Swedish American Genealogist
Volume 31 | Number 1 Article 1
3-1-2011 Full Issue Vol. 31 No. 1
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag Part of the Genealogy Commons, and the Scandinavian Studies Commons
Recommended Citation (2011) "Full Issue Vol. 31 No. 1," Swedish American Genealogist: Vol. 31 : No. 1 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag/vol31/iss1/1
This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by Augustana Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Swedish American Genealogist by an authorized editor of Augustana Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. (ISSN 0275-9314)
A journal devoted to Swedish American biography, genealogy, and personal history
Volume XXXIMarch 2011 No. 1 CONTENTS
Skräddar Anders Fredrik Eriksson ...... 1 by Martin Ståhl
Copyright © 2011 (ISSN 0275-9314) News from the Swenson Center...... 7
Swedish American Genealogist Handwriting example XXVII ...... 9
Publisher: What did the emigrants pay? ...... 10 Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center by Elisabeth Thorsell Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 Telephone: 309-794-7204. Fax: 309-794-7443 Bits & Pieces ...... 14 E-mail: [email protected] Web address: http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/ The Old Picture ...... 15 by P. Robert Willey Editor: Elisabeth Thorsell Hästskovägen 45, 177 39 Järfälla, Sweden From Hälsingland to Bloody Shilo ...... 16 E-mail: [email protected] by Paul Swärd
Editorial Committee: Tigerhjelm family and Filmarkivet.se ...... 21 H. Arnold Barton, Tyresö, Sweden by Elisabeth Thorsell Dag Blanck, Stockholm, Sweden Dennis L. Johnson, Pottstown, PA SwedGen Tour is coming again! ...... 22 Ronald J. Johnson, Madison, WI Christopher Olsson, Stockton Springs, ME The solution to the Handwriting example ...... 23 Priscilla Jönsson Sorknes, Minneapolis, MN Book Reviews ...... 24
Swedish American Genealogist, its publisher, editors, Interesting Web Sites ...... 30 and editorial committee assume neither responsibility nor liability for statements of opinion or fact made by Genealogical Queries ...... 31 contributors. The Last Page ...... 32 Correspondence. Please direct editorial correspon- dence such as manuscripts, queries, book reviews, announcements, and ahnentafeln to the editor in Sweden. Correspondence regarding change of address, back issues (price and availability), and advertising should be directed to the publisher in Rock lsland.
Subscriptions. Subscriptions to the journal are $28.00 per annum and run for the calendar year. Single copies are $8.00 each. Swenson Center Associates are entitled to a special discounted subscription price of $15.00. Direct all subscription inquiries to the publisher in Rock Cover picture: Island. Anders Fredrik Eriksson (1845-1925) from Torsång, In Sweden the subscription price is 250.00 Swedish Dalarna, with his wife, Anna Lisa Jansdotter (1851- kronor per year for surface delivery and 275.00 kronor 1924), and two of their sons, Oscar Emanuel and per year for air mail. This subscription fee may be Gustaf Agdur. The picture was taken either in 1900 or deposited in our plusgiro account: 260 10-9, Swedish 1901, when Oscar Emanuel was doing his national American Genealogist, c/o Thorsell, Hästskovägen 45, service at Dalregementet. (See article on next page!). S-177 39 Järfälla, Sweden. Skräddar Anders Fredrik Eriksson
– the story of a Swedish Baptist in America
BY MARTIN STÅHL
An interesting find Anders Fredrik´s early (“tailor”), which most likely derives from one of his ancestors on the Many genealogists probably experi- life and family origins paternal line (ffffff), Erik Matsson ence great joy in their search for their Anders Fredrik Eriksson was born Öman (ca 1642-1727), who according ancestors when they come across 1845 February 3 in the village of to 17th century tax records (mantals- individuals in their family who can 2 Sunnanö (nr. 13), on a peninsula of längder) was a tailor. Anders Fred- tell us something more about their the same name, at the southern side rik was the fifth child of Skräddar lives, who may have “achieved” of the Lake Runn, Dalarna. Sunnanö Erik Ersson (1814-1882) and Anna something. Unfortunately, for most of lies in the pretty and peaceful little Eliaedotter (1813-1883). He grew up us, this doesn’t happen very often, parish of Torsång, close to the modern with his four siblings on the same but when it does occur, the satis- city of Borlänge. He was christened farm that generations of his family faction grows. the day after in the beautiful parish before him had lived on.3 It was the Last year, shortly after I had church of Torsång, next to Dalälven, same farm on which he spent most started my genealogical research, I the river that flows through the of his life in Sweden and from which discovered a short note in a parish countryside, and he was given the he left for America 65 years later. book, saying that my great-great- same name as his one-year-older Between the years 1854 and 1860, grandfather (ffmf) had immigrated to brother who had died shortly after Anders Fredrik attended the parish America in 1910. That was to become birth. school, next to the church.4 the beginning of a wonderful journey His ancestors on his paternal line where I have slowly puzzled his life came from Torsång (on his grand- together, and, in my search, estab- father’s side) and from the parish of lished connections with previously Grangärde, in southern Dalarna (on unknown relatives in both Sweden his grandmother’s side). On his ma- and the U.S.1 Here I would like to tell ternal line, Anders Fredrik’s ances- the story of an old man who left his tors came from the parish of Norr- village in Dalarna to seek a better bärke, also in southern Dalarna. life for himself and his wife in a coun- Some of his forefathers seem to be try far away from home. At the time more interesting than others, such as of the immigration, four of his child- Torsång Church – the oldest in Dalarna. his great-great-grandfather (mfmf), ren had already left for America. The name of the farm where An- Johan Larsson (1709-1760) from ders Fredrik lived was Skräddar Norrbärke, who was convicted of
Torsång AIIa:3:82 (1910–1921). Picture from SVAR. The picture shows Anders Fredrik and his family leaving for the U.S. in August 1910. It also shows that son Gustaf Agdur, b. 1892 Jul. 12 is “icke döpt” (not baptized). Son Axel is a “målare” (painter).
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 1 theft and spent the last 15 years of his life in various prisons. He was also suspected of having murdered his stepson. The sad story of Stina Andersdotter Twenty-seven-year-old Anders Fred- rik married Stina Andersdotter in the neighboring church of Stora Tuna 1872 May 20. She was to become my great-great-grandmother (ffmm). Stina Andersdotter had worked as a maid for a number of years in the parishes of Stora Tuna and Vika ever since she had left the parental home in 1863. She was born 1845 June 28 in Ovandal (nr. 15), Stora Tuna, the daughter of Tjern Anders Ersson Anders Fredrik Eriksson, wife, daughter, and grandson at their home in Sunnanö, (1804-1876) and Anna Ersdotter Torsång, prior to emigration in 1910. The girl in the middle is possibly a granddaughter (1800-1881). from Mora. In 1867, Stina Andersdotter left Vika and moved back to Stora Tuna had partly been spent on the pur- Falun (länsfängelset), but was re- where she was employed as a maid chase of clothing in Falun, and partly leased 1871 February 7. Several at the inn in Buskåker. Two years been placed in Stina’s bank account. prison documents give interesting in- later she was arrested for having sto- However, most of the money could be formation about her, such as her len money from the inn, in total 600 handed back to its rightful owner, the physical appearance and what per- 6 riksdaler, on several occasions during widow and innkeeper Johanna Lund- sonal belongings she had, etc. the year 1869.5 This was a consid- berg. Stina was sentenced 1870 After her release, Stina Anders- erable amount, as it was the equi- January 12 to prison for one year and dotter returned to Stora Tuna, but valent of more than a year’s salary four months. Stina Andersdotter was this time to the village of Dalsjö, for an industrial worker. The money imprisoned in the county prison of before she left Stora Tuna once and for all when she married Anders Fredrik the year after. The couple settled down on Anders Fredrik’s family farm in Sunnanö. The first child, Johanna Christina, was born shortly after, but died in 1873. A second child, Johanna Sofia (my great-grandmother, ffm), was born in Stora Tuna 1874 June 1. The place of birth cannot be identified for sure, but since the child’s mother, Stina Andersdotter, died of meningitis in Dalsjö, Stora Tuna, only ten days after the birth, it is almost certain that Johanna Sofia was also born there. Stina Andersdotter was only 28 years old when she died.
Years of travel and a new family To provide for his young daughter, The family farm in Sunnanö, lived in by generations of Anders Fredrik´s ancestors. At Anders Fredrik left Sunnanö in De- the time of the emigration, it consisted of two dwelling houses, seen here at the front. The picture was taken by author Karl-Erik Forsslund in 1921, shortly before the cember 1874 and moved to Dalsjö to buildings were demolished. Printed by permission of the Dalarnas museum. find employment as a statare, an
2 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 agricultural laborer who received the Erik Ersson (1882).7 The poverty is The larger house (which stands to the greatest part of his payment in kind. striking: no luxury items, only every- left of the smaller house on the It was perhaps here that he met his day items such as a few pieces of “Forsslund” picture – the back of it future wife, Anna Lisa Jansdotter (an furniture, tools, and some clothes. can be seen from the lake on the illegitimate child of the maid Greta picture from 1910) is marked on the Ersdotter, born 1851 Jan. 13 in Religious conversion laga skiftes map. It is either the same Naglarby, Gustafs). They married in building or it was replaced by a newer the church of Stora Tuna 1875 Sept. and life in Sunnanö one. Apart from the two dwelling 17. Anna Lisa brought her illegit- Anders Fredrik Eriksson and his wife houses, there were also other build- imate son, Carl Johan (born in 1873), joined the largest dissenting move- ings, used for storage, etc.9 into the marriage. ment in Sweden, the Baptist faith. When Anders Fredrik took over The couple didn’t stay long in Dal- They were baptized, together with the farm after his father’s death in sjö. A few months later that year they Anders Fredrik’s older sister Johan- 1882, it consisted of 1.36 acres of land moved on and were to settle in vari- na Envall, 1890 September 10, in the (including forest). A large part of the ous nearby parishes over the coming local Baptist congregation, Torsångs land was then sold by Anders Fred- years (Stora Kopparberg, Stora Tuna, baptistförsamling.8 The congregation rik in 1886, for unknown reasons. He and Torsång), before they finally set- had 25 members and worshipped in kept a part of the property for himself tled down in Sunnanö in November the Elim chapel in the nearby village and later purchased a part of land 1879. Anders Fredrik had supported of Räfstylla. The couple was to re- from the neighboring estate. It was the family by taking on different jobs main faithful to their new religion all sold shortly before the emigration as a statare and as a rättare (an throughout their lives. in April 1910 for the sum of 1,000 kro- agricultural foreman). The number of Life went on at the farm in Sun- nor; buildings with forest and land children had been increased by the nanö. Through maps, photos, tax and in two different estates.10 Anders births of Elin Elisabeth (in 1876) and court records, etc., it has been pos- Fredrik was a hemmansägare and a Fredrik Emil (in 1878; the latter sible to follow the development of the skattebonde, which meant that he sadly drowned in Stora Skedvi in the farm during Anders Fredrik’s life- owned his land and paid the taxes summer of 1896). Others were to time. It consisted of two dwelling directly to the Crown. follow: Oscar Emanuel (in 1880), houses of different sizes. The smal- Anna Juliana (in 1883), Axel Albin ler one (which can be seen at the front Leaving for America (in 1888), and Gustaf Agdur (in 1892). of the “Forsslund” picture, p. 2) was added at some point after 1818. That Anders Fredrik and Anna Lisa were getting older. It seems to have been Poverty and hardship year the land was divided up between the farmers in Sunnanö in a new or- a natural decision, although a pro- What was life like in those days for der (laga skifte) and a detailed map bably very hard one to make, when an ordinary farming couple like An- of the peninsula, with all its build- they decided to leave their village in ders Fredrik and Anna Lisa? It is ings, was drawn up for this purpose. Torsång for a secure old age in Amer- difficult to imagine the hardship they must have gone through. A glimpse of how life would have been is given us by the parish book: in 1878, for example (the year of Fredrik Emil’s birth), Anders Fredrik and Anna Lisa were living in Fagersta (Stora Tuna). They were away from their family without other people to rely on for help. They lacked a social network and security. As Anders Fredrik was working long days, Anna Lisa gave birth and cared for the couple’s other three children, all under the age of five. What were the material conditions of the family? An interesting insight of how a rural home would have looked like in the 1870s and 1880s is provided by the inventories of estate of Anders Fredrik’s first wife, Stina This picture, ca 1915, shows daughter Johanna Ståhl in Falun, with husband and Andersdotter (1874), and his father, three sons. The boy in the middle, Bror Ragnar (1906-1992), is the author’s grandfather.
