Holmen/ Thorene Family History Notes – A Transcriptionjbrass/genealogy/OAPHolmen/RobertWHolmenFamily... · Holmen/ Thorene Family History Notes – A Transcription ... She and Anders

Holmen/ Thorene Family History Notes – A Transcription

3 March 2002

This is a transcription of the hand-written and typed notes of Dr. Robert Winston Holmen (1906-1967) of Saint Paul, Minnesota - relating to his family memories and ancestry. In March 2002, the original documents were in the possession of RWH’s son, Dr. Douglas J. Holmen of White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Portions (but not all) of this material have previously been transcribed by Doug, and in one case, that transcription was of a tablet that I did not have access to now. I have incorporated that missing-document transcription here in order to keep things together that go together.

The original documents include information about…

RWH’s maternal ancestors – the Andersson, Young, Ljung, and Sjöstedt families of Värmland, Sweden

RWH’s paternal ancestors – the Peterson, and Holmen families of Gothenburg and Bohuslän, Sweden

And two documents relating to the ancestral family of Ingeborg Thorene Holmen (wife of Robert Winston Holmen). The Thorene Family immigrated from Kronoberg, Småland, Sweden.

The original notes and documents from which this transcript is made were clearly Dr. Holmen’s “working documents.” They were drafts and rewrites, and there is often repetition of the same stories and family history - but with different phrasing or new material added from draft to draft. None appear to be final documents, although some are probably near final form. Only 2 documents were dated. However it is reported by his children than most were written in the early 1960’s. Because no clear date-order could be established, they are included in transcript in no particular order (except that the Thorene Family material is placed together and last).

Dr. Holmen’s handwriting was reasonably legible and I have, with a few exceptions, left abbreviations and spelling as I found them. He printed in all-caps and (understandably as these were “jottings”) did not consistently use complete and formal punctuation. For ease of reading, I have converted to proper case when transcribing and I have added some punctuation. When I was unable to decipher a word or where a word clearly appeared to be miswritten or mistyped in the original, I have indicated with brackets. In a few instances, I made decisions on where to insert text that had been added in the margins of the original document. In addition to these intentional edits, I have undoubtedly introduced unintended errors of transcription. This, in itself, is a first draft and it will benefit by the proofing of others – especially of family members who are more familiar than I am with the names of people, places, and institutions of that time and place. All corrections are welcome… as is any “new” old material to be transcribed.

Dixie Hansen 1411 Osceola Ave Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105-2312

Family History of Robert W. Holmen – Transcription from a collection of notes and typescripts

Page 1 Transcribed on 3 March 2002 / Dixie Hansen

Source Document: 11 pages 3-hole punch notepaper 3¾” x 7”, hand-printed on both sides of ruled pages. Author, while not identified, is clearly Robert W. Holmen; not dated.

Anders Gustaf Anderson

Lived in Kristinehamn, Sweden. Worked in position similar to a commissioner of public works in American City.

Arranged for civic honors when John Ericcson, inventor of Civil War’s “Monitor” was [brot] to Kristinehamn for burial.

Was handsome man with deep brown eyes and hair

Died in his late 40’s of [left blank]

The only one of his family who didn’t emigrate to America.

Family home called Ljung Gorden

Birthday May 3

Sofia Anderson

She and Anders Gustaf had 10 children, 5 girls and then 5 boys, the oldest, a girl, died in infancy. Then Hanna 1876, Hilda, Ester, Alida. Then Gustaf, Frank, 1881-1958 Helge, Fritz, and Joseph who died in infancy.

After husband died, came to America in about 1910 for a visit, stayed 10yrs.

Smart, shrewd, sharp, shed died in Kristinehamn at age 94.

Birthday Jan 18.



Hanna 1876-

Came to America at about age 17 18. Took name of Ljung, after family home Ljung Gården and because her uncle who preceded her had done so Americanized to Young.

Married Richard A Wallin, a plumber. The marriage was childless. It was further marred by Dicks love of liquor. They lived in Mpls for a few years and then bought or homesteaded a small farm near Thief River Falls, Minn. Dick then went to Duluth to estab himself prior to World War I. Worked in shipyards during War. When farmstead burned down, Hanna joined Dick in Duluth.

After war Dick contracted TB and spent 24 yrs at [Nopeming]. Then bought home in Duluth’s west end and started his own plumbing shop, a successful venture, partly because Dick gave up drinking and mainly because he was an excellent workman.

A charming personality, the possessor of a rumbling bass voice, sang in [Arpi] male chorus in Mpls and in Duluth, Glee club, Swedish singing groups.

Invented several devices used yet today in water faucets, drain traps, etc. Never profited personally – a trusting nature allowed others to bilk him.

Died about 1937 of a heart attack.

Early Baptist upbringing, but as an adult never again went to church.

During stay in sanatorium learned many hobbies which he [FFD] – made birchbark canoe / a [ch…ay] weaving which won prizes at state fair.

Hanna was a most beautiful young woman, deep choc. Brown eyes inherited from her father.

Her unhappy marriage might have been different had she inspired her husband instead of nagging him further into drinking and trying to act as leader instead of as partner.

But when Richard died she carried on the plumbing business for 20 yrs – even, at age of 65 built a new building. Independent, self-reliant, pride of a sort, even at 83, insisting on living alone and disdaining idea of entering an old folks home.

Esther married Gustaf Leadholm or Lidhom & remained in Sweden.

Hilda.

Married and became Hilda Johnson. Had one daughter Britta Ester.

When became a widow came to Mpls US in 1914.

Worked as housekeeper in various homes in Mpls then to St. P for a widower, John Peterson, a man whose milk route had made him quite comfortable and the owner of 2 houses.

She married him. His only surviving son, Joel, was a ne’er do well who died in a Calif lumber camp fire during the 30’s.

John died of a heart attack shortly after while at worship in G.A. Church, St. Paul.

Hilda shared the common Young characteristics of intelligence, pride, self reliance, a stubborn argumentative streak.

