Happy New Year!!!

Hope your Christmas was Merry!

The leftovers are done with. The extra cookies and rolls are frozen, and tomorrow the menu goes back to normal. The Christmas tree will stay up for another week or two. Then winter begins in earnest.

I don't take pictures at Christmas any more, but others do and so far, these are the memories that have been posted on Facebook so far. Somebody counted 19 in the house -- I have no idea. One grandson was not feeling well, and a granddaughter and her family including the Christmas baby from last year were visiting in South Dakota. Two other granddaughters and their families who live in different states were also not with us this year.

Norene is sitting in front of the window, my daughter Chris is in front of her,  and the little boy is her son  Dylan, the lady in the green sweater is my daughter Cheryl, and Riana is sitting at the table. Someone has been busy opening a present. We begin this part of the evening by each person opening a present and they have to decide who the present goes to -- then that person opens a present and gives it to the person they think should have it. Sometimes it gets pretty funny. Christine received a set of bed risers, and every time somebody received something they weren't quite sure what they would do with, Chris would wave the bed risers and say "Could be worse!" and more laughter would erupt. 

My daughter-in-law, Tricia, received a photo of Dorothy and Toto from the Wizard of Oz. This will have a cherished spot in her office.
Norene's saffron rolls on the left are almost gone! They are the highlight of our Christmas Eve dinner.

This is Oscar who hid under the tablecloth on the dining room table, hoping the littlest girls wouldn't find him and his toy.

Over the years I have been given Swedish tomtes who sit on my chandelier all year long. They look particularly festive and happy this Christmas!

And when the night is over, the little ones are done!

Elle Mae couldn't make it to the car

This one is Alanna

This one is Kalea

And even 8 year old Dylan was fast asleep on the way home. 

For Those of Us Who Are Older

Mary Ann sent me an email this morning with a link to

Bob Hope Christmas

Part of every Christmas growing up was listening to the radio for the Bob Hope Christmas Show for the troops, and later watching them on television.

As I watched, it brought back so many memories and sometimes brought tears.

Merry Christmas from our past!

God Jul! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Norene, Doug and I would all like to wish our wonderful relatives and friends around the globe a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! It's been a hectic couple of weeks for all of us. Norene has had an infection that has been bothersome and she has had to have extra doctor appointments for, the weather in Beloit has been bothersome for Doug not only with extra snow but icy streets as well, I have been busy finishing projects for Christmas, and Riana and I have been enjoying the Christmas parties for mentally, physically and emotionally disabled adults and children at Courage Center where we volunteer each week.

We missed celebrating Lucia Day (December 13th) this year for the first time in 10 years.

Lucia Service at the oldest Lutheran Church in Minnesota in 2012

The Altar

The church has no electricity, is lit by candles, and warmed by body heat

Riana as Lucia at Gammelgarden in 2012

'Lussekatts'

Riana about 6, serving in the morning before going to school

Wonder if she is praying that her hair doesn't catch fire!

Lucia Day is the first day of Christmas, saffron rolls, ginger cookies, and love

For more information about how Christmas is celebrated in Sweden, you can find it here.

            http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/sweden.shtml

Along the left side, you can find links to information on how Christmas is celebrated around the world. 

Many of my family will gather here on Christmas Eve, and we will have a traditional Christmas Eve dinner consisting of Lutfisk, Swedish Potato Sausage, Swedish Meatballs, potatoes, rutmos (mashed rutebages), pickled herring, beets, and my favorite -- saffron rolls. We will end our evening with rice pudding and lingonberries, and platters of Christmas cookies and fruitcake. One lucky person will get an almond in their rice pudding and an extra Christmas present along with good luck in the coming year.

I'm ending this post with a Swedish photo from a relative of my mother's. She stated that she often doesn't notice the beauty of the view from her bedroom window since she sees it every day. Winter in Sweden looks a lot like the winter views in Upper Michigan and in Minnesota where I live. 

And another one of our younger relatives and her cat on the Lundwall side

Anna, and Linus the cat, daughter of Lisbeth Martinsson from Falun, Dalarna, Swedem

Have a wonderful and joyous Christmas! God Jul!

Updated Information on Ekeqvists in Sverige (Sweden)

The following is from my second cousin on my mother's side in Sweden (Mycket tack, Dagne!) I am sending it to you the way she sent it. First, her note on what she is sending:

About the documents I am sending.

Jan and Johan is used as the same name during at least this time period.

After the two Johan Ekeqvist I have written their birth year to try not mixing them up.

