peder vilhelm knudsen

[Grethe Langesøe Wich]

Peder Vilhelm Knudsen born 1865 in Vesterborg on the island Lolland in Denmark.
His confirmation was  in 1879 in Birket  - a small town on the same island. All I know about him is, that he was told to be employed in the big machinefirm B&W  - which was known for making big shipmotors. Also it was told, that he was travelling a lot in connection to his job. He is not found in Denmark, and I mean that my grandmother, Peders sister, said, that he went to America. It would be interesting to know, what became of Peder and his family. Peders parents was Knud Langesøe and Ane Mathiasen.
Grethe Langesøe

[Homer Ficken]

Hi Grethe,

Here is his registration for emigration:

Name:  Knudsen, Peter Vilhelm Occupation:  Tyende (m/k land)
Age:  19 Destination:  Kansas
Contract no.:  168100 Registration date:  5/15/1884
Last res. parish:  Vesterborg (Lolland) Last res. county:  Maribo
Last residence:  Bønned, Maribo Destination country:  USA
Destination city:  ? Destination state:  Kansas
Name of ship:  Indirekte
IDcode:  I8284Ø0415

He arrived New York from Liverpool 2 June 1884 on ship City of Chester

1885 State Census, Dickinson County, Kansas
James Brandt 46 Denmark
Mary Brandt 42 Denmark
Peter Knudson 19 Denmark

(the 1890 US Census was destroyed)

By 1900, he had changed his name to "Longsea" an apparent spelling variation of Langesøe:

1900 Dickinson County, Kansas
James Brandt,  Mar 1838 Denmark, to US 1866 Farmer
Mary Brandt, Sep 1842 Denmark, to US 1882
Peter Longsea, May 1865 Denmark, to US 1884, Farm Laborer

1910 Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas
Peter Longsea 43 Denmark, to US 1880, Teamster

1920 Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas
Peter Longsea 53 Denmark, to US 1884, Teamster

1930 Dickinson County Poor Farm, Kansas
Peter Longsea 65 Denmark

It appears he never married, and lived out his old age in Kansas.  I have emailed a Dickinson County volunteer who may be able to find when he died.

[Grethe Langesøe Wich]

Dear Homer. Thank yuo very much for a quick answer. I wonder if an administration of his estate would reveal if he had chrildren. I have som photos of Knud Langesøe and his second wife. I would have loved to share my knowledge and the photoes with Peders family.
Best regards, Grethe Langesøe.

[Lis B. Jensen]

Hi Grethe

I place a link to Your Danish thread here: http://www.slaegtogdata.dk/forum/index.php/topic,20658.0.html

The other people can see the census and emigration informations.
It seems like he have changed his work after arriving to USA. Wonder if there could be some newspapers in Kansas where information could be found.

[Homer Ficken]

Hi Grethe and Lis,

Sadly, I doubt that there were any children, as he was unmarried in every census 1885-1930.  And there was probably not a probate as the "poor farm" where he was living in 1930 was a home for persons with no income, or relatives to take care of them.  It was near Abilene, Kansas a small "frontier" farm town which had no large industry, and he first worked on a farm and then as a teamster, who would have hauled goods on a wagon or truck:  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abilene,_Kansas

In 1880 he was still in Birket:

Maribo, Lollands Nørre, Birket, Magletving by, Birket sogn, Maribo amt, , En gård, 13, FT-1880
Name: Age: Marital status: Occupation in household: Occupation: Birth place:
Hans Friis Jørgensen 41  Gift gårdejer, husfader  Horslunde Sogn, Maribo Amt
Maria Kirstine Olsen 36  Gift hans kone  Her i Sognet
Hans Peder Bernhard Jørgensen 7  Ugift deres barn  Her i Sognet
Olevia Karoline Jørgensen 4  Ugift deres barn  Her i Sognet
Georg Anton Jørgensen 1  Ugift deres barn  Her i Sognet
Juli Kristine Lenhartsen 24  Ugift tjenestepige  Her i Sognet
Peder Vilhelm Knudsen 14  Ugift tjenestedreng  Vesterborg Sogn, Maribo Amt

Perhaps he then worked for B&W (Burmeister & Wain?) in Copenhagen a few years before leaving for USA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmeister_%26_Wain

But since he listed Kansas as destination when he registered to leave Denmark, he must have known someone there:   Could James (probably Jens) Brandt or wife Mary, who he lived with 1885-1900 be relatives?

A reply from the lookup volunteer has informed that she is on vacation, but will look for information upon return home next week.

Here is an article by someone whose father was superintendent of the Poor Farm in 1930s:
 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:gzrkWDLHzgoJ:www.poorhousestory.com/KANSAS_rural_heritage.htm+%22abilene+poor+farm%22&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Note the paragraphs which state:   "In the early thirties, Kansas was barren.  Most of the trees had been cleared for farm land.  Overcultivation, minimal rainfall, and high winds created vast dust storms that swept across the endless plains." and "Dirty skies and troubled times prevailed.  As the old saying goes, "Things were so bad even the dogs didn't wag their tails." Jobs were hard to find. The W.P.A. employed able-bodied men.  The less fortunate went to the poor farm"

[Grethe Langesøe Wich]

Dear Homer. Thank you for your information of Peders life in the thirties.  I am sure he had hoped for a better life. His mother - Ane Mathiasen - died when he was 7 years old. Maybe he and his sisters lived in the Poorfarm in Vesterborg for some years before they were old enough to be servants of one kind or another.
Kind regards, Grethe Langesøe

[Homer Ficken]

Hello again Grethe: 

The Kansas volunteer has found Peter's death information from the Poor Farm, showing that he spent his last three years there:

Information from the Superintendent's Record of Infirmary Inmates, Dickinson County Poor Farm:

    Pete Longsea
    Age: 63
    Sex: Male
    Received:  July 30, 1928
    From: Abilene
    By Order Of:  County Commissioners
    Condition of Health:  Unable to care for self
    Died:  May 2, 1931
    Cause of Death:  Heart trouble
    Buried:  Abilene, Kansas

I have attached his obituary, which confirms he had no relatives there.

[vedhæfting slettet af admin]

[Grethe Langesøe Wich]

Dear Homer. Thank you very much for thr final information about Peder Vilhelm Knudsen.
3 - 4 of my mothers brothers died from hearttroubles.
I am very grateful for yuor help.
With kind regards, Grethe Langesøe Wich