Swedish American Genealogist

Volume 30 | Number 1 Article 1

3-1-2010 Full Issue Vol. 30 No. 1

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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 XXXMarch 2010 No. 1 CONTENTS

Chasing John Nordholm ...... 1 by Paul D. Sward

Copyright © 2010 (ISSN 0275-9314) The Emigrant Instute Emigrates ...... 5 by Ulf Beijbom Swedish American Genealogist News from the Swenson Center...... 7 Publisher: Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center Ready to go?...... 8 Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 by Michael John Neill Telephone: 309-794-7204. Fax: 309-794-7443 E-mail: [email protected] Ester Karolina – a Värmland emigrant ...... 10 Web address: http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/ by Carla Peterson Sullivan (†)

Editor: Elisabeth Thorsell An “America Letter” from 1846 ...... 13 Hästskovägen 45, 177 39 Järfälla, Sweden translated by John E. Norton E-mail: [email protected] Father unknown – what to do? ...... 14 Editorial Committee: by Elisabeth Thorsell H. Arnold Barton, Tyresö, Sweden Dag Blanck, Stockholm, Sweden Handwriting Example XXIV ...... 18 Dennis L. Johnson, Pottstown, PA Ronald J. Johnson, Madison, WI Bits & Pieces ...... 19 Christopher Olsson, Stockton Springs, ME Priscilla Jönsson Sorknes, Minneapolis, MN The Strindin family and Stockholm ...... 20 by Kerstin Jonmyren Swedish American Genealogist, its publisher, editors, and editorial committee assume neither responsibility Riksarkivet (National Archives of Sweden) ... 23 nor liability for statements of opinion or fact made by by Elisabeth Thorsell contributors. The solution to the Handwriting example ...... 24 Correspondence. Please direct editorial correspon- Book Reviews ...... 25 dence such as manuscripts, queries, book reviews, announcements, and ahnentafeln to the editor in Interesting Web Sites ...... 30 Sweden. Correspondence regarding change of address, back Genealogical Queries ...... 31 issues (price and availability), and advertising should be directed to the publisher in Rock lsland. The Last Page ...... 32

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 Island. In Sweden the subscription price is 250.00 Swedish Cover picture: kronor per year for surface delivery and 275.00 kronor The postcard from Silver Hill, Alabama. John per year for air mail. This subscription fee may be Nordholm is probably the man to the right. Read deposited in our plusgiro account: 260 10-9, Swedish more in Paul D. Sward’s article on page 1. American Genealogist, c/o Thorsell, Hästskovägen 45, S-177 39 Järfälla, Sweden. Chasing John Nordholm

A missing grandfather’s uncle

TEXT AND PHOTOS: PAUL D. SWARD

I was raised with a strong sense of name of Nordholm, when my great- my Swedish heritage. The town that grandmother went by an anglicized I was born in, Kewanee, Illinois, had version of her patronymic surname a large population of ethnic Swedes (Nelson)? He was an intriguing figure due in large part to the nearby to me. community of Bishop Hill, which had The two previous generations that been settled by Swedish immigrants had knowledge of John Nordholm are in the mid 19th century. now gone. Consequently, my starting Although both my paternal grand- point began with an old family parents had been born in the United photograph; a family story that John States, both of them spoke Swedish. Nordholm was buried in Wallace, My grandfather was the son of Swed- Michigan; and that there was an ish immigrants from Skåne. My image of him permanently affixed to grandmother was born to a mother his headstone. who had emigrated from Småland and an American-born father that The chase begins was the son of “Bishop Hill” Swedes Since John Nordholm was allegedly who had emigrated from Hälsing- my paternal great-grandmother’s land. As a child I was exposed to a brother, I began my research in the kaleidoscope of Swedish culture. My parish records.1 An examination of Jöns (John) Nilsson Nordholm. grandfather would regale me with records revealed only one sibling that stories about Gustavus Adolphus and seemed likely to be John Nordholm, possibilities helped further the re- the Thirty Years’ War. My grand- Jöns Nilsson. search. mother would take me to visit Bishop Jöns Nilsson was born at Ugerup The next logical step was to exam- Hill where she and her friends would Torp #12, Köpinge parish, Kristian- ine the census records, but I faced a converse in a mixture of English and stad län to Nils Pehrsson and Elna problem which many genealogists Swedish. Jönsdotter on July 8, 1869. Jöns face, the lack of a complete 1890 U.S. Unfortunately, over the years I remained with his family until the Census. Since almost all of my rela- have retained very little of this and parish records indicated that he tives that emigrated from Skåne and my renewed interest has been a immigrated to “Amerika” on June 15, Småland arrived in the 1880s, I had rediscovery of my heritage. 1888.2 Parenthetically, all of Nils and found other ways to conduct research One of the many pieces in this Elna’s seven children immigrated to during this time frame, either puzzle of rediscovery relates to my the United States prior to 1900.3 A through local records or family docu- paternal grandfather’s uncle, John record dated July 19, 1888, in the ments. Three of Jöns Nilsson’s Nordholm. I have a vague memory EmiHamn database indicates that siblings settled in Kewanee, Illinois, of my grandparents discussing him. Jöns Nilsson departed from Malmö and appear in the 1890’s records of a They referred to him as the family destined for New York,4 eleven days local church.5 From family documen- member who settled in the woods of past his nineteenth birthday. tation I was able to identify that two the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I was unable to specifically identify other siblings relocated to the Chi- What became of John Nordholm? a record of Jöns Nilsson’s arrival in cago, Illinois, area, but I was unable Why did he settle in a remote part of the U.S., although I did uncover a few to determine where Jöns and his Michigan when his siblings settled in possibilities. However, none of these brother Pehr settled. However, in Illinois? Why did he take the sur- Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 1 Canada

Menominee County, MI

Map of Upper Michi- gan and some parts of Lower Michigan, from the “Handy Book for * Genealogists” publish- ed by George B. Everton Sr. (1977). The star shows ap- proximate location of Wallace. researching Jöns’s sister, who died in farm. This same John Nordholm also county, but he had returned after 1923, I discovered that her obituary appeared in the 1920 and 1930 U.S. retiring. Sheldon is also of Swedish references a brother named John census for Menominee County. It ancestry and was now serving as the Nordholm residing in Wallace, Michi- became clear that I needed to conduct sexton for the Mellen Township gan. some field research in Menominee Cemetery. I explained to Sheldon my County. Although I also live in Mich- search for John Nordholm. Sheldon The chase leads to igan, this is a geographically large advised that there was a John N. state. I live in the far southeastern Nordholm buried in the cemetery Wallace, Michigan corner of the lower peninsula of and he offered to meet us at the At this point, the only avenue that I Michigan and Menominee County is cemetery when we arrived. had for further research was Wallace, located in the far western part of the On the appointed day, my friend Michigan. I began with the 1900 U.S. Upper Peninsula of Michigan, sepa- and I arrived early at the Mellen federal census for Menominee Coun- rated by five hundred miles. Con- Township Cemetery. The cemetery is ty, Michigan, where Wallace is locat- sequently, I put my quest for John relatively small and well marked. I ed. I was unable to find an appro- Nordholm on the shelf and moved on easily found John Nordholm’s grave priate match under Nilsson/Nord- to other things. based on the information that Shel- holm, but I did find a Johan Noert- don had provided. The headstone was holme residing in Ingallston town- Encountering Sheldon marked “John N. Nordholm” and had ship who is a perfect match for coun- an indentation where an image could try of origin, date of birth, and date Anderson – a good man have been attached at one time. of immigration. I am fairly confident Many years later I planned a fishing Sheldon arrived shortly there- that this is Jöns Nilsson/Nordholm. trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michi- after. Sheldon is the type of person He is shown as a day laborer board- gan with a friend of mine. Realizing that you immediately like when you ing with a family of German origin. I that our fishing camp was within first meet him. He is intelligent, suspect that the name was corrupted sixty miles of Wallace, Michigan, I friendly, and to the point. Sheldon either by the census taker or by a convinced my fishing partner that we related that he had been making member of the German family provi- needed to make a side trip to Wal- some local inquiries on John Nord- ding the census information. lace. Prior to our departure, I made holm. First he advised that he had a telephone call to the Wallace, Mi- spoken to another resident of the Found him in the census chigan, post office inquiring about area, Les Newlin, who had An examination of the 1910 U.S. cen- the local cemeteries. This call result- knowledge of John Nordholm. Mr. sus for Menominee County revealed ed in Sheldon Anderson contacting Newlin had advised Sheldon that a John N. Nordholm residing in me. Sheldon is a native of Menominee there had indeed been an image of Mellen Township. Again this individ- County who had recently retired John Nordholm attached to the ual is a perfect match for Jöns. It from the U.S. Department of Interior headstone and that he, Mr. Newlin, further identified John Nordholm as where he had served as a forester. His had a photograph of the image. a single farmer who owned his own career had taken him away from the Additionally, Mr. Newlin was in

2 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 Sheldon continues the chase After I returned home Sheldon con- tacted me and advised that he had spoken with an older gentleman in the area named Al Pearson. Mr. Pearson’s family had lived near John Nordholm and he remembered him. Subsequently, I spoke with Mr. Pearson. He told that his father and John Nordholm had been friends. John Nordholm had obtained the first radio in the area and Mr. Pear- son’s family would come to John’s home to listen to the new invention. Mr. Pearson related that John was a carpenter and he had helped Mr. Pearson with woodworking projects. The former Nordholm farmhouse. Mr. Pearson described him as nice man. possession of a table made by John for the burial plot. This was clearly Sheldon had also located John Nordholm. Sheldon explained that my grandfather’s uncle. After thank- Nordholm’s death certificate and sent Mr. Newlin had a distant relative, ing Sheldon for all his time and trou- a copy.6 Of particular interest was the Charles Nelson, who had been a fri- ble, we bid him goodbye and returned cause of death of John Nordholm: end and neighbor of John Nordholm. to our fishing camp. “Found dead in garage, exhaustion Sheldon asked me if I wished to visit from trying to start car.” Mr. Newlin that day, which of course A couple of years had passed when I did. Sheldon then asked me if I wanted to see John Nordholm’s farm. It was a lucky day when I made contact with Sheldon Anderson. After a short drive we parked on the side of a lonely county road. Shel- don led us into the partially wooded undergrowth by the road. As we were walking it became apparent that this land had been cleared and farmed at one time. Shortly we came upon an abandoned farmstead that once be- longed to John Nordholm. There were four buildings on the farmstead in various states of disrepair. How- ever, the barn was in quite good con- dition. Clearly it had been a prosper- ous farm at one time. After having some fun exploring the various buildings we departed to visit Mr. Newlin. Unfortunately he was not at home. Sheldon graciously brought us to his home where he made the ceme- tery sexton records available. A re- view of the record relating to the burial of John Nordholm quickly validated my search. My grandfather and all his siblings were on the deed

