Great Uncle Emil Jacobson becomes a citizen?

 106 years ago this month my great uncle Emil became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

On the 23rd of December 1911, just 3 1/2 months after entering the US as an immigrant, John Emil declared his intention to be a U.S. citizen in Moline, Rock Island, Illinois. After living the prerequisite 5 years in the U.S. he first petitioned for citizenship in Moline on 6 October 1917. 

That petition was denied as he no longer lived in the Moline jurisdiction. HIs petition was granted and he became a citizen 11 Feb 1911 in Henry county Illinois, where he now lived.

His wife Anna also became a citizen automatically with John Emil's naturalization. The law would change in 1922. At that time she would have had to personally apply for naturalization on her own merit.

Interestingly the oath of allegience states...

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to Gustavus V the King of Great Britain and Ireland of whom I have been heretofore been a subject ,that I will support and defend the constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same."

John Emil signed under oath and it was notorized! Did no one until I in 2025 notice that Gustavus V was not the king of Great Britain and Ireland but the King of Sweden? If anyone had noticed would his naturalization have been invalid?

Wow,

**click on document to enlarge it for easier reading**

1950 Census John Emil and Anna Jacobson

 I found a few things of interest on this census record.

 John Emil and Anna are now living in Chicago at 903 Waller St. first floor. The children are all grown and gone, nor are any grandchildren living with them as in the 1940 census.

line 24-Jacobson, John E,-Handyman-white-male-71-married-born in Sweden-citizen-worker-worked 40hrs last week as a burner? in a railroad supply mfg.

line 25- Jacobson, Anna-maid-white-female-64-married-born in Sweden-citizen-worker-worked 70 hrs. last week as a maid in the home.

Noted is that John Emil is not listed as the head of the household but as a handyman and Anna is not listed as his wife but as an additional employee, a maid. An additional person is also living in the same first floor apartment.

line 23-Lundberg, Anders G.-Head of household-white-male-85-widowed-born in Sweden-citizen-unable to work

My guess is that Anders is the owner of the building. Anna and John Emil live with him, but not as boarders. Anders is quite elderly and unable to work. Perhaps in lieu of rent John and Anna work for him. John Emil does the basic maintenance and upkeep of the building, plus he has an additional job 40 hours a week. Anna is a sort of live in maid for him and judging by the amount of hours she works weekly 70!! she most likely also has an additional job as a full time maid for someone else. 

903 Waller Chicago, Illinois

My Great Uncle
John Emil Jacobson
1878-1962

My Great Aunt
Anna Abrahamson Jacobson
1885-1965

As a child I was always aware that Onkel Emil and Tante Anna were poor immigrants (as were my grandparents) but I guess I really had no clue. Seems a far cry from life on the lovely and loving farm of Albin and Anna Abrahamson?

John Emil and Anna Jacobson Family in Sweden

 

Judging by the ages of the children of John Emil and Anna, I guessed this photo was taken just before Great Uncle Emil left for America. Elizabeth, born in 1910, appears about a year or so old and documentation shows John Emil left for America in 1911. Anna, Rudolf, David and Elizabeth would follow him in 1913.

Journey to America - Anna Abrahamsson Jacobson

 

My grandmother Lydia's older sister Anna was the second of Albin and Anna Abrahamson's nine children. Born July 31, 1885, she was tall and blond like her father. She married Johan Emil Jakobsson, a railway worker in 1907. In the first four years of their marriage they had three children. There was Rudolf b. 1907, David b. 1908 and Elisabeth b. 1910.

Anna's husband traveled first to America arriving in May 1911. He followed his brother Petrus (Peter) who had emigrated 15 years earlier.

Grandma Lydia visited Sweden with her young son Albin in 1913, Returning home to America she accompanied her sister Anna and Anna's three young children. They were joining their husband and father in America. It would have been a difficult trip alone but with three young children?

The Jakobson family
Leaving Gothenburg, Sweden
(click on document to enlarge and read)

They left the port of Gothenburg, Sweden on the "Calypso" to cross the North Sea to Hull England. From Hull the two women and four children took a three hour or so train ride to Liverpool, England where they boarded the "Caronia", bound for America.

