Andrew Knudsen Age in 1910: 35  Estimated Birth Year: abt 1875  Birthplace: Denmark  Relation to Head of House: Head  Father's Birth Place: Denmark Mother's Birth Place: Denmark  Spouse's Name: Christine  Home in 1910: Turkey Valley, Yankton, South Dakota  Marital Status: Married  Race: White  Gender: Male  Year of Immigration: 1892 Household Members: Name Age  Andrew Knudsen 35  Christine Knudsen 35  Mary Knudsen 12  Julia Knudsen 10  George Knudsen 7  John Knudsen 5  Walter Knudsen 3  Raymond Knudsen 1  Nels A Rasmussen 16

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Name: Andrew Knudsen  City: Not Stated  County: Yankton  State: South Dakota  Birth Date: 12 Jun 1874  Race: White  Roll: 1927199  DraftBoard: 0

1920 Federal Census:  Andrew Knutson Christine Turkey Valley, Yankton, South Dakota abt 1875 Denmark White Head Andrew Knutson 45  Christine Knutson 44  George Knutson 17  Johnny Knutson 15  Mary Knutson 22  Walter Knutson 13  Raymond Knutson 1  Ervin Knutson 9 (Irving) Elsie Knutson 6  Agnes Knutson 3 ( Inez)

1930 Federal Census:  Andrew Knudsen Christine Turkey Valley, Yankton, SD abt 1875 Denmark Head Andrew Knudsen 55  Christine Knudsen 55  Inez Knudsen 13

The following information was provided by Cleo Knudsen Benson from things her father, John, had told her over the years.

Andrew Knudsen was born in Denmark. In Denmark births were recorded by township. Andrew's father's Christian name was Knute. His offspring were given Christian names and their last names were an extension of the father's Christian name simply by adding 'sen' for son and 'datter' for daughter. Therefore Anders became Andrew Knutsen/Knudsen He immigrated to the United States at the age of 17 in 1892 arriving at Ellis Island from Manderberg Denmark on Nov 26, 1892 aboard the Danish ship, "Thingvalla". It sailed from Copenhagen, Denmark. His name is listed on manifest line #0167 as Anders (which is Danish/Swedish for Andrew) Knudsen. Occupation listed on manifest as "Servant", His passage was paid in return for his labor by a farmer near Madison, SD. The man was a slave driver so after Andrew fulfilled his debt he ran off during the night, hiding during the day. He ended up on another farm near Wakonda, SD and things went much better there. Danish immigrants preferred to marry fellow Danish descendants. Normally the K is silent in pronouncing Knudsen, but is never silent in So. Dak. In 1896 at age 22, Andrew married Christina Thomsen, whose family immigrated in 1887. They were married by a Justice of the Peace in Yankton, So. Dak. They lived on a farm near Center Point and their first child, Marie was born. In 1898 they moved to an 80 acre farm in Turkey Valley that they were able to buy. Here the rest of the family, 5 sons and 3 more daughters, were born. Later Andrew bought the southeast 40 acres and in 1920 bought the north 80 acres, then in 1929 be bought the south 40. All of the children went to Turkey Valley School, which was located at the end of the driveway into the Knudsen farm. In 1937 Andrew and his son John exchanged farms. Andrew and Christina moved to the north place just across the ravine. (Grandpa had lost the farm in the thirties and it went to the Federal Land Bank, so my dad rented if from them until he was able to buy it back sometime in the 1940's). In 1939 they moved to the little acreage just south of Irene. In 1960 Andrew suffered a slight stroke, and Christina cared for him until she fell and broke her arm. So in 1961 they had to go into a nursing home in Vermillion. In December of 1961 they moved into the nursing home in Centerville, where they lived quite happily. ( After grandma and grandpa got in the nursing home and grandpa's health failed, grandma became the leader, and took care of him. I still remember their 67th wedding anniversary in the Centerville Home. The family and church members had gathered for a short program and social time. My mother played the wedding march and they came walking hand in hand into the dining room ). Andrew passed away at the Centerville nursing home on May 1, 1964 Andrew, a religious man, continued to pray in his native Danish language all his life. Andrew and Christina became U.S. Citizens in 1908.