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 3 odd that John Nordholm, an immi- search on Swedish settlers of this grant Swedish farmer from northern area, advised that most of the settlers Michigan would be visiting Alabama originated from Värmland. However, at this time. local church records did reveal a few John Nordholm’s visit no longer Swedes of Skåne origin including seemed odd after I found Lilly Setter- John Nordholm. dahl’s Memories Preserved, Vol. 2.7 Ms. Setterdahl’s work covers in depth Why Nordholm? the Silverhill Colony that had been Why did Jöns/John choose the Nord- settled by Swedes coming primarily holm surname? I have subsequently from the Midwest beginning in 1896. discovered that Jöns/John’s brother, Oscar Johnson, a resident of Chicago Pehr, changed his name to Peter and an immigrant from the Swedish Nordholm. Furthermore, another province of Dalarna, had founded the brother, Simon, retained his soldier’s colony. Along with others, Johnson surname, Lilja.9 The answer to the formed the Svea Land Company and surname question seems to be that offered land for sale in Silverhill each of the siblings chose their Amer- which attracted ethnic Swedes from ican surname without consideration all parts of the U.S. I had been of the other siblings choices. completely unaware of this interes- Clearly there is more research that ting piece of Swedish-American his- could be conducted, but at this point tory. I have satisfied my curiosity concern- However, Silverhill, Alabama, ing John Nordholm. It appears that raised some new questions about he was well liked and had prospered John Nordholm. Was he just visiting in life. He was a Swedish immigrant or had he considered relocating who made a successful new life in his there? Did he have friends or rela- adopted country. Unfortunately, John tives in Silverhill? The tombstone and the picture. had no children of his own, but I take Les Newlin was aware of other pride in that I am related to him and Sheldon contacted me again. Sheldon people from the Mellen Township his photograph will always hang on related that the image of John Nord- area that had travelled to visit the my den wall. holm that had been on his headstone Silverhill colony. So perhaps John had been found. It was a ceramic Nordholm was just there to visit. Endnotes: piece that had been adhered to the Regardless it appears that he did not 1 headstone and apparently had fallen relocate to Silverhill and remained a Köpinge parish, Kristianstad län, Hus- resident of Michigan until his death. förhörslängd. off. One of the cemetery caretakers 2 Köpinge parish, Kristianstad län, had thrown it in a desk drawer where Utflyttningslängd. it remained until Sheldon discovered The aftermath of the 3 Ibid. it. Additionally, Les Newlin had dis- chase 4 Emigranten Populär (database). covered a postcard that John Nord- 5 Records of Zion Lutheran Church, holm had sent to Charles Nelson. My search for John Nordholm has Kewanee, Illinois (Swenson Swedish Sheldon sent copies of the headstone been a partial success. I know his Immigration Research Center). 6 image and the postcard. origin and a little of his life in Michi- State of Michigan Death Certificate, The postcard had a photograph on gan. What attracted him to Michigan Menominee County, Mellen Township. is still unknown. The obvious attrac- 7 Setterdahl, Lilly, Memories Preserved, one side of two men in a horse and Vol. 2, (Scandinavians in Alabama), buggy. I compared the photograph tion was the Swedish community in the area. East Moline, Illinois. 1992. that I had of Jöns Nilsson as a young 8 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Menominee In the 1900 U.S. Census there were man to the cemetery image, as well County, Michigan. as to the younger man in the postcard 1,832 people living in Mellen town- 9 Simon after residing in the U.S. re- photograph. They all appear to be the ship and adjacent Ingallston town- turned to Sweden. I have corresponded same man from different times in his ship. Of this number, 271 individu- with one of his descendants, Gunnar life. als were identified as being born in Lilja, who currently resides in Stoby, Sweden. These numbers do not in- Sweden. clude the U.S. born children of the Silverhill, Alabama native Swedes.8 Consequently, the The author is The postcard had been sent from ethnic Swedish population of this Paul D. Sward Silverhill, Alabama, and was dated area exceeded 20%. Sheldon’s cousin, E-mail: December 3, 1908. It struck me as Ron Newlin, who has conducted re-

4 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 The Emigrant Institute Emigrates Since 2008 the ongoing discussions cipality of Växjö and the county tution that has, for 42 years, gener- regarding the incorporation of the government of Kronoberg. It has not ated goodwill and attracted ca one Swedish Emigrant Institute (SEI) helped with a diminished state million visitors to Växjö and Krono- into the entity known as Småland’s subsidy, contributions from the berg County. An estimate of the oppo- Cultural Park now seem to have Friendship Association, or a generous sition’s attitude can be found in the reached an end. The Institute quite grant from the Barbro Osher Pro blog comments of the Chairman of simply cannot accept the conditions Suecia Foundation and the Central the Community Council Bo Frank in which are based on the premise that Bank’s Jubilee Fund. The financial Smålandsposten April 15, 2010: “All the Institute should subordinate its capital is now gone, with the excep- parties in the community and the mission and become a de facto wing tion of the value represented by the county council stand behind the of Småland’s Museum. That many property The House of Emigrants. Cultural Park’s actions and invite the advantages would result from this After word that additional contri- Emigrant Institute to continue to cooperation is overshadowed by the butions at this time from the Cul- develop as part of the Cultural Park. fact that the Institute’s board of tural Park cannot be counted on, the If the Institute wishes instead to directors would function as a power- SEI, together with the loan-giving break off the activity, it may do so.” less appendage of the Park’s direc- bank, has decided to put the property The importance of the Friendship torate and that the founding princi- up for sale and lay off the employees. Organization increases at this mo- ples of the Institute would be evis- The property’s value prevents bank- ment of need. More than ever, the cerated. Especially disturbing is the ruptcy and will allow for the orderly Institute now needs its members’ fact that the founding purpose of the transfer of the archives, library, support, advice, and ideas. If it comes SEI could no longer be guaranteed. exhibitions, etc., to a place and insti- about that the Swedish Emigrant It is particularly doubtful that the tution where the work hopefully can Institute moves from Växjö, the Institute’s international activities be re-established. Friendship Association will naturally could continue, given that this does The abandonment of The House of follow and perhaps even strengthen not seem to interest the Cultural Emigrants, dedicated in 1968 and its work with new partners. Park. At least as damaging is that the designed purposely for its work, is a Ulf Beijbom SEI under a locally acting chief can tragedy and a national scandal of Professor no longer maintain its standing as great import. The blame falls on the Former director of SEI the Swedish national institution for unyielding stance taken by the [Also published in Sweden & Amer- emigration history. owners of AB Kulturparken Små- ica magazine] That the situation has now land. Surprisingly, the politicians, the reached such a point is mostly due tourist establishment, and the busi- Ed:s note: If you plan to go there this to the SEI’s finances collapsing due ness community have shown great summer, check their web site to decreased support from the muni- indifference towards a cultural insti- Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 5 Your link to your history!

We have many new, exciting resources for The researchers. 1880 Swedish Here we mention Census just a few – there is is going to become much more on our a CD-database! web site! Will be released later in 2010! 1897–1939 Scanned extracts from the Swedish Two of the released prisoners in the SVAR Civil Registration. prison records. Births, Marriages New and Deaths, and scans of the Census original Mormon 1930. microfilms for more than half the län in Sweden. Try Ervalla parish in Örebro län for free! www.svar.ra.se

Contact us at [email protected] SVAR, Box 160, S-880 40 Ramsele, Sweden. Phone + 46-10-476 77 50. Fax + 46-10-476 77 20.

6 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 News from the Swenson Center

From left to right: Bruce Larson (outgoing SCA Board Chair), John Norton (nominated by Augustana College, Augustana Historical Society, American Scandinavian Association at Augustana), Judy Ahlquist Mayer and Helene Leaf (Swenson Center), Herb Hult (Swedish Heritage Society of Swedesburg, IA), Lilly Setterdahl (Emigrant Institute), Ted Johnson (SCA Awards & Recognition Committee Chair), and Willow Hagans (incoming SCA Board Chair.) Photo: courtesy of Swedish Council of America. Two Swenson volunteers among the recipients of the SCA “Awards of Merit” At the meeting in the “Quad Cities” Judy Ahlquist Mayer and Helene “John’s volunteer activities include on Friday, 9 April 2010, by the board Leaf: “They both started coming in service on the board of Scandinavian of the Swedish Council of America regularly to the Swenson Center Seminar, the Augustana Heritage As- (SCA) and a number of affiliated when the Center acquired a subscrip- sociation, and newsletter editor of the organizations in Iowa and Illinois tion to Genline in 2005. With their Augustana Historical Society news- there were festivities and a banquet. regular assistance, we have been able letter. He is a former vice-president Five SCA “Awards of Merit” were to provide on-site researchers with and board member of the Bishop Hill given to some well-known and dili- professional individual service. Heritage Association.” gent promoters of Swedish America. “The expertise and tenacity they Lilly Setterdahl “is the author or Here are some of the accomplish- have developed by reading and inter- coauthor of eleven books of nonfic- ments of the awardees: preting old Swedish parish records tion, and numerous research articles “Herb Hult has spent countless is impressive and highly valued by dealing with the history and experi- volunteer hours making the Swedish our patrons. We often receive com- ences of Swedish immigrants. Her American Museum in Swedesburg a ments from a researcher such as “I major book titles are: Swedes in reality over the past 20 years. Herb could never have found this informa- Moline, Illinois (2003), Minnesota presently serves on the Swedish tion without Judy/Helene.” Swedes, two volumes (1996 and Heritage Society’s Board of Directors John Norton: “John is being nomi- 1999), Rockford Swedes (coauthored and is also a grant director.” nated by the Augustana Historical 1993), and A Century of Song (1992).” “Herb’s greatest contribution and Society because the past four years [Ed:s note]: Lilly’s new book Chi- achievement has been an on-going he has served as editor of our news- cago Swedes: They spoke from the project. Four books which he has letter which should be published heart, presents 340 oral histories and compiled show the location of all past twice annually. He gets so interested 300 photographs produced by her and present landowners, homes, in the translating that he does that late husband Lennart Setterdahl, churches, and schools in Swedesburg he will publish three times annually! 1967-1992. It will be reviewed soon and Wayne township in Henry Coun- He gives tirelessly of his time to sup- in SAG. ty, Iowa.” port the Swedish heritage in the Quad City Area.”

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 7 Ready to go?

BY MICHAEL JOHN NEILL

The Editor’s tion where it can easily be located? the way you want them to be han- Would someone be tempted to dled? Introduction: “dump” your genealogy information Find out if the person or group you I recently noticed Michael John rather than ship it to a person or a wish to have your materials actually Neill’s new venture with his Casefile place that would take it? The author wants them. Some libraries and Clues, which looked like something I barely had twenty-four hours to go archives are facing space constraints might find useful in my quest to bet- through his grandmother’s home in and may have to turn down material, ter understand how to do U.S. gene- Florida and decide what to ship especially that which is undocu- alogy, and became a subscriber. home, what to donate, and what to mented and unorganized. This type Among the first issues was the throw out. of material has a greater chance of following article, which I found Is there anyone who would even being refused. If your material is thought-provoking. So I asked for Mr. want your collection of information? organized, have you considered Neill’s permission to reprint it in Are your materials in such a dis- digitizing it as a way to preserve it SAG, which he gave me. organized state that anyone would for future generations? And remem- even bother with them? As you have ber that undocumented information Here comes the article researched, have you indicated is still undocumented even if digi- Ready to Go? where you obtained copies of various tized. You may have to find other papers, or have you gathered and family members besides your child- This week’s Casefile Clues originally piled? Would someone receiving your ren to whom to give your informa- appeared in the Ancestry Daily News files have any idea where you ob- tion and files – this may mean split- 1 on 15 November 1999 and takes a tained your information? Or would ting up your collection of material. look at the future instead of our your materials be simply a collection Have you attempted to preserve typical trip into the past. of photocopies, printouts, and digital old letters or other handwritten As morbid as it sounds, when I go scans from unknown sources? materials by transcribing them and I want my death certificate filled out Have you done something with donating copies to relevant libraries accurately and my mother’s maiden your genealogical information be- or archives? This is an excellent way name (Ufkes) spelled correctly in my sides collecting more of it? Are your to preserve such records. The tran- obituary. It would be deeply ironic if photographs, newspaper clippings, scription should be done accurately, such information were incorrect in and other materials inventoried and carefully, and thoughtfully. Make the final records of a genealogist. organized in a fashion that someone certain to use archival safe materials However, a family historian needs to else could determine what your col- in which to store these relics of your think about more than having a lection contained? past. correct death certificate and obituary. Do you have a preference for what Are you the only one who knows If, heaven forbid, you were to die will happen to your materials when the identity of individuals in certain in the next few days, what would you are no longer among the living? pictures? Are you the only one who happen to your genealogical mate- You may need to stipulate such in- knows what family member made or rials? Can you even locate them? formation in your will or estate purchased the antique dresser or ta- Could anyone else? Are they some- planning. And remember that some- ble that sits in your home? Share this what organized? Could your spouse one settling your estate is really more information. You don’t have to give or someone else step in and figure out concerned with dealing with finances the furniture away just yet, but let what you were doing and what was than with a box of papers or a disk others know about it so that its his- what? full of information. Do you really tory does not disappear when you are If you live far from family mem- trust and expect your executor to gone. bers, do you have important informa- handle your genealogical materials

