Swedish American Genealogist

Volume 26 | Number 4 Article 1

12-1-2006 Full Issue Vol. 26 No. 4

Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag Part of the Genealogy Commons, and the Scandinavian Studies Commons

Recommended Citation (2006) "Full Issue Vol. 26 No. 4," Swedish American Genealogist: Vol. 26 : No. 4 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag/vol26/iss4/1

This Full Issue 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]. (ISSN 0275-9314)

A journal devoted to Swedish American biography, genealogy, and personal history

Volume XXVI December 2006 No. 4 CONTENTS

A Pioneer From the 1850s ...... 1 by Hans Mattson

Copyright © 2006 (ISSN 0275-9314) Moonshadows ...... 5 by Dennis L. Johnson Swedish American Genealogist Augustana Summer School in Sweden ...... 8 Publisher: by Christina Peterson Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 An Almost Forgotten Tragedy at Sea ...... 10 Telephone: 309-794-7204. Fax: 309-794-7443 by Elisabeth Thorsell E-mail: [email protected] Web address: http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/ The Eksjö Emigrant Monument ...... 13 by Elisabeth Thorsell Editor: Elisabeth Thorsell Hästskovägen 45, 177 39 Järfälla, Sweden A Handwriting Example, XII ...... 14 E-mail: [email protected] Bits & Pieces ...... 15 Editor Emeritus: Nils William Olsson, Ph.D., F.A.S.G., Winter Park, FL The Old Picture ...... 16 Contributing Editor: Peter S. Craig. J.D., F.A.S.G., Washington, D.C. A Swedish Treasure-Trove – SVAR ...... 18 by Elisabeth Thorsell Editorial Committee: H. Arnold Barton, Carbondale, IL The Dagmar and NW Olsson Fellowship ...... 21 Dag Blanck, Stockholm, Sweden Dennis L. Johnson, Pottstown, PA Solution to the Handwriting Example, XI...... 24 Ronald J. Johnson, Madison, WI Christopher Olsson, Stockton Springs, ME Book Reviews ...... 26 Priscilla Jönsson Sorknes, Minneapolis, MN Interesting Web Sites ...... 29 Swedish American Genealogist, its publisher, editors, and editorial committee assume neither responsibility Genealogical Queries ...... 30 nor liability for statements of opinion or fact made by contributors. The Last Page ...... 32 Correspondence. Please direct editorial correspon- dence such as manuscripts, queries, book reviews, announcements, and ahnentafeln to the editor in Sweden. Correspondence regarding change of address, back issues (price and availability), and advertising should be directed to the publisher in Rock lsland. Subscriptions. Subscriptions to the journal are $28.00 per annum and run for the calendar year. Single copies are $8.00 each. Swenson Center Associates are entitled Cover picture: to a special discounted subscription price of $15.00. Photograph of the Empress of Ireland, taken in Direct all subscription inquiries to the publisher in Rock Island. 1910. See story on page 10. In Sweden the subscription price is 225.00 Swedish kronor per year for surface delivery and 275.00 kronor per year for air mail. This subscription fee may be deposited in a plusgiro account: 260 10-9, Swedish American Genealogist, c/o Thorsell, Hästskovägen 45, S-177 39 Järfälla, Sweden. A pioneer from the 1850s – Hans Mattson tells the story of Vasa

Part I

Introduction by water to Toledo, and at last again Having made the necessary pre- The skåning Hans Mattson was born on the railroad to Chicago. To con- parations we three went to Red Wing 23 December 1832 in the parish of tinue further west the travellers by steamboat and found a little town Önnestad in Kristianstad county in went on a canal boat to La Salle, and with half a dozen families, among a farmer’s family. He went to the from there by horse and carriage to whom was the Rev. J. W. Hancock, village school and then to the high Galesburg. who for several years had been a school in Kristianstad. In 1848 there They found that the area did not missionary among the Indians. The was a war between Germany and suit them, and they heard many other settlers were Wm. Freeborn, Denmark and Hans Mattson wanted stories about Minnesota and its fer- Dr. Sweeney, H. L. Bevans, and John to join the army to beat the Germans. tile soil, and the stone-free prairie Day. Besides these we also met two So in 1849 he became an artillery ap- lands in Goodhue County. Swedes, Peter Green and Nels Nel- prentice and stayed for a year and a son, and a Norwegian by the name half in the Vendes Artillery Regi- Hans Mattson’s story: of Peterson. ment. When he realized that his After selecting this land my father On the bank of the river the Sioux possibilities of rising in the ranks returned to Illinois. In company with Indians had a large camp. The coun- were very limited, as he was not a the other explorers, I went to St. try west of Red Wing was then nobleman, he decided to leave Swe- Paul, where a council was held in practically a wilderness, and our den. In May 1851 he and some which all participated, and at which little party was the first to start to friends left for America. it was decided that three of us, cultivate the soil and make a perma- After various adventures on the Messrs. Roos, Kempe, and myself, nent settlement. East Coast he decided to go west in should go to our claims that fall and At Red Wing we supplied ourselves the company of his father and broth- do as much work as possible, until with a tent, a cook stove, a yoke of er who had now arrived. They trav- the others could join us the following oxen, carpenter’s tools, provisions, elled on the railroad to Buffalo, then spring. and other necessaries. Having hired a team of horses, we then packed our goods on a wagon, tied the cattle behind, and started for the new set- tlement. The first four miles we followed the territorial road; after that we had nothing but Indian trails to guide us. Toward evening we ar- rived at a grove on Belle Creek, now known as Jemtland. Here the tent was pitched and our evening meal cooked, and only pioneers like our- selves can understand how we rel- ished it after our long day’s tramp. The team was taken back the next day, and we were left alone in the The family home, Kellsagården in Önnestad, Skåne, Sweden. wilderness. After a day’s exploration

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 1 we moved our camp two miles further made up his mind that he would bet- it with hay and earth, putting in a south, to another point near Belle ter do that kind of work on a farm. door, a small window, and a few Creek, where Mr. Roos had taken his Messers. Roos and Kempe having rough planks for a floor. In a few days claim. furnished all the money for the outfit, we were duly installed, baby and all, I really had no share in it, and as we in the little hut which was only Haystack on fire could not expect Mr. Willard and his twelve by sixteen feet, but to us as It was now late in September, and family to pass the winter in that dear as a palace to a king. We began our first care was to secure enough cabin, I immediately made up my to chop wood at once. The trees were hay for the cattle, and in a few days mind to return with him to Red Wing. tall, soft maples and ash, and our pay we had a big stack. Having read was fifty-five cents a cord for soft and about prairie fires, we decided to Back to Red Wing sixty-five cents for hard wood. At first protect our stack by burning away In an hour we were ready, and both of us could not chop a cord the short stubble around it. But a without waiting for dinner we took apiece, and before the winter was minute and a half was sufficient to the trail back to that place. I remem- over we often chopped three cords convince us that we had made wrong ber distinctly how, near the head of together in a day. calculations, for within that time the the Spring Creek Valley, we sat down After a few days we were joined by stack itself was burning with such in a little grove to rest and meditate four Norwegian wood choppers for fury that all the water in Belle Creek on the future. We were both very whom we put up a new cabin to sleep could not have put it out. Still, this hungry, especially Mr. Willard, who in; but my sister cooked for us all, was not the worst of it. Before we had had now walked over twenty miles and the others paid for their board time to recover from our astonish- since breakfast. Then espying a to Mr. Willard and myself, who had ment the fire had spread over the tempting squirrel in a tree close by, all things in common. Those four men best part of the valley and consumed we tried to kill it with sticks and were better workmen than we, and all the remaining grass, which was rocks; but we were poor marksmen, one of them, Albert Olson, often pretty dry at that time of the year. and thus missed a fine squirrel roast. chopped three cords a day. They were Inexperienced as we were, we com- Tired and very hungry we reached quiet, industrious, and generous menced to run a race with the wind, Red Wing late in the afternoon, and fellows, so that we soon became and tried to stop the fire before soon found my sister, Mrs. Willard, attached to each other, and we were reaching another fine patch of grass comfortably housed with one of the all very fond of the little Zelma. My about a mile to the north; but this families there. Her cheerful and sister managed our household affairs attempt was, of course, a complete hopeful nature and the beautiful so well and kept the little house so failure, and we returned to our baby on her arm gave us fresh joy neat and tidy that when spring came cheerless tent mourning over this and strength to battle with the we were all loth to leave. serious misfortune. hardships that were in store for us. Mr. Willard and his wife had taken To the claim Brother-in-law creates along what furniture they owned, a The weather being fine and the few eatables and five dollars and fifty sleighing good in the beginning of problems cents in cash, which was all that we January, we hired John Day to take The next morning we all started out possessed of the goods of this world. us with his team to our claims while in different directions to see if any But who cares for money at that age? there was yet snow, so that we might grass was left in Goodhue County, Mr. Willard was twenty-five years chop and haul out logs for the house and fortunately we found plenty of it old, my sister twenty-three, and I which Mr. Willard and I intended to near our first camping-ground. twenty, all hale and hearty, and put up in the spring. My sister re- Having put up a second stack of very never for a moment doubting our mained in the cabin, but Albert went poor hay, we proceeded to build a success, no matter what we should with us for the sake of company. We rude log house, and had just finished undertake. put some lumber on the sled, and it when my brother-in-law, Mr. provided ourselves with hay and food Willard, surprised us by appearing Wood chopping enough to last a few days, and plenty in our midst, having left in Red Wing of quilts and blankets for our bed- his wife and baby, now Mrs. Zelma Our first work was wood chopping, for which we were less fit that almost ding. John Day, who was an old Christensen of Rush City, who is, as frontiersman with an instinct almost far as I know, the first child born of anything else. We had to go to a place about three miles above Red Wing, like that of an Indian, guided us Swedish parents in St. Paul. safely to Willard Spring. A few hun- Mr. Willard who was a scholarly where a man had made a contract to bank up fifteen hundred cords of dred yards below this, in a deep ra- gentleman and not accustomed to vine, we stopped near some shel- manual labor, had found it rather wood for the Mississippi steamers. There was an old wood chopper’s tering trees, built a roaring camp- hard to work with shovel and pick fire, and made ourselves as comfort- on the hilly streets of St. Paul, and cabin which we repaired by thatching 2 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 able as possible. Having supped and disturbed by a faint conception of much, because then gradually sink smoked our evening pipe, we made something wrong, and by a desire to into a stupor which blunts the sen- our beds by putting a few boards on get up, but without sufficient energy sibilities long before life is extinct. the snow, and the hay and blankets to do so. This feeling gradually on top of those. Then all four of us subsided into one of quiet rest and A struggle for life nestled down under the blankets and satisfaction, until consciousness It was about four o’clock when we got went to sleep. ceased altogether, and, as far as pain up. On course we did not lie down was concerned, all was over with us. again that morning, nor did we A cold night At this stage an accident occurred attempt to haul any timber, but During the night the thermometer which saved our lives. Mr. Day, who started in a bee line across the prairie fell down to forty degrees below zero, lay on the outside to the right, had for the ravine where Mr. Willard and as we learned afterwards. If we had evidently held his arm up against his I had seen the tempting squirrel a suspected this and kept our fire breast to keep the blankets close to few months before. We soon found burning there would, of course, have his body. His will-force being gone, that going over the wild, trackless been no danger. But being very his arm relaxed and fell into the prairie against the wind, with the comfortable early in the night and snow. As the bare hand came in thermometer forty degrees below soon asleep, we were unconscious of contact with the snow the circulation zero, was a struggle for life, and in danger until aroused by an intense of the blood was accelerated, and this order to keep warm we took turns to pain caused by the cold, and then we was accompanied by such intense walk or run behind the sleigh. In were already so benumbed and so pain that he was roused and jumped taking his turn Mr. Willard suddenly chilled that we lacked energy to get to his feet. sat down in the snow and would not up or even move. We found, on Thus we were saved. It took a good stir. We returned to him, and it re- comparing notes afterwards, that while before we could use our limbs quired all our power of persuasion to each one of us had experienced the sufficiently to build a fire again, and make him take his seat in the sleigh same sensations, namely, first an during this time we suffered much again. He felt very comfortable he acute pain as if pricked with needles more than before. From that ex- said, and would soon catch up with in every fiber, then a deep mental perience I am satisfied that those us again if we only would let him tranquility which was only slightly who freeze to death do not suffer alone. If we had followed his advice,

This map was printed in 1824 in Germany, with some place names in Ger- man.

