Swedish American Genealogist
Volume 27 | Number 4 Article 1
12-1-2007 Full Issue Vol. 27 No. 4
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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 XXVIIDecember 2007 No.4 CONTENTS
Family Ties to the Dakota Uprising. Part 3 ...... 1 by Helene Leaf
Copyright © 2007 (ISSN 0275-9314) Database errors and omissions, ...... 7 by Jill Seaholm Swedish American Genealogist Bits & Pieces ...... 13 Publisher: Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center Birth, baptism and churching ...... 14 Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 by Ingela Martenius Telephone: 309-794-7204. Fax: 309-794-7443 E-mail: [email protected] A new Stockholm resource ...... 18 Web address: http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/ Handwriting Example XVI ...... 19 Editor: Elisabeth Thorsell Hästskovägen 45, 177 39 Järfälla, Sweden News from the Swenson Center ...... 20 E-mail: [email protected] Daddy, where did I come from? ...... 22 Contributing Editor: By Lois Anderson Peterson Peter S. Craig. J.D., F.A.S.G., Washington, D.C. The Erik Wedmarks letters...... 24 Editorial Committee: by Tom Houle H. Arnold Barton, Carbondale, IL Dag Blanck, Uppsala, Sweden A growing resource for Skåne ...... 29 Dennis L. Johnson, Pottstown, PA Ronald J. Johnson, Madison, WI Handwriting Example XVI, solution ...... 30 Christopher Olsson, Stockton Springs, ME Priscilla Jönsson Sorknes, Minneapolis, MN Book Reviews ...... 31
Swedish American Genealogist, its publisher, editors, Interesting Web Sites ...... 38 and editorial committee assume neither responsibility nor liability for statements of opinion or fact made by Genealogical Queries ...... 39 contributors. The Last Page ...... 40 Correspondence. Please direct editorial correspon- dence such as manuscripts, queries, book reviews, announcements, and ahnentafeln to the editor in Sweden. Correspondence regarding change of address, back issues (price and availability), and advertising should be directed to the publisher in Rock lsland.
Subscriptions. Subscriptions to the journal are $28.00 per annum and run for the calendar year. Single copies are $8.00 each. Swenson Center Associates are entitled to a special discounted subscription price of $15.00. Cover picture: Direct all subscription inquiries to the publisher in Rock The Baptismal Angel in Hjulsjö church (Väsm.). A bowl with Island. Baptismal water is placed on the tray in the hand of the Angel. In Sweden the subscription price is 225.00 Swedish (Photo: E. Thorsell) 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. Family Ties to the Dakota Uprising – Minnesota 1862, Part 3
Claims for Depredations following the Dakota War of 1862
BY HELENE LEAF
As a follow up to the article about people listed in the previous articles Francois Patoille), who was the driv- Mary Anderson, the Broberg fami- (Parts I and II, “Family Ties to the er of the wagon in which Mary An- lies, and the Lundborg brothers who Dakota Uprising – Minnesota derson was riding when she was tak- were killed in the Dakota Uprising 1862”3): en captive. He was killed. The file in Minnesota in 1862, I continued to Broberg, Anna/Andreas, claim location is not known, but $1,800 was search for more information about #1204. The file location is not known, claimed. Mary Anderson’s fiancé and also but the full amount claimed, $575.00, Reynolds, Joseph B. (Mary An- what happened to those who sur- was awarded. This money went to derson’s employer), claim #1098. The vived. One of the interesting pieces Anna, the daughter and only person location of this file is not known, but of information that I ran across was in her family to survive. Andreas, the he received full payment of $3,000 for that many of those who had lost father, was killed at the massacre relief of depredation damages. He property in the Uprising had filed site. received $200 on 11/16 and $500 on claims. Broberg, Daniel (deceased), claim 11/23. No year is given. Mr. Reynolds In the book Index to Claimants for #1205. The file location is not known, also received some payment for being Depredations following the Dakota but the full amount claimed, $300.00, a witness. War of 1862, compiled by Mary Haw- was awarded. This money most likely There apparently is no more infor- ker Bakeman, the claimants’ names went to his son, Peter, the only one mation available about the above and claim numbers are listed. Some- in his family to survive. Both of these claims. None of the actual claim times the amount of the claim, the claims are listed under the name forms have been microfilmed and location of the loss of property, and Berburg. NARA does not have the original the location of the actual claim are Lundberg, Andrew (Swedish name claims forms listed above. I did not noted. Andreas Larsson Lundborg), claim find any claim listed for Mary Most of the attacks occurred in #739, the father who was shot at but Schwandt Schmidt or her brother August and September of 1862 and not injured. The file location is not August who also survived. In her the claims were filed later that year known, but he received full payment account, Mary stated that a claim and during 1863. Minnesota ap- of $850.00 for relief of depredation had been filed, but that she did not pointed three men to hear these damages. This claim seems to be a receive the money. claims (the Claims Commission1). combination of 16 claims. About 2,500 claims were filed. About Lundberg, John (Johannes Lund- Claims of Mary Ander- 500+ claims are available at NARA2. borg), claim #742, Andreas Lund- The rest of the information for the borg’s oldest son who also survived. son and Richard book was gathered from the pub- The file location is not known, but Holback lished list in the House of Represen- he received full compensation, Of greatest interest to me were the tatives report on the work of the $630.00. claims of Mary Anderson #2213 and Claims Commission and records of There were no claims filed for the Richard Holback #2247. Richard payments and vouchers. The state of three Lundborg brothers, Lars, An- Holback (also spelled Hoback) was Minnesota paid these claims using ders Peter, and Gustaf, who died at the fiancé of Mary Anderson; they the money that should have been the Broberg cabin. Perhaps claims were planning to get married in the used to pay the yearly Indian annui- for their possessions were listed with fall of 1862. He was a teamster at ties. their father’s. the Upper Sioux Agency for about 5 Here is what I found regarding the Patwell, Francis (also known as Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 1 years prior to the Uprising. He and Mary Anderson # 2213 Mary undoubtedly had opportunity to meet as he was traveling the road Schedule between the Upper Sioux Agency and the Lower Sioux Agency, and she was 1 Blanket Shawl 5.00 working at one of the stopping places 1 Wool Delaine Shawl Silk Fringe 5.00 along that road. It is also possible 1 Silk dress pattern and trimmings 25.00 that Mary knew him from the time 1 Delaine 3.50 that her father had worked at one of 1 Calico 3.00 the agencies. 4 New Delaine Dresses @ 4. 16.00 The information about Richard 4 New Calico Dresses 8.00 Holback is found in the 1860 Minne- 1 Shaker trimming 2.00 sota Federal Census4, and the ac- 2 Wool hoods 3.00 counts written by Cecilia Campbell 1 Wool Lacey Dress 4.00 Stay5 and Mary Schwandt Schmidt6. 6 White Skirts 12.00 Mary Schwandt Schmidt worked at ½ Doz. Chemise 12.00 the same place as Mary Anderson ½ Doz. Drawers 6.00 and was taken captive with her and ½ Doz. Handkerchiefs 1.50 another young girl. Cecilia lived at 2 Pr shoes new 4.00 the Lower Sioux Agency and certain- 1 Pr Rubbers 1.00 ly would have known him. Both 2 Embroidered Collars 2.00 young girls were captives of the 4 Linen Collars 1.00 Indians and were present at the 1 Lacey Dress pattern 2.00 camp where Mary died and wrote 1 Mosaic Pin 3.00 about it in their accounts. Cecilia ½ Doz. Pr. Cotton and woolen H??? 2.20 gave an account of the incident when 30 Yards of Bleached Muslim 5.40 his picture and $10 from Mary An- 3 Pr. under Sleeves 1.20 derson were given to Richard Hol- 1 Hoop Skirt 1.75 back at Camp Release. He had joined 1 Trunk 2.00 the Renville Rangers7 and was part 1 Pr. Mitts and gloves 1.00 of General Sibley’s troops that 1 Pr. Mitts ? .75 liberated the captives at Camp Re- Underclothes ? ? 25.00 lease. Sewing Accoutrements: Needles, scissors, thimbles, thread, ivory silk, braid, tape, etc. A detailed list 10.00 NARA and Ms. Bakeman have copies 1 Embroidery for shirt 5.00 of these two files (plus about 500 2 Belts 1.00 more). I sent to Ms. Bakeman at Park 1 Leather Trunk 6.00 Genealogical Books for copies of 6 Set of Books 5.00 these two files. Below is the very ____ detailed listing of the possessions of $179.30 Mary Anderson and Richard Holback and the value of each item.
Richard Holback #2247
Schedule
1 Cloth overcoat 16.00 1 Deer coat 15.00 1 India Rubber suit, coat and pants 12.00 6 Shirts, Linen Bosoms 12.00 2 Woolen Vests 6.00 6 Flannel Overshirts 15.00 2 Pair C Pants 9.00 1 Pair Fancy Buckskin Pants 9.00 2 Pair Moccasins, Fancy Beaded 4.00
2 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 4 Pair C (illegible) 75 cts each 3.00 Reynolds, was the administrator of 1 Pair Shoe Packs? 2.00 Mary’s claim, but her mother re- 1 Pr Blanket Leggings 3.00 ceived the compensation. Joseph 1 Pr Knit Leggings 3.00 Reynolds and his wife Valencia J. 6 Pair Woolen socks 0.80 Reynolds were the two people who 4 Pair Cotton socks 2.00 attested to the events that lead to 1 Neck Comforter 2.00 her death and attested to her posses- 1 Fur Cap (otter) 7.00 sions and their value. A copy of Va- 1 Leather carved trunk 5.00 lencia J. Reynolds’s statement is 5 3 ½ Pt Blankets @ $4 20.00 included [next page]. All the state- 1 Leather Bed 10.00 ments followed the same general for- 2 Bed comforters 3 50/100 7.00 mat. 1 Pair pillows 3.00 Besides learning of the numbers 2 Pair pillow cases 3.00 of items and their value, some of the 1 Musket Bar 2.50 personal life of each of these people 1 Double barrel shot gun 20.00 was included. Richard Holback had 1 Colt revolver 16.00 been living in Goodell’s Boarding 1 Silver Watch 13.00 House at the Upper Sioux Agency, 1 Pair Cowhide Boots 2.50 and he was a widower with a three- ______year-old child. He was fighting the $229.80 Indians at the time that these claims were being settled. He and Mary had planned to get married in the fall. For his claim, Richard Holback went the time of the attack. He had to Many of Mary’s clothes were new before the judge in Ramsey County swear that all of his possessions were because of the intended wedding. December 3, 1862, along with two either taken or destroyed by the Mary’s books consisted of a Swedish other men, Moses Mireau and Ed- Indians. He (or a clerk for him) made Bible and other Swedish religious ward Bibeau, who attested to the out the list of possessions and a value books. Note that the places where identity of Richard Holback. Both was placed on each item. Later two some of Mary’s clothes were pur- of these men were in the Renville acquaintances of Richard Holback chased were included in Mrs. Reyn- Rangers also and also filed claims for had to attest that Richard Holback olds’s account and that she had depredations. Holback or a clerk did indeed own these things at the bought some of them for Mary. writing for him gave an account of time of the Uprising and that he lost Mary and Richard were young where he was living and working at them all. The two men who attested people and owned no land. They were to these things were Joseph Fortier not settlers of homesteads yet. Their and Theophilus Richer, both of whom claims were interesting and showed also had filed claims and received what kinds of things young people of compensation. Both men stated very their age and situation possessed. specifically, about each item as being The claims of some of the home- new or perhaps slightly worn, but steaders would show what farmers that each article was worth what was and their families possessed. Many claimed. Joseph Fortier was a clerk lost everything as they left quickly, at the Upper Agency from 1855 to some in the middle of a meal, some 1862 and also joined the Renville from tending their fields or gardens. Rangers. Theophilus Richer was a A few had the chance to pack some carpenter at the Upper Agency since goods, but then left them behind in at least 18608 and also joined the their flight or when they were Renville Rangers. Thus they would captured. Viewing these claims have known the claimant well. would give a good idea of what the Mary had been killed. Her mother settlers owned and a glimpse of what (also named Mary Anderson) went life was like for those settling in those before a judge in Carver County still wild prairies and woodlands of (where she lived) to swear that Mary Minnesota. was her daughter and that she was If the claim was for $200 or less, it her daughter’s legal heir. She also could be settled by the Claims Com- had to attest to the facts of Mary’s mission on the spot. The claims for A girl in a hoop skirt around 1860 death. Mary’s employer, Joseph B. Mary Anderson and Richard Holback (Josefina Rådberg, born 1835). were settled by the Claims Commis Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 3 sion. The claims settled by the Com- Bibliography Endnotes: mission were sent to NARA and thus 1 Cyrus Aldrich, Albert White, and Eli were preserved. Those claims which Index to Claimants for Depredations Chase. were denied or were for more than following the Dakota War of 1862, 2 National Archives Records Adminis- $200 were sent to Washington DC to Compiled by Mary Hawker Bake- tration. be reviewed. The location of the ori- man, Park Genealogical Books, Swedish American Genealogist, ginal claim forms sent to Washing- 2001. Volume XXVII, No. 2 & 3. ton DC to be reviewed is unknown, Roster of Renville’s Rangers – Ac- 4 1860 Federal Census, Minnesota, and perhaps these papers were cording to Joseph Fortier, Minne- Brown, Yellow Medicine, M653- thrown away. Thus for most of the sota Historical Society Archives. 567, page 245. claims the only information available Schwandt-Schmidt, Mary, The Story 5 Stay. is the record of what was paid or of Mary Schwandt, Minnesota 6 Schwandt. denied to various individuals. One Historical Society Collections, V. 7 The Renville Rangers was a com- can only hope that some day some 6, pp. 461-474, St. Paul, 1915. pany of soldiers recruited on Au- one somewhere will find a box or two Stay, Cecilia Campbell, Dakota War gust 19, 1862, in the area of the that contains these forms. What a Collections, M582. Reel 3, Minne- Upper Sioux Agency. They fought treasure that would be for historians sota Historical Society, St Paul. at Fort Ridgely and Wood Lake. and genealogists. 1860 Federal Census, Minnesota, The company was disbanded No- Brown, Yellow Medicine, M653_ vember 28, 1862. 567, p. 245. 8 1860 Census.
