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Niels Peder Nikolaisen

Niels Peder Nikolaisen

Male 1881 - 1977  (95 years)

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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Niels Peder NikolaisenNiels Peder Nikolaisen was born 11 Oct 1881, Uggerslev Mark, Fyn, Denmark; died 22 Aug 1977, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; was buried 24 Aug 1977, Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.

    Notes:

    As a young man, Peter Nils Nikolaisen (Katherine Sorensen's father), went to stay with his Uncle Jorgen for two years. He told how all the corn was harvested by hand. A couple of years later Jorgen's brother, Uncle Hans, got a harvesting machine. Every morning the cows were brushed. It was considered a shame to take out a horse with dirt on it.

    Peder and Katrine came to America in May 1911, and were married later that year.

    Niels married Ann Katrine Bothilde Sorensen 19 Sep 1911, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN. Ann (daughter of Soren Sorensen and Ane Katrine Brahe Christensen) was born 24 Jan 1888, Tved, Mols, Denmark; died 6 Aug 1974, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; was buried 10 Aug 1974, Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 2. Soren Peter Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 19 Jan 1912, Edina, Hennepin Co., MN; died 11 Nov 1994, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT.
    2. 3. Katherine Ann Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 17 Jan 1914, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; died 3 Mar 2008, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; was buried 6 Mar 2008, Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown, RI.
    3. 4. Hans Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 6 Jun 1916, Edina, Hennepin Co., MN; died Jul 1978, Tempe, Maricopa Co., AZ.
    4. 5. Julia Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 3 Jul 1922, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; died 25 Dec 1931, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN.
    5. 6. James Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 25 Dec 1923, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; died 2006, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN.


Generation: 2

  1. 2.  Soren Peter NikolaisenSoren Peter Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (1.Niels1) was born 19 Jan 1912, Edina, Hennepin Co., MN; died 11 Nov 1994, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT.

    Soren married Beulah Genevieve Wheeler 2 Mar 1933, Chicago, Cook Co., IL. Beulah was born 3 Sep 1914; died 5 May 2001, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 7. Beatrice "Traudy" Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born Jul 1933, Chicago, Cook Co., IL.
    2. 8. Arnold John Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 8 Aug 1934, Minneapolis, MN; died 11 Mar 2017, Utah.

  2. 3.  Katherine Ann NikolaisenKatherine Ann Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (1.Niels1) was born 17 Jan 1914, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; died 3 Mar 2008, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; was buried 6 Mar 2008, Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown, RI.

    Notes:

    The surname in Denmark and on her marriage license is spelled Nicolaisen. However, the family name in America was spelled Nikolaisen. An alternative spelling in Denmark is Nicolajsen.

    Katherine married Paul Brahe Sorensen 15 Jan 1950, Ormslev Kirke, Denmark. Paul (son of Julius Marinus Sorensen and Hilda Katrina Christiansen) was born 18 Jan 1914, Aarhus, Denmark; died 2 Jun 2007, Providence, Providence Co., RI; was buried Jun 2007, Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown, RI. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 9. Richard Brahe Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 25 Sep 1951, Minneapolis, MN.
    2. 10. Sheryl Ann Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 22 Aug 1962, USA.

  3. 4.  Hans NikolaisenHans Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (1.Niels1) was born 6 Jun 1916, Edina, Hennepin Co., MN; died Jul 1978, Tempe, Maricopa Co., AZ.

    Hans — Joyce Unknown. [Group Sheet]

    Hans married Ruth L. Bennett Abt Dec 1958. [Group Sheet]

    Hans married Thelma Unknown Aft 1960. Thelma was born Abt 1918. [Group Sheet]


  4. 5.  Julia Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (1.Niels1) was born 3 Jul 1922, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; died 25 Dec 1931, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN.

    Notes:

    Julia died from appendicitis at age 9.


  5. 6.  James NikolaisenJames Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (1.Niels1) was born 25 Dec 1923, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; died 2006, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN.

