Swedish American Genealogist
Volume 27 | Number 1 Article 10
3-1-2007 Michelle Pfeiffer's Ancestors Dick Eriksson
Bo Lindwall
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag Part of the Genealogy Commons, and the Scandinavian Studies Commons
Recommended Citation Eriksson, Dick and Lindwall, Bo (2007) "Michelle Pfeiffer's Ancestors," Swedish American Genealogist: Vol. 27 : No. 1 , Article 10. Available at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag/vol27/iss1/10
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Swedish American Genealogist by an authorized editor of Augustana Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Michelle Pfeiffer’s ancestors
The film star is a product of the American melting pot
BY DICK ERIKSSON AND BO LINDWALL
In 1996 Bo Lindwall edited a book Michelle on her paternal grand- 3 Donna Jean Taverna, born 20 Aug. published in conjunction with the father’s side are Catholics from the 1932 in New Rockford, Eddy Co., 150th anniversary of the beginning Rhine country. Unfortunately, it has North Dakota. of the significant Swedish immigra- not been possible to try to trace them tion to the U.S. The book was called in German records. Generation II 24 Famous Swedish Americans and The ancestors of her paternal Their Ancestors. One of the many grandmother were from Pennsylva- 4 William John Pfeiffer, born 19 May Swedish-American actresses who nia and mirror fairly well the various 1904 in Brainerd, Crow Wing Co., were not included in the book was groups of people who settled in this Minnesota, died 6 Aug. 1968 in Michelle Pfeiffer, whose heritage Bo state, such as the Pennsylvania Lynwood, Los Angeles Co., Califor- Lindwall and his friend Dick Eriks- Dutch, Palatines (Pfalz), Welsh nia. Farmer and later machinist son decided to trace anyway. After Quakers, and some Scotch-Irish. in Carrington, Foster Co., North having solved the Swedish connec- The ancestors of her maternal Dakota.1 tion, they found it interesting to try grandfather were all from the area Married 1 Nov. 1926 in Carrington, to see how much information, besides of Davos in the Canton of Grau- Foster Co., North Dakota, (later the Swedish lines, that it was pos- bünden in Switzerland. Their reli- divorced) to sible to find without leaving Sweden. gion was evangelical and they were 5 Dorothy Straley, born 15 Oct. 1908 It turned out to work very well. ethnic Germans, with some influx of in Carrington, Foster Co., North Michelle Pfeiffer’s ancestry dem- Räto-Romans, as is shown by the Dakota, died 19 Feb. 1986 in San- onstrates the various waves of immi- name Taverna. ta Ana, Orange Co., California. gration from Northern Europe and The maternal grandmother’s an- Later remarried twice. can be divided in four distinct groups, cestors were all from Värend, one of one for each of her grandparents. the many small “folk lands” that 6 Jacob “Jake” Bernhardt Taverna, Her paternal grandfather’s an- together make up the province of born 28 Aug. 1905 in New Rock- cestors were all Catholic Germans. Småland in Sweden. ford, Eddy Co., North Dakota, died Her great-grandfather was born in 19 Dec. 1983 in New Rockford, Saxony to Catholic parents. The 1 Michelle Marie Pfeiffer, born 29 Apr. Eddy Co., North Dakota. Farmer grandfather’s maternal grandfather 1958 in Santa Ana, Orange Co., and livestock buyer in Rosefield is said to have been born in “Prussia” California, U.S.A. Actress. Township, Eddy Co., North Dako- and also the grandfather’s maternal ta. grandmother’s parents are said to Generation I Married 1 Oct. 1929 in Fargo, Cass have been born in “Prussia.” When Co., North Dakota, to you see the name of Prussia you may 2 Richard “Dick” Pfeiffer, born 28 7 Delma Lillian Hill, born 19 Aug. think of Eastern Germany, Brand- Oct. 1933 in Carrington, Foster 1911 in Sheyenne, Eddy Co., North enburg for instance. In this case Co., North Dakota, died 21 Dec. Dakota, died 19 Dec. 1999 in