Play Time: The Henrickson sisters

 This week's prompt is "play time." There are so many ways to go with this prompt but while researching Henrickson ancestors I discovered some play time the Henrickson sisters had back in August 1928.

On August 11, 1928 Grace Henrickson married Harold Wall. Harold was an apprentice plumber and Grace worked as a clerk. Witnesses were Mr. Ralph Quarry and Miss Ingrid Henrickson. Ralph Quarry had married Grace's sister, Pearl, in January 1927. The wedding took place at the Swedish Lutheran Church with the reception at the Henrickson farm.

The next article I found tells us exactly where Grace and her new husband went, and with whom.

Mr. and Mrs. Hjalmar Anderson, of course, is Selma and Hjalmar Anderson. Selma was the oldest child and daughter of George and Malvina Henrickson. Grace and her new husband honeymooned with Selma and her husband at Pine Lake. I looked up Pine Lake and there are several Pine Lakes around the country. Most likely she went to Pine Lake, Michigan in southeastern Michigan. Selma and Hjalmar had a 1-year-old daughter at the time. It's not known if she came too, or if she was cared for by someone else. 

This entry sheet from the Swedish Lutheran Church shows that the Henrickson sisters took turns being witnesses for each other at their weddings. 

I just thought it was nice that the sisters seemed so close to each other. I've found other instances in the newspaper of the sisters visiting each other at their houses or going with Malvina to visit each other. 

Do you have anything to add? Questions, comments? I do not have any pictures of Grace, aside from the group family shots and I'm not sure which one she is. If you do have a known picture of Grace, and Harold, I would love to see it. 

All newspaper articles are from the August 18, 1928 edition of the Allegan Gazette.

Legal Troubles: The many divorces of Monroe Lee Diver

To hear many people tell it, no one ever got a divorce before 1976. That divorces have only been common in modern society. This could not be further from the truth. Divorce has been around since at least King Henry VIII. It IS true that divorce has been hard to obtain, and even illegal in some places, but it was an option for an unhappy spouse. This week's prompt is "legal troubles" and I'm going to tell you about the many legal troubles of Monroe Lee Diver, and his many divorces.

Before we get to Monroe, let me introduce you to Sarah Ballou. Sarah is the niece of my 2x great grandmother Catherine Eldred, on my paternal side of the family. This makes her my 1st cousin, 3x removed. Sarah was born in Otsego, Michigan in 1850. As a woman, not too much is known of her early life. The 1870 U.S. Federal census lists her as living at home. The 1880 U.S. Federal Census lists her as living with her aunt and uncle in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her occupation is Dressmaker, and a "D" is listed under the box of Widowed/Divorced. Sometime in her 20's she was married and then divorced. I've been unable to find documentation of either a marriage or divorce. I will keep searching. On July 24, 1894, Sarah is married to Monroe Lee Diver, also of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This is the beginning of Monroe's legal troubles.

Monroe Lee Diver was born in 1849 in New York. He moved with his family to Michigan soon after. He married Marion Robberds and had 8 children with her. He became an agent, selling agricultural and threshing equipment. He worked as a traveling salesman for a time, selling machinery around the country. He also worked for the railroads for a time. A newspaper article from the Grand Rapids Press on June 23, 1894 states that Anna Diver was granted a divorce from Monroe Diver yesterday. It also states that Monroe is forbidden from getting remarried again for 2 years. This was the law in Michigan at the time. If you were divorced, you had to wait 2 years before you could remarry. Monroe obviously did not wait.

The next mention I find of Monroe is in September 1894. His ex-wife, and the Court, found out about his remarriage. I found the incident mentioned in a Chicago newspaper and the Detroit Free Press.

I have searched and searched and have not been able to find any more newspaper articles about this case. I am assuming Monroe must've won because the next newspaper article I find is this one, announcing another divorce for Monroe. June 25, 1896. Grand Rapids Press.

I am going to guess that "extreme cruelty" in this case probably meant that Monroe was seeing other women.

Now, you would think that with 2 divorces under his belt, Monroe has learned his lesson and will turn over a new leaf. He'll either stay single, or settle down and become a good husband for the third and final time. You would be wrong. 

On August 22, 1896, only 2 months after getting a divorce from Sarah, Monroe marries Frankie Standish. In May 1898 Frankie files for divorce from Monroe, citing "cruelty". This article is from June 1898.

On a sidenote, Judge Adsit is the same judge who ruled Monroe couldn't marry again for 2 years after being divorced the first time in 1894. In February 1899 the third divorce is finalized. Monroe has learned his lesson this time, right? No.

On May 29, 1905 Monroe marries Alice Hayhurst, a widow. 

This was NOT the new beginning that Monroe hoped for.

On June 20, 1905 his first ex-wife filed charges against him claiming that he had not paid her alimony or child support payments for their youngest children. He claims he had paid and that the younger children were self-supporting. He also claims he was not as rich as his ex-wife claimed he was. 

In September, the judge finds in favor of ex-wife number 1 and orders Monroe to pay.

September 14, 1906, Alice, wife number 4, is now seeking a divorce. This newspaper article tells all.