After 42 yrs in America still does not speak English although understanding it well, I am sure.

Esther, 1905, Grad Winona teachers.



Franz.

Came to America Mpls in about 1910 or so – financed thru Bus College by Helge. Worked at Henn. Cty Savings Bank.

Married Myrtle Ahlstrom, a well-educated, almost brilliant daughter of Baptist Minister once instructor Bethel College, St. Paul.

Left bank for short venture in coal business. Then to Electrolux where got to be top flite salesman.

3 children –

1. Helen, PhD in Home Econ. Education.

Taught at Augsburg then to NY to teach in college there. Married Carl Olson1, PhD in music education, Grad Aug College.

One daughter, Elizabeth2.

2. Bob .

[referring both to Bob and Bud]:

Grad Engineer U of M. Now in Texas

3. Bud3

Helge

SW Gr School Educ.

Only Young who did not marry. The most charming of all who came to Amer.

Very close to Alida, the only brown-eyed boy of the Youngs, Alida being only blue eyed girl.

Outgoing, likeable, generous to a fault, helpful and kind always. Worked as waiter at Schieks and elsewhere in Mpls.

In WWI was drafted on way to camp when asked who were college men, he stepped forward to say he was from U of M an outright falsehood. Without further ado he was promoted to Corporal. His brash aplomb as Fort Dix raised him to Sergeant and assignment to motorcycle corps, although he had never ridden a motorcycle in his life.

After war went to Chgo to work for Biggs Co., a catering firm with Chgo’s elite as clientele.

Helge spoke intimately of the McCormicks, etc. although I am sure, that [pres farding] all was [ficticious].

A big league bowler.

After a long stay in Vets hosp. in Chgo came to Robts in St. Paul for fruitless help and had ca of esoph and died in Vets hosp.

His 3 ½ mo as soldier in 1917 gave him many months of hosp care and a simple burial in FS Cemetery in 1948.

1 Warren L. Holmen lists his name as Carl Bertil Nelsson rather than as Carl Olson. 2 Warren L. Holmen lists her as “Victoria” rather than as “Elizabeth” 3 There is a son named “John” in this family (1920 census and Warren L. Holmen). Presumably John = Bub



Never having saved any [?] in spite of his industriousness, and having squandered or given away all he had, he died penniless?

Ins?

Fritz, the youngest, came to America in 1914 or so, worked as a carpenter. Married Ruth ________. A good templar. Blind in one eye since childhood because Helge had accidentally destroyed it with a scissor.

Died 1918 of Flu. Pneumonia.

Childless.

Sara Alida Ljung

Actually born 1881 in Kalmo while father and mother were on work assignment. Came to America Mpls in 1600 (sic). Worked as a dressmaker. Married in 1905. A beautiful, blue eyed young woman. Unfortunate that could not have had more education.

Would have made [a] excellent int decorator or designer.

Well-read, opinionated, & rabid democrat,

Abhorred cad class, [sympathys] always with ‘down trodden workers” / others were the “the big [bugs?]”

Critical yet sympathetic, loved the under dog.

Argumentative, perverse in argument.

Martyr complex.

Intensely proud in foolish way.

Religious, yet critical. Seldom went to church.

Generous to a fault.

4 Boys

Robt went college and profession, on [now?]

She should have inspired other sons likewise.

Died Los Angeles

Nov 6 (sic), 1958

Buried Union, St. P.



I have little knowledge of the Ljungs in Sweden. I know that one, Adam Young, was a PhD and Prof at U of Stockholm,

Another young was in the army and was commandant of a Swedish military academy. This is Uncle Helge’s story and may be exaggerated.

As a family, most showed latent ability never fully developed. Every Young I have known was smart.

[Inge?] Frank Young4. Mom’s Anders Brother. Had large family. Lived on 26th Ave and 34th Ave.

Hanna

Emma

Elinor

Ada school teacher

Gerald, A lawyer – sec of Am oil in St. Texas

Earl who served with Hoover in Werf Program in Europe Frg World War I

A full blooded and gen. Swedish family apparently ashamed of their ancestry

Gerald lived for years. ½ crazy.

Emma weighed 300 # but smart as a whip

4 Dixie Hansen: Although these notes say “Frank” Young, a later typed version refers to this person (I believe correctly) as “Ole” Young.



Carl Robert Aug 19 1870 – Aug 13 1935

Böhuslen

Born Sweden, Holmensukken. [The Island Parish], moved with family to Goteborg. Here when aged 7 pulled his 5 yr old brother out of one of the canals into which he had fallen thereby saving his life.

Had grade school education. Came to America as a 13 yr old. Eventually to St. Paul. Confirmed 1st L Ch in 1888 then 18 yrs old.

Began in jewelry but went [Arosin?] Co. Moved to Canon Falls. Formed partnership, forming Scofield and Holmen comb. Jewelry and Drug Store. Sang in choir. Played cello. Roomed with Dr. Day and Dentist. Moved to Red Wing for a short time. Then to Minneapolis. Worked for Max Cohen Jewelry Co. then to Hudson. Then to S. Jacobs Co. Left to go into business for self. A short time in Palace Bldg then moved to 16 W Lake St. Unsuccessful. In 1918 moved to Duluth, first with [Wenderwood] Co. in West end. Very Shortly to Bagley & Co.. After a year of commuting moved family to Duluth Nov 1919. I was then 13 and freshman West High. Work stay with Bagley and Co. until his death in 1919. Died of Gastric Hemorrhage from Peptic Ulcer



Source Document: Walman Optical Company calendar / tablet with 1960 and 1961 calendars printed inside front cover, 3 ¼“ x 6”, 15 ruled pages with notes hand-printed on both sides of pages. Author: Robert W. Holmen, not dated (probably 1960 or later).