If there are more than one child with the same name in a family the first one has probably died. I have not had time to follow the whole families so there are at least two girls with the same name and no date of death for the first one.

The last period I have found Johan Ekeqvist (1811) is in Längbro 1851-1855. For the year 1852 is a note that Johan Ekeqvist has been punished for theft for the second time. Johan’s wife dies 1855. After that I know nothing about Johan Ekeqvist or Anders Gustaf. If I have time later on perhaps I can try to follow Anders’ sisters and brothers in the records. Earlier I have sometimes found parents (and sisters and brothers) by their married children. Perhaps Johan was in prison, I don’t know. As he was very poor I am sure he had no money for paying fines and I would guess the poverty was probably the reasong for stealing. As I understand many people were very poor during this time.

Johan Ekeqvist (1811) left for Nora 1827 but I have not been trying to find him because I don’t know where in the parish to search.

After the period 1851-1855 next time I have found Anders Gustaf is 1866 when I have found him in Fellingsbro, Munktorp (as Sue also has found him) and after that in Gävle (Gefle= the old spelling).  So between 1855 (or perhaps earlier) and 1866 Anders has disappeared. Of course he is some place, probably in Örebro län, but I have no idea where.

--------------

Next, in chronological order:

Ekeqvist

Örebro Gällersta C:1 Födde 1732-1815

Jan born Sept 4 christened Sept 9 1781

Father: Jan Andersson

Mother: Stina Petersdotter in Södra Bro

Family Jan Andersson (1740)

Jan Andersson born Ekeby 1740 Nov 15

Wife Stina Persdotter born 1741 Gällersta

Son Anders born 1773 Oct 2 Gällersta

Daughter Stina born 1776 Febr 22 Gällersta

Son Per born 1778 Oct 5 Gällersta - 1794 moving to E Bankekind¹⁾

Son Jan born 1781 Sept 4 Gällersta

Daughter Cathrina born 1784 March 14(?) Gällersta – dead 1796 July 28

^{1) -} E Bankekind (difficult to read so I am not sure. E could be the letter for Östergötlands län and there the parish Bankekind)

1791 –

Jan Andersson (1740) to Fattighuset ²⁾

Son Jan f 1781 to Klockarbord (Klockarbord - a village or a place in the parish)

²⁾ Fattighus=poor house, shelter for the poor

1800

Son Jan (1781) to work at Erik Larsson in Gällersta

Family Johan Ekeqvist (1781) – called Jan (or Johan) Jansson earlier

Soldier Johan Ekeqvist born 1781 Sept 4 Gällersta

Wife Lena Gustafsdotter born 1780 Almby

Daughter Stina Maria born 1805 Sept 4 Ekeby

Daughter Stina Maria born 1810 Jan 17 Ekeby

Son Johan born 1811 Dec 15 Ekeby

Daughter Anna Sophia born 1816 July 11 Ekeby – dead 1818

Son Anders born 1819 Nov 28 Ekeby

Johan Ekeqvist (1781) dead 1822 June 29

Lena (Helena Gustafsdotter dead 1855 Oct 17 in cholera.

Family Johan Ekeqvist (1811)

Soldier Johan Ekeqvist born 1811 Dec 15 Ekeby

Wife Ulrica Sophia Larsdotter born 1806 March 10 Ånsta – dead 1855 Oct 17 from cholera.

Daughter Anna Maria born 1830 Febr 25 Vintrosa - (A note that she is the wife’s own daughter. No name of the father).

Daughter Charlotta Carolina born 1832 July 29 Ånsta

Daughter Sophia Lovisa born 1835 Nov 8 Ånsta

Son Carl Johan born 1838 Febr 2 Ånsta

Son Anders Gustaf born 1840 May 25 Täby

Son Per August born 1843 Febr 14 Glanshammar

Daughter Mathilda born 1848 Oct 5 Längbro

1841

The whole family moving from Skeppsta by, Täby to Södra Palmbrohult, Mosjö.

1842

The whole family moving to Husby, Glanshammar.

1844

The whole family moving to Längbro. In Längbro they are noted as “Husvilla”, which means they had no place to live in.

In Längbro, after 1851, they are noted as “På socknen” which means the parish has to give them food and living.

1852

A note that Johan Ekeqvist (1811) is punished for theft for the 2^nd time.

