Johanne ("Hannah") Marie Pedersen GRUNNET

Born: 07 Oct 1866 at Givsgud, Jylland, Denmark
Died: 29 Oct 1940 at Minneapolis, MN, USA

Father: Niels Peter Petersen GRUNNET (1829-1881)
Mother: Johanne Marie NIELSEN (1838-1903)

Spouse: Niels Nissen LEERSKOV (1863-1950)

Children:

  • Wilhelm Carl Grunnet LEERSKOV b. 24 May 1891 Hutchinson, MN d. 30 Sep 1892
  • Eleanor Wilhelmina LEERSKOV teacher B.A. U of MN b. 30 Jul 1893 d. 13 May 1952 Alhambra, CA
  • Gerhard Wilhelm LEERSKOV chemist B.A. U of MN b. 9 Aug 1898 Hutchinson d. 1956




    1884 (L-R) Hannah and (sibs) Peter and Niels ===>>

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    Hannah and Niels were married 21 Aug 1889 at Hutchinson, MN. JCS remembers that Niels was a shrewd businessman and the family was relatively well off. Eleanor and Gerhard lived high, never married and were somewhat eccentric. Eleanor and (cousin) Mabel were good friends.

    Niels was a real estate builder/renter in Minneapolis (b. 31 Dec 1863 at Osby Sogn, Sonderjylland, Denmark and d. 26 Sep 1950 at Rochester, MN). His parents were Gardejer Andreas Nissen LEERSKOV (b. 22 Oct 1829 at Baek, Haderslev Amt, Denmark and d. 13 Nov 1907 at Minneapolis, MN) and Marie Kirstina HOLLESEN (b. 1842 at Stevelt ved Haderslev, Denmark and d. 1 Aug 1916 at Sct. Paul Park, MN).

    (Preston) Wade PRATER is descended from Niels' older brother Detlev Nissen LEERSKOV. Wilhelm LEERSKOV was bur. next to the GRUNNETs in Oakland Cemetery, Hutchinson, MN. Eleanor and Gerhard moved to CA in early 1950. Wade's grandmother (Rachel (WADE) PRATER [1916-]) and her mother (Vina (LEERSKOV) (WADE) DOHERTY [1893-1974]) became well acquainted with Gerhard after Eleanor's death in 1952. Gerhard died in 1956 and Vina was administratrix of his estate. Although his parents were somewhat wealthy, he only left $6389.80, to be divided among his first cousins (one check went to Mabel, then residing at 6213 Valleyview Drive, Littleton, CO). Eleanor and her mother travelled to Denmark in 1934 and visited many GRUNNET relatives. Wade has photos of Ilveld and the houses where the GRUNNETs lived before leaving Denmark for America. Wade recommends this Danish website which includes Danish Emigration Records. This site shows that Niels Peter GRUNDET and family registered to emigrate 26 Apr 1871. Wade has more information on the LEERSKOV line (and WADE and PRATER lines).

    Wade has arranged to have the 1934 pictures placed at his cousin Art's website where they may me viewed. A list of brief descriptions for the pictures is at the bottom of that page. Also, the original picture files are huge (200-300 kb) and, while suitable for printing, are hard to view online, but Art has resized them for various screen resolutions, see the links just above the descriptions. Amoung the pictures of interest are:

  • 3-6: Johanna's birthplace at Givsgud
  • 9: home where Johanna's family lived (Vindelev) just before coming to America
  • 12: Johanna's parents' first home, where Aunt K. was born (Ilved)
  • 15-16: birthplace of Johanna's mother (Ilved)
  • 17: Rev. N. P. Grunnet's gravestone (Copenhagen)
  • 20-21: Rev. N. P. Grunnet's church (Martinskirken, Copenhagen)

    Sources:

  • Family papers and stories
  • "The Grunnet Family" by Niels Grunnet, Copenhagen, 1956 (in Danish)
  • Wade PRATER via email