The Peterson Family

Of my father’s family I know very little, least of all his mother. However, records should be available in the parish church in Holmensuken in the Province of Bohuslen in Sweden. (Literally translated this should mean “The Island Parish,” with “Holmen” meaning “island.” When my father was only a very small boy the family moved to nearby Gothenburg – he must have been very young because his brother, John, only 2 yrs younger, was baptized in Gothenberg. Of the family’s life in Gothenberg I know nothing except that when Dad was only a boy of 7 yrs, he saved John’s life by pulling him out of one of Gothenberg’s many canals into which 5 yr old John had fallen.

When Dad was in his early teens [he was born in 1870] his family emigrated to America. Perhaps 1883-1884.

My memory, perhaps wrongly, tells me that the family lived in Wisconsin for a time before moving to St. Paul. (I must ask Peter Johnson where, exactly, they lived] but it was on the near East side.

I am angry with myself for not digging out more details while the preceding generation was still alive, only Aunt Ruth, now in 1960, the sole remnant and living in Glendive, Montana, being still alive.

The members of the family were member of First Lutheran. Robert, my Dad, and his brother, John, were confirmed by Rev. Sward (or was it Johnston) in 1887 (Robert at age 18, John at 16).

The next 17 yrs of my father’s life (until he was married) I have some knowledge but not in authentic sequence. I remember his telling me that he worked for some time in Red Wing. I know that he lived for a time in Cannon Falls. Here he sang in the choir in the Swedish Lutheran church. I remember a picture also of a local amateur Sullivan Group, of which he was a member and once was dressed as a sailor, probably “Pinafore.”

In Cannon Falls he went into partnership with a friend, a druggist, by the name of Scofield. “Scofield and Holmen” was the firm name – Dad running the jewelry section. It was apparently short-lived, but Scofield’s Drug Store continued for many many yrs, perhaps it is still there.



Dad must have had experience in the jewelry business prior to this time because I recall that he told me once that he broke into the business at A.H. Arosin Co., still existent on Robt Street between 6-7 St in St. Paul.

I also remember a picture (I wonder where it is now) which shows Dad playing a cello.

Just last year Dr. Day, then 89 and Dad’s age, dropped in to my office for the eye checkup I have given him for the past 20 yrs. Dr. Day and Dad were roommates during their 20’s.

It was in Cannon Falls that Dad and another friend, Ferdie Edstrom, found themselves courting the same girl. She lived out in the country and Dad, and perhaps Ferdie too, traveled to see her via bicycle. After a time, Dad had had enough of pedaling, and told his friend, “you take her Ferdie – you live closer.” So Ferdie did. Ferdie’s descendants, I have heard, still reside in the Cannon Falls area.

Dad later sought his fortune (never did he find it financially) to Mpls. His first position was with Max A. Cohen, a Jewish jeweler there. An interesting account here concerns incident wherein he attacked and overcame a thief, posing as a customer, stole a diamond ring from his display tray. Noticing that it was gone when his customer left, Dad took out after him. On the sidewalk outside Dad, before the days of football which he never played, tackled the thief, who realizing he had been detected, threw the ring far down the street.

Fortunately and old man saw what had happened and hollered out, “I see it! There it goes.”

From Cohen’s Dad went to S. Jacobs and Co. where, except for a short period with Hudson’s, he remained until about 1916.

Some of my earliest memories concern my going downtown on Sat Eve, (in those days all downtown stores remained open until 9 pm) and doing the weekly grocery shopping. A dairy store on 6th between Henn and 1st Ave N called Isanti Co. store was a place with 1000 kinds of cheeses and a delightful aroma. I still remember sometimes we would go to a late movie (adm 5¢) which, I remember featured weekly “The Adventures of Pauline” and another serial which always ended when events got exciting, called “The Broken Coin.”

One of my special treats occurred when I could go with Dad to rehearsals of the Arpi Male Chorus, a Swedish Male Chorus of which he was an enthusiastic member.

Another memory in Aug 0f 1914, can recall walking down the street on 1st Ave betw 6 and 7 St. and reading the big, black headline on the paper displayed outside of a news and mag store “Germany Declares War.”

I was born in what was then S. Mpls, perhaps as far south as 17 or 18th. When I was 2 or 3 we lived on 11 Ave S at 32 St & just N. of Powderhorn Park.

I recall, or perhaps I have been told, I used to walk down to Lake St. with a basket on my arm to buy a Sunday morning paper.

At the age of 3-4 we moved to W side Elliott (9th Ave) betw 33 and 34th. Upstairs

When I was four (and this is clear in my memory) a lady came to the door to solicit students for a Kindergarten to be sponsored by the Sw Covenant [G.] I was enrolled and spent 2 yrs there.

I remember when I grad at the Swed Tabernacle in Mpls at the advanced age of 5. Nevertheless, I learned to speak, read and even write Swedish, all before I began 1st grade at the age of 6 at Horace Mann, at Chgo at 34th St.

We soon moved often, it seems, to 3541 S. 10th where we lived until May 1, 1913. I know because it was only 2 days until my 7th birthday. We moved to a house owned by Nathan S. Hovaner in Brookside (today the address would be about 4301 S. Highway 100).



Until Nov. 1919 we lived there and altho it was a humble home with no modern conveniences either heat or other wise, it was a great place to grow up. We were on M’Haha Creek, in those days quite a stream. We had a row boat and here we learned to swim.