Indians attacking a pioneering settle- ment. Picture from Svenskarne i Illinois, by Eric Johnson and C. F. Peterson, Chicago 1880.
4 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 Mrs. Reynolds’s letter Page 1 Transcription of Mrs. Reynolds’s letter
Before the Sioux Commission
In the Matter of the Estate of Mary Anderson - #2213
Mrs. V. J. Reynolds being sworn as a witness on behalf of claimant’s sake: I was acquainted with Mary An- derson who was living in my family at the time of the outbreak, and had been for a year from thereto. She was killed by the Indians at the time of the outbreak while endeavoring to escape. There were nine in our family, two whereof were taken prisoner besides the killing of claim- ant. I made out the schedule attached to the complainant in this case and all the articles therein mentioned were at our house at the time of the outbreak and were worth the prices therein charged for the same. All the articles specified therein were new. She was to have been married in the fall and I purchased her wearing apparel for her except the silk dress, which was purchased at Chicago by Mr. Magnes. It was all lost, taken, or destroyed by the Indians, and none has ever been recovered to my knowl- edge. Goods Examined The goods are charged at the cost of the material and the expense of making it up, 12 or 14 made up, some were not made. The $25 charged for sundry clothing consists of all her every day clothing. One of the trunks Page 2 was a [looks like pucking but I think it might be packing] trunk which I bought new for her at St. Paul. The other was leather-covered common- sized. The Books were Swedish books, consisting of Bible and other religious works.
Valencia J. Reynolds
Helene H. Leaf lives in Moline, Illinois. Her e-mail is
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 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 2007:4 Database errors and omissions, and ways around them
BY JILL SEAHOLM
Indexes are wonderful things and the transcribing may not have been but not close enough! And Anders can save us hours of search time. I able to read everything clearly, or Poulsson arrived in 1852 aboard the spend many hours a week looking in that that person was not necessarily Industrie, but the database had him various computerized and micro- familiar with Swedish naming prac- as “Andrs Poulum” and the ship was filmed genealogical indexes. How- tices and entered names as closely spelled “Tudentire.” ever, there are errors and omissions as he or she could get. that can prevent us from finding the In one case I was looking for a The Garner experience people that we are looking for, when mother and her three children in the My husband Dave Garner was at- they are often right there to be found. indexed New York passenger arrivals tempting to find his Garner ancestors I have the good fortune to have a 1850-1891. I had found them leaving in the 1850 Census in Virginia in a wealth of resources at my fingertips Malmö in Emihamn as Elna Jonsson printed statewide index that he had at the Swenson Center, and can often with children Johanna, Gerda Ma- found at the Family History Center go to a backup source when I am ria, and Anna with a destination of in Salt Lake City. None of his Gar- unable to find the person I’m looking Streator, IL. Finding them in the ners was listed there. He had not for. I know that not everyone has the New York arrivals took some real been able to find them in Iowa in means to do that, but I hope that effort because of major misspellings 1850 and was not sure when they hearing about my techniques will in the database, but I eventually had migrated from Virginia to Iowa, teach you to be patient with indexes. found Elna and the three children or exactly where they had lived in It’s important to remember that arriving in New York on 19 June Virginia. The Virginia counties had information has usually been typed 1889 aboard the State of Pennsylva- been divided and subdivided over the into indexes by human beings, and nia. Here Elna’s name was spelled years, and he had a few counties in we all make typing errors and can “Elue” and Gerda Maria was spelled mind where he thought they be certain that the number we saw “Geida Maris.” Their destination was might be. He was at a dead end and was a ‘7’ when everyone else could “Strcaton, Illinois.” let it go for a while. plainly see that it was a ‘1.’ I have In a few other misspelling exam- Then while we were visiting a good made plenty of mistakes myself and ples from the index to New York friend in Washington D.C. several have learned to be quite forgiving passenger arrivals I found an Aman- months later, we spent a few hours when it comes to errors I find in da Christina Abrahamsson arriving in the Library of Congress. In the indexes, and I have found errors and aboard the Devonia from Glasgow, genealogy area, browsing books on omissions in every database I have Scotland on 19 July 1882 as “Amand the Virginia and West Virginia used. Abrahmonson.” In another case I shelves, we found a book of the 1850 found a Cathrina Larsdotter and her Federal Census index of Virginia. It Examples of horrible children August, Johan, and Hjalmar was specifically for Barbour County, arriving aboard the Canada on 8 which was one of the counties near misspellings May 1872. I chose to search for them The way I understand the U.S. port Grafton, where we knew one of his under Hjalmar’s name because it Garner ancestors was born. In it we arrival records were originally was the least common, but unfortu- generated was by transcribing the were relieved to find two of the Gar- nately it was misspelled as “Hya- ner sons listed with their wives and departure manifests that the ships’ man.” captains brought with them. If a children, but not the parents or the Once I found a Rydgren family other two married sons. However, a name was incorrect in the departure listed as Kindgren. All the first records, the error would theoretically glance a few inches over to the other names and ages matched (somewhat side of the page showed families be carried to the arrival records. misspelled, but the same). It’s an- Consider also that the person doing named Gainer, and three of the other legitimate Swedish surname, Gainer families turned out to be
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 7 Dave’s Garners misspelled. Turning in 1880 in Emibas, but was having that had been born in Möckleby back one page showed some more difficulty finding them in Emihamn parish. Initially I had trouble finding matching Gainers. Finding that and it felt like they should be easy to Amanda leaving a port in Emihamn. enabled us to go back and find them find. I discovered years ago that in I had been searching for Amandas in the statewide census index book, Emihamn for Göteborg port in 1880 from Kalmar county on the east and ultimately the 1850 census mi- only people traveling alone and coast. (Möckleby parish had split into crofilm. We were happy to find them, heads of traveling households were Norra and Södra Möckleby parishes, but had been delayed by several included in the database, so I knew both in Kalmar county.) To help months in finding his Garner an- the wife and children would not be figure it out, I searched for Amanda’s cestors in 1850 in Virginia because listed. parents, whose names I already had, their names had been misread as I next went to our microfilm of the in the 1890 Census of Sweden and Gainer instead of Garner, which 1880 Göteborg passenger index and found them living in Myckleby parish seems easy to do since in cursive looked for one of the less commonly in Västergötland. After that I knew handwriting the two names have named children in the first name that I should be looking for someone only the dot above the ‘i’ to distin- section. There I found one child that from the west coast area, and I found guish them. In summary, the state- matched. The father’s surname was Amanda right away. It’s important wide index had all of the names spel- off, and when that happens you to note that the parish name spell- led incorrectly and the transcribed should find several other things that ings are not normalized in Emihamn county index had two right and three match. Now absolutely everything and many other databases, so one wrong. Anyone using the Barbour did match, such as the port departure must search in ways that will en- County book as a source for new date being just a few days after the compass all possible spellings. Here indexes will perpetuate the error. parish departure date, Trehörna are other similar-named parishes There was no Soundex for 1850 Vir- parish matched, all of the other first that can get mixed up, but sometimes ginia, but it would not have helped names and ages, and the Chicago you see one parish spelled as the because the Soundex code for Garner destination, were perfect. other: Skarstad (R) and Skärstad (F), is G656 and for Gainer it is G560. I found the same family arriving Sankt Olai (E) and Sankt Olof (L), in New York under the wrong sur- Åmot (X) and Åmål (P), and Våxtorp Parish name instead of name. Because so many things were (N) and Voxtorp (F & H). surname right about it, I determined that I had the right family and that the Missing child I don’t know how I was lucky enough person who typed up the index a few Here’s an unusual case where an to find this couple of travelers several decades ago misread Karlsson as years ago since it took place before infant child, Tilda Charlotta, was not Hansson. It’s also possible that the listed with the family in Emibas the Emibas database came out, but pastor wrote the wrong name on I eventually I found Emma Rydén when they left their parish, but when their migration papers, starting a I found them leaving Göteborg, she and her mother, Christina Petters- chain of errors. I confirmed that I had son Rydén, leaving the port of Göte- was there. Curious, I went to the the right family when I went back to household records using our Genline borg. Their place names were in- Emibas and found no Hansson family correctly entered in the name field subscription and found the family, leaving the parish at the same time. hoping that she would be there and in the database: Christina was The patron had been looking for their instead “Christine Ö Thorsås” and that someone had neglected to enter arrival for 12 years, so it felt good to her into Emibas, but there was no her daughter Emma was “Emma find that for her. Thor.” Finding these people was what infant listed in the household either (fig. 1). I knew when the girl should the patron needed to advance his re- Swedish letters are so search into parish records. That was have been born and went to the birth in the 1996 version of Emihamn, and important records and found her listed (fig.2), I see now that they’ve changed it in I had been asked to find emigration and she should indeed have been the 2001 version so it just says “Ö” info about a person named Amanda listed with the family in the house- as Christina’s last name, and it is the same in Emigranten Populär.
A Göteborg problem in 1880 In another case, I found a family listed in various places as Hansson when their name was Karlsson. I had already found the family as Karlsson Fig. 1. When Anders Andersson Lund and his family left in 1872, daughter Tilda was not listed. (Vara AI:7, p. 44) 8 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 Fig. 2. Little Tilda was indeed born to her parents in Tråvad, but the clergyman forgot to record her on page 109, as he should. (Tråvad C:1). hold records. In the birth records I Arrival in New York? person. That usually works, but not noticed that the attending pastors’ Once a person or family is found in always. It might be necessary to names were listed on each line, and Emihamn, the next step is often to search the entire list of people every baptism was performed by the find the arrival record in New York leaving the same port the same day, same pastor except the one child I arrival indexes. However, if the name or even within a few days in either was looking at. What I think hap- one needs to look for is some form of direction, for there is no guarantee pened was that the substitute pas- the name Johnson, one’s heart sinks. that all passengers leaving Sweden tor entered her in the original birth The first thing I do is to see if any of on the same ship made it onto the records but neglected to enter her in the family members had an un- same transatlantic ship from Britain. the household records on her family’s common first name and do a search The same thing can be done in page. The pastors must not have for that name and a surname start- reverse when trying to find a person counted heads for a while, because ing with ‘J’. I don’t want to enter any leaving a Swedish port. I have been the family even moved from her birth more than that because things are given arrival records and been asked parish to another before emigrating, almost never spelled the same way to find something about the person and she was not listed in the second twice in records. If that yields too in Sweden. If the name is too com- parish either. So she is missing from many possibilities or looks like it will mon, I’ll have to search for someone two household record books. Then take a long time to go through, I will near him on the manifest with a less because she was not listed in the last go back to Emihamn and print a list common name and find him or her household, she was not entered in of passengers who bought tickets just in the Swedish (or Danish or Nor- Emibas. It was the port police that before and after my person, and pick wegian) passenger indexes. must have noticed (because they out people among them with the least Sometimes your Swede will be wanted payment for her passage!), so common names. I will then look for listed as from another country on she is now in port departure and arri- their names in the arrivals. If I find arrival, but people around him/her val records. them, I can usually look up or down all left Sweden with him/her. In the the arrival list and find my original New York passenger arrival index I Some extra children For one patron I found an entire family listed in Emibas. There were a couple of extra children listed there that were not listed in the Chisago Lake church record: Hilda Maria and Frans August. I assumed that they’d died on the way to the U.S., but wanted to be sure so I could tell the patron what had happened. So I went to page 669 of the household records for Linneryd parish covering 1870 (volume AI:20, Genline ID# 833.49.29700). There I found the whole family listed at #81 Flislycke (fig.3). The two extra children, on lines 7 & 8, are crossed off and they have death dates in 1868 & 1870. It appears that they were entered into Emibas in error and died before their parents and siblings emigrated. Fig. 3. The missing children had died. (Linneryd AI:20, p. 669)
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 9 found ‘A. Lund’ arriving on 17 May as Filip Eriksson. I know that this is exactly 2 years lower than the parish 1871 aboard the Nevada from Liver- the right Filip because leaving his records had said that they were, and pool. It says that he was from parish at the same time was an Algot I guessed that it must have been in Germany, but I know he was a Swede Andersson and he is shown im- order to pay less for their passage. because the people traveling before mediately below Filip on the passen- This was the first time I had seen and after him are the same Swedes ger index. evidence of ages being altered. Very who left Göteborg with him. interesting indeed. Right date? Leaving alone or not? Here’s an interesting case where the Conclusions This type of case is not an error in patron asked about the birthdate and Four or five of the above examples database entry, but it is actually place of her ancestor, Augusta, resulted from questions that all came quite common to find a family listed because she had conflicting informa- from the same patron. When one of as emigrating from their parish to tion about her. Emibas and the my response letters is so full of ex- America all at the same time when parish household record (Trehörna planations about why the person I’ve they actually did not leave together. AI:13) both said that she was born found is the right person but there For example, in Emibas I found a in 1866, but the moving paper in the are so many things wrong with the family of seven registering together patron’s possession said 1869 and the printouts, I wonder sometimes if the to leave Vara parish in Skaraborgs age on the passenger index was con- patron thinks I’m brilliant to have län in 1872. In Emihamn I found the sistent with one born in 1869. One found my way around the errors, or father Anders leaving Göteborg port theory that I’d started with while wonders if I’m just making things up by himself in April 1871. Then I composing my letter to the patron so the emigrant fits the person I found the rest of the family leaving was that Augusta appeared younger found! At least I can usually provide Göteborg in April 1872. I regularly in the passenger indexes perhaps proof in the form of photocopies. Most find examples just like this. because her parents had presented of these examples also came from Another time I found Erik Mag- her age as lower, maybe to pay less requests I performed in about a 2- nusson leaving Göteborg port in 1885 for her passage. Looking more closely week period, so they happen pretty and his wife Carolina Andersdotter at the copy of Augusta’s moving regularly. I could provide dozens leaving Malmö port in 1886 with son paper (fig. 4), I noticed that on line 4 more. Carl Oscar Robert. Sometimes the the date 1869 and the numbers One thing to be careful of is when date they are registered to leave the written out as “sixty-nine” sextionio searching databases involving the parish matches the father’s port were darker than everything else, person’s year of birth. For example, departure, and sometimes it matches and eventually concluded that it had if you use the 1880 U.S. Federal Cen- the rest of the family’s. And, it hap- been altered. I’m convinced that sus index online at the LDS’s pens that I sometimes find the wife people altered dates on their papers www.familysearch.org site, it has and children leaving the Swedish as often then as they do nowadays. the person’s year of birth listed, but port under the new surname that the Staring at it, I could see how it had if you see an original handwritten husband had adopted while by previously said 1866 and someone 1880 Census form, it shows their himself in America. changed the last ‘6’ to a ‘9,’ and that ages in years, not their years of birth. the ‘9’ had to drop below the line. Do not rely on that birth year to be Name change Above its circle I could see traces of exact in the database. The year of Last year I was looking for a Philip where it used to be a ‘6.’ I don’t think birth is in such databases because Peterson for a patron. The patron’s that this is unusual. Once I saw an they have made a calculation by cousin had found Philip for him in entire family listed in the passenger subtracting each person’s age from the Ellis Island records online and indexes with all of the children’s ages 1880 to get an approximate year of asked for more information about him. I found the same Philip Peter- son in Emihamn and then in Emibas and determined that he had the wrong birthdate and that the pa- tron’s cousin had not found the right man in the Ellis Island records. I then went through Emibas, then Emihamn and Ellis Island and found that Philip had traveled under his patronymic, not Peterson. On 16 Sep. 1910 he registered to emigrate from Fig. 4. The Flyttningsbetyg for Augusta Eufemia Gustafsdotter from Trehörna, where Ånimskog parish to North America her year of birth has been altered.