8 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 Have you written or compiled a another commercial site does not documented family history and necessarily guarantee long-term pre- distributed copies on high quality servation of your information. Com- paper to interested persons and re- panies go out of business and web- levant libraries? Are you preserving sites go down. your information in other ways be- All of us need to give some thought sides electronic media? It won’t last to these issues to ensure that the forever and there’s little guarantee genealogical information we have that the file format you use today will worked so hard to collect actually be readable in twenty years. Are you outlives us. There is not necessarily sharing your data responsibly in an one answer, but do not let your family attempt to preserve it? history work die with you. It is not just death we should be Remember: Genealogist—pre- concerned about. What if your home serve thyself. burned? What if there was a natural disaster? Have you shared some of Footnote: Michael John Neill. your information with others so that 1) Michael John Neill, “Ready to tered across the U.S. and Europe. re-obtaining it would not be onerous? Go,” Ancestry Daily News, 15 Novem- Casefile Clues does not try to “scoop” Are there any personal family arti- ber 1999, accessed 20 March 2010, the latest news, rather I focus on using facts that you may wish to store http://www.rootdig.com/adn/ and interpreting records. My goal is somewhere besides your home? Are readytogo.html. some of your materials at risk of to give you ideas to help you with your being flooded in your basement? own research. Since 1995, I have No one likes to think of that time About the author: written over 600 genealogy columns when they will no longer be among Michael John Neill is a well-known for both Ancestry and Eastman's the living. Yet it happens to all of us. genealogist and lecturer on the local Online Newsletter. My new columns Genealogists should leave behind and national level. He lives in Illinois for Casefile Clues are distributed more than boxes of unorganized pa- and is a mathematics teacher. only through direct e-mail.” pers and digital media. No one can He presents himself like this: “I To find out more visit his web site get their material organized in one write Casefile Clues a weekly gene- at http://www.casefileclues.com/ day. Start slowly, one family at a time alogy newsletter focusing on gene- or search for Casefile Clues at Face- to make the process more man- alogy research methodology and in- book. Mr. Neill’s children have 1/16 ageable. terpretation. Every week I look at a part of their ancestors from Sweden, Consider too that simply submit- record or a problem from one of the from Östergötland. ting information to Ancestry.com or many families of my children scat- The Royal Wedding On June 19, 2010, Crown Princess Victoria will marry Mr. Daniel West- ling of Ockelbo, Sweden. Mr. Westling has been a gym owner, and was the private trainer for the Crown Prin- cess, who turned out to be the love of his life. The couple got engaged in February 2009, and now it is time for the big wedding in Stockholm Cathe- dral (Storkyrkan). At this occasion Mr. Westling will become Prince Dan- iel, duke of Västergötland, as the Crown Princess is already the Duch- ess of Västergötland. The newlyweds will reside at the Haga Palace in northern Stockholm. It might also be noted that Princess Madeleine has broken her engage- ment to Mr. Jonas Bergström.

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 9 Ester Karolina – a Värmland emigrant

One of the Swedish maids who left their home for a new life.

BY CARLA PETERSON SULLIVAN (†)

When I started doing genealogy in of their marriage certificate. The first out. After finding the correct buil- September of 1994, I planned on only fact I noticed was that in the U.S. her ding, I purchased a copy of the death researching my grandfather Peterson name was spelled Setterlund. Otto certificate, and it was my grandmoth- ancestors because I knew nothing was listed in the city directories, in er Ester! The address on this certi- about my grandmother Zetterlund. Springfield until 1915. My father ficate was the same address as on the Because she died when my father Carl Joseph was born there on Octo- 1920 census and it listed my grand- was so very young, he remembered ber 15, 1912, and his sister, Lydia, in father Otto as her husband. very little about her. All he told me 1914. Then, they disappeared. My While walking back to the car I was she died in 1917 in Springfield, mother said she thought my father saw a library just across the street. MA, and of course she was born in said they lived in Connecticut for a Off we go to see if perhaps Otto is Sweden. My grandfather also died little while. listed in the city directories, and before I was born so I never had an I went to Waltham to research the dreamer that I am maybe, just maybe opportunity to talk with my grand- 1920 Connecticut census to see if per- an obituary for Ester. Otto was not parents. haps I could find my grandfather in any of the Bridgeport city direc- Before my father died in 1981, he Otto and the two children. To my tories, however, Ester had an obit- decided to try and find his mother’s complete amazement not only did I uary!!! Even the librarians were sur- gravesite. I can remember him talk- find Otto, my father, and his sister, prised and thrilled that I had found ing with a funeral director and but Ester was also listed. This could this. We left the library truly amazed asking him to try and find this for not be correct, she died in 1917! I was at our finding this day. him as he wanted to make arrange- told that perhaps the husband was ments to have his mother moved and afraid that if no mother was listed, Off to the Mountain placed with his father in the New he would lose his children, so he in- Swedish Cemetery. Unfortunately, he cluded her name on the census? Not Grove cemetery was told that they had found that the knowing how to pursue this I simply The office personnel was very nice cemetery records had burned and went to the library, got the names and and explained that the little informa- there was no way of telling where in telephone numbers of all the ceme- tion they had is all that is legally the cemetery his mother was buried. teries in Connecticut and started required. The cemetery is very large This fact made him very, very un- calling each, asking if they had an and a nice man drove as we followed, happy and he never talked about it Ester Peterson buried there. to show us where Ester’s grave was. again. Unbelievably, it only took three or Sadly, it is unmarked. Therefore, I knew it would not be four telephone calls until on Nov. 1, We went across the street to a possible for me, a novice genealogist, 1995, one of the cemeteries told me monument company and got some to locate any information or records that they indeed had an Ester Peter- pricing on having a stone put on her regarding my grandmother Ester or son buried there; she died in June grave. We now started home still her family. 1920. Unfortunately this was the amazed that today I had found my only information that they had: no grandmother… A hopeless task? address, no age, and no name of the No one in my family could believe that I had found Ester’s grave after Wrong, wrong, wrong!!! Basically all person who had bought the plot. Thus, no way of knowing if this was what my father had been told. the information about Ester I had or Actually I found it unbelievable. had heard was incorrect. my grandmother or not. Nov. 9, 1995: Off to Bridgeport. I To finish the story of Ester’s grave- The following is the story of how I site: my family and I discussed what found Ester and the continuing re- go to try and get a death certificate for the person buried at this ceme- we should do as we knew my father search to learn more about her family was very unhappy thinking his moth- in the United States and Sweden. I tery. It was a long shot, but I had to find out. Bridgeport is ca 110 miles er’s grave would not be visited by his knew the year that Ester married children and grandchildren. My Otto, in Springfield, as I had a copy from my home, but I still had to find

10 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 to Springfield to what is very difficult d. Betty Kristina, b. 9 Jan. in Ockelbo, to read but I think it says to see her Gävleborg län. sister B. Johanson. The address is d. Inga Mathilda, b. 27 Sep. 1879 in unreadable. There were two sisters, Skog. one in Springfield, and it stated that d. Ada Katarina, b. 19 Dec. 1881 in Maria had come previously to the Skog. U.S. in 1910. d. Maria Wiktoria, b. 21 Feb. 1881 in More pieces to the puzzle fitted Skog. nicely into place. I was able to find d. Elin Amanda, b. 31 May 1885 in the 1910 and the 1920 census for MA Sunne for Maria in Springfield. I have not d. Emma Alfvida, b. 25 May 1887 in been able to locate B. Johanson as of Sunne. grandfather is buried in a single yet. d. Lydia Charlotta, b. 16 Apr. 1896 in grave at the New Swedish Cemetery The passenger record was difficult Sunne. and with this fact and the knowledge to read as far as where in Sweden They were all living at Norra Borge- of the difficulties involved in moving Maria and Ester had come from. I by in 1895. a body, we decided to have her me- carried this record everywhere for a morialized by having her maiden long time, hoping someone could read Sources: name, date of birth, date of death and it. Many guesses were given but no the word MOTHER inscribed on my Sunne C:15, page 344 one could really tell for sure. Thus, Sunne AI:67, page 127 grandfather’s monument just below without a parish no records of her his name and the word Father. This Sunne AI:71, page 134 family could be found. However, I was Sunne AI:75, page 152 was completed the week of my fa- very happy just to have found her. ther’s birthday, October 1996, and my sister, mother, husband, and myself went and brought flowers for the first time ever to my grandmother. My father is buried just a few rows up Later, someone suggested that it from this grave. My son has since could be Sunne, in Värmland. visited it with me and we all plan to A letter was written, on my behalf, continue. to the parish of Sunne in Värmland explaining that I was trying to locate What was her any living relatives and thought my background? grandmother was born in Sunne. Again, more information came listing Now to see if I can find out anything my grandmother and all her siblings, about her family. I thought Ester was the addresses of any still living in probably the only Zetterlund that Sunne and the records of where and immigrated because if there had when the others moved. been others, wouldn’t my father have I learned that Ester had many known something about them? NO! siblings; so far I have been able to She definitely was not the only Zet- find out the following information Ester Zetterlund (Sätterlund) 1889–1920. terlund who immigrated. [added by the editor from Sunne We went to Springfield to search About the author church records]: the indexes to the New York passen- Carla Peterson Sullivan was an avid Ester Karolina was born 6 Oct. ger records. I found no Ester Zetter- genealogist who passed away in 2003. 1889 in Norra Borgeby in Sunne, lund. However, I found one Ester She was passionate about her Swe- daughter of the homestead owner Setterlund who came in 1910. It did dish ancestry, and tried to write down Lars Zetterlund (born 8 June 1851 not say from where, but it did say she the story of all her Swedish ancestors. in Norra Råda, Värmland), and his was a 20-year-old female. Most of her genealogy collection was wife Kerstin Persdotter [incorrectly I kept this information until I donated to the Swedish Ancestry listed as Maria in the birth records], could go to Pittsfield. We finally got Reseach Association [SARA] of Wor- born 3 Jan. 1852 in Sunne, and they to go to Pittsfield in August of 1996 cester, MA. Some of her material has had been married 16 Nov. 1875. and again there she was. Ester ar- been printed in the SARA News- Several of the siblings also came to rived at the port of New York on letter. The above story was printed the U.S. Sep.18, 1910, and she was traveling in the 2010 February Newsletter and Ester’s siblings were: with her sister Maria Setterlund is reprinted in SAG with permission s. Olof, b. 16 Aug 1876 in Skog, Gävle- [both indexed as “Salterlund”], going from SARA. borg län.

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 11 Find your Swedish roots! Genline’s Swedish Church Records archive contains over 36 million pages from the Swedish Church Books from the 1600’s to 1937. Record types include births, marriages, deaths, house- hold examinations records (similar to yearly census records), registers of movement in and out of parishes and church accounts. All birth, marriage and death records for all of Sweden up to 1937 have been added to the archive. making genline even better New features and functions • Now adding parish books from approximately 1896 and forward in accordance with the Swedish confi dentiality act. • Indexing household examination records by place name - 45% of household examinations books now indexed by place • Capability to download and view a higher quality image on 92,5% of records • Users can transcribe records save nearly   on a annual genline subscription! Register with Genline as a new member and enter GENCOM990 in the Special Coupon Box and redeem. If you are a current member, sign in and enter GENCOM990 in the Special Coupon SPECIAL Box and redeem. If you have a current subscription, your OFFER purchase will be added to your current subscription. Expiration date, September 30, 2010.

