Mattson/Williamson Family Christmas Party 2003. Does This Family Know How to Party or What!

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
     In yesterday's holiday post we revisited the family's 2003 Christmas Eve party.  The Christmas Eve party is the second family gathering during the holidays. The first is always the Mattson/Williamson party held a few days before.

     The following photos come from the 2003 Mattson/Williamson Family Christmas Party held at a reception center in downtown Provo.

     I'm embarrassed to confess my ignorance with names.  Remembering my first cousins - no problem. Remembering the names of their children - the gears in my memory's clockworks produce a syllable or two before freezing up.

     My thanks to cousin Angie for filling in the gaps.    

This is Joe Mattson proudly displaying his daughter hope.  

This is Jacob Mattson and his daughter Audrey.

Finally two faces I recognize.  Gina Mattson Walker is on the left with sister Angie Mattson Berntsen.  We may our flaws, but you've got to admit this family produces mighty fine teeth.

 Joe's daughter Faith being all shy.

Valerie Mattson (Kirk's wife) enjoys her dinner with sister in law Camille Mattson.

     Luella glares at her rambunctious grandchildren and great grandchildren along with her great grand nephews and nieces.   "Where did all these kids come from?" she scowls.  "Someone's gonna get hurt.  They need to stop running."  Two bites later and her ever watchful eyes and radar ears catch more roughhousing and a scream. "Who's crying. I told you someone was gonna get hurt. People gotta get their kids under control. There's people trying to enjoy a meal here."
     Kirk Mattson and Kent Berntsen (Angie's husband) pretend not to know to avoid a lecture on the proper way to bring up respectful children.

    Jilane Bodily sits with neice Ashley DelGrosso and father Grandpa Charles Williamson. Seeing Grandpa Charlie at a family party is almost as rare as finding a Williamson with a well thought out and documented opinion.
     "Is Wal-Mart closed?" Someone asked near the sloppy joe refilling station.  "Uncle Charles is here!"
     "I heard someone say he's got something terminal. Come to say his goodbyes," another said in a hushed voice.
      The truth be told, Grandpa Charles purposely misses, or shows up late, to many of these family holiday get togethers to preserve his sanity. The shock of transitioning from the relative quiet and order of a Walmart store at Christmas to the semi-contained mass hysteria of a  Mattson / Williamson family party is too much for someone of his advanced years and reclusivity to absorb.
     Brayden Bodily is seen in the background sitting on one of the younglings and hoping nobody notices.    

Forest DelGrosso gives his mother Kim a bear hug.

Brock Bodily, Avery DelGrosso, Amara Belnap, and Brayden Bodily sit in a Grandma Luella ordered time out for roughhousing.

Joshua Mattson (Jake and Emily's son). My memory of the evening is peppered with the shrill sound of Joshua's screams.  You did not want to cross this young man. His scream did the job of another kid's fists. One blast and you were across the room with ruptured eardrums :)

Emily, Joshua, and Jake Mattson.

Gina, Quin, and Quade Walker.  Quade is seen adoring his mom, or his dad, or perhaps he's noticed a young cousin nearby ripe for a thrashing.

Taylar Berntsen (Angie and Kent) and Porter Mattson (Kirk and Val).  On a side note, Porter is currently serving an LDS mission to Guatemala. They've all grown up.

A second attempt was needed to try to get Porter under control.  We nearly succeeded.

Cooper Mattson (Kirk and Val) wondering why batteries weren't included.

Joan (Aunt Bev's sister), Robin (Bruce's wife), and Bruce Bean (Joan's son).

Tiernan Belnap with her mom Annette and Hope Mattson.  Again, you gotta love those teeth.

Luella and John, brother and sister, photographed contemplating their creations.

Forest flashing the DelGrosso gang sign.  Those Michigan DelGrossos are not a family you wanna mess with - if you know what I mean.  Kevin Bodily is on Forest's right.

Annette with husband Thane Belnap.  Someone looks like he needs some time with Grandpa Charlie at Wal-Mart :)
AND ANOTHER SIGHTING OF THE ILLUSIVE GRANDPA CHARLIE in the dark background. Further proof he was there.

Brock has found a new purpose for living.

Brock and Brayden Bodily along with Averie and Abrea DelGrosso. Amara Belnap is squeezed between.  

Kenya (Angie's), Faith (Joe's), Addie (Kirk's), Kenedee (Jilane's) and Brooklyn (Jilane's).

