52 Ancestors in 52 weeks #52: "Tradition" - Christmas Lutefisk dinners

 Prompt #52 ( Dec 24- Dec 30) "Tradition" Christmas Lutefisk Dinners

Good friends of my parents were Al and Ruth Anderson. My Dad had known Al since childhood. Al had stood up for my Dad at my parents wedding. Great people. Each year we were invited over to their home for a traditional Christmas Lutefisk dinner. Sharing great company, Christmas presents, good times, and ............LUTEFISK. Oh dear God it has been at least 60 years since those Lutefisk dinners and if I never have it again? It would be too soon.

Looks disgusting, smells disgusting, tastes disgusting and wiggles like old jello on your plate, There I said it.

Al and Ruth Anderson, a treasured childhood memory.

From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #51: "Cousins"

 prompt #51 Dec 17 - Dec 23 "Cousins"

The Swedish-Chicago cousins

Chicago 1966

From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks #50: "Inlaws" - Sarona Kallman Alvine & Lydia Abrahamson Kallman

  prompt #50 Dec 10 - Dec 16 "Inlaws" Saron Alvine and Lydia Kallman

My grandmother Lydia and her sister-in-law, my great aunt Sarona. They hold on their laps their first born sons Stanley (Sarona) and Albin (Lydia). Were these inlaws close? Sarona and her family moved out to California in the 1930's while my grandmother Lydia's family remained in Chicago, so most likely they were not.

From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks #49: "first in line" - Anders and Pehr Pehrsson

Prompt #49 (Dec 3 - Dec 9) "first in line" - Anders and Pehr Pehrsson

Sverige, kyrkböcker, 1451-1943 Örebro, Lerbäck, födde 1753-1825

Twins! in 1823 my second great grand uncles Anders Gustaf and Pehr Göran were born. Swedish naming customs back in the day traditionally meant that first born sons were to be named after the paternal grandfather and the second born son be named after the maternal grandfather. Their father was Pehr Gustafsson and their mother Stina Andersdotter. So....Pehr must have been "first in line" with Anders soon following.

From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #48: "War and Peace" - Melvin Carl Kallman

  Prompt #48 (Nov 26 - Dec 2) "War and Peace" - My father: Melvin Carl Kallman

Unloading American Troups unto Omaha Beach, Normany, France
D-Day, June 6, 1944, WWII

My Father, far left on Omaha Beach,
June 29, 1944. 

My Father (right) with a mate in Occupied France,
pushing through toward Berlin.

My Father (far right) alongside captured German soldiers,
fall of Berlin, April 1945.

My Dad, Melvin Kallman, was drafted into WWII. He was not at D-Day but was with the replacement, follow up troups that would fight their way from Normandy, through France, Rhineland, Central Europe to ultimately Berlin. 

He told me that initially he did not think he could morally carry a gun, let alone shoot anyone. "How long did that last?" I asked him. "Halfway up the beach" he replied.

He refused to ever discuss any other aspect of the war. 

"Those are things you do not need to ever know."

My Father
PFC Melvin Carl Kallman 1916-1989
Anti-Tank Company of the 423rd Infantry
3rd Armored Division, United States Army

I have done the research and now I do "know".

I am so proud of you Dad,

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #47: -"Thankful"

Prompt #47 (Nov 19 - Nov 25) "Thankful" - newly discovered cousins

This week in which Thanksgiving lies I will tell you what I am thankful for? 

All my newly found cousins on both sides of the Atlantic who have shared their stories, photos and information on our common ancestors. I could not have done this blog without you all !

your cousin,

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #46 - "Not a Clue" - an unmarked family photo

  Prompt #46 (Nov 12 - Nov 18) "Not a Clue" - an unmarked family photo

This photo belonged to family for many years. I have asked many cousins and I have posted it on this blog in the past. Two young men. They look to possibly be Swedish and the fellow to the right vaguely resembles the younger version of my dad but,  WHO THE HECK ARE THEY?

