Alex's stone

Here it is, after 2 long years. The stone was set just two days before Alex's 17th birthday. On the back is our surname along with parent's and sibling's names. I was so overcome with emotion that I just bawled for ....who knows how long.
The elements of the stone have a lot of signifigance. The little stone panda on the left was carved in China. Then a friend from Hong Kong went to China to bring it to H.K. My husband's brother-in-law brought it from H.K. to Canada. My sister-in-law brought it from Canada to Washington. My daughter brought it from Washington to Montana. Alex loved pandas, so there had to be a panda on his stone. The guitar is an exact representation of his favorite electric. The song on the right was written by Alex. He recorded it on the computer and we were able to play it at his service. The checkerboard pattern was a favorite and he always wore a checkerd belt. He was buried wearing that belt. The sharp slant on the top looks like a skateboard ramp. He was an avid skater. Finally the color scheme of black and white is so very Alex. The panda is black and white, he loved to wear black and white, so it was natural to choose that scheme. I've blurred the surname for privacy reasons. The flowers in this photo were put there by his friend. I've added a different arrangement to the vase, for now. As hard as it is, I'm so glad that its finally done.

High Time for an Update

In September I had the pleasure of both a phone call and a skype call from the cousins in Sweden. The phone call was very emotional for me and I was weepy through most of it but we talked for about an hour and it was a lovely exchange for both of us. At the end of the month, I was at Camp Scrappy and we had a Skype call on Saturday morning. The best part was Molly was there to join in. We laughed and joked around and answered a few family history questions and just had a wonderful time. Technology is the most amazing thing ever.

Its my 3rd Blogaversary!

Amanuensis Monday....long lost letters

It's been a long time since I've participated in a Geneabloggers daily prompt. But with the arrival of the packet from Marita in Sweden, I'm excited to transcribe two family letters.            


                              

Laramie 3/12 1896

Beloved Parents
I received your letter the 30th of November, a few days late of my birthday. But it was a pleasant and warming when it did arrive. Thank you so much for the little rose leaf. It is very precious to me. It is now almost Christmas again and I wish that my writing will reach you by Christmas.

I am thinking that I am going to celebrate Christmas with my uncle and Christmas morning at 4:30 going to church. Then I will probably have to stay home and cook dinner for my master.
I will go to church in the evening again where all the Christmas gifts, apples and nuts are given out. I heard that Sven is now home helping you. That glads me, now that he is so big and nice too I hope.

Have you received any letters from Johanna and Andy lately? Are they sending you any money at all? We have not seen each other for a long time, Johanna and I. I long to see her again and the girls, but I am thinking that I might just walk from home to Montana, sometime during the winter.

Have you heard anything from Hulda? I am just wondering what has happened to her. I never really hear from her. I hope that she will write you sometime if she is still alive. Is Nils planning to return to America or is he content with his farming at home? I am sending with this letter five dollars for you for Christmas and if Johanna sends some money then it might cover the cost for a winter coat to mom. Now the letter is filled almost and I wish with my whole heart a very happy Christmas.

Love your daughter Anna
Look above the Crucified Jesus. Greetings to everyone in the family, Uncle gives his regards. I send some small presents.
letter from Anna Fält, from the Marita Fäldt collection, Sweden. Translation provided by  Marita Fäldt

Rock Springs Wyoming
1 April 1895

Beloved Parents and brother Sven,

Many thank for the letter that we received some time ago. It is lovely to hear that you are in good health. I also would like to inform you  that we are in good health. We have our good Lord to thank for this.

 I saw in your letter that you have already bought a piece of land from Nils. I can even see that you would sell your place to us. I don't think that will happen for some time, because we do not have the money to pay for the whole place, and travel to Sweden and be in debt. That would be crazy. As long as I can earn 300 Krones a month in America. But if you would like to borrow some money to pay for Nils then we can let you received against security deposit of some kind. I am not really familiar with farming but I thought that I could buy your place and build a blacksmithy there and earn my liviing that way. But can happen that it is not worth while so then I am better off where I am right now. At last, a dear greeting to all from us including Esther and Ruth.

Best regards,
Gus Borgreen
Rock Springs
Box 416 Wyoming
North America
letter from Gus Borgreen to Lave and Hanna Fält in Sweden, from the Marita Fäldt collection, Sweden. Translation provided by  Marita Fäldt

Fält family photos, letters and documentation from Sweden



 

I was contacted by a distant cousin in Sweden. We exchanged notes and email messages and two days ago a packet arrived in the mail box from her. It was full of photos, letters and translations, family group sheets and other documentation connecting Johanna Fält with her parents and siblings. Below is a sampling of items from the packet. There are no words to describe the excitment at this windfall of information and a new relative to add to my Christmas card list. I can hardly believe my luck. All items from the collection of Marita Fäldt.