1855

Oct 17.Ulrika Sophia (wife of Johan Ekeqvist (1811) dies from cholera

----------------

Ekeqvist

Örebro Gällersta C:1 Födde 1732-1815

Jan born Sept 4 christened Sept 9 1781

Father: Jan Andersson

Mother: Stina Petersdotter in Södra Bro

Family Jan Andersson (1740)

Jan Andersson born Ekeby 1740 Nov 15

Wife Stina Persdotter born 1741 Gällersta

Son Anders born 1773 Oct 2 Gällersta

Daughter Stina born 1776 Febr 22 Gällersta

Son Per born 1778 Oct 5 Gällersta - 1794 moving to E Bankekind¹⁾

Son Jan born 1781 Sept 4 Gällersta

Daughter Cathrina born 1784 March 14(?) Gällersta – dead 1796 July 28

^{1) -} E Bankekind (difficult to read so I am not sure. E could be the letter for Östergötlands län and there the parish Bankekind)

1791 –

Jan Andersson (1740) to Fattighuset ²⁾

Son Jan f 1781 to Klockarbord (Klockarbord - a village or a place in the parish)

²⁾ Fattighus=poor house, shelter for the poor

1800

Son Jan (1781) to work at Erik Larsson in Gällersta

Family Johan Ekeqvist (1781) – called Jan (or Johan) Jansson earlier

Soldier Johan Ekeqvist born 1781 Sept 4 Gällersta

Wife Lena Gustafsdotter born 1780 Almby

Daughter Stina Maria born 1805 Sept 4 Ekeby

Daughter Stina Maria born 1810 Jan 17 Ekeby

Son Johan born 1811 Dec 15 Ekeby

Daughter Anna Sophia born 1816 July 11 Ekeby – dead 1818

Son Anders born 1819 Nov 28 Ekeby

Johan Ekeqvist (1781) dead 1822 June 29

Lena (Helena Gustafsdotter dead 1855 Oct 17 in cholera.

Family Johan Ekeqvist (1811)

Soldier Johan Ekeqvist born 1811 Dec 15 Ekeby

Wife Ulrica Sophia Larsdotter born 1806 March 10 Ånsta – dead 1855 Oct 17 from cholera.

Daughter Anna Maria born 1830 Febr 25 Vintrosa - (A note that she is the wife’s own daughter. No name of the father).

Daughter Charlotta Carolina born 1832 July 29 Ånsta

Daughter Sophia Lovisa born 1835 Nov 8 Ånsta

Son Carl Johan born 1838 Febr 2 Ånsta

Son Anders Gustaf born 1840 May 25 Täby

Son Per August born 1843 Febr 14 Glanshammar

Daughter Mathilda born 1848 Oct 5 Längbro

1841

The whole family moving from Skeppsta by, Täby to Södra Palmbrohult, Mosjö.

1842

The whole family moving to Husby, Glanshammar.

1844

The whole family moving to Längbro. In Längbro they are noted as “Husvilla”, which means they had no place to live in.

In Längbro, after 1851, they are noted as “På socknen” which means the parish has to give them food and living.

1852

A note that Johan Ekeqvist (1811) is punished for theft for the 2^nd time.

1855

Oct 17.Ulrika Sophia (wife of Johan Ekeqvist (1811) dies from cholera

Leo Molinaro

The husband of Eileen Osterberg Molinaro (Aunt Ida's daughter), Leo Molinaro died at one minute after midnight on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. He had slipped the day before and hit his head in the bathroom. He never regained consciousness. And poor Eileen asks where he is every five minutes, and when they have to tell her, again, that he died, she says “Oh my—I have to take this in.” And then a few minutes later she has to ask again. She wasn’t there—she was in the hospital recovering from a broken hip.

Leo was 91 years old. As of now, a Christmas memorial service is being planned. 

Eileen and Rhoda Hoaglund are the only remaining children of Ida Ekquist Osterberg.

Word was received from Judy Buck-Glenn and Ron Osterberg. 

Yulekaka or Yulekaga, or Scandinavian Christmas Bread

Mary Ann shared two recipes for Yulekake (Norwegian breads) she received from a friend. The first one can be made in the bread machine:

YuleKake Recipe 

Scandanavian Bread

Ingredients:1 cup 1% low-fat milk, plus 1 T. 

1 egg
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
3 cups bread flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 1/8 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup candied citron
1/4 cup raisins golden

Directions:  Place all ingredients except for the citron and raisins in the order given into the bread machine. Coat the citron and raisins very lightly with whole wheat flour so that they do not clump together. Use a 1.5 lb., light cycle. Ten minutes before the first knead finishes, add the raisins and citron.
NOTES : Check for proper dough consistency after 5 to 10 minutes of kneading; add up to a tablespoon of milk or a tablespoon of bread flour as needed. Use more or less citron as desired. 

