Name:

Gjermund

Kittilson

Bekkerhus

30/1/1863- 29/8/1926

(first name)

(surname)

(farm name)

(birth/death dates)

Name in America:

James

Coles

(first name)

(m.i.)

(last name)

Spouse:

Anne

Persdatter

Digre

7/6/1858 - 25/1/1948

(first name)

(surname)

(farm name at marriage)

(birth/death dates)

Children:

Mabel J Coles b. 5 July1890 d. 2 April 1972

James A Coles b. 4 Aug 1892 d. 1 June 1972

Municipality (kommune) in Norway:

Fyresdal

Church Parish to which they belonged:

Moland

Emigrant Ship:

Thingvalla

Depart Date:

1884

Port:

New York, NY

Destinations in America 

Early:

Final:

Minneapolis, MN

Occupations/Professions

in Norway:

Son of a famer

in America:

Electrotypist

Additional Information: 

The family legend is that after Gjermund arrived he picked the name "James Coles" out of a phone book and that became his name in America. James (Gjermund) was born to Kittil Gjermundson Bekkerhus and Jorand Toresdatter Arhus in Fyresdal, Telemark, Norway. He had one sister, Birgit Kittilsdatter, born 4/7/1865 in Fyresdal. Birgit also came to America in 1887 and was known as "Bertha Kettleson." She was naturalized in 1941 and died in Los Angeles, CA in 1956. She was not married and did not have children that we know of. James arrived in America in 1884 and made his way west in 1886. He enlisted in the Army 1/3/1889 and was a member of the Third Minnesota Infantry and was discharged 6/22/1891 at Fort Snelling, MN. He was also a member of the Electrotypers Union no. 97, a member of MN Lodge 224 Scottish Rite Masons, and a member of the Zurah Shrine Temple, Minneapolis.

Contact:                     

Georgette Danczyk

Relationship to emigrant:

Great, granddaughter.

Email:

georgette.danczyk@gmail.com

Date:

10 May 2017