Manifest of the "Caronia" The Jakobson Family
click on document to enlarge and read

Landing at Ellis Island, September 17, 1913 Lydia and Albin (American born) could disembark directly to the dock but Anna and her children would be processed through Ellis Island proper. They traveled steerage or third class.

To understand more about Anna and her children's immigrant journey?

click here↓

The Immigrant Journey

Welcome to America Great Aunt Anna,

Journey to America - Johan Emil Jakobsson

Finding the passenger manifest of the ship your immigrant ancestor arrived on is a biggee for the family historian. Particularly if your ancestor arrived during the Ellis Island years, as my direct ancestors did. It can be a goldmine. You now can possibly know his full name, his physical description, his town of origin and family members back home and those in America who he is counting on to help him begin a new life in America. I have found it wise to go back again and again and truly inspect that manifest to see what other nuggets of info can be gleaned from it.

The "Mauretania" pulled into New York harbor on May 19,1911. On board was my great Uncle Emil Jacobson.

*New York passenger lists 1820-1957, year 1911, Arrival 19 May, 

Microfilm serial: T715, Microfilm roll:T715_1680, line #24*

*click to enlarge documents for easier reading, Uncle Emil is line #24*

From the initial look at this manifest I got these great statistics for my family tree

*name - Jakobsson Johan Emil
*age, marital status, occupation  -  28, married, railway official - this info assures me I have found MY Uncle Emil as I knew his birthdate and occupation from family records I had seen earlier.
*last permanent residence, next of kin - Svenljunga, Elfsborg, wife:Anna Jakobsson
*final destination - New Briton Connecticut which he has a ticket to
*ticket was paid by - self
*money in his possession - $35
*in the US before - no
*contact in the US- cousin: John Petterson 44 Kelsey St, New Briton, Conn.
*physical description - good health, 5'3", blond hair, blue eyes, no distinguishing marks
*place of birth - Sweden, Mårdeklev, Elfsborg

The later in depth look at this manifest gave me  more info to help in my further research. More importantly, the details, even the smallest details on this manifest give me more insight and understanding of Uncle Emil's immigrant experience.

*I now know the proper Swedish spelling of Uncle Emils name which will assist me in searching Swedish records. His name follows the "rule?" I have seen before with Swedish names. What we view as the middle name is what many are called by in Sweden. The first name is in honor of a saint or an honored family member. Ellis Island took names right off of the manifest. Ellis Island did not change his name. Uncle Emil himself "Americanized" his name to John Emil Jacobson.
*"Elfsborg", it seems is an alternate spelling of Älvsborg, the lan in which the family resides. That info proved to be useful in other Swedish record searches.
*Aunt Anna's address was Stommen-Hid so I know that she and the children stayed with her parents while Emil was in America. Can I deduct then that the family approved of his journey to America? My grandmother Lydia was the first of the immediate family to go to America in 1909. Can I deduct that the family approved or felt that going to America had been a good decision for her if they now supported Anna and her family?
*Uncle Emil had $35 dollars on him. That seems a bit higher than the other immigrants. Better prepared?
*Who was this cousin John Petterson? We know the family ended up in Illinois. Aunt Anna listed Moline, Illinois when she entered the country with their children.  Was Connecticutt a bust so he moved on to the lure of ample work in Illinois? Did Uncle Emil ever intend to go to Connecticut? Did his cousin even know he was coming? Some immigrants used names of relatives gone before whether or not they had been in contact to sound more legit?
*5'3" Well, I did remember Uncle Emil being this quiet little guy following behind his tall imposing wife. But that is the memory of a little girl that really did not have a lot of contact with my great aunt and uncle. Aunt Anna scared me as a child. She would march up to our door clutching her pock-a book ( I remember my grandmother using that word). She seemed large and looming and knocked boldly on our door. "Go to get yur mudder, and tell her Tanta Anna is here." and in she came with Uncle Emil following meekly behind. I don't recall ever hearing him speak! Looking at the manifest I see only 1 of the 30 on that page reached 6ft in height. So he was shorter for a fellow but everyone was shorter in those days. And the large looming Aunt Anna I remember? Her manifest states she was 5'9". Even as a fairly short adult (5'3") she doesn't seem that scary to me any more. I also thought Uncle Emil had dark hair not "blond" as the manifest stated but again my memories of Aunt Anna and Uncle Emil are sparse and from the perspective of a little child who seldom saw them.
* None of the folks logged before or after him come from the same town. I would think that friends traveling together would also disembark or be registered together. The manifest of those leaving from Gothenburg shows the same. This tells me that Emil was most likely traveling alone.
*I noted 5 persons, out of 30 on this page were "non-immigrant aliens". It seems many Swedish immigrants went back and forth from Sweden. Perhaps the husband went to work and make money returning periodically to his family back home in Sweden? Missing family and just returning for a visit? Did America not live up to its promise for some?
*Emil sailed "steerage" class which brings up visions of being in the hold of the ship like cattle., Indeed in the early days of immigration on sailing ships it was a pretty rough trip that could last a month or more depending on the weather. Crowded, unsanitary conditions, poor inadequate food, sickness spreading and killing many, particularly the very young and very old.

