Favorite photo, Nickname, Overlooked

 January has been a wild and crazy month. It literally snowed up to 9" of snow in Florida. This week I'm playing catch up with the prompts of the week of #52Ancestors. 

First prompt was "Favorite Photo." This is another photo of the Carl Strand family. I like this one because it's one of the few, maybe the only one, I have of Mildred Strand smiling. In most of her pictures she's looking at the camera with no smile. In this one she is smiling and looks to be laughing too. Carl has his arms crossed, as usual. Howard and Viola also look to be smiling. It's outside and the weather looks warm. Maybe it was taken on a Sunday visit to Mildred's parents' house for a Sunday dinner? I used the AI photo shop tools on Ancestry to enhance the picture as the original one is grainy. 

The next prompt was "Nickname." The most interesting nickname I've come across in my research is that of Johan Jonasson, the father of George Henrickson, aka Sven Goren Henrick Johansson. In the Swedish Church records, Johan Jonasson has the nickname of Styfva Johan. It translates to English as "Stiff" Johan. "Stiff" could have one of many meanings. It might refer to his appearance. He had stiff joints, or maybe he was strong and tall? It could also refer to his character. "Stiff" could mean that he was moral and of good character. He was proud, or arrogant. Maybe he was uncompromising? It's interesting to note that his father, Jonas Johansson also had the same nickname. Whatever it meant, father and son must've been the same. 

The next prompt was "Overlooked". In researching, I find that my female ancestors, the 3x and 4x great grandmothers often get overlooked. Women were treated as property of their husbands, and before that, taken care of by their fathers. It is hard to research female ancestors unless I can find a reliable document with their maiden name. Not all marriage certificates list parents. Sometimes I can find a maiden name, but I may not find first names of parents. Oftentimes in obituaries I'll find, Mrs. Edward Jones, wife of Edward Jones died yesterday. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Smith. Sometimes I don't even get that! Men have biographies, sketches, and full-blown obits about them. Women are just sidekicks and afterthoughts. 

That's it for this week. Do you have a favorite photo? Any nicknames of relatives, ancestors you'd like to share? Or who is someone you think is overlooked and would like to know more about? Leave me a note here or email me. I'm always looking for more material. 

Harriet Elizabeth Mabbs

 This week I'm writing about Harriet Elizabeth Mabbs. Harriet is Mildred Bellinger Strand's maternal grandmother. Harriet is my great, great, great (3x) grandmother.

Harriet was born June 27, 1850 in Hudson, Lenawee, Michigan. Her parents were William Mabbs and Martha Patty Warner. William was born in London, England but came to America as a child with his family.  I haven't been able to find Harriet yet on the 1860 or 1870 census. In fact, I don't have much information on her childhood at all. After her birth, the next record I have of her is her marriage to Madison "Elwin" Taylor Truman on April 22, 1869 when she is 18 years old. However I can only find Taylor Truman on the 1870 census working as a farmhand for a married couple. On March 18, 1870 Harriet gives birth to her first child, a boy named William Henry Truman. He is named after both his grandfathers. He's born in Jefferson, Michigan.  About 1872 Harriet has her next child, a daughter named Isabel Truman.  On March 2, 1873 Elnora Truman is born. Elnora is Mildred Bellinger Strand's mother. The next child, another daughter, is born in 1877. HIllsdale, Michigan. Mary E. Truman.

Sometime between 1877 and 1880 Madison and Harriet move their family to Arkansas. Their last child, Judson Elwin Truman is born May 28, 1880 in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The family didn't stay long in Arkansas, though, as at some point they moved back to Michigan. Madison died at the age of 34 on January 2, 1884 in Ransom Township, Hillsdale Michigan. I found a report of his death in a newspaper, but I haven't found the exact cause yet. Sadly for Harriet her father William died later that year in October. 

Harriet entered the next phase of her life on November 25, 1886 when she married Albert Bush in Montcalm, Michigan. Harriet was 36 and Albert was 42, It was the second marriage for both. I haven't been able to find out if Albert's first wife died or he was divorced. 