On October 4, 1906 Monroe responded, with his own accusations against Alice. 

On October 23, a judge grants an injunction against Monroe, at Alice's request, of visiting and harassing her at her place of employment, a boarding house called The Oaks. Monroe doesn't pay attention to the injunction though.

Finally, on May 7, 1907 Alice is granted a divorce from Monroe. 

Monroe didn't remarry after Alice. I'm not sure where he went but he passed away on April 18, 1913. He definitely led a life filled with much drama. He was married and divorced 4 times. All before 1913. Every divorce was initiated by his wife too. 

Monroe Lee Diver is not a blood relative to me. He's only a passing through relative. I discovered his whole history when I was trying to figure out what happened to him and Sarah. I never dreamed he would lead such a soap opera worthy life. I think we often romanticize the past. Thinking that people "back then" were so much better than us. That they would "never" act the way people today act. They definitely did, and Monroe is proof of that. 

Questions, comments, any more information to add on Monroe or any of his many wives? Let me know down below.

Oh, I should mention that My ancestor, Sarah, never remarried after Monroe. She stayed single, opened and ran her own dressmaking/wig shop and was quite a successful business owner. She ran her own shop in Detroit and gave skin and haircare advice in the local newspaper. She did very well for herself.

Sarah Ballou, my 1at cousin, 3x removed. Approx. 56 years old.

 

Earliest Ancestor: Anders Svensson Lindblad

 This week's prompt is "Earliest Ancestor." Our earliest Swedish ancestor is Anders "Andrew" Svensson Lindblad. 

Anders was born April 29, 1836 in Slatthog, Kronoberg, Sweden. He was the third child and second son of Sven Andersson Fahna and Kajsa Catharina Jonasdotter. He was older brother to Ingrid Svensdotter Fahna, and uncle to George Henrickson.

Anders married Britta Amandsdotter on May 14, 1859. Anders and his new wife moved in with his parents and lived with them for the first few years. Anders joined the Swedish Army, like his father had, and soon had his own soldier's cottage to move into. Upon joining the Army he took a soldiers last name, He chose "Lindblad." "Lind" means "lime tree" and "blad" means "leaf." So, "Lindblad" has a connection to nature and trees. 

Anders and Britta had 4 sons between 1860 and 1867. Their youngest son, Aron, was born in 1867 and passed away in 1868. Cause of death was a stroke of some kind. Sweden was undergoing a famine between the years 1867-1869. 1867 had been unusually cold, and 1868 was a drought year. People and animals were starving all over Sweden. Undoubtedly the famine played a part in Anders and Britta's decision to leave for America.

On May 14, 1869 Anders, Britta, and their 3 remaining sons left for New York. Apparently, they had originally intended to go to Denver, Colorado, but ended up in LaPorte, Indiana. After arriving in LaPorte, Anders, who now went by "Andrew" took up farming. Andrew and Britta had a daughter who was born and died on the same day, February 10, 1873. The next year, July 31, 1874, Stina Marie would be born. Their second daughter, and youngest child. Andrew and Britta would suffer one more death of a child. Carl, their youngest son, would die in 1876. Reportedly Carl drowned in a lake. He was only 12 years old.

Andew and Britta joined the Bethany Lutheran Church, and sometime before 1880 Britta's mother, Mary, came from Sweden to live with the family. 

The 1900 Federal U.S. Census tells us how the family was doing after being in the States for 30 years. Andrew and son, George, had both obtained papers to become citizens but hadn't been naturalized yet. Interestingly, Britta had no papers. Why? As a married woman, she would obtain citizenship when her husband did. When he became naturalized, she would automatically become naturalized too. Andrew owned his farm, but it did have a mortgage. He could read, write, and speak English. Britta could read and speak English but was unable to write in English. Son George lived with his parents and helped his father work the farm. Daughter Stina lived at home and worked as a Servant. She would later move out when she married. 

While Andrew and Britta came to America in 1869, it would be until 1880 when the next family member of Andrew's came to America. That would be his nephew, Sven Fahnstrom, his brother Jonas's son. Starting in the 1880's the sons of Jonas Fahnstrom started coming to America. Our grandfather, George Henrickson, would come in 1892. Jonas and his wife and three youngest children came in 1893 and sister, Ingrid came in 1912. Some might call it chain migration, but our Henrickson family started in America with Anders "Andrew" and Britta Svensson Lindblad. Their pioneering spirit helped bring other relatives to America, including George Henrickson. His ticket to America was paid for by someone in America. The most likely candidate being his Uncle Anders. 

Andrew died June 27,1907, at home in LaPorte. He was 71. Britta passed away on April 12, 1923. She was 85 years old. The 1920 census says that Britta could now read and write English. It also lists her as a naturalized citizen. She also owns the farm, with no mortgage. Her son George lives with her and works the farm.

Oldest son Sven, who went by "Swan" in America, married and had 10 children. Youngest child Stina married and had 2 children of her own. 

Questions, comments, more information? Let me know in the comments down below or email me. Feel free to share and post with others who may be interested.