    James married Lorraine M. Pihlstrom 4 Oct 1946, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN. Lorraine (daughter of Thorwald Pihlstrom and Jennie Berquist) was born 12 Jun 1922, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN; died 27 Oct 2008, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN. [Group Sheet]



Generation: 3

  1. 7.  Beatrice "Traudy" Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (2.Soren2, 1.Niels1) was born Jul 1933, Chicago, Cook Co., IL.

    Notes:

    Beatrice was adopted and her name became Waldtraut (Traudy) Schwenk.


  2. 8.  Arnold John NikolaisenArnold John Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (2.Soren2, 1.Niels1) was born 8 Aug 1934, Minneapolis, MN; died 11 Mar 2017, Utah.

    Notes:

    At age 75, Kearns man finds sister in Michigan

    By Katie Drake
    The Salt Lake Tribune
    Published September 30, 2009 11:56 pm


    Like many children, Arnold Nikolaisen was not happy to learn he wasn't going to remain an only child. However, the shock for him was worse than most -- he found out at 75. Nikolaisen was raised as an only child, never knowing he had an older sister adopted away before he was born.

    It was quite a shock to get a call from Traudy Schwenk, who claimed to be his sister. Nikolaisen refused to believe the evidence until a DNA test proved she was telling the truth. Now the Kearns man is embracing the sister he never knew he had, including paying a visit to her Hesperia, Mich., home. Nikolaisen took his wife, two children and granddaughter to meet Schwenk, and it became immediately clear she was a missing piece of the family.

    "It was like my mother-in-law all over again," said Gayle Nikolaisen. Schwenk shared her mother's voice and mannerisms, and even the twinkle in her eyes when laughing.

    The family brought several albums full of photographs and a genealogy back to the 14th century. For Schwenk, the discovery provided some closure to the mystery of who she is. Schwenk learned about the adoption when she was 30, while planning a family trip to Germany. Schwenk needed a copy of her birth certificate to obtain a passport, and her mother wrote to ask for one. Schwenk found the certificate and confronted her mother, who had never planned to tell her of the adoption.

    Schwenk found a copy of her adoption papers when cleaning out the house after her mother's death. She hoped to learn more about her birth family, but in the days before Google, finding them was not easy. She was finally able to track down the family using a public records search at the local library, which led her to Nikolaisen.

    "Even now, I can hardly grasp what's happened," Schwenk said.

    For the Nikolaisen family, the discovery has raised more questions than it has answered. Why did the Nikolaisens give their daughter up for adoption, and why did they never tell anyone? Jennifer Nikolaisen, Arnold's granddaughter, is happy to have a new great aunt, but cannot imagine the stress on her great-grandmother from keeping such a secret. She is sad her great-grandmother never felt she could tell anyone, especially after adoption became more socially accepted in recent years.

    Though both Arnold Nikolaisen and Schwenk agree it is difficult not to have their parents in the picture, both believe they know why the couple gave up their first child. It was 1933, the depths of the Great Depression, and most people struggled to feed themselves. Schwenk believes her parents gave her up thinking she would live a better life. Schwenk and Nikolaisen hope to solve some of the mystery by getting the original adoption papers, which are currently sealed by a court in Cook County, Illinois. Schwenk has retained an attorney in hopes of getting the records and learning more about her birth parents. She holds out hope that her birth mother wrote a letter or some other evidence suggesting why the family was divided.

    Since the reunion, the Nikolaisens have stayed in close contact with their long-lost relative. Gayle Nikolaisen talks to her sister-in-law several times a week, and the family hopes to visit again next summer. Schwenk's initial anger at the situation has cooled. She is not upset she was adopted, but rather that it remained a secret for so many years.

    "If you have a kid, tell them, 'We loved you, so we adopted you,' " Schwenk said. She hopes other families can be open about adoption and allow their children insight into who they are.

