Guro Nilsdatter ¹

   Cause of her death was Arteriosclerosis, hypertension and cranial hemorrhage. Contributory causes are right sided parotitis and old age.

   Another name for Guro was Julia Nelson.

  General Notes:

Guro Nilsdatter was born at Tesdal, the daughter of a relatively well-to-do farm owner. After arrival in the United States she adopted the name "Julia" and also took the opportunity to "adjust" her age. Although she claimed to have been born in 1848, as evidenced by her death certificate and tombstone, the Etne Parish Register clearly shows that she was born in 1846.

Guro and her family emigrated to America in 1881 and were sponsored by her wealthy brother, who had come to America twenty years before. The family settled on a farm owned by Guro's brother. After her husband's untimely death during a property dispute in 1896, Guro remained on her brother's farm and raised her family of 9 children. She continued to live there until she died in 1933.

A grocery store account book from 1923 shows that Guro was exceedingly fond of fish and bananas. She also appears to have had a thriving business selling eggs to the store at the rate of about 3 dozen per week. Guro never learned to speak English.

The death certificate lists the causes of death as arteriosclerosis, hypertension and cranial hemorrhage. Contributory causes are listed as right sided parotitis and old age. She had apparently been critically ill for three days prior to death. A funeral service was held in her home, which was attended by relatives only. This was followed by services at Hauge's Lutheran Church and burial at Saratoga Cemetery.

According to the 1900 Census, she has a birth date of 1848.
According to the 1920 Census, she has a birth date of 1849.
According to her gravestone, she was born in 1849. ¹

  Notes in her life were:

• Census, 1900, Saratoga, Grundy, Illinois. ⁵

1) Julia Norem, head, white, female, born May 1848, age 52, widowed, born in Norway, parents born in Norway, immigration 1882, 18, single, yrs in the U.S., farmer, able to read, write, and speak English, rents, lives on a farm, farm schedule 141.
2) Nels Norem, son, white, male, born Sept 1881, age 18, single, born in Norway, parents born in Norway, 18 yrs in the U.S., farm labor, able to read, write, and speak English.
3) Severt Norem, son, white, male, born Apr 1887, age 13, single, born in Illinois, parents born in Norway, attended school 4 months, able to read, write, and speak English.
4) Martin Norem, son, white, male, born Feb 1889, age 11, single born in Illinois, parents born in Norway, at school 7 months, able to read, write, and speak English.
5) Helen Norem, daughter, white, female, born June 1890, age 9, single born in Illinois, parents born in Norway, at school 7 months, able to read, write, and speak English.

• Census, 1910, Saratoga, Grundy, Illinois.

1) Mrs. O. Norem, Head, female, white, age 61, widowed, birthplace Norway, parents place of birth Norway, Immigration 1881, farmer.
2) Ole Norem, son, male, white, age 24, single, born in Illinois, parents born in Norway.
3) Martin Norem, son, male, white, age 21, single, born in Illinois, parents born in Norway.
4) Helen Norem, daughter, female, white, age 19, born in Illinois, parents born in Norway.

• Census, 1920, Saratoga, Grundy, Illinois. ⁴

1) Julia Norem, head, age 71, widow, immigration 1879, naturalization 1884, born in Norway, occupation farmer.
2) Annie Norem, daughter, age 38, born in Illinois.
3) Martin Norem, son, age 30, born in Illinois.
4) Helen Norem, daughter, age 28, widow, born in Illinois.
5) [Gerine]?, granddaughter, age 6, born in Illinois.
6) Otto C., grandson, age 2 1/2.

• Tombstone: Mother - Julia Noram, 1849-1933, Saratoga Cemetery, Morris, Grundy, Illinois.

Guro married Ole Hadlesson Noram, son of Hadle Olsen Ramsvik and Siri Olsdatter Norem, on 30 Oct 1874 in Grindheim Kirke, Etne, Hordaland, Norway. (Ole Hadlesson Noram was born on 18 Sep 1847 in Norheim, Etne, SkÃ¥nevik, Hordaland, Norge ¹, baptized on 27 Sep 1847 in Grindheim Kirke, Etne, Hordaland, Norway and died on 15 Mar 1896 in Morris, Grundy, Illinois ¹.)