12 servings Nutritional Info (per serving): 188 Calories (kcal); 3g Total Fat; (12% calories from fat); 6g Protein; 35g Carbohydrate; 23mg Cholesterol; 129mg Sodium 

The second one is begun in a mixer:

Yulakake  (second recipe)

Ingredients:41/2 to 5 cups unbleached flour

2 packages active dry yeast
3/4 tsp. ground cardamom
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup mixed candied fruit
1 cup golden raisins

Directions:In large mixer bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups of the flour with the yeast and cardamom. In saucepan, heat together milk, butter, sugar, and salt just till warm, stirring occasionally to melt butter. Add to dry mixture in mixer bowl; add egg. Beat at low seed of electric mixer for 1/2 minute, scraping sides of bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes at high speed. By hand, stir in fruits, raisins, and enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Turn out on lightly floured surface; knead till smooth, 8 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover; let rise till double, 1 1/4 to 1/1/2 hours. Punch down; divide dough in half. Cover and let rest 10 minutes. Shape in 2 loaves. Place in 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. (I run a strip of greased, waxed paper along the bottom of the pan so that the bread will come out easier.) Cover; let rise till double, about 45 minutes. Combine one slightly beaten egg yolk, and 2 tablespoons water; brush over loaves. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes (until loaves are golden and bottom sounds hollow). Remove from pans; cool. Drizzle with thin confectioners' sugar icing and garnish with sliced almonds and red adn green cherries, if desired. Makes 2 loaves

--------------------

My mother didn't like citron very much, so she made hers with candied fruit -- and she always made hers round loaves rather than using standard loaf pans. 

Gavle -- the part of Sweden the Ekekqvists Immigrated From

Sue has also shared the following website with us:

Gavle Photos

This shows the city where the Anders and Lovisa left in Sweden to come to Florence, Wisconsin, for the promise of free land to be homesteaded in "Amerika." Over the years, the oldest settlement was called Gavle-ägarna, which means "Gavel-owners". This name was shortened to Gavle, then Gefle, and finally Gävle.

The Swedish Christmas Goat made of straw was first made in Gävle, and this ornament is sold worldwide at Christmas time.

About 20 years ago, I began collecting Vinranka dinnerware, known also as Swedish Flow Blue, and which is made in Gävle.

Today Gävle is well-known for the coffee called Gevalia, produced by Kraft General Foods Scandinavia and exported under multiple brand names. Gevalia is particularly popular in the United States. 

Enjoy!

Additional Information Received on the Ekekqvists in Sweden

The following information has been received from Sue, granddaughter of Willard. Thank you so much for this! We will add any additional information we find..... Information will also be entered into Ancestry.com and my personal Family Tree information. Note another spelling as well == Ekeqvist (Nancy)

Following is the updated copy from Sue with Swedish spelling. As we learn more, we will make another update here.

-------------------

Tracing movements of Johan Ekeqvist and Ulrica Sophia Larsdotter and then Andrew.

Marriage of Johan and Ulrica? do not have

1830-- Daughter born in Vintrosa – Körningstorp in Ånsta Längbro, p. 135 household census 1836-1840

1832--Daughter born in Ånsta -- Körningstorp in Ånsta Längbro, p. 135 household census 1836-1840

1835--Daughter born in Ånsta -- Körningstorp in Ånsta Längbro, p. 135 household census 1836-1840

1838--Son born in Ånsta -- Körningstorp in Ånsta-Längbro, p. 135 household census 1836-1840

March 1838 -- moved from Körningstorp in Ånsta-Längbro to Taby p. 135 household census 1836-1840

1838-1840--lived in Skeppsta Rote, Täby, household census, 1836-1840 p. 84

24 May 1840--Andrew born in Täby. Record does not say May but all further references say May. The 1840 birth record has April and June but possibly May was left out.

1841--family moved to Mosjö, household census 1841-1845, Täby Rote p. 146

July 1841 (handwritten note, no copy) family moved from Täby to Södra Palmbohult in Mosjö

8 April 1842 (handwritten note, no copy) left S.P. to Glanshammar.

14 Feb. 1843—son Per August born in Glanshammar

1844—left for Längbro

Big Gap--- big enough gap for Anders to have another wife, family. I do not have actual marriage for A & L

1866-1969 in Fellingsbro?