    Schwenk is making progress. For her 76th birthday, the Nikolaisens sent her a framed photo of her birth mother and father.

    kdrake@sltrib.com

    Arnold married Gayle Schulz 18 Jul 1952. Gayle was born 11 May 1936, Watertown, SD; died 1 Dec 2019, Utah. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 11. Julie Kay Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 26 Jul 1953, Portsmouth, VA.
    2. 12. Michael Ray Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 5 Sep 1955, Minneapolis, MN.
    3. 13. Matthew Jay Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 9 Apr 1959, Subic Bay, Philippine Islands.
    4. 14. Eric William Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 27 Jan 1968, Long Beach, CA.

  3. 9.  Richard Brahe SorensenRichard Brahe Sorensen Descendancy chart to this point (3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 25 Sep 1951, Minneapolis, MN.

    Notes:

    I have a copy of his birth certificate.

    Richard married Lois Edna REMINGTON 16 Jun 1973, North Kingstown, RI. Lois (daughter of Norman Chester REMINGTON and Edna Virginia BERRY) was born 1 May 1951, Providence, RI. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 15. Laura Katrine Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 28 Jan 1976, Warwick, RI.
    2. 16. Benjamin Brahe Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 7 Aug 1977, Warwick, RI.
    3. 17. Paul Norman Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 1 May 1979, Warwick, RI.
    4. 18. Karla Marie Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 15 Oct 1980, Warwick, RI.
    5. 19. Daniel Peter Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 15 Oct 1980, Warwick, RI.

  4. 10.  Sheryl Ann SorensenSheryl Ann Sorensen Descendancy chart to this point (3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 22 Aug 1962, USA.

    Sheryl married Mark Joel Marty 14 Jun 1986, Minneapolis, MN. Mark was born 20 Feb 1961, Minnesota. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 20. Elissa Ann Marty  Descendancy chart to this point was born 22 Feb 1988, MN.
    2. 21. Mariah Marie Marty  Descendancy chart to this point was born 28 Aug 1994, MN.
    3. 22. Marissa Louise Marty  Descendancy chart to this point was born 24 Apr 2001, MN.


Generation: 4

  1. 11.  Julie Kay NikolaisenJulie Kay Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (8.Arnold3, 2.Soren2, 1.Niels1) was born 26 Jul 1953, Portsmouth, VA.

    Julie married Randall Dean Miller Abt 1971. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 23. Randall Dean Miller, Jr.  Descendancy chart to this point was born Abt 1972.
    2. 24. Christopher Miller  Descendancy chart to this point was born 17 Sep 1973.

    Julie married James William Vaught 10 Aug 1977. James was born 16 May 1954, Glendale, Los Angeles County, CA. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 25. Betsey Jean Vaught  Descendancy chart to this point was born 22 Nov 1978.
    2. 26. James William Vaught, Jr.  Descendancy chart to this point was born 13 May 1981.

  2. 12.  Michael Ray Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (8.Arnold3, 2.Soren2, 1.Niels1) was born 5 Sep 1955, Minneapolis, MN.

    Michael married Patsy Carol Warren Abt 1974. Patsy was born 14 May 1955, Dyersburg, TN. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 27. Jennifer Ann Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 31 Oct 1975.
    2. 28. Jeremy Michael Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 13 Apr 1979.
    3. 29. Jeannie Marie Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 21 Feb 1986.

  3. 13.  Matthew Jay Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (8.Arnold3, 2.Soren2, 1.Niels1) was born 9 Apr 1959, Subic Bay, Philippine Islands.

    Notes:

    According to James Vaught, Jr., Matthew has been married twice and has several children, but as yet I do not have data on them.

    Matthew — . Unknown [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 30. Peter Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point

  4. 14.  Eric William Nikolaisen Descendancy chart to this point (8.Arnold3, 2.Soren2, 1.Niels1) was born 27 Jan 1968, Long Beach, CA.

    Eric — Suzanne Unknown. Suzanne was born 23 Aug 1969. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 31. Emily Ann Nikolaisen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 13 Dec 1995.

  5. 15.  Laura Katrine SorensenLaura Katrine Sorensen Descendancy chart to this point (9.Richard3, 3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 28 Jan 1976, Warwick, RI.