Uncle Emil however came on the "Mauretania".

Steerage was now called third class which is how most immigrants traveled. His trip was 6 days long. In 1909 the "Mauretania" received the blue ribard award for crossing the Atlantic in the shortest time and held that honor until 1929. The ship was huge and widely praised for its accommodations for third class passengers. Before World War I the "Mauretania" alone brought 181 thousand immigrants to America. He also traveled in May when violent weather was less likely. He may have had plenty of opportunity to stroll above deck. Outside of missing family and home, which I am sure was hard, the actual trip on the "Mauretania" was probably not bad, maybe even pleasant.

Another interesting note is that the "Mauretania" on its return trip in June of 1911 transported thousands traveling to Great Britain for the coronation of King George V.

For lots of interesting information about the "Mauretania" and its accommodations 

click ▼

THE MAURETANIA OF THE CUNARD LINE

For now, that's all, but I am sure I will check out this manifest again at a later date. You never know what you will discover when you look at a document with new eyes.

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***

110 years ago - the marriage of Uncle Emil and Aunt Anna in Sweden

One hundred and ten years ago this month.
February 22, 1907 Johan Emil Jakobsson and Anna Abrahamson were united in marriage. 

The marriage was recorded in Anna's home parish of Östra Frölunda but it was noted that the couple were united by the local magistrate in Borås in a civil ceremony. The record also notes that she was not confirmed in the state church of Sweden and for that reason she could not be married in the Östra Frölunda church. The law allowed for civil marriages for couples of different faiths. Only until 1908 could a couple opt for a strictly civil wedding irregardless of their religious beliefs. Her father, Robert Albin must have approved of her marriage. Anna was just 21, all single women  were considered minors in Sweden regardless of their age until 1925 and she could not marry without the approval of her father or guardian. 

Arkivdigital: digital photograph 1907 Lysningsbok för Ö Frölunda  församling

***click on photo or document to enlarge for easier viewing, right click to download**

Those Places Thursday - Uncle Emil and Aunt Anna's house

YESTERDAY (late 1940's)

John Emil and Anna Jacobson
in front of their home in Chicago, Illinois
with Evelyn Johnson, Ruth Jacobson, Tim and Paul

TODAY

the house still stands but the neighborhood has changed and not for the better. The home is in a depressed neighborhood, a high crime area of frequent robberies, assaults and shootings. The house next door was abandoned and demolished.

Many of us had been there over the years but would you recognize it today?

Friday's Faces From the Past - John Emil Jacobson 1911

Cousin Ingemar is still emptying out bags from his Mom's. Another great find! Keep digging cousin!

1911 John Emil Jacobson 

This photo was not named but cousin Paul identified it as his grandfather John Emil, "with a little more hair than I remember him having"! The photo, in beautiful condition, was dated 1911. Taken in New Britain, Connecticut undoubtedly sent home to Sweden to show how well he was doing in the U.S. In 1913 his wife Anna and their three children (Rudolf, David and Elizabeth) would join him.

my great uncle

Johan Emil Jakobsson

soon to be known as

John Emil Jacobson

b. 11 Sep 1878 Torshult, Mårdaklev, Ålvsborg, Sweden

d. 22 Feb 1962 Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA

***click on photo to enlarge for easier viewing, right click to download***

Sibling Saturday - Peter, John and Hulda Jacobson

photo from the personal collection of Paul Jacobson

Jakob Lorentz Petersson and Johanna-Lena Larsdotter of Mårdaklev, Älvsborg, Sweden had eight children. Only four survived to adulthood. Three emigrated to the United States in the early part of the twentieth century; Petrus (Peter) Leander, Johan (John) Emil and Hulda Maria Elisabeth Johnson.

