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Carrie B
Medium member
USA
80 Posts |
 Posted - 26/07/2014 : 20:51:51
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Hello all,
Through an interlibrary loan I've received the book "A Century of Urban Life: Norwegians in Chicago before 1930" by Odd S. Lovoll. It's about 350 pages of people, societies, and events in Chicago approximately 1830-1930. Let me know if you need me to look up anything. I should be able to borrow the book for about two weeks.
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jkmarler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
7790 Posts |
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slaleike
Junior member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 27/07/2014 : 06:10:34
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What a kind offer! I would love to accept your offer to check on a family name. I know they passed through Chicago between Norway and eventual settlement in Portage County, WI. Mostly idle curiosity on my part, as I have no reason to believe they would have been altogether notable....though they are huge in my heart!
Peter (Peder) and Gunhild (Gunild) Swenson (Svenson, Svendson, Swendson, etc....). They arrived in America with at least one child, Andrew (Andreas). They departed Norway with two children, Andrew and a girl Gurine. Gurine has not shown up anywhere after the departure manifesto. They had another child in Illinois - I believe I have notes saying Chicago. His name was Daniel (Danial), born 1868.
And a passing "hello" to jkmarler! I have the marriage info on the youngest granddaughter of this couple. Have been dealing for a few months with "life stuff" and just now resurfacing. Will try to get the data on the Offerdahl discussion pages within a few days. |
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Carrie B
Medium member
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 27/07/2014 : 19:24:52
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I couldn't find any information in the book about John Gittleson. However, there was this paragraph about the Norwegian Old Settlers Society, of which John was a member. More later!
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Benevolent Institutions
Those who for some reason, such as poverty, old age, or illness, were unable to care for themselves were beyond the reach of mutual aid societies. They were instead dependents on charitable organizations and the gratuitous help of public and private institutions. The stream of immigrants passing through Chicago called for benevolent measures as well, and protection against the persistent “runner” business and numerous confidence men. Peter M. Balken, who at age twelve in 1849 had emigrated from Stavanger, and was thus a member of the pioneer generation, took the initiative in 1879 to organize the Norwegian Old Settlers Society of Chicago. Its benevolent purpose was “to help needy countrymen in winter and poor immigrants in summer.” At well attended annual picnics, much like the later bygdelag (old home societies), it gathered old timers and others. The proceeds of the gatherings supported its goals. The requirement for being “an old settler” was set at fifteen years residence. The Norwegians Old Settlers Society paralleled, and perhaps imitated, the social activities of the exclusive Calumet Club, organized the previous year, whose annual old settler’s receptions became a feature of Chicago’s social life. Its sole Norwegian member appears to have been Andrew Nelson (Brekke).
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Carrie B
Medium member
USA
80 Posts |
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Carrie B
Medium member
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 27/07/2014 : 19:46:58
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| Slaleike, unfortunately there are no references to the Swensons (or spelling variants) in the index of the book. I'll let you know if something turns up as I skim through the pages. |
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slaleike
Junior member
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 30/07/2014 : 06:45:27
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Thanks so much for checking. I hope to someday find out what happened to the little girl.
If you have the time, here's one more set of names. I am also researching the Samson and Synneve Offerdahl line. While I have no evidence that they ever passed through Chicago, I have none showing that they didn't. No info from when they left Norway till they show up again in Hennepin County.
I found the information that you quoted from the book interesting. I used to work with Central American immigrants, and always was impressed at how well they worked together to help one another out, just as our Norwegian ancestors did. Thanks for taking time to share that story. |
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David Yaw
Medium member
United Kingdom
128 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2014 : 22:00:34
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Carrie, thanks for this very generous offer. My great grandfather Axel Oskar Arnesen was in Chicago around 1900 - I have a photo of him form a local studio. He was a mariner living in South Wales, but other than that I have no idea what he was doing there.
On the off chance, any mention of him in the book please
REgards |
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Carrie B
Medium member
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2014 : 04:46:50
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| David, I am sorry I did not read your message until after returning the book. Offhand I do not recall seeing that name but it is possible. It turned out that the book mostly focused on societies and organizations. |
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David Yaw
Medium member
United Kingdom
128 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2014 : 10:09:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Carrie B
David, I am sorry I did not read your message until after returning the book. Offhand I do not recall seeing that name but it is possible. It turned out that the book mostly focused on societies and organizations.
Carrie, no worries. This was a (very !!) long shot anyway.
Thanks for taking time to respond
Regards |
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Book: Norwegians in Chicago before 1930