New Prussia probably means the Rhine 1998 in Midway City, Orange Co., Rockford, Eddy Co., North Dakota. country, which was made a part of California. Salesman and contrac- Prussia already in 1815. It looks like tor in Midway City, California. all the “Prussian” ancestors of Married to Swedish American Genealogist 2007:1 29 Generation III Sheyenne, Eddy Co., North Dako- Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska. ta. Carpenter in Sheyenne, Eddy Blacksmith and later pastor in 8 Wilhelm “William” F. J. Pfeiffer, Co., North Dakota.5 New Enterprise, South Woodbury, born 30 June 1863 in Calbe an der Married 1st 29 Oct.1891 in Barrett, Pennsylvania.8 Saale, Saxony, Germany, died 6 Grant Co., Minnesota, to Anna J. Married 11 May 1871 in New En- Aug. 1942 in Jamestown, Stuts- Betland, born 2 Feb. 1872, died 2 terprise, South Woodbury Town- man Co., North Dakota. Farmer in Feb. 1899 in Lien Township, Grant ship, Bedford Co. Pennsylvania, to Saint Mathias Township, Crow Co., Minnesota. 21 Leah L Stineman, born 15 Aug. Wing Co., Minnesota, later shop Married 2nd 25 May 1903 in Barrett, 1847 in Richland Township, Cam- clerk in Brainerd, Crow Wing Co., Grant Co., Minnesota, to his second bria Co., Pennsylvania, died 22 general merchant in Carrington, cousin Feb. 1916 in Grand View, Yakima North Dakota, and finally an 15 Amanda Karolina Olson, born 10 Co., Washington. employée of the Northern Pacific Oct. 1880 in Nyelund, Klackhult Railroad.² Södergård, Hornaryd parish, 22 Abner Messenheimer Griffith, Married 19 Nov 1891 in Saint Ma- (Smål.), died 25 April 1952 in born 27 July 1833 in Fishertown, thias, Crow Wing Co., Minnesota Sheyenne, Eddy Co., North Da- Saint Clair Township, Bedford Co., to kota. She came with her parents Pennsylvania, died 10 May 1914 in 9 Susanna Miller, born 11 Sep. 1866 to the U.S. in 1886 and grew up in Fishertown, East Saint Clair Town- in Owatonna, Steele Co., Minne- Elbow Lake, Grant Co., Minnesota. ship, Bedford Co., Pennsylvania. sota, died 26 Nov. 1936 at 615 Mil- Laborer in Fishertown, East Saint ton Avenue South, Jamestown, Generation IV Clair Township, Pennsylvania.9 Stutsman Co., North Dakota. Married 1st 26 Apr. 1855 in Bedford 16 Ernst Pfeiffer, born 18 Mar. 1831 Co. to Rebecka Lingenfelter, born 10 James Berton “Bert” Straley, born in Germany, died 6 Nov. 1905 in 1831 in Saint Clair Township, Bed- 20 Sep. 1874 in New Enterprise, Saint Mathias, Crow Wing Co., ford Co., Pennsylvania, died there South Woodbury, Bedford Co., Minnesota. Farmer in Saint Ma- in 1856. Pennsylvania, died 17 July 1951 in thias, Crow Wing Co., Minnesota. Married 2nd in 1857 in Bedford Co., Carrington, Foster Co., North Da- He, his wife, and the children came Pennsylvania, to his 2nd cousin’s kota. Farmer in Carrington, Fos- with the Ohio from Bremen to Bal- daughter ter Co., North Dakota. timore 21 Dec. 1881.6 23 Rachel Penrose, born 30 July 1834 Married 4 Nov. 1897 in Curryville, Married to in Saint Clair Township, Bedford Pennsylvania, to 17 Henrietta Gebhardt, born 18 Oct. Co., Pennsylvania, died 6 Mar. 11 Hulda Blanche Griffith, born 27 1830 in Germany, died 14 Aug. 1896 in Fishertown, East Saint June 1872 in Fishertown, Saint 1888 in Saint Mathias, Crow Wing Clair Township, Bedford Co., Penn- Clair Township, Bedford Co., Penn- Co., Minnesota. sylvania. sylvania, died 1 Oct. 1952 in Carrington, Foster Co., North 18 Johann “John” H(einrich) Müller, 24 Hans (Johannes) Taverna, born 29 Dakota. later Miller, born Apr. 1835 in Jan. 1837 in Davos (Frauenkirch), Prussia, died 10 July 1908 at 1519 Graubünden, Switzerland. Teacher 12 Jacob Taverna, born 24 Jan. 1868 South Seventh Street, Brainerd, in Davos (Frauenkirch), Graubün- in Davos (Frauenkirch), Grau- Crow Wing Co., Minnesota. Farmer den. bünden, Switzerland, died 22 July in Brooklyn, Hennepin Co., Minne- Married 5 July 1857 in Davos, Grau- 1920 in New Rockford, Eddy Co., sota, and later in Saint