10 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 birth. Your person may not have had took their traveling papers at the My husband’s Danish great-grand- his birthday yet when the census was port may have entered the same per- parents are listed in an LDS data- taken that year, which could make son as ‘Peter’ or even ‘Pehr’. I don’t base as buried in Utah, when we the calculated birth year be a year consider that a misspelling, but a have been to their graves in Illinois. off. Do your birth-year searches on spelling variation. They also were listed with the com- the +/- 2 years setting, at least. If Enter your search criteria pletely wrong forebears. Someone your ancestor’s misspelled name cautiously and try several spelling was careless. bothers you enough, it may be variations or you might miss finding You can see that it pays to keep possible to contact someone with a them. Do not try to fill in every search an open mind when it comes to correction (but who is to say what the field in case some are blank in your names and spellings in all types of actual correct spelling was then?). person’s record or it will not catch records, even handwritten. These are The www.ellisislandrecords.org him, and a search of the exact things that I deal with on a daily provides an e-mail address to which spelling of the name might not catch basis at work, and I am happy to you can send error corrections for him. Your ancestor Anders Lund share my examples and tricks with them to collect and eventually take might be in some records as ‘A. you. I hope it helps you find some- care of. Other sites may do the same. Lund’, so look for male Lunds whose thing that you couldn’t before. Never assume that your ancestor’s first names start with ‘A’ and who name is in a source the way you think were born 2 years before and after it was spelled or to find it spelled the your person. Don’t give up too quick- Jill Seaholm is Head of Gene- same way in every record. Your an- ly. Also, remember that indexes do alogical Services at the Swenson cestor was usually not the one who not necessarily exist to be taken as Swedish Immigration Research entered the name into record books. gospel but to lead us to original Center at Rock Island, Illinois. The names ‘Peter’ and ‘Per’ were records. Her e-mail is: forms of the same name, and one Consult and cite original sources
People from Ockelbo/Ugglebo Passport applications now online!
Ockelbo, also called Uggelbo or Ugg- pictures from the area. Ancestry.com has a new, exciting lebo, is a parish in northern Gästrik- The CD is totally in Swedish but database. This database contains land, near the boundaries to Hälsing- should not be difficult to use; but a U.S. passport applications from land and Dalarna. It is in the forest good Swedish-English dictionary 1795-1925, including emergency area, but also had its share of iron might help. passport applications (passports works and other small industries. In Elsa Lagevik is also the author issued abroad) from 1877-1907. It the year 1890 exactly 6,438 individu- of People of the Red Barns (printed also contains passport application als called Ockelbo home, according in 1996), which is a history of the registers for 1810-1817, 1830-1831, to the “Population of Sweden 1890.” early emigration from northern and 1834-1906. Passport appli- People having their roots in Ockel- Sweden, including the Erik Jansson- cations often include information bo often have a hard time as the ist group that came to Bishop Hill in regarding an applicant’s family stat- church burned in 1904 and with it Illinois. us, date and place of birth, residence, most of the older records. The Ockelbo CD can be ordered naturalization (if foreign-born), and Now former school teacher Elsa from Elsa Lagevik at other biographical information. Lagevik has devoted years to try to
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12 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 Bits & Pieces
On the WWII draft The Amandus Johnson Chicago vital records registration Service Award As we mentioned in SAG 3/07 the Cook county vital records were sup- About U.S. World War II Draft Regis- In September, at the 81st Annual posed to be available online in the tration Cards, 1942, on Ancestry.com: meeting of the American Swedish early part of the year 2008. this database is an indexed collection Historical Museum (ASHM) in Phi- Now we have received information of World War II U.S. draft cards from ladelphia, the Amandus Johnson Ser- that the launch of the web site will the Fourth Registration, the only vice Award was presented to Marna be delayed until June-July of this registration currently available to Feldt and Robert E. Savage. year. the public (the other registrations are Ms. Feldt has been an assistant Well, there is a Swedish saying: not available due to privacy laws). director of the ASHM, and later has Den som väntar på något gott, vän- The Fourth Registration, often re- served on the board in various tar aldrig för länge (He who waits ferred to as the "old man's regis- capacities. She has also been a long- for something good, can never wait tration," was conducted on 27 April time officer of the Swedish Informa- too long). 1942 and registered men who were tion Service in New York. She has born on or between 28 April 1877 and received the Swedish Order of the New director in Växjö 16 February 1897 – men who were Polar Star (Nordstjärneorden). Since January 1st 2008 Lars Hans- between 45 and 64 years old – and Mr. Savage, a professor emeritus son, Ph.D., is the new temporary who were not already in the military. of biology from Swarthmore College, director of the Swedish Emigrant (From Ancestry’s web site) has also served on the ASHM board, Institute (SEI) in Växjö. Dr. Hansson as Chair 2000–2004, and joined comes from Växjö University, where again in 2006. He was involved in the Barbro Osher to receive he has been a teacher of history. His planning of the Linnaeus Exhibition, appointment is only for 6 months, but Great Swedish Heritage and has also been one of the Pea soup he hopes during this time to vitalize Award chefs, member of the Swedish Mu- the cooperaton efforts with other Well-known philantropist Barbro seum Singers, etc. archives, museums, and institutions. Osher from San Francisco will re- Congratulations to the awardees The next project at the SEI is an ceive the Great Swedish Heritage from SAG! exhibition about the forgotten mig- Award at the spring meeting of (ASHM Newsletter, vol. 26, No 2) ration from southern Sweden to Swedish Council of America in early Germany. Germany was often called April. Homecoming Year 2008 “Poor man’s America,” as the labor Barbro Osher and her husband recruiters paid for the fare to the Bernard have through their foun- – Dalsland emigrants in work places. dations donated for instance many focus! (SmålandsPosten 2007 Dec. 21) millions of SEK to the Karolinska Homecoming Year 2008 is a time to Institutet in Stockholm for a re- celebrate and enhance the connec- search institution. Barbro Osher is tions and family bonds between the the Swedish Consul General in San U.S.A. and Sweden. Many people will Francisco, and a driving force in come together to enjoy the actual SWEA (Swedish Women’s Educa- places where our ancestors used to tional Association). live, the rich culture, and the beau- (SCA eUpdate Feb.2008) tiful nature of Dalsland. Zorn in Minneapolis! Take part in this celebration of the bonds between the U.S.A. and Swe- Famous Swedish painter Anders den and join us in Dalsland, Sweden, Zorn (1860–1920) will have some of August 14-17, 2008. There will be his work shown at the American Nordstjernan in New York, founded many interesting workshops to Swedish Institute in Minneapolis in 1872, and Vestkusten, founded in participate in, and beautiful sites to from February 6 through June 1. 1886, have joined forces. visit, and many exciting daytrips to Don’t miss this unique exhibition! See www.nordstjernan.com enjoy. Link on page 38.
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 13 Birth, baptism, and churching
The start of a new life is important – how was this handled in the old days?
BY INGELA MARTENIUS
Our present notions about what a danger both to itself and to others; to repeat the baptism. Accordingly occasions in life are worthy of spe- it was e.g., believed that trolls were “double” baptismal dates can some- cial attention may differ a little from on the lookout for pretty little human times be observed in the church rec- our ancestors’ – but that the begin- babies – they were thought capable ords. In some parishes it was so com- ning of a new life should be cele- of exchanging their own ugly, stupid, mon that the children could not be brated is something that we probably and wayward brat for the cute little baptized during the winter that you all can agree on. Today baptism has child. Changeling and as if changed can tell which the first Sunday with lost some of its status, even though were not said jokingly or figuratively clement weather was: then upwards about 70% of all children born in in those days! For the protection of of twenty children were baptized – Sweden are in fact still baptized the child different things were put for the second time – on the same within the Church of Sweden. In the in the cradle: it could be a small Sunday. It is easy to imagine the level old days baptism was perhaps the pouch of spices (e.g., caraway), a steel of noise in that church! most important ceremony in your knife, or a silver coin. entire life since it meant that you For a very long time baptisms Churching (kyrktagning) were made part of the Christian were carried out only in church, but One aspect we have difficulty com- congregation and were thus pro- in the end it became fashionable to prehending today is that the mother tected from the many dangers our have children baptized at home. was not present at her child’s bap- ancestors were absolutely convinced In old churches it can also be tism. After giving birth, the woman threatened the newborn, not yet observed that the baptismal font is had to stay indoors – preferably in christened child, while we today often not placed by the altar but at the the room where she had been de- tend to see the baptism as more of a entrance or even in the vestry. The livered – until she was churched naming ceremony. reason was that the child was con- (kyrktagen). All her chores were done sidered heathen before it was bap- by neighbouring women; this was the The heathen child tized, and a heathen should not be only time in her life a woman could Today children in Sweden are often allowed into the church or at least rest properly! Sometimes the women baptized when they are several as short a distance as possible. held a feast for the newly delivered months old, but in the old days bap- If the child was very weak, or if mother, a “birthing beer” (barnsängs- tism was something that had to be the weather made it impossible to öl), with extra nourishing food made performed as quickly as was human- bring the child to church, an emer- from fresh milk, or even cream, and ly possible. Until 1864 the law gency baptism (nöddop) had to be eggs. required a child to be baptized within performed. Every baptized member A mother not yet churched was eight days, but most children were of the Church of Sweden could and according to popular belief thought baptized earlier. If it could be ar- still can perform an emergency bap- “unclean” and on par with a heathen, ranged, the child was baptized the tism. The baptism is quite valid, and and both she and the farm with all very day it was born, but most needs only to be confirmed through who lived there, both human and commonly the baptism took place a blessing, but the rural population animal, were in danger. Since the when the child was two or three days generally did not think that it “took” churching originated within the old. properly if it was not done by a Jewish faith and there was regarded A child that was not christened was clergyman – so the vicar simply had as a purification – and the Virgin
14 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 A typical baptism from rural Skåne; the child in a red, decorated “bag.” From the dress show at Ystad, 2005. Photo: Ingela Martenius Mary was received and purified at churching was also officially moved and the vicar read a short prayer the Temple 40 days after giving birth to four weeks after the birth. expressing thankfulness. The woman to Christ (celebrated as Candlemas Churching was originally per- rose and the vicar shook her hand, (Kyndelsmäss) on Feb. 2nd) – less formed at the church door. This was at the same time saying “The Lord educated people (which meant at however changed during Protestant guide you in His truth and fear, now least 90% of the Swedish population) times, among other things because and unto eternity. Amen.” The wom- continued to regard churching as a it was not thought to be good for the an then returned to her pew. purifying rite while the Swedish newly delivered mother to stand a- Unmarried mothers were origi- Lutheran Church, at least officially, round outside if it was cold, windy, nally not churched but had to public- emphasized that the ceremony was or wet (which it so often is in Swe- ly confess and apologize for their one of joy and gratitude that the den). Having the churching outside transgression in front of the entire newly delivered mother could return the church would of course also have congregation, but later the confession to the congregation healthy and with strengthened the superstitious idea was made in private before the vicar. regained strength. Churching was the Lutheran church wished to get A modified form of churching then supposed to take place 40 days after rid off, namely that it was a puri- took place: a slightly different prayer the delivery – to conform to the fication rite. was said, and the vicar did not shake precedent set by the Virgin Mary – The churching ritual was very hands with the unwed mother. Usu- but in practice early on it often took simple: before the regular church ally she was also made to kneel on place on the fourth Sunday (i.e., 22- service began, the woman about to the bare floor - or at least on an 27 days) after the delivery. In 1866 be churched kneeled before the altar uncovered stool - while the married Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 15 woman kneeled on a very plush and It was the business of the entire tism; it is a remnant of the old rural finely decorated stool. extended family to provide as influ- society where all the money that Since baptism from 1864 was ential godparents as possible for the could be saved was quickly invested permitted to take place within six newborn child and many gene- in silver, preferably a spoon, which weeks of the birth and churching was alogists are today amazed that “com- had the double advantage of being of officially moved to within four weeks mon crofter kids” could have e.g., the lasting value and also could be shown of the birth in 1866, this meant that richest farmer in the parish as a god- to neighbors, family, and friends. To- churching and baptism could take father. Godparents did not – as many day such a gift of a silver spoon would place at the same time – which also believe today – have any sort of obli- correspond to, e.g., opening a savings very quickly became the norm. gation to care for the child, if the account in the child’s