In the newspaper

This week's prompt is "In the newspaper." I've been able to find out a lot about my various family members by searching the newspapers. Not only are newspapers great ways to find out about weddings and obituaries, but you can also find out if they ran for office, who they had Easter dinner with, or if they visited friends at Camp Custer. I have a subscription to Newspapers.com and that has been a tremendous help, especially with extended relatives who moved to other parts of the country. Unfortunately, the Allegan Gazette, and Allegan Journal have not been made a part of the Newspapers.com family. I did find a way, though. While searching the Allegan Library website one day I discovered that they had digitized the two newspapers and put them online. There was even a search engine! Unfortunately the search results just tell me which issue of the paper my relative may be in. It doesn't show me which article or highlight the name like Newspapers does. Nevertheless, it's been an invaluable tool in helping me research the Strands, Henricksons, Thompsons, and Ashleys. 

For this prompt I went back and searched for Henrickson and popularly misspelled "Hendrickson" again to see what I could find.

We start with June 25, 1915. I've mentioned wanting to know if our Swedish ancestors observed Midsummer festivities in Michigan as they would have in Sweden. Well, I wonder no more. I found this article describing the Midsummer party hosted at the farm of Mr. and Mrs. George Hen(d)rickson.

Allegan Gazette June 25, 1915

Malvina's father, Charles, had passed away in March of 1915, so by June she and George were already living on the farm. This also shows that George must've had a good singing voice to be part of a group that performed. It also shows that Hjalmar Anderson was part of the social circle. Hjalmar would go on to marry oldest Henrickson daughter Selma. 

The next article also concerns Hjalmar, and the Sandahl boys again. In November 1917 we find Hjalmar, Charlie Sandahl and friend Carl Peterson visiting William Sandahl and Martin Swanty at Camp Custer. William and Martin must've signed up to fight in World War I. Interestingly enough, in this same blurb, we also find Carl Strandt and his friend Gordon visiting a school. If that makes any kind of sense to anyone I'd love to know more. Maybe it's a school future wife Mildred Bellingar was teaching at?

Allegan Gazette November 1917

The next mention I find is the wedding of Grace Henrickson to Harold Wall in August 1928. The reception, once again, was held at the Henrickson family farm. 

Allegan Gazette August 18, 1928

 

In the same issue, I also find mention of where Grace and Harold spent time at a cottage with Selma and Hjalmar. 

Our last mention of Selma in the newspapers is when she was celebrated on her 80th birthday. It mentions her long service to the Lutheran church and also that she was church organist for many years. A job her mother once held.

Allegan Gazette November 1980

These are just a few snippets I've found in the Allegan papers. My hope is that one day Newspapers will pick up the Allegan Gazette and Journal as their search engine is so much better, but until then I'll make do with what I have. 

As always, post any questions, comments or additional information down below. Or email me. Feel free to share and repost.

As a side note, Malvina's brother-in-law was Andrew Sandahl, so I'm guessing maybe Charlie and William Sandahl were related to him in some way? I'll have to research and see. 
 

Update. Charlie and William Sandahl were the younger brothers of Anders "Andrew" Sandahl, who married Selma Anderson. Younger sister of Malvina. I also discovered that their father Gustavus Sandahl, was from Slatthog, Sweden. Same parish as where George Henrickson was from. Gustavus also changed his last name from "Johansson" too, to Sandahl. Reason was there were too many Swedish men named Johnson in the lumber camps were he worked. 

Social Media

 The prompt for this week is "Social media." Social media didn't exist in our ancestors' day, but I can imagine how it might've been used. I'm sure Mildred Strand, with her love of letter writing and communication, would have loved Facebook. She would have Friended everyone and commented on their posts and kept up with what was happening. My Grandma Thompson, with her love of photography, would have been a natural for Instagram. I can picture Carl Strand being active on political Twitter, Arguing with politicians and telling them how they were doing everything wrong. And of course YouTube would have been a natural for our ancestors to relax with after a hard day working on the farm. Or scrolling through the latest TikTok reels to relax by.