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 3 ica. Four of their children had already (Scandinavian-American Line) a previously located elsewhere, had emigrated: Carl Johan as early as week later. On the 6th of September been inaugurated in 1906 and had 1893, Oscar Emanuel in 1903, and they arrived in New York where they been provided with all the modern the two youngest boys, Axel Albin first were kept for observation due facilities. and Gustaf Agdur, in the spring of to medical reasons before they were 1910. They all settled down in Chi- admitted.12 The letters home cago. Two of the daughters stayed at It must have been a great adjust- A fascinating and unique insight to home: Elin Elisabeth in Mora (she ment for an elderly couple from a life in Chicago in the 1910s and 1920s married the painter August Vilhelm small village in Dalarna to adapt to – and how it was perceived by Swed- Språng, but sadly died in 1915, 38 their new life in the great and hectic ish immigrants – is given to us years old), and Johanna Sofia in Fa- city of Chicago. The fact that several through seven letters from various lun (she married the railway em- of their children were already there years between 1915 and 1923, writ- ployee Bror Gustaf Ståhl and had must have made it easier for them. ten by Anna Lisa to her son-in-law three sons). The third daughter, Anna A few weeks after the arrival, on the (August Vilhelm Språng) and her th Juliana, went to America on the same 26 of September, they became grandchildren in Mora.15 The letters ship as her parents. In total, seven members of the Austin Swedish Bap- are very touching in their love and of the nine family members left their tist Church, where they remained tenderness. With all their spelling native country. active until their deaths, 14 and 15 mistakes, trivial subjects, naviety, 13 years later. During their first eight and simple form, they give us infor- Destination Chicago years in America, Anders Fredrik (or mation that can’t be found elsewhere “Fredrick Erickson” as he was called The emigration from Torsång was in any of the official documents. The in his new country) and Anna Lisa smaller in comparison with that from most striking feature in the letters stayed at various addresses (at least other parishes in Dalarna. Of 1.3 is the deep religiosity and the im- two) in the city. In 1918, when the million people who left Sweden – mense thankfulness to God and to U.S. entered the First World War and 45,000 of them from Dalarna – it is the grandchildren in Mora for not the risk existed of their sons being estimated that just under 200 people having forgotten them. The sadness drafted, which would mean there was emigrated from Torsång.11 Anders of never being able to see them again no one at home to help them out, the Fredrik and Anna Lisa left their can be read between the lines. couple moved in to the Swedish Bap- home 1910 August 19 (according to a Despite this and the fact that life in tist Old People’s Home “Fridhem” in certificate given by the parish). They Chicago was very simple, neither Morgan Park14. Here they were ad- travelled via Gothenburg to Oslo, homesickness as such nor a desire to mitted on the 1st of March the same where they sailed on the Hellig Olav return to Sweden can be traced in the year. The home in Morgan Park, letters. They were happy where they were. According to the 1920 census, they were able to speak English, but they had not become naturalized. The letters give us details about contacts with Swedish friends, about the war and periods of high prices (there and at home), general hard- ship and moves, Anders Fredrik’s worsening deafness, updates about what the children in Chicago were doing, etc. We get a view of the harsh living conditions of the family, about Oscar Emanuel who lost his wife, leaving four small children, and Au- gust Vilhelm Språng who encoun- tered the same fate and had to raise six children on his own. Anna Lisa’s and Anders Fredrik’s health was deteriorating. In the last letter to the family in Mora, dated 1923 May 26, she couldn’t write it herself. Some- body at “Fridhem” had to help her with it. Anna Lisa expressed in the letter that she wouldn’t live for much Anders Fredrik and Anna Lisa with family members in Chicago, 1915/1916. longer. 4 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 1890, and 1900 and, for the latter part, 1910 and 1920) have also been used. 2) The exact date of birth hasn’t actually been possible to deter- mine. All the Swedish records, including the register of births, mention the 3rd of February as the date. Only the records of the Torsångs baptistförsamling state the 2nd of February as the date of birth. This date also occurs in all the American records; for instance, in the death certificate. To make the situation even more confusing, Anders Fredrik’s wife writes in a letter (dated the 7th of Dec. 1920) of the 2nd of February as his birthday. Did Anders Fredrik know himself what his correct date of birth was? A group picture (detail) from “Fridhem” taken in 1921. Anders Fredrik can be seen in the middle of the back row and Anna Lisa in front of him, to his right. 3) The village of Sunnanö was first mentioned in a record from 1368. Epilogue who, because of their common, The name means “south on the everyday lives, most likely would island.” (See Harry Ståhls Ort- The last years were spent at “Frid- namnen i Kopparbergslagen, hem.” The year after her last letter have remained among those millions of anonymous people in history if Stockholm 1960, p. 104.) In 1910 to Mora, Anna Lisa died 1924 Sep- approximately 100 people were liv- tember 23. As a last personal tragedy they hadn’t been brought back to life again by this article. An obituary of ing in the village of Sunnanö. The (among several) in his life, Anders other villages on the peninsula are Fredrik was to experience the death Anders Fredrik and Anna Lisa will end the story of their lives: “…now Nordanö and Viken. of his eldest daughter, Johanna Ståhl 4) Torsångs hembygdsförenings års- in Falun, barely two months later. At this amiable couple is at home with the Lord. They were united with the blad 1985: Folkbildning och skol- 80 years old, he finally died the undervisning i Torsång (tiden före following spring, on the 26th of March Austin congregation in 1910 and when they stayed among us, they 1893), by Thorild Ahlund, and Tor- 1925. He had survived two wives and sång’s parish records, skolrådets four children. Anders Fredrik died of were always a joy and comfort at our meetings. They were thoroughly protokoll och andra handlingar rö- organic heart disease, Anna Lisa of rande skolväsendet (K4, vol. 2 and diabetes. The couple were buried in devout and never a word of complaint could be heard from them, but 3). The latter source contains in- the Forest Home Cemetery in Chi- formation about Anders Fredrik´s cago (lot 19, sect. 57).16 instead, thanked God and thanked the minister and thanked everyone school attendance (grades, etc.). who came into their lives.” 5) Stora Tuna och Gustafs tingslags häradsrätt (protokoll vid extra förrättningar, A3, vol. 6). 6) Kriminalvårdsanstalten i Falun: Notes see for instance fångrullor (D2aa, 1) Material for this article has mainly vol. 15), kyrkoböcker (D2ba, vol. 8), What were Anders Fredrik and been gathered from different par- inkomna prästbetyg (E6, vol. 1) Anna Lisa like as people? In the pre- ish archives (Torsång, Stora Tuna, and fångarnas motböcker (G7, vol. served documents we get a picture Gustafs, Vika, Stora Kopparberg, 6). of them as a decent and hardworking Norrbärke, Grangärde, Falu Kris- 7) Inventories of estate of Stina An- couple, as a very kind couple who tine, and Mora), if no other source dersdotter (nr. 6, Torsångs höstting cared a lot for the people around is specifically mentioned. The ori- 1874) and of Erik Ersson (nr. 3, them, and as a couple with a strong ginal church records, court, and Torsångs vårting 1882) in Tor- faith, who were for a long period prison records are kept in the Re- sångs tingslags häradsrätt, boupp- engaged and active in their congre- gional Archives (Landsarkivet) in teckningar (F2, vol. 11 and 12). gation. As two human beings who Uppsala, Sweden. The Swedish 8) See Torsångs baptistförsamling wanted to do right for themselves and and American censuses (1880, (Elim) at Dalarnas Folkrörelse-
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 5 arkiv. Historik as well as mötes- parted from other parishes (such son, another great-grandchild, has protokoll (A1, vol. 1) and medlems- as Anders Fredrik´s five children) been a great help as well. The matrikel (D1). Anders Fredrik and are not included in this number. picture on the front cover and the Anna Lisa are listed as members With these people not taken into one of the farm from 1910 have nrs. 76 and 77. account, Torsång´s population was been taken from her photo collec- 9) In the inventory of estate of Erik reduced by approx. 14%. This tion. Other pictures have been Ersson from 1882, four other build- figure can be compared with other provided by American relatives: ings are mentioned: a barn, a parishes, such as Våmhus, which the one of the Elim chapel by Joyce storage building, a cattle shed, and lost 60% of its population. Aspinall, and the family picture a forage shed. The buildings were 12) The emigration documents are from Chicago by Ken Erickson, valued higher than the land. The found on the website Ancestry.com. both great-grandchildren of An- maps, which have been used to 13) The First Swedish Baptist ders Fredrik. A great thanks to study the history of the property Church of Austin was founded in these four people, and to others, in the 19th and 20th centuries, can 1891. The name was later changed who have contributed with mate- be downloaded on the website of to “Central Avenue Baptist rial to my research. lantmäteriet (the Swedish national Church” and existed until 1982. In 16) “ …nu äro dessa älskvärda ma- land survey). the membership records, Anders kar hemma hos Herren. De förena- 10) The main real estate was called Fredrik and Anna Lisa are listed des med Austin församlingen år Sub nr. 13 Sunnanö, Littra Na, as nrs. 469 and 470. The records 1910 och medan de bodde ibland 22:1. It was divided up in 1968. The were provided by the Swenson oss voro de alltid en glädje och tröst neighboring estate was Sunnanö Swedish Immigration Research vid våra sammankomster. De voro nr. 13, Littra N. The information Center (Augustana College, Rock genom gudfruktiga och aldrig hör- is taken from Falu domsagas södra Island, Illinois). des ett klagans ljud från dem utan tingslag: lagfartsboken (C1b, vol. 14) The official name of “Fridhem” fastmera, alltid, tack gode Gud och 27) and lagfartsprotokoll (A2a, vol. was “Home of Rest – The Swedish tack käre pastor och tack till alla 5, 8b, 20 and 28). The following Baptist Home for the Aged.” For som kom i deras närhet.” See För- paragraphs, including attach- the early history of the home, see samlingens banér, the monthly ments, are relevant: 133-134 Fridhem – a brief history of a noble newsletter of the Austin Swedish (1898), 110 (1904), 569-570 and work 1905-1930 (Chicago 1930), by Baptist Church, Chicago, April 606 (1916) and 103-105 (1924). The Eric Scherstrom. 1925. purchase was also mentioned in 15) The letters have kindly been pro- the newspaper Dalpilen on the 20th vided by Jan-Olov Språng, great- of May 1910. grandson of Anders Fredrik Eriks- The author: 11) See Torsångs hembygdsförenings son. Jan-Olov Språng has also Martin Ståhl, Sweden årsblad 1996: Utvandringen från been helpful with supplying many E-mail: Torsång, by Pär Nilsson/Harald of the pictures. Two of them can [email protected] Skölving. However, this number be seen here: the picture of Johan- must be seen as an absolute mini- na Ståhl and her family and the mum, since individuals who de- one from “Fridhem.” Margot Mats-
The Swedish American Line in an exhibition in Karlstad
At the Sweden America Center in The exhibition in Karlstad shows Karlstad, Sweden, there is now an all kinds of items with a connection exhibition about the Swedish Ame- to SAL, like a part of a cabin with a rican Line (SAL), the first direct line washstand, menus, and even spoons from Göteborg, Sweden to America.It that were gifts för 1st class passen- started in 1915 and made travels to gers. These items have been collected America much easier. One of the by Torsten Torstensson, Ljungskile. attractions of the SAL was the ambi- A database of some of the passen- tion to give even the 3rd class passen- gers (242.000 individuals) between gers fine accommodations, not like 1915–1950 can be found on the CD before, huge dormitories, but instead Emigranten Populär and at An- separate cabins. More than a million cestry.com. travelled by the SAL during the The exhibition closes at the end of company’s lifetime, which ended in the year 2011. 1975. (Sweden & America 2011/1)
6 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 News from the Swenson Center
The Dagmar and Nils William Olsson Research Fellowship
