A new homeland

Dear folks,

Göran's son #2 - August Göranson, later calling himself John Goranson (the Goranson's)

What a joy when Kristina Salomonsdotter arrived to White Rock in South Dakota with the four kids being 7, 5, 3 and 1 years old to meet her husband August again after having been parted for a year. He now called himself John and had rented a place for his family at the Frank Johnson farm.

Edna Goranson tells us in her story that sorrow soon was to follow this happy event. Kristina's sister Anna, who came along to help with the kids was not happy in her new country. Her homesickness made her decide that she was going to return. To save the money she cooked for a bachelor, a cousin of August. Sadly Anna suddenly took sick. She died of pneumonia, probably in the year of 1889 and a return ticket was no longer needed.

My brother-in-law, that is my wife's brother Jonas Persson went to White Rock too, in 1892. He was 77 years old emigrating. Probably it is his photograph you can see on the picture to the right. His daughter Stina was married to Gust Magnusson and they had left for America earlier, between 1876 and 1889. They lived just across the road from Frank Johnson's place. Jonas had remarried and his second wife was called Brita-Stina Andreasdotter. Together they had a daughter called Ingrid Augusta who was later to be married to Gonnar Goranson, born in 1882, the oldest son of August.

Edna Goranson tells us that Stina and Gust Magnusson where the folks that her dad August came to when arriving from Sweden. She is now reminding me that I should take a break not to make her remarkable story too downloaded with names and facts no person except genealogists wants to know. I'm sure she is right with that intuition ;-)

At Frank Johnson's farm my granddaughter Miriam was born in 1889. I showed you her picture earlier. In 1891 she had a little brother always called Willie, but given the name Joshua Wilhelm Goranson. He was born 20th May and baptized in the church of White Rock 8th June 1891. This is what he look like on the family photo, sent home to Sweden some years later when all their kids were born. Can it have been a gift for my wife, their mother, when Oscar returned to Sweden in that year of grace in 1903?

With love from my heaven,

your great grandfather Goran.

The very trip

Dear ones,

Göran's son #2 - August Göranson, later calling himself John Goranson (the Goranson's)

I am so pleased to be able to tell you what happened during the very trip across the ocean for August's wife Kristina and their four kids born to that date. As I told you before, August went first to see if he could make a home for his family. This was in 1888. Many relatives, friends and neighbours had gone on before to settle by White Rock in South Dakota. Having worked as a farmhand for a year August sent a ticket for his wife and four kids to come. My other son Oscar and his oldest son Göran, (changing his name to John in the new country) came along with them on this trip which is vividly described by my beloved great granddaughter Edna Goranson:

"Mama's sister Anna decided to come along to help her with the kids, also Dad's brother Uncle Oscar and his eldest son John, so they were eight in the party to cross the ocean. In those days they packed their own food to take along, I don't know if ships were not equipped with dining rooms as I have heard many old folks speak of their food baskets, they had to have enough for three weeks as that was the extent of their journey.

All went well on this trip until they came to New York, when they left the ship they passed customs in New Castlegar, then on into New York Central station, there they split them up, putting Mama and her kids on one train, while Uncle Oscar, Johan and Anna, were sent to another train standing by. When Uncle Oscar saw what was happening he took Mama's food basket which they had helped to carry, running over to Mama's train, tried to tell the conductor they belonged to her. He could not speak a word of English, but gesticulated wildly with his arms, finally made him understand they were hers. If Uncle hadn't been so stubborn or formidable with the conductor, Mama would have been without food, not able to speak a word of English, with four small children.

The reason for all this mix up was Mama's ticket had been purchased in White Rock, as Dad sent it to her, their tickets were purchased in Sweden. They had been routed on different railroads, nevertheless they both led to Chicago. The first person Mama saw when she changed trains in Chicago was her sister Anna. The joy and unspeakable relief of this unexpected turn of events can only be imagined in our minds.

From Chicago, Uncle Oscar and John, went to Chesterton, Indiana, while Mama and her sister continued on to White Rock, South Dakota. Uncle Oscar and John worked a couple of years at Chesterton, then sent for Aunty and the rest of the family to come...they stayed there a couple of years, then came on to White Rock, S.D: also" (E.G.).

Must add again how wonderfully pleased I am with the possibility to use this almost eyewitnessed story as my own memory has has deteriorated. It is a joy to be able to tell you these details and I thank everybody involved. The ship on the picture above is MS Gripsholm, Swedish American Line. On board in 1964 was another of my beloved grandkids, returning to the land of her origin for a visit. She wrote on the back of the card with the picture of the ship in Swedish, translated into the following:

"The storms are swishing, the waves are rolling, but my life is in the hands of God, so I fear nothing. I have not been sick yet. The ship is fine and everything is to my satisfaction. Hope to be in New York Thursday morning" (Hulda Johnson, 1964).

With much love from your granddad

Göran

"Sweden is a very religious country"

Hi,

As I can overlook almost two hundred years back from now, being born in 1818 and still able to follow the state of affairs from above in my heaven I know one thing for sure: The heading about Sweden being a very religious country was true when written by my great granddaughter Edna, looking back on the years when her father and mother lived in that country, up to 1889.