Fort Crawfort = Prairie du Chien (Wisc.)

Fort Howard = Green Bay (Wisc.)

Fort Dearborn = Chicago

Oberer See = Lake Superior

The location of Vasa is not exact VASA *

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 3 he would never have left his cold seat and covering it with poles and brush, again. and fed them on the refuse from the After a drive of eight miles we ar- table. Before we were ready to move rived at a house on Spring Creek, one of them died, while the other, near Red Wing, where we found a after being brought to our new farm, warm room and a good shed for the ungratefully ran away, and was most horses. After an hour’s rest we likely eaten up by the wolves, which continued the journey, and safely perhaps was just as agreeable to him reached our little home in the woods as to be eaten by us. before dark. I do not know that I ever appreciated a home more than I did Indians that rude cabin when again com- While living in this camp we saw fortably seated by its warm and more Indians than white men. A cheerful fire-place. band of Sioux Indians camped near A few weeks later I had an oppor- us for several weeks. They were very tunity to visit St. Paul, and while friendly, and never molested us. The there attended the wedding of a men brought us venison and fresh young Norwegian farmer from Car- Mountain Chief, chief of the Sioux. fish, which they caught in great ver County and a girl just arrived quantities by spearing them through from Sweden. The ceremony was the ice. We gave them bread and performed by the Rev. Nilsson, a Returning home coffee, and sometimes invited one or Baptist minister, who had been On my return from St. Paul I stopped two to dinner after we were through. banished from Sweden on account of at the cabin of Mr. Peter Green, at Their women would stay for hours proselytizing. Among the guests was Spring Creek, near Red Wing. The with my sister and help her take care Mr. John Swainsson, who since only domestic animals he had was a of the baby. Indeed they were so fond became well known among the litter of pigs, and as Mr. Willard and of the white-haired child that they Swedes of Minnesota, and who died I intended to settle on our land in the would sometimes run a race in vying in St. Paul a short time ago. spring I thought it might be well to with each other to get the first chance start in with a couple of pigs. Accord- to fondle her. Sometimes we visited Meeting with Jacob ingly, I got two pigs from Mr. Green, them in their tents (wigwams) in the Fahlstrom put them in a bag which I shoul- evening and smoked Kinikinick with I also made the acquaintance of one dered, and left for our cabin in the them. Jacob Falstrom, who had lived forty woods. According to my calculations, Several of their dead reposed in the years among the Indians and de- the distance I had to walk ought not young trees near our cabin. When voted most of that time to missionary to be over three miles, and in order somebody died it was their custom work among them. He was a remark- to be sure of not getting lost I to stretch the dead body on poles able man, and was well known followed the Cannon River at the which were tied to young trees high among the Hudson Bay employees mouth of which our cabin stood. I enough to be out of the reach of wild and other early settlers of the North- walked on the ice where the snow beasts, then cover it with blankets, west. As a boy he had deserted from was about a foot deep, and, if I had and finally leave some corn and veni- a Swedish vessel in Quebec and made known of the meandering course of son and a jar of water close by. At his way through the wilderness, the river, I would never have under- some subsequent visit to the neigh- seeking shelter among the Indians; taken to carry that burden such a borhood they would gather the bones and, by marrying an Indian girl, he distance. From nine in the mor- and bury them at some regular had become almost identified with ning until it was almost dark I burial-ground, usually on a high hill them. I think he told me that he had trudged along with my burden on my or bluff. not heard a word spoken in his native back, prompted to the greatest Once we saw a regular war dance tongue in thirty-five years, and that exertion by the grunting of the pigs, in Red Wing. A few Sioux had killed he had almost forgotten it when he and feeling my back uncomfortably two Chippewas and brought back met the first Swedish settlers in the warm. These were the first domestic their scalps stretched on a frame of St. Croix Valley. His children are now animals I ever owned, and I think I young saplings. At a given hour the living there, while he has passed well earned my title to them by whole band assembled, and, amid the away to the unknown land beyond, carrying them along the windings of most fantastic gestures, jumping, honored and respected by all who the river at least ten miles. Both I singing, yelling, beating of tom-toms knew him, Indians as well as white and the pigs were well received when and jingling of bells, gave a perfor- men. we reached the cabin. We made a pig mance which in lurid savageness pen by digging a hole in the ground excelled anything I ever saw. The

4 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 same Indians again became our cabin was under roof. After a few and a handful of flour – in our neighbors for a short time on Belle days the Norwegians left us, and Mr. estimation the mess turned out to be Creek the following winter, and we Willard and myself had to finish the a dinner fit for kings. rather liked them, and they us. But main part of the building which was eight years later they took part in the also made of round logs. For many a The steamboat comes terrible massacre of the white set- year this rude log cabin was the cen- Our supplies being nearby exhaust- tlers in Western Minnesota, and thir- ter of attraction, and a hospitable ed, I started for Red Wing the next ty-nine of their men were hanged on stopping place for nearly all the morning, partly to save the re- one gallows at Mankato in the fall of settlers of Vasa. maining handful of provisions for my 1862 and the rest transported be- sister and her husband, partly in yond our borders. Supplies running out hopes of obtaining fresh supplies In the month of April cold weather from a steamboat which was ex- To our new home set in again, and it was very late in pected about that time. Thus our first winter in Minnesota the season when steamboat naviga- Three days afterwards the passed without further incidents, tion was opened on the Mississippi. steamer arrived. As soon as prac- until the beginning of March, when At that time all provisions had to be ticable the boxes were brought to the the weather turned so mild that we shipped from Galena or Dubuque, store of H. L. Bevans. I secured a were afraid the ice on the Mississippi and it happened that the winter’s smoked ham, thirty pounds of flour, might break up, and we therefore supplies in Red Wing were so nearly a gallon of molasses, some coffee, salt hurried back to Red Wing. By our gone that not a particle of flour or and sugar, strapped it all (weighing wood chopping and Mrs. Willard’s meat could be bought after the first almost seventy pounds) on my back, cooking enough money had been ear- of April. and started toward evening for our ned to buy the most necessary arti- Our supplies were soon exhausted, cabin in the wilderness. I had to walk cles for our new home. When we had and for about two weeks our little about fourteen miles along the In- procured everything and taken a few family had only a peck of potatoes, a dian trail, but in spite of the heavy days’ rest, we again hired Mr. John small panful of flour, and a gallon of burden I made that distance in a Day to take us out to our land with beans to live on, part of which was a short time, knowing that the dear his team. Hundred of thousands of present from Messrs. Roos and Kem- ones at home were threatened by immigrants have had the same pe, who had remained all winter on hunger; perhaps the howling of the experience, and can realize how we their claims, three miles south of us. prairie wolves near my path also had felt on that fine March morning, They had been struggling against something to do with the speed. starting from Red Wing with a wagon great odds, and had been compelled There are events in the life of every loaded with some boards on the bot- to live on half rations for a con- person which stand out like mile- tom, a cook stove and utensils, doors, siderable length of time! Even their stones along the road, and so attract windows, a keg of nails, saws, spades, oxen had been reduced almost to the the attention of the traveler on life’s a small supply of provisions, a bed- point of starvation, their only feed journey that they always remain stead or two with bedding, a few being over-ripe hay in small quan- vivid pictures in his memory. My trunks, and a little box containing tities. We would certainly have been arrival at our cabin that evening was our spotted pig, Mrs. Willard in the starving if it had not been for my one of those events in our humble seat with the driver, her baby in her shot-gun, with which I went down life. I will not attempt to describe the arms, her husband and myself taking into woods of Belle Creek every mor- joy which my burden brought to all turns as guides, John Day shouting ning at day-break, generally re- of us, especially to the young moth- to his horses, laughing and joking; turning with pheasants, squirrels, or er with the little babe at her breast. all of us full of hope, strength and other small game. To be continued determination to overcome all ob- One Sunday the weather was so stacles and conquer the wildness. disagreeable and rough that I did not The snow was now nearly gone, and succeed in my hunting, but in feed- Hans Mattson published his the air was spring-like. After a twelve ing the team back of the kitchen memoirs first in Swedish with the miles’ heavy pull we arrived at our some oats had been spilt, and a flock title Minnen, printed in Lund destination, and made a temporary of blackbirds came and fed on them. 1890. The following year they tent of sticks and blankets, very Through an opening between the were printed in English as Matt- much after the Indian fashion. Two logs of the kitchen I shot several son, Hans, Reminiscences, The of the Norwegians had accompanied dozen of these birds, which, by the Story of an Emigrant. St. Paul, us to help build our cabin. Mr. Day way, are not ordinarily very tooth- MN: D. D. Merrill Co., 1891. stopped a couple of days hauling some. But, being a splendid cook, my The subtitles in the present building material, and before night sister made them into a stew, SAG version have been added by the second day the rear part of our thickened with a few mashed beans the editor.

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 5 Your link to your history!

Q: Where can I find the newly scanned church records for Fellingsbro? A: On the SVAR web site, look for the search window for Shortcuts – Scanned documents – Church records.

Q: My great grandfather was an officer in the army around 1870, where can I find a picture of him? A: On the SVAR website, look for the search window for Shortcuts – Data- bases, and then for Image databases – Krigsarkivet.

Q: Where can I buy the 1900 Swedish Census in English on a CD? A: On the SVAR web site, look for the Bookshop.

Q: My ancestors lived in Kisa parish in Östergötland. Where can I find documents before 1700 for that parish? A: The Tax census (mantalslängder) could be a choice. Go to Shortcuts – Scanned documents, and click on Tax census, and then chose Öster- götland county and the year you want. When the document opens you will find a link in the righthand margin with the parish names. Click on Kisa and the document opens at the start of the section for Kisa. www.svar.ra.se

How do I get access to all these resources? By contacting SVAR and getting a subscription. You can subscribe for just a single visit or anything up to a whole year. Contact us at [email protected] SVAR, Box 160, S-880 40 Ramsele, Sweden. Phone + 46-623-725 00. Fax + 46-623-726 05.