I was sent to Edina School in the fall of 1913. Because mother, quite unacquainted with the strangeness of Am. Schools [thot] I had had 2 full grades instead of 2 ½ years in the 1st grade, insisted that I [ends here at end of table – haven’t found continuation]



Source Document: Not seen by this transcriber but previously transcribed by Douglas J. Holmen and identified as notes in made in a Walman Optical Company Pad – 1960. Presumably part of the series (in an identical tablet), of the notes transcribed above. Douglas Holmen recognizes the handwriting in the original as that of his father, Robert W. Holmen. The Ostroms Aunt Clara the eldest of the Petersons, married Mr. Ostrom of whom I know nothing. He must have been a very tall man because his three offspring were all 6'3" or more, during a day when men of such height were not as common as they are today. Clarence - the oldest and most solid of the Ostroms. My first memory of the Ostrom (should be pronounced Oh.Strum, but they said Ah.Strum) concerned my aunt and cousins in Spokane, Washington. He began working in a bank, and did so for the rest of his life. Many years ago he left Spokane for Ellensburg, Washington. Visited St. Paul for the first time in about 50 yrs in 1956. Charming fellow who I couldn't help feeling that I could've known sooner. His wife, Daisy (whom he adored like I have my Boya, and with whom, tragically, he had no children, because the two of them, I am sure, would have had very nice ones) I had never met before was a honey. Soon thereafter, Clarence had a stroke. He is still living out west, in what condition I don't know. Raymond, 6'4" - My first knowledge of him was about my cousin in WWI who was a machine gunner in France in 1917 (glamorous member of the "suicide corps"). He was gassed in the literal sense, and this became his excuse for all of the failures in life from then on. I never, met him until the 30's when he worked in Minneapolis as a furrier for two years or so. He had one son, Ray, Jr., I think. The next I heard about him was that he and his wife (?) had been divorced. The last concerned his death in the spring of 1960 in a vets hospital out west. Milton - the youngest of the Ostroms, and the tallest at 6'4,5,or 6". 1 met him only once. It was about 1914 or so when he visited.

Deleted: ,



Source Document: 4 pages typed 8 ½” x 11” transcript with “MOTHER’S FAMILY” in upper right corner, with a few hand-written corrections. Typist not identified. Author,while not identified, is clearly Robert W. Holmen and corrections are in his hand. Not dated.

MOTHER'S FAMILY

The members of my mother's family were Andersons. They lived In Kristinehamn, a small town In Värmland situated at the north end of Lake Vänern one of Sweden's largest lakes. Their particular community was called Ljunggården or Ljungsborg which means "field of "heather.”

When the first of the family, my mother's uncles and aunts came to America about 1890, they took the name of Ljung and later that of Young, one similar in sound but entirely different in meaning. Mother also took the name of Ljung and this is the name which appeared on her marriage certificate - she married before either she or her name had become Americanized. However, the name of Ljung was used by at least one of mother's relatives who never came to America. He was Adam Ljung, an uncle or a cousin of her father, who was a professor in the University of Stockholm.

The first Ljungs to come were Fritz and Ole, brothers of mother's father. Later came Frank, another brother, a sister, and their mother, my great grandmother. Left behind in Sweden was the only other member of the family, Anders Gustaf, my mother's father.

Great grandmother was born in Sweden of Walloon parents from southern Belgium or that part of northern France which adjoins it. Rough reckoning indicates that she must have been born about 1830. She must have been well over 50 years of age when she came to America to settle down in Minneapolis with her sons. Soon she was off again, this time with Frank and her daughter,___________ , to live out the remainder of her days in Hillsboro, Oregon, a few miles just West of Portland. A picture shows her to be, even in old age, a slender, attractive, almost swarthy old lady.

ANDERS GUSTAF ANDERSON, my maternal grandfather

Mother spoke only affectionately of her father. It was apparent that he was idolized by all of his children. She described him as being a brown haired, full-bearded, handsome man with chocolate brown eyes. He was the foreman of carpenters in the public works department of the town of Kristinehamn. I recall mother telling me that when John Ericson, the Swedish inventor of the screw [propeller] and the designer the famous Civil War iron-clad "Monitor" which fought the "Merrimac" at Hampton Roads, was brought back for burial in Kristinehamn, Anders Gustaf was responsible for the decorations with which the town bedecked itself in honor of its illustrious citizen. Anders Gustaf died during his late 40's of what must have been an attack of acute appendicitis shortly after the turn of the century.



FRITZ YOUNG5, my grandfather's oldest brother

Fritz became a grocer in Minneapolis. His place of business was near or on Oak street east of the University campus and just below Prospect Park. He had three sons - one became a member of the FBI and later served on the Minneapolis police force as a detective. I can recall how Fritz and his family visited us at Brookside, driving out in their always [shiney], brass bespangled Ford car, one of the first automobiles I can remember, and woe to anyone who put even a smudge on it. It was a particular point of pride with him that his car was never driven at night. He told all within earshot that not once since he had bought it had his headlights ever been lit. These were gas lamps that burned acetylene from a tank which rested on the running board, quite in the way of those entering the car. I still think his aversion to having them lighted was really his fear of getting the glass smoked up and spoiling the brand new appearance of his precious vehicle.

OLE YOUNG, another of my grandfather's brothers.

Ole and his wife, Helen, lived with their brood of ten6 children in south Minneapolis at about 34th avenue South and 29th street. He was a dairyman and conducted a thriving milk business. His wife was a Malm. A niece of hers, Florence Malm, is a writer whose articles still appear in current popular magazines.

All of Ole's ten children, except the two oldest, received a University education. Willard went West to become a very successful lumberman. Gerald became a lawyer. Emma, a charming though huge woman of almost 300 pounds, worked for the Twin City Rapid Transit Company for many years, died in the fall of 1960. Ada became a teacher. Carl got into the oil business and at the time of his death only a few years ago was executive secretary for the American Oil Institute in Dallas, Texas. Minnie, married and living in Washington, DC, works for the government and dabbles quite successfully in real estate. Another brother7,___________, was with Herbert Hoover’s relief commission in Europe after World War I. Unmarried, he still lives in Washington. Hanna was very active in Baptist church circles in Mpls. It was she who introduced my uncle Francis to Myrtle Ahlstrom, the daughter of Rev. Ahlstrom, a Baptist minister who once was a professor at Bethel College in St Paul. Elinor, now Elinor Loomis, lives In Mpls. She heads up the U S Consumer's Service on the University of Minnesota farm campus. For years you have been able to hear her give her marketing reports on her radio program on WCCO and read her articles in the newspapers.