This annual fellowship helps defray costs for one person doing research for an extended period of time at the Center and was established by Nils William Olsson (1909–2007), the leading authority in the field of Swed- ish-American studies, and his wife Dagmar (1913–2008). The fellowship, which is in the amount of $2,500 (taxable income), is open to anyone doing academic re- search on any aspect of Swedish- American history. It is not intended The SAG editor Elisabeth Thorsell visiting with Nils William and Dagmar Olsson in to be used for genealogical research. their last home in Winter Park, FL, in April 2000. (Photo:Bengt Thorsell). We particularly encourage graduate to three-page proposal to the Swen- The deadline for applications is students and younger scholars to son Center outlining the proposed May 1, 2011. apply. The minimum stay required at research topic. The proposal should Send your applications to the Swenson Center is three weeks, also include a current curriculum vi- The Swenson Swedish Immigra- and the fellowship must be used tae, as well as a statement showing tion Research Center, within one year of notification. how the resources of the Swenson Augustana College Anyone interested in applying for Center are appropriate for the 639 38th Street the fellowship should submit a two- particular project. Rock Island, IL 61201-2296
Some past recipients of the Olsson Scholarship 2010 2007 2003 Dr. Brita Butler-Wall Mr. Christopher Cantwell Mr. Paul Lubotina Seattle, Washington Cornell University St. Louis University Women in the Bishop Hill Colony. Swedish Immigrants in Chicago and Swedes and other Ethnic groups on their Relationship to D.L. Moody. Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range. 2009 Ms. Erika Jackson-Eckerly 2006 2002 Michigan State University Mr. Christopher Jaffe Dr. Lars Nordström Scandinavian Preferred: Nordic Ethnic Northern Illinois University Beavercreek, Oregon Identity, Gender and Work within Chi- Swedes and Other Ethnic Groups in The Life and Work of Samuel Magnus cago, 1879-1933. Rockford, Illinois. Hill, a Pioneer Educator and Minister in Nebraska. 2008 2005 Ms. Rachel Gianni Abbott Ms. Agnieszka Stasiewicz 2002 University of Alaska Fairbanks Jagiellonian Univ., Krakow, Poland Ms. Malin Glimäng Folklore and Material Culture among Swedish Immigrant Children and Books University of Hawai'i Swedish Immigrants in late Nineteenth- Published for Them by the Augustana The History of Swedish Female Immi- Century Utah. Book Concern. gration.
2007 2004 Dr. Elizabeth Baigent Ms. Joanna Daxell Oxford University, U.K. Université de Sherbrooke, Canada The scholarship was first awarded in Swedish Immigrants in McKeesport,PA. Swedish Literature in North America. 1997.
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 7 Your link to your history!
NEW! NEW! The complete 1880 The Digital The Swedish Cen- Swedish Census is sus of 1990 – the available on a CD. Research Room way to find your liv- Millions of Swedes Here you can do research ing cousins. before the Great about people and their A DVD with mil- Emigration in the property, their life, work lions of Swedes 20 1880s! and taxes. years ago. See p. 24. Contact us at the ad- dress below to find out much more!
Tax records
The Tax records (mantalslängder) One of the released are here. prisoners in the From the 1640s SVAR prison to 1842! records. www.riksarkivet.se/svar
______SVAR Box 160, S-880 40 Ramsele, Sweden Phone: +46-10-476 77 50 Mail: [email protected] www.riksarkivet.se/svar
8 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 Handwriting Example XXVII
An official declaration of death that did not work Often, when looking for something, I declaration of his death was that his them in the Swedish official news- do not find that item in the records, half-sister Stina Lisa Krantz had paper, Post och Inrikes Tidningar, but discover something else, also of died in Västervik in 1903, and Carl and this had been done three times interest. Johan was her closest relative, BUT! during the fall of 1911. The above letter jumped out at me He had emigrated with wife and Evidently this newspaper was read when going though a court minute three children in 1881 from Try- in the U.S. as well, as somebody told book from the Tjust Häradsrätt (le- serum (Smål.), and nobody had heard Carl Johan that people were looking gal district) along the coast in Små- from him for many years. The law for him in Sweden. The next step for land. The book was from the Fall then required that a person should him was to write to a man he knew Meeting (Höstetinget) 1911, and the have been missing for 20 years or in Sweden and ask for advice on how letter was pasted into the records. It more before he could be declared to handle this matter, and that letter was from a man, Carl Johan Nilsson, dead. is the one I found. living in Perth Amboy, NJ, to some- He had had two sisters, but they It is not difficult to imagine the body in Sweden, but what was it were both dead long ago. One of them disappointment of the Swedish rela- doing in the court records? had four children, and they were the tives when they found out that the When reading more in the records ones that had applied to the court to missing uncle was no longer missing, it showed that this man was on the have Carl Johan and his family but very much alive and would claim verge of being officially declared dead declared dead. his inheritance. (dödförklarad), but evidently was Before the court could do this they still much alive. The cause for this had to publish an advertisement for Transcription on p. 23.
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 9 What did the emigrants pay for their tickets?
Some examples
BY ELISABETH THORSELL
The answer to this question depends agent for the Guion Line 1876-1877, and 80 pennies [öre], the equivalent on when the emigrant travelled, and then his brother Samuel took over of $43.40 in U.S. currency in 1883. how far. during the years 1878-1880. The railroad companies and the The Larsson archives have been 1899 shipping lines worked together, so it microfilmed and can be searched Tickets from Scandinavia to New was possible to buy a ticket directly through the Family History Library York with the White Star Line (Hvita from Målilla in Kalmar county, in Salt Lake City. There are thou- Stjern-Linjen) and the ships Britan- Sweden, to Red Wing, Minnesota. sands of letters from prospective nic, Germanic, or Cymric are sold in emigrants in the archive, asking for New York for $26. (Svenska Ameri- The emigrant agents prices and other things. kanska Pressen, Feb. 9, 1899.) The index to the Larsson letters is The big shipping lines had agents in to be found on the CD Emigranten the ports of departure. These could 1910 Populär from 2006. The letters be either Americans or Swedes. For Immigrant descendant Ann Berg- themselves will be published on a instance, the American Line had an strom of San Anselmo, CA, wrote “My DVD in the near future. agent called F.P. Denovan from 1874, grandmother, Mathilda Bergström of and the Allan Line a man named Piteå, travelled from Gothenburg to David Lyon 1868-1871, who was Some examples of ticket Seattle, Washington, for the sum of succeeded by C. J. Möllersvärd 1871- prices $106.50. She (and her 1-year-old son) 1874, who in his turn was followed departed Gothenburg on the 11th of 1883 May to Hull or Grimsby in England, by J.P. Fehrlund. Immigrant descendant Kaye Wachter These agents in the port cities had then by rail to Liverpool, and on to wrote: Quebec, Canada. She then went by sub-agents all over the country, often My Swedish relatives left Gothen- school-masters, who were able to Canadian Pacific Railroad to the burg in April 1883 for St. Peter, MN, state of Washington. increase their meager income by on the S.S. Romeo of the Wilson Line selling tickets for the shipping lines. She travelled on the SS Victorian, to England and the S.S. Catalonia of a ship of the Allan Line.” In this way it was possible to find easy the Cunard Line from Liverpool to access to tickets for America without Boston, MA. even leaving the home parish and 1923 The fare from Gothenburg to St. In 1923 a ticket from Göteborg to traveling to the nearest city. Peter, MN, paid to Charles A. Berg- It was also possible to write to the New York cost 450 kronor for 1 adult. lund, general agent for the Cunard In 1923 a ticket from Göteborg to general agent in the port cities and Line in Gothenburg, was $28 for an ask for ticket prices and conditions Kansas City cost $256 for 1 adult and adult, $14 for a 7-year-old child and 1 child. Just the boat ticket cost $202. in the U.S. or Canada. The agents $1.40 for an infant under the age of spent lots of money on advertising, (Above examples from the exhi- one year. The total for one adult and bition at Ellis Island, New York.) so their names became well-known all two children was 208 crowns [kronor] over. Very few archives have been saved from the agents business activities. By chance one was discovered in the 1950s in a dilapidated barn in the vicinity of Göteborg. This was the archive of the Bröderna Larsson [Larsson brothers] who were very active as emigrant agents during the 1870s. Elis Larsson worked as an
10 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 The ticket for Matilda Bergström and her little son from Göteborg to Seattle in 1910. Traveller beware! “3:o Persons who have been sen- widows accompanied by underage tenced according to law for dis- children, and orphans under the age On the back of the ticket above was honorable crimes, which show moral of 16. But such persons may be some information in Swedish about decay. Among those crimes do not allowed to land if they have testi- persons that were not allowed entry count political cases. monies from relatives that they are to the U.S. The text reads: “4:o Persons who favor polygamy willing to accept and provide for “Read this carefully before depar- (Mormons). them. Such a testimony must, to be ture from Göteborg! “5:o Persons who have promised to accepted, be notarized before a nota- “According to the American Law of do labor in the U.S. ry public in America.” Immigration the following classes of “6:o Persons who are dependant on [Editor’s note] These rules are not strangers are denied entrance to the public care, are unable to work, or are that different from those that one has to Unites States, viz.: so destitute that they are liable to sign on a document when coming into the “1:o Persons who are idiots or out become public charges after arrival U.S. today.] of their minds. at their destination. “2:o Persons who are suffering In the last point are also included The Emigration Survey from contagious diseases, amongst elderly men and women, that is, over Not until more than 50 years had which now count tuberculose ill- 60 years of age, cripples or deformed passed since the start of the Big nesses as consumption, the Egyptian persons, unmarried pregnant women Emigration did the Swedish govern- eye disease (trachoma), and others. accompanied by illegitimate children, ment begin to ponder the conse- Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 11 quences of the country losing so Below we have information about many young and able individuals. In the ticket prices for children around Exchange rates 1907 the parliament decided to do a 1908. The White Star line charged detailed survey of the emigration. half the price for an adult ticket for This table shows how many kronor This survey, called Emigrations- children ages 1–12, and only 15 kro- that one had to pay to buy $1. utredningen, resulted in a set of 7 nor for children below the age of 1 printed books, with much interesting year. Cunard was 5 kronor more Year Kronor information, which will be discussed expensive for infants, and it seems 1865 2.33 1893 3.76 in the next SAG. the other lines followed their prices. 1866 2.61 1894 3.74 Supposedly the basic material for Just the Allan Line had some differ- 1867 2.69 1895 3.74 the survey should be kept at the ences: children 1–10 years half ticket, 1868 2.67 1896 3.76 Swedish National Archives (Riksar- and below 1 year cost £1, which was 1869 2.82 1897 3.76 kivet) in Stockholm. However, on a the same amount as 18.22 kronor. 1870 3.25 1898 3.78 recent visit there it was found that The age of the children was im- 1871 3,32 1899 3.78 most of that material was lost! portant. It happened that a child had 1872 3.31 1900 3.77 Only a few archival boxes still to stay home, as the family could not 1873 3.27 1901 3,76 exist, but they had some good infor- afford a full ticket for him/her at the 1874 3.37 1902 3,76 mation on the ticket prices from Gö- same time. 1875 3.29 1903 3,77 teborg to the U.S. 1876 3.38 1904 3,76 1877 3.61 1905 3,76 1878 3.75 1906 3,79 1879 3.78 1907 3,79 1880 3.78 1908 3.77 1881 3.80 1909 3.75 1882 3.77 1910 3.75 1883 3.78 1911 3.75 1884 3.78 1912 3.75 1885 3.78 1913 3.75 1886 3.77 1914 3.80 1887 3.78 1915 3.86 1888 3.76 1916 3.50 1889 3.76 1917 3.13 1890 3.77 1918 3.09 1891 3.76 1919 3.96 1892 3.75 1920 4.92 Source: http://www.historia.se/
This list shows the prices for tickets for children aged below 1 year, and between 1 year and 12 years for the various shipping lines. (Source: Emigrationsutredningen).
