COMING TO AMERICA----Holmquists from Sweden

 

Kristianstad, Sweden (Then)

Kristianstad, Sweden (Now)

 

 Kjerstena and Sven Holmquist were the parents of Sven Holmquist.

Sven and Christina Holmquist were the parents of Ingrid (Holmquist) MALROSE.

Ingrid is Leroy Fred Malrose's Mother.

Ingrid and John (Johan) is Gloria Alice's Grandparents on her father's side.

 

JOHN (JOHAN) MALROSE & INGRID (HOLMQUIST) MALROSE

 

Ingrid's (Holmquist) parents: Sven & Kjerstena Holmquist from Kristianstad, Sweden

 

 Sven and Kjerstena were married 11 July 1823. Life was not kind to the couple in the old country.  Sven was a mason and work was hard to get.  They moved often.  In one village called Kindholm many living there died of what was called "the nervous fever."  They moved out of there fast.  Kjerstena had lost two children during this time.  One baby died at 1 month and the other was stillborn.  It was after this sadness of her life that Kjerstena had another baby... Sven was born 27 July 1837 in Qviinge, Kristianstad, Sweden. SVEN'S mother, Kjerstena (Svensdotter) was 40 yrs old at his birth.  On 21 February 1840 Kjerstena gave birth to a baby girl named Anna they were living in Qviinge.  The family faced a great lost when on 8 November 1855, Kjerstena fell through the frozen water ditch and died.  Kjerstena was 55 years old at her untimely death.

 

A year after his mother's death, Sven left his family home and became a wander of sorts trying to find work as a crop tender...hired farmer.  In one town where he was working, Farlov, he was working as a shoemaker (which remained his chosen profession throughout the rest of his life) he met and married the young Christina Nilsdotter on 24 September 1861.  At this time Sven dropped his patronymic name and went by his father's chosen name of Holmquist.  Sven and Christina moved from village to village seeking employment.  In the middle of winter in mid-November the family moved to a village called Fjalkestad, in Osterslov parish.  This is where Gloria Alice's grand mother, Ingrid Holmquist was born on 20 September 1864. 

 

It was recorded in the moving-out record book "Shoemaker Sven Holmquist and his wife and 3 children moved from Osterslov to Amerika."  It is hard to know for certain why the family decided to leave their homeland and venture to a new land.  One possible reason is that Sven's brother Truls, had been in America and probably sent letters of a better life.  Work became harder to find as Russia had flooded the market with cheap wheat and Sweden couldn't compete with the low prices.  Many fled at this time as the harsh reality of life in Sweden became dismal. 

 

Upon arriving in America, Christine is 35 yrs and Sven is 33 and still a shoemaker.  They had 3 children, August did not survive the journey across the ocean as he was very young.  But Selia, was 8 and attended school in Galesburg, Illinois.  Ingrid, (Gloria Alice's grandmother) was 6 and Frank the new baby, was 10 months old and he was born in Galesburg, IL.  Sven became a citizen on 2 November 1874 after living in America since 1870. 

 

By 1880, the family settled in Galesburg, and had 3 more children: Annie born in 1872; Sigrid, another daughter born in 1875 and Clara, born 10 January 1878.  Sven is still working as a shoemaker.  Times were lean for the immigrant family as Christine began working as a carpet weaver.

 

In December of 1896, Sven Holmquist became very ill with consumption.  (Tuberculosis typically attacks the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have an active TB infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit respiratory fluids through the air).  Sven suffered for 2 months and then he died on 12 February 1897.  Sven was 60 yrs old.  He was buried in the Linwood Cemetery in Galesburg.

 

Christina lived for 8 more years after the death of her husband, living with her daughter Ingrid and her husband John (Johan) Malros, in Galesburg.  She died 24 February 1905.  She was 70 yrs old when she died and she is also buried in the Linwood Cemetery.

 

 

 

 



COMING TO AMERICA...Beginnings:Leithman & Heigel

 

 

Port of New Orleans 1800s



Coming to America was not an easy task for any immigrant but in the 1800's it was terrible.  With family history one is positioned to discover the PUSH OR PULL of emigration (the leaving) or immigration (the coming in).  The PUSH is what is happening in the homeland to make people leave, such as political upheavels, lack of jobs.  The PULL is what is happening in the foreign land to call out to people of others lands to come, such as stabble political government, work opportunities, and decent hope of economic possibilities.  Today I want to take a look at New Orleans in the 1800's and what it was like for my GERMAN & French Ancestors when they arrived in the booming port city. 