6 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Moonshadows

Purple shadows etch the snow And silence speaks across the land Full moon above, the woods below Branches paint their lacework grand

My hound and I have ventured out To let him answer nature’s call No other creatures roam about The forest sleeps, silence is all

Across the lake in frosted white A faint lamp says we aren’t alone Yet all is quiet in the night As Nature dwells upon her throne

We stand in wonder ‘neath the milky way Overwhelmed by Nature’s grace The glowing moon is sensed to say This painting now must pass this place

Time won’t soon allow this sight Moonshadows o’er our wooded hill Full moon, white snow, a starry night This awesome show by nature still’d

The hound and I rejoin the hearth Stomp my boots and enter to find The frozen music of the scene Remains forever in my mind.

Dennis L. Johnson January 2006

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 7 News from the Swenson Center

Augustana Summer School in Sweden (ASSIS)

The most incredible two months of while staying in Grebbestad, but we from mere dialogue to debating with my life began on May 27th, 2006, as were there to learn! And so classes one another and performing skits. To the Augustana Summer School in would begin immediately on our first conclude our classes for the day, the Sweden participants left the U.S. for full day! four levels met in one room where we Copenhagen en route to Göteborg! Even though classes were a bit had Kultur Klubben with topics We arrived – some of us without extreme, they were not too over- ranging from restaurant tipping (or luggage – in Grebbestad (in the whelming. We had a lot to learn in lack thereof) in Sweden to the cur- province of Bohuslän) the next only five weeks! The professors, both rent political state of the nation. We afternoon and soon learned that it from home and Grebbestad’s folkhög- were then let loose to have lunch was one of the coziest, most wel- skola, were excited to be teaching and (either at the cafeteria or in town) coming towns on Sweden’s west passed that eagerness on to the and get started on homework. coast. The locals look forward to the students. The daily schedule for each Afternoons were useful for explor- Americans visiting every summer class level consisted of two intense ing the area with friends on the trip, and are anxious and willing to speak morning classes separated by a 20 journaling, bike riding, and anything Swedish once you show them that minute kafferast. We then had else we desired. In Sweden, everyone you are as well. The laid-back ”conversational Swedish” with a has the right to be out in the country- attitude of the people in this tiny wonderfully intriguing professor side (their right of public access, or fishing town makes you feel at home from the school who kept us on our allemansrätten) and for that we grew before you know it. I wish that toes! Toward the end of the five very grateful. We ransacked that everything could have been carefree weeks, our 4th year group progressed town and its surrounding areas and

8 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 documented it with thousands of pic- across Sweden to visit relatives – busiest week of my life, we enjoyed tures. Our favorite spot was Tjur- some of whom they had never met! the different feel of each island, ate pannan, the nature reserve about 4 After venturing out on our own and at so many unique restaurants, and miles from Grebbestad. Hiking, braving public transportation, we all tasted all too much ice cream! swimming, playing in the waves (and made it back safely with memories The things you learn about your- on stormy days – probably not the to last a lifetime. self, your attitude, and your overall smartest idea!), and rock climbing After five weeks on the west coast, outlook on life are drastically diffe- kept us going back to Tjurpannan we moved on to the east coast. We rent after spending six weeks abroad every chance we found. Since the sun spent a week in Stockholm without and I would not have changed a thing didn’t even begin setting until after any assignments except to have fun! about it. Last summer might have 11:30 p.m., we had plenty of sunlight We stayed in a hotel close to the been the only chance for many of us for hours for journeying! subway with an unlimited riding to ever visit Sweden. That being the Weekends in Grebbestad were pass to use throughout the week. We case, I could not be more thankful for useful for traveling as a group or took boat tours through town, visited the instructors we had, the friend- individually. One weekend we went tons of indoor (and outdoor!) muse- ships we formed, and the times that together to the north in Oslo and ums, saw the changing of the guard we shared. another to the south in Göteborg. We at the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan, took a trip to the Koster islands and rode out to Drottningholm Palace, Christina Peterson rode bikes (no cars!) and climbed to and some of us even got a taste of Text & photo its peak. Another weekend, many the nightlife (thanks to an August- Augustana College class of 2007 students took elaborate sequences of ana alumnus from Stockholm). Even trains and buses to different towns though it was quite possibly the

Augustana College Summer School in Sweden Augustana has been sponsoring gram concludes as students spend a When is it? Augustana College Summer School week in Sweden's capital, Stockholm. About every two years. Classes start in Sweden (ASSIS) for over fifteen around the end of May and finish at years. The program features inten- Who can come on the end of June. Around the first sive study in either first-, second-, or ASSIS? week of July, the group spends a third-year Swedish for five weeks at week in Stockholm. Grebbestads folkhögskola, located on Anyone with the desire to learn the language! For more information, check the the west coast of Sweden. The pro- web site: http://www.augustana.edu/academics/scandinavian/department/assis.htm Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 9 An almost forgotten tragedy at sea

The story of the Empress of Ireland

BY ELISABETH THORSELL

The steamship Empress of Ireland were about one length apart, and he almost impossible even to reach. In was launched at Liverpool on Janu- gave orders to his engine room to go fourteen minutes, the ship went ary 27th, 1906; she displaced 14,191 full speed ahead, to reduce the shock down, in 110 feet of near-freezing tons, and had accommodations for of collision. Just at that moment, the water. After the Storstad took a- 1,700 passengers and a crew of 500. freighter came right in, and cut the board nearly all the survivors, they Her service speed was 18 knots (33 Empress in a line between the two were later transferred to two smal- km/h). She had 2 propellers. She was funnels. ler ships, the Eureka and the Lady owned by the Canadian Pacific The freighter was the S.S. Stor- Evelyn, which then took the sur- Steamship Company. stad, a Norwegian collier of 6,028 vivors to Rimouski, a city on the On her departure on her fatal tons, and fully laden with coal. It was Saint Lawrence inlet. voyage on 28 May 1914 from Quebec commanded by Captain Thomas An- City just 1,057 passengers and 417 dersen, said to be a strict discipli- The inquiry crew were aboard, as she sailed down narian. For this reason, no doubt, Lord Mersey, who had presided over the St. Lawrence River that late First Officer Alfred Tuftenes, in the Inquiry regarding the sinking of Spring afternoon. Dinner was served; charge on the bridge, didn’t wake his the Titanic in 1912, and would do so the Captain, Henry Kendall, enter- captain until just before the collision. again when the Lusitania was tor- tained prominent guests at his table Had he done so, a thousand lives pedoed by a German submarine off – actor Laurence Irving and his wife might have been saved. southern Ireland, presided over the (he was the son of Sir Henry Irving); Captain Kendall later reported: Board of Trade Inquiry into the Sir Henry Seton-Karr (former British “When he struck me, I had stopped sinking of the Empress. M.P.) and his wife were amongst the my engines. I shouted to him to keep Convened in Quebec City on June number. full speed ahead, to fill the hole he 16, 1914, the Inquiry found the Stor- Some years before, when Com- had made and then he backed away!” stad at fault. A Norwegian Inquiry, mander of the ship Montrose, Cap- The ship began to fill, and almost conducted at the Norwegian Con- tain Kendall had been responsible for immediately listed over to starboard. sulate General in Montreal, ulti- the arrest of the infamous murderer The wireless operator quickly sent mately exonerated the Storstad and Dr. Crippen, and perhaps he would out an S.O.S. Very few passengers its captain, Thomas Andersen. To have told his guests of this adven- even heard the collision, and others this day, the two conclusions are ir- ture. didn’t stand a chance, being trapped reconcilable. The Storstad was seized in their cabins. Within five minutes, as requested by the CPR in a The catastrophe the ship was listing so badly that it $2,000,000 lawsuit for damages and At 1:35 a.m., the ship’s lookout, Jack was impossible to walk on the deck. sold for a sum of $175,000 to Pru- Carroll, reported: “A ship’s masthead The first lifeboat just dropped into dential Trust. spotted on the starboard bow!” It was the water; the second one was more This was Canada’s worst peace- a squat, graceless freighter, far successfully launched; others were time maritime disaster. ahead. Shortly afterwards, a blanket of fog descended, then lifted, and they saw that the boat was heading directly towards them. The Empress gave a long blast on the foghorn, then the fog descended again. Captain Kendall gave the order to go full speed astern, and the liner stopped as the engines were reversed. Within two minutes, the ships

10 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Third class passengers with a destination in Sweden

Anderson, Mrs. Alvin, Minneapolis, MN Gothenburg lost Anderson, A., Vancouver, B.C. Malmö lost, body identified Blomqvist, August, Winnipeg, Manitoba Gothenburg lost Blomqvist, Mrs., ” ” Gothenburg lost Blomqvist, Fred ” ” Gothenburg lost Blomqvist, Erik ” ” Gothenburg lost Carlson, A., Minneapolis, MN Gothenburg lost Clausen, David, Lethbridge, Alberta Gothenburg saved by Corsican 31st May Engstrom, John, Minneapolis, MN Gothenburg lost Erickson, Eric J., Rossland, B.C. Gothenburg lost Erickson, Nels I., Bellingham, WA Gothenburg saved by Corsican 31st May Evans, Russell, Chicago, IL Gothenburg lost Fransen, Oscar, Fernie, B.C. Gothenburg lost Gustafson, John, Minneapolis, MN Gothenburg lost Johnson, Andrew, Minneapolis, MN Malmö saved by Corsican 31st May Johnson, Alida, Chicago, IL Gothenburg lost Larson, Nels, Omaha, NE Gothenburg lost Lindqvist, Jonas, Shellbrook, Sask. Gothenburg sailed on Empress of Britain 11 June Lindqvist, Martha, Shellbrook, Sask. Gothenburg ” ” ” Nelson, Gust., Minneapolis, MN Gothenburg lost Nilson, Sigfrid, Kamloops, B.C. Helsingborg saved by Corsican 31st May Olsen, Gustav, Racine, WI Gothenburg lost Parsk (Barsk), Maria, Chicago, IL Gothenburg to Chicago 1st June Peterson, G., Sherbrooke, Que Gothenburg lost Samuelson, Carl, Omaha, NE Gothenburg lost Swan, Chas, Minneapolis, MN Gothenburg at Montreal 6 June Swanson, Amandus, Kamloops, B.C. Helsingborg saved by Corsican 31st May Swanson, Martin, Maple Creek, Sask. Malmö saved by Corsican 31st May Towlander, Mrs., Winnipeg, Man. Gothenburg lost Vinquist, C.J., Omaha, NE Gothenburg lost

This passenger list found at http://www.sea-viewdiving.com/shipwreck_info/empress_home/passengerindex.htm

Postcard from victim The ålänning Rafael Smedberg and his son Charley, age 10, from Port Arthur, Ont., decided to go back and visit relatives on Åland and in Fin- land. Just after boarding, Rafael wrote a postcard to his wife, and told her that they had just arrived at the ship and that Charley was eager to inspect the boat. He would write more from Liverpool, and wished the ones at home God’s peace. (We kom just// rakt fron toge// till boten//Charley har// brot att see rund// om boten[.] Jag skrifver fron//Liverpool bref. //Hjärtliga helsningar fron Pappa . Across the card: Garda, Bibi [illegible Postcard belongs to Don Arril. Thanks to Elinor Barr and the Swedes in Canada name] och mamma//Guds frid med project. Eder)

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 11 Find your Swedish roots

over  million images of original church records! 99.95 % of all existing Swedish Church Book records from 1600 - 1897 available online.