I have "Not a Clue"

Ideas? Please contact me,

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #45: "Brothers" Jacobson Brothers

  Prompt #45 (Nov 5 - Nov 10) "Brothers" - Jacobson brothers

The cousin that passed this photo on to me referred to these three as 

"THE PREACHER BROTHERS"

from left to right, myfather's cousins

Gustav Arthur Jacobson

1920-1991

Rudolf Jacobson

1907-1987

Paul Emil Jacobson

1922-1981

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #44: "Sisters" - Tyra and Märta Abrahamson

 Prompt #44 (Oct 29 - Nov 4) "Sisters" - Tyra and Märta Abrahamsson 

My great aunts
Tyra Abrahamson Johanson 1901-1996
Märta Abrahamson Jonasson 1899-1977

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #43: "Dig a Little Deeper" -

 Prompt #43 (Oct 22 - Oct 28): "Dig a Little Deeper"- Laverne Kallman

A picture given to me by my cousin, handed down through his mother. My cousin recognized our grandmother Lydia (as I did also) but did not know who the infant was she carried in her arms.

Who is the infant she carries? In order to figure that out I have to "Dig a Little Deeper".

 • Since Grandma Lydia only returned to Sweden once, that being in 1913, this infant was either hers or a child of either her sister Ruth or sister Anna. Photographs being somewhat dear I seriously doubt a photo would have been taken of an infant unrelated to Lydia.

• I blew up this photo on my computer and find that on the piano above Lydia's right shoulder is a photo of her sister Ruth on her wedding to Andrew Soderstrom. They married 1917 so I eliminate Anna's children born before that date. Rudolf b.1907, David b.1908, Betty b.1910, and Evelyn b.1915 are out. Grandma's first three children, Albin b.1912, Eva b.1915 and Melvin b.1916 are also out of the running.  

• The photo on the wall behind Lydia's right shoulder is a photo of my great grandparents, Albin and Anna Abrahamson. I have a copy of that photo and it is dated 1923. So Harry Soderstrom b.1922 and his Jacobson cousins; Harry b.1918, Arthur b.1920 and Paul b.1922 are also ruled out. Lydia's daughter Ebba b.1920 is also a "no".

• The additional photo on the piano is difficult to name but I believe it is Ruth and Andrew Soderstrom with their oldest. This appears to be the home of the Soderstroms. Their family unlike the Jacobsons or the Kallmans had quite a few photos taken as their family grew. Possibly due to finances? No photos of Melvin b.1924, Esther b.1926 or Evelyn b.1935 Soderstrom are displayed. I tentatively also rule them out.

• That leaves Laverne Kallman b.1923 in Lydia's lap. Laverne was also the one that saved this photo and why? Perhaps this was the only baby photo she had of herself?

Sometimes you just have to "Dig a Little Deeper".

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #42: "Friends" -

Prompt #42 (Oct 15 - Oct 21): "Friends"

Far right is Grandma Lydia and Grand Aunt Anna posing with a group of friends. Neighborhood friends? Church friends? They all look happy being together.

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #41: "Travel" - Ellis Island and our ancestors

Prompt #41 (Oct 8 - Oct 14): "Travel"- Ellis Island and our ancestors

I imagine the longest, most intense, anticipated yet scary trip my grandparents took was when they traveled as immigrants to the United States. They traveled to the United States via Ellis Island, my grandfather in 1907, my grandmother in 1909. 

Many of their family also took the long trip from Sweden to America, through Ellis Island.

My grandfather's siblings and their spouses: 
    Sister Sarona (1904) and her husband Hugo (1893)
    Sister Olga (1902) and her husband Uno Markus (1903) 
    Sister Tekla (1907) and her husband Rikard (1909)
    Brother Patrik (1901) and his wife Margrete Maria (1901)

    Brother Botvid (1901)

My grandmother's siblings and their spouses:
    Anna (1913) and her husband Emil (1911)
    Ruth (1914) and her husband Anders (1910)

And too many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends to mention here.

