Beginnings 2. George S. Henrickson

Beginnings 2

George S. Henrickson

The  Henrickson family in America started with George S. Henrickson. That was his American name, though. His Swedish name was Sven Goran Henrick Johansson. He was born January 19, 1875 to Johan Karl Jonasson and Ingrid Christina Henrikson Fahna Svensdotter. He was born in Moheda Kronebergs Lan Smaland, Sweden. Moheda was the parish they belonged to in the county of Kroneberg. Kroneberg is located in the province of Smaland, in the southeastern part of Sweden. Smaland is the home of IKEA and Astrid Lindgren, who wrote the Pippi Longstocking books. Sven's older sister Amanda Christina died in November of that same year. In July 1877 his sister Amanda Emma Christina Johanesson was born. In Sweden it was the custom that if a child died, the next child of that sex was named after the deceased child. Hence, two sisters named Amanda. 

Sven's father was much older than his mother. In fact, his mother Ingrid worked for Johan as a housekeeper before marrying him. Johan was known to the local police. He had been arrested for public drunkeness and petty thievery. At some point Johan took off and left the family, leaving Ingrid to care for her 2 children alone. She moved in with an older sister who was blind and unable to take care of herself.

In April of 1892 Sven began his journey to America. He left Moheda and made his was across Sweden to Malmo, where on November 29, 1892, he boarded the ship Kopenhamn and sailed to Lubeck, Germany. From Lubeck he would have taken a train to Copenhagen, Denmark. From Copenhagen he boarded the ship named Hekla and sailed to America. He finally arrived in New York City on December 19, 1892. He was 17 years old and traveled with one piece of baggage. His occupation was listed as Workman. One interesting thing to note. On the passenger list from Sweden to Germany Sven's ticket is listed as paid for. This means that his ticket was already bought for him. His mother had an older brother who was already living in America. In Indiana. He was a tailor and owned his own shop. We can only assume that this was the person who bought Sven's ticket and sent it to him. His mother wouldn't have had the means. 

In 1893 Sven is now going by George Henrickson and living in Ironside, Michigan. His occupation is listed as Miner. Sven quickly changed his name to the more American sounding George S. Henrickson upon arriving in America. I'm not sure why he changed his last name. One story goes that he thought there were too many Swedes in America named Johansson already and he wanted to be different. Johansson is the most popular last name in Sweden so that could very well be true. There is another theory that George wanted to distance himself from his father and that's why he chose to go with Henrickson as his last name instead. 

On February 21, 1900 George marries Malvina Christina Anderson, who is the daughter of Swedish immigrants. George attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. A college founded by Swedish immigrants. There George studied to join the Lutheran Church as a minister. So, from 1893 to 1900 George has worked hard enough and saved enough money to be able to go to college. Quite a feat for someone pretty much on their own, although I'm sure his uncle helped some. His uncle was very involved in his Lutheran church and I wonder if that had an influence on George? Maybe as a way to be different from his father too?

Exactly 9 months later George and Malvina's first child, a daughter named Selma, was born. The family lived in Florence, Wisconsin. In 1902 son Sidney was born in Chicago, Illinois. The next 4 children were born in Norway, Michigan. The next 3 children were born in Iron Mountain, including Raymond Henrickson. In 1916 daughter Esther Marie is born in Allegan, Michigan. The remaining children are all born in Allegan. George and Malvina are now living in the house her father bought in 1878.

George and Malvina stayed very active in the local Lutheran church. George and Malvina both played piano/organ. George often attended conferences in Chicago and other places. He was Secretary and Treasurer. He seems to have been well thought of and smart for the positions he held and was nominated to fill until his older years.

George died on April 11, 1941 of pernicious anemia after suffering from it for 5 years. He spent the last 8 months of his life hospitalized. His sister Amanda had passed away in December of 1940.