name – but it In Sweden churching was still in parents were unable to do so, but is difficult to abandon old traditions the Book of Prayers until 1986 (with they had a moral duty to further the completely, so most of us continue to the name changed to “a mother’s child’s interest, e.g., by giving recom- give a baptismal spoon while we at thanksgiving”), but was seldom per- mendations when it later applied for the same time make a deposit in that formed – and then mainly on request a position or to be accepted by a guild savings account! The christening from the mother.The province pre- or a school, and also to give gifts. A gifts were given at the feast held in serving churching the longest was of smart way of acquiring nice god- connection with the baptism, the course Bohuslän (the province on the parents was to ask the wife of one of “child beer” (barnsöl). coast just north of Göteborg), the the most important parishioners to most conservative province when it carry the baby (called the susceptrix, Swaddling and clothes comes to church matters. or barnabärerska); this was a very Most people are aware that children great honor, irrespective of the used to be swaddled. Two different Godparents woman’s and the child’s social posi- swaddling techniques were used: The most important persons at a bap- tions, and such a request could hard- cross-swaddling, which was done tism – except for the child – were ly be turned down. Since the mother rather loosely with a narrow swad- instead the godparents. They were was not present, the primary god- dling-band so that the child could not often four: a married and an un- mother in a very real sense repre- kick off its clothes, and circular married man, a married and an un- sented the mother. swaddling, which was done tightly married woman. In our church Godparents – and the entire ex- with a broad band so that the child’s records they were most often called tended family – were expected to give limb would become straight. The testes, i.e., “witnesses” in Latin, and valuable christening gifts. A silver child was usually nursed only twice are not seldom more carefully in- spoon, often engraved, is still today in 24 hours, morning and evening, scribed than the parents! given in connection with birth or bap- and spent the rest of the time swaddled in its own dirt! From the 17th century some doc- tors, philosophers, and pedagogues (e.g. John Locke [1632-1704], Jean- Jacques Rousseau [1712-78]) how- ever, spoke out against swaddling, saying that children should be able to move freely. There were however some advantages to swaddling: since the child could not move it could easily be minded by a gouty old granny or a sibling – or even be left alone; the child was also kept warm in the draughty cottages of the time and could not kick off its blankets, etc. Until it was three or four months old the child was completely swad- dled from head to toe, but after that “only” from the breast down. From about the age of 10 months – when the child would begin to learn to walk – there was no swaddling during the Two typical birth / baptismal spoons. They are perfect for babies and later in life they are just as perfect for the breakfast marmalade. Photo: Ingela Martenius daytime. Swaddling was abandoned
16 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 How to dress today if you wish to use your Swedish national costume for a baptism If there are no specific local instruc- tions you should dress as if for a grand occasion; however, not quite as fancy and festive as for a wedding – a baptism is somewhat more “seri- ous.” Presumably no one would to- day even for a moment consider swaddling a baby even temporarily, but a “bag” does work also without swaddling. However, a white bap- tismal gown was used also when people dressed in national dresses “for real,” and works well. A some- what more old-fashioned style is achieved if a cap, particularly one cut after the old patterns, is used with the baptismal dress.
Ingela Martenius is a Swedish Baptism in an upper middle class setting in the 1950’s. The mother wears a “nice” ethnologist living in Göteborg. dress, but in a dark colour. Photo: Gefa/Ingela Martenius. Her e-mail: [email protected] first by the English aristocracy (al- late in the latter half of the 19th ready at the beginning of the 18th century and was purely a city fash- century) and from there the new ion. custom spread both geographically For its baptism the child was and socially. From the beginning of dressed as finely as could be a- the 20th century babies were swad- chieved. Special baptismal gowns dled hardly anywhere in Sweden, but were common also among the rural there is plenty of evidence that it was population. In, e.g., Hälsingland and still done in Eastern Europe until Skåne are mentioned in particular well into the 1960’s and 1970’s! red baptismal gowns, in silk with Except for the swaddling bands – embroideries and decorated with silk which for long remained transformed ribbons, pearls, and lace. The bap- into a belly band – baby clothing has tismal gown was most often in the not changed all that much, other shape of a “bag,” which was neces- than that babies today seldom wear sary if the child was completely a cap indoors. In the old days you swaddled. The baptismal dresses could tell from the very first day if it common today have sleeves which was a boy or a girl from the cut of presupposed that the child was the baby’s cap: the girl’s cap was cut swaddled no higher than the chest. with two side pieces and a central Such baptismal dresses – in white – piece from forehead to neck while the became the fashion from the end of boy’s cap was made from “wedges” the 18th century and became the gen- (kilar) – both were however tied un- eral norm during the 19th century. der the chin. Among the rural popu- Particularly fancy caps, e.g., in silk, lation no distinction was made as to were worn before and after the bap- the colors worn by boys and girls, and tismal act. there was no concept of dressing children in colors different from those used by adults. The tradition of pale pastel colors with pink for girls and The Värend (Småland) festivity costume. (light) blue for boys started only quite
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 17 A new Stockholm resource
In Stockholm in the later 1800s the church’s age-old system of book- keeping of the population broke down, as the influx of people became too great. The city government then instituted a civil system for book- keeping. In each city block there was a city servant, the rotemannen, whose job it was to keep track of everyone and record all movements, births, mariages, divorces, and deaths and also often social prob- lems, like children needing a pair of shoes. The city was divided into a number of rotar (wards) in the various parish- es, and in each rote (singular) the rotemannen kept his ledgers for many years. The system worked from The search window. The example shows the founder of the famous Wallenberg family. 1878 to 1926, and thousands of led- gers were filled. This is a marvelous source for any- one with people in Stockholm during this period, but very difficult to use. It was decided that all those ledgers should be entered into a database, which would make the information accessible. This work has been going on since the 1970s, and has so far resulted in the four Stockholm CD:s that are familiar to many. Lately the Stockholm City Ar- chives (Stadsarkivet) decided to put the database online to the delight of the researchers. The database as it is now covers the parishes of Maria Magdalena, Katarina, Gamla Stan, Klara, Kungsholmen, and parts of Jakob och Johannes, and you can At the bottom of the result screen you will see the household of Mr. Wallenberg, and on the righthand side detailed information on Mr. Wallenberg. search all of it at once. At the mo- ment the database has 3,460,476 posts. Several parishes are still miss- words in English. The second column on the lefthand ing, but as the project continues, One thing to remember is the date side is the years covered by the more rotar will be added to the format. You must enter dates as year- various ledgers. database. month (in numbers)-day, that is like Due to the Swedish Privacy Law The search window is shown at the 18850718. Then on the result screen (PUL), people born after 1908 are not top of the page. Just click on the Brit- you will see the date as 18/07 1885, identified in the database, unless ish flag and you will get the lead- which is a bit confusing. they are found to be deceased in the ledgers, that is before 1927. http://www3.ssa.stockholm.se/Rotemansarkivet/Search.aspx 18 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 Handwriting Example XVI
Here is a letter from a young man the early 1900s the mine had just mother died when she was 7 years to a young woman, in which he tells opened and people came there in old. When she was about 12 years old her something, and later asks an hundreds, as the word spread about her father, a sister, and her much- important question. good wages and opportunities. beloved oldest brother all died within The date of the letter is not known The young woman was a teacher a year, leaving her and another but probably in 1907 or 1908. from the local girls’ school, where she brother all alone. Their guardian The young man was a mining had worked since she moved there wanted her to get a steady job in a engineer living in the mining village from Stockholm in 1904. She had met bank, but her father had promised of Malmberget in Gällivare parish in with a nice group of young people of that she could go to teacher’s school, the far north of Sweden, which at this her age. She later always said that which she did, and then came to time was considered a Swedish Klon- the years in Malmberget were the Malmberget. dyke. The big mine did not yield gold, best of her life. Before coming there Transcription on page 30. but iron ore, and is still worked. In she had a rather tragic life, as her Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 19 News from the Swenson Center
The student volunteer workers
The Swenson Center relies heavily be somewhat close to home at a small mendation from my friend Lisa on Augustana College student em- school that would not be overwhelm- Huntsha, who already worked at the ployees to fulfill much of the repet- ing. Augie was, and still is, perfect. I Swenson Center. I look forward to itive tasks and clerical work. Stu- am currently a Scandinavian major, continuing my studies in Swedish, as dents each work 5-10 hours per week. and hope to add a history major or well as helping out in the Swenson For their Swedish language skills, we minor in the coming months. Cur- Center. Kate performs much-needed try to hire students from Sweden or rently a sophomore, I am in second clerical work and whatever else we Scandinavian Studies majors. Below year Swedish. I took Swedish as a put in front of her. are profiles of the students currently freshman solely to complete my fo- working for us, who play an impor- reign language requirement and had Sara Carlson tant role in the progress of our work. no idea that I would enjoy it so much I am a sophomore at Augustana, Here are their stories: and want to continue. I plan to go to majoring in Scandinavian Studies the Augustana Summer School in and Biology. I chose to come to Kate Buckingham Sweden (ASSIS) in the summer. Augustana because I wanted a small I was born and raised in Wheaton, Christina Johansson was my first and close-knit environment. I took Illinois. I fell in love with Augustana year Swedish teacher and recruited Swedish because I was interested in while visiting friends during my sen- me to work at the Swenson Center. I learning more about the language ior year of high school. I wanted to started working here just before and culture that my great-grand- Christmas 2007; on a recom-
From left: Andreas Henninger, Kate Buckingham, Sara Carlson, and Lisa Huntsha. Photo: Jill Seaholm.
20 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 parents grew up with. I expected to Småland, my father spent a year at Lisa Huntsha learn a lot, but I never expected to Gustav Adolphus College in St Pe- I am a sophomore at Augustana. If I fall in love with the language. This ter, Minnesota. As I was growing up, hadn’t come to Augustana, I probably summer, I will continue to improve my father often told me about his would have never discovered my inte- my language skills in Grebbestad, wonderful college experience, and rest in Swedish. I started taking Sweden, at ASSIS. I have worked at through our hour-long discussions, a Swedish because of the language the Swenson Center since the begin- seed was planted. As I was wrapping requirement and my Swedish heri- ning of this school year and I ap- up my senior year of high school in tage, but then I fell in love with it. I preciate the knowledge and expe- Halmstad, which is between Göte- am studying anthropology and Scan- rience this opportunity has provided borg and Malmö, I contacted the dinavian Studies and hope to com- me. Sara is assisting with cataloging Swedish-American Foundation in bine these two passions in the future. the Swedish-American church re- Stockholm and was privileged to I’m hoping to travel to ASSIS in cords into a cataloging program receive a scholarship from August- Grebbestad this summer to study called PastPerfect. ana through them. As an internatio- Swedish intensively. I came to work nal student I arrived before school at the Swenson Center because of my Andreas Henninger started, and it was during my initial interest in everything Swedish. It is I am a junior political science and weeks at Augie that I came in contact unique opportunities like these that history major at Augustana. I was with Jill Seaholm, Christina Johans- make me happy to be at Augustana. born in the university town of Lund, son, and the other wonderful people Lisa scans photographs and checks in the southwestern corner of Swe- at Swenson Center. In high school, I the church record microfilms to see den. My parents were in graduate had become interested in Swedish which language was used in the school at the time and upon gradu- immigration to the U.S. so when Jill minutes. ation we moved to Eksjö where they asked if I wanted to do genealogy both got jobs as adjunct teachers. work for her, it did not take me many However, prior to my parents meet- seconds to say JA!, and I am now in ing and eventually settling down in my third year of working here. Modern Times!
We are the 20th century ”bloodhounds”!
Are you interested in finding your lost 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cousins before you leave on your sentimental journey to Sweden? We can help you on that point when you can’t come further on the Internet.
Send us an e-mail or a letter and let us know what you want to know and we will tell you what we can to do and to what cost.
P.S. We are very good at the ”Good Old Times” too! It is a special thrill to do the research work yourself, but when you don’t have the time, or don’t know how to do it – we can do it for you! You are also very welcome to our Research room in beautiful Dalecarlia!
Släktforskarnas Hus i Leksand AB, Insjövägen 52, 793 33 Leksand, Sweden. Ph. +46 247-122 80. E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.genhouse-sweden.com
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 21 Daddy, where did I come from?
