Swedish American Genealogist

Volume 28 | Number 3 Article 4

9-1-2008 A trip of a lifetime Dee Kleinow

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Recommended Citation Kleinow, Dee (2008) "A trip of a lifetime," Swedish American Genealogist: Vol. 28 : No. 3 , Article 4. Available at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag/vol28/iss3/4

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at 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]. A trip of a lifetime

Tracking the ancestral trails throughout Sweden makes many memories forever

BY DEE KLEINOW

My husband Ray and I have done a toured a little, stayed overnight, then to stay with Helmer and Maine Olofs- fair amount of traveling to different flew on to Copenhagen on the 15th. son, friends who grew up in the same places, but our trip to Sweden this We were met at the airport by my area of Slätthög, Moheda, Berg, Asa, summer tops my list of travels. cousins, Gert-Ove and Anny Nilsson, and Tjureda, as my mother’s father A number of years ago, I was giv- who drove us over the Öresunds and relatives did and have ties to en many old family photos without bridge to Sweden, and their home in southern Minnesota. With Helmer’s names. After sorting, arranging, and Höllviken, which is located in the far knowledge, we drove the back roads, researching them and putting the southwest corner, about a block in- through the village farms, and visited information into a genealogy pro- land from the sea. an old, out-of-the-way local museum, gram, my interest in genealogy and found farm history books, and visited researching all my family lines back In Skåne with the local historians. into Sweden became an addiction. Over the next several days, we went There are no words to really ex- This led to attending many classes, sailing on the Öresund and were plain your feelings while touring the many hours of research in records invited to numerous family reunions family farm sites, visiting the church both here and in Sweden, and many and relatives’ homes in the Malmö, where your emigrant family left hours of research volunteer work. Lund, Höör, and Löberöd area, where from, and touching the baptism font With this knowledge and connecting Swedish coffee, desserts, and deli- where your grandparents or great- with my special Swedish relatives cious meals were served. We were grandparents were baptized. While and friends, a wonderful month-long taken to the family churches, grave in Växjö, we strolled through the old th trip to Sweden was planned. Now a sites, and family farms around Väs- section of town, visited the 11 month sounds long, but with such an terstad, Östraby, Östra Kärrstorp, century cathedral, and the House of exciting, full schedule, it seemed as and Fränninge; visited the old Lund Emigrants where we had coffee with if time flew by. We have been asked Cathedral and watched the medieval a delightful elderly gentleman, Ivan to report on this trip, but we quickly calendar clock announce 12 noon; found we must give just the high- walked the streets of many of the old lights or write a book, so.… historic sea captain towns like Trel- leborg, Ystad, and Simrishamn; The travel plan toured many of the medieval castles We first decided on an overall plan and Viking villages along the Skåne of starting in Skåne; then Kronoberg; western, southern, and eastern Kalmar; Stockholm; Leksand in Da- coasts. There is so much history in larna; back to Stockholm; over to Sweden and this area to talk about, Värmland; relatives in Norway; and but it was time to move on. leave through Oslo. To do this, we chose Icelandic Air to break up our Växjö next! journey. Wednesday, May 21st, we packed our bags, said our tearful goodbyes to my Off we go! cousins in Skåne, and picked up our th We left Minneapolis on May 13 rental car in Malmö and worked our Dee ponders the ancestors and their 2008, arrived in Iceland on the 14th, way to Växjö, where we were invited baptisms. Swedish American Genealogist 2008:3 7 Nilsson, one of the first volunteers at the Emigrant Center. We also took a tour of the Emigrant Museum which shows a very interesting dis- play of the emigrants leaving for America and Minnesota. We did not do any research here as we had already done it at home. With so much genealogy research resources available on microfilm or on the Internet, it is much easier, faster, and cheaper. So, do your family research before you plan to travel overseas. To Orrefors and Läckeby It was now May 23rd and time to drive Skokloster, northwest of Stockholm. east, through the region of Vilhelm area. Then over the bridge to the alogy was, of course, the main topic. Moberg and a tour of the Orrefors island of Öland, with its historical After we dropped off our rental car, glass factory which started produc- sites, windmills, and farmland mead- we were off to tour the 17th century tion in 1742. (Yes, we spent a few kro- ows, which was larger in size than royal palace, Drottningholm, King nor here!). we had expected. Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia’s Then on to Läckeby where long country home on the island of Lovön time genealogy friends, Susanne near Stockholm. While here we saw Åkerfeldt, Rune Eriksson, and child- Going north Monday, May 26th, we started our the changing of the guard and en- ren, who have family ties to Minne- joyed our walk through the beauti- sota, were waiting for us. After a nice, journey north along the east coast, through beautiful rocky green rolling ful landscaped grounds. Then we relaxed evening meal, we had a sur- were off to tour the countryside and prise visit from their neighbor, who hills and large farm fields of rapeseed and potatoes in full bloom. We to visit the Lovö parish church, which was a board member of the Kalmar is a very old kyrka with many rune- län Genealogiska Förening. We ex- stopped for a quick shopping trip through IKEA on the northwest side stones around the building and ceme- changed genealogy related items, tery. The next day, we toured the Sko- while listening to the beautiful night- of Stockholm, which was larger than our Minneapolis store. kloster kyrka and slott where Elisa- ingale’s evening song. beth has family ties. This is a pearl Highlights of this area took us to We met Bengt & Elisabeth Thor- sell, editor of the Swedish American among churches in this area, and is the medieval city center of Kalmar, still in use today. Skokloster Castle, which still has part of the city wall; Genealogist and a past guest speak- er at our Swedish Genealogical So- which is right beside the church, is Västerport, the main entrance to the the largest private palace ever built city, located close to the 12th century ciety of Minnesota meeting. She had invited us to their home where gene- (1645) in Sweden. It is a museum of Kalmar slott (castle). It has a terrific artifacts with many of the originals view of the city, ocean, and coastal still intact, including three rooms of a fantastic armory collection, dating to the 1670s era. With so much his- tory, our camera was working over- time. Dalarna next! Then it was off to cousin Annika and Peter Wallenskog’s beautiful historic home for an evening of visiting and relaxation. May 29th found us up early taking the train from Stock- holm to Leksand, Dalarna, where genealogy friend, Stenåke Petersson, met us with a surprise handshake from Leksand Mayor Lars Nygårds. We were off to another wonderful An Öland windmill. Runestone U47 at Lovö. See note.