While they didn't have social media, they DID have the local newspaper. The newspaper not only printed all the news fit to print, but also all the local social news. It listed all the comings and goings of the local townspeople. I've been able to find many of my ancestors mentioned in the local Allegan Gazette over the years. I've been able to piece together what life was like, and even get some questions answered too.

For instance, in this blurb from April 1910 I know that the Strandt children all had the measles. That would include Carl Strandt. 

I also know that in April 1911 my great grandfather Frank L. Thompson was visiting my future great grandmother Anna Coners. This is also the only time I see my great grandfather referred to as "Lawrence." All other papers refer to him as Frank, or Francis. 

Going back further I"ve found my great, great grandfather Orville Ashley mentioned in the papers. I knew he was a successful farmer and hunter, but it was cool seeing it mentioned in the paper.

Of course, one of the biggest reasons for being printed up in the paper was for getting married or for celebrating an anniversary. I found an article detailing the wedding of Selma Anderson, youngest daughter of Carl and Ulrika Anderson. And sister to Malvina Henrickson.

For Malvina's wedding to George Henrickson, I found only this.

Wedding anniversaries are common too. I found this article describing the twenty-fifth anniversary of Malvina's brother, Frank.

And this article describing the 60th wedding anniversary of Carl and Mildred Strand

.

This is just a small sample of the articles I've been able to find. I've found a few mentioning the Strandt's visiting relatives in Chicago. One was about the wedding shower held for Miss Viola Strandt before her upcoming wedding.  I guess the social aspect has always been with us, whether printed in a newspaper, or posted by ourselves to social media.

 

Carl Johan Anderson

 Carl Johan Anderson was born and christened on November 18, 1840 in Slatto Nybygge, Hjalmseryd Parish, Jonkoping County, Sweden. His mother was Maria Andersdotter. Carl is listed as her illegitimate child. Carl lives with Maria and her parents at the parents' home. His grandfather worked as a day laborer. Carl's grandparents were listed as penniless. Carl's mother, Maria, worked as a maid.

In 1844 Maria had another child, a daughter named Christina. She was also listed as illegitimate. However, this time Maria was churched as the wife of Anders Svensson. When someone was "Churched" it means they were being welcomed back into the church after an absence. Different religions had their own version of "churching." In Sweden it was mainly seen as a way to welcome someone back who had been out of the church. When women gave birth it was the custom that the woman giving birth would stay at home and do no work. Just work on recovering from childbirth and regain her strength. Other women would come to help her by doing her chores, cooking, cleaning, looking after the house, etc. After 6 weeks she would be churched and welcomed back to society. Maria was churched as the wife of Anders Svensson. However, Maria and Anders were not married. They didn't even live in the same household it appears. While Anders was seen as the father of Christina, and also Carl, he was not married to Maria when she gave birth to either child.  In fact, Anders and Maria would not formally get married until May 2, 1863. So, Anders Svensson is the assumed father of both children, since he and Maria were not married at the birth of either child. Since the Swedish Church churched Maria, welcomed her back, as the wife of Anders, that means that in the eyes of the church they saw Maria and Anders as a married couple, even though they were not legally wed. Living together without being married was not looked kindly on and would have been discouraged. Even so, the church still seemed to approve of Maria and Carl's unusual for the time relationship.  Carl's last name is Anderson. That could be because Anders Svensson WAS his father, or because Anders was his step-father. It could also reference the fact that his maternal grandfather's name was Anders. 

In 1844 Maria and her children moved to Soldier Croft Number 50 at Stora Hokhemmet, Hjalmseryd Parish, still in Jonkoping County. Anders was a practicing farmer.  Carl was confirmed in the church in 1856. In 1858 there is a note about Carl working at a railroad station but it's not clear what he did. He may have moved around between Rotebro, Sollentuna between 1859 and 1861. Maria and Anders legally marry in 1863. In 1866 Carl moves to Stockholm. In December 1866 he married Ulrika Johansdotter. 

After marriage, Carl and Ulrika are found back in Stora Hokhemmet, Hjalmseryd Parish, Jonkoping County. Carl is able to buy a small piece of property. Carl and Ulrika move back to where Carl grew up.