Reminiscences of an early Minnesota immigrant
BY LOIS ANDERSON PETERSEN
When I was a very young child, we pointed. I had not come over the lived in an immigrant house across water after all. I hated to think the road from Lake Lillian. I thought Great-grandfather, Sven Anderson, this lake was so beautiful as it spark- had lived in that house! led in the sun. In those days my A few years passed and I was in Grandmother Julson lived with us. third grade. We were celebrating Many old timer relatives and friends President Lincoln’s birthday. Miss from Sweden came to visit. They Howe gave us a log cabin to color. It often spoke about coming over the looked like the one at Marine on St. water from the old country. I thought Croix. We learned that Mr. Lincoln they had come over Lake Lillian. I had been a U.S. president, and was was very curious and kept asking highly regarded. My opinion quickly Dad, “Daddy, where did I come from? changed about my log cabin. Perhaps Did I come over the water too?” He we were famous, too. Great-grand- always had the same answer, “Some- father had lived in a log cabin just day I will show you a part of where like Abraham Lincoln. Of course, you come from.” I thought I had come when I got home from school I over the water, too, probably Lake checked it all out and found we were Sven Anderson, ca 1875. Lillian. not famous. Great-grandfather had had such deep feelings about it. One day, when I was six, Dad told not been president. Great-grandfather had come over the me we were going on a trip and he How fast the years go by! It is now water to this place, even though I would show me where I had come 1989, and we were visiting in Min- hadn’t. I felt like this was my, and from. This was very exciting for me. nesota once more. My brother Wal- my family’s, first home in Minnesota. It seemed like such a very long trip. lace and I were talking about Marine A few more years passed and one We drove all the way to a place called and how much fun it would be to go day I got a phone call from Eldon. Marine on St. Croix. Here we visited there. We, his wife, Joyce, and my He told me the property with the log Uncle Swen Albert and Aunt Alma husband Allen were soon on our way cabin was for sale. What joy! I Anderson. He took us on a sight- to the area of Stillwater. We found couldn’t quite figure out how we seeing trip. Our first stop was Square Dad’s cousin, Norman Anderson, and could purchase Sven’s cabin. I de- Lake. My first question was, “Is this my second cousin Eldon Johnson. cided to write to all of my Grand- the water I came over?” This was Before going out to explore our his- father’s family and ask for donations. where Dad swam as a child. He said, tory, we stopped at cousin Virginia’s Eldon did the same. With the help “Wait a little and I will show you”.” for coffee. Who can go anywhere from family, institutional donors, and Our next stop was at a log cabin. before that cup of Swedish coffee? local residents, the cabin was pur- It was explained to me that this was Of course, our first stop was our chased and later restored because where the Andersons had started in log cabin. I got inside and felt like I some of the logs were rotting. Minnesota. There was no water! It was breathing hallowed air. I became When the cabin was being restored was such a great disappointment to so excited about the cabin that I we had a family reunion including me! I thought, “What a dirty old asked Eldon, “Do you think this family from Sweden, Florida, Minne- house. It is all black! I don’t want to property will ever go on sale? There sota, Montana, Arizona, and Califor- live here.” So, I went home disap- must be some way we can buy it.” I nia. What an exciting day! My per-
22 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 The memorial plaque.
The Early Settler’s Cabin in Marine-on-St. Croix, Minn. sonal satisfaction, my thanks to he found that the population of After a few years he sold his farm family, and joy was unlimited. What Swedes was four. and bought another. In 1879, he was a dream come true! All of my person- He was known as Swen på Snålan still alive and owned one of the al family had been to see the cabin, having come from Sundals-Ryr. His largest and best cared for farms in with the exception of one grand- life was published in the Minnesota the area. He was not the President daughter and her three small child- state newspaper on February 6, of the United States, but I am very ren. 1879, while he was still alive. proud of his accomplishments. Since then we have collected more He traveled up the Mississippi He was married to Maria, and had money and cousins Mary, and Eldon River to its tributary, the St. Croix four children, Carolyn, Charles, have gotten a bronze plaque telling to Marine. He brought with him four Mathilda, and Swen. Among them the history of Sven’s cabin. I visited cows, the first owned by Swedes in was my dear grandpa, Charles An- there in 2004 with my nephew, Keith this area. When the weather got cold derson, upon whose lap I used to sit Anderson, and again gave thanks to he had nothing to feed them, so, he and read “The Singing Farmer.” He our (Sven’s) family for helping make had to sell them. Then he got work was born in the old log cabin, May this all possible. at the Marine sawmill. 12, 1858, the day after Minnesota A few years ago a cousin, Rune In 1855 Sven left the sawmill to became a state. Do you suppose he Johansson, who lives in Sweden, get a piece of land in the Marine area. was the first Swedish baby born in gave me a book entitled, De for åt He plowed up 12½ acres and became the State of Minnesota? Amerika, by Olof Ljung. There is so a farmer. In the spring he planted much history in it of Sven Anderson wheat, the first in this settlement and his experiences. He had gone and probably the first in Minnesota. The author is a great-grand- from Sweden to Denmark. He heard He soon had a great following and daughter of Swen Anderson. She about this wonderful place, America. Minnesota became one of America’s lives in Easton, California. She He decided he would go to the ter- great wheat states. He threshed his can be reached through Glen R. ritory of Minnesota where the cli- first wheat harvest with flail on the Johnson, 361 Polynesia Court, mate and natural surroundings were frozen ground the following winter. Marco Island, FL 34145. similar to what he had known in He had to go to Wisconsin to find a Dalsland. When he got to Minnesota mill to grind his wheat.
The Swen Anderson family in the 1880 U.S. Census, when they lived in township 31, Range 20, at Marine Mills in Washington County, Minnesota.
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 23 The Erik Wedmark letters
BY TOM HOULE
Erik Wedmark was a 25-year-old young man from the small village of Furuberg (Bjuråker parish) in Häl- singland province when he immi- grated to the United States in 1858. He was born Erik Johansson Wed- mark on February 4, 1833, the third of six children to Jonas Wedmark and Brita Eriksdotter Rolin. Erik was the only member of the family to immi- grate to the United States until a younger sister, Anna, made the trip some 48 years later in 1900. Erik’s traveling companions on this trip included his 17-year-old cousin Pehr, and several other young people from Bjuråker parish. Records show the group sailed on the ship Luleå departing from Göteborg (Gothenburg) and arrived in New York City August 20, 1858. One day following the Luleå’s arri- val in the United States, Erik and his cousin wrote a letter to his older brother, Pehr, in Sweden. In the ensuing eight years Erik wrote several more letters to his brother and his parents. These letters, along with two written by his parents to Erik, were saved by descendants in Sweden and later made available to me while compiling a family gene- alogical history. Recently, the com- plete set of letters has been donated to the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, MN.
Translation of all letters were made by Scandinavian Trans- lation Services, Minneapolis, MN. [Translator comments are in The Passenger list for the ship Luleå. From The people of the Red Barns, brackets] by Elsa Lagevik (1996).
24 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 The first letter (Letter #1, August God’s rich grace and help be with us that it would not be much better for 12, 1858) tells of Erik’s journey on all. you since there can happen many the ship Luleå, its officers, some of difficulties if you come here....” his shipmates, and their arrival in [?] your devoted brothers, America. The strong religious over- Pehr and Erik Wedmark Letters #4 and #5 tone in the letter appears in later Erik mails two more letters home in letters also and reflects an ardent 1860 (Letter #4 February 6, 1860, family belief in the power of God and P.S. Ola Jonsson sends his greet- and Letter # 5 dated May 21, 1860). in the hereafter, apparently devel- ings. They feel very good. These letters offer us a bigger picture oped after a family conversion to the of his new life in America. While Erik Baptist faith earlier in the 19th cent- In the next eight years ten more sometimes shows a wistfulness and ury. letters follow in which Erik describes loneliness for his life in Sweden he, Here is a translation of the first his experiences and observations nevertheless, makes it very clear his letter. Since the Luleå didn’t dock about life in America. future lies in America. He often asks until August 20, the date of the letter about his friends and relatives in was probably transposed and meant The 2nd letter Sweden, and provides information to be the 21st of August, not the 12th. The 2nd letter (Letter #2, October 9, about the activities of the Swedes 1859) was written eighteen months that came with him to America. New York, August 12, 1858 after his arrival in America and tells There is also an extensive com- that he now works for Erik Sandman parison of the land in the different Beloved Brother, on a farm in Lansing, Iowa, and in states that surround Iowa, though later communications we deduce that we have no knowledge of how Erik Now a Few Words. We must First he was probably an indentured ser- came to these conclusions. This is an Express Our Indebted Thanksgiving vant since Sandman appears to have excerpt from Letter #5. to God for his grace has been large. paid for Erik’s travel in exchange for Yesterday he let us set our feet on firm working for him in the new country. “...You ask to know the nature of ground in the new world after a We find other observations by Erik this country, how it is in general, if it successful journey at sea as well as about the life in America but also his is flat or not. Here in the State of Iowa all the way here. May God now help ambivalence about other family the land is very uneven, with high us to reach our goal. No danger and members’ migration to America. A knolls and small ravines, but good no sicknesses have met us the whole segment from Letter #2 states: land and good climate and good trip and God has richly blessed both “..I cannot know...?...but I see that water. There are just as good springs food and drink so that we had to leave it is better here than in Sweden but as in Sweden. In the State of Illinois much on the ship, that which we there are difficulties here as in the land is completely flat. There the could not take with us onto land. As Sweden so nobody should think That climate is worse than here and less soon as we came to Göteborg there here one is free from all difficul- woods, but it is a fruit-bearing state. was a ship ready to sail we did not ties....It is best that large families Missouri is more like Iowa but it is need to be there longer than that. We [stay?] in their countries....But I am rather hot there during the summer. hardly had time to get ourselves ready rather happy that I am free from The State of Wisconsin is almost flat in one day. We came on a ship called Sweden. [Something like: ’It is but with a better climate and more Luleå piloted by captain Olsson from difficult to live the comfortable life? forests than in Illinois. Göteborg – a responsible man as well but those who trust in the Lord will “The State of Minnesota is similar as all our company. So, with pleasure not have to beg for bread.’] to Sweden in terms climate and and joy the time went fast. We were “I don’t want to recommend anyone forests. I cannot write about any of on the sea for six weeks. The passen- to come here - everyone will have to the other states that I have not seen. gers were from Östergötland and do as they like. I can mention that Pehr and I were Småland, altogether 101 persons He asks his brother to tell him up to Minnesota this spring visiting young and old. No one died and no news from home and says that he is Nils Nilsson and Olof Nilsson....” one [born?], a few a little seasick. rather happy in America. “Now I Now I want to ask you as well as must end my short lines with a dear Another letter in January 1861 my beloved parents that you dry off greeting to you and your wife. Re- (Letter #6, January, 1861) addressed the tears of longing from your cheeks member me again with your letters to his parents, with a long note at and not to mourn a lost son and to me. I am often with you in my the end to his brother details more brother, because God helps me won- dreams. of his life and observations about the derfully. May his presence rest over “A dear greeting to brother Jonas land and the peoples in his new coun- you so that we can daily meet in our and his wife. I see that you would like try. Two of his observations about the prayers before God. Be good now and to [come?] here but it could happen differences in religious freedoms in greet my brother and sister. May