8 Swedish American Genealogist 2008:3 center, on the shore of Lake Mäla- stad, Värmland, where Dr. Fredrik ren, whose history stretches back to Haeffner of SweGGate fame was the 13th century, and past the stately waiting for us. He had planned to give homes in that area. us a tour of the research center We also tried out the subway sys- (Emigrantregistret [The Kinship tem into downtown Stockholm, Center]), but it had closed early in where we bought tickets for a two preparation for Sweden’s national hour boat ride under the bridges and celebration on the 6th. After a nice around many islands of Stockholm. walking and driving tour of the area, We walked past many government he escorted us to Töcksfors and cous- buildings and where the Nobel Prize in Ingrid Andersson’s home, where awards are held; toured the Royal we had been invited to stay for the Palace (built and completed in 1754) next few days. where the royal official entertain- When we visited this area in 1995, ment functions take place; watched I only met two distant cousins. Be- the changing of the Royal Guards; cause my mormor’s lines go back to The House of Genealogy in Leksand. and toured the Stockholm Storkyr- the very beginning in the Töcksmark, Those filefolders in the back are full of kan (cathedral). Jan Eurenius, a staff Östervallskog, and Holmedal church microfiche from the whole of Sweden! member of Genline and a research records, I knew there would be more. three days of visiting, and traveling friend, gave us an interesting driving I was told that I had many relatives through the beautiful country a- tour of the islands north of Stock- waiting to meet us. After being given round Lake Siljan, visiting the old holm. We visited more of Gamla Stan the history and a driving tour of the historical village farms, and local mu- (Old Town, Stockholm). At the Vasa many family farms, and visiting a seums. We also took a tour down into Museum, the warship Vasa is dis- couple of my new-found relatives, the the Falun copper mines, which is one played. She capsized on her maiden big reunion day came on Saturday. of Sweden’s most important indust- voyage in 1628 and was raised in About 155 relatives replied that they rial monuments with history that 1956. The Vasa is the world’s only were coming. I was told that over 500 goes back almost a thousand years. surviving 17th century warship with relatives lived close by in the area. We toured Nils Olsson’s Dala Wooden over 95 percent of its original parts Horse workshop by Nusnäs. preserved. We can’t forget our visit to the The big reunion! House of Genealogy (Släktforskarnas The Töcksmark community center Hus) in Leksand, where we had To the Värmland was full! Dr. Haefner and cousin Ing- coffee and treats with the director cousins rid Andersson had planned a very and staff, toured their facility, and Thursday, June 5th, we said goodbye exciting reunion with lots of printed heard more about their working to our wonderful hosts in Stockholm, family information being shared. The connections with Genline. After an- and picked up our rental car at wood carvings behind the Töcksmark other delicious meal with Stenåke Bromma Airport. We started our church altar and around the church and Britt-Marie Petersson at their drive west across Sweden to Karl- were done by a relative. A family his- beautiful summer home, we said our tory program followed, mainly in goodbyes and took the train back to Stockholm and the Wallenskog home.

