(ISSN 0275-9314)

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

Volume XXXVIIJune 2017 No. 2 CONTENTS

N E B R A S K A ...... 1 By Betsey Brodahl

The new Kinship Center rises from the ashes ...... 5 Copyright © 2017 (ISSN 0275-9314) By Elisabeth Thorsell

Swedish American Genealogist How Dared You?...... 6 By Anders Bo Rasmussen Publisher: Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center Handwriting Example #51 ...... 8 Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 Telephone: 309-794-7204. Fax: 309-794-7443 The Swedish Bishop Hill Society ...... 9 E-mail: [email protected] By Elisabeth Thorsell Web address: http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/ The Great Fire in Chicago 1871 ...... 10 Editor: Elisabeth Thorsell By Jan Olof Olsson Hästskovägen 45, SE-177 39 Järfälla, Sweden E-mail: [email protected] Bits & Pieces ...... 13

Editorial Committee: An Ingevalds-släkten Mystery ...... 14 Ulf Beijbom, Växjö, Sweden By Carl D. England, Jr Dag Blanck, Stockholm, Sweden Ronald J. Johnson, Madison, WI Most distinctive last names...... 17 Christopher Olsson, Stockton Springs, ME Ellen Rye, Silver Spring, MD Perils and pitfalls ...... 18 By David A Anderson Swedish American Genealogist, its publisher, editors, and editorial committee assume neither responsibility nor liability Handwriting solution #51 ...... 20 for statements of opinion or fact made by contributors. Book Reviews ...... 21 Correspondence. Please direct editorial correspondence such as manuscripts, queries, book reviews, announcements, and Interesting Web Sites ...... 26 ahnentafeln to the editor in Sweden. Correspondence regarding change of address, back issues Genealogy Hall of Fame: Peter S. Craig...... 27 (price and availability), and advertising should be directed to the publisher in Rock lsland. The Last Page ...... 28 Subscriptions. Subscriptions to the journal are $30.00 per annum and run for the calendar year. Single copies are $8.00 each. Swenson Center Associates are entitled to a special discounted subscription price of $15.00. Direct all subscription inquiries to the publisher in Rock Island. Subscriptions can also be paid online. Go to this page: http://bit.ly/SSIRCpay (must be exactly like this, case sensitive!). In Sweden the subscription price is 295.00 kronor per Cover picture: year. This subscription fee may be deposited in our bank- giro account: 379-6943, Swedish American Genealog- The fire brigade in Chicago 1871. ist, c/o Thorsell, Hästskovägen 45, SE-177 39 Järfälla, Sweden. N E B R A S K A

Memories from yesteryears

BY BETSEY BRODAHL (1922–2012)

The Swedish America in which I grew up childhood supplanting Mother Goose and study violin at the University and rehearse was a small, rural community of immigrant the Grimms to fire the wonder and with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. I settlers, their children, and grandchildren, imagination of a child. seldom allowed more than thirty minutes living in close family relationships. It is to In my father’s family where my grand- for the trip and did little thinking along the this third generation that I belong. The mother had died before I was born and way. Yet those same miles which he community, Saunders County, and more where my grandfather was a sick old man measured out with his stride had been the particularly the town of Wahoo, is a part in the years I knew him, the influence was final hurdle, were in many ways the of the eastern tier of counties in Nebraska less vivid. Grandfather Brodahl lived in my measure of his real arrival - and of the arri- settled by Swedes and Bohemians in the mind as the tall young Swede striding the val of all my grandparents. In Lincoln they 1860’s and 70’s. The land, the railroad, and miles between Lincoln and Malmo. As an were laborers, maids, part of the retinue of the church, each in its own way, drew the immigrant working his way west on the someone else’s endeavor, playing some- immigrants to the area. railroad, his last station had been the Lin- what the same kind of role they had had in coln railroad yards. Saturday at sundown Sweden. When they were able to make the Swedish roots when his work ended, he would set out on big move from Lincoln to 30 miles north, My four grandparents had come to Saun- a night walk of thirty miles across country the laborer was still to labor but as land- ders County from Sweden in 1869-70. The from Lincoln to Malmo to be able to spend owner; the maid, though keeping house in men worked on the railroad to get money Sunday with “his people.” When he could a sod dugout, was mistress of the house- for land available through the Homestead afford it he would carry with him a fifty hold, nurturing her own American citizens. Act and through railroad sales; the women pound sack of flour as his gift to the My childhood was dominated by my worked as domestics in the homes of earlier household he was to visit. Arriving before mother’s family, the Magnus (Martin to the arrivals. Once established on the land, they sunrise he would sleep the few hours before American neighbors) Ericksons. Our life helped to build the community in which I morning chores, worship with the family as a family was not the life of a single was to live. Three of these pioneer grand- at the country Swedish church, have Sun- household but included my grandparents, parents lived into the time of my childhood. day dinner with the family, listen to the Martin and Betsey, their seven daughters, What they were, and what they had lived afternoon reading of Rosenius’s sermons, two sons, and their large families. We were through in the development of the county, and then start the walk back across prairie something of a tribe. My grandfather’s loomed large in my mind. The stories they and through streams the thirty miles to Lin- house was the center for all these children told - and those told about them - of coln. This was the day of rest in the good and to it each family returned for Sundays immigrants, the passage from Sweden, life of a stalwart Swedish grandfather. and holidays. All of my aunts and uncles prairies, and Indians were the stories of my As I was growing up I traveled those married Swedish immigrants or children of same thirty miles several times a week to Swedish immigrants. All had been raised

Wahoo is the county seat of Saunders County. Malmo is the place where the Brodahl family settled.

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 1 in the Lutheran faith, all kept house and with apple slices, sweetened as they dried around their church in the south end of fed their families in what we believed to in the afternoon sun. It was the only time town; ours was to the north on the hill a- be the traditional Swedish manner. They we spoke Swedish. round the Lutheran Church and our col- bore beside the name Erickson, the names lege, Luther. Between these two were what of Brodahl, Nordstrom, Thorston, Henrik- The importance of we called the Americans or the Yankees son, and such given names as Annalena, and their churches, referred to as the Martina, Albertina, Christina, Augustinus, owning land “downtown churches.” and Magnus. Everything about my own Land and independence were to remain the I was never quite sure why we always home, my Swedish parents, the Swedish primary concerns for my grandparents and lived with this middle group. When my way of doing things was reinforced by all their sons and sons-in-law. Because they grandfathers moved to town, each chose these other households through which I had gained their independence through to live outside Swede Hill. My own parents, moved. land - and perhaps because one family had who moved frequently within the town, lost its independence through loss of land never once had a house in the Swedish With the grandparents in Sweden - they valued these highly in neighborhood. I was troubled by this as a America. My grandfathers retired and I was as at home in the home of my immi- child and by the possibility that we weren’t moved to town while still young men but quite with the church and with the Swedes grant grandparents and the houses of their their sons and most of their daughters lived other children as in the house of my because we lived away from them. It was on farms in neighborhoods predominantly spelled out pretty clearly when I listened parent’s, attended the weekly family Swedish Lutheran. Land was the real gatherings (Sunday noon for the entire in on a conversation the president of the wealth, the dependable security, the means college had with my grandfather Erickson family and Tuesday noon for the cousins of independence. attending town school) and all the major complaining that one of my cousins, a stu- holidays. We (my immediate family) dent at the college, was spending too much actually moved into my maternal grand- Non-Swedish neighbors time in this part of town. What hope was father’s home for the last three years of his Swedish Lutheran neighbors were an there for the rest of us who lived there? life; It never occurred to anyone to move additional guarantee of stability. Bohem- The college, an early endeavor of the this man as he grew old. The family ian Catholics moving into the neighbor- Augustana (Swedish) Lutheran Church, adapted to him and lived his way – which hood generated much concern, much was the pride of the Swedes in the area and actually seemed better than our own. When heated discussion, then as it does with some a cultural and social center for Swede Hill. it was our turn, we moved from our home of my relatives to this day. The country Its music and art departments served many to live with him in the house in town to churches depended on the landowners of Swedish young people who were not which he had retired at the age of 50. Thus the surrounding area. Any time a Bohem- enrolled in its regular academic program. I lived not only in a household influenced ian Catholic acquired land in the neighbor- Art lessons and piano lessons were part of by a Swedish immigrant but actually in his hood, the support for the Swedish Lutheran the preparation for the young ladies. The household. Church would be that much diminished. Christmas, May Day, midsummer cele- (The Catholics didn’t have country parish- brations, and the annual performance of Understanding es but all belonged to the town church.) Handel’s Messiah at the college were An equally crucial issue for them was sup- events in which the whole Swedish Swedish? port for the country school. When Bohem- community participated. Each May Day Before we actually moved into his house, ian Catholics sent their children to the morning the “Sköna maj” serenade by the I was expected to make daily visits. After parochial school in town, the rural public college students honored the older families. school I would come to the back door to school would be placed in a precarious si- I don’t remember my grandfathers being find my grandparents at the west windows tuation. Fortunately, the discipline for the so recognized, but my parents were. My and would usually stay with them to fira Catholics in this regard was not consis- brother and I attended the college but skymningen – (to celebrate the twilight). tently strict and the country schools were attended public school instead of the aca- It was a very special time and place for sometimes filled with Bohemian children demy. me. It was warm, there was food, I had their and the support would be proportionately entire attention. The kitchen had a wood- strong. While I always lived in town, I stove and cob box. My grandmother sat in frequently visited School District 62 and her rocker, my grandfather in a high straight thought on those occasions I was going to chair at the windows, and I on the oven school with foreigners - this thought from door, listening to them as they recited a child whose older cousins had started scripture, poetry, and sang – all in Swe- school able to speak nothing but Swedish. dish. During the first years it really didn’t occur to me that I didn’t understand the Churches and college language. The sound, like everything else The Bohemian Catholics constituted the in that setting, was familiar and I knew what largest non-Swedish group in our commu- it meant. I listened, recited, and spoke the nity. Their town settlement was clustered language of the twilight and was rewarded 2 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 stämman [when church business is dis- Prized possessions cussed]. The things we prized most in our homes There was never any question in our were the Swedish things. Sleigh bells, a household about church attendance. If it pocket knife, and a wooden butter dish are was Sunday we were all in church. Sunday the cherished remnants of my Grandfather started for us when the bell tolled at six Brodahl’s immigrant trunk. In Grandfather Saturday evening. Household work, except Erickson’s household, the Swedish things the never-ending cooking, was at an end. were more grand, but represented not his None of the women could iron, sweep, sew, immigrant furnishings, but what he had or do any kind of handwork. I was never brought with him on his second trip from sure about Aunt Nell. She had an ironing One of the Lutheran churches in Wahoo. Sweden to America. board in her closet. The church was a very important part of A visit to Sweden our Swedish America. Though all of its Swedish Pietist roots services and instruction had for years been For Grandfather the return visit to Sweden The Swedes in our parish had been strongly conducted in Swedish, I have no remem- had been a dream from the first. When influenced by the pietist movement. Faith brance of this. I do remember the tran- Grandmother Erickson left Sweden the first was to be demonstrated by strict adherence sitional years when we retained a Swedish time it had been a final and conclusive step. to certain practices and abstinence from service along with the English on the first Her Swedish life was over, and she was others. My own family asserted its inde- Sunday of each month. I attended this ready and determined to start a new life as pendence in some areas. It was contrary to Swedish service with my grandfather an American. She never reminisced about the prevailing thought that my parents Erickson, understanding nothing but what the old country nor did she have any desire played bridge, that we children learned to I regarded as a holy sound indeed and being to return there. As an immigrant domestic dance, and that we attended ball games on fascinated by the long vowels in the psalm worker she had refused to become part of Sunday. (We did not go so far as to attend singing. The minister seemed very happy a Swedish-American household and would the Sunday movies.) I had confidence in on these occasions. He was a Swedish im- take employment only in what she consid- my family’s decisions, but was troubled migrant himself and spoke English with a ered an American household. As Grand- about the church’s teaching and preaching heavy accent. I was always embarrassed father Ericsson’s wife, however, the day otherwise. In spite of the regularity of our by this, but more especially when my came when she was to accompany him and churchgoing and our close contact with the “American” friends were present. I thought their four younger daughters on a return local minister – he usually called at my it a particularly sad failing since he had visit to Sweden. grandfather’s house once a week – I felt been able to go to school and my grandfat- Because my mother was a part of this that all of us, my grandfather included, had her, without any formal schooling here or entourage, the stories of the trip particularly somehow separated from the majority of abroad, spoke what sounded to me to be interested me. The man and women who the congregation. Grandfather read his such fine English. had travelled east to west in steerage, made Swedish Bible, the sermons of the Swed- Long after the change to English in the the crossing west to east in luxury. The ish pietist, Carl Olof Rosenius, Swedish service of the church, we retained much of emigrants who had sat up all night on history every day, but made some decisions the Swedish tradition in the music. I as- benches in Swedish railroad stations now of his own. He had parted company with sociate this particularly with Advent and lived in Stockholm at the Grand Hotel. As the Swede Hill pietists. Christmas hymns and anthems. I don’t it happened, the journey gave my grand- know if standing up for hymns, particularly father less satisfaction than he had hoped verses of praise and those referring to the Supporting the church for. When he, with his little party, boarded Trinity, is Swedish, but I have always Financial support of the church was another the train at Hässleholm bound for Gothen- thought so and have liked it and miss it point of controversy. That Grandfather had burg that second time he was truly leaving when it isn’t done. As recently as Refor- no sympathy with the present concept of Sweden. He held no further thoughts of mation Day, 1966, my father decided he stewardship is certain. This may have going back. The break was final. He was must stand in order to sing the announced stemmed from his Swedish state church no longer Magnus, son of Eric Tuvesson; hymn. The first verse was pretty well gone background. Whatever the reason, the he was Martin, citizen of the U.S.A., and before he got much of a following, but I result was that a very generous man gave father of nine Americans. have no doubt he would have stood alone very little money to the church and spoke The things they brought back to Ame- through all six verses had no one followed quite freely of his lack of faith in the com- rica from that trip were the finest things in his example. petence of the church in its own steward- their household. The silver coffee service Julotta, the center of the Christmas ship. My father did not agree with him in had engraved on the bottom ‘Minne från celebration, has remained a part of our this and has, perhaps, made up for it during Sverige.’ With the Swedish I heard at the church’s services. It is only in the last few the intervening years. “sunsets” these were the first words I saw years that it has given way to a midnight written and the first I learned to read in service. The congregation still discusses any language. This silver became a sym- this question vigourously each year at bol of the finest and most beautiful of what

