Newspaper in Canada

I found a newspaper article referencing the accidental death of Peter Tollefson while searching the newspaperarchive.com this weekend. The unusual thing is that it comes from a newspaper in Manitoba, Canada. It is a couple weeks after the accident.


They did get part of the incident incorrect because Peter's wife was not fatally injured during the accident even though she was severely hurt. It does not provide any new information but interesting how a report of a death in the countryside of Minnesota can make it's way into a Canada newspaper back in 1905.

Updates from Ginger

Here are some updates on questions I have posted earlier about Peter Tollefson. I named three unknown people who were listed on historical documents connected with Peter; Ginder? Benson, J.N. Blexrud, and Sans S. Sennig/Senmg?.

Gunder Benson is listed on the 1885 Minnesota Census as the following entry to the Tollefson's. On the 1900 Census he is listed as to have immigrated to the US in 1867 which is 10 years later than Peter.

It appears the J.N. Blexrud is actually G.N. Blexrud or George N. Blexrud. He is listed on the 1900 and 1905 Census as living in the adjacent township of Caledonia in Houston County.

The man who I thought was Sans. S Sennig is probably Lars L. Lenning who is the husband of Peter's wife's aunt. Considering he is also in the area at the time it is the correct person.

Even though these names have been discovered it does not present any obvious clues into the identity of Peter Tollefson.

Peter & Ann's Marriage Record

Here is a copy of the marriage record for Peter Tollefson and Ann Sarah Mary Johnson on February 17, 1877. Her name changes on different records such as Ann, Anne, Anna and Anna Severine Marie. The two witnesses are Ole Johnson, who is Ann's father, and Sans S. Sennig/Senmg?, who I have not found any information about. From this record and his Naturalization record, we have 3 witnesses attached to Peter; Benson, Blexrud & Sennig/Senmg.

Peter Tollefson's Death Card, Obituary & Tombstone

Below I have included photos of Peter Tollefson's Obituary, Death Card and Tombstone. I have transcribed the obituary because it can be hard to read in spots. It tells the story of how such a small incident can lead to a tragic accident.

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Tollefson of Black Hammer, while returning home from Caledonia, Thursday evening had a runaway, which caused almost instant death to Mr. Tollefson, and severe injuries to his wife.

While in town the horses broke the buggy pole, having been frightened by an automobile. A new pole was replaced but as this was of a different type than the old one, it being too small for the neckyoke ring, which probably the main cause of the accident. As they were crossing a grade in the road near the county poor farm the neckyoke slipped over the pole, throwing the buggy onto the horses who at once started off on a mad gallop. For half a mile the couple clung to the buggy when suddenly they were dashed to the ground, Mr. Tollefson striking a stone breaking his neck and in about two hours he expired. Mrs. Tollefson escaped with three broken ribs, an injured arm and several bruises, she also was knocked unconscious, but recovered sufficiently so that she was able to go to a house in the neighborhood for assistance. Mr. Tollefson leaves a wife and eight small children to mourn the loss of a kind husband and father. Funeral was held Saturday at Black Hammer.


Peter Tollefson was 49 at the time as stated in his death card. The obituary does not give any clues to who is parents were or where he was born. The death card does list his birth location as Norway which narrows it down a more than the information provided on his Naturalization papers. It is able to tell us that he had 8 children and that his wife survived the accident. She would live about another six years.

Peter Tollefson's Naturalization Papers

For my first post, I will present a clue into trying to identify the mysterious Peter Tollefson. This is a copy of his naturalization papers dated February 22nd, 1898. That would make him 31 at the time of this document. There are also two names listed as witnesses, Ginder? Benson and J.N. Blexrud, whom I am unfamiliar with. Will have to do more research on those two individuals. The naturalization papers were issued for Houston County, Minnesota which corresponds to Peter appearing the 1880 and 1900 population census for Houston County. There is a Tollef Tollefson according to the Ancestry naturalization records also was issued his papers in Houston county. I don't have any information on Tollef. According to this document, it lists Peter as immigrating from Norway and Sweden which is also in agreement with the census records. (Norway was not an independent country until 1905). I will be posting more about Peter and all my ancestors later down the road.