Today Sweden is not a very religious country. The Lutheran Church is still there but has lost its impact on people. Edna tells us in her story that her parents "were both good Christians, but it was really the Lutheran church of Sweden, that caused them to leave the homeland they loved so well" (E.G.).

"The clergy ruled over all the affairs of the people, each clergyman ruled over a certain district or locality and they ruled with a vengeance, downright dictatorship, so many folk left the Lutheran church and formed a church of their own, called the Mission Friends, very similar to the Christian Alliance church of Canada. They felt the Lutherans were not biblical Christian when they could inflict such harsh unreasonable treatment on the parishioners, but it didn't help to leave their church, for the State church still held the whip-hand over all business affairs.

Proosten would come out to a place he chose for his hearing, giving notice to every family in his district to appear at this home chosen by him, he requested a big dinner be served to all that came, no matter how humble or poverty stricken they may be. Proosten is a church dignitary just under the Bishop. At his chosen home he would hold what is called Husförhör. Hus means house and förhör means a questioning , rather more like a documentary of each family for his church books, names and ages of each family as well as their ancestry on both sides...

...so great numbers decided to leave the country so they could live in peace and worship God Almighty himself, instead of the State Church of Sweden." (E.G.)

Might go and ask the Almighty himself about His judgement, checking up on who is here and not!

With love to you all,

Göran.

Long gone

Hi,

Scared you, did I? You might have thought I was dead, never updating my story?! Well, I am, but that doesn't bother me very much. I have been more concerned about and being busy enjoying myself lately and I insist on you all to follow in my footsteps doing so, worthy of imitation ;-) We get a bit self-righteous up here in heaven you know. Hope you still understand the Swenglish my secretary is using! Wasn't able to find someone else as it requires enthusiasm up to a non-descriptable limit to get them to write details about times long gone. She's got that all right so this is what we get! Ok, let's get going:

Göran's son #2 - August Göranson, later calling himself John Goranson (the Goranson's)

We are still concentrating on what happened up to the year of 1903. I have already told you that August married Kristina Salomonsdotter in 1881. She was a girl from Hovdinge Lillegård, the farm where my secretary now lives (but, you know, they moved the houses when shifting the land in 1902 so we cannot say exactly where). They had three boys - Gunnar, Charly and Teophil who were 7, 5 and 3 years old and a little girl called Betty not much more than a year old when the family left Hovdinge in 1889. That place was "beautiful beyond compare" in their eyes and they left all that was "dear and near to their hearts" (E.G.).

Thanks to August's youngest daughter Edna Goranson who I will tell you about later, my memory is refreshened. She made sure that her memories where saved for the future by writing them down. Because of her we know a little more of what happened to this family and this story will be enriched. And thanks to one of Charlie's descendants we are promised to use her story Transplanted here on the blog. It's a wonderful document, too good not to be shared and we will use it with respect and love and gratitude. Quotation marks like those at the end of the last passage above refer to her exact words, but her story will be woven into all knowledge we have about the family. Bless her, for doing this. And bless those who have helped in the process.

"Sweden has beautiful trees, picturesque lakes and land contours with rivers meandering, both great and small where fishing was every boys delight. Every farm home had its stone hedge enclosure with row of beehives amidst coloured blossoms that grew in every dooryard, wherever there was a thatched heather roof, it grew on the housetops. There were rocks and rills everywhere, slender brooks gurgling here and there. The people on the land were considered poor people as far as wealth in cash was concerned, however they lived a high standard of living even so... What lonesome longings must have been theirs at times after their arrival in America, where at the time in the early century, only prairie with small crude buidlings existed. "(E.G.). All these things were told to their children by the parents August and Kristina and other Swedish immigrants.

"They raised their own beef and pork, lamb and mutton, honey from their bees, eggs, butter and cheese, any surplus was taken to the market place, in Ljungby, a place out in the open with stalls marked off where they displayed their goods for sale. Market day was usually held on Saturday where came the farmers and people from far and near for miles around to sell or buy livestock, meats, fruit, eggs, butter, cheese, as well as woven articles of either wool or linen to be turned into cash for necessities.

To this market place in Ljungby came the parents of the world famous soprano singer Christina Nelson, as they were farmers living close by, there one day Dad, saw and heard her sing as she was skipping about like children do. He said her voice at that tender age was beautiful, so unusual, people stopped all around to listen to her. There a wealthy citizen of the city heard her, was so impressed by her marvellous voice, he arranged with her parents to receive training of that priceless gift of voice she possessed. Several years later she was acclaimed one of the world's greatest sopranos..."(E.G.).

In the museum at the old square of Ljungby you can find the piano and other possesions of Christina Nilsson. A statue of her is erected in the town. Read about her here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Nilsson

All for now, love
Göran Danielsson.

Crossing the Atlantic in a modern way

Dear ones,

I am busy keeping track of descendants crossing the Atlantic this Summer. Haven't had much time to tell you about old days, but will continue, don't worry.

This last week has been exciting, tracking one of my son August's great grandsons on his way in his little plane going from Canada over Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and finally Sweden to reach the closest airport to Hovdinge. That pilot must have inherited some genes of braveness from his great grandfather August who together with his wife Kristina brought his whole family to the USA and further on to Canada back in 1889.