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 3 was Swedish in our home. When my other people. Yet we hold to the land, the Betsey A Brodahl grandparents’ possessions were being patterns of life we created, and perhaps a distributed it was the one thing my mother Swedish America for yet another genera- ancestors requested. tion. As seen in this article all her four grand- parents were born in Kristanstad län in Swedish handicrafts Skåne province, and three out of the four **************************** left Sweden before the passenger lists for Swedish weaving was also prominent in the Malmö started in 1874, so their original household. The older daughters had learnt destinations are not known. to weave while visiting in Sweden, and Betsey A Brodahl Sources for this are the Swedish church with their return, they brought with them records, records from local Swedish- bolts of drapery material, carpeting, and Obituary American churches in Saunders Co., NE, dress yardage. The carpeting – black and She attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Findagrave. red – was for the stairways and the upper in Wahoo, and later First Lutheran Church floors of the house. The drapery material in Moline Ill. 1 Betsey Ann Brodahl, born 28 Aug 1922 was woven in broad bands of white with She attended Luther College for two in Wahoo, Saunders, Co. NE, died 20 Apr narrower hands of black, gold, blue, and years where she studied music and was a 2012 in Wahoo, Saunders, Co.,NE. deep red. Curtains were made for the entire violinist in the Lincoln Symphony. She house; they became the Christmas curtains continued her education at Augustana Col- *** Generation I *** and were always put up after Thanksgiving. lege in Rock Island, Ill., graduating Summa To me, they were as important to Advent Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in his- 2 f Alfred Joseph Brodahl, born 27 Dec as “Prepare the Way, O Zion!” (Bereden tory in 1944. She completed her master’s 1890 in Wahoo, Saunders, Co. NE, died väg för Herran!) and we still have the at Syracuse University and continued 10 Sep 1975 in Wahoo, Saunders, Co. NE. remnants of them and find ways to use the graduate studies at Stanford University. In the U.S. Census 1900 he lives with scraps somewhere in our Christmas deco- In 1947 she retumed to Augustana to parents and siblings in Center Precinct rations. teach history. In 1948 she was appointed Colon village, Saunders, NE. In my mind I always see my grand- dean of women and assistant professor of Married to the following ancestor. mother in housedresses made from the history. She was a part of Augustana from fabric her daughters had woven in Sweden. 1948 until retiring as associate dean of 3 m Ruth Cordelia Erickson, born 29 Sep During my childhood we still had bolts of students in 1987. 1893 in Wahoo, Saunders, Co. NE, d 13 this material; some was sky blue, some pale In 1976 she was awarded the Vasa Medal Feb 1985 in Wahoo, Saunders, Co. NE. grey, and others stripes of each with white. in Gold by the King of Sweden for her I was comforted against this fabric many dedication to the development of interna- *** Generation II *** times and can still see its smooth threads tional relations on the Augustana campus. magnified through a child’s tears. I started In 1997 Augustana College dedicated the 4 ff John (Johan) Johansson Brodahl, college in a dress made from what was left newly constructed Betsey Brodahl Building born 17 May 1853 in Västraby, Emmislöv, of the grey and white stripe. I suspect I for student services in her honor. L, died 17 Jul 1936 in Malmo, Saunders, might he using it yet, if one of my cousins She performed with and supported the NE. hadn’t needed it more. Quad-City Symphony Orchestra for 25 He is most probably identical with John I discover as I write that this has be- years. She served on the Midland Lutheran Johansson, born 1853 May 17 in Västra- come, in many respects, the story of my Alumni Board, Illinois Historic Sites by, Emmislöv, L, Sweden. Grandfather Erickson, the life he led as a Advisory Council, and Nebraska Historic Before 1868 he, his parents, and their Swedish-American, the land he developed Preservation Council. She held office in the other children had moved from Emmislöv for independence and security, the setting Augustana Historical Society, American to Haganäs in Östra Broby, L. his home gave to his children and children’s Scandinavian Association at Augustana, From there son John immigrated in children, and the patterns of life he set in American Association of University, 1872 April 3. His new American surname motion for us. Vigorously American, a Foundation for Crippled Children and was probably based on the name of his pioneer in his thinking, young to the end Adults, Friends of Art of Davenport Muni- home parish. in his expectations, it was his Swedish cipal Art Gallery, Lutheran Church of Amer- Married 1883 to the following ancestor. America in which we grew up. At the close ica and many more. She is survived by a of one lovely day, when this 94-year-old sister-in-law, nephews and nieces, great- 5 fm Anna Nilsdotter, born 18 Aug 1861 man and his bed were being readied for nieces and nephews, great-great nieces, and in Östra Ejaröd, Nävlinge, L, died 13 Jan the night, he said, “The King of Sweden nephews. 1909 in Saunders Co., NE. isn’t put to bed any finer than I am.” No (http://www.wahoo-ashland-waverly.com Moved 25 Nov 1881 from Attarp, Näv- published 3 May 2012). Swedish princess was ever more proud of linge, L to U.S.A. According to database her grandfather. Emihamn she had a ticket for Oakland, It was that night he died. The house was NE. sold, the family has scattered, we work for

4 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 6 mf Magnus (Martin) Erickson, born 14 May 1847 in Matteröd, L, died 21 Feb 1941 in Wahoo, Saunders, Co. NE. Moved 29 Apr 1869 from Hjortaröd, Matteröd, L to U.S.A. Married 12 Mar 1872 in Swedeburg, NE, to the following ancestor.

7 mm Bengta (Betsey) Svensdotter Did- riksson (Dedreck), born 19 Aug 1847 in Österslöv, L, died 11 Jul 1936 in Wahoo, Saunders, Co. NE. Moved 1868 from Attarp, Västra Torup, L. to U.S.A.

Editor’s note: Part of a parish map for Kristianstad län, from Karta över Rikets indelningar 1992, published by The Betsey Brodahl story was submitted by the Bureau of Statistics Sweden. Curt Hauffman, Järfälla, Sweden, whose late wife was related to Martin Erickson’s older brother Olof, who stayed in Sweden. The new Kinship Center rises from the ashes In 1960 the number of emigrants from from 1960 onwards? There is also the Gustavson, the former secretary of the Värmland inspired the teacher Sigurd Gus- useful web site Emiweb, where many data- Sweden America Center. tafsson to start the Emigrant Register, bases can be accessed for a small sub- The new Kinship Center has the backing based in Karlstad, the county seat for scription. Also the continued life of the of the Karlstad City Council, the Värm- Värmland. journal Sweden & America was in danger. land Regional Authority, and the Swedish Many volunteers joined the organization In late spring a new organization ap- National Archives. and started to explore who the emigrants peared, called the Kinship Center, which were and what happened to them. will take over all assets, archives, databas- The English name was: The Kinship es, the journal, and slowly build a new more Center, later the Sweden America Center. stable economy to enable the basic work The Emigrant Register made a pioneer to go on and become secure for the future. effort within emigrant research. Together The president will be Mrs. Eva Eriks- with the Emigrant Institute in Växjö and son, former county governor of Värmland Göteborgsemigranten in Gothenburg, the and former chairperson of the Migration Emigrant Register developed a CD con- Center. The business leader will be Mr. Erik Erik Gustavson and Eva Eriksson. taining information from mainly passen- ger lists in the Swedish emigrant ports, known as Emigranten Populär. This data- base has 10 different databases, and there are about 1.5 million names and related in- formation about the ocean voyage. During the early 2010s the institution changed its name to The Swedish Migra- tion Center, and extended its activities in many ways. It started many workplaces around the country where unemployed people could get work. That was mainly paid for by the local or county com- munities. However, when those found that there were other uses for public money, they diminshed their contributions to the Mig- ration Center, which resulted in bankruptcy in March 2017. The problem was what would happen to all the resources that had been collected Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 5 News from the Swenson Center How Dared You Take Such Constitutional Liberty? A Swedish-American Perspective on the Impeachment Trial of Andrew Johnson