Th e records include: SPECIAL • Birth, Marriage and Death OFFER • Household Census • Moving in and out registers • Church accounts

special limited offer for swedish american genealogist readers! save   on a  month subscription -  sek for  months! Register with Genline as a new user or update you user profi le by entering SAG07 in the box Swedish American Genealogist. Th en go tothe buy page to purchase the special subscription. If you have a current subscription, this purchase will be added on to your current subscription. Off er expires May 1st, 2007. 17, 2007. 595 SEK is a pproximately $85 ba sed on currency exchange rates on January

save   on annual subscription! As a member of a Swedish Council of America (SCA) affi liate organization, Swenson Center members receive a special rate on an annual subscription to Genline’s Swedish e discounted price is just 1795 SEK. Th is is a 30 % savings Church Records archive. Th nline as over the regular annual subscription price. To access this rate, register with Ge a new member or update your user profi le by entering the affi liate code ”SSIRC”in the box for SCA. 07. 1795 SEK is approximately $256 bas ed on currency exchange rates on January 17, 20

For more information, contact usi [email protected] or Phone (800) 975-5493 b Buy. You can check current exchange rates by going to www.genline.com and selecting the ta

12 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Chris Olsson is 60!

Chris Olsson, the invaluable proof- merly the editor of Sweden & Ame- reader and English master of SAG rica, a journal published by Swedish has just turned 60, and the SAG Council of America. He retired for editor, of course, wants to join the line health reasons, and after many years of people that congratulates him on in Minneapolis, he now finds himself reaching the age of maturity. and wife Debbie in Stockton Springs, The SAG editor would never have Maine. dared to take on the job, if she had Every year for almost 10 years he not known that Chris would be there has packed his bags and flown out to and save her from all the dangers of Salt Lake City to support sister a foreign language. Karna and the other staff members This is a job that would not be during the SAG Workshop week. As possible without the internet, e-mails a child he lived for years in Sweden, cross the Atlantic most days during so his language skills now comes in busy periods, and come back scruti- very handy during the workshop. He nized, corrected, and ready to print. is also a member of the Early mor- Chris and his twin Greg (con- ning Brigade, who are outside the li- gratulations to Greg too!) are the brary long before they open, to save sons of Nils William Olsson and his seats for others that can’t get up in GRATTIS! CHEERS! dear wife Dagmar. Chris was for- the morning. The Eksjö Emigrant Monument

An emigrant monument was erected The monument consists of an in the summer of 2006 in the Järn- unfinished stone wall, typical for the vägsparken (Railroad Park) in Eksjö area. In one end the farmer has left to honor the memory of the 8,200 his iron crowbar in the wall and just individuals that left the Södra Vedbo left for the stone-free fields of Min- härad (legal district) during the emi- nesota. On the spadelike iron shield gration era to seek a new life in is the text ”Eksjö – North America. America. Towards bread and liberty”. The monument was an initiative Interestingly enough people have of the Ingatorp Hembygdsförening put information on their emigrant (local historical association) and the under one or two of the boulders in Bruzaholm bruksmuseum (iron the stone wall. works museum).

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 13 A Handwriting Example XII

This is a part of a page from the kind trying to avoid paying. Generally one until 1991, when the church records of records called mantalslängder or can say that anyone between the and the tax records merged under Tax Census/records. ages of 15 and 63 had to pay the the auspices of the Skatteverket (Tax In the early 1620s the king, Gus- mantal, but there are many ex- Authorities). tavus Adolphus, realized that he and ceptions during the ages. The most The information in these records the crown (Kronan) (the Swedish usual one is that sailors and naval is very scant, mostly just the first State) needed more income to be able personnel (båtsmän) were exempted, name of the farmer; the wife, child- to enter the Thirty Year’s War. He but not their wives. ren, and servants are just marked in and his advisors decided to tax the The tax records were written every columns. From 1812 you can often use of hand-mills in the homes, and year around the first of December, find the year of birth of the people, for the first years that is what and they are organized by county, but still these records never become happened. But in a few years they härad (legal district), and by parish. as detailed as the clerical surveys. decided that it was better if all adults The record, as in the above example, In the Family History Library had to pay a tax per person, and that was designated 1756, but really Catalog you should first look for the is one of the meanings of the word showed the situation for 1755. You county, then for taxation, and then mantal (tally of men). The sum to be need to trace someone in 1814? You the year you want. In Sweden they paid was low, but still a worry for should get hold of the record for 1815. are available on microfiche, at the many, and there are many court This tax was no longer paid after SVAR web site, and at the archives. cases where people were fined for the 1930s, but the records were kept Solution on page 23. 14 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Bits & Pieces

The 2008 Swedish The Hamburg British Passenger Lists Genealogy Days Passenger Lists It has been said that Liverpool was so badly bombed during World War It has recently been decided that the On Ancestry.com you can now find II that there was no hope of finding 2008 Genealogy Days (Släktforskar- the passenger lists of emigrants from any British lists of passengers. It dagarna) will be held in Malmö. The Hamburg, Germany, during the pe- appears that the facts were better exact date is not known yet, but riod of 1850–1934, with a gap 1915– than that. British Board of Trade probably towards the end of August. 1919 due to World War I. These are kept lists of all ships between Great the scanned pictures of both the Britain and the rest of the world direct and indirect emigration from New Swedish Surnames during 1786–1970. These lists, con- Hamburg. The “indirect” emigrants According to a note in the newspaper taining names of passengers, are were those that transferred to an- Metro on the 29 January 2007 more kept in the National Archives in Kew, other ship, in England for instance, than 1,400 individuals had applied London, and have been known, but before reaching their final destina- during 2006 to change their sur- not microfilmed. They were regarded tions. name. In 2005 that figure was only as being too difficult to use, as they These lists cover about 5 million around 870. In Sweden you have to were kept by port and date of depar- emigrants, of which about 80% went apply to the Swedish Patent and ture. to North America. Registration Office to have your Now the British online service The years 1890–1913 are indexed named changed. You can make up Findmypast has started a huge in- and searchable in a database, but the your own name or use one that is dexing program, done in Asia, on search language is German. So if you suggested by the Office. Here is a list these lists. The total is supposed to are looking for someone from Swe- of names, made up at the Office web be around 30 million idividuals. As a den, you should enter “Schweden” site: Brändbrant, Burbrant, Folk- start, the period 1890–1909 is avail- under Ethnicity/Nationality. 3342 brant, Gerdbrant, Brändhammar, able on their web site. This is a Swedes were found that easy way. Folkehammar, Gerdehammar, subscription site and you buy time Then some of them have garbled Lingehammar, Brändmalm, Folk- units. 50 units costs £5, and you can names, so as usual, fill in as few fields malm, Brändmossen, Burmossen, easily buy more. as possible, and think of spelling Folkmossen, Gerdmossen, Lingmos- www.findmypast.com sen, Brändtorp, Burtorp, Folktorp, variations. and Lingetorp. All might not be ac- Ancestry.com is a subscription site. Great Swedish Heritage cepted by the Office, but a surprising A Swedish Monument in Award number are. There is a link to the Office on p. 31. Iowa Swedish American Council will pre- A local group, Swedish American sent this year’s Great Swedish Heri- Immigrant Commission, in south- tage Award at a banquet in April to eastern Iowa has been working since Dr. Nils Hasselmo. Dr. Hasselmo is Emigranten Populär 2001 to build a monument in mem- born in Sweden, but immigrated in ory of their pioneering ancestors. The 1956 and has since had a distinguis- with 8 different Swedish data- hed career in the academic world. He bases is here! This includes monument will be built at Munter- ville in Wapello County, where the is a former president of the Univer- Emihamn with more than 1.2 mil- sity of Minnesota, and was the pre- lion immigrants from Sweden. first Swedes came in 1847. The focus of the monument will be a 7-foot sident of the Association of American This database is the only one Universities 1998–2006. that gives the immigrant’s desti- bronze sculpture of an immigrant nation. For PC. family centered on a circular base See SAG 2/06 for a closer surrounded by a brick walkway. description of the CD. For more information there is a Price U.S. $60 incl p.&h. web site at www.swedishmonument.org/ Elisabeth Thorsell (The Des Moines Register 28 Jan.2007)

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 15 The Old Picture

On this page we publish old pictures sent in by our SAG readers. If you have a picture you want to see on this page, either send a digital copy, scanned in at no less than 300 dpi and saved as a jpg or tif file, or send a good paper copy to the editor at the address shown on the inside cover. Do not send any originals, as we can not accept responsibility for them. Neither can we promise to publish all pictures.

Stjärnarp – manor house and stable block, Eldsberga parish in Halland, ca. 1870–1890.

Tönnersjö Church, near Eldsberga, Halland, ca 1870–1890. The story about these pictures can be found on the next page.

16 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Danielson Views of Halland

In August 2006, at an antiques show The pencilled identifications write and the Danielssons were found on in Maine, I acquired five stereo- the proper names in Swedish but no. page 54, Nybygget on Hilleshult graphs (stereoptican views) dating 1 spells the country “Sweden,” in lands in the cl. survey for 1880–1885. from ca. 1870-1890 of sites in Swe- English. Did Mr. Danielson emigrate The sharecropper Peter Johan den. All bore on the reverse an old from this region and was sent the Danielsson, born 1849 Apr. 29 in Lid- rubber stamp legend which evidently views? Or did he secure them on a hult, Kronoberg, and his wife Börta identifies the original owner: “Adolf return visit to his homeland? Curi- Nilsdotter, born 1848 May 26 in B. Danielson, Providence, Minn.” ously, it is Providence in Minnesota, Veinge, Halland, and four of their five They were named in brief pencilled which has perhaps been given a mod- children emigrated in April 1884 for inscriptions as follows: ern name for I cannot locate it in North America. Among the children (1) “Stjernarp, Sweden” which de- standard gazeteers or maps! was son Adolf Bernhard, born 1879 picts a manor house and stable, it Francis James Dallett, FASG, Sep. 29 in Tönnersjö! This boy is very was confirmed by Karna Olsson as Member, Swedish Colonial Society of likely the future owner of those ster- Stjärnarp, a manor house in Elds- Penna. eographic pictures. berga (Halland); For some reason the names of the (2) “Tönnersjö Kyrka,” a towered Editor’s note: children in the cl. survey do not tally church standing in grassland, which Providence, MN, was found on the with the names given in Emihamn, the same lady tells me is 5.6 km Epodunk website to be a small town but they do tally with the 1900 Cen- north of Eldsberga; (186 inhabitants) in Lac Qui Parle sus, so it is the same family. (3) “Tönnersjö Kyrka taget från sö- county in Minnesota, west of Minnea- der”, the same, at a greater distance, polis and not far from the South seen from the south across a flat Dakota border. countryside; When checking the 1900 U.S. Cen- (4) “Tönnersjö Kyrka,” an interior sus for Providence, one of the first view of the same church, with inter- families I noted was one where the esting vaulted ceilings, walls paint- head of household was Peter J. ed evidently white, two hanging Danielson, born 1849 in Sweden, who chandeliers, organ pipes raised and had a son Adolph, born 1879 in Swe- framed on the wall, table (altar?) den. The year of immigration was beneath with four painted cruciform given as 1884. motifs on what may be its drawers, With some inventive searching in with a ladder behind providing ac- the database Emihamn, a Danielson cess to an opening. In the ceiling, the family was found to have emigrated church fitted with dark, typically from Tönnersjö in the spring of 1884. 19th century curved pews; Somehow they were not listed in (5) “Slatat [Slottet] Halmstad”, a Emibas, which would have given the town from across water, centered on direct page in the clerical survey. a castle on the shore, being a well- Luckily enough the removal records known place in Halland also. up to 1890 were found on Genline, A new site that may help you find your cousins Fairly recently a new site opened in when she was born, and how many with log-in information. As a member Sweden. Though it is in Swedish, it days to her next birthday, and her of the site you get the cousin’s exact is called Birthday.se, and there you sign of the Zodiac. You can also click mailing address, not just the town, can enter a person’s name and maybe on avancerad sökning (advanced and that will make it easier for you find out where this person is today. search) and be able to enter birth- to contact your Swedish cousins. The basic search is easy: enter your dates or street addresses. With this information you can also cousin’s first name in the window This works well with more unusual go to the online phone book at labeled Förnamn, and the surname names, but if you sign up for a free www.eniro.se in the one labeled Efternamn, and account, you will get much more then click on the arrow to the right. exact information. www.hitta.se The result shows to the left of the To do this you click on Skaffa konto www.birthday.se screen, and it tells you your cousin’s (Get account) and fill out the form, full name, the town she lives in and and then you will receive an e-mail Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 17 A Swedish Treasure-Trove