This week the pilot is spending with his family on his great grandmother Kristina's side. But the welcome-committee at the local airport today included my secretary with her son, representing my son's side of the family. And the local paper was there as they write about things of importance.

On the photo below you can see the son of my secretary, a tractor and if you look closely, the plane with the pilot from Canada, by the white and red pole, soon to be landing. I told you it was a local airport!

All for today from a proud grandpa',

yours Göran Danielsson.

Another leaf for the Goranson tree

Dear ones,

If you find the heading a little too poetical to be mine you are right. It is stolen from a verbal descendant and he is contributing much more than you can ever imagine here on my blog. He is the encouraging type and we suspect up here that my secretary is the need of confirmation-type so they work well together ;-) We are above all such needs up here, we are all perfect you know.

Today is a happy day. Well, it has been for quite a few days now. One reason is that one of you my dear great grand kids has found a suitable wife and asked her to marry. It happened on a top of a hill so I had quite a close look at the loved ones. God job!

And then there is the reason in the heading. Another leaf, another georgous little baby with genes from me (well, mum and dad, I know you have been involved - I send my warm congratulations and I thank you for permitting me to show the rest of the folks the picture of your little wonderful man Brody!)

If you get confused with all the people involved in my family, do take a look at Kindo, the free family tree maker where my secretary has tried to sort it all out for you. You can see the relations between those I have told you about with their photos. Up to the year of 1903 there are 44 people including myself and my parents. When I continue the story you will be able to follow the new names in the Kindo tree. To be see it please admit your e-mail adress to goran.danielsson@ljungby.nu simply writing YES, invite me. If you are still on earth I will ask you before entering your name, so if you would like to take part and know it already, add a PS saying so.

All for today I guess,

with love Göran.

Summer time, visiting time!

Dear readers,

I am busy! I want to make sure all is well with my dear grandkids, crossing the ocean, so I do some job on the side as a guardian angel. I want to make sure they arrive safely at Hovdinge.

At this moment Oscar's oldest son Göran, renamed John, is pleased to know that his granddaughter Billie is treading the soil of her ancestors. My secretary even made her tread on some mud to look at a tree house which a future building contractor is working at together with a companion. Look at them!

Billie and her husband Pat are in Hovdinge together with a couple of friends. They went into the church of Ljungby to take a photo of the baptismal font which is from 14th century and should have been in use when her grandfather Göran/John Oscarsson was baptized there in 1872, as well as his father Oscar in 1846.



Then they went to a cottage once belonging to a soldier born around the same time as Oscar. It helped to make them understand what our home looked like in those days when I was still around before 1870.

With love to you all,
Göran Danielsson.

The very place?

Hi,

An old apple tree and a pond. This might be the place my dear kids and grandkids. The place where I lived my last days on earth and the place where my two sons and three daughters Oscar, August, Emma, Anna and Maria grew up. There were several houses of the north farm of Hovdinge at my days, ending back in 1870. One of them was situated where this pond is according to the father of the present owner. Today in 2008 there are two houses called Hovdinge North Farm and nearby the pond is one of them. The other one looked like this in 1984:

Photograph above taken by one of my dear grandkids Cypress. I have not yet managed to get it all clear through the pipelines to my secretary, which spot it was. You just have to rely on her guesses, supported by intelligent, logical mapreaders gratefully having come to my help. The present owner knows that there was an old house in the front garden in the right hand corner of this picture. That house was torn down and the wood was reused when the new house was erected at the present place in 1894. The wood was said to last up to the lower edge of the window sills.

Up to the year of 1903 when my son Oscar went all the way back to Hovdinge to visit his old mother she had become the grandmother of 37 and the great grandmother of more than my secretary can count! The youngest little one was called Hulda. She was born just in that year of grace 1903 and her daughter Lu is eagerly waiting in her beutiful home in Florida, to read about the rest of that family. But patience please, next in line, up to the same year of 1903 is August, and then Emma, Anna and Maria. Birthright you know!

But before leaving the beautiful lot descending from Oscar, let me show you his daughter Amanda's grandkids again. At the place where Oscar raised his family, in Näs, just outside the town of Ljungby, the siblings Ian, Valerie and Boyd, together covering the whole of Canada!

Summer holiday anybody? I did not have much of that stuff down there being a farmer, but we are richly compensated now up here. What ever you do, remember enjoying your days and do what you like. Until next time, may God bless you too,

Göran.

What a reunion 2008

Hi down there,

Up here in my heavenly places we rejoice today! These happenings which I am going to tell you about do happen now and then but we never get used to it. We get all warm inside everytime it happens, as last year, when Helen brought her family to Hovdinge, and today, when we rejoice about our son Oscar's granddaughter Amy's three kids Ian, Valerie and Boyd.

Those examplary have crossed the ocean to get back to where it all started, in Hovdinge in Sweden. They have even brought some of their own kids to teach them to value the memories of us striving to feed our families in the stony soil of that place. That's the way we like it up here you see, to be valued and remembered. Who does not dream of that?! My only concern just now is about my secretary. She has been most excited all day. Now, having been praised for cooking and blogging, I am a bit worried about her soul soaring too high up from where she belongs. Well, they all look like they are having a party, don't they?

