Carolina Grahn Peterson

[Mary Nelson Keithahn]

I am looking for more information about my great-grandmother, Carolina Grahn, who was born in Sventorp, Morkala Parish, Uppland, Sweden on June 6, 1840. She was confirmed on July 22, 1855.  She married Peter Johan Peterson, who came from Vester Gotland, in 1868.  They lived in a place called Dragskjøld for a year, and then immigrated to Minnesota in 1869.  Carolina died in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 3, 1931. I am wondering if Grahn is a common Swedish surname, and if she had any siblings who stayed in Sweden who might have living decendants. Does the place Sventorp indicate her father was a tenant farmer? I will be grateful for any information people can share.

[Bo Nordenfors]

Have not been able to find Carolina´s birth in Morkarla. Tried even before and after 1840. What kind of source do you have for the birth? As far I can establish nothing online  about confirmation from that parish in 1855 - thus still hard to find her. Emigration records: negative, they are, however, far from complete.

[Bo Nordenfors]

By the way, which month and year of birth was given in Census 1900 for Carolina and her husband?

[Bo Nordenfors]

Would you please confirm whether or not this is your Carolina? 1900 says June 1840 for Caroline so I think we are talking about the woman you asked for.
So sorry I can't find her in Morkarla. Dragskjøld as residence for a while makes me think about Denmark or Norway. But as she is said to marry a man from Västergötland and she came from Morkarla, Uppland ... something is perhaps wrong.  
 
Individual Record      1880 United States Census  (from www.familysearch.org)
 
Search results |  Download    Previous Individual    Next Individual
     Karoline PETERSON    Household
          Female      
     
     Other Information:
          Birth Year      
          Birthplace    SWE  
          Age    40  
          Occupation    Keeping House  
          Marital Status    M  
        Race   W  
          Head of Household    P.J. PETERSON
        Relation   Wife  
        Father's Birthplace   SWE  
        Mother's Birthplace   SWE  
     
     Source Information:
          Census Place    Sacred Heart, Renville, Minnesota  
        Family History Library Film   1254631
        NA Film Number   T9-0631
        Page Number   94D        
 
 
1900:
 
 
1900 United States Federal Census 1900 United States Federal Census
Name:    Karoline Petersen
Home in 1900:    Sacred Heart, Renville, Minnesota
Age:    59
Birth Date:    Jun 1840
Birthplace:    Sweden
Race:    White
Gender:    Female
Immigration Year:    1869
Relationship to Head of House:    Wife
Father's Birthplace:    Sweden
Mother's Birthplace:    Sweden
Mother: number of living children:    7
Mother: How many children:    7
Spouse's name:    J
Marriage Year:    1870
Marital Status:    Married
Years Married:    30
Residence :    Sacred Heart Village, Renville, Minnesota
Occupation:    View on Image
Household Members:    
Name    Age
J Petersen    59
Karoline Petersen    59
Emil Petersen    27
Albin Petersen    25
Victor Petersen    23
Anna Petersen    21
Hilda Petersen    19
Verner Petersen    16
 
(Meddelandet ändrat av rannug 2010-02-14 20:33)

[Bo Nordenfors]

Much of a guesswork:  
 
Post 244307
 
Petersson, Peter Johan
Dräng (unmarried man) - but you said they married before immigrating??
 
b. 4/6/1841 in Tolg, Kronobergs län (Småland)
 
Emigrated 9/28/1868
from Holkastorp Västregård, Tolg, Kronobergs län (Småland)
to Nordamerika
 
Source: Emibas migration file ID: Tolg G 1868 049

[Mary Nelson Keithahn]

Thanks for searching for information about my great-grandmother and great-grandfather. I appreciate all the effort you have made.
 
The source for the information I have is from an obituary published in a local paper after Caroline's death.  She out-lived my grandmother (Hilma) and was living with my grandmother's youngest sister (Hilda) at the time.  I suspect she and her daughter provided the information.  American obituaries of that time usually just indicated born in Sweden, not the exact place, but this one was specific.
 
Your census information seems to be accurate for Caroline:  Her husband was P.J. Peterson. I have always seen her name spelled Caroline, but perhaps Karoline was the Swedish spelling.  The last name was Peterson, not Petersen.  They had 7 children--my grandmother Hilma was the oldest and is missing, probably because she married my grandfather in 1895 and was no longer living at home.  The sons that were next all stayed in the Sacred Heart, Renville County area on the family farm, so even though they had reached their twenties were still at home. The immigration year in the obituary was 1869.  
 
I'm not sure about the Peter Johan Petersson that you found.  The birth dates are close--our records show April 18, 1841.  We also understood he and Caroline married in 1868, but I don't have any date or confirmation for that.  Our records show that they emigrated to Minnesota in 1869; however the census indicates they were married in 1870 which would support your Peter who was still unmarried at the time they left Sweden. Perhaps they married after they got to America. My grandmother was born July 28, 1870, but early first children were not unusual. The place of birth we had for Peter was Vester Gotland province so that is definitely different.