My memory tells me that it was Ole who became so frothily angry during the supra-patriotic days of World War I. It seems that someone had spoken slightingly of his foreign birth. Roared Ole, " Listen, you ignoramus! I came to America by choice. I came here with an education in my head and two hands willing to work. I was an economic asset to this country the minute I stepped off the boat, I have cost America nothing. I have raised ten children and seen to it that all have become educated citizens. I have built a thriving business and contributed much to this country's economy. Now what about you? You didn't come to America by choice - you were born here and had nothing to say about it. You came here a squalling helpless baby and it has cost this country many thousands of dollars to educate you and raise you to manhood. That's all I will be hearing from you. (Well said, Ole!)

5 Dixie Hansen: I have not yet found collaborating sources which identify an older brother to Anders Gustaf Andersson who fits the description (even assuming that Fritz is a nick-name) of the Fritz Young, described here. Further research is needed. 6 Other evidence, including a specific question about number of children and number of living children in the 1910 census, indicates that Ole and Helen probably had 9 children rather than 10. 7 Identified elsewhere as Earl (who was Gerald’s twin)



A daughter of Willard is the only offspring of this ten-child family.



Source Document: Single sheet of typed onion-skin paper, 8 ½” x 11”; labeled as page 1, Author: Robert W. Holmen, M.D., St. Paul, Minnesota; 1960

Inasmuch as my three children - Karen, Robert and Douglas, fourth generation Americans of Swedish descent – often express a keen interest in the story of their family, I have gathered together as many [genealogical] facts as I have been able and set them down in somewhat orderly fashion. They will find in this simple chronicle I have assembled no mention of kings, great leaders or even captains of industry. On the other hand, neither will they hear of felons and horse- thieves. They will discover in their lineage, however, some people of stout courage, faith and a restless spirit, especially those who, during the late years of the nineteenth century, uprooted themselves from the soil of Sweden and traveled with their families more than six thousand miles over sea and land to become first generation Americans in the state of Minnesota.

Robert W. Holmen, M.D.

St. Paul, Minnesota 1960



Source Document: Single sheet of “Theodore’s8” letterhead (Minnesota at 6th, Saint Paul, Minnesota); 7 ¼” x 10 ½” typed on both sides; author not identified but clearly Robert W. Holmen; dated 14 December 1964

12/14/64 Dear Karen., Bob and Doug: Some day your children will ask you, as you have inquired of Mother and me, "Where did our family come from?" I will tell you what I know. I wish it were more. Someday I hope to go to the church in Kristinehamn in Varmland, Sweden, my mother's home town and to the cathedral church in Gothenberg near which city my father was born. I am sure that their records which go back many generations could tell me much. I wish I could tell you that your family tree includes a vast array of famous and illustrious people. If there are such, I have never heard about them. It may be your destiny or that of your children to provide such embellishment. My father's father, your great grandfather, was Anton Peterson born somewhere in Sweden in about the year 1845. He bore the name of Peterson, I presume, because his father's first name was Peter and he was Peter's son. I don't think that Sweden had yet stabilized its family nomenclature system. Of you great grandmother, I know nothing at all. However, I understand that in the generation beyond your great grandparents' there is someone who had come to Sweden from France, This was not uncommon. A great number of Frenchmen emigrated to Sweden in the early 1800's after Bernadotte, a marshal under Napoleon, was asked to become the new king of Sweden. Grandpa and Grandma Peterson began their married life and began to raise their family in Holmensuken in Bohuslan. Bohuslan is one of Sweden's provinces and includes (or perhaps only adjoins) the city of Gothenberg. A suken is a district or parish. A "holmen' is an island, usually rocky and along the seashore. “Holmensuken," therefore means literally "the island parish". In the year 1870 on August 19th my father, Carl Robert, was born, the third of six children and the first of two boys. Whether he was born in Holmensulken or in nearby Gothenberg, I don't know. In any event, the family did move to Gothenberg and it was here that my father went to school and spent his early boyhood. It was also when, as a boy of seven years, he jumped into one of Gothenberg's canals, to save his five year old brother who had tumbled in.

8 In a prior transcription of this letter, Douglas J. Holmen notes that Theodore’s was a women’s clothing store where his mother, Ingeborg Thorene Holmen, worked as a salesperson for some years.



This was the half century or so in which a million of Sweden's five million inhabitants left for America. Grandpa and Grandma Peterson and their six children were part of this million. Grandpa was a teamster in Gothenberg, not a very high or remunerative calling. But he had been able to gather together enough money to pay the passage across the ocean where, he must have felt, there was greater opportunity for himself and his family. In 1883, after landing in Philadelphia, they made their way by train into the [mid] midwest At first, I have been told, they settled down in Wisconsin but shortly moved on to St Paul. He found employment at, the railroad depot, a position he held until he retired thirty years later. In the meanwhile, the family lived in the lower East Side. They were all active members of the First Lutheran Church, now at 8th and Maria, but then locate 9th and Lafayette. All of the children sang well and were members of the choir. All were confirmed here - not more than 6-8 blocks-from their home. The Peterson children were Ida, born about 1866, Clara about 1868. Carl Robert, always called Robert, born in 1870, John in 1872, Therese in 1875, and Ruth in 1879. Good looks characterized all of them. The boys were handsome and the girls strikingly beautiful. As the boys became of age Grandpa pointed out that the name 'Peterson" had become a very heavily used name and advised them to change it. The name "Holmén", after their old home in Sweden, "Holmensuken" was chosen. It was pronounced phonetically as "Holmain" in Swedish. To the rest of their days both Robert and John were called "Holmen" by their American friends and "Holmain" by Swedes. Robert, your grandfather, carried the accent mark over the letter “e" for only a few years, but John continued in its usage.



Source Document: 9 pages of light blue stationery, 5 ½” x 9”; hand-printed on both sides; Author not identified, but is clearly Robert W. Holmen; not dated.