BY ANDERS BO RASMUSSEN 2016 OLSSON SCHOLAR

Swedish-American history is full of good In the Scandinavian press, the proceedings 3rd a little after noon, the Swedish pastor stories - and some of the best even have in Washington (where the House of Rep- strolled towards the United States Capitol yet to be properly unfolded. Luckily a host resentatives in early March 1868 - for the (its new dome constructed just two years of historic true (and sometimes tall) tales first time in American history - adopted earlier), and got to the Senate chamber in can be excavated from the depths of articles of impeachment against a sitting time to see the elected officials arrive, Augustana College’s Swenson Swedish president) were met with sensation. “A “some took off their hats, some not, some Immigration Research Center. A good case court of impeachment, already a rarity in took their seats, read the news, pamphlets, could therefore be made to focus this brief the country’s history, has never before been or wrote, others went into the side room, text on Pastor Andrew Jackson and his call brought against the highest executive others stood and talked. Among others, I for fellow Swedish-Americans to move authority, the President,” wrote the Swed- noticed Senator [David] Patterson, the west just days before he and his Minne- ish-American newspaper Hemlandet on President’s son-in-law, that miserable sota congregations were attacked by March 3rd. drunk,” Norelius wrote. Dakota bands in 1862. Or another might Importantly for Swedish-American “The speaker now struck twice on his have involved the psychological hardship readers, Hemlandet (as part of its detailed gavel ... and immediately after the prayer, of Civil War soldiering apparent in Nels impeachment coverage) landed a Scandi- the presiding judge [former Secretary of Knutson’s dispatches from occupied navian scoop as it received a dispatch from the Treasury Salmon] Chase entered in his Confederate territory in 1864, or yet an- Pastor Norelius who happened to be in other could have utilized the unique Civil Washington D.C. in early April. What War letter collections in Swedish-Ameri- Norelius saw was a beautiful city full of can genealogist Helene Leaf’s possession. cypress trees and mansions yet a city Nevertheless, for the purposes here, I haunted by its racial past where slave quar- decided to recount the somewhat forgot- ters still reminded visitors of “the former ten story of President Andrew Johnson’s dark times.” impeachment trial in 1868 through the eyes The paradox, of course, was that the of Swedish immigrant pastor Erik Norelius. legacy of slavery was still at the center of American politics. The impeachment articles and the subsequent trial hinged on President Johnson’s choice to remove Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, who had opposed the President’s leniency toward former Confederate leaders without the Senate’s consent. In doing so, Johnson had Hemlandet 10 March 1868. seemingly violated the recently passed The summons. Last Saturday at 4 p.m. the Tenure of Office Act and stepped even constable of the Congress came to the President deeper into a conflict with Republican con- and showed him the by Chase signed summons gressmen over how best to secure four for him to appear in the impeachment court. million freedmen and freedwomen’s eco- So far the case has now advanced peacefully. The committee of the accusers now work dil- nomic, political, and legal rights in the igently with listing all the points of accusations. immediate aftermath of emancipation. All preliminary questions are now decided in Norelius’s impeachment account, how- unity by the Republicans. May the trial be done ever, was more focused on the inner work- peacefully but quickly, without any unnecessary delay and waste of time. Erik Norelius 1833–1916. ings of American politics. On Friday April 6 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 News from the Swenson Center official robe ... the President’s lawyers had taken their seats and all gave a similar im- pression: old, almost all grey-haired, well- polished, old-fashioned gentlemen with a sad, melancholic expression, bearing wit- ness to the despairing cause they had a- greed to defend.” In stark contrast to the old defense at- torneys stood the attorney Benjamin Butler of Civil War fame and notoriety. “One must see and listen to him to understand that a more appropriate prosecutor could never have been found,” Norelius wrote and offe- red an example of Butler’s approach in an examination of Colonel William Moore, Andrew Johnson’s secretary, who had been called as a witness: Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln in 1861, before the partially complete Capitol dome. “ ‘How dared you,’ he [Butler] asked with a nonchalance that eludes all descrip- the-ground experience, Norelius’s con- cities,” Norelius noted. “A reformation is tion, ‘take such liberty with the President’s fidence was likely rooted in the overwhel- certainly greatly needed.” constitutional freedoms and rights,’” ming Republican majorities enjoyed in the A month later, however, it became clear Norelius remembered the prosecutor Senate (45-9) with “only” two-thirds of that an American political reformation asking before adding admiringly, ”Butler the members present needed to convict the would have to wait. On May 16, President always has a response and answers biting- president. Johnson was saved by a single Senate vote ly.” Having witnessed the impeachment (35 for and 19 against) as 7 Republicans Thus, it was little surprise that the Swed- proceedings, Norelius headed back into the crossed the aisle and voted with their ish pastor confidently predicted “the Pres- bustling capital full of “elegant people, Democratic colleagues against impeach- ident’s case is here considered lost and one especially the ladies.” Yet, not all was as ment. does not need to be present at more than pleasant as it sounded. “It is horrible how one session to see what advantage the far the extravagance in our country extends prosecutors have.” Apart from his own on- especially in the capital and the bigger

The author: Anders Bo Rasmussen is Assistant Professor at the Center for American Studies (Uni- versity of Southern Denmark) and is currently writing a book titled “For God and Coun- try: Scandinavians, Citizenship, and American Empire” with the aim of publication in 2018 - the 150th anniversary of Andrew Johnson’s impeachment trial. Anders Bo Rasmussen’s research examines transnational relations between the Uni- ted States and Europe from the middle of the 19th century to the present. He has pub- lished articles and books on immigration history, slavery and emancipation, cultural diplomacy, and Americanization. His work on American history, culture, and society has appeared in national publications such as Weekendavisen, Information, Kristeligt Dagblad, and Politiken among several other outlets. E-mail: Anders Bo Rasmussen. (Photo by Jill Sea- holm).

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 7 Handwriting Example #51

Kåkinds häradsrätt (R) AIa:214 (1848-1848) Image 490 (AID: v474153.b490, NAD: SE/GLA/11029) This document is an internal passport. It creed that all people should have a docu- office of the Attorney General. They have was necessary to obtain if you wanted to ment that showed that the bearer was on been preserved in the Swedish National travel outside your own parish. It was a his regular business when travelling in the Archives (Riksarkivet). Copies can also be way for the authorities to keep order in country. He/she might be going to a dis- found in the local county and city archives the country by knowing who was trav- tant market to sell goods, or on his way to (now in the regional archives, lands- elling, and why. buy some oxen, for instance. arkiven). If you were not an ordinary orderly per- The passports were usually obtained The passport laws were abolished in son, but could be suspected of being a from various county offices (landskansli) 1860, for both in- and outside Sweden. vagrant, a beggar, or not having a steady or the magistrates of the cities, but as seen The Swedish Genealogical Society has job, you could be interrogated by the local above it was also possible for a local pas- a huge project of scanning and indexing constable. If answers were not satisfactory tor to make them. The passport had also these passports. Today the database is just you could be sentenced to be put in the to include which way the person should a tiny part of all the available documents. state forced workforce (Kronoarbets- travel, and for how long the passport was However, the database is only open to kåren), until someone in your home parish valid. members. But questions can be sent to this would give you work. Due to a new law in 1812 copies of all address: King Gustaf I in the middle 1500s de- passport had to be sent in to the central Transcription and translation on p. 20. 8 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 The Swedish Bishop Hill Society

The history of the Erik Janssonist colony group in Copenhagen in 1846 made a in Henry Co., Illinois, is well known, and number of converts. does not need to be repeated here. However, the mass exodus of the sect Growing interest in began with the departure of Eric Jansson, his family, and a few others via Christia- Sweden nia (now Oslo) in Norway in the spring of Finally the interest of knowing more about 1846 and continued over the next eight the colony members and their families that years, to 1854. Eric Johnson claimed that were left behind led to the foundation of there were at the outset some 1,100 of his the Swedish “Bishop Hill Sällskapet” on father’s followers who wished to join his 27 May 1989 in Biskopskulla in Uppland new colony in America. Swedish clerical province, where Erik Jansson was born. Biskopskulla church. reports from 1846 indicate that around The society now has about 350 members 1,030 persons emigrated that year from the from all over Sweden and a few Ameri- Janssonist districts, mainly in Hälsingland, cans. almost all of them undoubtedly Jans- The purpose of the society is to grow sonists. This correlates quite closely with the interest in Sweden for the history of a careful reckoning by Carl Gustaf Blom- the colony, which was one of the major bergsson, the sect’s printer, that 1,001 causes of the great immigration from Janssonists arrived in New York between Sweden to the U.S.A. Another purpose is early June in 1846 and 20 March 1847. to continue to keep in contact with present- Others thereafter decided to take the great day Bishop Hill. step when favorable reports reached them The society has a museum close to the from Bishop Hill. Meanwhile, prosely- Biskopskulla church. It also has a bi- tizing continued in Sweden for several annual journal Bulletinen with interesting years. By 1854, when the last organized articles on Janssonist themes, and corre- group came over, the entire Janssonists spondence from Bishop Hill, so the Swed- of wrong turns I finally found the church, emigrating probably totaled around 1,500, ish members will know what happens in a very rural setting. It was raining, so I the figure most often given. there. just walked around it. When leaving on a It has been generally taken for granted There is a Bishop Hill Day celebrated very narrow road I saw a sign to the left that the Janssonist creed simply died out every year just before Midsummer at that pointed to an Erik Jansson memorial. in Sweden when with the Janssonist emi- Biskopskulla, at which time the recipient Of course he would not have liked to be gration to America. Yet not all of those who of the Olov Isaksson Prize is honored. The commemorated by the church! still remained faithful to the prophet left recipient for 2017 is former member of On to the meeting in the old courthouse Sweden. Among them were one of the the Swedish Parliament, journalist, and in Örsundsbro, were I found about 30 prophet’s own brothers and certain others author Hans Lindblad of Gävle. He was members, including my friend Brita who had played prominent roles in the also one of the driving forces behind the Butler-Wall from Seattle, who was spend- movement. Some had set out but turned 1996 Emigrant Jubilee. ing a couple of months in Hälsingland. back for family or practical reasons. Was The society also holds a meeting in the Brita has written several articles for SAG, Janssonism altogether dead and buried in fall with some prominent emigration and I hope for more. The lecturer of the Sweden after the departure of the last of historian as the lecturer. day was Lars Åke Wångstedt of Edsbyn, the group in 1854? who told us the story of “The first woman This hardly seems logical and there are A visit to the society who wrote the story of the Janssonists.” at least a few tantalizing signs that it long This lady was named Vilhelmina Lars- As a member of the society I wanted to lingered on in a kind of concealed under- dotter Orström Westberg, born 16 Dec. take part of the annual meeting, which was ground existence in certain localities and 1826 in Österunda (Västm.), died 17 May held on 6 May in the township of Örsunds- households. “Down to our own day,” Emil 1899 in Galva, IL. Her book Erik-Jans- bro, not very far from Biskopskulla. Herlenius wrote in 1900, “one or another sonisternas Historia was published after As that is not one of my regular routes, member [of the sect] has lived on, who her death. I thought it would be a good opportunity the whole time has preserved his faith in Lars Åke has also written several to also go to Biskopskulla, but soon found Eric Jansson that he was ‘the great light articles for SAG during the years. out it was not as easy as I remembered sent by God.’ ” By that time there were Elisabeth Thorsell from my previous visit about 25 years ago. few, if any, who still openly professed the My GPS did not want to go there, but I Janssonist faith even in Bishop Hill itself. also had an old map book, so after a couple Meanwhile, two Janssonists who left the A link to the society is on p. 26.