Tomorrow I'll see too it that they go to all cemetaries available in the area, churches in use when Oscar's kids where baptized and places of interest, like where my farm was situated. Some of them will still have that happy smile on their faces when we've finished with that tour. Those are called genealogists, hopelessly incurable, but needed for the good of mankind...

With a happy smile on my face, I remain your great grandfather Göran Danielsson, dead in 1870, still in business.

Wagtail chatter

Dear readers,
Today my great grand son, the farmer, was surprised hearing the wagtails chatter intensively when he was getting near to his wagon which he was trying to prepare for harvesting the grass. So when lifting the lid of the wagon, this is what he found:

Six little one, getting all upset, while their mum and dad got crazy chattering up in the sky. Suddenly one of the them lifted, flying away, to be followed by them all. I wondered if it was their first attempt, they managed perfectly well to use their wings, better than I did up here. They all made a fantastic show for the farmer and his wife and kids, having to do this to them, in order to save their lives. Their parents seemed to keep track of them all and we just have to hope they were grown enough to manage a life outside their secure nest.

The wagtails come back to the place of their birth and it is almost always on the very exact date they arrive in Hovdinge. Amazing! My boss up here know how it works: The wagtail use the same nest their whole life. So hopefully these ones will find their nest which was placed nearby on an old wagon not needed any more. The nest is hidden on strange places, preferably under the engine on a car which is not in use - well, this vehicle was in use! The young birds stay in the nest 11-16 days. Hopefully this was day #16!

I was amused up here! My secretary tells me that this is not the proper way to handle a genealogy blog, just getting excited over a little nest, but I tell her she should learn from the birds, they don't sow, they don't harvest, but are well taken care of. There will be time for the Oscarson's and the Goranson's and the Johansson's and the Johnson's and other dear descendants!

Yours, Göran.

Ps. I'll give you a close up too!

Writing to heaven - what a chance!

Dear readers,


Believe it or not, someone special has dared to use the address here to the left to write a message to me up in heaven! Just imagine what openings that behaviour will be the first example of. Writing to heaven, what a possibility! I am sorry to say we have less possibilities to reply in person, but comments will be given to any future correspondence through the telepathy with my secretary. And, I must tell you that my fellows here in these heavenly places are a bit envious even though that quality is not appreciated up here, getting that mail with beautiful words. Thank you!


Göran's son #1 Oscar with family (The Oscarson's)


Two more girls to tell you about from Oscar's troop. Children number six and seven, finale. When their dad Oscar left for Sweden in 1903, to go back to see his mother for a very last time, 14 years after leaving, his little girls were grown up ladies. They were born in Hovdinge in Sweden in 1883 and 1886 as I have told you earlier, so they were 20 and 17 in 1903.


The young lady on the photo is Ester Susanna Göransdotter, called Ester Goranson in USA, leaving Sweden when she was six years old. On the picture to the left you can see her on a photo taken around 1900 when she was 17. She was later to become a hat modiste - she has got a flair of good style already I think.


Below the signature of her little sister Ruth Henrietta Göransdotter, called Ruth Goranson, being only three years old leaving Sweden.




In June 1904 my son Oscar returned to his family in White Rock, South Dakota, USA bringing a lot of young people with him to their new homeland. It was among others my daughter Emma's son David, 16 years old and my daughter Anna's oldest daughter Karin, called Carrie, 20 years old.

Oscar never again saw his mother in life as my beloved Katrina passed away 19th May 1905. She was then living in Bolmstad belonging to the parish of Angelstad. My secretary has tried to find a marker on the cemetary but there is none. Katrina was 80 years old when she left for heaven. My successor, her second husband, the shoemaker Carl Isac, probably lived a few more years; we are not too close up here so I have not bothered to check it up actually.

Enjoy your life, follow an experienced man's advice!
With love, Göran Danielsson.

Oscar's little Lizzie

Dear readers,

Beautiful weather in Hovdinge today! And the spring has been marvellous for a month so my secretary and her neighbours are all sun tanned and in good moods. Hope that was part of the happy days in Sweden for my kids and grandkids too, before leaving for another good life across the oceans. The girl we will concentrate on today was only eight years old when emigrating. But something had happened which made her life more difficult than we all hoped for.

Göran's son #1 Oscar with family (The Oscarson's)

We are talking about Elizabeth, called Lizzie, but given the name Maria Elisabet Göransdotter when she was born, 14th April 1881 and baptized in the church of Ljungby, 24th April 1881. She was number five of the siblings of Oscar and Lina, my son and daughter-in-law.

When she was about four years old which would have been in 1885, she fell and injured her hip. This led to a lifelong suffering I am afraid.

We are now talking only about the time up to 1903 as the year of grace when my son Oscar came back from America to see his mother again. Therefore you will have to wait for the rest of the story of Lizzie, but I am sorry to say that she did not live a long life. You can read what happened on an icy spot a winter day here in her obituary. But I promise you all I have made the best to compensate her here in my heavenly place,


remaining your old grandfather

Göran Danielsson.