Some things you might find on the SVAR web site (www.svar.ra.se)

BY ELISABETH THORSELL

For the last few years there has been Provincial Archives (Landsarkivet) in through various kinds of documents a full page ad in each SAG from the Härnösand started a registry base in and indexed them for the Landsarki- SVAR institution, but who are they Ramsele, way up in the forests of vet; this was even before the age of and why are they of interest to Ångermanland, where there were personal computers. Later the work- genealogists? many unemployed individuals, main- place was transferred to Riksarkivet It is a long story, and has to do ly women who had difficulties in find- (National Archives) and put in with the Swedish labor market and ing proper jobs there. The men could charge of microfilming the Swedish the efforts to keep the countryside at that time still find plenty of work church records after 1860 and pro- alive. Already in the early 1980s the in the forests. So the women went ducing microfiche of all of them. They

The first page of the SVAR web site. There is a little flag at the top on the right-hand side where you can change language. 18 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 also have produced microfiche of are a result of SVAR scanning all the want. Remember that the bounda- military records, court records, old younger records, up to 1991, when ries of Sweden changed in the 1600s, manuscripts, and much more. They the church records stopped. so for Halland, for instance, you will have a very nice research room in The parishes in the districts of the not find these records before 1669. Ramsele which is free to use by all Landsarkiv in Härnösand and Upp- See an example of mantalslängder on visitors. sala were filmed before they changed page 14. With the advent of the internet, to scanning directly. Those northern SVAR also went online and has now records are on microfiche and can be The shortcut to grown a very interesting web site, bought from SVAR. The change of full of useful things for all research- technology happened when half of databases ers, not just genealogists. the church records for the district of This useful window is found on the The SVAR web site is mainly in Vadstena (Östergötland, Småland, starting page and has links to many Swedish, but has a large English and Öland) had been filmed, the interesting databases. A short de- language section also. Most of the other half was scanned. scription of these follows here. contents are only accessible if you A red arrow shows what is on have a subscription. microfiche, and for some parishes you Birth, marriage, and can buy those up to the middle 1920s, death databases or even later. Church records Some modern databases of Births, On the start page you will find the Marriages, and Deaths (födelse, vig- link to the English site in the upper The Tax census sel, and död) are to be found here. right-hand corner, and that is also (Mantalslängder) These databases do not cover the where you can log in. From the early 1620s every adult whole country, but only some parish- After logging in, you will notice a person, with some exceptions, had to es in Ångermanland, Medelpad, window in the middle of the screen pay a yearly tax, called mantalspeng. Småland, and a few ones in Öster- which says “Shortcuts – Scanned To make sure that nobody evaded the götland and Västergötland are in- documents”; click on that and chose tax, the officials kept yearly registers cluded. On the search page of the church records. Now you first get a of all people in the country, called database there is a link to informa- list of the counties and you have to mantalslängder, and they have tion on how to do the search and click on the county name, and then mostly survived through the cen- about the contents. If you are lucky on the parish which interests you. turies. it can be a convenient shortcut to If you see a blue arrow, there are They are not as detailed as the looking up the original records. scanned records available. husförhörslängder, but can be helpful Note: scanned documents are in the times before those were kept. Census database saved in the DjVu-format, which They are kept by county and The Census database (Sveriges be- means you need a plugin to view the parish. People are listed by the farm images. You will find a link to the folkning) consists of a modern data- they owned or leased, and people base, compiled from excerpts of plugin on the start page, and the with patronymic names often were parish page. You will not find church clerical surveys that the pastors had just listed with their first name. The to send in to the Central Bureau of records that are younger than 100 wife and children were recorded as years, as those are only available at Statistics (Statistiska Centralbyrån/ marks in columns, as well as farm SCB) every 10 year. Here you find the archives. hands and maids. Children under the At the time of writing, scanned complete databases for 1890 and age of 15 and people older than 65 1900, and several counties completed records for the whole period from the were usually exempted, as well as 1600s up to 1895 are available for the for 1880, and more to come. Databas- soldiers, but not the soldier’s family. es for 1860 and 1870 have been counties of Örebro and Uppsala. This An example of a mantalslängd is is a result of the cooperation between started, but will take a long time to the handwriting example in this complete. It should be noted that the Genealogical Society of Utah and issue. the Riksarkivet, where the goal is to both 1890 and 1900 are also avail- You will find the mantalslängder able on CD:s. scan the first generation films made 1642-1820 by going to “Scanned in the 1950s to get clearer and documents” on the start page and Convicts sharper pictures than what is cur- then clicking on ”Tax Census.” Then rently available on microfiche. This chose the county you like and the This database contains records, with scanning is very fast and will pro- year, and click on the volume. When many photos, on 8,000 convicts from bably be completed within a year or the pages appear you will find a very 1877 to 1925, searchable in many two. helpful list of parishes on the right- ways. If you find a relative here you Another set of films are scanned hand side, which you can click on and will have all the information neces- records for the time 1895-1905 which it will take you to the parish you sary to find him in the court records.

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 19 saved 85 kronor and 60 öre. His hair was dark brown, his beard speckled grey, his nose crooked, his mouth ordinary, his skin a bit dark, he was 5 feet 5.2 inches tall, his body was of ordinary build, and as an unusual mark his fourth finger on the left hand was unusable. And then his picture adds a lot to the information. It is not many of you ancestors, born in the 1820s, that you know this much about. In the 1890 Swedish census he is listed under Hedemora, but with a note that nobody knew where he was. In 1900 he is no longer listed any- where. Image database This section has a few images of birth, marriage, and death (födelse, vigsel, and död) records for Jämt- land, as well as extracts from the clerical surveys 1860 for Väster- norrland, and 1870 for Norrbotten and Västerbotten, and the whole country for 1880, 14 counties for 1890, and again the whole country for 1900. An interesting database under this heading is the one from Krigs- arkivet (War Archive) which has photos of officers both from the army and the navy.

An example of the information on a convict.

The man in the example is the for- time for stealing and fraud. He was mer carpenter Lars Johan Söder- sentenced by the Västerås Magist- man, who was released on th 4th of rate on 30 November 1875. He was April 1882 from the penitentiary at sentenced to 6 years and 7 months Karlskrona. His roll number was 80 of hard labor and 10 years loss of his and his number in the portrait roll civil rights. He started his time in jail was 152. on the 4th of December 1875. He had He was born 23 October 1827 in previously been punished for 4th Hedemora, which also is the place time for stealing. When he was where he was last recorded. He has released he was to stay in Karls- From left: John Gustaf Nauckhoff (born now undergone punishment for 5th krona. During his time in jail he had 1867), Alfred Meyerson (born 1866).

20 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Inventory database This database has indexes to pro- bates in the counties of Norrbotten, Södermanland, Uppsala, and Väst- manland. The indexes are search- able in many ways. Once you find that a person has a probate, you get the full citation to obtain a copy, either on microfiche or from the archive. An example from the village and farm database. Seamen’s houses (also Village and farm Subscriptions Seamen’s registries) database At the moment the following sub- scriptions are available for private Sjömanshus This database contains information on place names within a parish, and persons: This database has information on it also gives the page and the mi- thousands of merchant seamen from crofiche number for the place you are Prices in SEK nine seamen’s houses in Sweden and looking for. Unfortunately it does not Annual subscription 1195:- one in Finland. The seamen’s houses cover the whole country, but it does Half year subscription 695:- in the database are the following: cover the counties of Blekinge, Gävle- Monthly subscription 245:- Härnösand, Gamlakarleby (Fin- borg, Halland, Jämtland, Kronoberg, 10 visits (3 hours each)* 295:- land), Västervik, Hudiksvall, Söder- and Västerbotten. 1 visit (3 hours)** 50:- hamn, Gävle, Karlskrona, Oskars- There are many other interesting hamn, Visby, and Örnsköldsvik. The things to find on the SVAR web site, * Valid 1 year. information is uneven, but you usual- but mainly in Swedish. However, ** Only credit card (not invoice). ly get place and date of birth, maybe SVAR has a good online bookstore Valid three consecutive hours and the father’s name, the ship the man with a number of books on Swedish will be activated when payment is sailed on, etc. If he ran away or left history and culture in English which fulfilled. his ship in some other irregular way you can easily browse. All subscriptions gives access to all that is also recorded in these rolls. databases and scanned images on www.svar.ra.se our website. The Dagmar and Nils William Olsson Fellowship

This annual fellowship is designed to Anyone interested in applying for 2005 help defray costs for one person doing the fellowship should submit a two- Ms. Agnieszka Stasiewicz of Krakow, research for an extended period of to-three-page proposal to the Swen- Poland. time at the Center and was estab- son Center outlining the proposed lished by Nils William Olsson, a research topic. The proposal should 2004 leading authority in the field of Swe- also include a current curriculum Ms. Joanna Daxell, Université de dish-American studies (and founding vitae, as well as a statement showing Sherbrooke, Canada. editor of SAG), and his wife Dagmar. how the resources of the Swenson The fellowship, which is in the Center are appropriate for the par- 2003 amount of $1,500 (taxable income), ticular project. Mr. Paul Lubotina, St. Louis Univer- is open to anyone doing academic The deadline for applications sity. research on any aspect of Swedish- is May 1, 2007. American history. It is not intended Mailing address: 2002 to be used for research on a person's Swenson Center, Augustana College, Dr. Lars Nordström, The life and individual family history. We particu- 639 38th St, Rock Island, IL 61201- work of Samuel Magnus Hill, a larly encourage graduate students 2296, U.S.A. pioneer educator and minister in and younger scholars to apply. The Nebraska. minimum stay required at the Swen- Past recipients: son Center is three weeks, and the 2006 2002 fellowship must be used within one Mr. Christopher Jaffe, Northern Illi- Ms. Malin Glimäng, The history of year of notification. nois University. Swedish female immigration.

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 21 The Name Game http://www.scb.se/

On the web site of Statistics Sweden (Statistiska Centralbyrån) you can find many interesting things. Just chose “English” and next go to “N” in the lefthand column. Click on that, and you will find “Names” on top of the list. This link will lead you to a page where you can find the most popular first names, both for boys and girls. Or you can search for a surname and see how many living Swedes have that specific surname. There is much more available in English to help you learn about mod- ern Sweden. You can also find pop- ulation statistics from 1749. And facts about life expectancy 1751- 2005. In 1751-90 a newborn male could not expect to live longer than 33 years now 78.4 years! Thanks to Judy Olson Baouab for the idea of this notice. Välkommen hem! Welcome home to your Swedish roots! A road map will make your travels in Sweden a lot easier. A family map of your roots will add other kinds of values to your travel. Maybe your long lost relatives are waiting for you where it all started?