On May 2, 1870 Carl and Ulrika register to move to America. He is listed as a lodging pauper and Ulrika is his wife. On May 13, 1870 they sail on the ship "Orlando" to Hull, England where they continued on to America. I know they briefly settled first in Indiana before coming to Michigan where they eventually settled and raised their children. 

Annika Hostmad, a genealogist from "Find a Swede" who I hired to research Carl said she had never seen a case like this before. Where an unmarried couple was apparently viewed and treated by the church as a married couple.  Why did Maria and Anders wait so long to marry? Until 1885 a woman had to have permission from her father, a brother, a widowed mother, or her employer to marry. Was there someone who would not give Maria permission to marry Anders? Did her parents want Maria to stay at home and take care of them? Or perhaps she had an employer who didn't want her to leave? The Swedish church normally didn't look kindly on couple having children out of wedlock. Why did they treat Maria and welcome her back as if she and Anders were a married couple?  

As an orphan, Ulrika and her siblings were helped a great deal by the church. It also appears that the church helped Carl's mother and father too. Maybe that explains why they were so generous to the Swedish Lutheran church they helped start in Michigan. Now that they were both in a position of having much more did they want to payback for the kindness shown to them earlier? One thing is certain, both came from very humble roots. America offered them the opportunity they didn't have in Sweden. 

I definitely think that looking more into the lives of Maria and Anders is warranted. Hopefully 2023 will provide some answers. :)

Post any questions, comments, observations in the comments or email me.

The first picture is of the railroad station where Carl and Ulrika met while working.

The second picture is of the church in Hjalmseryd Parish. This is the church Carl would have attended until 1853, when a new church was built. 

Research help provided by Annika Hostmad from "Find a Swede"

https://findaswede.com/

The Marriage of George and Malvina Henrickson

This week's theme is "Landed" so I thought I would write about the marriage of George Henrickson and Malvina Anderson, when they "landed" in their married life together. February 21, 2022 is also the 122nd wedding anniversary of George and Malvina Henrickson. 

George Henrickson met Malvina Anderson when he was a student preacher. He attended, and graduated from Augustina College in Chicago, Illinois in 1897. Sometime after that he met Malvina and became engaged to her. They married in the Sandhem Lutheran Church in Abronia, Allegan, Michigan on February 21, 1900. Here is the church entry recording their marriage. 

It's interesting to note that the church records Malvina'a age as 20, but she was actually 21. George and Malvina's residence is listed as Florence, Wisconsin. Florence, Wisconsin is where first daughter Selma was born. George and Malvina must've returned to Florence after their wedding. Another interesting note is that the church lists this as their "2nd church" wedding. I'm not sure what the meaning of that is. On this same page is the wedding record of Malvina's younger sister Selma. By her and her husband's name is noted that it is their "3rd church" wedding. Was it common then to be married in more than one church? Or more than one location? Mysteries! The notes for George and Malvina go on to say that the Rev. Ryberg was the person who married them, and that they had no attendants.  Selma and her husband, at their 3rd church wedding DO have attendants listed though. 

Next we have the official Michigan marriage license to compare information with.

The official license lists Illinois as George's residence and Watson Township as Malvina's. It also correctly lists Malvina's age as 21. It lists George's father's name as John Henrickson, it's really Johan Johansson. George changed his last name to Henrickson so maybe he wanted his father to have the same last name? It also lists the Rev. Rydberg as a Swedish Lutheran pastor who married the couple. Malvina's parents Charley and Ulrika Anderson are listed as witnesses. 

I've searched newspapers but all I can find about the actual marriage of George and Malvina is this small blurb stating that it happened. 

I DID find a more descriptive article of sister Selma's wedding. It sounds quite fancy. I'm not sure if Malvina didn't have a party or if it just wasn't reported.

And finally, here is a picture of George and Malvina in their wedding clothes. It certainly looks like they were having a fancy ceremony.

In the first 10 years of marriage they lived in 4 different locations and had 7          children. George and Malvina went on to have 12 children, with 11 living to adulthood.

