nellie Katherine Nance in Bee county, Texas on February 24, 1909.

Martin passed away January 23, 1961 in Beeville, Bee county, Texas and was buried at the Glenwood Cemetery in Beeville.

Martin Lewis Travland - WW II draft registration

Here is the World War II draft registration for Martin Lewis Travland, grandson of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.


Martin was the son of Matilda (Ogel) and Lewis Travland.

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.

1910 US Census - Martin Travland

Here is the 1910 US Census for Martin Travland, grandson of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.


Martin (line #40) was living in Rochelle, Flagg township, Ogle county, Illinois.

Martin was the son of Mary Anne (Olson) and Ole Kristian Travland.

1910 US Census - Lewis Travland & Martin Travland

Here is the 1910 US Census for Lewis Travland, son of Taletta Larsdatter and Peder Pederson Travland.

Lewis (line 50) was living in Justice Precinct, Bee county, Texas with 3rd wife (continued below, line 1 & 2)  Agnes (Thompson) and Lewis' youngest son Benjamin he had with 2nd wife, Matilda (Ogel).

Living next door was Martin (line 48 above), the second child Lewis had with Matilda.  Martin was living with wife Nellie (Nance).

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.

Rochelle Public School attendence - Travland children

A couple of years ago I had originally posted the 1895 Rochelle Public School's list of students and faculty on the Finnestad website for the Knutson children, grandchildren of Mari (Iversdatter Skaar) and Ole Finnestad.

I did not know at the time that two grandchildren of Taletta (Larsdatter) and Peder Pederson Travland were also attending the Rochelle grade school:  Martin and Peter Travland, sons of Mary Ann (Olson) and Ole Kristian Pederson Travland.

Martin, listed above, attended Third Room classes.

Martin's elder brother Peter attended Fifth Room classes with, Annie Knutson the daughter of Elizabeth (Finnestad) and Ole Andreas Knutson.    Elizabeth was the sister of Iverdine, the first wife of Ole Travland's brother, Lewis.