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.