More from Oscar's family up to 1903

Good evening,
Göran's son #1 Oscar with family (The Oscarson's)


Time has come to tell you about Amanda. Know there are some of you out there especially interested. Her first name was Amanda Cecilia Göransdotter, i e the daughter of Göran which is me! She and her sisters kept the name Goranson but their two brothers used the name Oscarson. So the heading above is a little misleading, but as the girls name changed when they married the descendants from Oscar on the male side are called the Oscarsons!


The year of 1878, the month of October as the time for Amanda's birth we can all agree upon. But the priest writing the 11th October as her date of birth might have had a drink or two too much because descendants of Amanda are sure she celebrated her birthday on the 14th October, nothing else. Drinking priest was not that unusual and for that matter, it could be a tiny slip up which must be excused down on earth as it is in heaven. Amanda was born in Näs, just outside the town of Ljungby, as her father and mother lived there since they were newly wed in 1871. At her baptizm 26th October 1878 her aunt Kristina, mum's sister and her husband Johannes Svensson were present. The name of the priest was L. Fries who also served when Amanda's sisters were baptized. When Amanda was about a year old they moved back to Hovdinge North Farm where her father Oscar was born, about 4 kilometres away.


When Amanda was 11 her family left for the country across the ocean, America. They first stayed in Chesterton, Indiana from 1889 and then in 1991 to White Rock in South Dakota. In 1902, when Amanda was 24 years old she looked like the picture at the top. Is there a wedding photo somewhere? The 31st May 1902 she married Mr Axel Dahlstrom, born in 1875 in Gräsmark in the province of Värmland in Sweden. Added as a reply to the question just put is here a contribution from Amanda's grandson:

My son Oscar travelled back to his former home in Hovdinge at Christmas 1903. He had then become a grandfather of a little girl given the name Amy. In 1903, 20th April, this little girl was born to the newly married couple Amanda and Axel Dahlstrom. During that following summer of 1903 they immigrated to Canada, to Macoun Saskatchewan from Souris in North Dakota to begin a three year process to obtain free land (Quarter Section = 160 acres). This is information given to my secretary from my beloved great grandson in Kanata, Ontario, Canada:

To get title the homesteader was required to live on the quarter section for 6 months of each year. Build living quarters and a barn for livestock. Break 15 acres of prairie land each of the three years and crop same. At the end of three years and showing proof that the homesteader had met all homestead conditions and upon payment of ten dollars title to the designated quarter vested in his/her name.

According to this little daughter of Amanda it was routine for them to return to White Rock, South Dakota each fall to stay with her grandparents (Oscar & Carolina) until the following spring. Amanda would have likely seen her father off on his return trip to Ljungby that Christmas of 1903.

With love, Göran.

My secretary has been to heaven!

Hi,

My secretary is back, having had a pure dead brilliant time being away! She has seen sheep on green pastures and heavenly places. No wonder she thinks she has been up here where I am since 1870, but I know she went to Scotland. The amazing thing is that she managed to catch my glasses on the photo, se below.

Well, might better remind her why were are cooperating. She is to tell you what happened to my dear grandkids after my departure on earth. The turn has come to Anna, Oscar's first born girl.

Göran's son #1 Oscar with family (The Oscarson's)

Anna, my son Oscar's daughter, was born 9th March 1876 and baptized in the church of Ljungby three days later. She was also given the name Christina. My mother's name was Stina, short for Christina. Present was also my sister Emma who we chose as her godmother.

When Anna was 13 she left Sweden and went with her family to live in Chesterton, Indiana, USA. The stayed there a couple of year before they went on to White Rock in South Dakota.

In 1903, the year we have concentrated on lately and will continue to do, she was a a young lady of 27. She then married Hjalmer J Andersen on 29th August 1903. He was a butcher. And thanks to my great grand kids being brought up to be so pure dead brilliant helpful (good expression!), my secretary even has a photo to show you of this occasion:

If it was before or after her wedding or both I cannot remember (if anyone knows, please let me know) but Anna was a soldier in the Salvation Army. Did you know that my secretary has the same background? We think Anna is the one standing.

Time to work one some practical matters, will get back to you about the year of grace, to see what has happened up to then with all my kids and grandkids. Until then, keep safe, with love

Göran.

The same year of grace 1903

Dear descendants,

Göran's son #1 Oscar with family (The Oscarson's)

Hope you enjoy spring! Up here in heaven we have the best of weathers. Last time I told you that I had counted to 37 grandkids and six great grandkids, today I will add another four to the last record. The one responsible is Salomon Edward Oscarson, called Ed in his new homeland America. He had earned his own living since he was 11 according to the Compendium of History and Biography of Central and Northern Minnesota, p 655. Check up on all his doings at this address http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mn/county/wilkin/bios/1904-o.htm#30


During the trip from Sweden he had been responsible for his mother and five younger sisters as his father and older brother left earlier. He had attended school for eight years in Sweden and continued when arriving with three month's of training in order to learn the new language. He first worked as a milk delivery boy in Chicago and then decided to head for his uncle's farm in South Dakota, hoping to be a farm hand there. Due to a hail storm nothing was left to harvest and soon he found himself a new job at the F W Johnson store (Views of the present, visions of the past, Olson, 1984).