Exploring Stockholm Between June 1st and June 5th Peter Wallenskog, a member of the board of directors for Genline, invited us for a tour of the Genline facility, located in Stockholm. We met with the new CEO Mikko Ollinen and staff, and heard about their exciting future plans. We also were invited to visit Väsby Hembygdsförening, an old farm village which was used by their local historical society, and enjoyed a tour ending with coffee and treats. Next was the Steninge Palace culture The Family Reunion in Töcksmark.

Swedish American Genealogist 2008:3 9 average) temperatures for most of the trip. It had become very dry. We heard TV reports of forest fires in some areas of Sweden and Norway burning out of control. Going home Thursday, June 12th, we had a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, collected our belongings, and left for the Oslo/ Gardermoen Airport, where we re- turned our car. We flew back to Rey- kjavik, Iceland, another delicious meal, and a little more touring, before Sandwich cake (smörgåstårta) is a very common dish at big gatherings. returning home to Minneapolis in the Swedish, so I hope my personal his- over the former Norwegian territory evening of June 13th. tory was okay. A delicious meal down- in 1814. Your general fitness will de- Thanks to genealogy and all the stairs followed the program. After- cide whether you walk around this special relatives and wonderful wards, it was back upstairs for ques- fortress, which takes a good two friends that we’ve met along the way, tion and answer time in the after- hours with many steps. While visit- this was “A Trip of a Lifetime,” and I noon. Naturally, this followed with ing with cousin Frode, I was given a will remember it forever! coffee and a nice selection of desserts. family picture of my mormor with her parents and siblings. This picture is Note: Next stop: Norway! special, because I only had a pencil The text on the Lovö runestone #U47 By June 9th it was time to pack our drawing of my great-grandparents, says “Torgils och Sihnjut de reste ste- suitcases full of gifts and books and and never knew that this picture nen efter Vig, sin fader” (Torgils and visit the last items of interest around even existed. Sihnjut erected the stone [in mem- th Töcksfors. We said our goodbyes and June 11 we headed to Oslo, ory] of Vig, their father). headed over the border to my cousin checked into a hotel and went for a Frode Myhrvang’s home in Askim, tour of the Viking Ship Museum and Editor’s note: This travelogue was first Norway. We were given a tour of the the Norsk Sjøfartsmuseum, Nor- published in Tidningen 2008/3, journal Askim church and cemetery, and had wegian maritime museum. It had of the Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota. more delicious meals with relatives. many exhibits and artifacts of the th The next day we drove south to Vikings, and other ships from the 19 Halden and the large Fredriksten century polar expeditions. We took a Dee Kleinow’s address is 3204 Fortress, construction started in relaxed walk along the bay area and Barbara Ln, Burnsville, MN 1661, which covers approximately the public park surrounding these 55337-1819. 150 acres. It was a major point of buildings. We had sunny weather, E-mail: [email protected] defense before Sweden had taken with low 70s to high 80s (above Swedish(?) names in the 1870 U.S. Census

Recently I looked for a “lost” Swede Here are the names I read: And here are the names in Swedish: in the 1870 Census, and tried to find Dolber Dahlberg him by listing all the Swedes in his Benzston Bengtsson county. In the resulting list I found a Bumqust Blomquist number of names, where the name- Lindagrin Lindegren bearer was supposed to have been Gusto Nelson Gustaf Nelson/Nilsson born in Sweden, but the name looked Lofgrin Löfgren a bit odd. Ewickso Erickson/Eriksson When looking closer at some of the Chinburg Kindberg names, I think I could make out what Elenquist Elmquist many of them would have been, if Berystrom Bergström indexed by a Swede. Carsa Underson Caisa Andersson Comments welcome! Southergrust Söderquist Elisabeth Thorsell 10 Swedish American Genealogist 2008:3