12 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 This list was also found in the records of the Emigrationsutredningen. It shows the ticket prices in kronor, and is dated Dec. 5 1908, signed by Axel Lagergren, the emigrant agent for the Cunard Line. Most of the ships mentioned are found in the Morton Allan Directory of European Passenger Steamship Arrivals (Reprint by Genealogical Publishing Company 1998). This book shows ports of arrivals.
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 13 Bits & Pieces
Recent records are closed to genealogists in Finland According to a press statement from P. T. Kuusiluoma, the general mana- ger of the Genealogical Society of Fin- land (Genealogiska Samfundet i Fin- The American Swedish land), the Evangelical Church of Fin- The Swedes in Canada Institute will close land has decided to close all records The American Swedish Institute in younger than 100 years to all genea- project goes on Minneapolis, MN, will be closed to the logical researchers. The only way to Elinor Barr, who is the chief writer public during the period of May– get information is to write to the and researcher for this project, October due to the construction of the parish offices. Mr. Kuusiluoma also recently sent out an update in which new premises, and additional work mentioned that genealogists, asking she told that the final manuscript is to the Turnblad mansion. for information, have to pay 30 Euros/ now under consideration by the Uni- April 2011: Groundbreaking cere- hour (about $42), but people just versity of Toronto Press. mony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April wishing for a certificate for some le- She hopes that the book will ap- 16. Site work begins. gal reason, only have to pay about $6. pear “in real life” before the end of May 2011: Construction for the (Mail conversation between Mr. Kuusi- 2011. luoma and the SAG Editor March 2011). Nelson Cultural Center begins. Genline’s pictures now Lower level renovation begins; mu- Midsummer will come! seum closes to the public (May 2), and on Ancestry many ASI activities are relocated. And you can celebrate it at Gam- The almost 20 million pictures at Link on p. 30! melgården in Scandia, MN, on the Swedish company Genline are now 25th of June. Link on p. 30! available on ancestry.com and Gen- First Great Achievement Christina Johansson line will slowly disappear from your Award presented to Siri screens. The pictures are still the Eliason leaves Swenson Center same, but the viewer is ances- Swedish Council of America is proud Christina Johansson, who for many try.com’s and works a bit different, to present its first SCA Great A- years has been the librarian at the but should not be difficuelt to use. chievement Award to Mrs. Siri Elia- Swenson Center in Rock Island, IL, To work with the pictures you need son. The award will be presented in has now decided to move back to her to have a World Deluxe subscription. conjunction with the SCA board native Sweden with her family. meeting in Portland, OR, at an Christina starts a new job at the The 2011 Peter Cassel awards banquet on Saturday, April Chalmers University of Technology Days in Sweden 9, 2011. Her involvement with the Library in Göteborg in May. SAG Every two years the Peter Cassel Days promotion of Swedish business and wishes her the best of luck in her new are arranged in Kinda and Ydre com- culture includes leadership roles life, but she will be missed! munities in southern Östergötland to within the Swedish American Cham- The 2011 New Zealand commemorate the emigration of Pe- ber of Commerce, the American ter Cassel and his followers in 1845 Scandinavian Foundation NY, Cali- census is cancelled from Kisa, and of Andrew Peterson fornia Lutheran University, and the The New Zealand government has in 1850 from Västra Ryd to Minne- Scandinavian American Cultural decided to cancel the planned 2011 sota, where he wrote his famous diary. and Historical Foundation CA, along census for the country. Due to the big The America Week in Kinda and Ydre with Swedish Council of America. earthquake on the Southern Island, starts on the 22nd of July, and is She also served as honorary Consul there would have been too many followed on the weekend of the 23rd General of Sweden in San Francisco. gaps in the census, and other things and 24th by many events. More details are more important now. in the next SAG. (SCA eUpdate, March 2011) 14 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 The Old Picture
On this page we publish old pictures sent in by our SAG readers. If you have a picture you want to see on this page, either send a digital copy, scanned in at no less than 300 dpi and saved as a jpg or tif file, or send a good paper copy to the editor at the address shown on the inside cover. Do not send any originals, as we can not accept responsibility for them. Neither can we promise to publish all pictures.
This photo was sent in by SAG rea- der P. Robert Willey, Bloomington, Illinois. His e-mail is
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 15 From Hälsingland to Bloody Shiloh and beyond
A Swedish - American farm boy in the American Civil War. Part 1
BY PAUL SWARD
When I began my foray into Swedish Sweden, on May 26, 1842, to Bonden genealogy, I discovered that I had a Per Jönsson Engström and Carin number of distant relatives that had Andersdotter.5 Church records indi- served in the American Civil War. In cate that Per Engström with his wife searching for background material, and five children departed from the I found that much had been written parish on July 15, 1853, for North about German and Irish immigrant America.6 In one of Anders’s obitu- soldiers, but I found very little on aries, it states that the family sailed Swedes. However, enough has been from Gävle to New York arriving written to provide a basic under- after eighty days at sea.7 standing of Swedish-American in- The Engström family journeyed to volvement in the Civil War. In Illinois where they joined the Bishop particular, I found Roger Kvist’s Hill Colony that had been founded articles on the Swedish Union by the Janssonist religious sect. Guards,1 and the Galesburg Light Bishop Hill Church records indicate Guards,2 as well as his article on the that Per Jönsson Engström and social history of Swedish-Illinois family became members in 1853.8 Per units in the Civil War,3 very helpful. Engström and family appear in the Those articles along with Nels 1860 Illinois Federal Census with the Hokanson’s work on Swedish immi- last name of Angstrom, farming in grants and Olson, Schön, and Eng- Weller Township (Bishop Hill Post A tintype kept in the family, believed to berg’s History of Swedes in Illinois, Office), Henry County, Illinois. At this be Andrew Engstrom. served as a foundation to begin my point Anders is identified as Andrew. 4 been organized in Galesburg, Illinois, inquiry. and consisted exclusively of Swedes, Subsequently, I obtained the mili- Swedish-American volunteered their services. Because tary and pension records of the Swed- of the overwhelming response of ish relatives that I had identified who Volunteers On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln volunteers, this company was not had served in the Civil War. As I called into service. However, a second examined these records, one indi- issued a call for 75,000 volunteers to serve for three months to repress the call occurred when Congress author- vidual in particular captured my ized 300,000 volunteers for three interest. rebellion. By the end of the war approximately 2,250 Swedes had years service. The Galesburg Com- enlisted in the Union army. The state pany was reformed. However, many Andrew Engstrom of Illinois alone provided in excess of of the original members had joined (Anders Engström) 1,300 Swedish soldiers.9 In response other units. At muster the new com- Anders Engström was born in Viken to the first call for volunteers, the pany consisted of 97 Swedes and two 10 #9, Alfta Parish, Gävleborg län, Galesburg Light Guards, which had Germans. Andrew Engstrom enlisted in this company on September 1, 1861. The original enlistment document is not part of the record. The company descriptive book is unclear as to where he enlisted. Civil War records are often incomplete or contradictory. Andrew is shown as enlisting at Anders’s birth records from 1842 May 26 in Alfta, Hälsingland, Sweden. Bishop Hill/Wataga, Illinois. The
16 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 correct information appears to be Battle of Shiloh.13 Union regiments collapsed under the that his residence was Bishop Hill On February 6th the 43rd Illinois Rebel attack. The 49th Illinois Regi- and that he enlisted in Wataga. was ordered to join General Grant’s ment, which was on the 43rd Illinois’s However, because of this confusing expedition against Fort Henry and immediate left, panicked and fled the document, his residence is listed Fort Donelson in Tennessee. Fort field. Company C as part of the 2nd incorrectly in the Illinois Adjutant Henry surrendered after being at- Battalion of the 43rd Illinois was or- General’s Report as Wataga, Illinois. tacked by naval gunboats before dered to fill the gap. For approxi- The company descriptive book fur- Grant’s army came into play. Grant mately ten minutes the 2nd Battalion ther indicates that Andrew was nine- moved on to attack Fort Donelson, stood their ground although heavily teen years old, 5’7" inches in height, but the 43rd Illinois remained at Fort outnumbered. was a farmer, had a “flatered” com- Henry to guard the transports and Eventually the Confederate on- plexion, dark hair, and dark eyes.11 supplies. This assignment did not sit slaught forced them to fall back upon Andrew is appointed as a musician well with the boys of Company C: the rest of the regiment. At this point, (drummer) and is mustered in at “This proved a great disappointment one of boys of Company C had been Camp Butler in Springfield, Illinois, to many of the Swedish boys who had killed and three others were severely on September 5, 1861. The company an apprehension that the war would wounded. The 43rd Illinois held its was designated as Company C of the be over in a short time and they position for a time, but soon it was 43rd Illinois Infantry. The 43rd Illinois would have to return home without forced back when flanked by Con- was, with the exception of Company having taken part in any real bat- federate forces. It reformed approxi- C, primarily composed of and com- tle.”13 Unfortunately, this was a need- mately one thousand feet from its manded by German-Americans. less concern. Company C and An- original position leaving 36 dead Company C was designated the flag drew Engstrom were about to be soldiers behind. company for the regiment.12 caught in the maelstrom of one of the The 43rd Illinois held this position most horrific battles fought in the repulsing several determined as- American Civil War. saults until it and two other regi- ments were the only Union units Bloody Shiloh remaining on this part of the bat- On April 6, 1862, Company C was tlefield. The enemy was on their 16 encamped near Pittsburg Landing, flanks and in their rear. Another Tennessee, and a short distance from Swedish boy of Company C had lost a small church named Shiloh. The his life and others had been severely rd 43rd Illinois was assigned to the 3rd wounded. The 43 Illinois retreated Brigade of General McClernand’s by a circuitous route of about one Division of General Grant’s Army of mile and was able to unite with other the Tennessee. The regiment had Union forces. From this position they been there for three weeks and every repulsed three other frenzied char- ges and stood firm until nightfall.17 A Union infantry drum. morning for the last week the Colonel of the regiment had rousted his men On the second day of the battle the A Swedish drummer boy early. Apparently they made so much situation reversed. Significant Union noise that there had been frequent reinforcements had arrived and the goes to war complaints to General McClernand Confederates were driven from the rd On October 13th the regiment was from other units.14 The regiment’s battlefield. The 43 Illinois saw com- ordered to St. Louis where they were early rising was fortuitous on this bat on the second day, but not of the given old Austrian muskets. Prior to day. As the soldiers of Company C same intensity. On the third day