Carl immigrated from Sweden in 1895.
From Jennifer Melander Davis:
"I have this written down from a story someone told me...perhaps my Grandma. Raised in Sweden. Family name was actually Swanteson. Father was a farmer. His father's brothers were fishermen. Carl's dad did not like the water-so he became a farmer. Carl became a cabinet maker when still in Sweden. At that time his mother helped him choose another name to help set apart in business. He chose Melamder (which was a German name). He cam to America because he did not want to go into the military which at the time was mandatory for 18 year year old males. When he moved to America he obtained a job immediately. At the time they built roofs by leaving extra wood on the eves. A roofer had to saw from the top to the bottom. This task requied a worked who could saw with his left hand. Carl was born left handed. However, at the time such was viewed as evil. Therefore Great Grandpa was taught to use his right hand. When he came to America he could saw with both hands. He learned English by reading the King James Bible. (compared his native language to English words.) He married Jennie Hansen in 1899. Carl gave Jennie an inlaid wood desk as an engagement gift. They met in Brooklyn, NY. He pursued and courted her along with many other suitors. He had a Parquet floor company. He did well in his 20's-30's. He had a car that he transformed into a pickup truck during the week for his materials. He was able to travel back to Sweden twice. The second time he left another in charge of his business and while he was gone the ontractor went broke. GGpa had already bought the materials for row houses for the subcontracting job. When GGpa returned from Sweden, the supplier would not buy back the materials. Consequently, GGpa went out of business. He then moved his family to Rutherford, NJ. He had a first cousin Youngberg (phonetic) who helped find a place to live. My father was close to Carl Edward as Carl aged. He visited him often and listened to many stories from him (including that the town worried during ww2 b/c he seemed somewhat pro German. He played the mandolin
From Jennifer Melander Davis:
"I have this written down from a story someone told me...perhaps my Grandma. Raised in Sweden. Family name was actually Swanteson. Father was a farmer. His father's brothers were fishermen. Carl's dad did not like the water-so he became a farmer. Carl became a cabinet maker when still in Sweden. At that time his mother helped him choose another name to help set apart in business. He chose Melamder (which was a German name). He cam to America because he did not want to go into the military which at the time was mandatory for 18 year year old males. When he moved to America he obtained a job immediately. At the time they built roofs by leaving extra wood on the eves. A roofer had to saw from the top to the bottom. This task requied a worked who could saw with his left hand. Carl was born left handed. However, at the time such was viewed as evil. Therefore Great Grandpa was taught to use his right hand. When he came to America he could saw with both hands. He learned English by reading the King James Bible. (compared his native language to English words.) He married Jennie Hansen in 1899. Carl gave Jennie an inlaid wood desk as an engagement gift. They met in Brooklyn, NY. He pursued and courted her along with many other suitors. He had a Parquet floor company. He did well in his 20's-30's. He had a car that he transformed into a pickup truck during the week for his materials. He was able to travel back to Sweden twice. The second time he left another in charge of his business and while he was gone the ontractor went broke. GGpa had already bought the materials for row houses for the subcontracting job. When GGpa returned from Sweden, the supplier would not buy back the materials. Consequently, GGpa went out of business. He then moved his family to Rutherford, NJ. He had a first cousin Youngberg (phonetic) who helped find a place to live. My father was close to Carl Edward as Carl aged. He visited him often and listened to many stories from him (including that the town worried during ww2 b/c he seemed somewhat pro German. He played the mandolin
Carl immigrated from Sweden in 1895.
From Jennifer Melander Davis:
"I have this written down from a story someone told me...perhaps my Grandma. Raised in Sweden. Family name was actually Swanteson. Father was a farmer. His father's brothers were fishermen. Carl's dad did not like the water-so he became a farmer. Carl became a cabinet maker when still in Sweden. At that time his mother helped him choose another name to help set apart in business. He chose Melamder (which was a German name). He cam to America because he did not want to go into the military which at the time was mandatory for 18 year year old males. When he moved to America he obtained a job immediately. At the time they built roofs by leaving extra wood on the eves. A roofer had to saw from the top to the bottom. This task requied a worked who could saw with his left hand. Carl was born left handed. However, at the time such was viewed as evil. Therefore Great Grandpa was taught to use his right hand. When he came to America he could saw with both hands. He learned English by reading the King James Bible. (compared his native language to English words.) He married Jennie Hansen in 1899. Carl gave Jennie an inlaid wood desk as an engagement gift. They met in Brooklyn, NY. He pursued and courted her along with many other suitors. He had a Parquet floor company. He did well in his 20's-30's. He had a car that he transformed into a pickup truck during the week for his materials. He was able to travel back to Sweden twice. The second time he left another in charge of his business and while he was gone the ontractor went broke. GGpa had already bought the materials for row houses for the subcontracting job. When GGpa returned from Sweden, the supplier would not buy back the materials. Consequently, GGpa went out of business. He then moved his family to Rutherford, NJ. He had a first cousin Youngberg (phonetic) who helped find a place to live. My father was close to Carl Edward as Carl aged. He visited him often and listened to many stories from him (including that the town worried during ww2 b/c he seemed somewhat pro German. He played the mandolin
From Jennifer Melander Davis:
"I have this written down from a story someone told me...perhaps my Grandma. Raised in Sweden. Family name was actually Swanteson. Father was a farmer. His father's brothers were fishermen. Carl's dad did not like the water-so he became a farmer. Carl became a cabinet maker when still in Sweden. At that time his mother helped him choose another name to help set apart in business. He chose Melamder (which was a German name). He cam to America because he did not want to go into the military which at the time was mandatory for 18 year year old males. When he moved to America he obtained a job immediately. At the time they built roofs by leaving extra wood on the eves. A roofer had to saw from the top to the bottom. This task requied a worked who could saw with his left hand. Carl was born left handed. However, at the time such was viewed as evil. Therefore Great Grandpa was taught to use his right hand. When he came to America he could saw with both hands. He learned English by reading the King James Bible. (compared his native language to English words.) He married Jennie Hansen in 1899. Carl gave Jennie an inlaid wood desk as an engagement gift. They met in Brooklyn, NY. He pursued and courted her along with many other suitors. He had a Parquet floor company. He did well in his 20's-30's. He had a car that he transformed into a pickup truck during the week for his materials. He was able to travel back to Sweden twice. The second time he left another in charge of his business and while he was gone the ontractor went broke. GGpa had already bought the materials for row houses for the subcontracting job. When GGpa returned from Sweden, the supplier would not buy back the materials. Consequently, GGpa went out of business. He then moved his family to Rutherford, NJ. He had a first cousin Youngberg (phonetic) who helped find a place to live. My father was close to Carl Edward as Carl aged. He visited him often and listened to many stories from him (including that the town worried during ww2 b/c he seemed somewhat pro German. He played the mandolin
Gravesite Details
Husband of Jennie Hansen .
Family Members
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