Between 1821 and 1930 approximately 1.3 millions Swedes emigrated. Most traveled to the United States but some also went to Australia, New Zealand, South America and Canada. Perhaps 200,000 Swedes returned to Sweden (great uncles Botvid and Patrik returned) but at least 1 million stayed.

If you often wondered what the trip through Ellis Island itself was like? This was an interesting read.

↓

WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE FOR AN ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRANT

Well if grandma and grandpa Kallman hadn't left Sweden, their son would not have met the daughter of Norwegian immigrants, and me? Well, I wouldn't be here.

Thank you grandma and grandpa,

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

   

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #40: "Longevity" - Leola Ethelyn Kallman

 Prompt #40 (Oct 1 - Oct 7): "Longevity"- Leola Ethelyn Lowenberg Kalllman

My aunt Leola, the wife of my dad's brother Albin made it just over 100 years. I believe that is the record for our family. 

  

   Rest in peace Aunt Leola,

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #39: "Unexpected Sorrow" - Sara Abrahamson

 Prompt #39 (Sep 24 - Sep 30): "Unexpected Sorrow"- Sara Abrahamson

Sara Abrahamsson 1915-1945 was the third child and middle daughter of Gustaf Abrahamson and Hanna Emanuelsdotter, a grand daughter of Robert Albin and Anna Karolina Abrahamson. Unmarried, she worked as the Östra Frölunda telephone operator until her untimely death at sea. Her older sister Gunhild told her story to their nephew Ingemar Majholm who recorded her words.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

"The Östra Frölunda telephone exchange situated in the northern wing of Stommen was being overhauled in Oct 1945. Sara, who was the operator, got three weeks off. She somehow received the opportunity to make a round trip to England with a cargo ship.

SS Dagny was a Swedish cargo steamer which was on route from Lake Vänern for Lowestoft, the easternmost harbor in England, with a cargo of wood. Sara probably embarked when it passed Gothenburg and was going to work her way over and back again.

She served as a helper to the ship cook, an elderly lady who made her last shift before retirement. Oct 14, 1945, the ship collided with the British former troop, then cargo, steamer Empire Rapier and the elderly cook, now badly injured got stuck on board ship.

The injured lady, as well as the seamen, urged Sara to go to the lifeboat immediately, but she lingered with the dying woman in order to try to help her. It has been told that things then went very quickly and the vessel sank before Sara managed to escape.

Her grave, the SS Dagny, lies on 34 - 38 m depth, position 54.15N-06.13E

Three weeks earlier, Sara had attended the wedding of her brother Seth and Anna-Lisa, in Vikarbyn, Dalecarlia. They now had moved into their little apartment in Stockholm. Knowing nothing about Sara's journey to England, they opened the newspaper in the morning and read that a vessel SS Dagny had sunk in the North Sea. Two casualties were named, one of which was Sara Abrahamsson, Hid. In dismay, understanding nothing, they called Gustaf and received the terrible news.

Gunhild has told how Gustaf, not a man used to show feelings, cried bitterly this day at the loss of his dear daughter. 20 years earlier he had lost her beloved mother, being left alone with four young children, Sara being the next youngest.

The exact date not known, but some time after the accident, the captain of SS Dagny visited Gustaf to tell him about what happened in the last minutes of the life of his daughter. The captain had been deeply impressed by the unselfish love of this young lady, who had risked her life to give help and comfort to a dying lady, defying the others urging her to go on board the lifeboat and save her own life."

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

my first cousin once removed

Sara Abrahamson

born: 29 July 1915: Östra Frölunda, Ålvsborg, Sweden

died: 14 Oct 1945: 34-38 m depth, position 54.15N-06.13E 

aboard the Dagny in the North Sea

The history of SS Dagny may be found → HERE 

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #38: "Adversity" - Magnitude 9.2: The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake

Prompt #38 (Sep 17 - Sep 23): "Adversity"- Stanley Kallman Alvine

Last week I spoke of my Dad's cousin and his marine repair business in Alaska.