Mathias, bünden, Switzerland, to North Dakota. Farmer in Rosefield Crow Wing Co., Minnesota.7 25 Anna Engel, born 3 March 1836 Township in Eddy Co., North Dako- Married 18 June 1862 in Chicago to in Davos (Hauptkirche), Grau- ta.3 19 Katherine “Kate” Meyers, born 10 bünden, Switzerland. Married 29 Mar. 1896 in Davos Aug. 1844 in McHenry Co., Illinois, (Frauenkirch) to died 15 Sep. 1922 at 217 North 9th 26 Christian Bernhard, born 8 Feb. 13 Dorothea Bernhard, born 1 Jan. Street, Brainerd, Crow Wing Co., 1843 in Wiesen, Graubünden, 1872 in Wiesen, Graubünden, Minnesota. She had 13 children of Switzerland. Lived in Wiesen, Switzerland, died 16 July 1953 in which 8 were alive at her death, as Graubünden. Carrington, Foster Co., North Da- well as 38 grandchildren and 3 Married 27 Feb. 1869 to kota.4 great-grandchildren. 27 Dorothea Jud, born 19 Sep. 1840 in Janisberg, Graubünden, Swit- 14 John Sigurd Hill (born Charles 20 David M Straley, born 17 Feb. zerland. Alfred Peterson), born 9 Dec. 1870 1849 in New Enterprise, South in Marine Mills, Washington Co., Woodbury Township, Bedford Co., 28 Johan “John” Gustaf Peterson, Minnesota, died 28 Feb. 1962 in Pennsylvania, died 20 Aug. 1882 in born 15 Nov. 1845 in Ugnanäs
30 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:1 Påkagård, Hovmantorp parish, Mathias Township, then a part of Ft. Minnesota, 1904. Elbow Lake is in (Smål.), died 1 Sep. 1916 in Bar- Ripley. He then went to work in the Grant Co., but after corresponding rett, Grant Co., Minnesota. Post- machine shops in Brainerd. This he with the local officials it was clear that master, hotel owner, and policeman followed for two and one half years. no one named Hill had married in Then he saw seven years of work in Grant Co. around 1904. A brick wall in Barrett, Grant Co., Minnesota. the round-house. He clerked for Fred again. In the 1962 obituary for John Married 2 July 1867 in Chisago Lake, Luken for seven years. Then he went Hill his children were listed, and Chisago Co., Minnesota to out to North Dakota and worked there among them, the youngest son Gor- 29 Martha Kristina Johnson, born 15 in various stations for the N.P.R.R. don Hill in Mandan, North Dakota. Sep. 1847 in Gynkelstorp Norre- until 1933, when he retired. He hasn’t Luckily enough, Gordon Hill was still gård, Tolg parish, (Smål.), died 4 worked since. From 1885 to 1917, Wil- living in Mandan and he could by Apr. 1930 at 338 East 17th Street, liam Pfeiffer was a resident of Crow phone and by correspondence give in- Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Min- Wing Co., besides a pioneer home- formation and explain the riddle of nesota. She died at the home of a steader.” John Hill. Gordon knew that his father’s name had daughter, but was buried in Bar- 3) Jakob Taverna, 28 years, wife Doro- originally been Charles Peterson but rett. tea, 24 years, and Jakob’s brother Con- that he had later changed his name. rad Taverna, 27 years, arrived in New Now everything became clear. He was 30 Sven Johan Olson, born 16 June York 13 April 1896 on the La Touraine born as Charles Alfred Peterson in 1858 in Norrgärde, Tolg Mellan- from Le Havre, France. They settled Marine Mills, and recorded in Birth gård, Tolg parish, (Smål.), died 18 in Eddy Co., five miles southwest of book A, p 72, for Washington Co., Min- July 1908 in Fergus Falls, Otter New Rockford, North Dakota. nesota as Carl Alfred, born 9 Decem- Tail Co., Minnesota. Farmer in ber 1870, son of John G. and Martha Elbow Lake, Grant Co., Minne- 4) She left the farm in Rosefield Township Peterson. As a child he had moved in 1928 and moved to her son, Chris, with his parents to Barrett in Grant sota.10 st in New Rockford. She became ill in Co., where he grew up. He was still Married 1 5 March 1880 in Tolg 1945 and moved to her daughter and Charles Peterson in 1903 when he parish, (Smål.), to son-in-law, Martha and Erwin Nichol- married Amanda Karolina Olson in 31 Sara Katarina Petersdotter, born son, in Carrington. She left 8 children, Grant Co., and now it was possible to 9 Jan. 1860 in Ryltestugan, Rylte, 16 grandchildren, and 17 great-grand- get a copy of his marriage certificate. Tolg parish, (Smål.), died 30 Nov. children. All the pieces in the puzzle now found 1901 in Elbow Lake, Sanford their places, but it is still not clear why Township, Grant Co., Minnesota. 