 

New Orleans 1800s

 





 Well it is hard to know for sure what it was that inspired Conrad Leithmann to leave his home and family in Bavaria, Germany.  In 1845 Conrad immigrated to New Orleans at the age of 55.  Five years later he had his own small business selling carts.  In 1861 he married Cathrine Heigel.  Cathrine was 4 years older than Conrad.  She was from Alsace-Lorraine, France.  Alsace-Lorraine had a problem past as it had been tossed between France and Germany for 100's of years.  In 1871 residents of Alsace-Lorraine had been annexed by Bavaria, Germany.  The Alsatians had a short amount of time to decide if they would be French or German.  This decission would determine if they and their children would be allowed to remain in Alsace-Lorraine or whether they would have to leave.  Most of the inhabitants had always and would always consider themselves French.  Although it was not acceptable to associate with the Germans, many spoke German as Alsace-Lorraine had often been "annexed" by Germany. This area became known as "the Land of Tears."  "The poor souls were having repeatedly to pack up and leave their homes, choose new nationalities, give up their language, live with persecution. It is not surprising that so many of them gave up and left for the New World." 

 

I am still in the process of locating Cathrine's and Conrad's records of immigration to America.  It will be interesting to learn how a Bavarian German in America and a Alsatian French woman in America met and fell in love.  Most likely they lived in the same neighiborhood.  More research will be needed to understand this situation. 

 

Map showing relationship of Alsace-Lorraine to France and Germany 

 

Bavaria

 

Alsace-Lorraine









A TALE OF TWO CITIES

 

CHICAGO 1920

 

 

 

NEW ORLEANS 1920

Charles Street

 

My Mother's family was divided between two cities, Chicago and New Orleans.  'Sally' (Sarah Colma de Vasconcellos Malrose) was born in and raised in New Orleans.  'Lee' (Leroy Fred Malrose) was born Galesburg, Illinois (200 miles from Chicago).  Sally said that when she was 5 years old, her parents, 'Harry' (Henry Brown de Vasconcellos) and Alice (Alice Cathrine Leithman) moved from New Orleans to Chicago in 1901.  I don't know for sure but I am assuming it was due to work that they left their loved ones and moved to Chicago.  Harry was a salesman.  He was sales manager for Red Wing Grape Juice and also he worked for Karo Syrup.  And thus started the Great Divide for the family.  

 

The following is a note I found from Sally to her daughter Gloria Alice:

 

Glo,   When you were 9 months old my Mother and I took you to N.O. (New Orleans)--You were the first grandchild--you were so beautiful everyone loved you on sight!  Papa said if I didn't bring his baby home he would leave me--we were only gone about a month!  He didn't say me.  He said you!

You were really lovely.  When I took you in your buggy on 55th Street, people would stop me and ask to see the baby.  You must have been something special!

Well to get along with what happened Mama took you down for Marde Gras---Papa didn't mind too much but Nanaine kept you to vacation--Papa was fit to be tied.  He objected so much to be apart from you--but--me?  I wanted the best for you and that was what I wanted--let's say THE CULTURE.

Sarah and baby Gloria  

 

You might notice two things from this card called the "Cradle Roll."  Yes, the name was spelled Malmrose at that time.  It was changed to Malrose and I am not at this time sure when.  The other thing is that Gloria Alice was baptised a Presbyterian in New Orleans.  Culture and religion is what Sally had in mind. 

Gloria Alice 4 months

 

 



 

 

 

 





TIGERS ARE SO SELDOM by Gloria Alice

 

Tigers Are So Seldom

 

 

How fortunate you are

If you've

Ever known one!

 

 

You'll find

They're fun and

Loving and kind.

 

 

They don't mind

Your noise or toys.

 

 

They laugh

And joke

And tickle

And poke.

 

They'll dry a tear

And chase a fear.

 

And if you ever

Need them,

They are there!

 

I hope some day

You'll have one

In your life,

Or in your heart

And love her.

