Sara "Americanized" the spelling of her first name to "Sarah" some time after her arrival in Michigan. Or perhaps it was done for her, by the Americans that wrote and kept the records, there. C.S.
------------
From her daughter, Hulda:
Sarah was born, the oldest of two girls, in the Province of Dalarna, Sweden, in 1860. She and her family lived in town, but had a farm in the country. They hired a girl to live out on the farm, make butter, and care for the cows. Sometimes Sarah and her sister, Johanna, would go riding in the woods there. One of the childhood stories, that her parents told her, was that the "Brownies" (small spooks or elfish people) would be in the woods and scare the horses by throwing mud and stones (that were actually kicked up from the hooves of the animals).
[Later, in Sweden]
One day, some young men came to their town and told about America. One of the men's name was Tournell (who was related to some Tournells in Grand Rapids, MI). Mr. Tournell (the relative in G.R.) had a grocery store on the west side of Grand Rapids.
When Sarah heard about America, she became very excited and wanted to go. Her family tried to stop her, but she sold land that she had inherited from her mother's estate and left for America. She was approximately 25 years old when she arrived, with brown hair and grey-blue eyes.
[In America]
Sarah left her sister Johanna in Sweden. (Johanna eventually married a Mr. Vickman and had 6 children, (4 girls and 2 boys). Sara also had a cousin Elizabeth (Erickson) Holmberg who lived in Battle Creek, MI. Sarah visited her often. "Liz's" father was a brother to Sarah's mother.
In the Grand Rapids area, lived a family by the name of Langrens or Langron. They often held meetings and other get-togethers for Swedish immigrants for support, fun, and a place to meet other Swedish families and prospective marriage partners. It is very likely that this is where Sara met her future husband, Gustaf Johansson, (also an immigrant from Sweden) since they went there often, and spoke very highly of the Langron family.
[After her husband's death]
Sarah would not return to Sweden, even though Gustaf had told her she should (if he died). Instead she conferred with a family friend, who was also Gustaf's superintendant at Pheonix Furniture Co., a Mr. Alfred Olson. Mr. Olson was a Swedish immigrant himself and was highly regarded by Gustaf and Sarah. He believed that she should stay, partly because her husband had purchased a life insurance policy before his illness, (worth $5000.00) that would help her care for herself and children. She accepted his advice and whenever a problem came up, she could turn to him for more assistance.
After receiving the insurance money, she purchased a home on McKee Ave., Wyoming, MI, and a cow (so the children would have milk). For added income she sold products through Larken / Larkin Co.
Sarah and her children were good friends with the Newtons (neighbors) having taffy pulls and games. Once, a safety pin was your ticket in. Margaret Newton was about Hulda's age. They got together with other girls (Beatrice, hulda's friend) and played bunko.
-----------
From her granddaughter, Charlotte:
Two things about Sarah. She would go to the river and wade in and grab a turtle, kill it and make turtle soup. Also, when they lived on McKee Ave, if she heard a noise outside, she would grab a big knife and go out to investigate. Mom thought Sarah was pretty brave!
Sara "Americanized" the spelling of her first name to "Sarah" some time after her arrival in Michigan. Or perhaps it was done for her, by the Americans that wrote and kept the records, there. C.S.
------------
From her daughter, Hulda:
Sarah was born, the oldest of two girls, in the Province of Dalarna, Sweden, in 1860. She and her family lived in town, but had a farm in the country. They hired a girl to live out on the farm, make butter, and care for the cows. Sometimes Sarah and her sister, Johanna, would go riding in the woods there. One of the childhood stories, that her parents told her, was that the "Brownies" (small spooks or elfish people) would be in the woods and scare the horses by throwing mud and stones (that were actually kicked up from the hooves of the animals).
[Later, in Sweden]
One day, some young men came to their town and told about America. One of the men's name was Tournell (who was related to some Tournells in Grand Rapids, MI). Mr. Tournell (the relative in G.R.) had a grocery store on the west side of Grand Rapids.
When Sarah heard about America, she became very excited and wanted to go. Her family tried to stop her, but she sold land that she had inherited from her mother's estate and left for America. She was approximately 25 years old when she arrived, with brown hair and grey-blue eyes.
[In America]
Sarah left her sister Johanna in Sweden. (Johanna eventually married a Mr. Vickman and had 6 children, (4 girls and 2 boys). Sara also had a cousin Elizabeth (Erickson) Holmberg who lived in Battle Creek, MI. Sarah visited her often. "Liz's" father was a brother to Sarah's mother.
In the Grand Rapids area, lived a family by the name of Langrens or Langron. They often held meetings and other get-togethers for Swedish immigrants for support, fun, and a place to meet other Swedish families and prospective marriage partners. It is very likely that this is where Sara met her future husband, Gustaf Johansson, (also an immigrant from Sweden) since they went there often, and spoke very highly of the Langron family.
[After her husband's death]
Sarah would not return to Sweden, even though Gustaf had told her she should (if he died). Instead she conferred with a family friend, who was also Gustaf's superintendant at Pheonix Furniture Co., a Mr. Alfred Olson. Mr. Olson was a Swedish immigrant himself and was highly regarded by Gustaf and Sarah. He believed that she should stay, partly because her husband had purchased a life insurance policy before his illness, (worth $5000.00) that would help her care for herself and children. She accepted his advice and whenever a problem came up, she could turn to him for more assistance.
After receiving the insurance money, she purchased a home on McKee Ave., Wyoming, MI, and a cow (so the children would have milk). For added income she sold products through Larken / Larkin Co.
Sarah and her children were good friends with the Newtons (neighbors) having taffy pulls and games. Once, a safety pin was your ticket in. Margaret Newton was about Hulda's age. They got together with other girls (Beatrice, hulda's friend) and played bunko.
-----------
From her granddaughter, Charlotte:
Two things about Sarah. She would go to the river and wade in and grab a turtle, kill it and make turtle soup. Also, when they lived on McKee Ave, if she heard a noise outside, she would grab a big knife and go out to investigate. Mom thought Sarah was pretty brave!
Inscription
No Stone or Marker.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement