Life in Hovdinge in 1887

Dear readers,

My family is growing! So many grandkids to present to you today that I have to sort it out, one family at a time! By now you have heard about my oldest son Oscar's four kids. He lives in Hovdinge North farm as does his brother August who has married and started a family. Let us concentrate today on this place on earth in the parish of Ljungby.

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

Oscar is now a man of 41, living in Hovdinge with his wife Lina, 40. Her full name was Carolina Simonsdotter and she was born in the parish of Kånna, in the village of Dragaryd at the farm Landbogård.

Carolina (aka Lina) Goranson (nee Simonsdotter).

Oscar and Lina's four children presented to you earlier were

• Göran Algot, later called John Oscarson, by now 13 years old and a candidate for confirmation in the church of Ljungby.


• Salomon Edward, later called Ed Oscarson, by now 12 and earning his own living according to what he later recalled.


• Anna Christina, 9 years old.


• Amanda Cecilia, 7 years old.

In 1881, 14th April another little girl was added as # 5 of the siblings. Her name was Maria Elizabeth Goranson and "over there" in America she would be called Lizzie. 1887 she is a girl of six and would live for another 21 years only.

Maria Elizabeth Goranson (aka Lizzie).

In 1883 a little Esther Susanna was born to the world, on 9th October. She was later to become a modiste, making hats. At this time in 1887 she is four, # 6 of the siblings.

Esther Susanna Goranson

Sibling #7 of Oscar and Linas children was a little girl called Ruth Henrietta Goranson. She was born 22nd August 1886 and was to emigrate at the early age of three! So you might guess, exciting stories are to be told shortly.

Ruth Henrietta Goranson.

Göran's son # 2, August with family (the Goranson's).

In the church of Ljungby, 8th November 1881 my second son August, 31 years old, married his sweetheart Anna Kristina Salomon's daughter who was also born in Hovdinge. Seven months later the family was enlarged! A picture of Kristina below, being a little older, having given birth to ten children! When they married she was only 21 years old, being ten years younger than her husband.

Anna Kristina Goranson (nee Salomonsdotter)

Their first son Gunnar Siwer, later called Gonner was born on 12th June 1882 in the North farm of Hovdinge, in the house which earlier belonged to a man called Olof Svensson died in 1880. In 1887 Gunnar is five years old. On the picture below a grown-up man!

Gunnar Siwer Goranson (aka Gonner).

His brother Karl Henrik was born one and a half years later, 19th Jan 1884. In later years he was often called Carl H or Charly Goranson. In 1887 he is a boy of three. I bet many girls found him handsome when he grew up to be the man you see here!

Karl Henrik Goranson (aka Carl H. or Charlie)

Soon thereafter another little boy came to the world and was given the name Joseph Teophil Goranson. He is only two in 1887 as he was born 11th September 1885. His life ended tragically, which you will hear about later.

Joseph Teofil Goranson

And finally, up to this year of 1887 there was an eleventh grandchild to tell you about! A little girl called Betty Katarina (as her grandma) Sofia Goranson, later called Bettie, was born on 2nd August 1887. A very pretty lady, don't you think! I am a proud grandfather, just wish I could have had them closer.

Betty Katarina Goranson (aka Bettie)

My secretary once talked to a grandpa like me who had come up with the brilliant idea to plant a tree in the garden for every grandchild. He came regret it though, he could not live in a forest...A sweet man but not rational. Such words and knowledge, as science for beginners is what my secretary should be studying now instead of digging into old stories. She knows it too well, but cannot help herself, especially as she yesterday managed to get her husband, my descendant to spend his Sunday afternoon visiting three different cemeteries, looking for old markers and finding new exciting ones!!! Some were illegible so if you see a man and a woman with scrubbing brush among graves, it's them! What a vice!



Yours sincerely, Göran Danielsson.