the being sent to Otterville, Missouri, were awaiting orders to form ranks Confederates retreated to Corinth, they were issued old Harpers Ferry that morning, volleys of musketry Mississippi. The Battle of Shiloh re- and English Tower muskets. These fire were heard coming from the sulted in 13,047 Union soldiers being weapons had been altered from flint- picket line. Confederate General killed, wounded, or captured. The lock to percussion guns. This was an Johnston and his 44,000 soldiers of Confederate forces suffered 10,699 18 improvement, but still substandard the Army of Mississippi had started casualties. for the era. The regiment arrived at a surprise attack. These losses were stunning con- Otterville on November 4th and The 43rd Illinois was one of the few sidering that the losses from Amer- remained there until they were or- regiments that was prepared to meet ica’s three previous wars – the Revo- dered back to St. Louis on January the enemy. Parenthetically, Andrew’s lution, the War of 1812, and the Mexi- 19 20, 1862. After their arrival in St. obituary claimed that he was the first can War totaled only 23,741. The rd Louis, they were issued .54 caliber drummer to beat the long roll (call 43 Illinois had seen 49 of its soldiers Belgian rifles. This was an excellent to arms) that day.15 Quickly many killed and 157 wounded in the bloody weapon and served them well at the fighting at Shiloh. Three Swedes of Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 17 The Shiloh monument of the Illinois 43rd regiment. medical treatment took their toll on the average soldier. In addition, Union soldiers – and in particular Swedish-born soldiers – were unused to the southern climate. Quite often they would be encamped near or be required to slog through malarial bottom land or swamps. Prior to Shiloh, six Swedes of Com- pany C had died and one had been discharged for disability unrelated to combat. Before the end of 1862 an- other eleven soldiers were discharged for disability and five more had died. Additionally, another eight were dis- charged for the wounds that they had received in combat. Of the 99 soldiers that began with Company C, 15 were dead and 20 others had been dis- charged for wounds, illness, or in- juries.21
A turning point in the war – siege of Vicksburg The 43rd Illinois participated in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi, which resulted in the capture of that city on May 30th, 1862. The 43rd Illinois spent the next year in southern Ten- nessee and northern Mississippi. The regiment was sent on frequent expe- ditions to counter Confederate troop movements or intercept Rebel raid- ers. In one particular brisk action the 43rd Illinois engaged the forces of the famous Confederate cavalry general, Company C had been killed and Illness, injury, and death Nathan Bedford Forrest. It occurred fourteen had been severely wounded. The sad fact of life in the Union army in mid-December near Jackson, Ten- The Captain of Company C, Olof was that far more men died from nessee. The 43rd Illinois was part of a Edvall, had received a mortal wound illness or accidents than due to com- force that had been sent to intercept on the second day. He died a month bat. This was also true for Company Forrest who had been conducting one later.20 Fortunately, Andrew Eng- C. Almost constant exposure to the of his spectacular raids behind Union strom survived the bloodbath of elements, frequent marches in in- lines. Although unsuccessful in Shiloh apparently unscathed. clement weather, improper nutrition, stopping Forrest’s raid, the 43rd Illi- poor sanitation, and 19th century nois and 61st Illinois repulsed a
18 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 performed this function until per- haps as late as the beginning of 1864. By the end of 1863, three addi- tional men were mustered into Com- pany C, all Swedes, but this did not compensate for the additional losses. Another five Swedes had been dis- charged for disabilities, two others had been reassigned to the Invalid Corps, and another four had died.24 Andrew reenlists Due to the considerable losses the 43rd Illinois had incurred, the regi- ment was reorganized in September 1864. Companies A, B, and C were consolidated into a new Company A. This new company was officered by the Swedish officers from Company C and the majority of soldiers in this new company were the Swedish boys from Company C. In November of 1863 there were nine months remaining of the three- year enlistment. The boys in the new Company A were offered a thirty day furlough and transportation back home if they reenlisted. Additionally, The Union troops enter Vicksburg on 1863 July 4. (Picture from National Geographic, they would receive a $400 bounty, vol. 124/1, July 1963). paid when they were mustered out, if they reenlisted. Most of the sur- cavalry charge by Forrest’s troopers, Across the Mississippi viving members of the old Company inflicting heavy casualties on the After the surrender of Vicksburg, the C reenlisted. Andrew reenlisted on Rebels and only suffering two wound- 43rd Illinois was transported to He- November 18th, 1863, for another ed men. lena, Arkansas, to be part of an ex- three years. An actual copy of his On May 1, 1863, the regimental pedition to capture Little Rock, Ar- reenlistment is extant. This docu- records indicate that Andrew Eng- kansas. The Union forces under gen- ment indicates that Andrew was born strom was relieved of his previous eral Steele forced the Confederates in “Helsingland,” Sweden, that he duty as a drummer and became a to flee Little Rock on September 1, was twenty-one years old, and a far- regular private. For the remainder of 1863. Although the first unit to enter mer. Of special interest is that An- the war Andrew would carry a mus- Little Rock was a cavalry regiment, drew did not sign his name, but ket. the 43rd Illinois was allegedly the first “made his mark” which served as a Also in May 1863, the 43rd Illinois infantry regiment to enter the city signature.25 It is unknown whether Regiment became part of the Vicks- upon its capture. Andrew’s motive for reenlistment burg Campaign. They boarded a It is interesting to note that the was patriotism, camaraderie, or the steamboat and traveled up the Yazoo well-known Swedish-American Colo- money. River to challenge a small Confed- nel Hans Mattson, commanding the The furlough began in February erate force, commanded by General 3rd Minnesota Infantry Regiment, 1864. While back in Illinois, Company Wirt Adams, which was threatening also made that claim for his regi- A gained 30 new recruits all of which General Grant’s supply line neces- ment.23 The 43rd Illinois was detailed were Swedes. sary to maintain the siege at Vicks- to serve as provost guard in Little To be continued. burg. After landing near Satartia, Rock. The provost guard served as Mississippi, the 43rd Illinois and other Notes: the army’s police force, (although this units drove the Confederates from 1 seems a curious assignment for a Kvist, Roger. “The Swedish Union the area, effectively ending the regiment consisting primarily of Guards of Bishop Hill During the threat. Until Vicksburg fell, the 43rd native speaking German and Swed- Civil War,” Swedish American Illinois was encamped at Haines ish soldiers). It appears that they Genealogist (SAG), Vol. XVI, No. 3, Bluff protecting the supply line.22 September 1996.
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 19 2 Kvist, Roger. “The Galesburg Light 10 Kvist. “The Galesburg Light 22 Report of the Adjutant General of Guards During the Civil War,” Guards During the Civil War.” the State of Illinois Containing SAG, Vol. XVII, No. 2, June 1997. 11 Andrew Engstrom’s Compiled Reports for the Years 1861 – 1866, 3 Kvist, Roger. “A Social History of the Military Service Record, National Springfield, 1901. Swedish Ethnic Units from Illinois Archives and Records Administra- 23 Bearss, Edwin. The Campaign For in the Civil War,” The Swedish- tion. Vicksburg, Dayton, 1986. American Historical Quarterly, 12 Olson, Schön, and Engberg. 24 Olson, Schön, and Engberg. Vol. L, No. 1, January 1999. 13 Ibid. 25 Report of the Adjutant General of 4 Olson, Schön, and Engberg. History 14 Ibid. the State of Illinois Containing of the Swedes in Illinois, Chicago 15 Hicken, Victor. Illinois in the Civil Reports for the Years 1861–1866, 1908. War, Urbana, 1966. Springfield, 1901. 5 Alfta Parish, Gävleborg län, Födel- 16 Unknown Nebraska newspaper, selängd (Birth records). 1915. 6 Alfta Parish, Gävleborg län, Husför- 17 Sword, Wiley. Shiloh: Bloody April, hörslängd (Cl. survey AI:15a:228). New York, 2001. The author: 7 Unknown Kansas newspaper, 1915. 18 Olson, Schön, and Engberg. Paul D. Sward 8 Bishop Hill Colony Church Mem- 19 Sword. E-mail
The oldest U.S. veteran of the WWI has passed away
Frank Buckles, who drove an Army ambulance in France in 1918 and came to symbolize a generation of embattled young Americans as the last of the World War I doughboys, died on Sunday 27 Feb. 2011 at his home in Charles Town, W. Va. He was 110. His death was announced by a family spokesman, David DeJonge, The Associated Press said. He was only a corporal and he never got closer than 30 or so miles from the Western Front trenches, but Mr. Buckles became something of a national treasure as the last living er, hearing that that was the quick- The last known of the nearly 5 link to the two million men who est path to service in France. million American veterans of World joined the American Expeditionary He traveled widely over the years, War I, Frank Buckles, was laid to rest Forces in France in “the war to end working for steamship companies, at Arlington National Cemetery. all wars.” Frank Woodruff Buckles and he was on business in Manila According to media there are now was born Feb. 1, 1901, on a farm near when the Japanese occupied it follow- only two veterans from the “Great Bethany, Mo. He was living in Oak- ing the attack on Pearl Harbor in War” still alive. wood, Okla., when America entered December 1941. He was imprisoned They are the seaman Claude World War I and he tried to enlist in by the Japanese, losing more than 50 Choules, born in Britain, and now liv- the Marine Corps at age 16, having pounds, before being liberated by an ing in Australia, where he is the old- been inspired by recruiting posters. American airborne unit in February est living man. The other survivor is The Marines turned him down as 1945. British Florence Green (née Patter- underage and under the required After retiring from steamship son) who joined the Women's Royal weight. The Navy didn’t want him work in the mid-1950s, Mr. Buckles Air Force in September 1918 at the either, saying he had flat feet. But the ran a cattle farm in Charles Town, age of 17,[2][3] where she served as Army took him in August 1917 after and he was still riding a tractor there an Officer's Mess Steward [waitress]. he had lied about his age, and he at age 104. Both survivors were born in 1901. volunteered to be an ambulance driv-
20 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 More on the Tigerhjelm family
In SAG 3-4/10 there was on p. 30 an ried in Elverum, Norway, on 20 Au- had an illegitimate daughter, Julie, article about a Tigerhjelm family, gust 1860. In the marriage records born Nov. 1860 in Stange, in Hed- whose members had been buried in Carl Petter names his father as the mark Fylke. Vasa, Goodhue County, in Minnesota. lieutenant David Axel Tigerhjelm. In the history of the noble Tiger- Mr. Tigerhjelm and his wife, who was Carl Petter and Valborg are also hjelm family there is a lieutenant Norwegian, had spent time in Nor- found in the moving-in records for David Tigerhjelm, who was born in way and been married there. I did not Elverum, and he is listed as a “medico 1805, and who in 1830 married Eleo- try to go into the Norwegian records, philosophie candidatus” which can be nora Elisabeth Nordengren. Their but a SAG reader, Chris Bingefors, translated as a bachelor of medicine. first child was born in 1831. So if this who is experienced in those, has He is listed as coming from Göteborg, David is the father of Carl Petter, found some additional information. and Valborg from some unreadable then he was born out of wedlock; his She tells that Carl Petter Tiger- place. birth notice has not yet been found. hjelm and Valborg Larsen had mar- Chris also found that Carl Petter The story continues.