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12 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 An “America Letter” from 1846

TRANSLATED BY JOHN E. NORTON

This is a translation from a publi- the writer and one of his followers Endnote: cation called Beskrifning öfwer Nor- bought various small articles, like 1) Translator’s note: this was pro- ra Amerikas Förenta Stater och ser- knives, books, etc., which they sold bably Georg Henrik Collini, who skildt öfwer Staden Newyork, jemte around the nearby area. This activity emigrated in the spring of 1843 Anteckningar och Bref… …Andra appears to have succeeded in no together with Nils Fredrik Åström, tillökta Upplagan, Westerwik, Tryck- small way, since the writer, after a Jonas Svedberg, Fabian Fränell, and te hos D.C. Ekblad et Comp. 1846 year, had earned about $200.00, Carl Magnus Flack, aboard the [Description of the North American which however was spent when he Carolina. They arrived New York United States and especially of the became infected with fever. After City 28 August 1843. An unsigned city of New York, and notes and lett- recovery, the same work was con- letter dated Buffalo, New York, 20 ers, 2nd augmented edition, Väster- tinued in the state of New York, Can- August 1846 appeared in the Östgöta vik, printed by D.C. Ekblad & Co. ada and other locations. During these Correspondenten of 28 October 1846. 1846]. trips he became acquainted with a It states that Collini was then in trader in Louisville, for whom he Louisville, while Nils Fredrik Å- Page 23: worked from April to December last ström and Jonas Svedberg were op- 1 One of the young tradesmen who a year, when he himself opened a little erating a restaurant in Chicago, few years ago emigrated from Gefle general store in that city, which he where Carl Magnus Flack was also to North America, has, in a letter hopes will succeed, since work possi- living. dated Louisville, Kentucky, 7 Janu- bilities in relation to the country’s Editor’s note: More information ary 1846, provided a relative living natural riches, and the yearly in- on Georg Henrik Collini and his in Gefle information about his fate creasing means of communications, fellow emigrants can be found in after arrival in America. The emi- are much better there than in the notes 799–803 in Swedish Passenger grants went from New York to Wis- homeland. Most of the writer’s Arrivals in the United States 1820– consin, with the thought of settling comrades have followed his example, 1850, by Nils William Olsson and there, but changed their minds upon and have put farming out of their Erik Wikén (Stockholm 1995). seeing the situation in which the minds. The first winter, however, the Swedes there, the well-known Fri- writer and another native of Gefle mans and (Gustaf) Unonius, found worked for a farmer, for food and The translator is John E. Norton themselves. The economic condition tutoring in English. This farmer gave 4015 36th Ave. Ct. of these persons was described as far them plenty of work, but was de- Moline, IL 61265, U.S.A. from good. Our emigrants sold here scribed as an educated person, and Tel. 309 736-3131 at auction the ironware they had their time with him was considered Epost: [email protected] brought at a considerable loss, since very useful to them. The writer could neither the designs nor workman- not complain about the people. The ship met American demands. Upon Americans have appeared generally seeing the emigrants’ axes, they to him as friendly, well-mannered, asked us about the purpose of those industrious and hard working, but tools, and when they were informed, not always so principled, so a they laughed heartily at the clumsy stranger should be watchful in order work. From here, the emigrants to avoid being cheated. returned to Buffalo, where they, during their travel inland, had become acquainted with a Swede named Mosell(?), upon whose advice

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 13 This is the 1st Father Unknown issue of the - What to Do? 30th volume, and this is one of the BY ELISABETH THORSELL old gems

A not uncommon problem in working hunt for the child's father very long (Ög.) wished to move from his parish backwards in one's family pedigree as in the case of the following child - to Norra Vi, another parish in Öster- is to discover that a child is born to “Anders Petter, born 28 Jan. 1846, the götland, in 1858. The clergyman an unwed mother, and one wonders son of Inga Carin Persdotter, servant noted in the household examination then if it is possible to find the (piga) from Humlebäcken on the roll that “Anna Lotta Andersdotter in missing father. estate of Eksjöhult in Ulrika parish Malma expressly forbids that Gustaf This is a problem for which it is (Ög.). It was legally determined that Pettersson be given a certificate of impossible to lay down general rules the child's father was Anders Fred- freedom to marry.” This Anna Lotta or solutions, but perhaps a few rik Nilsson, a servant (dräng) in was found on the following page to experiences in my research can give Kärr.1” have given birth 20 Sept. 1858 to an hints as to possible ways of solving illegitimate son named Johan Alfred, the mystery. More difficult cases and she seems to have had reasons In olden days when there was a If the parish records are not that for naming Gustaf Pettersson as the strong social consciousness and helpful, one will have to attempt father of the child and therefore strong ecclesiastical control, the pro- other avenues. The first thing to wished to block him from having the blem with illegitimate children was determine is to see if the child, as it certificate, since he was not free to not as prevalent as it became in the grows to adulthood, uses the same marry, according to her statement. In 19th century, as documented by the patronymic (a father's name like this specific case the man stated that parish registers. Unfortunately we do Larsson) as his mother or maternal he was not the father of the child and not know too much about this pro- grandfather. If this is not the case in 1861 swore an oath that such was blem before 1871, but in that year a but it carries the name Jonsdotter, the case. The notation in the house- publication appeared in Sweden the mother is named Larsdotter, and hold examination followed him, nev- titled Historisk statistik för Sverige the grandfather Svensson, one may ertheless, until he departed for Amer- (Historical Statistics for Sweden), suspect that someone named Jon or ica in 1866. which according to the year of Jonas was the child's father, and then If one finds a plausible candidate publication (1871) gave the number see if the mother had been a maid as the father but has found nothing of unwed mothers as 10% of all servant (piga) in the same household in the parish records to prove this women giving birth. Thus it is as a person named Jon of the approxi- point, one should follow his career probable that every genealogist mately the same age. If one finds a until he dies. A notation may show sooner or later will find the word Jon who seems to fit the case, one up much later, for example the child illegitimate (oä=oäkta) in the birth may follow him in the parish records may have been domiciled with the registers in some generation. in order to see if the clergyman has supposed father. It has even occurred added a note which may solve the that the child finally is mentioned in An easily solved mystery. the estate inventory of the deceased. Gustaf Pettersson, a servant The secretary in the Department problem of the Army (Krigskollegium), Fred- If one is lucky one may not have to (dräng) in Malma, Västra Ryd parish

Ulrika (Ög.) birth records, volume C:3 (1846). 14 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 rik Wilhelm Westée, died in Stock- Child Murder Manifesto The child of the unwed holm 27 Dec. 1882. His estate inven- The Swedish King Gustaf III was mother in rural areas tory (bouppteckning) was probated 22 often confronted with cases having Feb. 1883 and according to this Let us now return to the illegitimate to do with mothers who had taken child in rural Sweden. One should not document he died without leaving the life of an infant, and whether he any known heirs. But in examining forget that despite everything else it should have them executed or par- was considered a crime up until 1864 the volume of estate inventories more doned. He finally became quite closely one found, after the document for persons to indulge in premarital concerned by the number of infants intercourse or adultery. There were itself, a will drawn up by Fredrik killed, and issued a manifesto known Wilhelm, dated 1876, which specified specified punishments to be meted as “child murder manifesto” (barna- out according to Sweden's legal Code that his estate should be divided in mordsplakatet), signed into law 17 two equal parts, one of these to go to of 1734, which stated that the first Oct. 1778. This order said among time these crimes were perpetrated his son, Ludvig Wilhelm Alfons other things that “a woman who Westée, a manufacturer in North the man was to pay a fine of ten da- wished to give birth at an unspecified ler and the woman five, or for the America, and the other to his daugh- location, could do so without being ter Edla Lovisa Adelaide, married to man 14 days' prison or workhouse molested and without being queried and for the woman half that amount. a Gustavi. as to her name or other personal This proved that Ludvig Wilhelm The nature of these crimes was such details.” that it was difficult to prove unless Alfons really was the son of Fredrik This functioned quite well in the Wilhelm, which his descendants had it resulted in the birth of a child. cities, where one often sees the state- Of the fines collected half was to claimed right along. However, he was ment “unknown parents” (okända born in Hedvig Eleonora parish in go to the parish treasury, and it may föräldrar) in the birth registers, but pay to search the parish accounts or Stockholm; of “unknown parents”, his scarcely in rural areas, where people mother was 25 years old and lived in those of the special account set up for usually knew quite a bit about their the poor, shortly after the birth of the the Repslagaren quarter. neighbors. The sister, Edla Lovisa Adelaide, child to see if the mother paid a fine In the cities, however, despite the to the church. If one is fortunate, one was married to a battalion adjutant notation concerning unknown par- named Gustaf Wilhelm Gustavi, who might find that a man paid the dou- ents sometimes the mother's age is ble amount at about the same time, later lived in Rappestad Parish (Ög.). given as well as an address. If one The parish records of Rappestad pretty good evidence for looking a checks the latter for the time period little closer as to who the father state that Edla was born in Jacob- in question one will often find the Johannes Parish in Stockholm in might be. residence of a midwife who took care If the mother paid her fine to the 1840, but she is not to be found in of the wayward girls (obemärkta the birth register. In a special volume parish and to the poor, the next step flickor), a term used even into mod- is to look at the court records of the for the births of illegitimate children ern times. In such cases it is almost there is a note, however, which has hundred (härad). Here the simplest hopeless to continue the search. way is to look at the fines paid (sak- been pasted in, dated 1853, in which It is somewhat different if the child Fredrik Wilhelm admits that he and öreslängd), which is generally found was born at a birthing center (barn- bound at the end of the court records his then deceased betrothed, Lovisa bördshus) or if the child had been Ulrica Nyman, were Edla's parents. themselves at each assizes. In this admitted to an orphanage soon after register one can search for those who The fact that Edla is not listed as its birth. One should then search the born in Jacob Parish may be due to were fined, often with a reference to journals and registers, since some- the court case itself, so that one may the fact that she was born in one of times the mother deposited with the the city's birthing centers and that go directly to the court record with- institution a sealed envelope which out having to go through the entire the parents used their prerogative of might contain the key to solving the being registered as “unknown.” large volume. puzzle by naming the parents of the Most of the time it was the county child. sheriff (länsman) who brought charg- es against the man and the woman, but occasionally it was also the fath- er of the woman who charged his daughter, or the woman who brought suit against the child's father for child support. On 6 Jan. 1836 Maria Larsdotter, The birth of Ludvig Wilhelm Alfons, as child #205, born on the 20th, and baptized on a servant (piga) in Löt parish on the 3 October by the H[of] Pred[ikant] (= clergyman to the Court) Sjöstedt. Parents: island of Öland paid a fine of 32 shil- unknown, mother’s age 25 years, living in Repslagaren Qu[arter]. Midwife lings (skilling) to her parish church (barnm[orska] Mrs. Bodenberg. [Hedvig Eleonora. Volume CI:18 {Births 1825–1830]]. Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 15 for having indulged in fornication The court then announced its de- had had the child recorded in the (lönskaläge). On 6 Nov. 1835 she had cision that Olof should be fined three church records as her child. In 1905 given birth to her daughter Stina daler and 16 skilling or be incar- an illegitimate child got the full Cajsa, and she now was to be brought cerated for 14 days in the county jail inheritance rights after the mother into the church after the purification and in addition pay one daler and 16 and her family, but not until 1970 process and she wished to have her skilling to the parish church in Löt. after the father and his family. debt to the church paid before this In addition he was to pay Maria event. Stina Cajsa, the daughter, annually a barrel of good rye and six Other sources used the patronymic Olsdotter as an daler and 32 skilling; should he re- Among other sources that should be adult, the mother was Maria Lars- fuse, the court would order the fore- tried, should they exist in the parish dotter, and the maternal grandfath- closure of his farm. Maria was to pay examined, are the series known as er's name was Lars Andersson, so the 32 skilling to Löt church which she the G Series, [rarely filmed] consis- child's patronymic should give us a already had done. ting of registers of pardons issued for clue as to who the father was. In this case the man admitted his offenders as well as journals of pun- In the court records for the north- guilt, but there are many cases where ishment meted out to those guilty, ern district of Öland (Ölands Norra the man denied the charge and where persons are named who were Mot) for the assizes held during the despite the fact that there had been absolved by the clergyman either winter term of 1836 this case came witnesses who had seen the couple secretly or openly before the public. up for consideration under § 285. A. in the same bed, continued to deny This was one of the methods used by Thiman, the sheriff, had sued Olof the charge, finally swearing an oath the church to uphold public morality Johnson, a farmer in Stora Hage- to free himself. In such cases the as well as punish the guilty. lunda in Alböke parish (Kalm.) and woman had to accept that there was In older times, when an illegi- Maria Larsdotter, a servant in Lund- no official father for her child, which timate child was an unusual occur- by, Löt parish “to assume responsi- could pose quite a problem. rence, one may find the event re- bility for having indulged in forni- ported to the diocesan chapter (Dom- cation, urging the court to sentence The inheritance rights of kapitlet), where such cases can be Olof Johnson, the defendant, to pay the illegitimate child found in the records submitted by child support.” each parish. Both parties were present and According to the Law of 1734 a child born out of wedlock did not inherit As is usual when it comes to diffi- admitted their guilt. Maria demand- cult problems in genealogical re- ed that Olof should pay her annually anything from either of the parents or their families. This was changed search, one must try all possible one barrel of rye as well as 100 daler avenues in order to solve the prob- for the child's subsistence, which he in 1866, so the child could inherit from the mother, provided that she lem. I have here sought to discuss refused to do. some of the most important ones. My chief advice is to leave no path un- tried until success has been reached.