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 9 The great fire in Chicago 1871

A story told by Jan Olof Olsson

Introduction Jan Olof Olsson (1920-1974), also known honor of the church’s eldest member who people, and I opened my eyes and looked as Jolo, was a Swedish journalist and was celebrating his birthday. That was the into his shiny, cherry-fresh face. writer. During his lifetime he published purpose for my visit to the Swedes in the many books on historical and geographical church. I was introduced on the stairs to The great fire themes. One of his earlier books was Chi- some tens of them, and in the flickering When he was three years old, his mother cago, published in 1958. In this he mainly sunshine across the avenue we went en had wrapped blankets around him and tells about the complicated local politics, masse to the old man’s home. He lived in carried him away from the big fire. They and sometimes even criminal rulers of the a small, pleasant apartment, a few blocks had lived on the west side where the fire city in the late 1800s and early 1900s. from the lake and the wide beach road. He broke out and she had run with him over Naturally, he also mentions many Swedish- was over eighty and had to stay home from one of the bridges. She had many times told Americans, but the main theme is the the worship service because he had broken him about a man who came out of a burning corrupt goverment in those bad, old days. his leg a half year earlier. He was spicy house and jumped in again when he heard However, one day he went to a service and remarkably alert. He blinked often the children screaming in a window. But in a Swedish-American church, but does with his left eye towards me and tele- he had not come out with the children but not mention the name of it. It seems to have graphed with this method “Did I not want with a bundle of paper collars: so mad and been a Mission Covenant church, situated a whiskey after the sermon?” inverted people became during this on a corner lot in the Northwest part of the The remarkable thing was his speech. catastrophe, his mother had said. His fa- city. The pastor was named Eng, and the He was born in Chicago in one of the last ther had been in town and tried to save what verger was Nordlof. years of the 1860s, but they had spoken he could of his tailoring business and al- Mr. Olsson comments on the Sunday Swedish at home. His language, accents, most lost his life for customers’ suits and hats on the ladies’ heads, all covered in and expressions remained unchanged since fabrics. He had talked with a wagon owner flowers and/or fruit decorations. All the the year his parents immigrated. He said and asked to rent his wagon to drive all his men had on their Sunday best suits, and all when I greeted him: “Gentle servant”. He workshop to safety. But the man demanded of them were solemn. Families all brought always called me “my lord” and ”dear sir.” $200 for that: so mad and so evil people their children to church. A proud mother With this kindness, he told me – while became during the fire, his father said. His told that her son was only seven months Eng, Nordlof, and the others drank coffee father and mother had not met for several old, but had only missed church twice. and the wives in the flower hats sat around days in the panic. She had taken her son to Mr. Olsson found a brochure that gave the cookies – that he came from Atter- the shore, where the men led their families instructions on how the children should bom’s1 parish, Åsbo, outside Mjölby. He into the mud of the lake to escape the behave in church. said this with a quiet, cultured sense of horrific heat from the fire, and she had been humor, certain that I knew he was born in Here starts his own text: in the water with him on her arm, with water Chicago and had never been from there. I accidentally dropped the brochure. As I up to her waist for hours while the city was But on a little bookshelf, which had glass bent down to pick it up, I looked forward spreading firecrackers in front of their eyes. doors and ornaments on the leaves, the under the pew and saw the entire church He could not now be sure what he books of Atterbom stood next to Wilhelm floor to the preacher’s pulpit. On the floor, remembered and what his mother told me. von Braun’s2 stories. I was blinded with next to each pair of feet, stood high-heeled But he remembered a block of houses as Sunday’s happiness: it could have been one pumps, sometimes in lacquer, sometimes they hurried past them. It lay with their grey of those cold attics in a manor house with in suede, sometimes toeless, sometimes wooden houses in front of their eyes, and coarse, hard-cut floorboards, today as without heels – pumps I thought fit for they saw worried people in the windows hundreds of years ago, where an old gen- afternoon cocktails. All the ladies had tak- and in the small stores of the ground floors. tleman sat with his books and through en their tallest and narrowest shoes, and Suddenly the fire came there with a flash. small glass panes overlooking the apple during the sermon by Eng and his col- It had been untouched, far from the flames; trees of the garden. leagues, had crawled out of their shoe then it sparkled into an explosion of flames But it was an apartment on Chicago’s wardrobe’s finest items, pushed them un- and flared up while the big fire was still north side with wall-to-wall rugs and a der the pew, and sat in their socks. twenty blocks away. Afterwards I was invited to coffee in sweet smell of the everlasting American cleaners hanging between furniture and

10 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 The great thing that happened after the had God in their hearts, and sometimes they Endnotes fire, he said, was that everyone after the were a bit drunk by the maize whiskey and 1) Per Daniel Amadeus Atterbom, (1790 disaster became very sinful until Moody3 hit the questioning person. Then there – 1855) Swedish romantic poet and pro- and Skogsbergh4 and Sanngren5 came. His could be a general melee. fessor of philosophy. mother took him to Moody’s tabernacle The Swedes did not come to Moody in 2) Wilhelm von Braun (1813 – 1860), that housed 10,000 people. There was such such big numbers yet. Most of them did Swedish author and poet. a rush to Moody’s salvation meetings that not understand what he said. They were 3) Dwight D. Moody (1837 – 1899), also people threw themselves on the trams in too new in the country. Some then sent for known as D. L. Moody, was an Amer- great numbers. The wagons were filled and August Skogsbergh, who was from Värm- ican evangelist and publisher, connected pushed down the tracks in the street. Some- land and had preached a lot in Jönköping with the Holiness Movement. times they rolled over, sometimes the hor- and Västergötland. From there came many 4) Erik August Skogsbergh (1850 in Glava ses dropped asleep and lay next to the track, Swedish Chicagoans. [Vrml] – 1939) powerful revivalist and that was all for the sake of meetings Evidently there was a huge revival in preacher and pioneer leader of the Swed- and salvation. Moody preached and cried Chicago around 1876, but that is another ish Mission Friends which became The until his great body shook. Everyone shook story. Evangelical Covenant Church of Amer- and cried in the Tabernacle on Chicago ica. Avenue, and Ira Sankey6 sang from 5) J. M. Sanngren, (1837 in Alseda [Smål.] “Lammets lov.” It was in the late 1870s, – 1878) pastor in the future Mission and it was a movement in Chicago for God Covenant Church. that no one could imagine. People wit- 6) Ira D. Sankey, (1840 – 1908), Amer- nessed and cried in the street corners, and ican gospel singer and composer, often even on a tram after the end of the work in company with Moody. Many of his there were three, four people who started songs and collections of songs were singing in the car and asking others if they translated into Swedish. had found the way to God. Where there were some Irish Catholics, it could become tense, because they were not nice to these Translation by Elisabeth Thorsell and newly saved. They said that they always Chris Olsson.

The Randolph Street Bridge, Chicago.

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 11 Discover your Swedish roots online! Visit www.arkivdigital.net

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12 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 Bits & Pieces

Swedish American of the New valid Swedish bills! year 2017: Jan Eliasson Jan Eliasson was born September 17, 1940, in Gothenburg and is a well-known Swed- ish and international diplomat. The Vasa Order of America has desig- nated Jan Eliasson as the Swedish-Ameri- can of the Year for all the fantastic work Congratulations to he has done and is continuing to do for Canada on their 150th world peace and understanding across the Anniversary! borders. In 1867 Canada became the name of the new federal dominion extending ultimately from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Arctic coasts. Many Swedish immigrants took the shorter route to Canada before taking a train to the U.S., but many also stayed in the country. These are the new Swedish banknotes of Read all about that in Elinor Barr’s the lower denominations, that are the only “Swedes in Canada: Invisible Immigrants” valid ones from 1 July 2017. (2015). For the higher denominations, up to a 1000 SEK, there are also new banknotes. All coins, except the 10 SEK, have been Jan Eliasson was the Swedish Am- replaced with smaller copper colored bassador to the United States 2000-2005. coins, and the old ones are no longer valid. In June 2005 he was the first Swede to be Link to the Swedish National Bank (Riks- elected Chairman of the UN General banken) on p. 26. Assembly, a mandate that lasted to 2006. In 2006 he was appointed Swedish Foreign Late news: Gold for the Interesting exhibits in Minister. Swedish Ice Hockey Minneapolis He has a profound interest in water Team! issues, in particular for the developing An exhibtion called “Still Life” by Swed- world and was the first chairman of Water The Swedish Ice Hockey team, called ish painter Karin Bros opened on 14 July Aid, Sweden. Three Crowns (Tre Kronor) became the and closes on 29 Oct. Karin Bros has Jan Eliasson was appointed Deputy world champions in the 2017 tournament. studied painting in The Netherlands, and Secretary-General of the United Nations They defeated Canada at last, after then moved to Värmland, where she and from July 2012 to December 31 2016. penalties. her husband Marc still lives. Her pictures He will take part in the annual John are mostly focused on homelife, and Värm- Ericsson Day celebrations in Filipstad and land nature. Karlstad on 5 August 2017. On 14 July another exhibition opened (From a press release from the Vasa Order and closes on 6 Aug. It is called “A to Zåäö: of America). Exploring ASI’s Collection.” The ASI welcomes Tara Sweeney and Nate Christopherson, a St. Paul-based mother and son creative team, who will illustrate a series of 29 objects from the Big celebration at Sergel Plaza in downtown historic ASI collection, each representing Stockholm. [Jersey is yellow, crowns blue]. a letter from the Swedish alphabet. Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 13 An Ingevalds-släkten Mystery

What happened to Nils and his family?

BY CARL D. ENGLAND, JR.