Marriage records for Elverum parish, Norway, showing the marriage of Carl Petter and Valborg. (Picture fron Digitalarkivet.no)
Old Swedish news and much more is online – Filmarkivet.se
The Swedish Film Institute and and comedies; sometimes together informational films commissioned by Kungliga Biblioteket (National Li- with a somewhat longer fiction film. corporations and public institutions, brary of Sweden) launched a new The actuality films – travelogues commercials, and films produced as web site during the winter. On this from exotic places as well as scenes part of election campaigns. you have the opportunity to see of local events – continued to be a On filmarkivet.se you will also be unique archival moving image mate- dominant part of film programs for able to access Swedish amateur films rials that otherwise are rarely ac- years. Sport events, royalty, exposi- depicting everyday life as well as cessed: mainly shorts, non-fiction tions, market scenes, and demon- including footage of historically films, newsreels, and commercials; strations were among the most fre- significant events. films that reflect the transformation quent topics. Chronicles of work and The films are all in Swedish, but of Swedish society over the last leisure throughout Sweden were there are also many silent movies century. Some 300 films were avail- very popular subjects, and city after (stumfilm). able when the site was launched in city were given a cinematic portrait February 2011, a figure that will dou- depicting the street life, railway ble before the end of the year. stations, schools, parks, and histori- The first years of cinema was cal monuments. synonymous with the magic of pro- Around 1911 staged fiction films jecting moving images; of rendering started to be the main attraction in life to dead matter. The first Swedish cinemas, but non-fiction films con- film, Konungens af Siam landstig- tinued to be screened as accompa- ning vid Logårdstrappan, (The King nying pieces. A new phenomena, the of Siam landing at the Logårds- weekly newsreel, started to appear trappan) was shot in 1897 and ran and would continue to have a place for 20 seconds, depicting the arrival in cinemas for more or less half a of the King of Siam at the Royal Pa- century without changing much in lace in Stockholm. In the years that design or structure. King Gustaf V and his daughter-in-law, followed at the turn of the last cen- It is mainly these categories of crown princess Louise, arrive at the tury, films available for public view- films that are now made available at Stockholm exposition in 1930. ing were a mixture of short nature filmarkivet.se, along with other films, footage from significant events, theatrically released films such as See link on page 30!
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 21 SwedGen Tour is coming again!
For several years now a group of Kathy Meade of Chicago will also join Schedule of lectures Swedish genealogists has toured the the group. U.S. during the fall. They have met They are all very experienced, both * Saturday, September 10, 2011 - with Swedish-American local groups in Swedish and U.S. genealogy. Chicago, IL and given öectures on Swedish At every place the group will lead topics and also provided one-on-one a Swedish genealogy research day * Sunday, September 11, 2011 - Rock help to find the ancestral places in that will include presentations and Island, IL Sweden. demonstrations on how to use the Now the group is coming back to various resources for Swedish genea- * Saturday, September 17, 2011 - the U.S. in September. This time the logical and historical research. There Denver, CO group consists of Anna-Lena Hult- will be presentations on Swedish man, of Hössna, Anneli Andersson, genealogical online resources, Swed- * Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - Salt of Mellerud, Charlotte Börjesson, of ish genealogical CDs and Swedish Lake City, UT Göteborg, and Gunilla Didriksson, emigration. of Lindesberg, and hopefully some- More information is found at the * Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - one from the Swedish Lantmäteri- web site, see page 30. Salt Lake City, UT verket (General Surveyors Office).
First table: Charlotte Börjesson and a patron, second table: Anna-Lena Hultman and a patron, third table: Anneli Andersson and a patron (not visible). Photo from the 2009 Fall Research Seminar at the Swedish Genalogical Society of Minnesota, in South St. Paul. (Photo by Ray Kleinow).
22 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 The solution of the Handwriting Example XXVII
Transcription
First page: Second page: [Disregard the first line, it is just notes till vem vi skall venda from the court officials]. oss för att utfå arvet, Here comes the letter: var snell och skriv till Perth Amboy N. J. oss. vi vill så jerna Mr. A.V. Begrggren skriva till eder ijen. Besta Broder glad att få eder address Broder P. E. Engberg teknar en Broder var hos oss i dag och underrettade mig att min Carl J. Nilson syster Kristina [född Krantz], gift med 414 Washington Street Johansson i Vestervik är död det viste vi Perth Amboy N. J. ej. Var snell och låt oss veta Translation First page: Second page: Perth Amboy N. J. we should write to get Mr. A. V. Berggren our inheritance. Please Dear Brother, write to us. We want so much Brother P. E. Engberg to write to you again. came to our house today Happy to get your address and told me that my signed by a Brother sister Kristina, born Krantz, married to Johansson in Västervik Carl J. Nilson had died, which we did not know. 414 Washington Street Please let us know to whom Perth Amboy N. J.
Comments: Carl addresses the man he is writing from when the adver- to as “Broder”, but he is not a brother tisement was published but in spirit, as Carl did not have for the third time, which brothers, and it is not a brother-in- happened in October law either. Maybe they belonged to 1911. the same fraternal order? The Inter- It not yet known how national Order of Good Templars, for much money there was in instance had many lodges in Sweden. the sister’s estate, nor if The advertisement for the missing Carl and his family got family of Carl Johan Nilsson Krantz anything. But a genea- was found in the official newspaper logical research is never Post och Inrikes tidningar already in finished, so maybe an- 1910, and it was stated that the other issue of SAG will missing persons should get in touch tell what happened next. with the court “within night and day” Post- och Inrikes Tidningar 7 Sept. 1910. (Photo from microfilm, which explains the bad quality). Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 23 Book Reviews Here you will find information about interesting books on the immigration experience, genealogical manuals, books on Swedish customs, and much more. We welcome contacts with SAG readers, suggestions on books to review perhaps. If you want to review a book yourself, please contact the Book Review Editor, Dennis L. Johnson, at <[email protected]> or Dennis Johnson, 174 Stauffer Road, Bucktown Crossing, Pottstown, PA 19465, so he knows what you are working on. Cloquet where it was sorted and cut perienced at the skills needed. The In the into lumber to meet the enormous loggers were new and many did not demand from growing Midwestern yet speak English. northern cities. Much of the lumber was In vivid detail, the author sets the shipped from the nearby port of scene for his memoirs by describing Duluth to Chicago, Detroit, and many the area, the logging business, and forests other cities on the Great Lakes. their life in Cloquet. The first chap- The author’s father was one of the ters deal with getting through the We Made It Through the Winter, A many workers who came to Cloquet winter without a father present. Memoir of Northern Minnesota Boy- to work in the logging industry. He Their house, the big wood-burning hood, by Walter O’Meara, Minnesota would spend most of the winters up stove, their kitchen, foods and food Historical Society Press, 1974, 128 in the woods, while his family stayed preservation, his chores, an icy cold pages, softcover, ill. Amazon.com, in Cloquet without him, then re- outhouse, and all that was needed to 1987, $13.25 plus shipping. turned in the spring to work in the survive the subzero temperatures of big mills, making lumber out of the northern Minnesota, and the trials This is a delightfully appealing mem- logs cut in the winter. The O’Meara’s of deep winter portray the typical oir of a nine-year-old boy living in a were mostly Irish, but the loggers family’s struggles to survive in this small logging town in northern Min- were from many other ethnic groups, time period. nesota in the year 1906. The town many of them newly arrived immi- The coming of spring changes their was Cloquet, about fifteen miles west grants. The lumber company owners life completely. His father returns of Duluth on the St. Louis River. This and bosses were largely English and home, school is out, and the fun times book was especially appealing to this Scots-Irish, or German, having been of summer for a young boy are de- reviewer since I, too, lived in Cloquet in America longer and more ex- scribed in rich, engaging prose. The for a few years, 1938-1942. I was day can begin going barefoot, fishing, about his age, but lived there some hunting rabbits, exploring, and 35 years later. The town was sup- generally enjoying the outdoors; it posedly named after an earlier will bring back many memories for French-Canadian trapper who lived older readers. Summer visits by in the area long before 1906. The pop- relatives, a traveling circus, drifters, ulation at the time was about three traveling salesmen, Fourth of July, thousand people and the largest picnics, summer sports, and even ethnic group was Scandinavians, encounters with traveling Gypsies among whom nearly half were Swed- are all richly described, as are many ish. of his boyhood friends from various Cloquet was founded in the 1880’s, ethnic backgrounds. But in 1919 the incorporated as a village in 1884, and entire town burned to the ground and became a city in 1904. Located on the cost some 500 lives. The town was St. Louis River below where several built entirely of wood, and only a tributaries joined, it was ideally school, a firehouse, and a few homes situated to develop as a logging town, escaped. with good access to the pine forests The author left Cloquet a few of the region, and water to power years later to further his education. several sawmills by the river. Pine He graduated from Cloquet High was cut in the forests in the winter, School, and then studied at the Uni- pushed into the streams in the versity of Minnesota and the Univer- spring, and floated downriver to
24 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 Book Reviews abundant in the area. The pine was The mix of people, however, had gone. The “wood conversion plants” not changed much. The town still had made hardboard, paper, cardboard, a majority of Scandinavians, quite a and other pulpwood products while few Germans, and lesser numbers of casting a constant pungent odor over many other European nations repre- the town which never entirely disap- sented. By 1940, most were second peared. Other businesses and ser- and third generation, socially assim- vices had sprung up to serve the ilated, yet still largely keeping to sity of Wisconsin. After service in growing population. One of our sum- their own churches. My family was World War I as an artillery sergeant, mer activities when I lived there was there since my father had found work he worked briefly in Duluth as a re- counting the cars on the ore trains as a teacher and supervisor in one of porter, then returned to the Univer- passing through Cloquet on their the many CCC (Civilian Conser- sity of Wisconsin to graduate in 1920. way to Duluth and the steel furnaces vation Corps) camps in the area. (The For some fifty years he combined a in Ohio and points east. I remember CCC was created by President Roo- successful business career with counting trains of over a hundred sevelt in 1934 as part of the “New writing about fifteen books, two of cars some days. That, too, has ended Deal.” Many young men unemployed them best-sellers. He served again in with the decline of iron mining. by the Depression were sent to these World War II and then resumed his business career. After retirement, he and his wife lived in Arizona where he continued writing, including this memoir written in 1974. O’Meara died in Cohasset, Mass, in 1989. My own memories of Cloquet were in many ways similar, but in many ways very different. By World War I the logging business had ended, and many of the workers moved on to the Pacific Northwest, while others found new jobs in iron mining on the Mesabi and Vermilion iron ranges further north. The town grew slowly but by my own years it approached The Society’s latest book is a novel, some eight thousand people. Our “Shuttle in her hand,” rich in history home was better equipped, with a and Swedish-American weaving lore. furnace, indoor bathrooms, and some electric appliances. We now had electricity, a telephone, and a radio, but television was still decades in the future. O’Meara had only seen a few early open horseless carriages; hor- ses still dominated for work and travel. By 1938, my father had an enclosed Chevrolet, with a radio and a heater, as did many households in town. There were few horses, no Gypsies, and no log skirlers. But the St. Louis River was still the color of root beer. The sawmills no longer ripped lumber from logs, but had turned to making other wood products from second growth softwood trees still