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 25 the new land are offered to his name given in his military records. no such hope yet. I must let you know, parents and brother. Here is an excerpt from Letter #8, to however, that I am a Free Soldier “...I want to mention some things his parents. which I think you will be glad to hear. about the conditions here in this I became sick and had to be in the country. First of all, it is a free coun- Letters #8 and #9 hospital most all of the summer but I try so that nobody is arrested for their “...But I have delayed in writing to did not have to pay for any of it since religious beliefs but rather one and you so that I could give you advice on the government is taking care of the all may worship God according to what you should do about traveling sick in the hospitals. You can believe their beliefs. But there are many here or not. I had hoped that the Civ- that there are many sick and wound- regulations....” il War, which continues here, would ed.” Later, in the same letter he writes: one day end. But so far it is not over [A note written on the side of page “...Doing my work here I am often yet even though it is soon one year one said.] “It is better that you are thinking of you and remember the since it started. The word is that there home in such times, and for as long difficulties which you have to sustain will be homesteads as soon as the war as the war continues I think. yourselves. It is even difficult for me is ended. Then everyone can get 160 “I became sick in the beginning of to think of how I slaved away in acres of land for nothing. Both the June and was in a slave state called Sweden. I suffer when I think of how House of Representatives and the Mississippi. I was then taken to a I had to work day and night for only President are working hard for this little hospital which held 300 sol- 20 Riksdaler and a few clothes each so I think it shall come to pass. That diers. I was there two weeks and year and that we should still be glad is why I have waited to acquire any during that time 200 died. I was then to get that. And workers who work land....” moved to a general hospital; there like slaves still have to creep and From further research into mili- were over 2,000 [Eight to eleven make deep bows to the worst people. tary records we learn Erik actually people died daily while I was there?] Here all people are highly respected enlisted in the Minnesota 4th Regi- I was there over a month before being but not equally rich. People here are ment in December 1861 and was a moved to another state which was rather audacious; I have heard people member of Company H. His enlist- more healthy. I belonged to the Min- addressing pastors with the “du” ment occurred more than two nesota 4th Regiment Company. In form [i.e. informal form of ‘you’ months prior to his writing the above that company were 11 Swedes and 11 instead of ‘ni’] Isn’t that impudent? mentioned letters to his brother and Norwegians, the rest were Germans But people here have no more respect parents. or Americans. We were in Minnesota for a pastor than for any other per- Almost another year passes before until the beginning of April. Then we son....” we hear from Erik again but this time much has happened in his brief In the Civil War military history. Written in Decem- It is a full year later before Erik sends ber, 1862, (Letter #9, December 2, two unusual letters home written 1862) this lengthy letter spells out only four days apart. The first (Letter the regiment’s movement down the #7, February 2, 1862) was written to Mississippi River on flatboats and his brother and the second (Letter #8, eventual station at Corinth, Missis- February 6, 1862) to his parents. sippi, a major railhead for the South, Both letters were written on military and Erik’s participation in an early stationary from the post at Fort firefight, his subsequent illness, dis- Snelling, Minnesota, but neither charge, and return to Iowa. Excerpts letter makes any explicit mention of the translated letter tell us, in about his military status. Although vivid detail, his military experiences, Erik makes reference to the Civil his illness, his thoughts and fears, War and its attendant problems, he and eventual return to Iowa. A long avoids writing about his own re- excerpt from Letter #9 follows. lationship to the military. Rather, the “...My parents, I hope you wish to letters are filled with news about the know how it is with me and how happenings of other Swedes the things stand in this land. As you family knows in Minnesota, travels know, I enlisted as a soldier in Min- of Erik and his cousin, and thoughts nesota in the beginning of December, about future land acquisitions, etc. 1861. The enlistment is for three He signs the letter to his parents years or until the war is over. The war “Erik Young,” a name he also used is not over yet. I cannot say anything for a military enlistment and is the regarding that; there is in any event
26 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 went to a slave state in the south, informing you of my condition. But, about fifteen hundred English miles. it has remained undone. I arrived We made the whole trip on steam here three weeks ago from the South boats. On the 29th and 30th of May I and am for the time being here. [E. was involved in a battle and we took Sanderass?] they are both living still a city called Corinth.” and have their health. But how long [Translators note: Corinth is on the I’ll be here I don’t know. I’m thinking Mississippi-Tennessee border. This was of going up to Minnesota or west in a strategic rail center during the Civil Iowa, but if that will happen before War, and was captured by H. W. Halleck’s spring I cannot say now. I have not Union troops after the battle of Shiloh in heard anything about Nils Nilsson May, 1862, and was defended by Gener- al Rosecrans against the Confederates since last winter when I had a letter under Generals Van Dorn and Price, Oct. from them. It has been said that they 3-4, 1862.] had to flee their homes, everyone who “We took 10,000 prisoners and a lot lived in the area and they had to leave of fire [?]. If we had an insistent Gen- everything behind. [?] (They) had eral we could have taken their whole pictures of the so-called Indians.[?] camp. And if the North would have These wild ones took to destroying [?] had [devoted?] generals the war they even came to Minnesota. I know would have been over. But they want of 19 Swedes who were [killed?] by the war to last for many years because the above mentioned and they did they have large salaries. Now, finally, considerable damage, until they the oldest general has been relieved caught up with the military which of his post, and we have another. We’ll drove them away from here. see if he is any better. The war “I do not know anything about Pe- continues just as horribly as before ter Peterson. I had heard that he was with no hope for an end. But I thank supposed to be married, but probably Erik in his Swedish uniform. my God that I made it out uninjured not since I have heard that he is a from there. There were many dead soldier in the Minnesota 3rd Regi- ditional sources that Erik eventually and wounded. You can believe that ment. I’m unable to confirm the truth settled in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, area there are many crippled in this coun- in this however. Anders Larson and where he died in 1919. try which you can understand from his wife are in good health and have One of the most recent, humorous such a long-lasting war. I took my two children and Brita and her hus- byproducts of this genealogical re- departure from the life of soldier at band have one child. Lars Widmark search was the picture of Erik in a the end of October; I was by then rath- is nearby and he has rented land for military uniform, present in several er well enough to go to my regiment next summer. He had been sick for family archives was assumed to be a but the doctor said that if I was go- awhile but is now better. His brother picture of Erik in his Civil War uni- ing to go back I could get worse. Then is in the vicinity. Both send their form. It was not until 2006, however, he let me go with several others to greetings to you. Everything is expen- that two Civil War re-enactors where we wanted. The North has over sive here from food to livestock. There informed this author the uniform a million soldiers in this theater of are large [costs/expenses?] on the was not that of an enlisted Union war and in that respect the South is land and on everything so it is better soldier during the Civil War. After rather strong too. At the place where not to have any land in such times as other authorities verified our mis- I was we had 290,000? soldiers and the war demands money....” conception, the Swedish Military the South had not more than 150,000. Museum advised us the uniform Our regiment was not in the center of Back to civil life worn by Erik was that of Swedish conscripts in the 1850’s, and he was battle that time, however. During both Following his return to civilian life, probably part of a Helsinge regiment. days of battle there was the thunder- Erik wrote several more letters to his This, of course, indicates that Erik ing of cannons and bullets con- family in Sweden as he tried to find also had some Swedish military his- tinually flew over our heads and a place to settle down. Subsequent tory prior to his immigration. That always shouted ’Not You.’ I do not letters were written from Lansing, investigation is for another time and want to talk more about this as I can Iowa (Letter # 11, February 16, place. myself see how it [must sound?]. 1864), MacGregor, Iowa (Letter # 12, During the period of 1910 - 1919, “My parents, I think of you often April 6, 1866) and the final letter in his later years, Erik would come and perhaps it has been your from Red Wing, Minnesota (Letter # to the Aitken, MN, area to visit his thoughts to count me among the dead 13, undated). Although the letters younger sister, Anna Klöfverstedt, as you have not heard from me. For cease in 1866 we know from ad- almost a year I have thought about who had immigrated to America in Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 27 1900. She was then in her 60s living “Erik Young, better known as Alex 12. Letter #12. Erik to his parents with her adult children and grand- Johnson, passed away at the Lake- from McGregor, Iowa, April 6, children. It was on these visits that view Hotel where he was staying & 1866. Ibid. this author’s mother, her sisters, and was buried in the cemetery north of 13. Letter #13. Erik to his parents brothers were able to meet their town. Erik was a veteran of the Civil from Red Wing, MN. Undated. “great uncle Erik” By then he was an War. He was taken from the fever Ibid. elderly, somewhat portly, gentleman tents on the field in Alabama, 14. Jansen, Florence E. The Back- who would walk from the railroad brought to Quincy, Illinois, and was ground of Swedish Immigration: station to their home and give them there for some time, before regaining 1840-1930. The University of Chi- loose change from his pockets. He consciousness. Although discharged cago Press. Chicago, IL. 1931. apparently gave his niece, Emma for disability and entitled to a pen- 15. Obituary of Erik Wedmark. Shell Klöfverstedt $100 on the birth of her sion from that time he did not look Lake, Wisconsin, Nov. 15, 1919. twins, Herbert and Robert in 1918, for one until a few years ago. He was 16. Photograph of Erik in a military and his sister, Anna, money for a new long an employee of the St. Croix uniform. Family archives. church organ. lumber company and followed camp 17. Ship Arrivals. List of passengers life in the woods for years. arriving in New York on ship Lu- Erik in the later “He was a good honest man.” leå, August 20, 1858. Microfilm WASHBURNE COUNTY REGIS- #1224712. Church of Jesus Christ censuses TER, VOL. 31, Shell Lake Register, of Latter Day Saints. In a special military census of 1890 Shell Lake, Wisc., Nov 15, 1919, No. Erik is recorded living in Spooner 30. Township, Washburne County, Wis- consin under the name Alec Johnson. Tom Houle, 1600 Southeastern The 1900 United States Census References Ave., # 304, Sioux Falls, SD shows Erik using this name, Alex 57103. 1. Bjuråker Parish Records, Utflytt- Johnson, also living in Spooner E-mail:
28 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 A growing resource for Skåne
A fairly new company in Skåne, called HH DigiArkiv AB, for short just called DigiArkiv, offers color photos of the church records for the area of Skåne, Halland, and Ble- kinge, but has lots of other things to offer too. Recently they published a mar- riage index (vigselregister) for all of Skåne, some 200,000 marriages, Marriage search. which you can search for free. If you know the härad (legal district), where your ancestors lived, you can enter that (not necessary) and their names and the supposed year of mar- riage. And below the search window you will find the result. Another nice feature is their free probate search (boupptecknings- register) for all of Skåne, where you can enter the name of ancestor and the parish where he lived. You may Probate search. find that he is mentioned in some There are also other indexes in their 1902 in Malmö, and church vergers’s probate as a son, an uncle, or a collections, such as the Index of cases. They also have digitized old guardian, and of course as the de- Released Prisoners (Fångakter), La- books. ceased himself. dies of Joy (Glädjekvinnor) 1874– There is a link on p. 38.
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 29 The Solution to the Handwriting Example XVI
Transcription
Fröken Lisa Larsson!
Då det icke synes vilja lyckas mig att få tillfälle att muntligen framföra mitt ärende till Eder, måste jag tillgripa denna utväg för att få säga Eder, hvad jag ville hafva sagdt. Saken är den att jag på senaste tiden kommit till fullkomlig visshet pm, att det som gör, att jag så ofta som möjligt söker komma i Er närhet, är att jag älskar Er.
Translation
Miss Lisa Larsson!
As it does not seem possible for me to get an opportunity to tell you my business with you, I have to use this way to communicate to you, what I want to say. The newlyweds in 1909. Harry Nathorst and Lisa Larsson, grandparents of the The thing is that I lately have SAG editor. realized with great clarity why I, as often as possible, am trying to be in your company, namely that I love you.
30 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 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. New Sweden churches
Colonial Records of the Swedish Churches in Pennsylvania, Volume III, by Peter Stebbins Craig, Editor, and Kim-Eric Williams, Assistant Editor, Swedish Colonial Society, Philadelphia, 2007, hardcover, 301 pages, Swedish Colonial Society, 916 Swanson Street, Philadelphia, Pa., 19147, $25.00, ($20.00 for members).