Or perhaps you are just curious about where and what kind of life your ancestors lived in that little country far up north, on the Arctic Circle.

The House of Genealogy, non-profit but professional, can help you discover your Swedish roots. Our experienced researchers have access to church records from all over Sweden. We have all the necessary databases. We have a nationwide network that makes the search more effective.

Within 2 weeks from your first request you will have an answer from us. If you wish to continue working with us, you will have an answer as complete as possible within 2 months.

Our research-fee is 25 USD per hour + expenses. Read more about us at www.slaktforskarnashus.se Contact us for further information.

e-mail: [email protected]

22 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 The Solution to the Handwriting Example XII

Transcription

Torpare

Hustru och barn och Hustru Ståndspersoner med Ståndspersoner Röketalet Hustruer Klockare Fattig Summa Ståndspersoner Åbor och Allmogens Annotationer Gårdens bräcklig Döttrar och pigor och Döttrar giärningsmen namn Pigor Söner Ydre Drängar Bönder mjölnare

och drängar utan bruk

Half wuxna Half

Helwuxna Helwuxna

härad wuxna Half

fierdingsmän Asby s:n hofslag

Skårtebo1/ 1/4 Johan p. Cajsa / / 2h. gammal 1/4 Per och h. / / /2 1/4 Jonas och h. // / 2 1/4 Swen och h. / // 2 soldat Anders h. / 1 3/4 Nämd. Jonas // 2 2 6 och h.; dr. Sven och Jonas p.Anna och Stina Marek 1 1/3 Nils P. och h. / / / 2 1/3 Nils Sv. och h. / / / // 4 dr.Nils, p. Caisa 1/6 Sven och h. ///2 1/6 Jon och h. ///2

Translation

and children and

Gentry with wives with Gentry Sharecroppers Households Wives Vergers Poor Sum total Gentry Tenants and Peasant’s Remarks Name of

Daughters and maids and Daughters craftsmen frail Maids farm Ydre Farmhands Sons and Farmers millers

farmhands not farming

Half grown Half

Fully grown Fully Fully grown Fully

härad grown Half

constables Asby parish farriers

Skårtebo 1/1/4 Johan m. Cajsa / / 2w. old 1/4 Per and w. / / /2 1/4 Jonas and w. // / 2 1/4 Swen and w. / // 2 soldier Anders’ w. / 1 3/4 Jurym. Jonas // 2 2 6 and w.; fh. Sven and Jonas m. Anna and Stina Marek 1 1/3 Nils P. and w. / / / 2 1/3 Nils Sv. and w. / / / // 4 fh.Nils, m. Caisa 1/6 Sven and w. ///2 1/6 Jon and w. ///2 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 23 Book Reviews

Here you will find information about interesting books on the immigration experience, genealogical manuals, books on Swedish customs, and much more. We welcome contacts with SAG readers, suggestions on books to review perhaps. If you want to review a book yourself, please contact the Book Re- view Editor, Dennis L. Johnson, at <[email protected]> or Dennis John- son, 174 Stauffer Road, Bucktown Crossing, Pottstown, PA 19465, so he knows what you are working on.

and German investors formed the German, Dutch, and other settlers or New Sweden New Sweden Company to trade for townsmen, and became part of the tobacco and furs in North America. social fabric of early Pennsylvania, Churches Two sailing ships, the Kalmar Nyckel Delaware, New Jersey, and Mary- and the Fogel Grip, set sail for North land. In later years, their many America, reaching Delaware Bay in descendants with family origins in Colonial Records of the Swedish March of 1638. A fort was built in this small New Sweden Colony were Churches, Volume I and Volume what is now Wilmington, Delaware, to spread all over the United States. II, by Peter Stebbins Craig, Editor, named Fort Christina to honor Swe- The Swedish Colonial Society of and Kim-Eric Williams, Assistant Editor, Swedish Colonial Society, den’s young queen, then only twelve Philadelphia has just published in 2006, hardcover, 218 pp. (Vol. I) years old. During the next 17 years, two volumes the records of the Swe- and 221 pages (Vol. II), Swedish eleven more ships arrived in New dish Churches in Pennsylvania, as Colonial Society, Philadelphia, Sweden, bringing the little Colony part of its ongoing research and $25.00 each volume ($20.00 for about 600 more Swedes and Finns. publication of books about New members), plus shipping. Over the next twenty years the Sweden. These publications began Colony established farms and small with the well-known work of Aman- Most Swedish Americans are quite settlements along both shores of the dus Johnson, The Swedish Set- familiar with the general picture of Delaware River, on lands which were tlements on the Delaware, in two vol- the populating of the American na- to later become Pennsylvania, Dela- umes, printed in 1911. The Swedish tion by immigrants from Sweden in ware, New Jersey, and Maryland. Colonial Society was founded in 1908 the 19th century. Often referred to Swedish sovereignty over the by descendants of the Colonial as “The Swarming of the Swedes,” Colony ended by 1655, when Gover- Swedes, under the leadership of Dr. this migration occurred from the nor Stuyvesant of New Amsterdam Amandus Johnson, “to collect, pre- 1850’s until the early decades of the established his rule over New Swe- serve, and publish records, docu- 20th century. Our own family his- den. They were allowed to govern ments, and other materials” relating tories usually include recollections of themselves, however, and remained to the history of the Swedes in Colo- the stories of our grandparents or independent until 1681, when Wil- nial America. These two new vol- great-grandparents and their great liam Penn received his charter for umes are the latest in a series of over adventure in coming from Sweden to Pennsylvania and Delaware and ten books and many other pub- the United States. established English rule. lications intended to fulfill this Less well known among most (For more information on the his- objective. Swedish Americans is the story of the tory of New Sweden, see the website New Sweden Colony on the Delaware of the Swedish Colonial Society at Volume I The Log Churches River, which took place more than www.colonialswedes.org ) at Tinicum Island and 200 years before the beginning of the The descendants of these early great migration. This was a time Swedes who remained in New Swe- Wicaco, 1646-1696 when many European nations were den in subsequent years were mainly Volume I was intended to collect in looking to establish colonies in North interested in farming. They scattered one place all available documentary America, the time of Jamestown, Vir- throughout the Delaware Valley to history of the original log churches ginia, of Plymouth in Massachusetts, claim lands and raise their families. built in New Sweden by the Swedish New Amsterdam on the Hudson Ri- Meanwhile, Philadelphia, Wilming- colonists. The first log church was ver, and in other locations. ton, and other towns in the area grew built in 1646 on Tinicum Island near By 1637, over 150 years before the and became centers of trade, govern- the west side of the Delaware River, United States achieved indepen- ment, and industry. Many of these on land now washed away but near dence, a group of Swedish, Dutch, Swedes intermarried with English, land part of which now is the site of

24 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Book Reviews the Philadelphia International Air- the New Sweden Colony. To the more port. This log church served the general reader, the documents taken settlers for 42 years under three as a whole provide a fascinating Swedish pastors, ending with the picture of life at that time in the New death of the third, Lars Carlsson Sweden Colony. Lock, in 1688. The second church, also of logs, Volume II, The Rudman was built in 1677, and was located Years, 1697-1702 in Wicaco close to the future site of inspiration to the lower congregation downtown Philadelphia and also During the log church years, Swedish at Crane Hook on the Christina Riv- facing the Delaware River. After pastors served these early churches er and caused a new brick church to much debate about location, both of built by the first settlers, most of be built there, now Old Swedes’ in these log churches were replaced in whom retained the Lutheran tradi- Wilmington, Delaware. 1700 by a new brick church on the tions they had brought with them Volume II is a collection of docu- site of the Wicaco log church, called from Sweden. The few pastors from ments from the years 1697-1702, Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church. Sweden who had served these focusing on this period and the work The log churches disappeared, but churches, and most of the original of Pastor Rudman in building up the Gloria Dei exists today as the oldest settlers, had passed on by the 1690’s. Gloria Dei Church and congregation. surviving church building in Phila- The second and third generation had About 50 documents in all are delphia. Three more churches were by then begun to drift away from the included, translated into English and founded later in the 18th Century by churches and Lutheran practices. with numerous editorial clarifi- members of Gloria Dei as they dis- Despite written requests by church cations and comments. Rudman’s persed further into outlying areas: elders, new pastors had not been sent narrative of the history of the church St. Gabriel’s in Douglassville, St. from Sweden due mainly to the home in New Sweden is especially informa- James in West Philadelphia, and country’s preoccupation with its tive. Other documents include vari- Christ Church in Merion, Montgom- involvement in the wars against the ous letters among the principal per- ery County. Further south, the Danes during the 1670s. sons involved during these years, Swedes built a church near Fort Letters sent by Church elders in church records and accounts, min- Christina, in what is now Wilming- 1696 finally bore fruit when Carl XI utes, construction accounts, and ton. was King of Sweden. Two pastors and other papers. Maps and illustrations The editors of Volume I have a shipment of Bibles and psalmbooks accompany these documents, and laboriously assembled as many of the were sent by Archbishop Swebilius even a list of the assignments of records as possible of the two origi- to the people in New Sweden and church pews at Gloria Dei is in- nal log churches which preceded Glo- Sweden’s “American Mission.” An- cluded. ria Dei. Many of the parish records ders Rudman arrived in 1697 and he The editors have taken special of these churches did not survive, but immediately set about to rejuvenate care to correctly identify place the authors were able to find many the congregation. He led the efforts names, many of which have had their references relating to the time of to build the new brick church, spelling or names changed over the these churches in old correspon- completed in the year 1700. The years. The names of colonists are also dence, journals, court records, land other pastor, Eric Björk, provided clarified, since most families aban- patents, deeds, minutes, and other doned the patronymic within a few documents. These were laboriously generations after coming to America, collected, translated where neces- and others in succeeding generations sary, and incorporated into this changed the spelling of their names volume. The documents are arranged in different branches of the same in chronological order, well refer- families. enced, and with a minimum of Volumes I and II, intended to be editorial comment used mainly for the first in a series, contribute clarifications of persons and place greatly to the reference works about names. The documents speak for the colonial period of New Sweden themselves, and are a rich source for and these collections ease the burden those seeking records of the in- of scholarship among scattered volvement of their own ancestors in sources in several languages, for all

