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Westrand

I am looking for any information on the Westrands, who lived in Idaho in the 30's. Willis Wesley was my grandfather, but deserted his wife and two children, never to be heard from again. I found his military records, and he stated he had no dependents. I think he had a brother, Victor, who died in 1945. My mother asked me not to search while she was still alive, I complied, but now cannot find much.

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Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on September 17, 2009 at 11:26am

Hi Karen-

I found a Westrand family on the 1930 census in Idaho, parents were Victor H, from Sweden and Ella from Montana. Children were Victor, Willis and Melvin. Victor Sr. arrived in the US in 1885, children were born in Washington State.

I'm attaching the census record.

Attachments:

westrand_1930.jpeg, 404 KB

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on September 17, 2009 at 11:33am

On Wesley's WW2 enlistment info on Ancestry, he is listed as divorced, no dependents, this was April 3, 1942. He enlisted in San Francisco.

I found the info on Victor's death record, do you need need the information? I found it on the Family Search Pilot site.

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on September 17, 2009 at 12:01pm

Hi :)

I found this on World Connect:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=kiddj...

Was Lola Reid Willis' wife?

Permalink Reply by Karen Douglass Noffsinger on September 17, 2009 at 3:19pm

Kate, thank you so much for replying. I will answer all your posts in this one, if you do not mind.
1. I had not found the census record and will print that up. Very useful. I have a picture of my grandfather and his mother, but it only states Willis Wesley Westrand and Mrs. Westrand.

2. I would love the info on Victor's death record. I was able to find Willis's enlistment information.

3. Yes, Lola Reid was his wife. My mothers name was Darlene Lee Westrand. I thank you for the Rootsweb connect.

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on September 17, 2009 at 5:36pm

Hi Karen-

Here is the info from the Washington State death record for Victor:

name: Victor H Westrand
date of death: Aug 3, 1945
place of death: Seattle, King, WA
age at death: 32 years, 10 months 2 days
estimated year of birth: 1913
marital status: married
wife's name: Della Mae Westrand
father's name: Victor Westrand
mother's name: Ella
film no: 2032469
digital GS no: 4223004
image no: 2130
reference no: 3411

I don't know if you ordered the WA certificate it would have any other information or not, but this was information that was available on the site for Victor.

I also found Victor, Ella, and their children, Victor and Willis on the 1920 census.
I'm curious if you tried finding a Willis on the SSDi with a different last name but the right birthdate? Maybe he changed his name if he survived WW2?

I also looked for Willis on the San Francisco directories and didn't find him under that name, will check again tomorrow-

Kate

Permalink Reply by Karen Douglass Noffsinger on September 18, 2009 at 12:07am

Hi Kate,
I have been on the Washington State digital website tonight. I found the name of Ella's parents and siblings (maiden name Vantine), her birthdate, and marriage date. There were other Westrands, so maybe his parents as well. I need to sleep first.
I also went to the Ellis Island site, since Victor was born in Sweden and I figured he had to go through there. Did not find him, but maybe his father, if I knew his name. If he came as a child, wouldn't he be listed as well as his parents? Since he was in WA State, I was wondering if there was a West Coast port of entry during that time? I realize that's a long shot, but just a thought.

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on September 18, 2009 at 5:33am

I believe Ellis Island did not open until 1892? I think Victor arrived about 1885?

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on September 18, 2009 at 6:14am

On the 1920 census, it has Victor's immigration as 1897, in 1930, it is 1885. It indicates he was Naturalized, so we should be able to find a naturalization record for him. Also, we should be able to find him on a WW1 draft registration.

I think it comes down to finding the correct spelling for his name on each record, we should also be able to find him in 1900 and 1910. I'm curious how Victor and Ella met, as she was born in Montana according to the census records?

Permalink Reply by Karen Douglass Noffsinger on September 18, 2009 at 9:44am

According to the information I found last night, her parents moved to the Spokane area when she was a child. She had at least 2 sisters, all born in Montana. Her brother was born in the Spokane area. The WA State website is digitalized, which was very nice. I'm thinking they met in that area.

Would you be able to get a copy of the 1920 Census for me?

Permalink Reply by Karen Douglass Noffsinger on September 20, 2009 at 12:03am

Hello Kate,
Thanks to the info you gave me, I have been able to track Victor (the Willis' father) and his parents back to Sweden! From the 1910 Census I was able to get Victor's parents names, along with some siblings. When I went to the LDS website, I found Vic's father, Nels P and where he was born, and his father. Also got Nels wife Sara's birthplace and fathers name.
I have to say, Washington State has been the easiest to get information from. The census says Victor had a brother and sister born in Iowa, but the LDS Church says Idaho. Neither state will give up info easily. Oregon is not much better.
Kate, thank you, thank you, thank you. At least now I know SOMETHING!

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on September 21, 2009 at 5:25am

HI Karen-
Sorry I missed your message-let me know if you need the 1920 census. :)
I'm glad you were able to find your Sweden roots!

Permalink Reply by Karen Douglass Noffsinger on September 21, 2009 at 9:47am

Westrand

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