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 25 Book Reviews Sweden. The Garden served as the Until 1822, Castle Clinton served principal port of entry on the East as headquarters of the U.S. Third Coast for immigrants arriving on Military District, which was then sailing, and later, steamships, during removed to Governor’s Island. Castle this period. Another nearby building, Clinton was demilitarized and ceded the Barge Office, was used tempo- to New York City. During this period rarily until the Ellis Island arrival the fort was renamed Castle Garden camps to do conservation work, to center was completed and opened on and was roofed over and improved, learn a trade, and to further their January 1, 1892. serving as a promenade, beer garden, education.) This camp was located in Castle Garden and Battery Park exhibit hall, opera house, and thea- a State Park a little ways outside have had a long and varied history ter. A domed rotunda was added in Cloquet. By 1942 the CCC camps dating to the Dutch settlement of 1844-45. Castle Garden was a major were all closed down, the young men New Amsterdam. The strategic posi- venue for popular concerts and ap- mostly were drafted to serve in World tion where the Hudson River is pearances including one by Swedish War II, and my father was out of a merged with the East River gave this soprano Jenny Lind in 1850 to open job. We moved then to Minneapolis, location importance as the first view her American tour. As other, larger where he found other work. of river traffic arriving from the At- venues were added in the city, Castle This book about life in Cloquet in lantic Ocean. With the founding of Garden became the immigrant lan- 1906 is yet another story of the lives the settlement of New Amsterdam in ding station for New York City and of many immigrant and other work- 1624, the location was the site for New York State, opening in 1855. ers in that period; a story of hardship, Fort Amsterdam, built to protect the Originally surrounded on all sides by hard work, and hard winters. For the new settlement from marauders and water with only a connecting draw- young, however, it was a life of plea- claim the land for the Dutch. By 1683, bridge, additional land fill in the area sure and privation in strange sur- cannons were placed there thus giv- enlarged Battery Park to completely roundings. This account, told better ing the site the name Battery Park. surround the old structure by land. than most, is the author’s last pub- After American independence, plans In 1886, just four years before the lished book, written “for his family” began for a fortification in the west closing of Castle Garden in 1890, the of four children and many grand- and battery designed by Architect John Statue of Liberty was completed and great-grandchildren. It is an excep- McComb. This fortification was com- dedicated nearby in New York Har- tionally entertaining memoir of pleted in 1811; at the end of the war bor. With the opening in 1892 of Ellis growing up at that unique time and of 1812 with Great Britain, the fort Island as a larger and more suitable place in America, a personal story, yet was renamed Castle Clinton, after immigration landing station, Castle shared in common with many Amer- the then Governor of New York Garden became a public aquarium, icans of his generation. DeWitt Clinton. one of New York’s most popular at- Dennis L. Johnson tractions. The aquarium was even- tually closed in 1941, and the build- ing was dedicated as a historic site The entrance and renamed the Castle Clinton Na- tional Monument, rededicated in to America 1946. It contains a museum, and serves as the departure point for Castle Garden and Battery Park, visitors taking ferries to the Statue Images of America series, Barry of Liberty and Ellis Island. Moreno, Arcadia Publishing, Chi- The author of Castle Garden and cago, 2007, 128 pages, softcover, Battery Park, Barry Moreno, works illustrated, Amazon.com $17.15 plus in the Museum Services division of shipping. the Statue of Liberty National Mon- ument. He has written other articles Castle Garden in New York City of- on Castle Garden and is the author fered the first views of America on of several other books in this series land for the estimated eight to twelve about Ellis Island, The Statue of million immigrants from Europe be- Liberty, Children of Ellis Island, and tween 1855 and 1890. Nearly a mil- Manhattan Street Scenes. The story lion of these immigrants came from 26 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 Book Reviews period of Castle Garden. (A picture at the end with certain unease about is worth a thousand words). For those the accuracy of the information that having an ancestor with the immi- is related in the story. grant experience of passing through In the tale, the reader is expected Castle Garden, this book would be an to believe that Erick, a seven-year- important addition to the family li- old (going on eight), is sent alone into brary. (Since 2005, researchers seek- the woods for a week on a hunting of Castle Garden and its environs is ing ancestor arrivals may search the and trapping expedition to feed his told through a massive collection of Castle Garden immigration records desperate family. His father is bed- images collected by Moreno. on www.CastleGarden.org ). ridden, injured in an accident, and From colonial origins to the Civil I think your descendants and unable to provide for the family that War, the story is told through draw- especially young children would find includes his mother and younger ings, paintings, and etchings by art- the images in this book fascinating brother Carl, and a sister, Elisabeth. ists of the day. Most of the later im- and highly educational. Even if your On this trip, he is equipped with a ages are photographs, the camera ancestors arrived at another time or .50 caliber (?) rifle given him by his being available after the middle of another place, the book is an essen- grandfather. He has a sled with forty the 19th century. The images are all tial portrayal of these immigrants’ beaver traps, some rabbit traps, and accompanied by extensive captions, first encounter with their new land. other gear. In the course of this trip helping to tell the story of Castle he encounters wolves, a cougar, bad- Garden and the people who passed Dennis L. Johnson gers, elk, a moose, deer, and two through this immigration center. The bears, and barely rescues himself reader can easily imagine an an- from a fall through the ice. The bad- cestor passing through this building ger has mutilated his six trapped and the jumble of confusion, waiting, beavers so the pelts are unusable, but and anxiety as thousands of immi- Maybe a tall the meat will be taken home. He also grants and their families were pro- shoots a wolf, and brings that home cessed almost daily. story? for the skin as well. At the end, he For most of the period of this use shoots a bear at the last minute, only of Castle Garden, immigrants ar- America’s Back Door, by Vernon Al- to find a second bear just behind the rived by barge from the piers or an- fred Holmes, Ivy House Publishing one he has shot. Another shot rings chorages of the ships on which they Group, Raleigh, NC, 2003, 191 out, and the second bear has been endured the long voyage from Eu- pages, illustrated, hardcover, shot by his grandfather who has just rope. They entered the building to en- allbookstores.com, $21.95 + ship- arrived to find him. Between them counter a number of checkpoints ping. the grandson and grandfather drag where their identities, origins, and home their entire haul on two sleds. other information were recorded, This is an interesting but unusual On their return, all are welcomed then on to a physical examination, story about the author’s family and joyfully but the episode confirms the money exchanging, and other steps. their emigration from Lotorp, Ris- futility of continuing to try and farm Nearby was a labor exchange, hiring inge, Östergötland, to Chicago in in Sweden against formidable odds hall, recruiting stations for the 1886. of famine and poverty. Erick’s father, military, and missionaries passing The first part is about an adven- Johan, regretfully decides that the out religious tracts in various langua- ture of the author’s grandfather, family must immigrate to America ges. Railroads and Hudson River Erick, at age 7 in the woods in Swe- despite the tears of their grand- boats sold tickets to those traveling den. The second part describes the parents. In 1886, they sell most of to the west, and all sorts of swindlers family’s arriving at the decision to their possessions and leave in their and confidence men lurked outside immigrate to America, and the last ox-drawn wagon with a few supplies the building to try and take advan- part is about their perilous voyage and possessions. In Göteborg they tage of the new arrivals. across the Atlantic from Göteborg to seek the first departing ship they can The format of the book, using Chicago, through the Great Lakes. in order not to use up their money numerous images with captions rath- The final part includes family photo- on food and lodging. The ship turns er than the usual descriptive text, is graphs and a family tree of the family out to be an American ship, the very effective in conveying the ex- in Chicago. The book keeps the read- Enrica, a former man-of-war built perience of immigrants during the er turning the pages, but leaves one for the U.S. Civil War. The captain is
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 27 Book Reviews With my interest aroused by my (18th) with several weeks on the At- unease, I decided to do a little fact- lantic in June and July. The ship had checking on the Holm family and passed through the Gulf of St. Law- their travels. The family was found rence and then through the Great in Swedish records. The family record Lakes to Chicago. Locks were com- indicated Johan emigrated with his pleted in 1871 for ships up to 187 ft. family from Ankarsrums Bruk, Hal- long and 44 ½ feet wide, but not one John Warden, said by the author lingeberg, Kalmar län. His wife was enlarged until after World War II. to be the one-time captain of the born in Skedevi, Östergötlands län. Could their ship have made this pas- famous Monitor and a Civil War hero. The Swedish household records note sage? I doubt it. More likely they The family sells their team and May 18, 1886, as their date of de- traveled via New York and the Hud- wagon, pay their passage, and they parture from Hallingeberg. Emi- son River to the Erie Canal and soon embark on a voyage in steerage, granten lists the family as emigrating thence to the Great Lakes by another filled with fellow emigrants. The June 18, 1886, from Göteborg, desti- smaller ship, or overland by train to privations of the trip are described nation New York. Chicago. According to the author, in detail: seasickness, disease, deaths, In checking the biography of John Chicago had no immigration station icy cold with ice storms coating the Warden, captain of the Monitor, I and the immigrants arriving there by decks above with heavy ice, and found that he commanded the U.S. ship were undocumented, hence the many other hazards. The author Naval Academy 1869-1874 where he title of the book, America’s Back Door. includes a few stories related by cap- was promoted to rear admiral. He In an afterword, the author in- tain Warden along the way, and then commanded the U.S. European cludes a family tree showing his im- problems with the irregular and squadron 1875-77, had shore duty mediate ancestors, and some photo- often