My grandfather, Carl Joshua Englund, the document that I am writing about our Södra Fågelås, Skaraborg län” and a com- emigrated from Motala, Östergötlands län, Swedish-American family. It will introduce ment that the family: “later probably in 1893 at age 14 following the death of you to the family mystery that I have to (moved) to Västergötland.” his mother in 1892. He arrived in Brook- date been unable to solve. There was no explanation of how, when, lyn to live with his uncle Isidor Ramstedt. or why Ingevald Nilsson’s family might He was accompanied by his next younger Starting the research have moved from Dalsland to Västergöt- brother, David Kaleb, age 13, and followed My first step: with help from SwedGen land, or where they might have settled. in turn by his three additional younger genealogist Charlotte Börjesson, we found Ljung does record Ingevald’s marriage and brothers: Joseph, Simon, and Johan. Carl Carl Johan’s birth record in the Födelse- subsequent family, but fails to record any Joshua married another Swedish immi- och dopbok of Södra Fågelås parish, just events between the last record of the family grant, Elin Kristina Engström, in 1899, and south of Hjo in the old county of Skara- in Dalsland and the record of Ingevald’s his brothers all married as well. My grand- borg län. His father was indeed a soldier; marriage in Västergötland. I attempted to father became a skilled machinist. Three his name was Ingevald Lax, and his mot- fill this gap in our family history with my of the brothers became Swedish Methodist her was Johanna Ericsdotter. Carl Johan own research. ministers, following in the footsteps of their was born on June 9, 1832, and baptized on father, Carl Johan Englund, who had died June 10. in 1893. As the Englund boys matured, married, and built new lives in America, little knowledge of the family history was trans- ferred to subsequent generations. Those stories that were handed down contained little solid information and much that was fanciful. Perhaps this is not surprising, as the Englund children were orphaned and separated from extended family in their early teens. Södra Fågelås Volume C:1 (1811-1860) Image 50 Page 91 (Arkiv Digital). What we had been told is that farfar, Ingevald’s soldier record in the Central The Nils Andersson Family Carl Joshua’s grandfather, had been a Soldiers’s Database then provided Carl From the Skållerud parish Vigselbok, I Swedish soldier and that he had lived near Johan’s father’s patronymic name of Nils- determined that Nils Andersson from Tor- the town of Hjo in Skaraborg län. His fat- son. grinsbyn and Carin Svensdotter from the her, Carl Johan Englund, had been born in The father’s name of Ingevald led me farm area Bränna were married in the 1832. Englund was not his original name, to Dalsland and to Olof Ljung’s massive parish church on October 26, 1783. They and he had left the state church to become multi-volume genealogy of one extended established a household at #3 Gärdserud, an early Swedish Methodist minister. With Dalsland family, “Ingevalds-Släkten,” Holm parish. A son, Johan, was born 15 this limited family history, I undertook to (Volume I published in 1994) where Swed- December 1784, followed by a daughter discover the story of our family’s roots in Gen’s Anneli Anderson found my ancestor Anna Stina, on 15 July 1786 and another Sweden and to document them for my Ingevald Nilsson. I was able to trace our son, Anders, on 29 August 1788. Son Sven children and future generations. ancestry back to the 1700s and identify arrived on 12 January 1791 and another My objective was to learn enough to Ingevald’s parents as Nils Andersson and daughter, Caisa (Lisa), followed on 2 July “put some flesh on those old bones.” What Carin Svensdotter. However, Ljung’s work 1793. All of these births were recorded in I discovered was an amazing tale of ap- on this branch of the family ended with a the Holm parish Födelse-och dopbok. The parent family tragedy, individual survival, brief note about Ingevald Nilsson: “Inge- Nils Anderson household record in Holm and ultimate success. vald, b. 1795, Lax, soldier for Dunabolet, ends with a notation by the minister that The story that follows is excerpted from 14 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 the entire household then moved to Bre- riod 1800 to 1806 do not show the Nils written in 1795 that the real estate and mills torp, probably in 1794. However, there is Andersson family as living there, and I left in Anders Nilsson’s 1790 will were to no Bretorp parish and no record of the have found no further trace of them any- be divided seven different ways among the family moving to the village of Bröttorp where in Högsäter parish or elsewhere in sons, daughters, and in-laws, “willingly in in Holm parish. Dalsland. They seem to have disappeared agreement to be maintained this way.” The family next appears in the house- from Dalsland church records. hold examination records for 1794-1799 for the village of Västra Edstena in Hög- säter parish, where Nils’s occupation is listed as a Mölnare (modern spelling: mjölnare,miller) and for the first time son Ingevald appears in the family. The record for the Nils Andersson family shows that Ingevald was born in 1795. I have been unable to find a birth record for Ingevald in either the Högsäter or Västra Edstena Skållerud Volume AI:3 (1789-1802) Image 172 page 167 (Arkiv Digital). parish records, or in any nearby parish, and thus we don’t know his exact birth date. Nils Andersson’s This was the year that Ingevald was born In 1798 the family moved briefly to the background and Nils moved to become the parish miller nearby village of Åkesäter, and then back Nils Andersson was the son of a prosperous in Västra Edstena. By 1799 Nils’s younger to Västra Edstena, where they stayed until farm owner, mill owner, and nämndeman half-brother Peter, who had taken own- 1802. Nils was the miller at the Västra (e.g. permanent juryman) Anders Nilsson, ership of the family farm in Torgrinsbyn Edstena mill on the Valboån River from who died in 1790. We know from the after his father’s death, was dead at the 1794 until 1802. Another daughter, Britta Ingvalds-släkten genealogy that his father early age of twenty-eight. His youngest Maja, was born in 1797 but died in infancy. half-brother Anders had died in 1796. This left Nils as the sole surviving male heir of Anders Nilsson. However, Anders may have had differences with some of his children. Olof Ljung records these terms of Anders’s will: “His son Nils received, as a portion, 2 cows, 3 sheep, 1 sheep skin, 1 tub, 2 buckets, 1 barrel, 3 troughs, and 2 basins. His daughter Märta received 2 cows, 3 sheep, 1 new sheep skin, 1 basin, Högsäter Volume AI:8 (1794-1799) Image 77 page” 69 (Arkiv Digital). and a cask. The whole of Anders Nilsson’s estate amounted to 1,214 rdr., while the The parish household examination from “in the farm Torgrinsbyn, Skållerud, owned only expenses listed were the fee for the 1802 shows the family moving from Väs- ¼ mantal, valued at 333 rdr (riksdaler), inventory, and a percentage to be given to tra Edstena back to Mölnerud in Skållerud and ¼ mantal in Gärdserud, Holm, valued the poor. Thus, he really left a rich estate parish. Mölnerud is adjacent to the village at 200 rdr. In Östra Vässby, Holm, he also behind.” He certainly did not leave a rich of Torgrinsbyn, which was Nils’s family owned a smaller parcel of land, valued at estate to Nils. home. 100 rdr. In Ingriby River and Storkvarnen Nils’s father had been married twice. His second wife, Katarina Pettersdotter, lived on until 1814 and under terms of his will retained the farm at Gärdserud. Nils had an older sister, Kerstin, and two younger half-sisters from the second mar- riage, Anna Stina and Maria, all of whom had married and thus their husbands would control their property interests. A total of seven additional siblings had either died Högsäter Volume AI:9 (1800-1806) Image 103 page 94 (Arkiv Digital). in infancy or before reaching maturity. The family did not stay long in Möl- (the Big Mill) at Ingribyn, he owned a What appears to have been a successful nerud. The 1802 entry in the Skållerud couple of millstones worth 50 rdr, and 2/3 family had been both decimated and parish household examination record part of the Mellankvarnen (Middle Mill).” divided and it would not be surprising to shows that the entire family moved back This source quotes from a document find disagreement occurring over time to Åkesäter, but apparently they never ar- written in 1795 that the real estate and mills among the surviving sons, daughters, and rived. The pages for Åkesäter in the pe- related in-laws.

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 15 What we will never know is why Nils Anders Olofsson was a blind person; he finally in 1817 to the farm at Björstorp. Andersson felt compelled to leave the and his wife Maria made their living by While he continued to find work as a farm- family home parish in Dalsland. Perhaps taking in orphans and illegitimate children hand, Ingevald’s future prospects were Nils had concluded that it was time to move in return for a fee paid by the parish. The limited, with no known family and no his family of seven and get a fresh start Swedish term for this practice is “ut- property to inherit. In 1819 he was elsewhere. Olof Ljung, in his Ingvald ackorderad, ” which was a system in which recruited by the local farm owners in family genealogy, offers the opinion that persons took these children into their home nearby Södra Fågelås parish to fill an the family probably moved to Västergöt- for a period of a year or longer and were empty soldier billet in the allotment sys- land, so he as well was unable to find any paid by the local parish based on a com- tem, and was enlisted in the Swedish Army. further trace of the family in Dalsland. We petitive bid. It was like a reverse auction, will never know the truth from the sketchy where the lowest bidder got the contract. Ingevald Nilsson Lax, historical records that exist. We would today refer to this as a foster home. Soldier Orphan boy Ingevald Here is a section of that page from the Ingevald Nilsson was recruited by the Norra Fågelås household examination Lunnebacka rote and enrolled in the Nilsson volume covering the period 1789 to 1812. Kåkind Company, Skaraborg Regiment of It appears that something traumatic must Gossen Ingevald is in the middle of the the Swedish Army on March 4, 1819. He have happened to the Nils Andersson image, and the note “Ingewald Nilsson” on was given the soldier name Lax and family after 1802. I found no trace of Nils the lower left. assigned to Soldattorp #836, located by the Andersson’s family arriving in the area near Hjo in Västergötland, where my grand- father’s father Carl Johan was born. Surprisingly, the next trace of Ingevald Nilsson that we found appears in the household examination records for the years 1789 to 1812 for the village of Stora Almö in Norra Fågelås parish, just south of Hjo in Skaraborg län. Karl Bergstrand of Hjo-Tibro Släktforskarförening made Norra Fågelås Volume AI1:(1789-1812), Image 38/page 65 (Arkiv Digital). this obscure discovery for me. The initial household record for Inge- farm at Dunabolet. This was one of twenty Ingevald is listed as “gossen” in the vald is incomplete; he is listed only as Boy such soldattorp (soldier cottages) located household of Anders Olofsson and his wife Ingevald. The record does not include his in Södra Fågelås parish. Maria. The term gossen means a young family name, gives the parish of his birth With the prospect of establishing a boy, not a member of the family, who is as Ör (a parish in Dalsland), and gives his household in the soldier’s cottage at not old enough to work. birth date only as 1795. A subsequent an- Dunabolet, Ingevald would have been Somehow this seven-year old boy had notation on the same page gives his full looking for a wife. Ingevald’s choice was found his way from Dalsland, in the west name, Ingewald Nilsson. All we know for another soldier’s daughter, Johanna Erics- of Sweden, to the county of Skaraborg in a certainty is that he appeared in Norra dotter Grahn, born on March 17, 1794, in Västergötland, in central Sweden along the Fågelås parish as an orphan sometime after the village of Stora Björstorp in Norra shore of Lake Vättern near the town of Hjo. 1802, when he would have been about Fågelås parish, Skaraborg län. She was the On today’s roads this would be a trip of seven years old, and that he was there prior daughter of Eric Johansson Grahn, and about 100 miles. In the early 1800’s, before to 1812. Helena (Lena) Zachritsdotter Nyberg, and canals or railroads in Sweden, such travel The next household record for Stora was then working as a piga (maid) at the would have been a major undertaking, even Almö, from the volume covering 1811 to farm Södertorp Östergården. The banns for for an adult; in those days people rarely 1824, is more complete. It lists Ingevald Ingevald and Johanna were read in the moved beyond the next village or parish. first as a boy and then as a farmhand church at Södra Fågelås on April 25, May We can only assume that for some rea- (dräng), gives his full name, lists the parish 2, and May 9, and the couple was married son Nils Andersson chose to leave Dals- of birth as Öhr in Dalsland (where he was there on May 15, 1819. land with his entire family, and that some- not found), and gives a birth date of 24 June Note that in the Vigselbok record (next thing happened along the way to all of the 1798. This new birth date information, page), Ingevald seems to have been unable other family members, leaving Ingevald probably a creation of his foster family, to provide the minister with his parent’s alone as an orphan. There is no record of remained with Ingevald for the rest of his true patronymic family names. His father’s Ingevald’s family “moving in” to the Norra life, making him appear three years young- name is given as Nils Nilsson, not Nils Fågelås parish, nor have I found any record er than his true birth date of 1795 would Anderson, and his mother’s as Carin …, of how or why the people of that parish indicate. not as Carin Svensdotter. There are no would take responsibility for a stray orphan In 1814 Ingevald moved on to the farm family members listed as witnesses. from a distant parish. at Stora Almöhagen in Norra Fågelås as a farmhand, then in 1815 to Hjellö, and 16 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 Norra Fågelås Volume B:2 (1785-1825) Image 162/Page 327 (Arkiv Digital).

Ingevald and Johanna raised a family of and in certain ways an original personal- seven surviving children, five girls and two ity.” boys. Ingevald Lax was retired from the army Carl Johan Englund, My grandfather’s father, Carl Johan, in 1855 and died in 1868. The story of his Methodist preacher (1837–1893). was the youngest of those children. When family and how he became an orphan Carl Johan was fifteen, in 1847, he left the appears to have died with him and not been Many thanks soldattorp at Dunabolet and found em- passed down for posterity. Thus we are left The following are among the many ployment as an apprentice butler at nearby today with this Ingevalds-släkten mystery: genealogists in Sweden who have so Hjellö Säteri (Hjellö Manor). He assumed what happened to Ingevald Nilsson’s greatly assisted me in discovering my the surname Englund and subsequently family? I continue to search for the answer. family roots in Sweden. went on to lead a fascinating and colorful life, the subject of many family legends. From SwedGen: At age 36 Carl Johan became interested Charlotte Börjesson, Anneli Andersson, in the Methodist religion. He subsequently Anna-Lena Hultman. attended the seminary at Lund University, From Hjo-Tibro Släktforskarförening: formally resigned from the Lutheran Karl Bergstrand. Church in 1874, married, and began his true life’s work as a missionary Methodist The author is preacher. Carl Johan Englund died on 22 Carl D. England, Jr. May 1893 in Motala, Östergötland län. His e-mail is From his church obituary: “Brother Eng- Hjällö Manor. lund was a zealous and faithful preacher

These statistics are compiled from the Social Security Death Master File. There is a link on p. 26 that explains more about this map. Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 17 Perils and pitfalls of relying solely on the Husförhörslängd