Hope Mattson.

Afton and Amara. Amara tolerates her cousins - but only just.

Kenya, Addie, and Faith, with new friend - cousin Tiernan (Annette's)

Young Brooklyn Bodily with cousins Averie and Amara.  Brooklyn looks like she's in need of a good meal.

Tiernan, Annette holding Amara, Ashley holding Hope, Avery and Afton holding Audrey.

Jake Mattson holding daughter Audrey with Jilane and Brayden.

     Grandma Luella with brother John and husband Charles.  Luella is laser focused on the grandchildren while John and Charlie talk.
     "I hear there are more roll-backs at Wal-Mart," John asked.
     "You bet," Charles answered."You're not going to believe this, but I did a roll-back on the price of snow shovels before coming over. The company is desperate. They'll be out of business in a year or two."
     "You don't say," John replied.

And finally, the breaking of the pinata. There were only a few bruised ribs and three concussions from wild swings. Grandma Luella had to go on oxygen. It was all too much. 

Our Tornberg Coat of Arms

Hello All,
Ida Tornberg was my Great Grandmother.

Relationship Chart

Ida Tornberg married John Albert Mattson
to
Walter Mattson who married Violet Pierce
to
Luella, Linda, John, and Marvin

There are many posts in this blog about our Swedish / Finnish Tornberg ancestors. This post introduces you to the family's Coat of Arms shown above.

A description of the symbols represented in the Coat of Arms is given below.

Simply,
Victor

Tornberg Coat of Arms

"A golden upper part with three teeth on a red shield, a waving silver log in lower field with a black hunting spear. Red covering of the helmet with silver lining. Silver and red top braid. Golden flaming ring as helmet decoration, with a rising black wedge. A golden latin cross on top of the wedge."

The theme of the coat of arms refers to the distribution of the family in three northern countries and to the origin of the word "thorn", which means spearhead in the ancient scandinavian language. The origin of the family is in Ylitornio and the word Tornio might mean the spearhead shaped island in Tornio River. The helmet decoration refers also to Ylitornio and the wedge, describing a church tower refers to the many clergymen among our ancestors.

In the colors we can see the following: the red is the Lappish red, which appears in many northern coat of arms of provinces and municipalities. Also it refers to our ancestors, the bailiffs of Tornio Lapland who had red robes. The word "torn" also means tower. The family name "Tornberg" is often translated "tower mountain" in Finnish and that is why the helmet decoration contains a tower with a cross, which relates of the priests of the family. The three mountains on the shield describe the main area of distribution of the family in Finland, Sweden and Norway or the forests and hills of Tornio and Kemi rivers and Kuusamo. The silver wave can describe Tornio and Kemi rivers and the waterways of Kuusamo. The head of the hunting spear refers to the source of livelihood in the northern wilderness.

Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg's Home in Karungi, Sweden.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Today two pictures from a cousin living in Sweden. The first is a picture of the Tornberg House in Karungi. This was most likely the home of our Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg before she immigrated to the United States near the turn of the Century.

Click to Enlarge

The home is no longer there. According to our cousin Vigert, there is a new Tornberg home sitting on this site occupied by our third cousins.

The home you see below is a home built at the same time as the original Tornberg home and still standing next door.

Click to Enlarge

Simply,
Victor

Our Swedish Cousins, Found.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I started this blog two years ago with three goals in mind:

1. I wanted to post our family's old pictures so everyone can enjoy them. Many people in those pictures are forgotten to time. The only people who knew who they were are dead. That won't happen again.
2. Record my parent's (Charles and Luella) memories before time and / or old age take them.
3. Tell the story of our family. I want our future generations to know where they came from. I want them to know their ancestors.
4. I wanted to find our distant cousins in Sweden (Mattson / Tornberg) and Italy (Vercellino). Why those families? Because they immigrated to America rather recently. Our Great Grandparents arrived at the turn of the century. I also had the letter Ida's sister wrote to her from Sweden during the war.
   

One of my goals was achieved this week. After much searching a friend in Sweden found one of our distant cousins, Åsa. He made contact and gave her my email address. Åsa sent an email. I responded. Others followed. Our correspondents follow.

Our common grandparents are Karl Tornberg and Sofia Olofsdotter. We are descended from Karl and Sofia's son Isak. Åsa and her family are descended from another son, Karl.