Anders Gustaf Anderson – Sophia Sjogren Anderson

Hanna died in

infancy

Hanna Wallin 1876

Esther 1878

Alida 1879

Hilda 1881

Gustaf Franz Helge Fritz Joseph died in infancy

All girls were brown eyed except Alida who was blue All boys were blue eyed except Helge who was brown

Mother’s Family. Sarah Alida (Ljung} Anderson Sept 22, 1981 – 1957 Family lived in Kristinehamn, Vermland. Family home called Ljunggården (heather yard) When first of the family came to America rather than calling themselves Anderson, they used the name Ljung. All of family children came to America except Gustaf and Esther. All came to Mpls. All took name of Young or “Ljung.” The family is related to the medical Earl family. The original Earl’s were Olsons who lived on the East Side in St. Paul. There were 3 Earl’s in the generation ahead of me – Robert and George, both M.D.s who founded the Earl Clinic – and another who was a mortician in Mpls. George told me that his mother was an Anderson and a first cousin to my grandfather, Anders Gustaf. George and I are therefore 2nd cousins once removed. John Earl of St. Paul, a son of Roberts and a contemporary of mine, and I are 3rd cousins.

Mother’s Father, Anders Gustaf.



Mother spoke only affectionately and in glowing terms of her father. He apparently was a foreman in the Public Works Dept for the City of Kristinehamn. She describes him as brown whiskered handsome man with chocolate brown eyes. He was the idol of his children. He died at his early ‘50s, of kidney or lung disease.

His mother was born in Sweden of Walloon parents – French? Belgian? – They had come to Sweden to work in the Nobel Factories, partly for economic reasons but mostly because they were Protestants living in a Catholic country and subject therefore to certain disadvantage.

Mother’s Mother

Except that her name was Sjogren, I know nothing of her family. My first recollection of her begins when I was about 3. We lived in a duplex in Mpls on Elliot Ave between 33rd and 34th St., perhaps 3330 or so, being the address. She had come for a visit, ½ of her children here. Incidentally, [crowding 60?] her visit lasted 10 years. She was fat, as most woman of her age in that day were. Strange that I should remember her birthday – it was Jan 18.

Grandma, during her 10 year visit, never learned to speak English. But she knew more than she let on – as storekeepers who tried to cheat her quickly discovered. She was a smart, shrewd woman; sharp tongued and caustic and never one to show affection. I can never remember that she fondled or petted me or even held me on her lap.

Anders Gustaf’s and Sophia’s older son was Gustaf. He too dropped the name of Anderson and took the name Linné, so that all of his children, most if not all of whom live in Kristinehamn, are now Linné’s. The only one I know of and whose picture I have seen is Bengt, a blond curly head now in his ‘40s.

One of Anders Gustaf’s male relatives – brother, cousin, uncle, - I don’t know – was Adam Young, a PhD who was a Professor at the U of Stockholm.

My Uncle Helge once told me (but Helge’s veracity was always open to question) that another, Adam Young, was an officer in the Swedish Army and the Commandant of a Swedish military academy.

While on this matter of questionable family history, I might mention that Aunt Hilda always insisted that the French or Walloon blood in their family was of nobility. I do not vouch for this – I merely mention it. Perhaps Bengt Linne in Kristinehamn would know.

Aunt Esther, Mother’s only sister who stayed in Sweden married someone whose name was Lidholm. She died there several years ago.

Helge was the next to the youngest of Mother’s family. He came to America as a 17 yr older shortly after I was born. Mother was his favorite sister, and he her favorite brother.



None of Mother’s family had education beyond grade school, however Sweden’s Grade School was apparently 2 yrs longer and considerably more intensive and inclusive than ours. I used to think that my mother and her bros and sisters were indulging in [shere?] chauvinism when they criticized the superficial nature of our elementary school system. However, in the light of recent evaluations, I have come to realize that perhaps they were right, that Europe’s scholars at the elementary and hi school level are better than ours have been.

Helge was the most charming of the Youngs. Perhaps because we were his favorite sisters children, he was especially good to us.

He became a waiter and worked, I remember at Max Café, an estab now long since gone but in the 1910 era an excellent eating place on the N side of 6th St in Mpls between Hennepin and Nicollet. He also worked at Schiek’s, the old time German eating house on 3rd St. For a time he sold sausage – I can remember working with him as a 10 year old B4 the light of a kerosene lamp at Brookside listing out of the classified section of the telephone book all of the butcher shops [&] listing them 34 geographical areas.

During the summer he worked at the “Blue Line” at Excelsior, a dockside eating pavilion on Lk Minnetonka. So, thru some sort of a deal which he always seemed to be making and which, it seems, never worked to his advantage as well as he hoped, it was he who brought up a row boat for our use on Minnehaha Creek.

He was an avid bowler and bowled with the best in the City League – at least he said he was among the best. If he wasn’t we would have made him so anyway. All 3 of us boys idolized him.

He was also a great hunter – each fall he went north during deer hunting season with his pals, Ernie Francis and H[?} George. Invariably he would bring back venison which none of us would eat. Once he [brot] back bear meat.

It was Helge who brought us skates and the marvelous sled with swivel front runners and mad us the envy of the neighborhood.

In 1917 enlisted in the Army. I remember when he came to tell us. Mother cried and we boys 6-9 [thot] we were seeing him for the last time. Surely he’d be shot.

But World War I was a frolic for Helge. As they lined up to entrance for camp an officer barked out “All college men step forward.” Helge, with his grade school education, stepped forward. “Where did you go to school,” this co officer wanted to know. “University of Minn,” lied Helge. “You’re a Corporal. These seven men are your squad.” I often wonder what hoodwinking went on at Camp that preceded his becoming a sergeant. At Camp Helge was a motorcycle courier. This too must have been a result of his bluff for I am sure he had never in his life ridden a motorcycle, except perhaps as a passenger.

So in 1918, Helge came home and had his picture taken in his [kahki] uniform with the wrap around leggings that I used later when I became a boy scout.