 

Anders Fält, brother of Johanna "Jennie" (Fält) Borgreen

Gunhild Fält, sister of Johanna "Jennie" (Fält) Borgreen

Hanna Isberg, mother of Johanna "Jennie" (Fält) Borgreen

Lave Fält, father of Johanna "Jennie" (Fält) Borgreen

Letter  from Anna Fält, sister of  Johanna "Jennie" (Fält) Borgreen



Translation of letter  from Anna Fält,

Letter from Johanna and Gust Borgreen to Johanna's parents in Sweden

Translation of letter from Johann and Gust Borgreen

Sven Fält and family, brother of Johanna "Jennie" (Fält) Borgreen

Cabin Memories

I've written about The Cabin before. We just enjoyed a lovely weekend there. We spent time with Uncle Johnny, Aunt Julie, my brother Carl and his wife, Heather and daughter Emily and cousin Molly with her children, Grace and Logan. It was great weather, though a bit hot. We hiked, ate, talked, played in the creek and slept like babies. It all passed too quickly. Every time I go to the cabin, I'm reminded of the generations who were there before me. Recently, Mom brought some old photos for me to scan and many of them were taken at the cabin. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

John Borgreen, Bill Johnstone, Elvira Borgrren Whiting, Nell Johnstone Borgreen, Judy Borgreen, John Whiting

John Whiting, Carl Borgreen, Bill Johnstone, John Borgreen, Elvira Borgreen Whiting, Judy Borgreen

Nell Johnstone Borgreen

Jerry, Carl and Jimmy Borgreen

Bert, Jim, Steve, Rose Mary Johnstone and Nell Johnstone Borgreen

Carl Borgreen and Steve Johnstone

Jim Johnstone

Nell Johnstone Borgreen

Gust Borgreen

Gust, Nell and Carl Borgreen

Nell and Carl Borgreen



Carl Borgreen and Jack Johnstone

Nel and Carl Borgreen

Rare photos

                                   Ruth, Elvira, Ebba, and Carl Borgreen age 5 or 6 Borgreen home
Spent last weekend scanning a bunch of photos that Mom brought over to share. Some I'd seen and had copies of, but many were new to me. Many showed relatives who I'd never seen before. I was very excited to get this photo of some of the Borgreen siblings. I had no pictures of Ruth or Ebba. This photo dates to about 1912 and was taken in Great Falls MT.

Barking up the wrong tree...

Identified by Ruth Wellens, niece of Mary and Louise Marxer

The other day I logged onto Ancestry.com and was scrolling through recent activity when I came across this photo, posted by a distant cousin. "Aunt Louise" ie Louise Marxer; except I don't think it is Louise. I contacted my cousin and told her that I had this same photo and it was labeled "Mary Marxer". Mary and Louise were sisters and my grandfather, Edward Marxer, was their little brother.

I went digging through photo albums and boxes and found my copy of the photo so I could post it and my reasoning to my cousin. I also fished out other photos of Mary and posted them, as well. Then the wheels started turning and I began to remember snippets from research that I'd done years ago. More digging revealed photos of Louise and the story of how she and my grandmother, Marie Marxer (wife to Edward) where good friends. In fact, Louise was Marie's maid-of-honor and I had photos of that event. These are the only photos I've seen of Louise.

Identified by Marie Marxer, sister-in-law to Mary and Louise Marxer

Given that Grandma Marie Marxer was such good friends with Louise and later became sister-in-law to both Mary and Louise, I have to believe that she knew the identity of the person in the photograph. The neice, Ruth, knew them as well, but was much  younger and may have confused the two. I'll post more pics of both women and let you be the judge.

Now for the "barking up the wrong tree" end of this tale. The photo prompted me to delve into the family of Louise and I found her married to Harold B. Hobbs. But my Harold and my cousin's Harold were not the same person. So I went looking for more proof and found their marriage record on Familysearch.org. This was the proof I needed to confirm that I had the right Harold, afterall. I could have to easily been lead down the wrong path, tracing a line that was not related in any way, shape or form. I've posted all my findings on Ancestry and am happy to note that my cousin is making corrections, as I would have done, had the table turned the other way. Its not about being right, its about recording what is true and accurate.

Ok, now for more pics of Mary and Louise Marxer.

Louise Marxer 1935

Louise Marxer 1935

Louise Marxer 1935

Louise Marxer 1935

Mary Marxer

Mary Marxer



Mary Marxer

Mary Marxer