Ida therefore was first cousins to Sigurd Tornberg
Our grandfather Walter was a 2nd cousin to Åsa's mother Agneta.
Luella is therefore a 3rd cousin to Åsa (born in 1968).
Finally, we are 4th cousins, once removed to Åsa.

Let's look at Rolf, mentioned in the emails below. Rolf was Hilma's son. Hilma was Great Grandmother Ida's sister. Rolf is still alive. Rolf is our closest relatives in Sweden.

Great Grandmother Ida was Rolf's Aunt.
Grandpa Walter and Rolf were 1st cousins.
Luella, Linda, John and Marvin are Rolf's 1st cousins, once removed.
73 year old Rolf is therefore our 1st cousin twice removed.

I'm excited to learn more about our family in Sweden. According to Asa, Rolf's computer is on the fritz. She's not sure how proficient he is on the computer. I may have to rely on Rolf's willingness and our younger Swedish cousins to help record Rolf's memories and family photographs for our family history. I'll stay on top of this and keep you all updated.

P.S.
Anyone fancy a trip to Sweden to meet our cousins? I think a small reunion may be called for. Perhaps they would like to come to Utah as well.

A Video of family pictures showing Ida, John Albert, Grandpa Walter, Violet and Luella, Linda, John and Marvin.

Our Swedish Letter Translated!

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Our 9th cousin Pertti responded to my call for help and translated the letter (written in Swedish) sent to our Great Grandmother Ida from her sister Hilma. That's right, Hilma. Luella always remembered Ida calling her Wilma. There is another mystery waiting to be solved.

We begin with the letter itself.





And now, the Translation:

Dear Sister With Your Family!

I have to put my thoughts into action and let you hear from me. It's been a really long time since I wrote to you and everyone else with you. I feel good and everyone so does everyone else here at my house.

I'm wondering just how you have it [how are things during the war] and how you are so far away from homeland. Homeland that you might have forgotten for a long time ago. But unfortunately we must admit we have a good homeland. Just think that we still have everything compared with other countries. [Sweden was neutral during World War 2]

Pertti's remark: (Unfortunately might here have the meaning that from Hilma's view that Ida has lost her good homeland).

Lately we have not suffered any shortages except for coffee, which we do not have at all now. I was going to beg coffee of you. The coffee there [ in the USA] is so cheap. And it is sent so much from there. Coffee is coming continually from America. I envy those who get it. I have the post so I can see all the packages that are coming. So I think you might probably also send some to us. For you know, it feels unpleasant to be entirely without coffee when you have become used to it from childhood.

Now I hope you show your sister's love and send me a couple of kilograms of coffee. They generally come in two kilos packages and you pay the customs duty yourself. Now don't forget it away! I will send this letter by air mail so it goes faster.

Well, Valter is at home with his wife, and how many children they have. Astrid is now to take real (school subject?) in spring. If she gets it (the grade?), I'll send a card for her.

Lennart is reading for the third year. Hasse started school in the previous fall and Rolf is five years. Charles is 20 years.

You might have heard that Nanna Tornberg is dead. Arthur is also at home in Karungi. He has become a bit strange during his long stay away from homeland. But he is not so dangerous. He has some kind of repair station. Adriana, she also lives in Karungi. Her husband is in Canada. All her children are adults. She has four children.

We are still having full winter here. You of course have a lot warmer weather there. But soon we have the lovely Nordic spring here with sunshine and summer.

Well how is Valter [Grandpa Walter, Ida's husband] is he at the front or is he at home? Yes, we also have electric lights here with radio and everything, so now there are other [modern] times here in the Torne Valley than in the old days. You should come and see. You would not recognize the home region. Yes, now I have scribbled a lot so I have to stop.

Do not forget the coffee. And do not forget to write some time. It's nice to hear something about you. It's awful, that we are just two siblings and never write to each other. So much should you still have fellowship with one another that you write some time.

Yes, I become 50 years old in August. Sure I am old. In August 30th is my birthday. You must be 56 or so. Think we are old people. And mother has been lying 10 years in the grave. Greetings to Valter and Albert with his wife.

Writes sister Hilma
Neistenkangas

Sveden

ANSWER BACK

Do not forget the coffee drop!

Greetings to the aunt

Kalle

Pertti adds the following:

By the way, I think Hilma speaks of her and Ida's cousins in this letter, like Nanna and Adriana.

Best regards
Pertti

Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg's Arrival to the United States

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
More information on Great Grandmother Ida (Walter Mattson's Mother).