Literature on the subject There is very little literature on the subject of finding the unknown fa- ther, whereas the illegitimate child and its mother have been studied in many works. Among these I should mention Jonas Frykman's Horan i bondesamhället (The Whore in Rural Society) (1977), which gives too dark a picture of the unwed mother and her prospects for the future. Svante and Sten W. Jakobsson have given in Orons och förtvivlans gerningar (The Results of Anxiety and Despair) This is a Saköreslängd (list of fines) from Färnebo härad (legal district) , where the (1987) a shocking picture of the anx- first offender is Anders Olsson of Bjurbäcken, who was sentenced for first time illegal iety the unwed mother experienced intercourse (lönskaläger), and had to pay a fine of 14 daler, of which 4 daler was for in the face of her pregnancy and birth the church, and 10 for not having to go to jail. The next one is the reserve soldier Bengt of the child. This study touches on the Olsson from Bjurbäcken, who paid the same for the same offense. The third is the situation in Stockholm. Beata Los- “female person” (Qwinfolket) Elin Persdotter, for having had intercourse with two men. man in Kvinnor, män och barn på

16 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 1800-talets svenska landsbygd (Wom- en, Men and Children in Rural Swe- den During the 19th Century) (1986) gives a good picture of the role of the family in Värmland. Anne-Sofie Ohlander in her book Kärlek, död och frihet (Love, Death and Freedom) (1986) illustrates other aspects of the life of women in older times. Marie Lindstedt Cronberg published in 1997 her thesis Synd och skam. Ogifta mödrar på svensk landsbygd 1680–1880 (Sin and Shame. Unmar- ried Mothers in Rural Sweden1680– 1880), as this is a thesis it does have a ten page summary in English. All of these books have excellent referen- ces to literature in the field which can furnish additional tips for future re- search. Unfortunately none of these books This document is from the birth records of Karlskrona Stadsförsamling, volume CI:6. referred to above are available in an The child Vilhelmina was born 17 Feb. 1880 of unmarried parents, and they were English translation. only listed as “unknown,” but they were really Johan Henrik Andersson and Ingrid Charlotta Abrahamsson. On 31 July1881 they married in Stockholm (Storkyrkoförsamlingen) and had by Editor’s note: then also another child, Signe Emilia. Later they had nine more children, making a This was first published in Inte bara total of 11. But why they did not legitimize Vilhelmina until 1885, when the above kyrkböcker – Släktforskarnas Årsbok form was filled out and attached to her birth record, is not known. 1990, then translated by Nils William On this form they have also acknowledged that Vilhelmina was born in Karlskrona, Olsson and published in the Dec. but baptized at the temporary maternity hospital (Provisoriska Barnbördshuset) in 1992 issue of Swedish American Stockholm just a week later. They also tell that the child was conceived under promise Genealogist. of marriage (äktenskapslöfte), so she should have had the same rights as a child in marriage, but how to prove that without the parents’ names in the birth record?

The Bernadotte Family – 200 years in Sweden

On the 21st of August1810 the Swed- However, he did not share the view ish parliament, assembled in Örebro, that he was to start a war with Rus- elected the French Marshal Jean sia; instead he joined the coalition Baptiste Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte against Napoleon, and helped to de- Corvo, to be the new Crown Prince throne him. After that he turned and become the King of Sweden, against Denmark, and conquered when his adoptive father, King Karl Norway in 1814, which had for cen- XIII, died. turies been a part of Denmark. The The King had originally wanted a union between Sweden and Norway Danish prince to inherit the Crown, lasted until 1905. Since the war but many Swedish officers wanted a against Denmark in 1814 Sweden well-know and very efficient Franch has not participated in any war. Marshal, and also a friend of Napo- The Bernadotte dynasty has creat- leon’s instead. They hoped that he ed kings Karl XIV Johan (1818– would help Sweden to regain Fin- 1844), Oscar I (1844-1859), Karl XV land, which had been conquered by (1859–1872), Oscar II (1872–1907), Russia in 1809. Gustaf V (1907–1950, Gustaf VI Adolf These officers and some French (1950–1973), and now Carl XVI Gus- lobbyists were very successful, and taf, who has been the King of Sweden Bernadotte was elected and later since 1973. changed his name to Carl Johan.

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 17 Handwriting Example XXIV

The above text is taken from the to the king and ask for a change of The superior court for Sweden is minutes of criminal cases (Protokoll verdict or to ask for a pardon. called Högsta Domstolen and was i brottmål) of the Svea Hovrätt (Svea In 1623 a hovrätt was founded in founded in 1789 by Gustaf III. It is Court of Appeal), volume AIaB1:117 Åbo (Turku) in Finland, then a part situated in Stockholm. (July-Dec. 1834). of Sweden. In 1630 another one in All cases with a verdict of execu- Since the early middle ages there Dorpat (Tartu) in Estonia, then a part tion, from the häradsrätt, were sent had been local court meetings in the of Sweden. The Göta Hovrätt was on to the hovrätt, and if they con- various districts (härad). Anyone founded in 1634 in Jönköping, to firmed the verdict, the sentenced who was not satisfied with the rul- handle cases from southern Sweden person could write to the king and ings of the häradsrätten could appeal (including Värmland up to 1813, af- ask for pardon or a lesser sentence. to the king, and maybe get it changed. terwards in Svea hovrätt). In 1820 The records of the Svea Hovrätt Around 1600 the king Karl IX there was founded the Hovrätten över are kept at the Riksarkivet (Nation- found this to be not very effective and Skåne. During the 1900s were also al Archives) in Stockholm. Records tried to find a better way to handle founded the Hovrätten för Västra from Göta Hovrätt are now kept in these court cases. But it was his son Sverige in Göteborg (1936), then the the Landsarkivet (Regional Archives) Gustaf II Adolf who in 1614 founded Hovrätten för Nedre Norrland in in Vadstena, and only a small part of the Svea Hovrätt as a court of appeal. Sundsvall (1948), and the Hovrätten the records are microfilmed. In some cases it was possible to write för Övre Norrland in Umeå (1936). Solution on page 22.

18 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 Bits & Pieces

The Swedish-American John Norton – Swedish Minnesota Book Awards Historical Quarterly American of the year for 2010 The Quarterly, now (in 2010) in its It was recently announced that John Award for General Nonfiction, spon- 62nd year, has been called “the most E. Norton of Moline, Ill., was recently sored by Minnesota AFL-CIO: important and continuing source of elected to the honor of The Swedish- Joy K. Lintelman – I Go to Amer- information about Swedes in North American of the Year 2010. John E. ica: Swedish American Women and America” and is cited frequently in Norton has been a board member of the Life of Mina Anderson – publis- books and articles as a reference. Its Scandinavian Seminar, The Ameri- hed by Minnesota Historical Society editors have included Paul A. Varg, can Scandinavian Association at Press. Review in SAG 1/2009. E. Gustav Johnson, Franklin D. Scott, Augustana College, and the August- I Go to America traces the story of Arnold Barton, Raymond Jarvi, and, ana Historical Society in Rock Island, writer Mina Anderson, who emi- currently, Byron Nordstrom. where he edits their quarterly news- grated from Sweden to Wisconsin All of the issues from 1950 through letter, and the Bishop Hill Heritage and then to the Twin Cities where 2005 as well as two indexes have Association, devoted to restoration of she worked as a domestic servant. It been digitized and are accessible on- this pioneering Swedish “prairie Uto- explores her move to rural Mille Lacs line. pia.” He has maintained his Swedish County where she and her husband This index is excellent and very language through those connections, worked a farm, raised seven child- easy to navigate [Ed:s opinion]. and values his Swedish background ren, and contributed widely to rural Link on the links page, p. 30. Use highly. Swedish community life through her the link and then on the page there John Norton will come to Sweden poetry, fiction, and letters to Swedish is a sentence in red at the bottom of in the summer and take part in American newspapers. Joy K. Lintel- the page; click on that and you will various Swedish-American celebra- man is a professor of history at come to the search page. tions, including the John Ericsson Concordia College in Moorhead. This index was made possible by a Day in Filipstad on 31st of August in Link on page 30! grant from the Barbro Osher Pro Filipstad. Suecia Foundation. (Swedish Council of America, eUpdate Mrs. Willow Hagans May 2010). New genealogical elected new SCA chair At the recent meeting of the board of program for Mac Agneta Nilsson to Swedish Council of America Mrs. Ancestry.com has announced plans receive the Ellis Island Willow Hagans of Detroit, Mich., was to make available a Mac version of Medal elected as the new chair. its Family Tree Maker genealogical Mrs. Hagans's goals during her Agneta Nilsson, the founder of the software package later this year. tenure as Chair include running the Swedish Women’s Educational Asso- (Nu? What’s new? newsletter 2010 May SCA as a business, continuing to ciation (SWEA), is set to receive the 2). expand its outreach to affiliates, 2010 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The promoting various Swedish-Ameri- medal is awarded by the National Margaret Sooy Bridwell can events, and enriching our links Ethnic Coalition of Organizations to Sweden through our office in Karl- elected first woman and Mrs. Nilsson will join the re- stad, Sweden. markable roster of distinguished governor of Swedish (Swedish Council of America, eUpdate American citizens who have already May 2010). Colonial Society received this honor. The Swedish Colonial Society, which (Swedish Council of America, eUpdate The John Morton Project is known for its study of The New May 2010). Sweden Colony, made some history The Swedish Colonial Society runs a of its own with the election of Marga- project on researching John Morton, ret S. Bridwell as its 33rd governor. one of the more important early (Swedish Council of America, eUpdate Swedes, a signer of the Declaration May 2010). of Independence. See link on p.30.