March 27,1964 the largest recorded earthquake in United States history struck Alaska. It was a 9.2 magnitude with powerful tremors that lasted for nearly 5 minutes.  Aftershocks continued for three weeks. Massive landslides, spreading and swelling destroyed buildings, water mains, sewers, gas and electrical systems. Two Tectonic plates, the Pacific Plate and the North American plate, just under Alaska,  rose over 27 feet. Massive tsunamis reached land just a few minutes after the earthquakes shaking and engulfed some areas that previously had been 170 feet above sea level. A day after, President Lyndon Johnson declared the entire state of Alaska a disaster area.

Stanley Kallman Alvine's  Marine Repair Company? Sucked out to sea.

Prosperity to adversity in one year? Stanley was not dissuaded of his love of Alaska. He rebuilt and raised his family there. Stanley died at Kodiak Island, Alaska, February 28, 1979.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #37: "Prosperity" - Stanley Kallman Alvine

  Prompt #37 (Sep 10 - Sep 16): "Prosperity"- Stanley Kallman Alvine

My dad's cousin Stanley was born in Chicago but with his parents moved out to California where two of his aunts also settled. His aunt Olga and her husband Uno Markus had tried their luck panning for gold in Alaska and perhaps hearing from them of the beauty of Alaska (they never found gold) thought to take his young wife and go on his own adventure.

 He started a marine repair business and it must have been doing well as 1963 found him getting a fairly impressive government loan to expand his business.

Tues June 11, 1963

Prosperity appeared to be just around the corner for the Alvine family. Adversity however was soon to follow.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #36: "Tradesman" - Richard Severin Kallman

 Prompt #36 (Sep 3 - Sep 9): "Tradesman"- Richard Severin Kallman

Second from the right is my grandfather, Richard Severin Kallman 1887-1968, with his work buddies. My Dad Melvin had told me he was a "body and fender man". When coming from Sweden he stated he was a blacksmith and in the 1910 census he was working as a blacksmith in a wagon wheel factory. Well, times were certainly changing and luckily his smith skills were of value in the exploding auto industry. I wish I could see the car the fellows are posing in front of better but from the rounded top and the apparent age of grandpa I am guessing this photo was taken in the early thirties.

 From Amy Johnson Crow, a genealogist, far more experienced then I. "The data that we've accumulated in our genealogy software and in our binders and folders doesn't do a whole lot of good just sitting there. We need to do something with it." Each week she sends out a prompt to share a bit about an ancestor, collateral relative, or family friend.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #35 "Disaster" - Gustaf Gustafsson

 Prompt #35 (Aug 27-Sep 2): "Disaster" - Gustaf Gustafson

South Central Sweden has the largest concentration of base metal and iron ores in Northern Europe. There are mines in existence today that were established in the early 1700's and mining itself took place in Sweden from the earliest times. Mining was a very common occupation for the average man in the area of Sweden my paternal grandfather came from.

Gustaf Gustafsson, my 3X great grandfather, was born in 1795 in Berg, Lerbäck, Örebro, Sweden. Swedish Household Examinations and the record of his death refer to him as a "bergsman" or miner.
A physically demanding and dangerous job no doubt. In addition, in his day there were no worker safety or child labor laws. The 5 day, 8 hour work week was over one hundred years away.  It is entirely possible that Gustaf worked the mines from the young age of eight or nine, six days a week for up to twelve hours a day.

late 19th century miners

Gustaf was twenty six when he died. Twenty Six. Young even for the early 19th century. Look at this  record.  Lerbäck, Örebro, Sweden deaths from January to July 1812. Gustaf's death is underlined in red and he is only one of seven miners who died in this parish in just half a year!  Every month another miner died. It seems very possible, even probable that work in the mines was the contributing factor or direct cause of death for many who spent their life underground. Truly a "disaster" for Gustaf and his young wife and his two young sons.