    Laura married Wayne Curtis Kneeland 17 Sep 2016, Bristol, RI. Wayne (son of Douglas Eugene Kneeland and Anne Packard Libby) was born 12 Jul 1960. [Group Sheet]


  6. 16.  Benjamin Brahe SorensenBenjamin Brahe Sorensen Descendancy chart to this point (9.Richard3, 3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 7 Aug 1977, Warwick, RI.

    Benjamin — . Unknown [Group Sheet]


  7. 17.  Paul Norman SorensenPaul Norman Sorensen Descendancy chart to this point (9.Richard3, 3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 1 May 1979, Warwick, RI.

    Paul married Elena Alekseyevna Savinova 17 Aug 2015, Juneau, Alaska. Elena (daughter of Aleksey Savinov and Tatiana Makuch) was born 18 Nov 1986, Krasnoozyornoye, USSR. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 32. Raisa Lois Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 12 Apr 2017, Providence, RI.

  8. 18.  Karla Marie SorensenKarla Marie Sorensen Descendancy chart to this point (9.Richard3, 3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 15 Oct 1980, Warwick, RI.

    Karla married Philip Andrew Curry 15 Sep 2001, North Kingstown, RI. Philip (son of Thomas Morton Curry, III and Sylvia Jacqueline Bonard) was born 11 Apr 1979, RI. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 33. Gwendolyn Grace Curry  Descendancy chart to this point was born 19 Nov 2007, Warwick, Kent Co., RI.
    2. 34. Josiah James Curry  Descendancy chart to this point was born 21 Nov 2009, Warwick, Kent Co., RI.
    3. 35. Adeline Faith Curry  Descendancy chart to this point was born 20 Feb 2013, Warwick, Kent Co., RI.
    4. 36. Gabriel Asher Curry  Descendancy chart to this point was born 8 Sep 2016, Wakefield, RI.

  9. 19.  Daniel Peter SorensenDaniel Peter Sorensen Descendancy chart to this point (9.Richard3, 3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 15 Oct 1980, Warwick, RI.

    Notes:

    Daniel Peter and Karla Marie are twins. After our first three children were born, Rich & I considered whether we should have any more children. When I was growing up as the youngest one in my own childhood family, I often wished for another sibling to share good times with, lamenting that I always was the one left behind. So, I thought it would be great to end with twins, so no one would have to be the "last one." So I confided in God, telling him that I thought my idea was a good one, and that if he gave us twins, I would know he was telling us that we should not have any more children after that -- we would end with twins. Well, afterwards I occasionally wondered if he had really heard that prayer. Some time later, when we discovered we were going to have another child, I half expected the doctor to tell us it was twins. Months went by and I had decided it was probably not to be, until one day during a routine exam, guess what -- twins! So, within a year of that prayer, we had another beautiful girl and boy.

    Daniel married Jennifer Larson 6 Jun 2009, Bristol, RI. Jennifer (daughter of Randy Larson and Lydia Vee Wilson) was born 10 Dec 1980, Plantation, FL. [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 37. Astrid Katherine Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 12 Nov 2015, FL; died 12 Nov 2015, FL.
    2. 38. Isak Leon Sorensen  Descendancy chart to this point was born 23 Dec 2017, FL.

  10. 20.  Elissa Ann MartyElissa Ann Marty Descendancy chart to this point (10.Sheryl3, 3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 22 Feb 1988, MN.

    Elissa — . Unknown [Group Sheet]

    Children:
    1. 39. Trent Joel Marty  Descendancy chart to this point was born Jan 2008, MN.
    2. 40. Wesley Marty  Descendancy chart to this point was born May 2009, MN.

  11. 21.  Mariah Marie Marty Descendancy chart to this point (10.Sheryl3, 3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 28 Aug 1994, MN.

  12. 22.  Marissa Louise Marty Descendancy chart to this point (10.Sheryl3, 3.Katherine2, 1.Niels1) was born 24 Apr 2001, MN.