Alexander and Ellerine Leines and family in Story County IA, 1869-1879?

Question

A daughter of theirs wrote:

"Alexander Nilson Leines and Ellerine Dorothea Johaneson were married June 1869 in Norway, and arrived in America on June 16, 1869, and settled in Story County, Iowa. They had left Norway for America to where Alexander's half brother Brygman lived in Iowa. Brygman was ill and died shortly before they arrived.

Alexander and Ellerine lived with the Oakland family near Randall, Iowa until they rented a farm of their own. They lived in Iowa ten years. Six children were born in Iowa: Nelsine (1870 - died within a year of her birth), Jens Christian (12/3/1871), Nils Brygman (8/27/1873), Emily Olive (4/13/1873), Anna (1877), and Kaia Christine (1/15/1879)."

I know that Randall is in Hamilton County, and that it's not far from Story County... but after walking graveyards and speaking with the county recorders and cemetery sextons in the area, I've been unable to find any documentable proof of their 10 years in Iowa, or of his half-brother Brygman's life or death. My Census and property record searches have also come up empty, and birth records don't go back that far. I haven't found a ship manifest with Alexander and Ellerine, either!

Any ideas/help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Answer 1

Could this be your family?  I am guessing that your Alexander's father's name was Nils, therefore Alexander would be Nilson or son of Nils.  No explanation for his wife's name/names unless he was married more than once. Immigrants often didn't know the English spellings of their names, and the census takers made mistakes, so there are numerous mistakes on census records.  If this is your family I assume the Sweden bithplace was a mistake by the census taker.  

Alaxander Nilson, 44 born Sweden, 1870, Huron, Des Moines, IA. farmer.

Greta E. 40 Sweden

Anna 15

Emma 10

John A. 5

Matilda J. 1

Solomon and August Carlson farmhands

All born Sweden

Also in Shirley, Polk Co., MN. 1880 Census

Alexander Nilson, 55, born Norway, farmer

(Gale?) G. wife, 50, Norway

Thore 18 Norway

(Shrine?) G. daughter, 15 Norway

Christine 12 Norway

Anna 6, born MN.

I am so glad I could help.  Over the years I have learned to check every spelling I can think of, but I hadn't thought of trying Nelson.  I am so glad you did.

Answer 2

No help in Iowa.1920 Fergus Falls, MN:  Ellerine Leines, b.Norway, 1850, Wid,, emig 1869.  Jens C. 39, Iowa; Ella D., 35, ND; Alma S., 28, ND.

1910 Minneapolis: Leines, Jens C., "39", Iowa, Albert H, 28, Emil M, 26, and Ella D., 25, all b. ND.

There is an Alexander Leines, d.7/8/1910; Jens' census 4/25.  

If we could only find her saying "how many children, how many living".