BY DAVID A ANDERSON

The Swedish Husförhörslängd (in English in 1833 after being widowed in 1831. He which also gives his birth date as Sept. 18 sometimes called Clerical Survey, or is recorded dying on 2 May [18]69. He is 1804. Household Examination Rolls) is quite recorded, as would be expected prior to For the record Eric was married in 1825 possibly the best genealogical record any- his death, in 12 April, not between 1869 to Margtha Larsdotter who died childless where! Being a yearly record of peoples’ and 1871, but again on 17 Nov.1872; a note in 1831. Eric re-married, according to the lives, it is the U.S.’s 10-year census record in the Flyttat (moving out) column seems husförhörslängd in 1833 to Brita Ersdotter interval on steriods. to indicate he moved to N. Amerika (after who was reported born 31 (sic) Feb. 1809 Although the Husförhörslängd is a great he died!) on 3 June [18]75. in Moje. source of information, not all of the infor- Questions that should come to mind She was surveyed from 1862 to 1875, mation contained therein is correct, and the immediately are, if he died in 1869, how and there is no information regarding what information must be verified with informa- could he have been surveyed in 1872, and happened to her after 1875. The marriage tion from the proper birth, marriage, death, emigrate to North America in 1875? Care- record for Jans Eric and Brita does not and in/out movement records for accuracy. ful inspection of the relevant records will appear in the 1833 listings, but instead answer those questions. Because of these appears at the end of the 1832 listings with Examples from Gagnef questions, all dates for him and the rest of the wedding taking place on January 1, Such is the case for Jans Eric Jansson who his family should be verified for accuracy. 1833: “Enklingen Bonden Jans Eric Jans- lived in Moje, Gagnef, (Dala.) from his Eric’s birth is recorded to have taken son i Moje No 9 och pigan Brita Ersdr ibi- birth in 1804 until his death in 1869. As place on 12 Sept. 1804, not on 18 Sept. dem No 11.” We learn that the widowed would be expected, he appears in multiple 1804, in Moje, Gagnef, to parents Jans Jan farmer Jans Eric from Moje No 9 and the husförhörslängder (plural) during his life- Jansson and Cherstin Andersdotter. His maid Brita Ersdotter from Moje No 11 time. It would be tempting to use the in- baptism took place on the 16th. His birth were married on January 1, 1833. formation found in the most recent ones as is given as 12 Sept. 1804 in the first hus- For Eric’s wife, Brita Ersdotter, we have facts, but that should not be done. förhörslängd he appears in, but in the a curious birth date of 31 (sic) Feb.1809 In Gagnef parish’s husförhörslängd second one the date is given as 18 Sept. as recorded in the husförhörslängd AI:25, AI:28, pg 58 Jans Eric Jansson appears for 1804. Why the change in date? Did poor pg 58. We know that Brita lived at Moje the last time while he is alive. His birth is eyesight make the 12 look like 18? We will No 11 when she was married. She is found recorded on 18 Sep. 1804 in Moje; he has probably never know, but the incorrect date at Moje No 11 living with her mother Brita been married twice, first in 1825 and again was carried through until his death record Danielsdotter and stepfather Per Persson,

Gagnef (W) AI:28 (1868-1877) Image 63 / page 58 (Arkiv Digital).

18 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 and her birth date is again given as 31 (sic) Whereas the Swedish husförhörslängd Feb 1809 in Moje. From the husförhörs- is an amazing source of information for längd we also learn of a younger brother, data including birth, marriage, death, and Eric born 14 Feb 1812, and that her moth- emigration it should be considered as a er Brita Danielsdotter was married 1 Jan secondary source, not the primary source, 1820 with stepfather Båsen Per Persson. and that data should be verified from the Now we know the names of both of Brita birth, marriage, death, and in-out records Ersdotter’s parents: Brita Danielsdotter and (if available) which are the primary sources Eric Ersson. With that information we for that information since they were made search for and find her birth recorded on at the time of the event, whereas that data 31 Aug. 1809 in Moje. in husförhörslängden are transcribed from Three surviving members of Jans Eric’s previous husförhörslängder. family immigrated to North America. First Editor’s note: was son Jans Jan Ersson who left 30 April According to Emihamn database Brita and 1873. Followed by his mother Brita Ers- Anna had tickets for Willmar (MN?). dotter, whose birth is still written as 1809 As Gagnef is in Dalarna the people there 31/2, and sister Jans Anna Ersdotter who used the special farm names, in this case were noted as leaving the parish on 3 June the farm name was Jans. 1875 without procuring the proper permit. There is a link to an online article on It is clear that the notation appearing in Hfl these names at p. 26. AI:28, pg 58 for Jans Eric Jansson’s emi- gration is in error and was meant for his The author is David A Anderson. widowed wife Brita Ersdotter. His e-mail is: Dancers wearing one of the Dalarna folk costumes. Allt för Sverige 2017 – Great Swedish Adventure

Participants in alphabetical order 2017:

1) Kurt Carlson, 60, Naples, NY. Glass blower. He wants to come to Sweden to find the stories about his ancestors, and then to be able to share them with his son. 2) Alexander Kronholm (a.k.a. Tej Mohan Singh Khalsa), 27, Boston, MA. Yoga instructor. 3) Kristin Lancione, 32, Los Angeles, CA. She works as a nanny, but also earns extra money by driving for Uber, and has written the script for the TV show “Beverly Hills Nannies.” 4) Victoria “Tori” Milar, 28, Denver, CO. Server at a restaurant. She lived in wes- tern Africa for her first nine years as her parents were missionairies. Rock climber. 5) Amanda Orozco, 29, Portland, OR. 7) Dylan Ratell, 26, New York and Mi- 9) Jack Waters, 34, Salt Lake City, UT. student of political science. Mexican chigan. Artist in musicals. At a young Writer. Ex-Mormon since 2009. father, Swedish mother. age he dreamt of Broadway, and sang in 10) Nathan Younggren, 25, Hallock, MN. 6) Ann Oswald, 65, Hickory, NC retired, church choirs, singing was his major at Farmer, he also plays in a band and likes genealogist. She wants to pursue her university. fishing. connection to the hero of famous 8) Cosondra Sjostrom, 34, LA/Astoria, childrens’ song Mors lilla Olle (Moth- OR, entrepreneur, poet, and author of Source: Aftonbladet 30 May 2017. er’s little Olle). nine books called “Creepy romance.” The show will air in Sweden on 22 Oct. She is also a catering agent. 2017. Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 19 The Solution to the Handwriting Example #51

Transcription: Hemmansåboen Anders Johan Andersson i Dannike Borsgården af Lenghems Pastorat och Kinds härad, som nu i enskilda angelägenheter ämnar på kort tid begiva sig till Skaraborgs Län, är född år 1818, eger försvarlig Christendoms kunskap, brukar med vörd- nad Salighetsmedlen och har gjort sig känd för ett stilla och anständigt uppförande, hvilket honom härmed på begäran till bevis lemnas. Skårtebo den 14 Junii 1848 Under Pastors bortovaro W. Chronander Comminister och v. Pastor

Translation: The tenant farmer Anders Johan Andersson of Dannike Bodsgård in the parson’s district of Lenghem and Kind legal district, who now on his private business wants to travel for a short period of time to Skaraborg county, was born in 1818, has a tolerable knowledge of Christianity, uses the means of Grace with reverence and is known for peaceful and decent conduct, for which this testimony is given to him at his request.

[Signed] Skårtebo 14th of June 1848 During the absence of the Pastor W. Chronander Assistant Curate and Vice Pastor

Who were these people? the book on the top of the pile, regardless parishes, Södra Åsarp, where the pastor’s The first thing is to make sure where they if it was a book for the right parish. So if home was called Skårtebo. He was married lived. In Västergötland province, where the you do not find the birth in the expected to Augusta Lidell (b. in 1822) and they had people were very early converts to Christi- book, just try the other parishes in the pas- a little daughter Agnes Elisabeth (b. 1847). anity, each local prominent person wanted torat. The age difference between husband to have his own church and parish. So there The man who wanted to travel, Anders and wife might have to do with that a are very many small parishes, but to be able Johan Andersson, was living at Bodsgården clergyman, who did not have a secure place to work efficiently with all these parishes in Dannike parish, and was a married man in a parish, had to fill posts wherever a they were early on gathered in larger groups with at least eight children. His wife, Maja pastor was needed, and had a very small called a “pastorat,” consisting of about five Stina Andersdotter, (b. in 1818) died in salary, so he could not provide for wife and or six parishes, and one of those was named 1860, and the next year Anders Johan children. the “mother parish.” Länghem (modern moved to nearby Hulared parish (not When Wilhelm Chronander became a spelling) “pastorat” consisted of Länghem followed). Of some interest might be that curate and vice pastor in Länghem pastor- (mother parish) and Dannike, Månstad, and son Frans Andersson (b. in 1848) moved at he could afford to marry. Södra Åsarp parishes, all in Älvsborg län. to America in 1864 from Bodsgården in In 1855 he was named the pastor of For the researcher it often seems like the Dannike. Dalstorp, near Länghem, but died there Pastor put all church records in a pile and The curate, Wilhelm Chronander, (b. already in 1858. then recorded a newborn or a marriage in 1807) lived in another of the Länghem

20 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 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 SAG Editor, at so we know what you are working on. Narragansett tribe. He remained there plorable conditions at the colonies and of The Vinland Saga many years, married one of the colonist’s the need for colonists, supplies, and trade. daughters, and had a family. After he was This brought Iceland, Greenland, and the goes on killed by the natives, his wife moved to colonies under the rule of Norway. Iceland to raise her family. She eventually Book 3, The Last Viking in Wineland, The Battle for Wineland (book 2) and remarried and had a son Sturlu who was continues the story as it describes the The Last Viking in Wineland (book vindictive, rich, and greedy. He spent much various forces that eventually led to the 3), by Milton Norman Franson. of his time and energy trying to destroy the demise of not only the Norse colonies in ISBN-13: 978-1530500833 (book 2) and ISBN-13: 978-1536809831 farms and businesses of the Icelanders in North America but to the final chapter of (book 3) order to enrich himself. After his death his the settlements in Greenland. Mother Na- Publisher: CreateSpace Independent son and foster son took over the family ture brought a mini-Ice Age to the northern Publishing Platform North Charles- lands and business. Both sons were writ- hemisphere causing crop failures, de- ton, South Carolina. ers. Kjarten, the foster son, preferred to creased game, and froze the travel routes Pages: approx. 250 for each volume. collect and write the legends and sagas of between Greenland and North America. It the Greenlanders. It was these sagas that also prevented the trading ships from land- Book 2, The Battle for Wineland, begins made their way to Archbishop Helvegi who ing in Greenland for the increasingly scant in the year 1029. Leif Ericsson is dead and read them with great interest. His reading trade goods that the Greenlanders had to his son and nephew must now lead the of these sagas brought him to the real- offer. Bubonic plague wiped out one-third Greenland Norse as well as the settlements ization that the last visit by a Norwegian of the population of Europe and Iceland, in the New World. Arnar, a cousin of Leif ship to the New World colonies had been again reducing potential settlers and trade the Lucky, has returned to Greenland from nearly 100 years earlier. His primary focus goods from arriving in Greenland and Vinland bringing a young sister and brother became the lost souls in the New World as North America. With the increased isola- of the Algonquin tribe with him. The stories he felt a sense of God’s mission to go to tion from their native lands and people, the that he shares around the fire stir the heart the colonies and minister to these Norse colonists began to assimilate more quickly and imagination of his nephew, Ari. settlers. He put great effort into setting up into the native populations of North Ame- Ari marries and has four children, with an expedition to the colonies. Returning rica and eventually disappeared. whom he shares the stories that his uncle two years later he reported on the de- Meanwhile in Greenland the farmers Arnar had told him as a boy. Erikur, the eldest, grew up to be a priest and eventually a bishop. His territory included Greenland, Markland, Helluland, and Vinland in the New World where he eventually traveled and spent his time trying to convert the

SALE! Swedish Voters in Chicago 1888 By Nils William Olsson 302 pages of Swedes, comments, and indexes. $10 + $5 S&H Contact Jill Seaholm at