When in 1919 we moved to Duluth Helge went to Chgo. Except for a time when he [managed] worked in the coffee shop in the Wrigley Bldg he was employed by Biggs and Co., an exclusive



catering concern whose clientele included the elite of Chgo. He had a peculiar and not uncharming lisp that caused him to pronounce Biggs and all such S sounds as tho he kept the tip of his tongue touching the roof of his mouth.

Periodically, Helge came to visit us in Duluth. One summer he spent his whole vacation painting the house, inside and out.

In 1935 when Boya and I were married he came to Mpls for the wedding. This gave rise to Mother’s favorite parlor story which recounts how he came with us on our honeymoon. We had planned to go to Chgo wand when Helge heard of it he asked to ride with us as far as Durand, Wisconsin, a little town perhaps 50 miles or so from St. Paul. This he did and we stopped and had coffee and cookies with his friends there before we went on. Actually, we never got to Chgo. The weather worsened and ice and sleet made travel so dangerous that we turned off and spent our wedding night in Winona of all places.

During his ‘50’s Helge developed a carcinoma of the esophagus. The last few weeks he spent with Boya and me. After a year of more of slowly wasting away he died at the Vets Hosp in Mpls. He was buried in the Fort Snelling Nat’l Cemetery. His few months in the Army in 1918 had proved to be the most lucrative time of his life. They had given him medical care, hospitalization, and burial at Uncle Sam’s expense.



Source Document: Two sheets of “LeClaire European Hotel” letterhead (Fifth Ave at Nineteenth Street, Moline, Illinois); 7 ¼” x 11”; hand-printed on both sides of pages, with self-edits; unidentified ink-sketch of man’s face in profile on page 1, author not identified but clearly Robert W. Holmen; not dated

My parents, Carl Robert Holmen, age 35, and Sara Alida Ljung, 24, were married in Mpls on June 6, 1905. I was born 11 mo later on May 3, 1906.

My earliest memories (or was I told?) involve my trudging down to Lake St. on Sunday AM, a small basket on my arm, to buy a Sunday paper. I’m sure it must have been the Mpls Journal. Dad was intensely loyal to the Journal because he liked Mr. Jones, the publisher. It was only a block or so. We lived in house which, I now reckon, must have been 3106, 8 or 10 11 Ave S, just a block N of Powderhorn Park. I suppose I was [3].

My next recollection is our next residence on Elliot Ave, an upper duplex at about 3320 or 30. This is vivid. I was then 4 when a lady came to the door and asked my mother if I would attend a new Swed Kindergarten. Mother said yes and for 2 years I did. The school was located, I think, on 31st or 32nd St between Elliot and 10th.

I can remember the huge painting that almost filled the front wall. It showed a group of Swedish lumber jacks hauling a huge log into town. I suppose it was a Yule log. Her I learned Swedish so that, thru the media of Bible stories, when I was ready for 1st grade, I could speak and read simple Swedish. The school was sponsored by the Sw Cov Church. I know this only because we had our “graduation” exercises in the Swedish Tabernacle in Mpls & here I should mention one incident that caused my mother to be taken aback at the time and to chuckle for the next 45 years. I came home one day to announce that Abraham had moved. Assuming that Abraham was someone in the neighborhood, she asked innocently “Oh, where is he moving to?” “To Mesopotamia.” My reply caused her to drop a dish.

It was while we lived on Elliot Ave that my maternal grandmother came to America for a visit. Seem to remember that she stayed with us. Uncle Franz was unmarried. Helge, who had come to America with her, was only in his early 20’s. He never did marry. Aunt Hilda was not to come for another 5 yrs. Fritz was to come later.

Grandma never liked me and the cause was an innocent remark I made when I saw her scrubbing the kitchen floor. I said “Poor Grandma. All she can do is scrub the floor.” Always a silly, proud person she became angry for the remainder of her visit – actually 10 years relations between us were never cordial. How a mature person could remain vindictive for 10 yrs



because of the fumbling language of a 4 year old is beyond my understanding. When she returned to Sweden I shed no tears.

About the time I was 6, and already in Horace Mann School, and ready for 1st grade we moved to a downstairs duplex at 3541 10th Ave S – (I’m sure of the address this time.) I recall vividly the newspaper spread out on the DR table proclaiming in heavy black headlines, “TITANIC SINKS.”



Source Document: Two typed sheets of plain onion-skin paper; 8 ½” x 11”; with “THORENE” in upper right corner, 2nd page is typed on both sides; neither typist nor author are identified, but a correction added in red ballpoint ink appear to be in Robert W.Holmen’s hand; not dated

HUGO THORENE (1876-1960) was born on August 2791876 in Ostra Torsos, a small community 14 miles from Vexio in Smoland, Sweden. At the age of 12 he emigrated with his family to America. They landed in New York in May, 1888 and made their way to Stillwater, Minnesota where they settled on a small farm just west of McCusick's Lake. Several years ago apparently by common family consent, this farmstead was turned over to Tore, one of Hugo's brothers. Members of his family still reside there. Hugo's father, born in Smoland on July 4, 1842, was NELS PETER FREY. He was a wagon-maker by trade and also operated a dairy at Torsjo. His Name "Frey" had been given to either him or his father upon beginning army service. It was the practice of the Swedish army at that time to assign names of but one syllable to Its recruits. The name was later changed to TOREN, obviously a geographical one, and, after the family's arrival in America, Anglicized to Thorene. Nels died In Stillwater In 1908. The mother of Hugo was CHRISTINA ANDERSON. She too was born in Smoland on March 3. 1839. She lived a hale and active life on her Stillwater farm until her death at the age of 94 in 1933. Her mother's name was MARIE ANDERSON, born in Smoland in 1806. Hugo had 5 brothers - JOEL, TORE, JOHN AND WENDELL and [text doesn’t continue] Hugo's brothers were JOEL, TORE, JOHN and WENDELL. Another brother, the oldest, had died at the age of 4 years. His name was also Hugo – this seems to have been a common practice, that of naming a subsequent child after one who had died. His sisters were NELLIE AND VENDLA. Another sister, VENDLA, died in Sweden of scarlet fever at the age of 11.



