Help with photo location

[Timothy McCall]

The attached photo hung in the residence of my great grandparents. After they passed, we noticed some writing on the back.
"Eksjo - Smaland Sweden  Home of Mr. George Smith (my great grandfather).

Before emigrating to the US, he lived at the following:

Eksjö: Skedhult, Hagsteigan, Lyckeberg & Gyssjoback

Höreda: Alfvasjo & B Åstugan

There appears to be a church on the far left, which could help determine the location of the photo.

[Åke Carlsson]

The picture is from Eksjö:
https://www.tradera.com/item/270118/337671494/eksjo-stamningsbild-i-farg-1908

[Åke Carlsson]

Eksjö church with the old tower:
https://www.tradera.com/item/270118/507838721/eksjo-kyrka-med-gamla-tornet-

[Timothy McCall]

Thanks.  The family "story" of this being a photo of the house were old grand dad grew up... was just a postcard.

[Klas Wallén]

Hi Timothy!

It might still be a picture of where your great grandfather used to live. It doesn't show the most central parts of Eksjö town with its small old wooden houses, you can see the Church in the background. Perhaps it show some of the locations he used to live at and that was the reason he got the photo? Or rather someone sent it to him from Sweden, because it is made after he moved from Sweden. I searched a little and if it is the same George (I think it must be) and if you do not know about every detail already, he was born in Hagstugan in Eksjö town Parish May 5 1876 but the family moved to Höreda (his mother came from Höreda) Parish the same year. In 1881 the family moved back to Eksjö country side Parish to a place called Klämman. Then they moved again to Höreda and then back to Eksjö town Parish and a place called Lyckeberg a few kilometers from the Church in 1885. Then to Gysjöbäck in the town Parish in 1887 after his dad moved to North America that year. He moved one more time back to Lyckeberg in 1890 before traveling to North America in 1891.
His father came from Tranemo Parish in Älvsborgs County but had lived in Skedhult outside Eksjö before marrying Gustafa Charlotta in 1876. He was a worker so perhaps he used to work at the place seen on the postcard?

I might be able to find some old photos or more information about the locations tomorrow.

Klas

[Timothy McCall]

Thanks for the info Klas.

Carl John George Carlsson-Smith (1876-1965)  was the son of Carl Salomon Davidsson (1852-1909) and Gustafva Charlotta Jonasdotter(1848-1928).  They changed their surname to Smith when they came to the U.S.  Carl Salomon was born out of wedlock "oäktra" and his birth father is unknown.  Interestingly, Carls surname of Davidsson doesn't show up until 1871.  Was this his fathers name or did Carl just choose it?  Gustafva Charlotta had a son, oäktra, before she married Carl.

I suppose it's possible that the photo could be of where George once lived, but more likely that the postcard was the only photo of Eksjö  his photographer friend could find.  Family stories are fun, debunking them... not so much.

I'd appreciate to hear about anything you find in your searches!

Tim

[Klas Wallén]

Hi Tim!

Yes it is a possibility that your great grandfather just got the postcard that was for sail in Eksjö. But it is not a typical view over Eksjö, I would say, it rather seems to be some kind of workshops or similar. I asked a man in Eksjö today and he thinks that Gysjöbäck is still existing. It is a small red house on Breviksvägen in Eksjö. Here is a link to google maps and street view.
I can't be 100% sure but it is likely that your great grandfather lived there.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Breviksv%C3%A4gen+67,+575+96+Eksj%C3%B6/@57.6622102,14.9454975,3a,75y,139.16h,85.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYFi43cS4RHCXdb378kaC3w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m17!1m9!3m8!1s0x4659f9f964a91857:0x8b42fa8677abe690!2sBreviksv%C3%A4gen+67,+575+96+Eksj%C3%B6!3b1!8m2!3d57.6620464!4d14.945724!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F11c1g98hg7!3m6!1s0x4659f9f964a91857:0x8b42fa8677abe690!8m2!3d57.6620464!4d14.945724!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F11c1g98hg7

Klas

[Klas Wallén]

When it comes to the name Davidsson it might be as you are into, his father was called David or Davidsson, but it is not necessarily that way. Have you followed Carl Salomon in all household examination lines? Sometimes there can be a note about the father there.

Klas

[Timothy McCall]

I have all of the Household Examination records for Carl except for pre-1856.  His birth record doesn't list his father.  Davidsson wasn't listed until the 1861-1870 record.

[Klas Wallén]

I have found them here but there is not clue. They were poor so they were probably staying at different places where they worked for food and shelter.
Have you followed the brother of Carl Johan Salomon? If he got the surname Davidsson it is most likely the same father.

Tranemo (P) AI:13 (1850-1856) Picture: 122 page: 111

 Did you see the red house or didn't the link work? I wrote two messages above and in  the first one I had a link to google maps.

Klas

[Timothy McCall]

I did see the red house from your link and thanks for finding Carl and his mother on the 1850-1856 record.

Even though he was living with his mother and her husband, Carl was labeled as "Inhyses arb."

All of the other children in the family were born to Anna Greta and Lars Anderssson.

Tim

[Timothy McCall]

Hi Klas,

I found an interesting map on karbild.com.  It appears that the red house you found is Lyckeberg, which George and his mother lived in before moving to Gysjöbäck.  It appears that the Gysjöbäck house is still standing as well!

https://kartbild.com/#17/57.66082/14.94236/0x14000

https://www.google.com/maps/@57.6599447,14.9385352,3a,90y,148.61h,81.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sv5AHehseiCFN8lSpFrRs5w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Klas Wallén]

Oh so then both places are still standing today. That must be nice for you! Then you have photos of your ancestor's home. They lived at Lyckeberg twice if I remember correctly. The man in Eksjö just told me that Gysjöbäck was a red old house on Breviksvägen around nr 70. I found the first house on nr 67 so I believed it was the same. He did not mention that Lyckeberg was still standing there too, of what I remember. He got the postcard so he would take a look at it and see if he could tell what place it show.

I hope to get back to you with that information

Klas

[Karl-Henrik Rydén]

Hi Tim
I tried to trace Anna Greta Svensdotter (Höreda 1814-1893). Did you know that she is a distant descendent of
Dama Alexendersdotter Gryphia (dead 1680) in Lammåsa, Alseda parish who was discussed here (swedish).
https://forum.rotter.se/index.php?topic=21161.msg317998#msg317998
/Karl-Henrik (https://edshult.eu)
PS. I can send you my data if you are interested.

[Timothy McCall]

Hi Karl

I'd very much like to see your information on Anna Greta Svendotter's family.

I've traced her fathers family Sven Nilsson (Melby 1792-1864), his father Nils Zachrisson (? 1759- ) and mother Greta Svensdotter (Melby 1785-).
Anna's mother Maria Jonasdotter (Alseda 1791-1868).

[Karl-Henrik Rydén]

Hi Tim,
Did you get the data I sent via the Anbytarforum messaging?
Otherwise you may contact me via my homepage
/Karl
 

[Timothy McCall]

Thanks for reminding me to check my email.   I did receive your message and information.  Lots to unpack and digest.

Thank you!

Tim