Nov. 1866--Anders examined in Bergaby Rote, Ö. Norrby, Fellingsbro household census p.87

My incomplete note--rattar Anders Gustaf Ekeqvist p. 572 Grenby (Björke) 4 June 1869 "In" #10

1869-- Anders to Munktorp

22 Sept 1873--Anders of Grenby left Munktorp for Gefle "Out" record #11, p. 955 and opp.

10 Nov 1873--Anders entered into Korsnäs, Gefle household record (from Munktorp)

10 Nov 1873--Louisa Olsdotter entered into Korsnäs, Gefle household record (from Hed)

17 July 1874--betrothal (this and next three items from pp. 171-172 household Korsnäs, Gefle)

11 Oct 1874--marriage in Gefle

4 June 1875--Carl Gustaf born in Gefle -- have birth record

31 Jan 1876--Carl Gustaf died in Gefle -- from p. 151 household Korsnäs, Gefle

13 June 1877--Augusta Eleonora born in Gefle -- have birth record

5 Oct 1878--Ida Charlotta born in Gefle -- have birth record

11 Sept 1880--record says family left for N. Amerika p. 152 household Korsnäs, Gefle) and yet Anders was in Göteborg on 19 March and came to New York (per Bruce Osterberg) and Louisa and daughters were in Göteborg on 17 Sept, Boston on 8 Oct and then on to Chicago. (per Bruce)

Miracles Do Happen

As many of you know, my sister has been going through chemo treatments since March to reduce the size of a cancer before having surgery to remove it.

The surgery took place on Tuesday morning and the pathology report has been received. After surgery, they can find no indication of cancer cells anywhere.

The doctor has told her this is next to a miracle and they all wish they could give this kind of news to all their patients.

She still has to go through recovery from major surgery -- but that isn't as daunting as it looked before. AND there will be additional preventative steps to take because through DNA testing, she was found to have the BRCA1 gene mutation which gives the indication of a much higher risk for several kinds of cancer, including breast and ovarian for women; and breast and prostate cancer for men; and skin cancer for both.

Information I received after I had the DNA testing is that family members who remain at-risk for carrying this mutation include our brother and his sons, and all cousins on both sides of our family (until it can be determined whether the mutation was maternally or paternally derived.) My note -- it could have potentially come down from both sides since all of our great-grandparents came from Sweden where there is a history of the BRCA1 mutation. My children and my grandchildren are not at risk for having the BRCA1 mutation because I do not have it. BUT this does not mean that I am immune from cancer, it just means my risk is no longer extremely high. We have additional information for any relative who may have missed receiving the information we sent out. We also have the compiled list of cancer history within the family.

For relatives, this is important information to share with your doctors as well.

And, yes -- miracles do happen!

New Information I Didn't Know

Today, I received information from my 2nd cousin on my mother's side. She has been teaching genealogy to small groups in Sweden, and she has been looking at Louisa Ekquist's side of the family for us.

Following is part of what she wrote:

"Lovisa’s younger sister Augusta Vilhelmina who was born 1862 March 22 in Västra Skedvi is married to Per Gustaf Österberg born 1865 Febr 8 in Hed. They were married in 1887 Aug 20. Per Gustaf was a “smältare”. I have seen the translation “smelter” but i don’t know if it is ok. It is a type of smith. They emigrated to N. Amerika in Sept or Nov 1887. It is difficult to read the month and date." A year later, Louisa's parents also immigrated and came to live with the Ekquist family.

 

Once I entered this information into Ancestry.com, I discovered that Per and Augusta Osterberg arrived in New York on the 14 October 1887, so they married and left immediately through Norway to New York. 

I then discovered they went to Florence, Wisconsin where both their son Henry and daughter Nannette were born -- and then they moved to California by 1920.

The story of how Louisa's younger sister intercepted the letter from Andrew to Louisa telling her not to come to America yet is probably a true story. In 1880 Augusta would have been 18 and probably was tired of having little ones in the house. Sounds like something a younger sister would do. 

Here is information on Nannette, the daughter of Per and Augusta Osterberg. Notice that the information for a missing birth certificate was certified by her cousin, Emil Ekquist. 

I have emailed both Bruce and Ron Osterberg to find out if they know whether Per (or Peter) Gustav Osterberg was a relative of Axel Osterberg, husband of Aunt Ida. More of the pieces of the puzzle are coming together.