Only one child remained behind in Sweden; Gustaf Adolf.

Johan (John) Emil Jakobsson would emigrate in 1911 and his wife Anna (my grandmother Lydia's sister) would follow with their first three children in 1913.

my Great Uncle

John Emil Jacobson 

 b: 11 Sep 1878 in Mårdaklev, Älvsborg, Sweden

d: 22 Feb 1962 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA

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

Census Sunday - 1930 US Census: Newton Township, Miami County, Ohio - The Emil Jacobson Family.

Lines 69 through 76

In 1930 the Jacobson family is working a rented farm. The two oldest boys, Rudolf and David, are no longer living with the family. Betty at 19 is the oldest child at home, Paul at 8 is the youngest. The youngest four children are attending school. All family members can read and write. The entire family are citizens. Emil became a citizen in 1919 and the law at the time provided that a wife would automatically also become a citizen as did minor children who were also not born in the United States. They are the proud owners of a radio! a question that was also asked on the 1930 census. A nephew Arvid Johnson is living with them. This would be the son of John Emil's sister Hulda. The photo below appears to have been taken about this time.

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

World War I began on this day, July 28

On this day, July 28 in 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. This was the beginning of WWI. The U.S. had hoped to remain neutral but that was not to be and in April of  1917 we entered the war. My grandfather, my great uncles and their contemporaries were required to register for the draft in 1917. My great uncle Andrew Soderstrom and my great uncle Richard Peterson were called to serve. The rest were luckily not called but World War I draft enlistment records still exist that tell us a bit about our ancestors and who they were, what they were doing and what their family situation was at the time.

my great uncle Hugo Henry Alvine was born in 1875. In 1917 he was married to my great aunt Sarona Kallman and they had 2 boys. He was already 41 so not likely to be drafted. I learned from this registration that he was medium height and build with blue eyes and light hair. He lived in Chicago, Illinois and worked for Marshall Field as a clerk.

My great uncle Richard Reinhold Peterson was born in 1892. 1917 found him unmarried and only 25, primo for drafting. Uncle Richard served in France and before discharge was given his citizenship. Richard was a Chicago chauffeur of medium height and build, with blue eyes and light hair. He had the good sense to marry great aunt Tekla Kallman before he went in to the Army.

My great uncle Uno Markus Palm was born in 1883. At 34 and married to my great aunt Olga Kallman, he wasn't chosen to serve. He was a tall, medium built man with blue eyes and light hair. He filed first in California and registered in Alaska where he said he was a miner. His wife was in Washington state. I don't know much about this fellow. Seems he was a bit shifty. Aunt Olga had the good sense to leave him or the good luck that he left her, I don't know which. She said he was "a ladies man" and in true Swedish style that's all she would say about that!

My great uncle Andrew Olaf Soderstrom was just the man our country was looking for. He was born in 1888 and unmarried, plus he had military experience back in Sweden.   He was a machinist for the Deere company in Moline, Illinois. He served in the cavalry but before he left he married great aunt Ruth Abrahamson. Tall with a medium build, blue eyes, light hair and that square jaw, he made quite a good looking soldier didn't he?

My great uncle John Emil Jacobson was born in 1878. A farmer from Illinois, he was recorded as medium height and build and you guessed it....blue eyes and light hair. Pushing 40, married to great aunt Anna Abrahamson, with 4 kids and one on the way, he also was not a good candidate to draft. 

And of course my grandfather Richard Severin Kallman. Born in 1887 he was the right age but he was already married to my grandmother Lydia Abrahamson. They had 3 children whom he supported as a chauffeur in Chicago. He was of medium height and medium build with light hair and light blue eyes. Interesting to note that his right index finger was 'crippled". The family joke was he was rejected because that was his trigger finger. Most likely that was a beginning sign of the terrible rheumatoid arthritis he would later suffer from.

These documents give us a little glimpse of who the ancestors were at the onset of World War I. I really like seeing their personal signatures also. The "WAR TO END ALL WARS" is what they called World War I. Boy, how I wish that had been the truth.

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