5) He was born as Charles A. Peterson Charles A. Peterson, when moving to Buried at the Union Cemetery, El- and used that name still at his second Sheyenne, suddenly changes his name marriage in 1903, but then changed to John S. Hill. If we had not been able bow Lake, Minnesota. his name to John Sigurd Hill for to get in contact with his son Gordon unknown reasons, possibly in connec- and been told that he had changed Endnotes tion with his move to Sheyenne, before both his first name and his surname, 1) In October 1936 he is said to be a 1910. it would have been almost impossible plumber in Carrington, but when his The origin of John Hill was rather diffi- to trace him. mother died in November 1936 he cult to find. According to his death lived in Sykeston and by his father’s certificate he was born in Barrett, and 6) In an interview with the granddaugh- death in August 1942 in Durwood, even in his obituary in the New Rock- ter Susanna Driver in 1936 she tells Minnesota. According to his obituary ford Transcript he is said to be born 9 about her paternal grandparents: “Af- he came to California in 1942. Dec. 1870 in Barrett, Minnesota. In ter staying in St Louis, Missouri, for his daughter Delma’s birth certificate some time, they came north into Min- 2) He came to the U.S. with his parents he is said to be born in Marine Mills, nesota and near St. Paul a while, then in 1881. In October 1936 the Pfeiffers Minnesota (which turned out to be finally in 1885 they located at St. Ma- were interviewed by M. Monson about correct). By checking the 1870 and thias, Crow Wing Co., Minnesota. Mr. their lives and William Pfeiffer told the 1880 censuses it was found that Pfeiffer filed on a homestead im- following: “Mr Pfeiffer was born in neither in Barrett, which is in Grant mediately and built his house, a log Germany in 1863 and came across in Co., or in Marine Mills, which is in cabin, near where Mr. John Miller 1881. He settled in St. Louis, Missouri, Washington Co., was there a Hill lived (see ancestor #18), a man of his where he worked in the car shops. In family during those years. After a own nationality and who was there Germany he had learned no particular contact with the Swedish Emigrant when he came.” We are also told that trade, but had attended a seminary, Institute in Växjö it was known that “In the old country he had worked on thus his early days were spent as a there was no Hill family in Swedish fruit farms. Therefore as quickly as student. From St. Louis, he went to congregations in the nearby area in possible, he prepared some land and Wisconsin in 1882. There he worked Minnesota. put in some berry bushes.” Finally it on the section for three years. Then Further leads were found in the obi- is told that “Mr Pfeiffer lived on his he came to Minneapolis, Minnesota. tuaries in the local papers for Mr. and homestead and raised fruit and did There he kept a boarding house for a Mrs. Hill. According to the New Rock- gardening until he passed away.” year. Then, in 1885, he came to Crow ford Transcript, John Hill and Aman- Ernst Pfeiffer was recorded in the Wing Co. taking a homestead in St. da Olson had married in Elbow Lake, 1900 Census as a widower in Saint