Also for your reading pleasure, here is a link to information about Homestead from Ralph Hoaglund's book:

http://genealogytrails.com/wis/florence/homesteadhoaglund2.htm

Celebrating Family History Month

I know, I know -- I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but the rest of us would like to also hear from YOU!

Here's another article, I'd like to share with you:

Five Tips For Celebrating Family History Month

•    Michael Leclerc's Genealogy News

•    Research Tips

01 Oct 2013

This is the favorite time of year for genealogists. October is Family History Month. It is a time dedicated to remembering our ancestors and celebrating them. Here are a few ideas for ways you can commemorate your own family history.

1. Write Up Some Family Stories

Time to take your research and start writing it up. Look at one of your ancestral families and start writing up the research you have conducted on them. One of the reasons we do genealogical research is to preserve their memories, but all too often we get tied up in the thrill of the chase, and never share what we find. Put together a biographical sketch of the family and post it on your blog, email it to family members, or print it out and mail it to them through the postal service.

2. Tell the Story Behind a Family Photograph

We all have piles of family photographs with no identification on them. Take some time this month to go through some of your pictures and label them. And don’t just put the names of the people in the picture. Tell the story behind it. Was it taken at a wedding? At a birthday party? A family vacation or outing? Were you doing something special at the time? Knowing those stories is just as important as knowing who is in the pictures.

3. Have a Family Get-together to Share Stories

You don’t have to have a huge, fancy party. But invite some of the aunts, uncles, and cousins to come over. It is still warm enough in many areas to have a barbecue. Have some time during the get-together to share some family stories. They can be stories of the past generations, or stories of the current ones.  And set your digital recorder to capture the stories, so you can share them with others who can’t attend.

4. Visit Cemeteries

Generations past used to visit the cemetery all the time. They would go and tend the graves. The entire community would sometimes be there. It was a festive occasion to honor family members who have passed. Nowadays we seem to be too rushed to take the time to visit. As genealogists, we may be the only ones there. But it is still important. Go and visit. Make sure the stones are still in their proper places and need no extra attention. Do some weeding. And bring the younger generation so you can not only share the experience, but share their stories.

5. Compose Part of Your Own Story

The time has come to tell your story. If you don’t tell it, who will? You are the only one who knows what you think, what you feel, how you experienced things. What do you want future generations to know about you? Sit down and start writing your life. You don’t have to write an entire novel in a month. Focus on a particular event or two in your life. Put down your memories. You don’t even have to share them right away, but knowing that you have got some of them written down ensures that someone should see them someday.

Commonwealth Cemetery Stones Need Work

The stones for our great-grandmother and great-grandfather need help. The following photos were taken in 2011 and I'm sure these stones are in worse shape today. They are located on the far end of the Commonwealth, Wisconsin, cemetery and if I remember right, they are on the right side of one of the paths perhaps 3 or 4 from the road going towards Homestead. The larger stone is to the left of the smaller stone, but they are next to each other.

The larger stone was for Margareta Elizabeth Tagstrom Lundwall, who died at the age of 52, wife of Andrew Lundwall. As you can tell by the stone, Andrew loved her deeply and was very particular that we would know more about her, and it was important to him that we know she was born in Sweden.

This stone needs the most work -- first the stone is on the edge of the base rather then in the middle where it belongs. Once it is secured in it's proper place and sealed to the base, the stone needs to be cleaned. This also is a problem because there is no water available at the cemetery. This is a small town cemetery. 

We have had wonderful results just with a brush, a plastic trowel, and water; but without water brought to the cemetery, there is no way to clean it.  

By the time Andrew died at the age of 79, he had been a widow for 27 years. During this time, he lived with or near his sons in the Iron River area.

If anyone in Michigan would like to take a trip to the Commonwealth Cemetery to see what can be done, fix and clean the stones, or if anyone knows who we can contact to have the stones cleaned and the larger stone fixed, please let me know who I can contact. There was a phone number listed on the shed in the middle of the cemetery, but when I tried calling, I wasn't able to get in touch with anyone.

It would be a shame to just let the stones continue to deteriorate. The larger stone may have already fallen.