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 25 Book Reviews gration experience. years. He was a devoted Sweden The author is a great-grandson of enthusiast who wrote admiringly Swedish migrants to the Midwest, to about Sweden and her history. In his Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. The later years he divided his time be- surname Barton was taken by his tween a home in Portland, ME, and grandfather Ernest Swenson in the a villa by the sea in Karlshamn. He 1880s when Ernest became a physi- left a legacy of Swedish American those interested in this period. cian. He took the name in admiration descendants who were bicultural and Descendants and other readers will of Clara Barton, the heroic Angel of lived in both countries. find this to be a rewarding source of Mercy in the American Civil War and Final chapters deal with the more information about the general char- later founder of the American Red recent history of Swedish migration acter of life and times for colonial Cross. to the U.S., during and after World settlers in the Delaware Valley H. Arnold Barton was trained as War II and in the post-war period. several generations before the Amer- a historian and is now Professor There is also a chapter about re-mi- ican Revolution and at least a dozen Emeritus of History at Southern Il- gration to Sweden, estimated to have generations before the present time. linois University, Carbondale, IL. In totaled about 18 per cent over the Dennis L. Johnson 2000, he received the Order of the entire period. Barton then reviews Polar Star from King Carl XVI Gus- his research into his own family his- tav, and in 1988 he was named Swed- tory in a chapter titled “A Historian ish American of the Year by the Royal as Genealogist.” In a concluding A look at Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs chapter, Barton engages in some and the Vasa Order of America. more relaxed reflections on Swedish Sweden and In his first chapter, Barton reviews America from several perspectives, the works of many of his predecessors with his insights into various inter- in writing about the history of Scan- esting aspects of the immigration America dinavian immigrants to the New experience. He comments about the World. He includes a brief nod to the experiences and attitudes of second The Old Country and the New: small group of Swedes and Finns and third generation Swedish Amer- Essays on Swedes and America, involved in the New Sweden settle- icans, and their search for romantic by H. Arnold Barton, 293 pp., Ill., ment in the Delaware Valley be- images of the Sweden that never was. 2007, Southern Illinois University ginning in 1638. The next two chap- This is a scholarly work, with Press, Carbondale IL, Hardcover, ters discuss the early individual abundant footnotes at the end of each Amazon.com, $48.40 + shipping. Swedish visitors and migrants to chapter documenting all of Barton’s America and, in 1846, Eric Jansson sources and facts. Unlike many This newly published book by H. Ar- and his followers who founded the scholarly works, however, the book nold Barton joins a long list of books, Bishop Hill settlement in Illinois. is most enjoyable and readable essays, and other publications by this Succeeding essays address the reac- throughout and adds much to the leading scholar of Swedish American tions of Swedes in the homeland to knowledge of all those interested in studies. A collection of some seven- the migration, the experiences of the Swedish American experience. teen essays and six editorials, the those who moved to Swedish Ame- Dennis L. Johnson book was compiled from research rica, the experiences of women, and conducted by the author between the cultural conversion from Swede 1974 and 2004. Wide-ranging in to Swedish American in the new focus, the articles taken as a whole land. Barton discusses the influence provide a concise history of Swedish of immigrant letters, and the images migration to the U.S. from the earli- of Sweden held by the new Ameri- est settlers up to the present day. cans. Eminently readable by scholar and An interesting sidelight is an lay reader alike, interesting and little article about William Widgery Tho- known facts about the migration mas Jr., an American of Welsh back- turn up in nearly every chapter. ground who became American Con- Many anecdotal stories about indi- sul to Sweden at the time of our Civ- vidual migrants are used to illustrate il War and later served for many the overall sweep of this great mi- 26 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Book Reviews Anders Olof had little desire to A lucky man become a farmer. As a child he had listened to adventure stories from his old sailor friend who had returned The Platinum King, Andrew Ol- to his village. Anders was determined son’s Story, by Jan Olof Lindstrom and Karen L. Olson, 2004, Book to have a life of adventure, perhaps Publisher’s Network, Bothell, WA, even search for gold. In Washington, 336 pp., Illus., Softcover, Amazon. he worked for a while as a farm hand the area. He soon returned to Wash- com, $17.95 plus shipping. but by 1906 was headed for Alaska ington to resume his Alaska mining, to seek his fortune. With a friend he and then returned again to Sweden In 1903, a young man, just eighteen met in Seattle, he took a job with a in 1922 on the death of his mormor. years old, packed his “America mine operator named Strandberg at He worked there a year, and then Trunk” (an old sea chest inherited a mine outside of Fairbanks. Anders spent a year in Russia to study min- from an old sailor friend) and left (now Andrew) loved the remote coun- ing techniques in the Ural Moun- with others from his village to travel try and thrived on the hard work of tains. Returning to Sweden, he to America. He and many of his mining, learning all he could as he proposed to his cousin Karin. She relatives lived in the little farming worked. He would spend the season was willing to marry him but refused village of Krokvåg, in Jämtland, from April until October in Alaska, to leave her home village. Andrew Sweden. He was following in the path then return to Washington for the returned to America saddened but of other neighbors and relatives who winter to work for relatives on their alone; he was not willing to give up had already left to immigrate to farms. his dream for marriage. America in the previous decades, Andrew’s plans to mine gold soon By 1924, however, Andrew had inspired by the “America Fever” suffered a two-year setback, however. met and married a woman with two raging at the time in Sweden. Nearly While in Seattle, a wagon had run sons who had emigrated from Swe- half of the people in his village had over his leg, as a result of his trying den, Frida Strömberg. Andrew soon left already, and still more were to to help hold a stranger’s team when became very attached to her two follow. the horses bolted. His leg healed young boys, Bertil and Alf. In 1925 Anders Olof Olsson was born in slowly and painfully, but by 1911 Andrew with Frida returned to Alas- 1885, son of Olof Olsson and Karin Andrew again headed for Alaska ka, leaving the boys in the care of Edlund. Karin died during his birth with his cousin, Daniel. He had done relatives to get an education. Frida and he was raised by his mother’s some research while recuperating learned trekking in the wilderness, parents, Johannes Edlund and Jus- and decided to try gold panning in driving dog teams, and sharing in tina Andersdotter. His father lived Flat, Alaska, a remote place over Andrew’s mining work. In 1927, he close by, and Anders was related to three week’s walk from Fairbanks. established his own claim and min- most of the other people in his small While working there, they developed ing company near the village of Flat, village. He had a sister two years ideas of using machines to speed the along with two Swedish partners. older than he, Elin, and his father search for gold. Andrew’s father had They continued mining for gold, had remarried and raised seven more by then moved to Washington, and adding larger and new equipment to children. Anders Olof had done farm in the fall Andrew joined him to help save on labor. Frida cooked for the work, spent summers in a fäbod him build a new house and develop mining crew and helped with opera- (shepherd’s cottage) in the hills, and his new farm there. By 1915, he tions. Work continued at Flat and the much time wandering the forests and again returned to Alaska with his scale of the operation increased year rivers near his home. His grandfath- brother-in-law Will and his half- by year as other relatives and part- er died when he was twelve and a brother Manne to explore claims he ners joined in the venture. few years later he found it heart- had leased near Flat. They wintered In 1934, Andrew and his partners breaking to tell his beloved mormor over in Alaska, and developed a decided to open operations at a new that he was going to America. Far- method of melting the permafrost location at Goodnews Bay on the ming life was not for him. He travel- with steam to extend the mining sea- Bering Sea. Platinum had been led with his neighbor, Johan Petter son. discovered there in 1927 and a few Almgren and his family, who were Andrew decided to return to Swe- miners were engaged in small hand planning to join relatives in Wash- den in 1918 to visit his mormor on operations panning for this valuable ington State, near Stanwood. They her 90th birthday, staying for some metal, not previously found in North hoped to find a farm there. time visiting friends and relatives in America. Andrew and partners de-

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 27 Book Reviews processed to extract the platinum. and fame in America yet never for- Operations expanded through the got their Swedish heritage of in- 1950’s with a growing demand for dustry, honesty, and faith in God. platinum in industry. Even though The book’s co-author, Jan Lind- Andrew became the largest miner of strom, also born in Krokvåg, Sweden, platinum in Alaska, it was said that in 1934, has had a varied career to the total amount his company mined eventually become a technical drafts- cided to lease claims in the area and over the years was only about one man and head of his own company. open larger scale operations with cubic meter, or a block about the size He has long been interested in genea- large dredges and other equipment. of a card table. (The price of platinum logy and has traced many descen- Beginning on Squirrel Creek, the today is over $1,200 per ounce). dants from his parish to the United operations of the new Northland Andrew’s wife Frida became seri- States. He has traveled to the U.S. Development Company had extract- ously ill in 1941 and, after surgery to visit relatives and has put on ed over 2,500 ounces of platinum at and tests, succumbed to inoperable genealogical exhibitions in both about $113.00 an ounce. Through the cancer in March 1942. Andrew countries. These interests led him to 1930’s, operations continued to ex- continued his mining work and left undertake this biography of Andrew pand and by the start of World War their house in Seattle, buying an- Olson in cooperation with Karen Ol- II in 1941, platinum had become a other farm in Silvana County, WA. son of Seattle. She is married to strategic material, with miners By April 1945 he remarried, to Dee Dennis Olson, a distant relative of exempt from the draft and soldiers Dodge, a younger woman with one Andrew Olson. She has researched sent to protect mining operations. young son, Jack. To celebrate their her own genealogy and works as a One interesting sidelight to the marriage, Andrew and Dee under- writer and editor in Seattle. Andrew Olson story took place in took a motor trip on the newly This biography places its greatest 1933 when, on July 20, an airplane completed Alcan Highway through emphasis on the family history of engine was heard over Goodnews Canada to Alaska, the first private Andrew Olson, his immediate family, bay. The plane circled and made a automobile to do so. They then set- and his descendants including many crash landing on their short, rough tled on the farm in Silvana and built who worked with him in his mining airstrip, nose-diving into a ditch. The a new home there. In 1952 Andrew enterprises. The tone is that of a exhausted pilot turned out to be brought his new family back to his modest family history, giving credit Wiley Post flying his “Winnie May” home village in Sweden where he but not aggrandizement to a person around the world solo. He had entertained relatives and others with of Andrew’s considerable accom- become lost searching for the city of films of his mining in Alaska. Andrew plishments. It is made more readable Nome on a long flight from Khaba- finally retired in 1970 at age 85, and by including many imagined conver- rovsk, Siberia, to Alaska. While Wiley died in March 1981 at age 96. He left sations but the basic facts of his life got some much-needed sleep, An- a legacy of a large and extended ring true. There is less emphasis on drew’s miners repaired the Winnie family, many honors and awards the details of his business career, May with repair parts flown in from from the mining industry, and gen- inventions, and his organizations Fairbanks. Soon Post was on his way erosity as a donor to many worthy and partnerships and his financial to Fairbanks and then to New York, causes including education of youth success. Numerous photographs and completing his record flight on July in his home village. sketches are included to illustrate 22. This fascinating book chronicles the people, homes, mining locations, Andrew continued his pattern of the amazing life of a young Swede and the times described in the many years, spending long summers who built success and fame in his biography. in Alaska overseeing mining opera- adopted land through hard work, This book is definitely recom- tions. He would return late in the fall inventiveness, and integrity. The title mended reading for all those inter- to his farm near Snohomish, WA, and of the book, The Platinum King, is ested in the accomplishments of later to the home he and Frida pur- fitting for the man who created the successful Swedes in America, as well chased in Seattle, on Queen Anne industry for the mining of platinum as those wishing a vivid picture of the Hill. Frida and the boys would often on a large scale in North America. times and places where Andrew accompany Andrew to Alaska in the Andrew Olson, although not as well lived, both in Sweden and in the U.S. summer. Platinum is found in minute known as others, joins the ranks of Dennis L. Johnson quantities in the ore, so enormous the many Swedes, born in poor amounts of ore must be moved and circumstances, who achieved success