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 21 Book Reviews families as well as hopes, dreams, and It is that connection which led me to start ambitions. reading this book, coupled with knowing I found this series an interesting read the authors, Kevin and Earl, through our that sparked my imagination as to what Swedish-American Historical Society might have been. Perhaps someday there board memberships. I knew they both will be more discoveries that will give descend from Peter Cassel and that their credence to the legends. tie to the Cassel story runs deep. And – Janet Wahlberg very importantly – that they never do were having an increasingly difficult time anything halfway. So, no surprise, after surviving on their farms. The colder and only a few paragraphs into the introduction, longer winters diminished the growing sea- I could see that I’d be reading their book son, thus reducing crop production for both A Swedish cover to cover, all 303 pages. (Okay, I did the humans and the animals. Most of the quickly scan some pages that just list names cattle died due to the severe weather and Pioneer Family of grandchildren and greatgrands.) lack of fodder. Starvation and disease took Peter Cassel and His Family: Faces The book opens with a 7-page intro- its toll on the humans. Many families of Swedish America, by Kevin Proes- duction, a discussion of the 19th and early moved to Iceland where the weather and choldt and Earl D. Check. 20th century emigration from Sweden of land were better until there was only one Softcover, 315 pages, ill., name in- what turned out to be a quarter of that family left on the Western coast of Green- dex. country’s population. Pedantic? Boring? land: Solveig, Brynjolfur, and Olafur. Then Published by Swede Point Press Not at all. It is inviting to read, con- Solveig and Brynjolfur died leaving only 2015. 2003 310th Street, Madrid, IA versational in tone (which happens to be Olafur, a slow-witted man who buried his 50156. true all the way to the last page). It is family members as best he could. Not long especially interesting when you get to the after this, Olafur died in an altercation with If you are driving across Iowa on U.S. 34, paragraphs about Peter Cassel’s influence the Kallals, an indigenous people of the be sure to stop in Lockridge in Jefferson on Swedish emigration, starting with his area. Olafur, the last of the Vikings died in County. Pass through the village and after letter home in September 1845, the first of 1541. a few turns you will see on a hill a white many letters which were widely published Mr. Franson takes the story of Leif Er- church and steeple. You have found New in the Swedish press, causing considerable icson and his journey to the Americas to Sweden’s Lutheran Church, built in 1850 discussion and stimulating many Swedes new and intriguing depths by using known by settlers led by Peter Cassel who arrived to come to America. If you want to learn historical figures as well as fictional char- there in 1845. Wander through the ceme- more, fear not: page 8 gives you endnotes acters to draw a portrait of exploration, tery and read all the Swedish names on the with 17 references. adventure, and daring from Greenland to stones. I do this often when visiting my So who was Peter Cassel? He was born Central America. He makes his story husband’s cousins who farm only a mile in 1790 at Redeby in Asby, (Östg.) son of believable by drawing on sagas, legends, away. It feels so special to stand there on th Carl Börjesson1 and his wife Catharina as well as fact-based accounts in develop- the ground of the first permanent 19 Svensdotter, with the patronymic name ing his story. He cites the discovery of the century Swedish community in America. Peter Carlsson. He was first a miller and Viking village in Newfoundland, L’anse then a farmer (a landowner, a “bonde”) in aux Meadows, as the catalyst for him to the southern part of Östergötland län. His write this series. He used the story of the roots have an unusual twist. The name conquistadors hailed by the Central Amer- Cassel, which our hero took as his surname, ican natives as returning “white gods” that comes from his ancestor Peter Cassel had been prophesied in their ancient Mayan (1540-1607), who might have come to legends. Other factors in his stories look Sweden from Edinburgh, Scotland, in to recent DNA studies show that 20% of 1592.2 He became the stable master for the Ojibways show European ancestry. Duke Karl of Sweden, who in 1607 was Also, early French missionaries recorded crowned King Karl IX. Doesn’t that make that the Ojibway “practiced a secret you want to read more about the Cassel religious ritual that contained Catholic family? elements.” By skillfully weaving these On to Chapter 1: “Peter Cassel and His legends and stories into a narrative of the Wives.” Some chapter subheadings tell you succeeding generations of the family of the direction of Peter Cassel’s life: “Mil- Leif, Mr. Franson is able to portray the ler, investor, master builder, writer, pioneer, characters as real people with friends and

22 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 Book Reviews only surviving child, Carl Johan, and his of Lockridge. You can’t miss it – there’s a descendants. Carl Johan was born in 1821 large red Dala horse outside waiting to in Kisa parish, came to Iowa with his fa- greet you. ther in 1845, married in 1848, and in 1849 For open hours info: (319) 254-2317 moved to Swede Point (Madrid) in Boone email: [email protected] County, Iowa. Many of his descendants Ellen Rye remain there today, including author Earl Check. Interested in the story of a settle- church founder and pastor.” From Kisa ment in central Iowa (or almost anywhere Editor’s note: Parish (Östg.) to Jefferson County, Iowa, else)? You get to read a dozen pages 1) Carl Börjesson Cassel, father of Peter in 1845. The amount of detailed descrip- describing Swede Point’s early days. Cassel, the emigrant, died on 16 July 1834 tions of peoples, places, and things with The chapter is filled with photos on al- at Redeby in Asby parish (Östg.). His estate photographs of Cassel’s mills and homes most every page, and there are descriptions inventory is dated 28 July 1834. Among in Sweden grab your attention, as does the of family members’ relationships, jobs, life his heirs is mentioned his son, the miller step-by-step account of the trip from Petter Cassel of Qvarnstugan in Kisa. The Sweden to the hills of southeastern Iowa others were Johan Cassel of Brokind, in territory. Vårdnäs, married daughters Stina, Maja, We meet his two wives, both of whom and Catharina. The widow of Carl (his he married in Sweden: Anna Svensdotter, second wife) Greta Larsdotter gave infor- and after her death in 1829, Ingeborg mation on the estate. The estate inventory Catharina Andersdotter, who came to is found in Ydre häradsrätt (E) FIIIa:43 America with Peter and outlived him by (1834-1834) Image 100 / page 195 (AID: 20 years. There were 11 children, but only v77457. b100.s195, NAD: SE/VALA/ 6 survived childhood. Anna lost 4 of her 5, New Sweden Lutheran Church. 01637). (Arkiv Digital). Ingeborg only 1 of her 6. Of the 11, all but history, extracts from letters. Everyone 2) According to modern research, the story the last 2 were born in Sweden. becomes a person, not just a name on a about the first Peter Cassel being a stable But before leaving Chapter 1 and get- genealogical chart. And of course there are master to Duke Karl has not been possible ting into any discussion of Cassel family endnotes, too many to count. It is remark- to verify, even after extensive research at descendants, be sure to read “Peter Cassel’s able how much material going back several the War Archives in Stockholm. The first American Letters,” pages 80-100 including generations family members have saved member of the family that is mentioned in 39 extensive endnotes. They read like re- and made available. court records was named Mårten Persson laxed personal journals, full of reports of Carl Johan’s clan is much larger than Cassel, who is mentioned in 1622 as an daily life both wonderful and less so, that of his half-sisters and half-brother who “old lame Englishman.” From his patro- descriptions of the weather, plants, animals, married and had children – Andrew Fred- nymic the older Peter Cassel seems to be the ups and downs of farming, plans for erick, Maria Mathilda, and Carrie Sofia. constructed. the future. You feel you are there in The remaining two who never married, It is not known how long the “tradition” Jefferson County in the 1840’s – the lett- Gustaf Albert and Peter Edward, have in- about Peter “the stable master” has been ers are infinitely more engaging to read teresting chapters of their own. We learn, going around, but it was a general trend than any American history textbook. for example, that Gustaf died in 1862 while during the 1600s and 1700s to try to glori- Chapter 2, all 89 pages, is about Anna’s a soldier in the Civil War. fy an unknown ancestor. We all have read genealogical family There are many descendants of Mårten presentations of varying length and detail. still around, (the SAG editor is one of Interesting to the family (maybe), but them) and some are trying to verify the usually boring to everyone else. “Peter old stories, but the early 1600 is a long Cassel and His Family” is an exception. time ago, and not many records still exist. The name Cassel may be a Swedish The extent of the authors’ research and the variation of the English “Castle.” Another care with which they wove it all together theory is that the family has its origins in is amazing. I can’t imagine the time it took. the German city of Kassel. In short: my wholehearted congratulations to Kevin and Earl. Thanks to Bo Lindwall, Södertälje, Swe- P.S.: If you are in the area, you should den, for the information on Carl Börjes- visit the Swedish Heritage Society’s mu- son and family. Kevin Proescholdt and Earl Check in Kisa, seum and gift shop on U.S. 218 in Swedes- (Östg.) Sweden in 1995. (Photo by E.Thorsell). burg, Iowa. It’s about 20 miles northeast

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 23 Book Reviews

a number of new features: full color photos and source information for most of the documents that open access to online archives (if you have a subscription to Ar- kiv Digital). There is also a Latin word list, a literature list, an authentic 1700s alpha- bet, and more. The book is divided into four parts. The New book on Old first part gives examples of common church records, starting with a fairly young one, followed by older examples. In this Script part the documents have a transcription Vad står det? Handbok i handskrifts- nearby. läsning, by Ulf Berggren and Elisa- For the other parts, the transcriptions are beth Thorsell. 2017, 104 pages, found in the back of the book. illustrated, hardcover. In Swedish. lems with reading cursive script. There is Part two gives examples of less often used Published by the Swedish Feder- church records, like church accounts and a letter from a just-arrived immigrant, a ation of Genealogical Societies. moving-in and -out records. story about an absconding husband, a copy ISBN: 9789188341082. Can be Part three gives examples of estate inven- of the birth record for author Vilhelm Mo- bought from more. much more. This book is the first new book on Swed- Part four contains more modern records, Even though this book is in Swedish, we ish handwriting in about 40 years, and has as many younger researchers have prob- hope that it will be useful for our trans- atlantic friends also! Elisabeth Thorsell ѮF
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24 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 Book Reviews periods, then from 1820 by decades. Here you may read the heartbreaking SAG needs your help! letter from a man, who had lost his job, to We regard the reviews as a very Governor Floyd B. Olson, asking for help, important part of SAG, as the readers but receiving none. You may read parts of are spread all over the U.S., Canada, Andrew Peterson’s (of Vilhelm Moberg and Sweden and a lone subcriber even fame) diaries. You may make the acquain- in Australia. tance of Hugo Nisbeth, who travelled for For all of them it is very difficult to two years in Minnesota, and then wrote a keep track of the many interesting Good old days in book about his experiences. books (and movies) that are published In 1893 Annie Hedstrom was in court with a Swedish or Swedish-American Minnesota charged with having broken the law by theme. Bring warm clothes. Letters and appearing in male attire. She passed un- We need you to keep your eyes photos from Minnesota’s past, by der the name of Charles Parker and did a open. And we are extremely pleased Peg Meier. 1981, 328 pages, lands- man’s work at a farm near St. Paul for a if you will write a review and send it cape form, softcover. Published by period of more than a year without her true to the SAG editor. the Minnesota Historical Press. ISBN sex being discovered. She said that she did Family histories, church histories, 978-0-87351-639-6. not know that it was unlawful to be dressed local group histories, and lodge his- in a man’s clothing. She disliked house- tories are among the things we would This book is not new, but new to me, and work and made more money as a man. like to present in SAG. And all in Eng- the title sounded interesting. I have not yet In 1901 a young man, Horace Glen, lish. read the whole book but glanced at the started to work in a lumber camp near Two A good book review contains the pages that mentioned Swedes. Harbors. He was educated and saw himself full title of the book, name of author, The material is organized first by longer as a better man than others. His opinions year of printing, name of publisher, on his fellow Swedish workers was low: where it can be bought, and the price “the most disgusting, dirty, lousy repro- of the book. bates that I ever saw. I want to hit them Send all book reviews to the SAG everytime I look at them.” editor! A fun book with lots of photos. Elisabeth Thorsell Elisabeth Thorsell SAG editor

New and Noteworthy (Short notes on interesting books and articles) The Swedish-American Historical Quarterly is always a good read, and the January 2017 issue is filled with interesting articles. I liked Journey of a Farm Photo from Malung, Sweden, to an Olof Krans Painting, by Mass Elisabet Larsson, in which the author tells about the connection between her paternal grandparents from the Linjo farm in Malung and the Bishop Hill early settlers, among whom members of the Linjo family were vital in forming the colony. In 1913 a photo was taken of the original farm in Malung, and someone sent a copy to the relatives in Bishop Hill, and the next year Olof Krans made a painting of the house, which is shown in full color in the journal. Tidningen is the name of the Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota’s quarterly journal. In the summer issue of 2017 there is an informative article on the Twin City Linnea Society in Minneapolis-St. Paul, run by Swedish women, by Ann Derr. The society started in 1904 with the goal of raising enough money to buy land and open a home for old, destitute women. To do this they charged a small fee at every meeting and also organized a Mayfest, a lutefisk supper, and ice cream socials, and much more. The Twin City Linnea Home opened around 1920 at Como Avenue, St. Anthony Park, and after a few years they accepted “guests” of Scandinavian descent, not just Swedes. In 2005 the home closed. Family Tree Magazine, July/August 2017 has an article by David A. Fryxell on bathtubs and plumbing from Roman times onwards. These are things we take for granted, necessary in our day, but they also have history and inventors. Sunny Jane Morton tells about Becoming American, and explains many of the records that can help find the immigrant like church records, foreign-language newspapers, ethnic societies, and draft registrations. One can also learn that from the 1860s honorably discharged noncitizen veterans, age 21 or over, could petition for naturalization without the required “first papers.”