Joel had 9 children

Zipora died giving birth to her first child

Benjamen saw heavy action in army In France during WW I - after coming home, was in an automobile accident, died of his injuries

Jennie graduated as a registered nurse from Bethesda Hospital school of nursing - for many years worked as an office nurse for Dr. 0 I Sohlberg - died in early 30's from tuberculosis

Irene

Alice married name is Schultz

Ruth - now Mrs. Theodore Johnson of Chisago City where her husband has been clerk of court for the last 20 or 30 years

Rachel and Diane are twins

Another child died in infancy

Tore had 7 children

Ellsworth

Woodrow

Tyra

Lyla

Vendla

Margaret

Marcella Star

Wendall had no children - still living at _________________

John had 4 1st son, John, died – 2nd son also called John

John Junior is a dentist in Duluth

Elinor

Edna became Mrs Fretheim, the wife of a Covenant church pastor and now lives in Mpls



Nellie had 9 - became Mrs Van Tassel

Chester Sherman married Martha Hoogner

Beltram

Theodore

Prosper - became a Lutheran minister in the ELC

Sterling

Stella

Geneva

Evan

Mary - became Mrs Nord live In Hudson, Wis

Vendla

Marie

Hugo

Floyd

Alton

Louella

Marcus

Eugene

Pearl

Elva - the youngest- also the 11th, therefore, her name which in Swedish means the number 11



Source Document: Six typed sheets of plain onion-skin paper; 8 ½” x 11; typed on one side; Document appears to be a list of brief “reminders” of stories and memories associated primarily with the Thorene Family; Author not identified; not dated.

• “Black Beauty”

• Bumpa moving the stove down the outside steps for Mrs. So and So.

• The courtship of Walter Thorsell

• Half in and half out on the roller coaster at excelsior

• The trip west - the lunches supplied by the congregation the RR executive who had you ride in his private car

• Dr. Morkum - Dr. Crowe who thot he should have Katy

• John Piznosky and the ink well

• Bumpa's eerie ghost stories - the moving coffins at Eveleth - the tracks in the snow at midnight

• Bumpa walking from Eveleth - the wolves – “you aren't my Hugo”

• The old Ford on the way thru the mountains- packed in- the unpacking- how Bumpa drove -the Bad Lands - the narrow roads - the camp sites

• Ann Sundin and her voice - whistling false teeth

• Pumping the organ at North Oaks - the elusive organ pump handle

• Fishing for bullheads at North Oaks lake

• Bertha and her rouge after the sad funeral

• Bridegrooms - $2 and more later - the ring lost in the shoe - when Bumpa got up out of a sickbed to perform the marriage

• How Bumpa got stuck and 7 other preachers too - new member gag

• Mrs Peterson parsnips - ligament- "by golly" went to Jurp- her Martin did his, so now her turn

• "Smella po brettan"

• String quartet

• Donaldsons - girl who committed suicide - the girl who had the wheezened up farmer for a husband - the girl who married the rich Jew

• The buyer in leather goods - a date which never came off - Olson ? Silver?



• McPhail - date with salesman - "the Lord saved me that night” because of a too-long Shakespeare lesson.

• Kiki - Cookie on nose - the rug - sunstroke and buriel

• Peach tree that Bumpa planted

• The kids who held you out the window because they were mad at Bumpa

• Mirrors in the back yard - "Helsingland and surstrumming"

• The argument with the neighbor next door - lilacs over the line

• Playing - "she didn't care how well or bad I played - she only wanted to save the $25”

• Queen of the parade at Auburn

• High school dance at Auburn - the deacon who swiped your party dress for you

• Trip to Vancouver - the beer drinking deacon - getting past the Customs

• Horseback on the mountain trail - the apples and how the horse ate them

• Playing for the lumberjacks - wrist watch - barn dance

• Lost in the fog

• Caught by the tide

• Hugo fishing for salmon with the Indians

• Hugo shooting [pigeos] and loons from the roof of the [sherrif]

• Lilly and her harp - the summer house - the Seaman's mission

• Luther League at the Miss on [on] Washington Square - pumping the organ - Elsie and her knees

• Diamond ring - Bagley's to make a choice - Hanna and Dick – couldn’t see its size because of tears - how Dad picked it out- Mr. Murphy

• "Come where the lillies bloom"

• Hugo - State Fair - Mussolini and Hitler - how hurt with old Model T - Art Johnson running up and down the stairs - the dentist - the one-eyed fneeu -

• Hugo's phonograph and records in the back seat of his car - sometimes in the front seat so that girls wouldn't sit with him - his cane, mustache. derby at Donaldsons

• Eat out with Bumpa - Forum cafe - when invited out and couldn't eat, Bumpa would help you out.

• Ashamed of Bumpa's big stomach, especially when he walked down hill - walked on the other side of the street - his Panama hat with the [bid] black band - the watch fob

• Bob and his [lng] feet – “if could just cut some off”

• Donaldson's how i pestered them for job - the NRA - Mr. Shaper -

• Doug and Bun with Dougie when Aunt Kate had Jimmie



• When Priscilla had her kittens - Karen left one hidden when the rest were taken away

• Proposals and the like

Angus McFee

Law Berston - his confiding in Bumpa he wanted one of the Thorene girls, he didn't care which one - on handkerchief and bended knee

Clarence Nelson

Reuben Youngdahl

The hoofer

Herbert Warner

Wittich, the druggist's son - masquerade - the Odd Fellows

Gus Johnson and his tuba - Soonie

Arnie Frandeen - housework

Milton Anderson

Jay Gendler - fat- nice family - grocery store in Blue Earth

• Fair in basement at Lebonan - a kiss for a nickel - the judge's court

• Edith and Dave - heart trouble and icthyosis

Documents

Holmen/ Thorene Family History Notes – A Transcriptionjbrass/genealogy/OAPHolmen/RobertWHolmenFamily... · Holmen/ Thorene Family History Notes – A Transcription ... She and Anders