This week's prompt is "You wouldn't believe it." I've uncovered a lot of surprising things about my ancestors and relatives over the past few years. One of the facts that I really found surprising was when my mom told me that her father, Raymond Henrickson, had surprised her and her siblings by playing a bit of a tune on a piano one day. No one knew that he could even play the piano! I dug deeper into it.
Raymond Henrickson was the 9th child born to George and Malvina Henrickson. Ray most likely learned to play the piano from his parents. Both Malvina and George played the organ at the local Lutheran church. Malvina had even helped donate money, and traveled to Detroit, Michigan to bring back the first organ for the church. From Allegan to Detroit and back again with a horse and wagon. Ray wasn't the only child of theirs to play. Oldest daughter Selma also is listed in the church records as church organist for a time. I'm unsure if any other of Ray's siblings knew how to play the piano/organ, but I'm sure there must've been others.
After establishing where Ray and his siblings learned to play the piano, the next question is how did George and Malvina learn to play? Malvina already knew how to play the organ when she met George. Her parents, Carl and Ulrika Anderson, had immigrated from Sweden. Carl was a farmer, as he had been in Sweden. Both came from poor families. Carl had worked at a railroad station and Ulrika had worked for many different families as a maid before they met and married. After marrying, Carl farmed. It seems unlikely either family had a piano. Ulrika's parents were both dead by the time she was 7. Perhaps she learned somewhere along the way from one of the families she worked for?
George Henrickson immigrated from Sweden as a 17-year-old boy. His family also was poor, but his maternal uncles were a bit better off. One immigrated to America in 1869 and became a successful farmer. Another one worked as a tailor in Sweden, and then in America. George also had a maternal aunt who worked as the local schoolteacher. It seems music and dancing seemed to be fun pastimes in his mother's family. I found this excerpt from a letter written by one of his sister's descendants:
Karl and Sven George Henrickson were handsome men, several of the Fahnstrom's and the Johnson's were good looking people, also musical and some loved to dance, guess that's something I inherited. Grandpa George and his sons played accordion by ear, Great Uncle Fred's sons, Wesley (Jack) Elmer (Unk) and Leslie (Pete) were very good and played accordion, guitar and banjo for dances.
Nothing much changed as far as work was concerned. Dad used to work from sunrise to sunset, even when he got very old
ReplyDeleteTo add to the story, Pearl, George’s daughter, Rays sister played the organ. She really like the Hawaiian sound on the organ. Robert, her son, my father, played the harmonica and enjoyed singing along with my mother Beryl, his wife. I myself play acoustic rhythm guitar, bass and sing. Long story short my band and I was privileged to play at the new church that was moved into from 114th Ave to 116th Ave in Allegan. It was neat to find out that I had played music at the same church as my Great Grandfather played at. By the way, the old church bell resides in the entranceway of the new church. Also I would like to add all my brothers and sisters like to sing and one of my brothers and one sister plays guitar. Oh and we all like to dance but don’t do that much anymore.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if all of George and Malvina's children could play the organ? That's really cool you got to play at the church too. I like to sing in the car. I can't carry a tune but I love listening to music. My sister played the flute in band.
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