Continuing the series begun in 2006, this book is the third in a projected series of volumes intended to collect in one place, in English, the docu- mented history of the Old Swedes’ churches of Pennsylvania in the co- lonial period and up to 1786. (See previous review of Volumes I and II in SAG, December, 2006.) The first volume covered the period from 1646 to 1696 and the first log churches built by the Swedish Lutheran colonists in the Delaware Valley. The second volume concentrated on the Rudman years, 1697-1702, when the first new pastors were sent by the Church of Sweden to the new colony, pastors who undertook the building of the first permanent brick churches in Philadelphia and in Wilmington, DE. The new publication centers a- round the period of Pastor Andreas Sandel (1671-1744), who was sent by the Bishop of Skara, Jesper Sved- berg, to replace Pastor Andreas Rudman in 1702. (Svedberg was the father of Emanuel Swedenborg, Swe- dish scholar and mystic, whose
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 31 Book Reviews followers were to found the Sweden- all arranged in chronological order borgian Church of the New Jerusa- to present a clear sequence of events. lem in 1778.) Pastor Sandel served It is interesting that Sandel’s pas- the newly built Gloria Dei Church in torate in New Sweden roughly coin- “Wicaco,” now part of Philadelphia, cided with the reign of king Carl XII, for seventeen years. During these who spent most of his reign out of his years he built up his own congre- country engaging in war with Poland gation, supported the new congrega- and Russia. After his defeat at records are many church documents tions in New Jersey and Delaware, Poltava in 1709, the King spent five and other information recorded by established strong relations with years in exile among the Turks. Pastor Sandel, including the annual neighboring Episcopal congrega- During that period, however, his church accounts of receipts and ex- tions, served many outlying Swedes efforts to assist the churches in New penses. His diary reveals some of the as far as the New Jersey coast and Sweden by furnishing Bibles, psalm- difficulties of collecting pledges from counties to the west. He became an books, and in appointing new pastors many of the well-intentioned Swedes, important personage in Philadelphia continued through his chancellors in not only for his own salary, but for during his time in New Sweden. Stockholm and, especially, Bishop special needs of the church. All ac- Shortly before returning to Sweden Svedberg of Skara. counts are in pounds, shillings, and to become pastor at Hedemora, in Through these newly translated pence, the currency of the day under Dalarna, Sweden, Pastor Sandel took words of Pastor Sandel, and other the administration of the English steps to buy additional land around letters and documents, a vivid pic- governor, William Penn, and his Gloria Dei, thereby assuring that the ture of life in the Delaware Valley lieutenant, John Logan. Correspon- church was well protected from just over three hundred years ago is dence reveals disputes between the threats of crowding by residential or given to the reader. While we now Swedes and the governors about the industrial buildings in rapidly grow- take for granted the comforts of mod- “quit-rents” (real estate taxes) paid ing Philadelphia. ern life and travel, conditions at the at the time, usually in bushels of This account of Andreas Sandel’s time were harsh, difficult, and time grain per 100 acres of land owned. pastorate in New Sweden is told consuming. The journey to or from Early surveys were also very im- through his own diary, his church Sweden could take three months or precise and numerous disputes oc- records, and various related letters more by sailing ship, amid the dan- curred over the amount of land and documents, most of which were gers and hazard of ocean travel. An owned and property boundaries. translated from their original Swed- exchange of letters or important Relations between the native ish by Kim-Eric Williams. These are news required many months as well. American people and the Swedes are Local travel was equally difficult, as described in some detail, as are described in Pastor Sandel’s diary of comments about their habits and trips to Maryland; Christina, DE; practices. The natives were found to New Jersey; or the interior. Travel be generally friendly and peaceable, was by horse or on foot on primitive but were becoming fewer in numbers roads and trails through forests, due to diseases and migration to the swamps, and river or stream cross- west. The Swedes generally got along ings. It became a major advance well with their English neighbors when the old ferry across the Schuyl- and even began to intermarry with kill was replaced by one large enough them and with a few Dutch in the to carry a few horses. Until then, only area. Pastor Sandel was very friendly a few people could ride in the ferry with his English counterparts in the and their horses had to swim along- Anglican Church, exchanging pulpits side to cross the river. There being on numerous occasions or at times no bridges across the Delaware Riv- allowing them to use the Gloria Dei er, Swedes living in New Jersey church when needed. He felt that finally petitioned to start their own their theology was most similar to his church at Raccoon, to avoid the dan- Lutheran, but had less good to find gers of crossing by boat or ferry in in some of the other denominations bad weather. in Philadelphia at the time. Included among the translated The period of Pastor Sandel’s
32 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 Book Reviews is the portrait provided mainly immigrated from Söderåkra, Kal- through Pastor Sandel’s diary of the mar, Sweden, with several brothers times and conditions in New Sweden and sisters. Charles and Hilda and the lives of these settlers some married in 1888, after meeting in sixty years and more before the Salt Lake City. They lived and Declaration of Independence; a por- worked in Park City, Victor, Holly- trait provided through the direct wood, and nearby mining towns all pastorate was some sixty to eighty words of Pastor Sandel and others, their lives. Charles Robertson was a years after the arrival of the first now translated into the English worker in the silver mines in and Swedish settlers beginning in 1638. language. Many thanks are due to around these mountain communi- By his time, his congregation con- the immense efforts of the editors, ties. sisted mainly of the second and third The Swedish Colonial Society, and This book was written from many generations from the initial settle- the sponsors (William Penn Foun- notes, a short account of her life, ment. Swedes were growing in num- dation, Knut and Alice Wallenberg many stories told by Anna to her bers due to large families, although Foundation, Tatnall Hillman, the granddaughter Winona, and hand- deaths were also numerous among Barra Foundation, and Gloria Dei written notes by grandmother Anna children, mothers in childbirth, and Church) who have contributed to and discovered by the author after younger people, as well as the old. help make this series of books pos- her death. It is a fascinating tale of Swedes were also beginning to inter- sible. life in a remote Utah mining town, marry with their non-Swedish neigh- early hardships, fond memories, and bors. Many of these marriages were Dennis L. Johnson memories of other relatives and performed by Pastor Sandel, both at friends in the life of this pioneer Gloria Dei and at other Swedish family. Photographs of ancestors and churches in the area. Some of his other family members are included. parishioners were becoming more Winona Laird now lives in Seattle, affluent and more involved in colo- Three Quick Washington. nial affairs, while others moved west- ward or south to Delaware and Mar- Swedish Chicago, Paul Michael yland, or to New Jersey seeking land Takes Peterson, Arcadia Publishing, Chi- cago, IL, 2003, 128 pages, soft- of their own. cover, Illustrated, Arcadia, $19.99. Several slim volumes relating to For the serious scholar or histo- (www.arcadiapublishing.com) rian of New Sweden and colonial Swedish American genealogy that Philadelphia, this book is another may be of interest to readers of SAG Andersonville and North Park neigh- valuable resource to assist in their have crossed my desk in recent borhoods were the centers of Swedish research. The book is well docu- weeks. Each in its own way gives a settlement in Chicago the 19th and mented with the sources used, and look at one slice of Swedish Ameri- early 20th centuries. They continue the list of contents, indexes of place can life in different locations in the today with a strong Swedish flavor. names and of personal names, a United States. The Swedish American Museum sizeable bibliography; all will be a Center, North Park University, many great help to the researcher. Many Have You Ever Lived in a Mining Swedish American shops, stores, and Town? Winona A. Laird, Ex Libris of these names and places are known bakeries, and other elements con- by more than one name, or the name Corp., 2007, 47 pages, softcover, illustrated. tinue today to identify the strong or spelling has changed over the Swedish heritage of these Chicago years. The editors have gone to ex- Subtitled “The Life and Spirit of a neighborhoods. This book is one of a ceptional lengths to assist the inter- Wonderful Woman,” this little book series published by Arcadia celebra- ested reader in clarifying the exact is an account of the life of the author’s ting the history of neighborhoods, person or place referred to. Many grandmother, Anna Robertson, born towns, and cities across the country. forefather members of the Swedish in 1890 in Park City, Utah. Her Paul Michael Peterson is an Eng- Colonial Society will find references parents were Charles Robertson, lish teacher and lifelong Chicago to their own ancestors in these who immigrated from Stockholm, resident whose grandparents immi- records of the activities of the time. Sweden, in the 1880’s, and her moth- grated from Sweden. He compiled a But for me, and most general er, Hilda Matilda Lawrence, who visual history of the Swedish com- readers, the most interesting aspect munity in Chicago, a book of photo-
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 33 Book Reviews graphs with a minimum of text. by Gustav Unonius, and they called Introductions to each chapter and their little settlement New Uppsala. brief photo captions identify the For various reasons this settle- families and places shown. The time ment did not thrive. By the time period is from about 1880 up to the Frederika Bremer visited the area in present. The book is organized 1850, she found only a half dozen mainly by subject, including chapters Swedish families living there “in low on The Early Years, Family Life, circumstances.” Unonius went on to Work, Tradition and Community, attend a local seminary and minis- This volume chronicles many of these Notable Swedes in Chicago, Arts and tered to congregations in eastern settlements and communities, ac- Culture, and concludes with a section Wisconsin and in Chicago before re- companied by a number of photo- on Swedish Chicago in the present turning to Sweden in 1858. Many of graphs of the early settlers’ families day. Local landmarks shown are this first group of settlers, accus- and their homesteads. The book Erickson Jewelers, Nelson Funeral tomed to more cultured surroundings discusses the politics, work, religion, Chapel, Borg Flowers, Tre Kronor in their home country, found them- and other aspects of Wisconsin’s Restaurant, the Sweden Shop, Svea selves unable to cope with the rigors Swedish pioneers and some of the Restaurant, Erickson’s Delicatessen, of frontier life. They were soon re- prominent people that the Swedish Wikstrom’s Gourmet Foods, and placed by the mass migration of migration produced. Nearly twenty many others. The book is a fine Swedes beginning in the 1860’s and pages near the end of the book are tribute to the Swedes and Swedish later. Many of these bypassed Wis- devoted to reprinting vivid descrip- life and culture in one of America’s consin and settled in Minnesota. tions of Wisconsin territory by Fred- largest cities. These farmers were better equipped rika Bremer from her 1850s diaries to deal with the harsh conditions of her travels in this region. Swedes in Wisconsin, Frederick found there, and most settled into This is an engaging, if brief, ac- Hale, The Wisconsin Historical So- farming. count of the lives and times of early ciety Press, 2002, Madison, WI, 72 Quite a few of these later Swedes Swedes who settled in Wisconsin in pages, softcover, Illustrated, did settle in Wisconsin, however, the 19th century, and serves as a (www.wisconsinhistory.org/ mainly in the northern and western useful introduction to the Wisconsin publications, $9.95 plus postage. counties. They founded towns such experience, for students of the great as Stockholm, Trade Lake, Grants- migration and for the general reader. As in neighboring Illinois and Min- Dennis L. Johnson nesota, Swedes began migrating into burg, Lund, and Falun, and many Wisconsin as early as 1841. The first settled in Marinette and in Superior. recorded immigrants were a group of A man of six Swedes and one hunting dog that sailed from Gävle to New York in 1841. Unlike most immigrants, three adventure of the six were graduates of Uppsala University. It is claimed by the The Wildcatter, A Portrait of Robert author that they were to establish O. Anderson, by Kenneth Harris, the first Swedish colony in the Uni- Weidenfeld and Nicolson, New York, 1987, Hardcover, 180 pages, ted States since the New Sweden Ill. (Out of Print, a few used copies colony in the Delaware Valley in available at Amazon.com, $28.88.) 1638. With no destination in mind, they were advised to head for the An obituary in the Wall Street Jour- Midwest and traveled by the usual nal caught my eye recently. The Jour- early route, up the Hudson River and nal regularly runs a few obituaries through the Erie Canal into the of persons once prominent in busi- Great Lakes toward Chicago. Hea- ness and government who have died. ring encouraging reports about the The Anderson name, although com- Wisconsin Territory, they debarked mon in the U.S., is often likely to be instead in Milwaukee. They settled Swedish American in origin. about 25 miles west of Milwaukee, Reading on, the first sentence near Pine Lake. This group was led began: “Brought up in a staid Swed- 34 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 Book Reviews Skatelöv and learning the trade of master pattern maker. Soon after, in 1884, he married Augusta Mardh, and moved in 1886 to Helsingborg. (According to the Household Exami- nation Records, p. 2773, for Helsing- borg, Karl August Andersson was born Feb. 6, 1861, in Skatelöv, ish Chicago banking family, Robert [Smål.]. He was married to Augusta O. Anderson grew up to be a Stetson- Catharina Mård, born June 5 1859 sporting oil man and rancher...” in Skatelöv.) “Husby” is a spelling Needless to say, I read on. The three mistake for “Huseby”, a manorial column obituary summarized Ander- estate in Skatelöv, sometimes owned son’s career and noted that he died jointly with the nearby iron works Dec. 2, 2007, at age 90 of “com- (bruk). Emibas also shows that they plications arising from a fall.” emigrated to America from Helsing- My interest was now aroused, and borg, living there at Lilla Mölle- I turned to the Internet for more in- vången, Helsingborgs Stadsförs., formation about this prominent (Skåne). Two sons were born in Swe- Swedish American. A biography was den, Hugo’s older brother Carl Bern- written about him twenty years ago Robert O. Anderson in Aspen, Colorado, hard, b. June 21, 1885, in Skatelöv, in 1966. (photo by Franz Berko). by Kenneth Harris, a leading British and Hugo August, b. Apr. 20, 1887, writer. I was able to find a used copy in Helsingborg. The family immi- the U.S. He also had a great reputa- on Amazon.com, and the book was grated Nov. 13, 1888. tion for voluntary work among many soon in my hands to tell me more Karl’s sister had immigrated to institutions in Chicago, including about this remarkable man. I soon Chicago and, four years later in 1889, North Park College and Seminary, learned that Bob Anderson, of mod- he joined her, found work, and within where he established a Chair for est beginnings in Chicago, began six months sent for his wife and two Swedish Studies. Hugo died at age with a part ownership of a small oil sons, Karl Jr. and Hugo, in Sweden. 97, having been awarded honors by refinery in Arizona with only a dozen (Karl and Augusta would later have three Swedish kings. His intense employees. He went on to become a three daughters born in the U.S.) His pride in being an American earned “wildcatter,” a term for men who second son, Hugo, was only a year him some detractors among fellow search for oil at great risk and oc- and a half old at the time, and would Swedish Americans, however, be- casionally strike black gold. Through later become the father of Robert O. cause he would not support con- ownership of a small company, he Anderson. Both Karl and Karl Jr. tinued use of the Swedish language; went on through a series of mergers became Charles and Charles Jr. after he felt that this might delay the as- and acquisitions to build up the they came to Chicago. The family similation of Swedes. seventh largest oil company in the attended the Evangelical Covenant Bob Anderson’s mother, Hilda Nel- U.S. Along the way and starting with Church in Chicago. son, was born in Chicago. Hugo met no land at all, Anderson became the Hugo was an ambitious boy, loved her while she was singing in the largest individual rancher in the to read, and had a newspaper route church choir. When they became U.S., owning nearly a million acres and odd jobs by age 10. Small for his engaged, Hilda worked three more in Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming. age, he left school when he was 14 to years to help him complete night He became prominent in politics and help support his family. A friend from school before they married in 1914. later philanthropic pursuits, all well his church helped him get a job as a They had four children, their second detailed in The Wildcatter. bellboy at the First National Bank son Bob was born in 1917. Bob had According to the author, Bob An- of Chicago. This humble position, one older brother, Hugo Jr., one derson’s grandfather, Karl August aided by his energy, intelligence, and younger, Donald, and a youngest sis- Anderson, was born in about 1861 in hard work, led to rapid advancement ter, Helen. The children were teen- Husby, Sweden. His father died when at the Bank. Hugo retired at age 70 agers in the early 1930’s, as the he was age 10 and Karl August was as First Executive Vice President family suffered financial losses dur- raised by his widowed mother, who after a long and distinguished career, ing the Great Depression, but re- died in 1880. He was then an ap- one of the better-known bankers in covered as the economy began to prentice at the foundry of Huseby in improve. Hugo Anderson firmly be- Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 35 Book Reviews lieved in a good education and they with MALCO Oil Company. Over the chose to live near the University of next 15 years, he bought and built Chicago campus where the college up other refineries in the Southwest, also had the University Elementary began wildcatting for new fields, and and High Schools. These “laboratory in 1957 discovered a large oil field in schools” run by the college used Uni- New Mexico. By 1963, he had merged versity faculty and their students his company into Atlantic Refining were largely faculty children, conse- Company, then in Philadelphia. quently standards were very high. Within two years, he became Chair- vironment in California. As a ranch- Bob and their other children at- man and Chief Executive of Atlan- er, Bob ran as many as 30,000 head tended these schools. tic, then led the company through of cattle and 12,000 sheep in three Bob did well in high school and, in two more mergers, first with Rich- states. He was also a collector of In- 1935, he was awarded a four-year field Oil Co. of Los Angeles to form dian art. Anderson was active in scholarship at the University of Chi- ARCO, and then with Sinclair Oil to Republican party politics, serving in cago. He was given free choice of a form the nation’s seventh largest oil many nonelected positions in the course of study, and he concentrated company. By the 1970’s, Anderson led party. He favored nuclear power and mostly in the humanities. While in a consortium of oil companies to find a smaller federal government. He college Bob met Barbara Phelps, a and develop the Prudhoe Bay, Alas- was twice asked to fill an unexpired descendant on both sides of colonists ka, oil field and pipeline against term in the U.S. Senate, twice asked to America whose ancestry dated to strong obstacles by Congress and to serve as ambassador to Great Bri- the early 17th century. Bob and Bar- public opposition. Later activities tain, and once offered the position of bara were married on his graduation included efforts to develop oil sands Secretary of the Treasury. He was day, two hours after receiving his in Canada, and to acquire several even a guest at a Royal Concert giv- university degree. They had a great other companies including Anaconda en for him by the King of Sweden. deal in common, both loved the Copper and a solar cell company. He Bob Anderson was married to Bar- outdoors, their families got along sought retirement by 1981, but bara Phelps for 68 years, and togeth- well, and they shared many other stayed on at ARCO as CEO until er they raised seven children, five interests. Bob was 22, Barbara 20 1986. He did not retire to a rocking daughters and two sons. At the time years old, when they married. chair, however, but revived his old of his death he had 20 grandchildren Bob had many interests, but those Hondo Oil Co. in 1989 and took on and 5 great-grandchildren. He loved in science and technology attracted other refinery and wildcatting ven- the outdoors, riding, fishing, and him most. His father had become an tures. Most did not pan out, however, hunting and loved to host large expert in financing high-risk oil pro- and he was forced to sell quite a bit groups of friends at his Circle Dia- ducers, of which there were many of land to return to financial health. mond Ranch near Roswell, New small independent operators. Bob He remained a major shareholder of Mexico. A very non-typical oil tycoon, spent a summer vacation after his ARCO, however, and supported a Bob had a diversity of interests rang- sophomore year working with a pipe- new merger with BP Amoco in 1999. ing from protecting the environment, line crew in Texas, at a company Like his father, Hugo Anderson, raising a new breed of cattle, favoring which was a banking client of his fa- Bob in later years became a strong higher taxes on the oil industry, and ther. On graduation, he went to work financial supporter of several phil- wide-ranging research. He liked to for the same company to learn the anthropic institutions. He financed wear a Stetson Hat, a bow tie, and ropes of the oil business. In 1941, his and served as president and then cowboy boots. father helped him finance a stake in chairman for 30 years of the Aspen Like his father, he supported Swe- a small oil company, MALCO Oil, Institute for Humanistic Studies, dish-American causes, and made which operated a small refinery in founded to address world problems. donations to North Park College and New Mexico. By January, 1942, Bob He supported environmental groups, was a board member of Swedish and Barbara, with their first child, and rescued two failing publications, American Council and a member of Katherine, drove from Chicago to a British newspaper named The Ob- the Royal Round Table. He was Artesia, New Mexico, and settled into server, in 1977, and Harper’s maga- certainly a giant among his peers, a small stucco house in Artesia. zine, in 1980. He also helped found and one of the most, if not the most, The Wildcatters goes on to describe several other study groups, including successful Swedish-American to find in great detail the amazing business the Worldwatch Institute, and the his future in the United States. career of Bob Anderson, beginning John Muir Institute of the En- This book gives a remarkable, if incomplete, story of this remarkable 36 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 Book Reviews Swedish Who A famous is Who 2007 shipwreck!