 

Never let her go

'Cause-

 

Tigers are so seldom

 

I just wanted you to know

 

 

Gloria Bodeker

2/3/1991

 





A VERY SCRAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

 

I wonder if my grandmother, Sarah (Sally) Colma de Vasconcellos Malrose, agreed with this cartoon that it was a "Scrappy New Year!"  Dearest, for that is what she was affectionately called, was 19 years old when President Woodrow Wilson declared WAR officially on Germany.  On April 2, Wilson went before Congress asking for a declaration of war.  His reason were: Germany was sinking American submarines and merchant ships in the Atlantic and it had been discovered that Germany was trying to form a secret alliance with Mexico.  Well, this was enough to convinced Congress and on April 6, one day before Sally turned 19, approval was granted.  For on April 7, 1917 Sally was almost 9 months pregnant.  How Sally must have worried what the world would be like for her new baby. Surely she wondered if she had a boy whether he would one day be called upon to go to war.  Nothing worries a mother as much as that.  For Sally and Lee (Leroy Fred Malrose) were convinced that they would have a son.

For as it happened earlier that year Lee didn't return home from the art studio as he had promised on Valentine's Day.  Sally fussed and fumed and finally wrapped her coat and scarf around her and ran out the door to find him.  For everyone must understand that a pregnant woman on Valentine's Day is not patient. No, not patient at all.  And although it was Lee's nature to be caught in his thoughts and to let time pass by without notice, still this was not the day for day-dreaming.  As Sally approached the studio she caught her composure and upon entering she found Lee drawing a whimsical pen and ink valentine for his love.  And this drawing was proof that the two young lovers were definitely having a handsome young son.



And so it was that on May 11, 1917, GLORIA ALICE MALROSE WAS BORN in Chicago, Illinois.  No, it wasn't the handsome little boy in the 10" x 13" Valentine.  Instead they had a beautiful 11 lb., red-haired baby girl.  My Mother.  And thus it could not be a Scrappy New Year.
 



TOO OVERWHELMED

I shuffled through my closet today and pulled out boxes of my mom's stuff.  As I filled my room with dusty memories, my heart grew heavy.  All I could think was that I had bit off more than I could chew.  The piece I wanted to start my blog off was an introduction that she had written called "Tiger's are so seldom."  But so far I can't find it and now I feel that everything will be out of order.  I started reading a diary that she had started in 1964.  But like all good intentions of New Year Resolutions it only lasted perhaps a week.  How excited and then disappointed I felt at hearing her words of a new year and a hope for a better year than the one previous.  Isn't that what we all hope for year after year.  But how will I know if it was or wasn't?  She didn't finish writing and I am left with more questions than answers. 

My mom has been gone now for 5 years this June.  I am hoping I am at a place now that I can I write and remember her without this deep yearning.  But now my room is as cluttered as my thoughts.  How can I possibly sort through all of this to make sense and semblance of a life once lived?  How can I preserve her memory from tiny bits and pieces of ideas she wrote here and there and since have been stuffed in a box?  So my lesson today is we should try to finish what we start for if we don't one day someone else will have to and they might feel TOO OVERWHELMED. 

My Introduction

My mother always said that we would write a book together.  She had planned to write "her story" and she had many attempts, starts, fits and no completion.  She always wanted my opinion on the latest idea or advice on how to put "her story" together.  She would ask me if I thought she should tell the whole truth of her life.  Well, I believe that the most interesting and engaging story is one that is truthful.  But now that she is gone it is left up to me to make those kinds of choices.  I wished I had paid more attention to the stories or at least taken notes.  Unfortunately I assumed I would have lots of time to hear the stories again and pay closer attention.  But time has a way of slipping on without us noticing.  And one day I realized my mother had grown old and was forgetting.  Then another day and she was gone. 

My mother lived a unique life having been raised in Chicago with her parents for part of the year and sent to live with Aunts in New Orleans for the other half.  She loved both cities and both families.  But the division had always caused her a lot of anguish as where ever she was she missed the other.  Nevertheless, both were thriving, vibrant cities and she grew-up a lady. 

I will be incorporating a personal, social and family history to tell her story.  Some of it will be written by her and most will be inferred by me.  History informs the decisions of our life.  Thus, I believe that it is many of the surrounding events that channel us in certain directions causing us to make it our life.  Therefore, I will tell the history surrounding my mother through world events and rapidly changing social structures. For it is in this chaos that she was the firstborn child, the wife of three men and the mother of three children.  Sounds quite normal at first glance but I assure you there will be some surprises and twists, some secrets and betrayals, some longings and some revelations.  For this is my mother and although I called her mom, others called her TIGER for that is what she was.  And there aren't many like her because "Tiger's are so seldom."