Pets

 This week's prompt is "Pets." I just had to say goodbye to Becks, a cat I've had for the past 16 years. Pets truly become members of the family. They bring us joy and help us deal with life's ups and downs. No matter what, our loyal pets are always there for us. So, this week, in honor of the prompt I thought I'd share some photos I've come across of pets in our lives.

First, I can tell by looking at photos that I have always loved cats. I can't remember a time without a cat in my life. Whether it was mine, or someone else's. There's always been a cat.

Cats have also been popular with my ancestors.

Great granduncle Horace Ashley with his wife and family cat.

Grandfather Ray Henrickson holding a barn cat.

Dogs have also been a popular pet over the years.

This was Bum. He rode on the floorboards of my Grandpa Thompson's car. He'd go with Grandpa all over town.

Lower picture. This was our Airedale Terrier Timothy. Mom had had an Airedale growing up that she had fond memories of. Airedales have been popular dogs in the Henrickson household.

While not normally seen as pets, horses have played an important part in the lives of my ancestors too. A good team of horses could make farm work a lot easier. 

Carl Strand's team of horses, circa 1917.

Henry Truman's team of horses. Older brother to Elnora Truman Bellingar.

These are just a few of the pictures I've found with animals and pets. Do you have any favorite memories of pets, or any stories of ancestors with their favorite pet? Share below or email me. susanmichele83@gmail.com

Solitude: Ingrid Kristina Fahna

This week' prompt is "Solitude." Solitude means the state or situation of being alone. That makes me think of George Henrickson's mother, Ingrid Kristina Svensdotter Fahna. She was the last of her siblings and family to immigrate to America. Her 2 brothers and their families, and her own 2 children had already immigrated to America. When the sister she was caring for passed away in August 1912, Ingrid made plans to come to America. She was 72 years old and would be making the journey by herself.

On August 1, 1912 Ingrid's older sister Sarah Lena Skold Fahna passed away after a long illness. The next record we have of Ingrid is the Church Book of registered immigrants. I only have access to the transcripts, not the actual page, but the book records Ingrid as leaving Sweden to travel to America on November 21, 1912. She is listed as a widow, traveling alone to America. The next recorded date for Ingrid is December 11, 1912. She's listed on the passenger list for the ship "Salmo" leaving Gothenburg, Sweden and traveling to Grimsby, England. 

Ingrid K. Fahna is listed as number 68.

Grimsby is a port on the Northern Sea in England. Grimsby and Hull were two main ports where immigrants would enter England, and then travel by train to Liverpool or another port and on to America, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. When an immigrant bought a ticket, all the travel costs were included. A ticket would get you a spot on a ship to England, a train ride to Liverpool, and then on another ship to America. Grimsby and Hull were set up with hotels, restaurants, and special trains to take immigrants across England to Liverpool or their point of departure. It was a big business until World War I broke out.

After leaving Grimsby and making her way to Liverpool, Ingrid boarded the S.S. Lusitania. She boarded on December 14, 1912 to sail to America. The Lusitania was owned by the British Cunard Line. It was launched in 1906 and in 1908 held the record for fastest Atlantic crossing. It was the largest passenger ship in the world until the Mauretania was completed three months later. Ingrid traveled Third Class. By the time she traveled to America, the conditions for Third Class passengers, formerly Steerage Class had greatly improved. Ingrid would have had a bed in a cabin, and been provided at least 2 meals a day. It wasn't fancy, but definitely an improvement over what earlier immigrants had faced.

Third Class dining room on the Lusitania.

Ingrid arrived at the port of New York on December 21, 1912. According to the passenger manifest, her Cousin Johannes was her nearest relative in the country she came from. Galva, Illinois was her final destination. The record also shows her ticket was paid for by her Brother-in-law, she had $25 with her, and her Brother-in-law George Holenstine (sp) in Galva was where she was headed. I'm not aware of Ingrid having a brother-in-law named George in Galva. I'm thinking maybe it was a miscommunication and she meant she was going to her son-in-law George Fahnstrom. It would make sense for George to buy his mother-in-law's ticket to come to America.

Ingrid also said she was not a polygamist or anarchist. She was judged to be in sound mental and physical health. Her height was listed as 5'2" and she could read and write. 

Hopefully Ingrid was able to arrive in Illinois in time to celebrate Christmas with her daughter's family. Ingrid's daughter married her first cousin, George, also Ingrid's nephew. Ingrid stayed with them for awhile and also stayed with her son George Henrickson and his family for awhile. I found a record of her in the Church book for Sandhem Lutheran Church.

Ingrid spent most of her life within a few miles of where she was born and raised. The last 10 or so years of her life traveled halfway around the world to a new country where she traveled some more. 

Ingrid died October 25, 1922.

