Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
Dear Joan - Your great grandfather, Gunerius, was my great grandfather's (Carl) brother. All of the Erlandson (Ellingsons) came to Ridgeway initially. Based on the records I found on the internet for passenger lists, my family arrived 1889. They stayed in Ridgeway until the early 1900's as my Grandmother, Alma Beatrice Ellingson, March 15, 1900, was born there. The verbal family history has it that they left Ridgeway for two reasons: 1. My g-grandfather got a job with the Railroad which brought the family to Spokane, Wa, and 2. My g-grandmother couldn't handle the cold and isolation of the midwest winters.
Carl and another brother,Andrew, both left at the same time, leaving behind Gunerius and also a sister, Elise and another brother, George. Elise was married to a man by the name of Guttorm Guttormson. Many of her descendents are still in that area.
Carl lived his entire life in Spokane, and died in his sleep at the age of 88. My grandmother was married in 1920 to Archie DeVore and they had three children (all still living). Archie died at age 48 of a heart attack, so I never knew him, but I have wonderful memories of my grandmother. She was Norwegian through and through and taught me how to make Rosettes when I was 9. I still make them using her Rosette iron every holiday season. She was forced to go to work at age 46 when her husband died. She worked as a housemother in the Greek system at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, and later at the University of Washington in Seattle. I marvel at what that job entailed: keeping a house for 75 college age people running. She was in charge of a staff of 5-6 and she planned the meals and arranged for everything that happened in the house. My sister and I loved visiting her at the Sigma Kappa house in Seattle during the spring breaks. We got to sleep in the big sleeping porch in bunk beds and there was no end of interesting passage ways to explore. Best of all was an open spiral staircase, three floors high, in the front hallway. We spent alot of time making our grand entrance down those stairs, pretending we were getting married or maybe we were Cinderella.
My Dad remembers his grandfather clearly. Carl would sing in Norwegian and would make Lutefisk (which my Dad despised!)
One interesting thing about the family is that the brother, Andrew, changed his last name from Ellingson to Beck! Why, I don't think anyone knows. My grandmother grew up knowing and having a close relationship with her Beck cousins, so there wasn't any problem there. I guess he was trying to escape being labeled Norwegian.
It's very exciting to learn that Gunerius' son Ainer (we thought it was Einer) had children. I had no record of either of his children ever getting married. I also have a daughter, Annie O., listed. Would love to know more about this branch of the family.
Barbara DeVore Ulrich
Followups:
|
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/ellingson/messages/82.html | ||
 |
Agreement of Use Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|