My father's paternal cousin, Evald had a rough start in life. He was born 8 months before his father died of tuberculosis in a Swedish sanitarium. He had left his wife and three boys destitute. Evald's mother supported them as a laundress living in what the Swedes call a "backstuga" which is essentially a one room, dirt floor shack on the outskirts of anothers property.
He emigrated to the United States with an older brother. He was 15. Census records in 1940 show him living with his mother. He did not have a job although he was looking for work. Evald joined the military at the beginning of World War II.
Until I found his obituary I could not find much information on Evald after his military service. It seems he never married or had children. Second cousins I spoke with had little association with him and really knew little about him. One said he was "not quite right" and believed he had ended up homeless. I have no photo of him.
Well, sad.
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