28 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Interesting Web Sites

(All links have been tried in February 2007 and should work) Transcribed old newspapers from Iowa: http://www.iowaoldpress.com/ Swedish Name Days: http://www.m.nu/namn/ Natural catastrophies and other events in the old days: http://www.gendisasters.com/ Danish church records online: http://www.arkivalieronline.dk/English/default.aspx Swedish Museum of National Antiquities: http://www.historiska.se/home/ Scandinavian Studies at Augustana College: http://www.augustana.edu/academics/scandinavian/department/index.htm About the Empress of Ireland: http://www.norwayheritage.com/ Anna-Lena Hultman’s Research Center in Västergötland: http://www.konkordiahuset.se/ Swedish Patent and Registration office: http://www.prv.se/english/default.html The Society of Swedish Walloon Descendants: http://www.vallon.se/index.htm Swedish Estates and Farms (see SAG 3/06, p. 29): http://enobdr.myshopify.com/ Free databases at Ancestry: http://www.freeonancestry.com/ Death Certificates in Utah 1905–1954: http://historyresearch.utah.gov/indexes/index.html Arkiv Digital (digital photos of church records): http://www.arkivdigital.se/

New and Noteworthy (short notes on interesting books and articles)

After reading some very favorable reviews, I sent for Finding Oprah’s Roots – Finding your own, by Henry Louis Gates, Jr, published in 2007 by Crown Publishers, New York. The book was found on British Amazon, which prevents trouble with customs as Great Britain is also in the European Union. It was interesting reading and I learnt a bit about the difficulties in doing African American research. The first big obstacle seems to be to get behind the 1870 Census, which is the first where former slaves might be listed, and with surnames too. Before they were listed on slave schedules, with no names, but age, gender and skin color listed. Some of the descriptions of their living conditions and being dependent on the company store reminded me of the conditions of the Swedish statare (farm laborers), a hard system that was not abolished until 1946. Another book, of a lighter nature, was In Sheep’s Clothing, by Rett MacPherson (2004). I enjoy reading criminal mysteries with a genealogy touch, and I found out by reading a posting by Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak on the 24/7 Family History Circle blog (http://blogs.ancestry.com/circle/) that this author had a genealogist as her heroine, Torie O’Shea. In this particular book Torie goes with her husband and stepfather from Missouri to a town in southeast Minnesota to visit an aunt. It turns out that the aunt lives in an old house where a Swedish girl was killed in a fire in 1859, but that her diary has been found. Then some gruesome things happen in the present time, but the mystery is solved by the heroine. The story is OK for entertainment, but the Swedish element is lacking, except for a few names, and how plausible is it that a 17-year old girl, newly immigrated, writes her diary in English? In the Swedish-American Historical Quarterly 4/06 there is an interesting article about The Swedish-Amer- ican Newspapers in the Sixties and Seventies, by Edward Burton. Here you can read about how hard it was to try to keep Swedish-languages newspapers alive, and how most of them finally had to close down. Another important part of the SAHQ is the yearly Swedish-American Bibliography, always in the last issue of the year, where you can find books, pamphlets, articles, dissertations, and academic papers having to do with Swedish- American history.

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 29 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.

Björklund, Youngberg

What happened to my grandfather’s three brothers who emigrated to U.S.A.? The last contact was a letter from Richard to his mother in 1922. 1. Rickard Natanael Björklund, b. 2 February 1884 in Ekeby (Östg.). Arrived at Ellis Island 5 September 1903. Destination: His brother Bernhard (Ben) Björklund, 8428 Green Bay Ave. So., Chicago, Ill. Found in U.S. Census 1920; at 3316 E 91st St, and 1930 (as Burckland) at 3226 E 93rd St., Chicago, Ill. Staying for more than 10 years in the same family with a boy, Robert Johnson, born around 1918, and a girl, Grace Johnson, born around 1923, who could possibly be a link to Richard. In a letter in 1922 he says he is still working in a company manufacturing railway axles and that he has seen his brothers a few days before. They probably lived nearby. 2. David Bernhard (Ben) Björklund, b. 28 June 1881 in Ekeby (Östg.). Arrived at Ellis Island 30 January 1903. Destination: Friend Gustav Nordström, 71 State Street, Brooklyn, NY. When he registered for World War I on 17 September 1918 he had the address 3316 E 91st St., Chicago. (It is not the person who died in Bristol, Hartford, Connecticut. I checked the death certificate.) 3. Erik Elias Björklund, b. 5 June 1887 in Ekeby (Östg.). Arrived at Ellis Island 23 July 1909. Destination: Cousin Philip Youngberg, 207 McRoberts St., Joliet, Ill. I have not found Erik in any database so far. In the U.S. Census 1920 Phillip Youngberg’s family is living at Oak Park, Precinct 1, Cook Ill. His wife Martha, 27, and children, Mildred 3, Walter 1 ½ years old. The children might still be alive and perhaps have letters or photos leading to Erik? I am very interested to know what happened to the three brothers, especially whether they had any descendants. Rolf Björklund, Nissbovägen 31, S-771 42 Ludvika, Sweden. E-mail: 1267

Nilsson, Nilsdotter

I am seeking information about the Johan Nilsson family who left for America 9 March 1880 from Resta, Stora Mellösa (Närk.), reportedly going to Chicago. The family is related to my GGM Brita Nilsdotter. I believe they left from Örebro, likely they were in Stora Mellösa (Närk.). My GGM was from a family that ran an inn in Resta. The church record indicated the children were not baptized as they apparently joined a new church believed to be Baptist. All of the family members were born in Stora Mellösa; Johan was born 25 October 1849; his wife Lovisa Nilsdotter was born 1 November 1856, and their sons, Johan Bernhard, born 16 September 1876 and Karl Axel Wilhelm, born 1 January 1879.

Contact: Thomas F. Zetterstrom, 21 Addison Way Rexford, NY 12148-1391. E-mail< [email protected]> [Editor’s note: This family might be identical with the following family, found in Emihamn on microfiche: Joh. Nilsson (age 30), w. Louise (age 23), s. Johan (age 3) and s. Carl Alfred (age 11 mths). With them travelled Bror Gustaf (age 19), and they all came from Norrbyås, and left Göteborg on 12 March 1880 with tickets for Red Wing [MN]. 1268

Swanson

I would like to locate descendents of my father's cousin Charles H. Swanson. Born in Sweden 1890-1, married Inez M., two children, Shirley b. 1920, Donald b. 1922. In 1938 lived at 1216 N. 18th St., Superior, Wisconsin, employed by Lindberg Thomson grocery store, 1202 Belknap St. Superior WI.

Doris Ferguson, 9980 W. Jewell Ave., Unit C, Lakewood, CO 80232-6396. E-mail: 1269 30 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 Holmberg

My morfar’s four Holmberg cousins immigrated to the U.S. during the later part of the 1800s, and I hope to get more information on three of them. Charlotta Holmberg, born 4 November 1855 in Beateberg (Vägö.), immigrated in 1889, settled in Philadelphia, where she worked as a cook. I have found her in the 1920 Census, but have no further information. Sofia (Sophie) Holmberg, born 17 August 1866 in Beateberg, immigrated 1885 to the U.S., settled in Chicago. Married to Sven Peter Nelson, born February 1859. She had a laundry in her own house at 3323 Irving Avenue in Chicago. She is listed as a widow in the 1920 Census. She had a daughter Martha, born ca. 1905, who in the 1930 Census lives with some Nelson cousins. Emma Holmberg, born 22 September 1868 in Beateberg, immigrated to the U.S. in 1901, and in 1920 lived with her sister Sofia and worked in her laundry. Nothing more is known about her.

Lars-Gunnar Carlsson, Sandgärdsgatan 18, S-503 34 Borås, Sweden. 1270 E-mail:

Charlotta Holmberg. Picture taken in Emma Holmberg. Picture taken in Sophie Holmberg, married Nelson, pro- Philadelphia. Göteborg. bably. Picture taken in Brooklyn.

Eriksson, Ericsson I am looking for my missing relatives, and would appreciate all help. Betty Eriksson, born 30 November 1862 in Bosarp (Skån.), left the S:t Petri congregation in Malmö 4 June 1888 with a ticket for Hannibal (no state mentioned). Olof Eriksson, born 19 May 1869 in Lund (Skån.), left first in 1891, but came back. On 28 March 1895 he is recorded as having left Göteborg with a ticket for New York. The Ellis Island records tells a slightly different story; according to them, he arrived in New York 13 April on the ship Venetia, which came from Stettin in Prussia and Helsingborg in Sweden. Olof is said to be 25 years and 11 months old and on his way to Illinois. His profession is given as a smith. Kerstin Eriksson, born 5 September 1860 in Nosaby (Skån.) is the oldest missing sibling, and is said to have immigrated before 1890, but can not be found in Emibas or Emihamn. She is also supposed to have married in the U.S. and had a daughter with the second name Ethel. Her married name might have been Dodson.

Susanne Hjalmarsson, Kollegievägen 86, 224 73 Lund. E-mail:

1271

Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 31 The Last Page

Dear friends, At first this was a very strange slices of pork, and then we each got As you will have read in the article winter, snow and traffic chaos in a semla. This was often served with about SVAR, the Swedish church early November, then warm weather hot milk in a deep soup plate. Now I records will fairly soon be available and no snow until the middle of think that this traditional meal was in much better scans, thanks to the January, but now there has been a leftover from the hard-working cooperation between SVAR and the snow and cold for a couple of weeks. farming days, when you needed a lot Genealogical Society of Utah, and This is good, as the school children of calories to survive. that is fine. have a week of winter holidays at the Some traditional meals still sur- But if you have a really favorite end of February, and now they can vive; any self-respecting luncheon parish, where all of your ancestors be out skiing and playing in the snow, place must have peasoup and pan- lived, then you might have a lot of before spring comes. cakes on the Thursday menu. fun if you buy color digital pictures It is also the time of the semla, the In SAG 3/06, on p. 29, I wrote of the records. I just bought the cardamom bun with marsipan filling about the 3-CD set of scanned books records for Nordmark in Värmland, and lots of whipped cream on top. You on Swedish estates and farms (Gods and am in danger of spending all my are only supposed to eat those from och gårdar), but forgot to give you the time with those, instead of working the first Tuesday in Lent until Tues- web site and the e-mail to the pro- on SAG.... Take a look at Arkiv Digi- day in Easter week, but the bakery ducer. The web site you will find tal, you might like what you see. It shops cheat and start selling them among the web links on p. 29 in this is a new company and there is yet no right after Christmas. As a child we issue, but the e-mail address is information in English. See p.29! had to first eat brown beans and fried . Till next time! Elisabeth Thorsell

You can LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE AND CULTURE AT AN ADULT buy OR FAMILY PROGRAM back WITHIN SJÖLUNDEN, SAG Workshop THE SWEDISH issues of LANGUAGE VILLAGE SAG Salt Lake City Danish & Swedish Family Fun from Weekend 21 – 27 Oct. 2007 April 12-15, 2007 Jill Seaholm

at the Welcome to join our happy group of Swedish Adult Weekend Swenson researchers at the Family History Library in April 26-29, 2007 Salt Lake City! Center. Swedish Elderhostel Just send October 14-20, 2007 The SAG Workshop is the highlight of the an e-mail year – a fun learning experience and a

Contact: to chance to do your Swedish genealogy with Concordia Language Villages 8659 Thorsonveien NE hands-on help from experienced Swedish Bemidji, MN 56601 farewell receptions, a buffet dinner & en- and tell tertainment, Swedish movies, etc. her Contact Karna Olsson at 207-338-0057 what or e-mail: [email protected] you Limited number of spaces! want! 32 Swedish American Genealogist 2006:4 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 Bureau of Statistics, Stock- holm).

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).