 

On the Farm

This week's theme is "On the Farm" so I decided to write about the Henrickson farm.  

Carl Johan Anderson lived in Sweden and worked for a railroad company. He was able to save $400 for his wife, Ulrika and himself to come to America.in 1870. The couple first settled in LaPorte, Indiana. While in LaPorte Carl heard about a railroad that was going to be built in the Watson Township area. Since he had worked on railroads in Sweden he decided to move to Michigan to work on this one. The name of the railroad was to be the Lake Shore Railway Company. Carl first bought 80 acres of land on section 31 of Watson Township. He later sold that land and bought 80 acres of land on section 32 of Watson Township. The land was cleared and cultivated. He later sold 40 acres to his brother-in-law Nils Johansson. Later, he bought an additional 80 acres to make a 120 acre farm. He was engaged in general agriculture. 

Carl and Ulrika raised their 3 children there. Carl liked the area so much he wrote letters to friends in Indiana and Sweden encouraging them to come to Michigan to live. Many took him up on it and a large Swedish community developed. 

On February 21, 1900 Carl and Ulrika's daughter Malvina married Sven Goren Henrik Johansson. Sven was a Swedish immigrant who was now going by the Americanized name of George S. Henrickson. He met Malvina when she was an organist at the Swedish Lutheran Church and he visited as a student minister. After marrying they moved north so George could work in the copper mines. Some time after 1913 George and Malvina moved back to the farm so Malvina could help take care of her aging parents. Carl died in 1915 and Ulrika died in 1918, at the home of her son Frank. After Carl and Ulrika's deaths the farm was equally divided between their 3 children, with each child getting 40 acres. George and Malvina were given the 40 acres with the house on it. At some time George and Malvina purchased 40 acres from her brother Frank, giving them an 80 acre farm. George and Malvina lived on the farm the rest of their lives, raising their 11 surviving children there. 

George and Malvina's son, Ray, stayed on the farm to help his father. He married Viola Strand and they raised their 8 children there. Ray grew crops and raised cattle. He stayed on the farm until his death in 2006. The farm is now farmed by Ray and Viola's descendants. Still in the Henrickson family.

In 1978 a plaque was presented to Ray and Viola to certify that the farm had remained in the same family for over 100 years. I think Carl and Ulrika would be proud to know that their investment was still in their family after all these years.

All of the information here came from a genealogy book on the Henrickson's prepared in 1998 for a Henrickson family reunion, a newspaper article profiling Raymond Henrickson from 2003. Also, census records and Swedish immigration records found online. 

Tragedy: Malvina Olivia Anderson

Life is full of triumphs and tragedies. One of the greatest tragedies is the death of a child. I've found many instances of young children who didn't live to adulthood in my family tree. Most deaths were caused by diseases which are easily preventable today with vaccines and healthcare. A few were caused by accidents. This is one of those cases. I had heard about it growing up, but until I found a newspaper article with my great, great grandfather's first hand account, I didn't realize just how tragic it was.

Carl Johan Andersson and Ulrika Sophia Johannesdotter were married just outside Stockholm, Sweden on December 3rd, 1866. Carl worked for the railroad industry in Sweden. On May 30, 1867 a baby girl was born to Carl and Ulrika. The baby didn't survive. In the record books the child wasn't even listed with a name so I'm guessing the child was probably premature. She died the same day she was born.

In 1870 Carl and Ulrika immigrated to America, eventually settling in Allegan, Michigan. In 1873 a son, Frank Oscar Anderson was born to them. On April 17, 1878 a daughter, Malvina Olivia Anderson was born. In August of 1878 the local Swedish settlers decided to organize their own Lutheran church. Carl, who now went by Charles, and Ulrika were founding members. In March 1879 Charles offered to donate some of his farmland to the Church to be used as a cemetery. The offer was gratefully accepted and was formalized in April 1879.

The house and farm that Charles and Ulrika lived on was near railroad tracks. The trains would often go by. My mother, who grew up in the same house, would tell me stories about the trains going by and the engineers sometimes throwing candy to the kids who waved at them. The tracks could even by seen from the yard of the house.