Materials Needed For Cleaning a Gravestone

• Soft-bristle brush: Metallic brushes are entirely too harsh, and they also leave particles on the surface of the stone that can rust.
• Small, soft, slanted paintbrush: To clean debris and critters out of lettering or carvings.
• At least one large sponge, firm toothbrushes
• Water: A good water supply, a hose connection, or buckets of water. You may also want to bring a small spray bottle of water for gently cleaning dirt and debris from the stone. The spray bottle, should contain only water and not detergent or chemicals of any kind that would damage and further erode the stone's material. You might want to use Photo Flo, which is made by Kodak and used in photo developing. Mix one capfull per gallon of water. Wash stone with solution, then rinse stone with clean water. Use brush.
• Towel or old rags: used to kneel on or clean polished granite stones. Launder the towels first, but do NOT use fabric softener. The softener will affect their ability to absorb liquids as well as cutting down on the "magnetism" for dirt and dust.
• Hand cleaner: Bring along a sample size of antibacterial waterless hand cleaners or wipes.
• Cutting Tool: Hand-held grass clippers, scissors or a retractable razor knife for trimming grass and/or weeds close to the stones. DO NOT use weed-whacker type trimmers as these can scar the stones. For site clearing/cleaning, a pair of pruning shears or hedge clippers is also helpful for brush that is too thick to rip out or cut with grass clippers, but not thick enough to bother with a chain saw.
• Pencil and Notepad: to record information about the stone or cemetery location.

The larger stone reads as follows, (unfortunately I don't remember what else is on the stone):

In Memory of

Margreta E.

Wife of

Andrew Lundwall

Born in Sweden

Born Apr 30, 1848

Died Oct 9, 1900

LUNDWALL 

Krans Cousin Luncheon

On the 26th of September, some of the Krans' cousins got together at the home of Rita Jarvis near Green Bay. Unfortunately, we were unable to be there -- would have been so nice to see everybody in person. The photo was sent by Loraine.

Standing l-r: Nancy & Jack Marshall, Marilyn Watson, Jim Jarvis, Charlotte Waldschmidt, Dale Krans, Arvid Carlson, Rita Jarvis
Front: Kathy Christianson, Marlene and Dale Miller, Loraine Larson, Gayle Trible, and Karen Andrusco 

Nancy is the daughter of Gustav; Marilyn, Loraine, Gayle and Karen are the daughters of Robert; Charlotte and Rita are the daughters of Roy; Marlene is the daughter of Edward; Kathy and Dale are the offspring of Vernon.

A Special Request to Any Family Member

I started Time Will Tell as a way to document as much of our family history as I could.  Unfortunately, the history has been somewhat one-sided since most of it has been from my perspective. I am asking for your contributions.

Think about the things we’ve discovered that most of us didn’t know – how special the story of Oscar’s violin and what happened to it has been. Most of us had no idea that Oscar played the violin, or that Oscar and Teckla met when they played instruments at dances. The only thing I remember was when Roger and I were staying with Grandma one summer in Iron Mountain and Grandma got a far-away look in her eyes as she told us that Grandpa’s favorite song was “Jimmy Crack Corn” (which has many interpretations, although it’s basically a slave song – I always thought it was a drinking song about bootleg liquor. It’s possible that he quite simply liked to play it on his violin.)   

I also know that most of you probably have no idea of where or how to even begin.Today I came across an article entitled “Items to consider in writing your Family History.” I also found an outline of what Aunt Nan was going to write (and never did.)

Ron Osterberg has already agreed to write short stories for us about his side of the (Aunt Ida) Osterberg part of the Ekquist family. We’d love to hear more from you too.

I am hoping for as much family history as possible – not from just the Lundwall cousins, but from any and all extended family members. (Do any of you remember when the Lundwalls tried Round-Robin letters -- where somebody started, and each family's news was added to it and sent on to the next in line?) This might include stories about:

Childhood health, accidents, playmates, trips, brothers and sisters, unusual happenings, visitors, memories of other relatives, what influenced your major decisions in life.

Schools attended, teachers, who or what influenced you the most, special activities, achievements, funny things that happened.

What your parents did for a living. What you do/did for a living.

Sports you’ve enjoyed (I remember my dad sitting at the kitchen table listening to boxing on the radio, and we tiptoed around him so he didn’t miss a thing. Luckily, I married a man who didn't enjoy listening to the fights! One of my daughter's at age 11 decided she wanted to be Joe Namath.)

Courtship, where you met, proposal, wedding parties, honeymoon, meeting your inlaws. Married life, settling down, your new home, differences in family cultures, joys and sorrows. Hardships. Humorous incidents. Frightening experiences.

What you enjoy doing for recreation. Hobbies, travels, camping. Special celebrations you remember. How you celebrate holidays, birthdays, etc. What you do for pure enjoyment.

