November 21, 1925, one hundred years ago, Anna Karolina Abrahamsson, my great grandmother, died. She was sixty-six. Not really so very old but to me she appears so elderly although I am now yet another 7 years older. Different times, different clothing, different way of life entirely from me I guess. For a little gal she looks a bit imposing, tough? Well, she did have nine children. I suppose you had to be tough, yet I have only heard good things about her.
Rest in Peace,
The Abrahamsson family poses for a portrait. These are the siblings who remained in Sweden. The year is at least 1915 perhaps a bit later as Ruth was the last to leave for America and she left in 1914. Also Tyra, in the front left, was born in 1901 and she appears to be at least in her teens.
Perhaps this was a photo taken to send to family in America?
My great grandparents, Albin and Anna, pose with their first two children, Hilma and Anna.
Prompt #18 (Apr 30-May 6): "Pets" - Anna Karolina Karlsdotter
My family through the years have had pet dogs. Animals that were more like a part of the family, hence the names Buster, Willy, Jack and Gustav. Most of my ancestors however were farm folk and it seems even dogs and cats were animals of the farm who served a purpose and did not generally reside in the home as part of the family.
Photos were expensive and not that common in the 1880's so perhaps this little guy was a different story. A loved companion perhaps? In Anna's lap is a little black dog. A bit hard to see against her dark dress but there the puppy is, snuggling in the crook of her arm.
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.
Another old old photo of the Abrahamsson family. This one discovered by a cousin, going through a box of papers and photos left by his mother.
At first look at this photo I immediately recognized my great grandparents Robert Albin and Anna Karolina Abrahamsson 1&2 . Of course 3 is my grandmother Lydia Abrahamsson, 4 is Anna Abrahamsson and 5 is Hilma Abrahamsson. Albin had taken a few other inclusive family photos and often included Anna's sisters and their families. Time to enlarge this photo on my computer and compare to other photos. 6 is most certainly Anna's younger sister, Anna Susanna. 7 is her older sister, Lena Johanna. Now things got a little more difficult. Of course Albin would include all his children therefore the youngest in the photo must be Tyra. Tyra 8 was born in 1901 and appears no more than 3? So I am moving the date of this photo to 1904. The second smallest little girl is now identified as Märta 9. 10 I believe to be Ester as the next oldest? and the telltale lower jaw. Now, identifing Ruth is more difficult. The young girl to the right of my grandma and the young girl knelling at the far lower right are the only two about the appropriate age.. Both obviously blond and the aunt Ruth I knew was a brunette. However many blond children mature to brunette don't they? I pick 11 for no better reason then her dress matches Esters dress and Anna often dressed her girls in a similiar fashion. No doubt the young boy in front is Seth 12. Gustaf is tougher. I pick the young man 13 for two reasons. The stance is similiar to his father's common stance and the ears, the ears, of course! The rest are cousins obviously but I have to leave their identification to another.
The Abrahamsson family @ 1904. I love the hats!
This photo was lovingly saved and scrapbooked by my great aunt, Ruth Abrahamson Soderstrom. Ruth's daughter Esther Soderstrom Liljegren then had the photo and now Esther's daughter is in possession and kindly emailed me a copy. On the photo the woman on the far right was identified as Anna Karolina Karlsdotter Abrahamson, Ruth's mother and my great grandmother.
Enlarging the photo on my computer and comparing the image to other Abrahamsson family photos I feel fairly certain that the woman on the left is Anna Karolina's youngest sister Anna Susanna. I may be going out on a limb here but I would venture a guess that the middle woman is their third and oldest sister, Lena Johanna. The sisters and their families were close. The middle "sister" had her arm across the back of the youngest sister. In addition would not Great Aunt Ruth have saved a photo of her mother and beloved aunts as opposed to her mother with friends? Photographs also came at a dear price back then, a price best spent on family? What do you think?
Thank you cousin Sally,
UPDATE!!! An American Abrahamson cousin, seeing this photo, contacted a Swedish Abrahamson cousin who has confirmed that this photo is indeed of the three Karlsdotter sisters, Anna Susanna, Lena Johanna and Anna Karolina. Thank you!
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| Stommen Frölunda husförhör 1880-1895 left side |
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| Stommen Frölunda husförhör 1880-1895 right side |