The year of 1893 he joined the congregation of Augustana Church in White Rock, Robert County, South Dakota, America. My secretary has been there and took this picture of the building 2006:




In 1896, when the community was developing as a grain shipping centre, the need for a bank was evident. Ed was now the head clerk in the store and together with two partners he was granted to open a bank in a new building next to F W Johnson's Hardware (Olson, 1984, p 55).The following year he became a partner in the firm and asked the owner for his daughter's hand! So I believe that was a year of grace to start with! A little later the firm was called S E Oscarson Company and was the largest in that region carrying a complete line of general merchandise. My secretary would like to show you the pictures given her by the author of the first book mention, Randy M Olson and has written to ask his permission. Ed was also the vice president of the First National Bank and the secretary of the Canadian Investment Company (Compendium of History and Biography of Central and Northern Minnesota, page 655).


This is what it looked like in the Augustana Church the 15th May 1897 when Ed had his Ellen in marriage, se below.

A child was born 10th March 1898 and he was given the name Wilhelm Leonard Oscarson, called Bill. So now I am a great great grand father! I must admit I will soon loose track of all the lovely babies entering your world down there.

Another child was born to the family 15th August 1899 and his name was Roger Oswald Oscarson.

In 1901, 19th April, another son entered and was given the name Philip Evan Oscarson.

Sadly for the family a fourth little boy could not stay with them, but came quite quickly up here to my places in heaven. His name was Clay Ture Oscarson, born 19th May 1903 and dead the same year in August, 22nd. They were all baptized in the Augustana Church of White Rock, South Dakota. Their father payed for a stained glass window in the church which can be read on the dedication.

In the beginning of the century the town White Rock had more than doubled in size and leading the business was Ed. He had plans for a new larger building for his store with yellow brick walls. He also went to Canada to invest in buildings there. In 1902 something extraordinary happened - a robbery in Oscarson's store, detailed described to my secretary by a man descending from the Marshall in town. Haven't seen those guys up here actually. They were found in a grove of trees where they were hiding with jewelry, guns and money (and stamps!).


There is more to tell about this family but those of you interested have to be patient. I have promised you the story up to the year of 1903 and that is where we have landed just now. More great, great, grandkids to come and more business to be done for Salomon Ed!
Finally, the very handwriting of this man, my grown-up grandkid:

I am always on vacation up here but my secretary is due for one in a couple of days, so it might take a week or so before we can co-operate again.
Until then, take care, enjoy life and let me hear from you . Just use the e-mail address shown at the top! Fantastic, isn't it?

Yours truly, Göran Danielsson.

The year of grace 1903

Dear readers,

A new century on two continents for my offspring! My dear wife, now remarried, living in the parish of Angelstad in the little house previously shown, was richly blessed in the year of 1903. You see, our son Oscar came back from America at Christmas time to stay with her for half a year. She must have thought that she would never see him again, so you might understand why I call it a year of grace.

Since our last summary I have been richly blessed with grandkids! Just a pity not too be able to hug them, but I look down from above and enjoy seeing their doings. I think I have 37 by now! My daughter Emma's son Karl Wilhelm is up here with me as he could not stay on earth more than 13 years. Belive it or not, I have also seen my first great grandkids! Six by now! So this will take time! I start with my oldest son and his kids and grandkids.

Göran's son #1 Oscar with family (The Oscarson's)

Oscar and his Lina had all their kids while staying in Sweden so I have told you already about the seven sweethearts of that family. But I have other news:

Oscar's oldest boy, Göran Algot who is now called John in his new country has married! The picture above is from his marriage in 10th June 1899. He was only 16 when he arrived to America, working as a carpenter in Indiana for three years before he moved to White Rock in South Dakota. In 1886 he started working in F W Johnson's firm where he sold lumber and farming machinery and purchased grain. He was a successful farmer in Monson Township and prospered through good management according to this site where you can read about Garon J Oscarson:

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mn/county/wilkin/bios/1904-o.htm#29

He married Emma Erickson from Uppland in Sweden and by now they have two kids. They are called Gerhard, born 27th April 1900 and Elvira, called Vera, born 5th April 1901.Look at them below!

Goran, or John, was also interested in educational matters and served as a member of the school board according to the site above from Compendium of History and Biography of Central and Northern Minnesota. In 1902 he was elected township constable! I am a proud grandfather! More to come next time about Oscar's kids.

Heavenly greetings from Göran.

Leaving Sweden in 1888 or 1889

Dear grandchildren,

Great to be able to talk to you - not possible for everyone up here to have connections on earth. I am very grateful up here in my heaven even though my secretary has been very busy with earthly matters for a while now! As I passed away in 1870 I would not otherwise have been able to tell you this story which is about to happen in 1888 or 1889. My secretary has digged into different sources and this is what went on:

Göran's sons #1 and #2, Oscar and Johan August with families (The Oscarson's and the Goranson's).

August and Oscar, my oldest boys where harving along on the soil of Hovdinge. Around them people started to plan for new futures across the ocean, leaving with ships taking months to arrive in the new land over there, bringing baskets with food which should last until land was in sight again. I guess that they dreamed of new richer land with future possibilities, leaving poverty behind.