Family members, what you remember of often-told family stories, or how a relative inspired you. (We no longer have Uncle Bill or Uncle Dave to tell us stories; too bad we didn't start this a long time ago!)

This isn't a test or a major project; nobody will be graded. Share whatever is interesting and meaningful to you. Any story that does not embarrass or hurt others is acceptable. Without your input, our family history will not be complete. We are all getting older, please do it now.  

If it helps, think of it as a letter written to your family..... Family letters have always been treasured -- I remember when my parents went to Sweden, they were given letters received in Sweden from my mother's parents here in the United States saved for many years.  Aunt Nancy saved letters from everybody, and many of these survive today.

Sending hugs to all, as well as thank you for being a special part of our family, a part of our history!

Listing of our parent's Ekquist cousins

Ron Osterberg has been going through the postings, and he wrote me that he keeps getting lost about who was who.

In all my assorted collection of papers, I found a listing of the Ekquist cousins and scanned both sides of the page for him. Thought it might be nice for others to have a listing if they too wanted to try to keep the Ekquist families straight.  

Nancy Roberg put these together when she hosted the first Ekquist cousins reunion and then added dates as she knew them. I also went through and added the dates that I know. 

In order to add these pages, I had to save them as photos.

The list starts with Ellen's family (Ellen was the eldest sister) and ends with Teckla's family (Teckla was the youngest.) The list is in order from oldest to the youngest. 

Long Lost Relatives

Meet Ron Osterberg who lives in Connecticut. He is our second cousin and he's quite a writer and he writes from his heart!

      http://www.bhosterberg.com/Ron/

If you want to contact Ron, there is a place to do that as well. Enjoy! Below is how Ron and I connected just a few short days ago.

A while ago, I said I was doing some genealogy work on my mother's side of the family. I wasn't having much luck!

My brother, Doug, had seen a tv show about DNA testing few years ago, and he said he would really like to do it -- but it was very expensive. Then somehow I discovered that 23 and Me was doing genetic testing for $99, and that there was more information available for males in a family than for females. I sent Doug the information and told him that if he was still interested, I would pay for half. I was hoping it might lead to relatives of my mother's grandmother on her mother's side as we knew so very little about her parents. All we knew about her was that she had my grandmother, and immigrated from Sweden. Her husband remarried 3 years later -- and my great-grandmother disappeared. My great-grandfather's name was Nels Nelson from Sweden (and that's all we knew -- any idea of how many Nels Nelsons there were in Sweden -- it's like how many Jones families are in America!)

Since then, I've connected with two of my mother's father's relatives in Sweden and they've been sending me information and doing research for me, verifying what I've got right and what I've got wrong.

Then I connected with a granddaughter of my maternal grandmother's half-brother, and she gave me what little information she had and I shared photos of her grandfather that I had in my possession and told her what I knew. And nothing happened for months.

In the middle of last week, somebody copied one of the Nelson photos in that family and I recognized the name as the husband of another member of the Nelson family. I sent a message off and was informed that he would send the information on to his wife by email. To make a long story short, Debbie, who is the daughter of a first cousin once removed, contacted me and we exchanged information -- her dad was a little skeptical because he didn't remember me. This changed when I sent them a photo of his father, my mother, and him; along with everything I knew about my maternal grandmother's family. Her dad and her mother went to the Negaunee cemetery and collected dates off of the stones. So more of the family information came in.

Then another family tree came up with information about Grandma's sister Aunt Ida's family, but our Great-Grandparent's name was spelled Aquist instead of Ekquist. I sent her a message that if she was having problems finding information, that was why.

Doug sent me information last week about relatives that 23 and Me said were second cousins. Turns out one of them was Ron Osterberg, the grandson of Aunt Ida Osterberg; and the other was Dale, the grandson of Roy Krans, and the son of Rita.

The Krans relatives are getting together for lunch tomorrow in Green Bay -- but it's 4-1/2 hours one way and I don't have anyone to ride along with me, so unfortunately I won't be there. I have found more information in a book written about Krans relatives in a book about Aurora, and I will be sharing some of this with you soon.

Information has started to explode from all sides of my large wonderful extended family. Information is coming at me so quickly from all directions. it's difficult keeping it all straight and trying to make sense of it all.

And all this leads up to -- I would like to introduce you to Ron Osterberg who lives in Connecticut. He is our second cousin and he's quite a writer and he writes from his heart!

      http://www.bhosterberg.com/Ron/

If you want to contact Ron, there is a place to do that as well. Enjoy!