About 6 months later on May 2, 1887 Harriet and Albert's first child is born, a boy named William Joseph Bush. In 1889 a daughter named Dorothy is born. In 1891 Harriet has a baby born but it dies as an infant. In 1893 Nellie Eltah is born and in December 1895, at the age of 45, Harriet gives birth to her last child, a daughter named Georgiana Bush.

The 1900 and 1910 censuses find Harriet and Albert living in Montcalm, Michigan. On both census records Harriet lists 10 children as the number of children she gave birth to. On the 1910 census she lists "Laundress" as her occupation. She must've taken in washing from other families for extra income. 

In April of 1912 Albert passes away. He was 68. Cause of death was "Epithelioma under the left arm." I'm guessing it was some form of skin cancer. Harriet was 61.

The 1920 census finds Harriet living in McBride village of Day Township, in the county of Montcalm, Michigan. Harriet lists "Laundress" as her occupation. She reports that she owns her own home and owns it free and clear, with no mortgage. She knows how to read and write and she lives with her daughter, Nellie Bush. Nellie lists no occupation.

Harriet died on June 21, 1929. Death certificate lists cancer of the breast and something else as the cause of death. Senility is also listed as a contributing factor. According to the death certificate Harriet was only seen by a doctor for 10 days before her death. She passed away 6 days before her 79th birthday. 

I wish I knew more about Harriet, especially her early life. She married at 18 and had 5 children with her first husband. Moved her family to Arkansas in a horse and wagon, and then back to Michigan again. Lost a husband. Married again, and had another 5 children with him. I don't have any pictures of her, but I do have pictures of her oldest son, William, and her daughter Elnora. 

 The first picture above is William and his wife Eltah. The second picture is William on his farm in Trowbridge. The third picture is of Elnora with her husband Charles. Parents of Mildred Bellinger. Elnora is in the center. 

Harriet lived until 1929 so it's quite possible there may be a picture of her out there as an older woman. If anyone knows anything or has any pictures, please let me know. Thanks!

Please add any questions, comments or recollections in the comments below. 

 

Loss

 This week I thought I'd combine Women's History with the 52Ancestors prompt of "Loss." This is the story of Ingrid Svensdotter, mother of George Henrickson, my great, great grandmother.

Ingrid Christina Henrickson Fahna Svensdotter was born November 22, 1840 in Slatthogg, Kronobers, Sweden. Her parents were Sven Andersson Skold Fahna and Kajsa Johansdotter. She had 2 sisters and 2 brothers. Her father served in the Swedish army and was given a cottage/croft to live in. This is copied from Family Search and explains what a "croft" was.  The new system divided the parishes into “rotar” and each “rote” (several small farms) was to recruit a voluntary soldier to the infantry and also to provide a croft with a small piece of land and whatever else the soldier and his family needed to subsist. The soldier would live on his land, take part in military training, and serve in active duty during times of war. According to information I found on another website from Fahna relatives, Sven was a very intelligent man and an excellent writer. The other men would come to him for advice and have him write letters for them. He was well thought of in the community.

Ingrid worked as a housekeeper for a local bachelor when she got older. His name was Johan Karl Jonasson. He was known to the local authorities for taking his neighbors' property and causing disturbances. Nevertheless, in January 1874, Ingrid married Johan. She was 33 years old. In January of 1875 a son was born, Sven Goran Henrik Johansson, later known as George S. Henrickson. That November Ingrid's first born daughter, Amanda, died. She was 2 years old, which means she would have had to have been born in 1873, before Ingrid and Johan were married. I'm not sure if the dates for Amanda's birth and the marriage are entirely accurate. Or if Johan is indeed the father of Amanda. That time period is still grey.

In July 1877 Ingrid and Johan have a daughter, named Amanda, to honor the daughter who had died earlier.