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 19 The Strindin family, and Stockholm of the past

BY KERSTIN JONMYREN

Sweden was a poor country in the still jobs which would give a father ception, but rather common in latter part of the 19th century, and a decent possibility to provide for his Stockholm of that period. Stockholm was one of the worst family. It took until after World War places in the country to live if you II, however, for Stockholm to leave Unwed mothers and were poor. The rapidly growing most of its misery behind. Stockholm of the time was a place of Swedish laws misery – many poor people were The Strindin family According to a royal ordinance of moving in looking for work of any 1778, an unwed mother had the right As a professional genealogist I was to stay “unknown” in the records if kind. Lodgings were miserable, work very well aware of all this, but I was was often dangerous, there was too she preferred to, and then leave her still very surprised and upset to child to an orphanage. By that she much alcohol, disease, prostitution, follow the destiny of one family in unwed mothers, orphanages, chil- avoided punishment from the church Stockholm. for sexual association out of mar- dren looking for work, and so on. If The father was Edvard Strindin, you were healthy and could not pro- riage, which was forbidden by law who was born on 27 Aug. 1842 in until 1864 in Sweden. vide for yourself, you were sent to Sundsvall in northern Sweden. mandatory work, and if you were Still long after the 1860’s, this On 27 Aug. 1870 in Stockholm, he right to keep unknown in the records sick and poor you had to beg. married Johanna Charlotta Anders- Stockholm for poor people could was frequently made use of up until son, born on 15 Aug. 1849 in Adolf 1917, when a new family law was easily be compared to the London of Fredrik parish, Stockholm. the time described in English author passed, and it was no longer possible. Let us first look into her back- There was a surplus of women in Charles Dickens’s novels, although ground: smaller and colder. Stockholm during the 19th century, Johanna Charlotta’s mother was which meant a “men’s market,” so to Still, Stockholm at the end of the Johanna Catharina Andersson, born 19th century and the turn of the 20th speak. Men more often emigrated, on 30 Oct. 1826 in Adolf Fredrik but women with fewer options and century was a place showing much parish, Stockholm. She was un- progress. Many new, beautiful build- less means moved to Stockholm or married and the name of her daugh- had to stay where they were for good. ings were constructed; muse-ums, ter’s father was not given in the birth theaters, and restaurants were open- This right to stay unknown was record. Later on she was married to taken advantage of in the bigger ed; daily papers were published. a janitor, since in the census of 1890 Poets and novelists became promi- cities mostly, such as Stockholm and she was noted as a janitor’s widow. Gothenburg, where people could stay nent and attracted readers, and She had a second daughter, Emma some of them became famous: Au- rather anonymous. In the smaller Mathilda, born in 1854, who was still parishes everybody was well aware gust Strindberg was one of them. unmarried and living with her A new opera house was built. New of who gave birth to illegitimate mother in 1890, but according to the children. architects were busy. Parks were laid census of 1900, she later married and out and opened for all. Now and then pregnant and un- bore three children. married girls went to Stockholm to New schools were opened and all I guess the surname Andersson for children had the right to a free basic give birth anonymously, left their mother and daughters came from children at an orphanage, and then education. There were scholarships Johanna Catharina’s subsequent to the higher schools for poor and returned home to their country par- husband, the janitor. ishes, hoping that nobody would bright children. Stockholm Univer- Johanna Catharina Andersson sity College (Stockholms Högskola) know about it. They rented a bed had an unwed mother as well, but somewhere for some months and was founded. (The old university was that mother was just noted as “un- in Uppsala). looked for an occasional job during known,” of age 45. Such a note in the the period before childbirth. The Many were employed in the facto- birth records was not exactly an ex- ries, not necessarily in good jobs, but orphans were mostly sent out in the

20 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 Lutternsgatan in central Stockholm around 1900. This street was widenend and flattened around 1905, and in 1911 the newly built Kungsgatan was opened, and Lutternsgatan ceased to exist. Brunnsgatan was a crossing street and still exists. country from the orphanages to seem to be any connection between Edvard and Johanna Strind- foster parents, where, as a rule, they these two families. in’s children (at least 12 child- were put to hard work as soon as In 1870, as a young man of 28, ren): possible. Edvard moved to Stockholm and Sweden had for centuries been almost immediately married Jo- Hilda Julia Catharina, born 25 Mar. more or less ruled by the church and hanna Andersson. He was noted as 1871 Stockholm. Died 27 July 1872 its very strict moral laws, and those an actor in the records, and I have in Jakob parish, Stockholm. who most often had to suffer from found him as a member of the staff (Record Fla:5 page 472.) them were poor young girls. of a Stockholm theater in 1902 per- Anna Emelie Katarina, born 25 Aug. forming in a play by the famous 1873 in Jakob parish. (Jakob-Jo- Back to the Strindins Norwegian writer Henrik Ibsen. hannes CIa:25:540.) Parents living Edvard Strindin’s father was a sea Johanna worked in the theater as an at Brunnsgatan 17 in Jakob. Died captain who lived in Sundsvall. actress for many years. as a baby in Karlstad. Edvard’s grandfathers had both been Most of the time after his mar- Sigrid Johanna, born 1 Sep. 1874 in merchants in the area. The Strindin riage, however, they were members Jakob parish. (Jakob-Johannes name was originally first used by a of different acting companies, CIa:25:645.) Parents living at man coming from a place called touring around Sweden. Brunnsgatan 17 in Jakob. Died as Strinne, where the name Strindberg a baby in Stockholm. had its origin too. There does not Carl Birger, born 1 Aug. 1875 in Ja- kob parish (Jakob-Johannes

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 21 CIa:25:718.) Parents living at In the birth records Anna was and admirable, and some of them are Brunnsgatan 17 in Jakob. Died in noted as child number 5 and Gunnar able to make good money, contrary 1876 in Stockholm. as child number 11 of the family, so to in the past. The Swedish word for Anna Emilia Katarina, born 29 Dec. the couple had at least 12 children. “actor” is skådespelare, but a com- 1876 in Jakob parish, (Jakob-Jo- Of these 12 children, three man- mon word for touring actors was hannes CIa:26:57.)1 Parents living aged to survive, probably since they “taskspelare,” a nasty word, some- at Lutternsgatan 8 in Jakob. She were left to live in foster families! what like “juggler” or “conjurer,” was recorded in the birth record In 1900 the Strindin couple was according to my dictionary. In their of Jakob parish, but baptized 13 living by themselves in Stockholm. performances on tour they sang, Jan. 1877 in Jönköping city as her Their two under-aged children, played instruments, did tricks, and parents probably were on tour Gunnar and Karin, were taken care performed comedies. there then. She emigrated 22 Dec. of by other people. Anna was in Their reputation out in the count- 1892 to Winchester, Mass., U.S.A. America by then. ry was not exactly as low as that of In 1900 she was a servant of a Johanna Charlotta Strindin died circus people or gypsies, but almost. family named Stone in Winchester. 17 July 1920 at one of the Stockholm Those people at least had their She was married and has de- Poorhouses3. camps to live in. It happened that scendants in the U.S.A. Edvard Strindin, the actor, died 15 hotels refused to take actors in, since Carl Harald, born 22 Nov.1878 in June 1921, in Maria Magdalena they were afraid of not being paid Jakob parish. (Jakob-Johannes parish, Stockholm, of a brain hem- for food and lodging. Private land- CIa:26:25.), but in reality born in orrhage4. lords often had the same attitude. Helsingborg. Died 20 Feb. 1879 at Stockholm was certainly a mess, Then the poor actors were starving Lutternsgatan 25 in Jakob of acute but this Strindin family situation and cold – and to improve their stomach illness2. was not the common one. It looks situation, they drank. No wonder Stillborn girl, born and died 1880 quite horrible to me. that babies on the tour did not March 17 (Jakob-Johannes survive. CIa:26:321.), actually born in Actors of the past Today our social authorities will Borås, parents’ official abode at Heavy drinking was very common, interfere directly in those family Brunnsgatan 17 in Jakob. and I would guess alcohol had much situations. But in those days… Nils Gustaf, born 9 March 1881 in to do with this family. Beyond that, We have had charity organizations Jakob (Jakob-Johannes an actor’s family bringing their new- for a long time, but not until 1917 CIa:6:321), but actually born in born babies with on laborious tours was a law passed telling all parishes Halmstad, parents now living at would certainly not mean a good and cities that they had to have Lutternsgatan 8. start for them. The wife Johanna special authority assistants to take Edvard Viktor Isidor, born 13 Dec. took part in the acting or scene work care of poor people and children. 1882 in Jakob parish. (Record in some way and was needed on the Fla:6, page 282). Died as a baby. tours. She must have been constant- Sources: Nils Gustaf, born 9 Dec. 1884 in Ja- ly pregnant during some 15 years, Census of Sweden 1890 and 1900. kob parish. (Record Fla:6, page from age 23 to at least 39, poor Family records, Sundsvall. 341.) Died as a baby in Karlskrona. woman. Birth and death records, Stockholm Per Erik Gunnar, born 1 Aug. 1885 Today actors are considered idols and Sundsvall. in Stockholm. In 1900 he was a fos- and are looked upon as glamorous ter child in a farmer’s family in Österhaninge parish, close to Endnotes Stockholm, together with some 1 Lives in 1890 with her maternal five other children. He immigrated grandmother in Kurland nr 13 i to Winchester in 1904, but re- Adolf Fredrik (rote 5). Roteman- turned to Sweden. He died unmar- nen database. ried in 1957, March 11, in Stock- 2 Stockholm City Archives. Database holm. of Death certificates (Dödbevis). Karin, born in 1888, August 16, in 3 Stockholm City Archives. Database Adolf Fredrik parish, Stockholm. of Death certificates (Dödbevis). In 1900 she was staying in an or- 4 The Söder Database (CD). phanage in Stockholm run by the Church of Sweden. She immi- The author is grated to her sister in Winchester Kerstin Jonmyren, who lives at in 1907. Vintervägen 15 611 36 Nyköping, Sweden This ad was found in the Wermlands Läns Tidning 20 May 1879. Home page: www.swedgenco.tk

22 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 Riksarkivet – Swedish National Archives

Riksarkivet – the Swedish National as well as from private corporations Archives is situated in the Marieberg and individuals, and make them a- area of Stockholm. The present build- vailable for research. ing, inaugurated in 1968, does not The Riksarkivet does not have any look very grand, but is a spacious, church records, as those are regarded modern building that goes down as local public records and are kept many levels into the rock. in the different regional archives Riksarkivet is one of the oldest pub- (Landsarkiv) in the country. There is lic agencies in Sweden, its history a list of them on the Riksarkivet web reaching back to the Middle Ages. In site with addresses and contact in- 1618, Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna formation. created a new organization for rec- Riksarkivet is open to everyone, ord keeping and the National Ar- and you do not have to have any spe- chives came into being. Today, the cial permit to visit the archives. On The reading room. National Archives has the super- their English web site there is a vision of all public records of the a- downloadable brochure which tells gencies of the central government, more about the holdings. Address: while it delegates to the regional ar- Riksarkivet, Box 12541, S-102 29 chives the supervision of records Web site: Stockholm, Sweden. generated by regional and local au- http://www.riksarkivet.se/ Street address: Fyrverkarbacken 13, thorities. They receive and preserve then look for the English link. records from public administration Marieberg, Stockholm.

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 23 The solution of the (Hand)writing Example XXIV

Transcription

S.D. Uplästes Kongl Majts Nådiga Rescript af den 14 Junii 1834, angående allmänna arbetsfången Daniel Wilhelm Svedell, af Kongl Hof Rätten, genom Utslag de 17 sistl. April såsom lagligen förvunnen att hafva sårat och burit våld- sam hand å Commendanten inom Södra Corrections inrätt- ningen, Majoren och Riddaren af Kongl. Swärds Orden Carl Fredric Georgii, dömd, att därföre, jemlikt 18 Cap. 8§ Miss- gerningsbalken, jemförd med Kongl. Förordningen den 20 Ja- nuarii 1779, mista lifvet och varda halshuggen, hvilket Utslag Kongl Majt funnit lagligen grundat, men af Nåd befriat Svedell från dödsstraffet samt tillåtit honom att umgälla sitt brott med tjugu par Spö, uppenbar Kyrkopligt och lifstids arbete å Malmö fästning.

Translation The same day was read His Majesty the King’s gracious Rescript1 of the 14 June 1834 concerning the general labor convict Daniel Wilhelm Svedell, who by the Royal Court of Appeal, through a conviction of 17th last April, was legally declared to have wounded and laid a forceful hand on the Commendant of the South Correctional Penitentiary, the Major and Knight of the Order of the Sword Carl Fredric Georgii, had been sentenced, according to Chapter 18 and paragraph 8 of the Code of Misdeeds, and according to the Royal Statute of 20 January 1779, to lose his life and be beheaded, which sentence His Royal Majesty found legally founded, but by grace has freed Svedell from the capital punishment and permitted him to suffer for his crime by twenty pairs of rods2, public admonition in church, and lifetime hard labor at Malmö fortress.