On the early evening of July 2, 1879 Charles was having supper inside, and Ulrika was outside, picking berries. Both thought the other one was watching Malvina. Malvina had wandered away from the house and down to the railroad tracks. Unfortunately a train was passing by at the time. Malvina was hit and immediately killed. I found a newspaper article of the accident and I'll let that provide more details. 

Malvina Olivia Anderson thus became the first person buried in the church cemetery. On the land donated by her parents. I had often heard this story, but I never knew the particulars until finding the newspaper article. I can't begin to imagine the grief and sorrow Charles and Ulrika felt. Especially Ulrika after running towards Malvina. Also, at the time Ulrika was 5 months pregnant with her next child. That child, a girl, was born October 10, 1879. To honor Malvina's memory, this daughter was named Malvina Christina Anderson. Malvina Christina is my great grandmother. One more child, another daughter, was born to Charles and Ulrika on March 10, 1883. She was named Selma Cecelia Anderson.

I found an article with an explanation from the railroad about Malvina's death. 

And a picture of Malvina Olivia's tombstone.

A picture of Charles and Ulrika and their 3 surviving children. After learning about Malvina Olivia's death I understand why Ulrika always looked sad in pictures.

Newspaper articles used come courtesy of the Allegan Journal, July 5, 1879. 

 

The Anderson and Henrickson connection to Immanuel Lutheran Church

 This week's writing prompt was "Groups." I thought I would write about the connection of the Anderson and Henrickson families to the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Allegan, Michigan. 

According to a pamphlet written to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Allegan, Michigan, in 1953, the Swedish settlers of what was then known as Abronia, Michigan met on August 4, 1878 to organize a "Swedish Lutheran Church."  Charles and Hulda Anderson were among the Swedish settlers present. In 1879 Charles and Hulda donated land to the church to be used as a cemetery. The deed was given on April 15, 1879.  On July 2, 1879  Charles and Hulda's daughter Malvina Olivia was the first person buried in the cemetery. In October of  1879 Hulda would give birth to another daughter who was also christened Malvina Christina. She would go on to marry George Henrickson.

Charles Anderson was one of the first trustees of the church. He served four terms as a church trustee. He served two terms as a Deacon, and 2 years as Sunday School Superintendent. In 1895 the church bought a Moline Organ for $75. I remember hearing a family story about how the organ was bought in Detroit and Charles and Hulda drove to Detroit in a horse and buggy wagon and brought the organ back to the church. Malvina was the first organist for the church. She played from 1895 to 1900. 1900 is the year she married George Henrickson. 

Charles passed away in 1915. That is the year that George and Malvina returned to Allegan, taking over the farm purchased by Charles and Hulda many years before. George and Malvina quickly became involved in the church. One of the first duties George took on was as church organist. He served as organist for many years. He was paid $52 a year. He also served as a Sunday School Superintendent.  He was often selected to attend church conferences in Detroit, Chicago and other places. George also served on a committee to raise funds for missionary work and aid overseas. He was a vital member of the leadership of the church. In later years when George got older and couldn't keep up as much, eldest daughter Selma took over and became quite active in the church. Following in the footsteps of both her parents she served as church organist for 15 years, from 1945-1959. She also worked with the Ladies Aid and the Missionary Society. 

The church played quite a large part in the lives of Charles and Hulda Anderson and George and Malvina Henrickson. And daughter Selma too. 

This is from the church secretary's book. If you look at lines 8, 13, 14, you'll see George Henrickson's name mentioned. Serving as Deacon, School Superintendent, organist and attendee to a conference. 

Another copy from the church secretary book from the end of 1929. Featuring a report by George Henrickson, Deacon. Also, reports by G. Henrickson as acting Treasurer. At the bottom is a report by Selma Anderson as Treasurer of the Ladies Home Foreign Ministries Society. 

The church played a major role in the lives of my great, great grandparents and my great grandparents. 

Leave any questions, comments, or your own personal stories relating to the Andersons or Henricksons below in the comments. Thanks for reading!