In 1878, Ingrid's older sister Anna dies. Her father passes away in 1881 and her mother in 1883. Her son Sven leaves for America in 1892, and her daughter leaves in 1900. By this time Ingrid is living with her sister Sarah, who is blind. Ingrid's 2 brothers also use this time to move their families to America. 

In 1903 Johan passes away. In 1907 her brother Anders, who had moved to America passes away. Finally, in August 1912 Ingrid's sister Sarah passes away. On November 21, 1912 Ingrid leaves Moheda to begin her travel to America. She departs Gotenberg on December 11, 1912 to sail to Grimsby, England to continue on to New York and to then join her daughter Amanda and her family in Illinois. She is 72 years old and makes the journey by herself. Her brother Jonas passes away in 1914. Ingrid is the last survivor of her brothers and sisters. 

She lives with Amanda's family until she passes away at the age of 81 in 1922. Newspapers list her age as 85 but according to church records she was only 81. 

Ingrid had a hard life, and suffered a lot of loss. But she was a survivor. She took care of an ailing sister and then joined her children in America when she was able to. To travel alone, across the ocean, at age 72 took a lot of strength. And she was definitely traveling in steerage, not first class. I like to think that life was easier for her once she got to America. 

Lela Mae Thompson

 In honor of Women's History Month I decided this month to write about some of the incredible women ancestors I've discovered in my research. The first up is my great grandaunt Lela Mae Thompson. She was sister to my great grandfather Frank Thompson.

Lela was born November 22, 1894 at her parent's home in Allegan, Michigan. She was the fourth of eight children. When she was 14 she heard a nurse talk about her work in China at church. Lela had always been interested in helping the sick and injured. After hearing this nurse talk, Lela decided that she, too, wanted to be a nurse. When she informed her parents, they were against this idea. They told her that if she wanted to be a nurse, no money would be given to her. She would have to earn it herself.

Lela worked as a nanny caring for the 2 small children of a couple, even moving to Grand Rapids with them when they moved. She also was able to take some classes in High School. She then went to work at the D.A. Blodgett boarding school for children. She helped care for 120 children aged from babies to 15. She worked there long enough to earn the $350 needed for 3 years of nursing school.

On September 22, 1919 she entered the Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan and began nursing school. Her parents were still opposed, and even the family doctor had tried to persuade her not to become a nurse. He did give her these words of advice though: "Since I see that you are determined to take up nursing, which is a wonderful profession, I hope that you will carry with you these ideals: Be courteous, sympathetic, thoughtful and kind with your patients. At all times be calm. Do not look for praise. Be interested in every patient."

Lela lived at the hospital with 2 other roommates. She gained practical experience from working in the hospital and took classes from the Junior College in Grand Rapids. After 3 years she graduated. Circumstances prevented her family from attending her graduation ceremony, but the family she had been a nanny to showed up and clapped for her when she received her diploma. She said she had never felt closer to anyone before.

On November 22, 1922, her birthday, she was appointed Pediatric Supervisor at Butterworth Hospital. She worked there for 3 years before accompanying a friend on a vacation to Orlando, Florida. 

When she came to Orlando, it was in the wintertime. She said she saw the city and the beautiful weather and decided that she didn't want to go back to Michigan. She interviewed for and was offered a job at Orange Memorial Hospital, known today as Orlando Regional Medical Center. She mailed her letter of resignation and only went back to collect her belongings.  She worked at Orange Memorial for the remainder of her nursing career. Her specialty was in the maternity ward where she delivered an estimated 40 thousand of babies. 

In January 1930 Lela married William Stokes but never had any children of her own. She retired from nursing in 1968.

In 1985 funds were raised to name the delivery unit's head nurse's office at the soon to be built Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital after Lela.

Great Aunt Lela appeared on the Fall 2018 cover of "Reflections" the quarterly magazine ;put out by the Historical Society of Central Florida on their issue of Orlando Health 100 years of caring. 

Lela Thompson Stokes is an inspiration.