Wednesday

Gustaf Abrahamson


This kindly looking gentleman is Gustaf Abrahamson, the first son and third child of Robert Albin Abrahamson and Anna Karolina Karlsdotter. It is apparent from his birth register below that the family had just recently converted to the Seventh Day Adventist Faith. Unlike his first two siblings, Hilma and Anna, he is noted as "odöpt" or unbaptised in the State Church of Sweden. 

Sep 15,87-male-Gustaf -third child-unbaptised-father,Abrahamsson, Robert Albin 27-mother,Karlsdotter, Anna Karolina 28

He was born 130 years ago this month in Östra Frölunda, Ålvsborg, Sweden. He married young at 23 and built a home on property given to him and nearby his father. They named it Aveholm. His wife Hanna and he had four children; Seth, Gunhild, Sara and Margareta. Their comfortable life ended with Hanna's young untimely death and Gustaf was left to raise the children alone. He did marry again but suffered an additional loss with the drowning death of his middle daughter Sarah. 

Gustaf lived to be 93 years old and was remembered fondly by his family. A life well lived.

my Grand Uncle
Gustaf Abrahamson
b: 15 September 1887 Östra Frölunda, Sweden
d: 14 January 1980 Östra Frölunda, Sweden






**click on photo or document to enlarge for easier reading**

Thursday

Anniversary of the United States Air Force - Harry R. Soderstrom


This week is the 70th anniversary of the United States Air Force. The United States Air Force became a separate military service on 18 September 1947. Before that, it was part of the Army, known as the United States Army Air Corp and during WWII as the United States Army Air Force. In honor of that anniversary, I am proud to bring you the WWII story of one of our own family members. 

Harry R. Soderstrom, my father's cousin.

Harry was born in 1922 and graduated from Moline High School just as the world was entering WWII. If you read the article below you will see he was "cited by his squadron commander for meritorious achievement in accomplishing with distinction numerous operation missions over enemy occupied Europe." He was the pilot of a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber, one of ten crew members and mind you he was only 22 years old at the time! I've done a little reading on the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, you may also be interested and can find that information HERE. "The coolness, courage, and skill displayed by First Lieutenant Soderstrom upon these occasions reflects great credit upon himself and the Armed forces of the United States."






a member of "The Greatest Generation"

First Lieutenant 
Harry R. Soderstrom
born: October 15, 1922 Moline, Illinois
died: June 28, 2010 Columbus, Indiana



Enormous Thank You! to my second cousin, Sally Liljegren Thomas, who has kindly shared these photos and information about her uncle Harry with the family.







*click on photos to enlarge for easier viewing. 
If you wish to download a copy of individual photos in the collage,
 they may be found under the tab PHOTO GALLERY at the top of this blog.*




Tuesday

Looking for Aunt Ebba and finding more.


We family historians/genealogists joke about it and our family and friends make jokes about us. But it's true and I have been at it again. FINDAGRAVE.COM is one of my favorite genealogy websites and I am also a member. Yesterday I went into Northlake (a close suburb of Chicago) to stomp around the Fairview Memorial Park Cemetery.

I was looking for the grave marker of my Aunt Ebba Kallman. When she died suddenly, I was away in Norway with my brother visiting my grandmother so I did not get a chance to go to her funeral. I had heard years ago that someone had donated her burial plot and now I know who and can easily guess the circumstances.

Fairview Memorial Park, Northlake, Illinois Section 2, lot 339, #7

Immediately to the right of Ebba's gravestone is the dual gravestone of my great Uncle and Aunt, John (Johan) Emil Jacobson, and Anna Abrahamson Jacobson.

Fairview Memorial Park, Northlake, Illinois Section 2, Lot 339, #5&6

Immediately to the left of Ebba's gravestone is the grave of Selma Emilia Borg Jacobson. She was the first wife of my father's cousin Rudolf and the daughter in law of Uncle Emil and Aunt Anna. At the time of Aunt Ebba's death, Rudolf  had been remarried, died and was buried with his second wife, Agnes Nordin Jacobson, in Canada. I believe the plot was originally intended for Rudolf. In 1989 there were no longer any Jacobsons residing in the Chicago area and the family kindly donated the plot for Ebba's earthly remains.

Fairview Memorial Park, Northlake, Illinois Section 2, Lot 339, #8

This beautiful large monument with the Lord's prayer (once the largest in the Chicago area) highlights this section of Fairview Memorial Park.

Fairview Memorial Park, Northlake, Illinois Section 2

I am sorry that I, unfortunately, did not think to bring a knife to cut away the grass that with time had almost obliterated the stones or a brush so I did the best I could with my hand, a pen and a napkin! The caretaker said they would have the stones cleared but I told them "no worries, no one in our family comes to weep over a grave anyway. We choose to instead remember them in life and rejoice we shall see them again one day in heaven."








***click on photos to enlarge for easier viewing***


Sunday

Swedish Apple Cake | Sweet Paul Magazine

Early September and I feel fall in the air. 
I am having a cup of coffee on my patio and came across this recipe. 
Sounds great, just the kind of cake I like. I am going to give it a try.


I am going to check out some of the other recipes on this website also.
click on↓
Swedish Apple Cake | Sweet Paul Magazine: Swedish Apple Cake