The Lutheran Church, deciding how to live your life was also a reason for many to leave. We know that the priest had power. He regularly visited the homes, demanding food for everyone in the village, forced to come to the "Husförhör". That was a meeting, hold to check up on the inhibitants in the congregation. The age and the names where written down alongside with the knowledge of the Bible which was to be checked up on the meetings. Accounts were also hold about the attendance at church services. Thanks to this we can go back in the church records and know when the kids where born and where people moved. In every home there was probably a copy of collection of sermons by Luther. My secretary has a copy given as a gift in 1902 when a boy by the name of Simon Karlsson, one of my grandkids, was a candidate for confirmation (Luthers huspostilla, 1907).

From this book the following words (p 359):


"The servants may not be indifferent but must carefully do what their masters tell them and may not let bad company keep them from doing so. It should not be so that when the father or mother tell their child to do something, or when the master or his wife tell the servants to do something, they do not do what they are told, but do something else like going for a walk, playing or drinking when they should be working. Every time such obedience is done, the evil one is there and he should not be followed."

The military service forced upon all young men was also a reason to leave. My sons, however, were far beyond that point, being grown up men when leaving Sweden with their families in 1889.

We can only guess the amount of courage needed to leave what was well-known to face an unknown future in a place where you did not speak the language. But they had friends and people from the area of Ljungby who had left earlier. From 1869 to 1889, during a period of 20 years, 400 people emigrated from Ljungby according to the records of Emihamn. One of them was the brother of August's wife Christina. His name was Anders Gustaf Salomonsson. He left as early as in 1880 when he was 18 years old. Children of siblings to my wife Katrina, i e cousins of August and Oscar went too.

We therefore presume that August and Oscar had people they knew in South Dakota, White Rock as they went there to settle. If you would like to see the very white rock probably giving name to the place and read more about this place which now is a ghost town, use this link http://www.randyolson.com/book-interactive-1.htm We know that they also lived in Chesterton, Indiana for a couple of years to work.


My secretary finds the names of 33 people leaving the area of Ljungby in 1889. Among them was August's wife Anna Christina, 28 years old with the kids Gunnar 6, Carl Henrik 5, Teofil 3 and Betty 1. Her younger sister Anna Cathrina, 21 came along. I guess she was helping with the kids as August was not with them. I cannot remember but my secretary assumes that he went ahead to arrange for the family to come. She cannot find him in any registers.

Leaving the year of 1889 according to the register Emihamn was also my son Oscar, 42 and his wife Carolina, 42 with their six kids: Göran 16, Edward 15, Anna 13, Amanda 11, Elisabeth 8, Esther 6 and Ruth 3. I seem to remember that Oscar and his oldest son Göran, later called John, went ahead together with August's family on the same ship and then later the same year sent for the rest of the family.


And before ending today, a little girl was born to August's family the same year they arrived to their new country, in 1889. She was called Miriam and look like this when she grew older.
Back to reality for my secretary, she has a life to live you know. First on the agenda is cleaning the windows. My descendants from Canada are soon knocking on her doorstep and she is eager to make a good impression!


Yours truly, Göran Danielsson.

Learning about names of places

Dear historically interested,

Before attending to the topic of today I would like to present you to the first inhibitants of Ljungby. We like to think that these are the men, shown on the picture below together with a great grandson of mine. They are to bee seen in a central position in the town of 2008 to symbolize those who first lived in this area.We know of them because of a runic inscription where it says that Götrad put the stone up in rememberence of his father Astrad who lived here. We do not know what they looked like exactly but we guess they looked like us. They were Vikings. The inscription was made around the year 1000, so it is more than 1000 years old!

Today a short account of what my secretary found in a book about names of places and their origin. If we start with the most central place in this blog, i e Hovdinge I can tell you that the author Fridolf Jönsson says that the first acknowledgement of the place is from 1460 when it was written hoffdunge. Later in 1543 it was written Hoffdinge. The name should have something to do with a head, a hill in the landscape. My secretary immediately thinks of the mounds from the Bronze age which are to be found where Hovdinge Norregård is situated. Near one of Hovdinge's small farms a place is marked on old maps as a offering grove from times before the christanizing of Sweden after the year around 850.

In a historical map which I have just learned is free for publishing as it is older than 70 years, a Saint Rolf from earth has marked out for me where the North farm was situated in the 1890's, look below. He is a skilful researcher of soldiers in this area and this is the address to his Swedish site of soldiers http://www.ljungbykompani.se/, in case the language is no problem for you! In my life-time the soldier at Hovdine North farm was Isack Carlsson Hult. If you follow the link called Disgen nr you can see a contract written between us farmers and the soldier about duties. The soldier were among other things to see to it that letters were distributed! What you see there is a copy of our signatures at the end of the documents.

I grew up nearby Hovdinge, in Tofta as some of you might remember ;-) Tofta was mentioned as Tofftta somewhere in 1538 according to the author of the book I mentioned, called "Ortnamn i Kronobergs län". Names of places including "-tofta" imply that settlements have arise anew after a period of something fateful in prehistoric age.

I told you that my wife remarried and moved to Kånna. According to this book Kånna is an ancient name which is first mentioned as Quannom in 1388. It has been regarded as impossible to interprete. Some have tried, saying that the word comes from a word meaning marsh.

