Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Swedish Ancestry - John S Peterson

Dear Wini & Sanna, I could sure use some help. My 2nd Great-Grandfather is John S Peterson. He was born in Sweden in 1831. His wife is Carolina. She was born in Sweden in 1832. They settled in Allamake Co, Iowa about 1866 or 1867.

Some odd things show up in the 1870 US Census for Center Twp, Allamake Co, Iowa.
First John is listed as E. S. Peterson, 31, Carolina, 39, Daughter Alma, 9. Jean, 6 and Charlie my G-Grandfather, 3. His obit says he was born inStockholm, as were Alma and Jean. The 1870 census says Charles was born inIowa. I realize there are mistakes in the census. The 1880 Moline, Rock Island Co, IL census has John S. and Carolina both 49. This fits the cemetery dates. He died in 1889 in Moline, IL and Carolina died in 1881 also in Moline. Other relatives have been to Sweden and said they couldn't find any information so I would appreciate it if you could at least find John and Carolina's birth place and parents names. Thank you for offering to help with Swedish ancestry. I have tried Swedegate.com and can't seem to navigate the site. My lack of knowledge ofthe Swedish language is probably the problem. Thanks again. Sincerely, Steve, Moline, IL

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Kristina Matilda Westerberg born 1856 in Plåttorp

These are siblings of a great-grandmother of mine.

Kristina Matilda Westerberg, born 09 Aug 1856 in Plåttorp,Misterhult, Kalmar lan, to Nils Johan Westerberg & Eva ChristinaNilsdotter.Emigrated to US 26 May 1876 - or perhaps emigrated 28 Apr 1882 to"Warna" (Varna), Marshall Co. Illinois via Gothenburg: källkod,19.652.26805.
At the time of her father's estate/inventory in 1893, maybe Kristina,or certainly her brothers Nels Peter and Gustav Viktor were in Bristow, Boyd Co. Nebraska, or nearby Spencer ("Spaner").By the way, brothers Nels and Gust first emigrated to Varna andWenona, Marshall Co. Illinois.According to a history book from First Ev. Lutheran Church in Varnafrom 1908 that I have heard about but don't know anything more about,Gustaf Victor Vesterberg and a Nels Peter Vesterberg had been membersof the church and had either died or transferred to another parish.Also, Gustav (born 30 Sep 1862, to US 31 March 1882 arriving Varna,Marshall Co. IL 17 December) disappears - he is last known living in Boyd Co. Nebraska as of 1895, but no trace of him thereafter - he isnot mentioned in church records thereafter, can't find him in 1900census, etc.I think that Kristina disappears in Illinois, maybe around Varna, ormaybe Omaha Nebraska, but I think that if she disappeared around Bristow Nebraska that I would have found this by now. But maybe not.
There is no trace of her in the U.S. except that her father's estatesays she is still alive in the US in 1893 - well, presumably she isstill alive, or maybe she is just listed in the will. W

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Good morning everyone!

Morning has broken in this part of the world. I (Sanna) will try and get started with this blog today, for real. Once we've filled it with more information and links we'll "go live". Hopefully researchers of all kinds will find this blog intreresting and useful. I mean you don't have to ask us for help in looking for your ancestors but we'll be glad to help with any query.

Isn't it wondeful to wake up to a new day and feel "Wow, today might be the day that I finally break that brick wall"?! I love brick walls. They make me feel alive. I have a couple that I'm working on occasionally and maybe, maybe today is the day when I'll get closer to solve it.

Jönköping Castle

Jönköping Castle

Kyrkan i dalen (Church in the valley)

Kyrkan i dalen (Church in the valley)