1) A rescript is a document that is issued not on the initiative of the author, but in response (it literally means 'written back') to a specific demand made by its addressee. It does not apply to more general legislation etcetera.[Wikipedia]. 2) Flagellation or flogging is the act of methodically beating or whipping (Latin flagellum, "whip") the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails and the sjambok. Typically, flogging is imposed on an unwilling subject as a punishment. In Sweden it was common that the flogging was done by a number of pairs of rods. The victim had to walk between two lines of men with rods, who had to whip hard, else they faced having to suffer flogging themselves. This type of punishment was abolished in 1855. [Wikipedia]

24 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 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. and graduated at age 16. He then and assisted Kreuger and Toll until A great studied at the Royal Institute of Tech- the crash in 1932. nology in Stockholm, graduating Meanwhile, the Kreuger family’s financier with combined master’s degrees in match factories ran into financial mechanical and civil engineering in problems. Ivar and banker Rydbeck 1904. Soon after graduating he turned these factories into a stock The Match King, Ivar Kreuger, the trav_eled abroad and worked as an corporation to raise capital. This new Financial Genius Behind a Century engineer in the U.S., Mexico, South corporation became the base for the of Wall Street Scandals, by Frank Partnoy, 2009, Perseus Books Africa, and other countries, but spent growth of the reorganization of the Group, New York, NY: Can be most of his time in the U.S. He entire Swedish match industry as bought from Amazon.com, $17.99 worked for several engineering com- Kreuger acquired several other small (hardcover) $10.85 (softcover) plus panies and became acquainted with match companies and soon merged shipping. a patented concrete/steel reinforce- with the largest match company in ment system, invented by Julius Sweden to form Swedish Match in Few people in the U.S. today recall Kahn. By 1907 he had obtained the 1917. By so doing and adding several the name of Ivar Kreuger, the Swede rights to introduce the system in match companies in Norway and Fin- known as “The Match King,” whose Sweden and Germany, and returned land, Kreuger became a major com- name was known to almost all in the to Sweden. A cousin, Henrik Kreu- petitor to large manufactures in 1920’s. Some of us seniors may have ger, was an expert in reinforced other regions. By negotiating mono- a dim memory of his name, but he is concrete construction, and Ivar and poly agreements with other countries largely unknown to younger people Henrik formed the construction firm in return for loans, Swedish Match today. Yet he had greater influence of Kreuger and Toll, with engineer then became the world’s largest on the financial markets in the first Paul Toll. A similar firm was formed match manufacturer. A U.S. affiliate decades of the 20th century than al- in Germany with Anders Jordahl, a was set up, and this group eventually most any other person. From a mod- colleague from his time in America. came to control almost three-quar- est start, Ivar Kreuger built up a vast Within a few years, this new sys- ters of the world production of empire based initially on the manu- tem became accepted and the firm matches. This company became the facture of safety matches, but eventu- worked on several large contracts prototype for many large internation- ally extending to the control of hund- including the construction of the al corporations which were to follow, reds of corporations and properties Olympic Stadium in 1912, the foun- many continuing until today. in Europe and the U.S. By 1929 he dation work for the new Stockholm After the First World War, Kreu- was claimed to be the “third richest Town Hall, 1913, and the department ger gained control of the forest in- man in the world.” In current dollars, store Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) in dustry and acquired majority shares his fortune probably exceeded that 1914. Ivar Kreuger appeared to be in L. M. Ericsson Telephone, Boliden of some of the top-ranking wealthy the salesman, with cousin Henrik Mining, SKF Ball Bearings, and people today such as Ingvar Kamp- doing the engineering. These early banks in Sweden, Germany, and rad of IKEA, Bill Gates of Microsoft, successes led to Ivar beginning to France. By 1925-30, Kreuger organ- Warren Buffet, and others. It all focus on new companies and corpo- ized loans to many of the struggling ended with the collapse of his empire, rations, rather than construction. nations in Europe to speed up their and his suicide, in 1932. Kreuger and Toll, run by Paul Toll, reconstruction, in return for certain Ivar Kreuger was born in Kalmar, remained the construction company, monopoly agreements to produce, Sweden, in 1880, the eldest son of an and a new company, Kreuger and Toll sell, or distribute matches in the owner of several match factories in Holdings, was formed in 1917 with country. These loans were from capi- that city. He had five younger sib- Ivar as the general manager and tal raised by both Swedish and Ame- lings, four sisters and a brother, Tor- shareholder. Swedish banker Oscar rican banks. He developed novel sten. He was very bright in school Rydbeck became a close associate ways of financing these loans, in- Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 25 Book Reviews suites, and he hobnobbed with the amazing origin and growth of the world’s famous personalities of the Kreuger empire, from his birth in day. He claimed to be the discoverer 1880 to his death at a still youthful of a young shopgirl in Stockholm, 52 years of age in 1932, presumably Greta Gustafson, whose career he by his own hand, when the collapse assisted in becoming the famous of his empire was certain. Exhaustive recluse, Greta Garbo, and enjoyed the research is evident in the many rec- cluding non-voting shares, participa- company of Hollywood stars and pro- ords the author has reviewed, places ting debentures, and other new types ducers of the day. Yet he remained he has visited, and persons he has of investments. In the “roaring very private in his personal life, with interviewed, all recorded in a lengthy twenties,” investors were drawn to few people knowing much about his bibliography and endnotes. Kreuger Kreuger’s record of high returns on activities. He moved frequently and was a genius at seizing the op- shares and his carefully cultivated maintained an aura of mystery to portunities that were presented to reputation for genius. By 1931, about deflect questions about his empire him and turning them into tre- 200 companies were controlled by and enhance his reputation. mendous growth. There was little Kreuger. By 1928, he had built a new Portnoy’s book describes in fasci- regulation of investments at that building in Stockholm to house his nating detail over 14 chapters the time, and he was able to play fast and ventures, called the “Match Palace,” (Tändstickapalatset) at 15 Västra Trädgårdsgatan, one of the most advanced buildings of its time with air conditioning, a modern telephone system, fine artwork and decoration, and other features. At his peak success, Ivar Kreuger viewed himself as a prince of finance. His empire included some 200 com- panies, valuable real estate in Swe- den, the U.S., and other countries, and he was financier and counselor to world leaders including President Hoover in the U.S. He had taken on The Societyís latest book is a novel, the lifestyle of the rich and famous, ìShuttle in her hand,î rich in history with residences in five countries, at and Swedish-American weaving lore. least three vacation homes in Swe- den, motor yachts and plush hotel

Ivar Kreuger. 26 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 Book Reviews

loose with accounting methods; financial reporting and audits were cursory if they existed at all. He managed to compartmentalize all his associates and companies such that no one but Kreuger himself really knew what was going on in the big picture. He carefully built a reputa- tion for detailed knowledge and an aura of success that led others who should have known better to invest heavily in his ventures with little or no questioning. Kreuger’s house of cards survived even when others began to fail in the crash of 1929. By virtue of his repu- tation and force of will, all continued as long as he was able to maintain growth and dividends, and continue to borrow money to meet his obliga- tions. In the end, failure to obtain some $11,000,000 to repay a loan, and the revelation that some Italian bonds he held were forgeries, trig- gered his final collapse. He knew it was coming and had bought a pistol in the final days, which he used on himself in his hotel room in Paris before the crucial meeting. Claims that he was murdered have contin- ued to the present day and his broth- er Torsten wrote a book making this claim, but the matter has never been finally resolved. Certainly there would have been many with ade- The “Match Palace” (Tändstickspalatset), designed by architect Ivar Tengbom. quate motive, as the collapse became evident. The autopsy was cursory, his lack of integrity in conveying with tation, “for what shall it profit a man, and Kreuger’s body was interred honesty his complex transactions, if he shall gain the whole world, and within a few days. and his willingness to conceal or lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) It is evident from this book that mask his activities from all inquiries. The author in his final chapter, Ivar Kreuger was a brilliant and There is no mention anywhere in the ‘Coda,’ ponders the question of the creative man, highly skilled in the art book of any influence on Ivar of reli- legacy of Ivar Kreuger. Many wrote of negotiation, picking subordinates gious faith or practice. Perhaps if he him off as a common crook, others to suit his needs, and highly am- had, he would not have been nearly said he did not cheat more than bitious to succeed in all his under- as successful for as long as he was. others, he just did it better. Some, takings. A major fault, however, was His entire life and death brings to most notably his countrymen in mind the well-known Biblical quo- Sweden, saw him as a national hero Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 27 Book Reviews

those they may have inherited from Swedish their own Swedish parents or grand- parents. The author freely admits that the recipes she has collected recipes vary from one province or part of whose success was undermined by Sweden to another, and even include his competitors and his enemies. A Swedish Kitchen, Recipes and a few touches of her own. Visiting Some continue to pursue conspiracy Reminiscences, by Judith Pierce many restaurants and talking to theories, or the fact that he had Rosenberg, 2004, Hippocrene many Swedish friends and cooks was concocted an elaborate escape plan Books, Inc., New York, NY, 207 also an important part of her culinary and was not dead, but was in hiding. pages, Ill., Amazon.com $16.47 education. She mentions that one of plus shipping. The author has concluded that the her first tasks, in order to try some truth lies somewhere between that of these new recipes, was to buy a set Not just a book of Swedish recipes, of financial genius and scoundrel, of metric measuring cups and spoons. this book holds a great deal more. The hero and villain, builder and de- Fortunately, she has converted all the last half of the book does contain stroyer. In the mid-thirties, many recipes back to U.S. measures in the cooking recipes for about eighty well- hearings were held in the U.S. and book. known and not so well-known Swed- in Sweden to get at the truth. These The cook in your household will no ish recipes, ranging from appetizers resulted in legislation regulating the doubt enjoy experimenting with to desserts, all organized by category. investment business in both count- some of these recipes for everything Of even greater interest is the first ries and elsewhere. With the recovery from breads to desserts. For me, who half of the book, a collection of brief from the worldwide Great Depres- already has a good cook in my own essays about the history, origins, and sion, many investors found there was house, the more interesting part of customs which have resulted in the some value left in their holdings, to the book was the first half and the various dishes and traditional foods. as much as fifty per cent, and many many historical traditions and cus- Foods which are familiar to all of his corporations survive today as toms to be found among these foods. Swedes, and to many Swedish Amer- healthy, viable companies. You will learn more than you knew icans. This book is particularly timely in before about cloudberries, crayfish, The author, Judith Pierce Rosen- the light of today’s rather shaky Lapland food, the bread and butter berg, is a free lance writer, teacher, recovery from the current world re- table, the Christmas Smörgåsbord, cession, the most severe since the and mother of two grown children. great one of the 1930’s. Kreuger’s life She divides her time between living brings to mind the Enron scandal of in California and in Stockholm. She the 1990’s, the more recent Ponzi is an American, born in Wichita, Kan- scheme of Bernard Madoff, and other sas, who met her Swedish husband financial bubbles. In 1984, Ivar Kreu- in a commune in San Francisco in ger made the top five list of financial 1976, both age 19. They soon travel- scandals published by the Financial ed to Sweden and she became cap- Times, ranking just behind the South tivated by the country and by Swe- Seas Bubble and the Mississippi dish life and customs. Presently, they Scheme of John Law. This book have a home in the Stockholm should be required reading for all archipelago as well as in Silicon students of finance and government, Valley, California. She has been a stu- and for the public at large. Still, but dent of Swedish cooking for over 15 for luck and circumstance, this larger years, and has assembled this book than life figure could have as easily with the help of friends in Sweden become simply another immigrant and through travel to many locations engineer to the U.S., living in Chicago in her adopted nation. as another penniless Swede seeking Swedish Americans will enjoy a job and survival in America. trying dishes from this collection of Dennis L. Johnson recipes and comparing them with