Vem är det 2007. Svensk biogra- Maiden of the Titanic, by Lilly Setter- fisk handbok. ISBN 91-975132-7-X. dahl. Softcover, 281 pages, 2007. man. The author, Kenneth Harris, Published by NE Nationalen- ISBN 978-9778290-2-6. Price was a close friend and admirer, but cyklopedien AB. 2006. 674 pages. $11.95 from The Midwest Writing was not able to convince Bob that this Ca 500 SEK + postage. Center, Davenport, IA 52801 www.midwestwritingcenter.org book should be written for a long time. Finally, in 1987, it was com- It was feared for some years that the old biographical handbook Vem är det Well-known immigrant historian pleted, based mostly on personal had ceased to be in the early 2000s, Lilly Setterdahl, author of Swedes in conversations over many years and but a new publishing house took over. Moline, Illinois 1847–2002, has now in many places. The author describes In 2006 a new volume appeared. It ventured into another field, that of the book as a “portrait,” not a has short biographies of more than writing romantic novels. Her first biography, admits to his own favor- 8,500 Swedes. These individuals are effort is based on the famous ship- able bias, and leaves any criticism or mostly professional people; politi- wreck of the Titanic in 1912. The reappraisal of Bob Anderson’s life to cians, professors, artists, business- heroine is of course a Swedish maid others, at a later date. This excep- men, authors, sportspeople, etc. They who through many twists of the plot, tional man much deserves an up- should all be listed with date of birth, ends up with the hero of her choice. dated and more comprehensive bio- place of birth, parents’ names, cur- There is also a scoundrel and many graphy and broader recognition a- rent spouses, and their career. A exciting happenings. It is a good read mong all Swedish-Americans. useful book, but the information for a rainy day, when you take a Dennis L. Johnson must be checked, as always with break from the computer and the secondary sources. ancestors. Elisabeth Thorsell Elisabeth Thorsell New and Noteworthy (short notes on interesting books and articles) A very good book just arrived on my desk. It is in Swedish only, but has lots of information that might be useful to people with Östergötland roots. The book’s title is Östgötska bonderiksdagsmän, bondeståndets ledamöter från Östergötland 1600–1866, by Bo Lindwall and Henrik Mosén, both well-known Swedish genealogists. The subject of the book is the 600 members of parliament from Östergötland who represented the Peasant’s Estate (Bondeståndet) from when the records about them start around 1600 until the parliamentary reform in 1866 abolished the parliament of the four estates (Ståndsriksdagen). The other estates were the noblemen, the clergymen, and the burghers. These 600 riksdagsmän (members of parliament) all get their own biography with dates of birth, marriages and deaths, wives, children, and parents. They also have information on what they did in parliament and at home, from court records, parliament minutes, and much more. There are also charts that show family connections between many riksdagsmän, statistics, indexes, and much more. To order the book or just get more information, contact Henrik Mosén at
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 37 All links tested in February 2008 and Interesting Web Sites should work
Ozark Scandinavian Society of Springfield, Missouri: http://www.osssm.us/ Utah Cemetery Burials Database: http://history.utah.gov/apps/burials/execute/searchburials Help to find passenger lists: http://home.att.net/~arnielang/shipgide.html Old American postcards: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/ppcs/ppcs.html Some digitized Finnish church records: http://www.digiarkisto.org/sshy/index_eng.htm General index to the settlement of Finland: http://www.genealogia.org/hakem/sayr.htm HH DigiArkiv AB (Skåne material): http://www.digiarkiv.se/ The 2008 Dalsland Emigrant Conference: http://web.telia.com/~u68008821/emig/ Sweden.se The official gateway to Sweden: www.sweden.se Official tourist information about Sweden: www.visitsweden.com Östgötska bonderiksdagsmän: http://www.vifolka.se/gen/bonderiksdag.html The 1819 Swedish Hymnbook (Wallinska): http://hem.crossnet.se/rundqvist/svps1819/ The Stockholm source (pictures and more): http://www.stockholmskällan.se/ The new address of Anbytarforum: http://aforum.genealogi.se/discus/
The Dagmar and Nils William Olsson Fellowship Limited edition NWO tote bag! The fellowship, which is in the a- mount of $1,500 (taxable income), is This very special tote bag was open to anyone doing academic re- made for the 2007 SAG Workshop search on any aspect of Swedish- in Salt Lake City, and there are a American history. It is not intended few left for sale. The tote bag is of to be used for research on a person's sturdy material and is perfect to individual family history. We particu- carry genealogy notebooks and larly encourage graduate students copies in, maybe even a laptop and younger scholars to apply. The computer. minimum stay required at the Swen- The cartoon of Nils William Ols- son Center is three weeks, and the son was drawn by his son Christo- fellowship must be used within one pher in 1981. year of notification. The price is $10 + $3.50 for Anyone interested in applying for sales tax and shipping in the U.S. the fellowship should submit a two- and Canada, each ($13.50). to three-page proposal to the Swen- Checks (payable to “Swenson son Center outlining the proposed Center”) are to be mailed to: research topic. The proposal should also include a current curriculum vi- Swenson Center tae, as well as a statement showing Augustana College how the resources of the Swenson 639 38th St Center are appropriate for the par- Rock Island ticular project. The deadline for IL 61201-2296 applications is May 1, 2008.
38 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 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.
Ahlström, Ahlstrom
My Mormor's far, Johan August Ahlström (b. 6 Feb. 1852, d.9 Mar. 1932), and his brother, Gustaf Ludwig Ahlström (b. 25 Aug. 1849, d.?/?/?), had a difficult start in life. Born in the Halmstad area, their father, Olaus Ahlström, aban- doned his family sometime between 1852 and 1860. I have made a number of attempts to see if I could find out what happened to my great-great grandfather Olaus without success. He wanted to get lost and apparently did a good job of it. The mother, Kerstin Persdotter (b. 1 Nov. 1819, d. 18 Jun. 1871) and two sons suffered terribly as a result of Olaus's actions. The family was on some kind of public assistance. The two boys were apparently “farmed out.” Johan August grew up, became a shoemaker, married, and, among others, produced my grandmother, Elin Amanda Ahlström (b. 4 Nov. 1883, d. 25 Oct. 1959). Johan August lived out his life in the Båstad/Halmstad area. My interest turns to Gustaf Ludwig Ahlström. Swedish records show him immigrating to Galesburg (??) U.S.A. on 19 Apr. 1872, shortly after his mother's death. My internet search reveals two Galesburgs in the U.S.A. – one in Michigan, the other in Illinois. The one in Illinois seems to have quite a Swedish immigrant history. I have done some searching, without success, in both communities, even to the extent of sending some personal letters to people with the Ahlstrom name. It would be interesting to me to find out something about Gustaf's life in America.
Brian Samuelson, 19415 N. 132nd Drive, Sun City West, AZ 85375-4503. Phone: 623-214-1338. E-mail:
Anbytarforum and about Genealogical Queries
Lately there has been very few que- forum is included as a benefit and all The queries also get indexed in the ries sent in to SAG, probably because you have to do is to create an account. annual indexes up to 2004, or the there are so many places on the in- The account will be valid as long as future 5-year index from 2004 to ternet to post them. you remain one of Rötters Vänner. 2009 that is planned, so it is quite The most important Swedish re- There is information on Anbyt- easy to check if a specific surname source Anbytarforum was shut down arforum in English about all this. has been posted. for a long time in the late fall, due to The charge of 100 SEK to write on So do keep those queries coming! technical problems, but is now open the Anbytarforum is under dis- If sending them by e-mail, please put again. cussion, and might be changed after “Genealogical query” in the subject From now on a User’s Account (an- the Annual General Meeting of the line. vändarkonto) is needed to be able to Federation of Swedish Genealogical It would also be interesting to hear write on the Forum, reading posts is Societies (Sveriges Släktforskarför- from SAG readers that have had free. The account is free for the first bund) in late August. success with their queries. Perhaps 30 days, but during that period an But to post a query in a magazine someone has had an old ancestral invoice for SEK 100 (about $16), like SAG is not a wasted effort! problem solved, or has made contact payable within 30 days, will be sent Printed queries have a longer life with living relatives. to your e-mail address. When the span than those on the internet – As you may have noticed it is also payment has been registered you are they live forever. Someone may pick possible to send in photos, preferably a Rötters Vän (friend of Roots, the up a back issue and find a distant scanned in 300 dpi and saved as tif main web site) and your account will relative. As your research makes pro- files, or a very good copy. Perhaps be functional for another 12 months. gress you may end up in new par- someone somewhere has the same If you already are one of Rötters ishes and find new names, and it may photo in his/her album. It has hap- Vänner, a user account at Anbytar- pay to look in the back issues. pened!
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:4 39 The Last Page Dear friends, It has been an unusual winter in the and we have not edited into Ameri- this time in Mellerud in Dalsland. Stockholm area this year, with very can form at the request of the author. The one in Karlstad in 2006 was a little snow and few cold days. Our British English is what is taught in joint effort of The Kinship Center and bird “restaurant” has had almost no Swedish schools, even though we Swedish Council of America. The visitors, compared to hundreds last watch mainly U.S. programs on TV Mellerud one seems to be more of a year, and it feels a bit strange when every day. local initiative, focused on the gener- you hear the bird song a month early. In my day, when I went to school, I al researcher and his or her needs. But I can not deny that I am very think we might have had just one or As one of the lecturers, I hope to meet happy that the dark period is now two lessons that pointed out the with some of you there. over and we now have daylight by 5- differences between British and U.S Then there are soon afterwards the 6 p.m. and early in the morning. Eas- English, so I am happy to have my Swedish Genealogy Days in Malmö, ter is around the corner and thoughts language master in Christopher Ols- 30-31 August. Also during the sum- of summer awaken. son, who checks that the language mer there are several Swedish-Ame- Already several American friends in the SAG articles is correct . Those rican festivities, many that can be have made Swedish plans and we of you that have tried to learn Swed- found on the Swedish Council of hope to be able to show them various ish, know that it is not easy to un- America’s web site at beautiful and interesting places. derstand all the meanings of a word http://www.swedishcouncil.org/ As you might have noticed in this and it is easy to fall into traps. Till next time! issue, there is one article that is a Looking forward to summer, it is Elisabeth Thorsell bit different, it is the one about interesting to see that there will be baptisms, written in British English, another Emigant Conference in 2008,
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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).