My oldest daughter Emma moved to Rataryd in the parish of Angelstad. Among older names of places in this area, an ending with -ryd is the most common. Emma's place is not mentioned specifically in the book but close by is Bjärnaryd which comes from bear in plural ending. I am glad she did not meet them! This photo below is taken in Rataryd with Emma standing in the middle and her dear husband Bengt-Johan sitting in the wheel-chair.

Finally, my second daughter Anna Charlotta moved to Ingelstad in the parish of Berga in those days. In 1272 it was spelled Ingelstath in a deed of gift to an Abbey. The first part of the name comes from a man's name, Ingel. Ingelstad is said to have a ring as Old Swedish royalty. Below a picture of the family in Ingelstad.

Well, "there are other things than thinking about old times" and I respect that my secretary now wants to proceed with her life. Until next time she connects to me again, take care of yourselves!

With love, Göran Danielsson.

Leaving Kånna in 1887

Dear sweet reader,

This is a big day. My secretary has told me I have readers! Probably the most stupid announcement you have heard all day, but for me it was good news. I simply wanted to tell my story and as my secretary was even more eager we started this cooperation, not sure we wanted anyone to know about it!


Now she wants to say hello to readers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan because they kindly informed her that they enjoyed reading! I have told her this is no forum for "saying-hello-to" but she does not agree. She likes it and will continue. And what I am to do, up here, depending on her internet connection? OK, everybody wanting to be mentioned by name, let us hear from you. We will also publish photos but later when it is your turn - and only if you agree, ok?

My secretary is enjoying herself. That is a good thing. Today she went to a relative on her mother's side taking a photograph of a genealogy tree she made 20 years ago and gave as a gift and had complete forgotten about. She is a bit bossy, but she insists on showing you. It is not even this family! I have told her this is about you, my kids and my grandkids originating from Hovdinge!

OK, can we begin our proper business, telling folks about Maria Göran's daughter? That is my intention today, to tell you about my youngest daughter Maria and her wedding.

Göran's daughter #3, Maria with family (the Johansson's)

As I told you earlier, Maria was living in the parish of Kånna with her mum, my beloved wife who remarried five years after my death. In 1887 she was a young lady, 23 years old and I guess she wanted to see the world. In those days that conception did not mean going further than Rydaholm, at least not for Maria. Rydaholm is now a place just on the other side of the boarder to Jönköping's county, north east of Ljungby which belongs to Kronoberg's county. Still in Småland! What she was up to there we have not yet discovered! Being her father I am a little upset, but as she the following year married a good hearted man and they lived happily ever after I will not mind.

The 12th May in 1888 Maria married Karl Petter Johansson. My secretary would like to let you know that this is her wedding day too, but 96 years later! She married the grandson of Maria, Göran Johansson. Before I tell you more about my son-in-law I would like you to see his photo - my secretary makes it unusually large to please another reader - hello Lu!

Carl-Petter was born in Rydaholm in a family with five siblings surviving childhood. He was born in 1861 and 26 years old when he married Maria. He was a godly man and had connections up here in heaven. His children left their home to cross the Atlantic Ocean and his letters to them are filled with heavenly words and blessings. You might get a proof of it later on.

Must tell you also that Carl-Petter and Maria married in the church of Angelstad, a parish close to Ljungby. My former wife moved to that parish with her new husband and lived in Bolmstad Drängagård, translated to Farmer-hand-farm! Later they moved to the little house I showed you in the very beginning of this blog, written 3rd March, in Ängagård, Bolmstad.

Have a nice weekend! I will. Don't know what's up here in these heavenly places. Some people think we sit here all day long drinking coffee....

With love, Göran Danielsson.

Life in Ingelstad in 1887

Dear readers,

Göran's daughter #2, Anna Charlotta with family (the Johansson's)

Ingelstad is situated about 20 kilometers from Hovdinge, in these days of 1887 in the parish of Berga, but in 2008 in the parish of Vittaryd. Here is the church of Berga, built in 1821.

At this cemetary at Berga Church my secretary found the marker of the resting place for my daughter Anna Charlotta and her husband Sven-Gustav Johansson. But that is to go to far ahead, let us first concentrate on their life together. They married as I told you earlier, in 1881. Here is a picture of the handsome man my daughter chose:

In 1887 Sven-Gustav is 30 years old and Anna Charlotta is 29. They have two sons and one daughter and will stay in Sweden some more years before emigrating to America.

Son #1 was born in 1882, 15th April, and is by now five years old. He is called Johan Gottfrid and was born at the Johan's farm in Ingelstad in the parish of Berga. This is what he looked like on a later family photo.

In 1884, 1st of July, a daughter was born. She is a girl of three in 1887. Her name is Karin Esmina Elisabeth which later in her new country will be anglicized into Carrie.

Son # 3 was born 21st August 1886 in Ingelstad. He was given the name Joseph Gustav Efraim Svensson. Being the only sibling staying in Sweden when the rest was emigrating with their parents he never had to change his name. In the year of 1887 he was only one years old. Picture below!
Believe it or not, you can help me count, but I think I have 18 grandkids by now!

Yours sincerely, Göran Danielsson.