Ingrid Fahna

One final thought. The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. The Lusitania was torpedoed by the Germans on May 7, 1915. Ingrid is lucky she wasn't on either of these sailings. Crossing the Atlantic was a dangerous feat. We're all lucky our ancestors survived the crossing. 

 

Helen Lucille Bellingar

The prompt for this week is "Starts with a vowel." So, I'm writing about Mildred Bellingar Strand's younger sister, Helen Lucille Bellingar, who moved to Los Angeles. (Angeles begins with an "A".  It's a stretch. :) )

Helen Lucille Bellingar was born August 25, 1903 in Allegan, Michigan. She was the third child and second daughter born to Charles and Elnora Bellingar. Whereas Mildred is described as shy and reserved, Helen is described as vivacious and outgoing. Mildred is remembered as having said she was surprised Carl Strand asked her to marry him as she always thought he was more interested in the lively Helen. 

Here is a picture of Helen at age 3 in 1906.

Helen Bellingar 1906. Colorized photo.

On the 1920 Federal census, dated January 27, 1920, Helen is living with Thomas Young and his wife. Helen is 16 and listed as a servant in the household. She did not attend school but knew how to read and write. She was employed for wages and worked as an operator for the phone company. She lived a few houses down from Fred Germain, who would be such a big help to Carl and Mildred in later years. On August 14, 1920 she married Archie Keith Kent. 

Archie Keith Kent was born in Allegan, Michigan on April 3, 1899. He is also related to me through my paternal side. He's my cousin through my 3x great grandmother Hannah Kent Thompson. At sometime Archie left Michigan and moved to live with an older brother in Los Angeles, California. On his draft card for World War I he lists LA as his address and assistant tech switchboard operator as his job. However on the 1920 Federal census he is living back in Allegan as a boarder at a boarding house. His job is listed as laborer with an automotive company. On the marriage certificate he's listed as being in War Service Against Germany and his address is listed as Los Angeles. Helen's age is listed as 18. She was actually a few days shy of her 17th birthday. Witnesses to the marriage were Carl and Mildred Strand.

I believe that Archie and Helen move back to Los Angeles soon after getting married. I've found Archie registered to vote in California in 1924. He's registered as a Democrat. There is a Helen L. Kent listed in the city directory for Los Angeles who works as a telephone operator but I can't be sure it's her. LA is a big city. The next verified finding of either one occurs on April 23, 1926. Archie places an ad in the Los Angeles Times saying that he will no longer be responsible for any debts incurred by his wife Helen. 

The next is October 22, 1926 when Archie files for divorce from Helen. The divorce is granted on December 10, 1926. Archie stays in California and remarries at least one more time. He passes away in 1977, living in Apple Valley, San Bernardino County. He never had any children.

Meanwhile Helen remarried the very next year on December 17, 1927 to a Robert Earle Jodon. Robert was listed as a switchboard manager in the city directory and the 1930 Federal census. Robert was born and raised in California. His marriage to Helen was his first. His father was an electrical engineer with Edison Company. I've found newspaper articles in the social section talking about elaborate holiday dinner parties that Robert and Helen, along with Robert's parents were invited to.

Dec. 2, 1933.

In the 1940 Federal census Helen and Robert are still living in Glendale, California. Robert is now a district wire supervisor with the Southern California phone company. Their neighbors include public school teachers, radio singers, a claims attorney and even a playwright. Helen shows having a high school education through the 1st year.

The 1950 Federal census shows they have moved but are still in Glendale. Robert is a District Supervisor with the phone company. Helen does not work and is not seeking work. Helen used to send boxes of her unwanted clothes to Mildred, and Joyce would wear some of them. Howard would fly out to California and visit with Helen when he was earning his flying hours. Mildred always used to look forward to getting letters from Helen. I imagine living in Los Angeles in the 1920's and 30's was much more exciting than living in Allegan, Michigan. Joyce wrote that one time during the 1930's Charles and Elnora decided to drive out to California to visit Helen. They followed son Ray who drove on ahead. At some point Charles lost track of Ray and ended up getting lost in New Mexico. Charles wanted to turn back but Elnora said, "No." and they drove on to Albuquerque where they found Ray and continued their journey. Helen came back to Michigan once, in the 1950's. 

Helen passed away January 10, 1980 at the age of 76. She and Robert lived in San Bernardino County. During the 1960's Robert sold their Glendale home to the local library and the land was turned into additional parking for the library. I haven't been able to find an obituary but Helen died after having cancer. Robert passed away in 1989. They never had any children. 

Helen's life was definitely different than Mildred's. Helen married twice, never had children, lived a comfortable life and lived in Los Angeles, California. Mildred might have been envious of Helen and her lifestyle, but who can say for sure. I know I would definitely loved to read Helen's letters from LA.