drunken crew. The voyage takes 1877-86, and retired from active duty graphs from his collection. Some his- sixteen weeks and the ship finally in October, 1887. I think this rules out torical notes add general information arrives in Chicago to let the immi- his having been captain of the Enrico on immigration from Scandinavia, th grants debark offshore on ship’s in 1886.Would this national hero be Chicago in the 19 century, and other boats, due to the shallow lake water. reduced to captaining a leaky, old notes. He lists some famous Swedes, They find their way to “Swedetown” sailing ship (with steam auxiliary and adds information about Ellis Is- to be taken in by friendly country- propulsion) ferrying poor immigrants land. There is a list of source books men until they could get settled and from Sweden to Chicago? This is, at he used, mostly general about immi- find work. It turns out that the ship best, a case of mistaken identity. gration, history, and Sweden. No was filled with “undocumented work- All the ice encountered on the footnotes occur citing sources for ers” or, illegal immigrants, since they voyage also raises questions, since particular facts given in the book, had bypassed the usual ports of entry. they embarked in the month of June however. The family settled in Chicago, It appears to this reviewer that the where Johan and his wife, Anna author relied more on family legends Charlotta Boström, had another son, than he did on careful research and David, and a daughter, Esther, to add actual facts in composing this book. to the family. Erick finished growing But it was a real family and they up in Chicago, worked as a tailor to did make a real pilgrimage in the wealthy Chicagoans, and struck up 1880’s to new lives in the American a friendship with the famous archi- Midwest. Enjoyable to read, Amer- tect, Daniel Burnham. Their name ica’s Back Door is another chronicle was now Holmes, not Holm, because of a Swedish immigrant family, one that is what everyone called them. which may stimulate other des- Erick married Mattie Seidel and had cendants to research and record the eight children. Erick died suddenly sagas of their own families who came at age 47 of a heart attack. The to America from Sweden during the author, Vernon Alfred, is the son of great migration. I am not inclined to Erick’s third son Raymond. After a be too critical of the possible ex- long career in packaging, Vernon is aggerations or inaccuracies of the now retired and lives with his wife story but encourage all who under- in Spooner, Wisconsin. take writing about their family his-
28 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 Book Reviews grants that were local and not just Emigrants passing through. As a result of this work the project now tries to identify immigrants coming into the city, and from Göteborg find out if they originated in Göte- borg, as is described by Lennart Lim- Göteborgs-Emigranten 7, editors: berg. The resulting information is Per Clemensson and Lennart Lim- found on the CD. Dr Limberg has also tory to take the time to do their berg, published by the Göteborgs- studied the Swedish emigrants homework thoroughly. Except in Emigranten Project. 231 pages, ill., through the German ports, which is unusual circumstances, the facts are softcover, 2010. ISBN 978-91-633- the main essay in this volume. Ma- mostly available thanks to the a- 6365-8. Price 100 SEK + postage. thias Nilsson tells the story behind bundance of Swedish and U.S. rec- More information from EmiWeb, which is slowly growing to ords available online, in archives, and
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 29 All links tested in March 2011 and Interesting Web Sites should work
The Brogårdh collections of folklife pictures from Southern Sweden: http://www.bgsamlingen.se/search.php Illinois Ancestors Tombstone Project: http://www.illinoisancestors.org/cemphotos/main.php Copenhagen police records: http://www.politietsregisterblade.dk/index.php?lang=en American people of Swedish descent: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_people_of_Swedish_descent Familysearch on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/familysearch Pictures of churches all over Sweden (in Swedish): http://www.kyrkokartan.se/ Swedish Cultural Center (of the Pacific Northwest): http://www.swedishculturalcenter.org/ Flags of every country: http://chartsbin.com/view/554 Genealogy in Top Chef (cookery program): http://rootsandrambles.blogspot.com/2011/03/top-chef-genealogist-megan-smolenyak.html New projects on FamilySearch: https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/FamilySearch_Indexing_Updates National Genealogical Society Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/NGSGenealogy All along the Småland coast: http://www.sjofararkusten.se/inenglish/index.html Minnesota Discovery Center (Iron Range History): http://www.mndiscoverycenter.com/ Historical Statistics: http://www.historicalstatistics.org/ The SwedGen Tour 2011: http://www.lilleskogen.se/ American Civil War Homepage: http://sunsite.utk.edu/civil-war/ Civil War Trust (battlefields etc.): http://www.civilwar.org/ National Index of Swedish Photographers (in Swedish): http://nfr.nordiskamuseet.se/search.aspx Information on the expansion of the ASI in Minneapolis: http://www.americanswedishinst.org/ASI/Campus_Expansion.html Gammelgården in Scandia, MN: http://www.gammelgardenmuseum.org/ The Swedish film archive: http://www.filmarkivet.se/sv/English/ The Hunt Hill Swedish summer camp: http://hunthill.org/experience-hunt-hill/swedish-immersion-camp/ Swedish tourist information: http://www.smorgasbord.se/ Swedish regional archives: http://www.riksarkivet.se Rötterbokhandeln: http://shop.genealogi.se/shop/default.aspx?lng=ENG&cur=SEK
All the above web links will be found as clickable links on www.etgenealogy.se/sag.htm
30 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 Genealogical Queries
Genealogical queries from subscribers to Swedish American Genealogist will be listed here free of charge on a “space available” basis. The editor reserves the right to edit these queries to conform to a general format. The inquirer is responsible for the contents of the query. We would like to hear about your success if you receive useful information as a result of placing a query in this publication. Please send us your feedback, and we will endeavor to report your new discoveries in this section of the journal.
Nameless couple from Arvika
This picture of a young couple was found in a flea market in the Minneapolis area, and the only clue to their identity is that the photo was taken in Arvika (Värml.). The photographer Amelie Rydberg has been identified as Amalia Ryd- berg, born in 1862 in Arvika, and she started her studio in 1892, so this photo must have been taken at the earliest that year. Looking at their dress, it might be more of an engagement picture and not a wedding picture.
Any information is most welcome! Mariann Tibblin, 2615 Park Ave., Apt #508, Minneapolis, MN 55407-1046. E-mail
Or the SAG editor at
1301
Send queries to SAG! Everything is not online!
An unusual name A Swedish camp verpia, and it is the last name which There is a small nonprofit nature is most unusual. center, Hunt Hill Audubon Sanc- The solution was found in the tuary, in Northern Wisconsin. death notice for her father, Sven Olof They have many programs open to Strömbom, who died in 1901 Feb. 20. the public, and among those there is It turned out that he was a sea cap- one called “På svenska: Adult Swe- tain, and that his ship was the dish Language and Culture Immer- steamer Saga, which sailed regularly sion” during the period of Sunday, on the trade route from Gävle, Swe- June 12 – Friday, June 17. The above death notice was found in den, to Antwerp, Belgium. It seems You will receive instruction in how a collection of old newspaper clip- like he enjoyed being in Antwerp, so to cook a number of popular Swedish pings, called the Kugelberg Collec- he made up the name for his new foods. You will be exposed to modern tion. It is a DVD, produced by the little daughter. and not so modern Swedish culture, Sveriges Släktforskarförbund. It is not found in the 1900 Swed- history, and politics. And of course, The deceased is a little girl who ish Census, so this little girl was you will be challenged to learn all you died at the age of 1 year 4 months probably the only one with that can about the culture you love. and 18 days in the year 1896. She had name. See link on p. 30 three given names, Irma Helena Ant-
Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 31 The Last Page Dear friends, At last! The Spring is definitely on to put flesh on the ancestral skeleton, young man who took part in the war its way even to Sweden, after a long you might have to go to the archives. on the Union side. If you have a story and boring winter. You can find information on the Swe- about other Swedes affected by the It has been a perfect time to stay dish archives on the Riksarkivet web war, send your stories to SAG, and in indoors and do genealogy, and now site, see p. 30. this way preserve your part of the with online resources like Arkiv Di- Summer is not that far off, and for history of the war. gital and SVAR, it has felt like it is your trip to Sweden, there is a good less necessary to go to the archives. web site that you can study. Not But that is wrong, at a landsarkiv surprisingly it is called Smörgås- (regional archive) only about 6% are bord! See page 30. church records, which means that Here you can search for a specific there are about 94% of its contents place or event or many variations. that are of potential interest to For instance most communities have genealogists. their own musical festival or some Those archives can be tax records, special week that has many events military rolls, court minutes, pro- of various kinds. bates, diocesan chapter (domkapitel) This year also marks the 150th records, county government records anniversary of the start of the Amer- Here is the beloved bright blue Blåsippa, (länsstyrelsen), and much, more that ican Civil War. We have already in an early spring flower. Till next time! probably never will be digitized. So this issue an article about a Swedish Elisabeth Thorsell SAG You can buy back issues Workshop of SAG Salt Lake City from Jill Seaholm at the 18 – 24 Sept. Swenson Center. 2011 !
Just send Welcome to join our happy group of researchers at the an e-mail Family History Library in Salt Lake City! to
32 Swedish American Genealogist 2011:1 Abbreviations
Table 1. Abbreviations for Swedish provinces (landskap) used by Swedish American Genealogist (as of March 2000) and Sveriges Släktforskarförbund (the Federation of Swedish Genealogical Societies, Stockholm [SSF]).
Landskap SAG & SSF Landskap SAG & SSF (Province) Abbr. (Province) Abbr.
Blekinge Blek. Närke Närk. Bohuslän Bohu. Skåne Skån. Dalarna Dala. Småland Smål. Dalsland Dals. Södermanland Södm. Gotland Gotl. Uppland Uppl. Gästrikland Gäst. Värmland Värm. Halland Hall. Västerbotten Väbo. Hälsingland Häls. Västergötland Vägö. Härjedalen Härj. Västmanland Väsm. Jämtland Jämt. Ångermanland Ånge. Lappland Lapp. Öland Öland Medelpad Mede. Östergötland Östg. Norrbotten Nobo.
Table 2. Abbreviations and codes for Swedish counties (län) formerly used by Swedish American Genealogist (1981-1999) and currently used by Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB) (the Central Bu- reau of Statistics, Stockholm).
Län SAG SCB SCB Län SAG SCB SCB (County) Abbr. Abbr. Code (County) Abbr. Abbr. Code
Blekinge Blek. Blek. K Stockholm Stock. Sthm. AB Dalarnaa Dlrn. W Södermanland Söd. Södm. D Gotland Gotl. Gotl. I Uppsala Upps. Upps. C Gävleborg Gävl. Gävl. X Värmland Värm. Vrml. S Halland Hall. Hall. N Västerbotten Vbn. Vbtn. AC Jämtland Jämt. Jmtl. Z Västernorrland Vn. Vnrl. Y Jönköping Jön. Jkpg. F Västmanland Väst. Vstm. U Kalmar Kalm. Kalm. H Västra Götalandc Vgöt. O Kronoberg Kron. Kron. G Örebro Öre. Öreb. T Norrbotten Norr. Nbtn. BD Östergötland Ög. Östg. E Skåneb Skån. M a formerly Kopparberg (Kopp.; W) län. b includes the former counties (län) of Malmöhus (Malm.; M) and Kristianstad (Krist.; L). c includes the former counties (län) of Göteborg and Bohus (Göt.; O), Skaraborg (Skar.; R), and Älvsborg (Älvs.; P). BD
Lappland Norrbotten
AC
Västerbotten
Ångermanland Z Jämtland Y
Härjedalen Medelpad
Hälsingland X Dalarna Gästrikland w Uppland C Värmland Västman- S U land T AB Närke Södermanland Bohuslän Dals- D land Östergötland E O R Västergötland P Gotland F Halland Småland H I N G Öland Blekinge Skåne L K M
The counties (län) as they were before 1991. The provinces (landskap).