Ancestry.com: Swedish Church Records 1500-1941
County: Örebro; Parish: Lerbäck; Volume: F:1;
Record Type: Död (Deaths); Year Range: 1801 - 1861;
Roll/Fiche: MN-1128; 

my great great great grandfather

Gustaf Gustafsson

b: 9 December 1785 Berg, Lerbäck, Örebro, Sweden

d: 23 March 1812  Lerbäck, Örebro, Sweden

Gustaf Gustafsson→Jan Gustaf Gustafsson Bergvall→Clara Sofia Bergvall→

Richard Severin Källman→Melvin Carl Kallman→ME!

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS - #34 "Tragedy" - Stephen Stanley Alvine

 Prompt #34 (Aug 20 - Aug 26): "Tragedy" - Stephen Stanley Alvine

My Second cousin Stephen Alvine, of Kodiak Alaska, was the pilot of a single-engine Cessna. The plane crashed and burned. Steve and his three passengers all died. Steve was 33, a husband and father.

Tragically gone too soon,

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - #33 "Strength" - Margareta Maria Ericksson Kallman

 Prompt #33 (Aug 13 - Aug 19): "Strength" - Margareta Maria Eriksson Kallman

Today I looked at the very difficult, hardscrabble, poorer than poor, life of my great aunt Margareta Maria Erikksson Källman. 

Margareta immigrated to the U.S. in 1901 at the age of 21, leaving her impoverished family behind. A year later she married my great uncle Håkan Patrik Kallman and the next year they had a son.

That promising beginning was overshadowed by Patrik's health. As his parents before him, Patrik had tuberculosis. He returned with his small family to Sweden in 1904. Patrik and Margareta had another son, Evert Håkon, in 1905. Their twins, Aina Maria and Erik Henrik were born in 1907. Erik was either stillborn or died shortly after birth, Aina lived only a few weeks. Son Evald Arthur was born in 1908. Eight months after Evald's birth Patrik succumbed to tuberculosis. Margareta was now alone to raise her three  boys. 

In the 1911 -1920 församlingbok of Mjölby, Östergötland, Sweden Margareta is recorded as "Backstugor och tomter", working as a "Tvätterska" or Laundress.

This is a picture of a typical Backstuga seen in southern Sweden. Many Backstuga's were just a single room cottage built on someone else's farm and they were often built into a hill because wood was expensive. Three wood walls and the back wall of dirt into the hill. A Torpare rented land with a lease agreement. Those in the backstuga's were called Backstugusittare and were totally dependant on the landowners whims, considered paupers. With no legal rights they could be thrown out at any time. They were exempt from taxes as these folks were the poorest of the poor. Sometimes the landlord would allow them a small plot to have a garden. Margareta had a small garden (och tomter)but she mainly supported herself and her boys by being a laundress.

Margareta  gave birth to daughter Valborg Maria Elisabeth in 1912. I blogged about her birth earlier in ELISABETH MARIE KÄLLMAN - I WONDER IF SHE KNEW?  Margareta gave birth again in 1916 to Georg Anton. That little guy, also noted as öakta or illegitimate, with no father listed, died after just a year. I do not for a minute believe that great aunt Margareta was so lonely for a man she went out looking to be intimate with anyone. No way. She was in a very tough situation. I don't think she ever would have wanted to bear a child to live in those harsh circumstances. It saddens me to even consider what her circumstances were, what she may have had to endure or deal with to provide anything at all for her children. The only welfare in Sweden at this time was through the church. Her illegitimate and unbaptised children?  Her children were totally without a future in early 20th century Sweden. 

The "Promise of America" was her salvation. In 1922 Arthur at 18, who had been born in the U.S., returned.  Margareta and Elisabeth followed him in September of 1923. Evert 18, and 15 year old brother Evald followed in December of 1923. My great aunt Tekla's husband, Richard Peterson, was listed on the ship manifest as their American contact.

Margareta lived to be 96 years old. How pleasant was her life in America? I don't know but I will bet you however that Margareta never again worked as a laundress. 

If you looked in the dictionary under "Strength" I bet you would see a picture of my great Aunt Margareta Maria.

 vila i frid faster Margareta,