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 25 All links tested in June 2017 and Interesting Web Sites should work

Swedish American Heritage Society of West Michigan: http://www.sahswm.org/ Swedish-American Historical Society of Wisconsin: https://sahswi.org/ Demographical Database for Southern Sweden: http://ddss.nu/ 5 Strange Causes of Death During the Middle Ages: http://www.historyextra.com/feature/medieval/5-strange-causes-death-medieval-period Swedish passports before 1860: https://www.genealogi.net/projekt/inrikespass-1700-tal/internal-passports-in-sweden/ The Swedish Bishop Hill Society: https://bishophillsallskapet.wordpress.com/ About Swedish Folk Costumes (mainly Dalarna): http://folkcostume.blogspot.se/2014/02/ More on Swedish Folk Costumes: http://web.comhem.se/~u31138198/main.html The Farm Names of Dalarna: http://www.etgenealogy.se/farmname.htm The Swedish National Bank: http://www.riksbank.se/en/Notes--coins/Banknotes/Schedule-new-banknotes-and-coins/ Article about the name map on p. 17: https://simonknowz.com/2016/09/19/the-top-5-most-distinctive-last-names-by-state/ The Swedish Colonial Society: https://colonialswedes.net/ Finding an unknown father: https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Sweden:_Finding_an_Unknown_Father_in_Swedish_Records Genealogy resources in the U.S.: http://familyhistorydaily.com/genealogy-help-and-how-to/free-genealogy-sites-all-usa-states/ Unusual sources for finding old family photos: http://www.ancestralfindings.com/unusual-sources-finding-old-family-photos-2/

Genealogy without documentation is just mythology 26 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 Peter S. Craig now in Genealogy Hall of Fame

Beginning in 1986, the National Gene- As contributing editor for Swedish alogy Hall of Fame program, administered American Genealogist, he published nu- by the National Genealogical Society, has merous articles. Especially notable are his honored outstanding genealogists whose “New Sweden Settlers,” an eight-part achievements in the field of American series that ran from 1996 to 1999, and “The genealogy have had a great impact on our 1693 Census of Swedes on the Delaware,” field. a series published 1989 to 1991. This year, Peter Stebbins Craig, whose Peter Craig received his BA from nomination was made by the American Oberlin College in 1950 and his law degree Society of Genealogists and the Swedish from Yale Law School in 1953. Prior to Colonial Society, was elected to the Na- his career in genealogy, he was a lawyer bearing the same full name so you can tional Genealogy Hall of Fame. specializing in railway law in various confirm which is a suspected ancestor. We Peter Stebbins Craig, a devoted histo- private and government positions. He plan to add more such packages of FGSs rian and relentless genealogist, specialized worked on the boards of the Swedish Co- as well as other materials. It is our hope in publishing genealogies of the first Eu- lonial Society and the Genealogical Society that these resources will facilitate the pro- ropean settlers of southeastern Pennsylva- of Pennsylvania and often lectured on the cess by which members of The Swedish nia, Delaware, and New Jersey. This set- “Antient Swedes.” Colonial Society apply for forefather stat- tlement, better known as New Sweden, This year’s nomination was submitted us as descendants of Swedish colonists who began in 1638 along both sides of the by the American Society of Genealogists arrived in the thirteen colonies before the Delaware River. with supporting recognition by the Swed- end of the Revolutionary War in 1783.” Craig was born in Brooklyn, New York, ish Colonial Society and the editor of the The web address for the Swedish Colo- on 30 September 1928 and died in Wash- Swedish American Genealogist. nial Society is found on p. 26. ington, D.C., on 26 November 2009. His pioneering research and significant pub- Editor’s note: lications on the early Swedish settlers in Peter Craig was for many years a par- the Delaware Valley earned him fellow- ticipant of the yearly SAG Workshop at the ships from both the American Society of Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Genealogists and the Genealogical Society We did not see so much of him as he of Pennsylvania in 1991. In recognition of devoted his time there to microfilms of his contributions to Swedish history, King early American documents, but he always Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden bestowed on held a lecture on something related to the him the title of Knight First Class of the “Old Swedes.” Royal Order of the Polar Star in 2002. He His series of articles on “The 1693 Cen- was awarded a Lifetime Achievement sus of Swedes on the Delaware” was pub- Award in 2009 by the Swedish Colonial lished in book form in 1993 by SAG Pub- Society in Philadelphia. lications of Winter Park, FL. He was the founder of the journal Swed- In 1999 the Genealogical Society of ish Colonial News , published by the Swed- Pennsylvania published his “1671 Census ish Colonial Society. There he published of the Delaware.” dozens of his articles on Swedish and The Swedish Colonial Society also tells Finnish families in southeastern Pennsyl- this about the Craig Collections, which is vania and New Jersey. He served as both still undergoing digitalization – a long-term historian and genealogist for the Society. effort: He also chaired the publication committee “Craig Collection Online. Dr Craig’s that initiated the Gloria Dei Church records work papers and correspondence form the series titled Colonial Records of the Swed- bulk of the Craig Collection. ish Churches in Pennsylvania. Now in six “If you are an SCS member, you can now volumes, this indispensable reference work order a custom package of family group details the church records for the years sheets (FGSs) showing all the detail around 1646-1768. He left his extensive research your earliest Swedish colonial ancestors. collection including books and mono- You may order FGSs from a known line so graphs to the Society. They are adding his you can study your family in detail (e.g., research, “The Craig Collection,” to the the Mounce Rambo package already Society’s website. posted), or FGSs for heads of family all The insignia of the Order of the Polar Star.

Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 27 The Last Page Dear friends, Summer is here in Sweden too, and so far On Facebook I have already (6 July) do not know too much about how to it has been a typical Swedish summer – a seen that several of our overseas cousins understand them but hope with the help of mixture of sun and rain. have come to Sweden and met their rel- friends to make sense of it. At Midsummer, which we spent in atives, and in general are having a good One thing I wish all of you to think about eastern Värmland, granddaughter Greta time. More will be coming, and I hope my is that there is no Query page in this issue, (4½) and her mother picked about 25 dif- own relatives will come some day. and has not been for some time. Please ferent flowers - a real summer bouquet! To actually see the area, the church, and think about sending in queries to SAG, as the local museums will give a deeper under- those will have a longer life that those on standing of the life the ancestors had in electronic message boards, especially now Sweden, and perhaps also why they left. when old SAGs can be found online. Once we drove some friends, three lady Welcome to the Genealogy Days in farmers, through Skåne and they wondered Halmstad! why their people had left? When we came to the home parish in Småland and saw all the rocks in the fields, then they under- stood. What else? My husband and I have now sent in our DNA swabs to Family Tree DNA, and we know they have arrived, so Till next time! we are now waiting to see the results. We Elisabeth Thorsell

Help us promote the SAG journal! SAG Do you belong to a Swedish genealogy or other Swedish interest group? Even a group that only sometimes focuses on Workshop Sweden? We are happy to supply SAG back issues and subscription brochures for Salt Lake City you to use as handouts. If you will have a raffle or drawing, we can even provide a certificate for a 1-year subscription to SAG for you to give away. 22-29 Oct. 2017! Contact Jill Seaholm at The early morning line when the FHL opens. , or 309.794.7204. Thank you!

The SAG Workshop is the highlight of the year – a fun learning experience and a chance to do your Swedish genealogy with hands-on help from experienced Swedish and American genealogists.

The 2017 Workshop is now officially filled.

For more information you can use this address: http://www.bitly.com/SAGWorkshop

28 Swedish American Genealogist 2017:2 Abbreviations

Table 1. Abbreviations for Swedish provinces (landskap) used by Swedish American Genealogist (as of March 2000) and Sveriges Släktforskarförbund (the Federation of Swedish Genealogical Societies, Stockholm [SSF]).

Landskap SAG & SSF Landskap SAG & SSF (Province) Abbr. (Province) Abbr.

Blekinge Blek. Närke Närk. Bohuslän Bohu. Skåne Skån. Dalarna Dala. Småland Smål. Dalsland Dals. Södermanland Södm. Gotland Gotl. Uppland Uppl. Gästrikland Gäst. Värmland Värm. Halland Hall. Västerbotten Väbo. Hälsingland Häls. Västergötland Vägö. Härjedalen Härj. Västmanland Väsm. Jämtland Jämt. Ångermanland Ånge. Lappland Lapp. Öland Öland Medelpad Mede. Östergötland Östg. Norrbotten Nobo.

Table 2. Abbreviations and codes for Swedish counties (län) formerly used by Swedish American Genealogist (1981-1999) and currently used by Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB) (the Central Bureau of Statistics, Stockholm).

Län SAG SCB SCB Län SAG SCB SCB (County) Abbr. Abbr. Code (County) Abbr. Abbr. Code

Blekinge Blek. Blek. K Stockholm Stock. Sthm. AB Dalarnaa Dlrn. W Södermanland Söd. Södm. D Gotland Gotl. Gotl. I Uppsala Upps. Upps. C Gävleborg Gävl. Gävl. X Värmland Värm. Vrml. S Halland Hall. Hall. N Västerbotten Vbn. Vbtn. AC Jämtland Jämt. Jmtl. Z Västernorrland Vn. Vnrl. Y Jönköping Jön. Jkpg. F Västmanland Väst. Vstm. U Kalmar Kalm. Kalm. H Västra Götalandc Vgöt. O Kronoberg Kron. Kron. G Örebro Öre. Öreb. T Norrbotten Norr. Nbtn. BD Östergötland Ög. Östg. E Skåneb Skån. M a formerly Kopparberg (Kopp.; W) län. b includes the former counties (län) of Malmöhus (Malm.; M) and Kristianstad (Krist.; L). c includes the former counties (län) of Göteborg and Bohus (Göt.; O), Skaraborg (Skar.; R), and Älvsborg (Älvs.; P). BD

Lappland

Norrbotten

AC

Västerbotten

Ångermanland Z Jämtland Y

Härjedalen Medelpad

Hälsingland X Dalarna Gästrikland w Uppland C Värmland Västman- S U land AB Södermanland T Dals- Närke Bohuslän D land Östergötland E O R

Västergötland P Gotland F Halland Småland H I

N Öland G Blekinge Skåne L K M

The counties (län) as they were before 1991. The provinces (landskap).