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:1 31 Mathias Township in Crow Wing Co., 8) In the 1879 Directory for Bedford Co., 10) Sven Johan Olofsson, as was his Minnesota, living with his daughter where also his middle initial is men- Swedish name, was a tenant farmer Anna and her husband Millard F. tioned, he is listed as a blacksmith in in Nyelund, Klackhult Södergård, Shannon. New Enterprise, Woodberry Borough- Hornaryd parish (Smål.) 1880-1881, South (present spelling South Wood- then sharecropper at Holmatorpet, 7) He came to America before 1862 and bury). He united with the Church of Bringebäck, Hornaryd parish (Smål.) lived in 1864 in McHenry Co., Illinois. the Brethren, in the New Enterprise 1881-1882, tenant farmer and car- In the 1870 Census he lived in Owa- congregation, in the spring of 1878. penter at Bråna Frälsegårds soldat- tonna, Steele Co., Minnesota, as a This congregation called him to the torp, Tolg parish (Smål.) 1882-1886, laborer. In the 1880 Census he lived ministry 14 October 1878. In the and then the whole family moved to in Brooklyn, Hennepin Co., Minne- spring of 1882 he moved to Nebraska, North America on 26 May 1886. They sota, as a farmer and in the 1900 Cen- where he met with an accident that settled in Elbow Lake, Sanford Town- sus as a farm laborer in Saint Mathias cost him his life, he died from being ship, Grant Co., Minnesota. Some Township, Crow Wing Co., Minnesota. kicked by a horse. years after his first wife died, Sven According to his obituary in 1908, he Johan and four sons went back to came with his family in 1884 to Crow 9) In the 1879 Directory for Bedford Co. Sweden, where he remarried. After Wing Co., taking a claim in St. Ma- he is found in East Saint Clair Town- about one year they moved back to thias township where he resided until ship as Abner M. Griffith, worker in America, first to Canada and then to about 1907 when he moved to Brain- Fishertown. From his obituary it is Alexandria, Douglas Co., in Minne- erd. According to what his daughter found that he “was the 13th child and sota. He worked as both a butcher and Susanna told in 1936, John Miller was last survivor of William and Hannah a carpenter until he bought some land, originally a basket maker by trade, Griffith, all of whose large family 80 acres, in 1906 in Zimmerman, supplying the big wholesale houses in became people of local prominence.” Sherburne Co., Minnesota and moved Minneapolis. When she became 11 Next you are told: “When a young man there. Buried at Bellwood Cemetery, years old, that is in 1877, they moved he learned the tanner trade with his Orrock Township, Sherburne Co. to a farm at Brooklyn Center. They brother Joseph, which business, after lived there seven years. Then they a few years, he abandoned and devoted moved to Crow Wing Co. and John Mil- the remaining years of his active life ler filed on a homestead in Saint Ma- to lime burning and all other forms of Bo Lindwall lives in Södertäl- thias, where they lived until he was outdoor labour for his neighbor farm- je, Sweden. His e-mail is: too old to run it, and then he moved ers. Mr. Griffith had lived alone for to Brainerd. During his time in Saint many years prior to his death. He was
The Swedish General Surveyor’s Of- fice (Lantmäteriet) has recently opened a new version of their web site, and now you have access to many thousands of old maps. To look at the maps is free, but the maps are not downloadable. Instead you can go to the Lantmäteriet’s e-shop and buy copies of maps on paper, online or on a CD/DVD. This service is quite new, so the SAG editor has not yet tried all dif- ferent kinds of searches, but will get back to this important site in a future issue of SAG. When you first come to this site, it might be in Swedish, but look for an English link in the upper left corner, This is the view you get if you click on “Historical Maps”. There are two search possi- bilities – either just click on the map, or fill out the fields to the left. Then click on the click on that and all, or most, follow- Search button under the map. ing pages will be in English. Lantmäteriet started in 1628. http://www.lantmateriet.se/ 32 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:1