28 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 Book Reviews

a wood bowl filled with sliced apple and sausage, chunks of cheese, Smiths galore! smoked mutton, shelled hazelnuts, and candied rose petals. Another Svenska Smedsläkter 2, published wooden dish brought one of the main by the Smiths’ Genealogical So- and even the Nobel Banquet. Not courses, lamb cutlets, spareribs, and ciety (Föreningen för Svenska even lutfisk is ignored, nor is blood chopped cabbage braised in honey, Smedsläkter), 2009, 358 pages sausage, and Julskinka (Christmas the entire meal eaten with one’s softcover. Price 260 SEK + postage. Contact Ulf Berggren at Ham). Your curiosity will be satisfied hands. The event was topped off with (in Swedish) about why every IKEA store in the a performance of breathing fire, a U.S. and elsewhere has certain foods spectacular show. This repast would This book contains family genea- in its food shop, and why your grand- certainly have brought to mind Vi- father enjoyed eating certain foods logies for the following smith’s fami- king days of a thousand years ago. lies: Aldrin, Brusk, Göthberg, Ham- that your children will not touch, Not being Swedish born, I cannot even if bribed with large silver coins mar, Hane, Lang, Lindberg, Lodén, vouch for the accuracy of all the Lundström, Lybeck, Lögdqvist, Nor- or chocolate. recipes or the traditions described in I was especially intrigued by the dahl, Palm, Ringel, Spångberg, her book, but to this Swedish Ameri- Ståhle, Sverkström, Taberman, Tjern- author’s account of a trip to Visby, can they certainly appear to be Gotland, and her description of the lund, Vieweg, Wahlquist, Wård, and plausible and well-researched by Ju- Öhman. Mostly the articles start town, which I have not yet visited. dith Rosenberg. Most households The high point of this visit was the with the oldest known direct ancestor interested in the history of Swedish and then follow the family members enjoyment of a medieval feast, foods and stories about Swedish available only during the brief sum- up to about 1800. The society has culinary traditions will find this used this time limit, as it is much mer tourist season, at a restaurant volume both a useful recipe book and named Medeltidskrogen Clematis. easier to follow people after 1800, and a very interesting book to read. also there are fewer individuals to re- The food served was an “affluent Dennis L. Johnson medieval platter,” which began with search in the 1700s. New and Noteworthy (short notes on interesting books and articles) In the recent issue of the Swedish-American Historical Quarterly (January 2010) there was an interesting article by Marion T. Marzolf about “The Swedish Presence in Twentieth-Century American weaving.” In the article she tells about the decline of American home weaving during the industrialization period, and how small cottage industries later were started in, for instance, the Appalachian mountains as a way for the women in these poor areas to make some extra money. This was partly based on the influence from Swedish immigrant women, who continued home weaving from tradition, which also was strong in Sweden during the Arts and Crafts era in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The weaving schools sent students to Sweden to learn more about weaving techniques from Handarbetets Vänner and other well-known instutions. In this issue is also told the story about the “Scandinavian Department of the Salvation Army in the U.S.”, by Milton E. Nelson. Family Tree Magazine (already dated July 2010 (!)), has, as usual, a number of useful articles for genealogists, but not particularly geared towards the Swedish ones (which is not to be expected.) In this issue we can learn much more to get the best out of Facebook and other “social media”. I hope you have noted that SAG now has its own page on Facebook? Most of the people on Facebook are younger ones, and that can be very helpful when you are trying to fill out your database with the younger generation. Soap making might not sound like an interesting topic in genealogy, but actually the article on this subject in the July Family Tree Magazine is quite fascinating. You will read about the ways that soap making was handled in Old England, where the tax people required the soap maker to have padlocks on his pans, and a taxman had to be present at each boiling. It seems obvious that the soap became very expensive, and people made do with what they could produce themselves from tallow, birch ashes and more.

Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 29 All links tested in May 2010 and Interesting Web Sites should work

The Swedish American Historical Quarterly Index: http://www.swedishamericanhist.org/publications/index.html Barbro Behrendtz’s pages on emigrants from Gärdserum and much more: http://www.barbrobehrendtz.se/engelska1.html South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society (Serving south Cook and east Will counties, Illinois including Chicago's Roseland/Pullman neighborhoods): http://www.ssghs.org/ The 2010 Minnesota Book Awards: http://www.thefriends.org/news.htm#22mnba_winners Oregon genealogy records: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/banners/genealogy.htm Atlanta (GA) Historic Newspaper archives 1847-1922: http://atlnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/atlnewspapers/search Orders, Decorations, and Medals of Sweden: http://www.medals.org.uk/sweden/sweden.htm A birth date calculator: http://www.progenealogists.com/birthfromdeath.htm Various U.S. city directories and yearbooks: http://www.evendon.net/PGHLookups/DirM.htm To convert GID numbers from Genline to proper volumes: http://scangen.se/gid.php Digitized Swedish newspapers: http://magasin.kb.se:8080/searchinterface/ Latvian genealogy: http://www.balticgen.com/ The Atlas of Canada: http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/index.html Index to old SAG issues: http://www.augustana.edu/x14857.xml The Dalsland Conference: http://www.emigrationdalsland.com/en/conference.asp

All the above web links will be found as clickable links on www.etgenealogy.se/sag.htm

This train is seen by the Nordmark railway station in Värmland around 1900. The train is transporting limestone from the limestone mine to one of the local blast furnaces (masugn), where it was used in the process of ironmaking. (Photo: courtesy of the Nordmark Heritage Asso- ciation).

30 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 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.

Lind I am looking for my relatives who were born in Sweden but immigrated as children during the 1880s to the U.S. According to the 1900 U.S. federal census, Eli Lind was born 21 Nov. 1871 (date from Ohio Death Index) in Sweden, his wife Minne was born Sep. 1869 in Sweden, and their two daughters were Marie, born Aug. 1896 in Pennsylvania, and Jennie, born Oct. 1896. In 1900 they lived in Youngstown, Ohio, where Eli is recorded as a day-laborer. In 1910 they had moved to Duquesne in Pennsylvania, and the family had grown with daughter Hilda, who was born around 1902, also in Ohio. In 1920 they were back in Ohio, now living in Masillon, Stark county, and Jennie and Hilda are still living at home. In 1930 Eli is a widower and daughter Hilda, who is a high school teacher, lives with him in Masillon. Eli still works as a furnace tender/helper in a steel mill. Eli dies 13 Nov. 1948 in Masillon, according to the Ohio Death Index. Any information on this family would be much appreciated! Ann-Marie Engfeldt, Fabriksgatan 2 F, SE-43278 Tvååker, Sweden. E-Mail: 1296

Bloomquist, Blomqvist, Bloom My great-grandfather Charles Alfred Bloomquist is a mystery to me. Some records indicate he was born in 1871 and others 1870, sometimes with the exact date of 1 January, but no good match is found in the Swedish emigration databases. I know nothing of this man prior to 3 July 1897, when he married my great-grandmother Rose Von Allman in Beaver Falls, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. On the marriage license (the surname is spelled Blumquist) he states that his parents are “Charles and Sophia Blumquist,” that his birthplace is Sweden, and that he is 26 years old and works as a steel worker, residing in Beaver Falls. While he was at the courthouse that same day, he filed a declaration of intention to become a U.S. citizen. In that declaration his surname is spelled Bloomquist. The document says he was born in 1871 in Sweden, from whence he migrated in the year 1894. His signature appears “Cha Blumqvist.” On 12 March 1900 he became a naturalized citizen (“Second Papers”), and the witness for his 5-year minimum residency in Pennsylvania was a man named Alfred Lundberg. This man is enumerated on the same page of the 1900 U.S. census as my great-grandfather, so they lived near each other at the time and possibly worked together in the same steel mill. Another Swede, August Dahlstrom, was naturalized in the court at Beaver county that same day. I don't know if they have a connection. By 1902 Charles moved to Pittsburgh and worked in the steel mills, but later became an upholsterer. He used the surname “Bloom” interchangably with “Bloomquist” for many years. He and Rose had seven children: Anna, Lillian, Charles, Rose, Mildred, Clarence, and Harry, only the last three lived to adulthood. Charles died 18 July 1932 in Pittsburgh, and his funeral records say that his father's name was “Eriksson Bloomquist.” I don't know if Charles had any siblings. I don't know where he came from in Sweden except that his daughter's marriage record says he was from “Stockholm.” I know a lot about him from 1897 until his death, but nothing that helps with tracing his past. A few likely ones are: Karl Blomquist came over on the S.S. EMS, arriving in NYC on 26 Jun 1893. Karl Alfred Blomqvist, born 4 Oct. 1869 from Kungs-Husby parish, Uppsala län. Karl Alfred Blomqvist born 16 July 1871 in Torpa, Södermanland. Karl Alfred Blomqvist born 1871 in “S. Telge.” Information, ideas, suggestions on how to find my great-grandfather are most welcome! Stephen D. Bloomquist, 1889 Brandywine Drive, Allison Park, PA 15101-3311, U.S.A. E-mail: 1297

Send queries to SAG! Everything is not online! Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 31 The Last Page Dear friends,

Summer is here! Which feels good, ding of the Crown Princess and her the intact collections to a friendlier even though this issue is called the fiancé Daniel Westlund is THE big place. March issue, and is late. I do try to event here this summer. The thing I Several persons have told me that catch up with the backlog, but things am mostly interested in is to visit they plan to go to the Dalsland Con- keep happening so I can not make it Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral) ference 13-15 August. It is good to see (yet). Still there is not much in a jour- and see what it looks like when it has that the idea of an Emigration con- nal of this type that gets old, as most been cleaned for a cost of about 13 ference has become so popular and of the contents are old anyway. million SEK. I hope I see a difference. has a growing attendance. Dalsland This issue is the first of volume 30, The bad and sad thing now for all is a beautiful place in the summer, and this jubilee will be celebrated in genealogists is the probable demise as is all of Sweden. each issue of this year by “recycling” of the Swedish Emigrant Institute This is also the time of the year some past, but still good, articles, (SEI) in Växjö, as explained in an ar- that many descendants of the immi- published in the early years of SAG. ticle on page 5 by Professor Ulf Beij- grants come to Sweden. Hopefully If you are looking for a certain old bom, the longtime director of the SEI. most are well prepared, and know article, but do not remember when it The SEI has not received the funding what they are looking for, otherwise was printed, there is a good Index on that an institution of this kind needs, it can be hard to find “grandmother the Swenson Center web site, and a and has not been very much appre- Anna from Småland.” link is found on the Link page. ciated by the local politicians. It is SAG is not a journal with lots of hoped that the SEI will be able to sell Till next time! articles about Royalty, but the wed- their building, and then move with Elisabeth Thorsell SAG Workshop

The Genealogy Days in Salt Lake City Örebro The annual Swedish Genealogy Days 24–31 Oct. will take place on 27–29 August in Örebro. 2010 Örebro is celebrating the 200th an- niversary of the meeting of the Swed- ish parliament in 1810 that elected Welcome to join our happy group of researchers at the Fieldmarshal Jean Baptiste Berna- Family History Library in Salt Lake City! dotte to become the Swedish Crown Prince Karl Johan. There will be festivities all year The SAG Workshop is the highlight of the year – a fun round, and the Genealogy Days are learning experience and a chance to do your Swedish filled with lectures, exhibitions, and genealogy with hands-on help from experienced Swedish demonstrations by archives, online and American genealogists. companies, societies, booksellers, and The social side includes both welcome and farewell much more. It is the meeting place for all genealogists, and you are also receptions, a buffet dinner & entertainment. most welcome! Contact Jill Seaholm at 309-794-7204, or e-mail: (This year’s Workshop is full, but http://www.sfd2010.se/ ask to be put on the mailing list for next year.)

32 Swedish American Genealogist 2010:1 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).