John Lien, Sr., was the brother of Josephine's grandmother Mali Lien.

Josephine was listed as being age 18.  She used the Lien name when counted
in the census instead of her true surname of Holtan, according to her daughter
Alice. Also, when she married she used the "Lien" name on her marriage
license.

Josephine Lien was confirmed at age 14 1/2 on Oct-12-1890 at South Zumbro
Lutheran Church. It is open to interpretation as to with whom she was living at
the time as a Mrs. Holtan was one of three persons named. See So. Zumbro
Lutheran Church book confirmation records of years 1888-1929, page 66,
item 6. The name Moslet also appears on her record.

Josephine was born out of wedlock with both her parents unmarried.
When Josephine was about 16 months old and she  was sent to live with the
John Lien, Sr. family in Dodge County. Sophie, Josephine's mother,  married Hans Holtan, II,
in 1877. Ed Mentz of 1386 S. Yale Ave., Merced, CA 95340, in 1996 provided family data
for Hans Holtan, II.

Josephine was counted in the 1880 census on the farm home of John Johnson
Lien in Canisteo Township of Dodge County. She was four years old and was
listed as a boarder. Her name was given as Josephine Ottason. The Lien family
was not listed as Lien but under John Johnson. (Reference: Page 6, Enumeration
District 44, lines 11 to 18 for the family. Micro-film no. 1254618.)

Josephine is  buried east of
Dennison, MN, about three miles south of the Urland Lutheran Church
at the site of a Methodist Church where Alice's father was a janitor when
his wife died. A family by the name Ring maintained the cemetery in the 1990's..