We begin with Ida's departure from Sweden (above). This is the immigration manifest from Sweden. You'll notice that Ida was traveling with friends. You'll see her destination was Houghton, Mich.

Next we have the passenger list for those wanted to enter the United States from Canada on the Canadian Ship SS. Empress of Britian. The ship departed from Liverpool on 7 May, 1909. The Atlantic crossing was a 4 or 5 day affair.

This is the passenger list (Click to Enlarge). You'll notice that Ida is listed as a domestic (servant). You'll notice that her father's name was Isak Tornberg and that her final destination was Houghton, Mich.

Ida sailed on one of the finest and fastest ships of its day, the SS Empress of Britain



We move to the 1910 Census showing Ida working in Houghton, Michigan as a servant for the Miller family.


From here we have a postcard proving Ida was living in northern Michigan (please refer to the earlier post of the day).

Finally, we have Ida and John Albert marrying in Lead, South Dakota on 11 March 1911.

Simply,
Victor

A Letter to our Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg in Swedish. Anyone Out There Read Swedish and Can Translate?

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Today I'm posting a letter written to our Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg from her sister Wilma. The letter was posted from Sweden, written in Swedish. I'd use Google Translator to translate the general meaning of the letter but can't due to the odd handwriting. I can't make out many of the letters.

I'm hoping someone out there reading the blog either reads Swedish or knows someone that does and would be kind enough to translate this letter for me.

We are still searching for our nearest relatives living in Sweden. Ida's sister Wilma may be the key and finding her descendants is a priority.

Simply,
Victor

We start with this post card written to Ida before her marriage to John Albert Mattson on 11 March 1911. At the time Ida was living in South Range, Michigan. It is my opinion that Ida moved to South Range from Sweden. I asked myself why would anyone choose to live in South Range Michigan when first immigrating to the United States? The only answer was family or friends.

I did more research and found the following person living in South Range at the same time.

Karl Levi Isaksson Tornberg b. 1876 d. 1939 Immigrated to America without certificate about 1903-1904. Later residing in South Range, Michigan, USA. Died in a mining accident.

Now, considering the population of South Range in 2000 was 797, I'm inclined to believe that a family member moved there first and Ida followed.

We also have record of another Tornberg living in South Range:

Charles Levi Isaksson Tornberg b. 1876 d. 1939
Immigrated to America around 1903 to 1904 Migration. Lived in South Range, Michigan

There are also several Tornberg immigrants living in nearby towns in Michigan and one or two that moved to Lead, South Dakota where Ida settled after marrying John Albert Mattson.

Johan Isaksson Tornberg b. 1863, d. about 1920 To N. America 1.6.1883. Later residing in Lead, South Dakota, USA

Karl Adolf Persson Forsman b. 1862 d. 1923 who immigrated to N. America 11.6.1884. Residing in Houghton, Michigan, USA. Married: Greta Wilhelmina Isaksdotter Tornberg b. 1859 d. 1946 who immigrated to N. America 11.6.1884. Karl and Greta returned to Sweden on 6 Oct. 1894 They married in the USA on 27 July 1884.

Their Children born in Houghton, Michigan:
Karl William b. 1885 d. 1951
Anna Vilhelmina b. 1887 d. 1975
Sedi Sofia b. 1888 d. 1910
Elisa Amanda b. 1891 d. 1961
Etna Teresia b. 1893 d. 1917
All Returned home to Sweden with their parents

Isak Wilhelm Isaksson Tornberg b. 1862 d. 1948 Immigrated to N. America without certificate about 1884. Later residing in Ishpeming, Marquette, Michigan, USA

Kaisa Maria Isaksdotter Tornberg b. 1866 d. 1959 Immigrated to N. America 15 June 1889. Arrived from Göteborg (Gothenburg, Sweden) destination Hancock, Michigan. Married 1893 to Johan Kermuniemi (John Kermu; se above 1883), residing in Mass City, Michigan, USA

Herman Abiel Fredriksson Tornberg b. 1881 To N. America without certificate about 1903

Oskar Isaksson Tornberg b. 1879 d. about 1910-1915 Immigrated to N. America without certificate about 1903-1904. According to family information he should have immigrated to America 25 Nov. 1910 and settled in Ironwood, Michigan, USA

Once again I believe it is safe to say that Ida immigrated and moved in with relatives in northern Michigan. We also know that her sister Wilma did not immigrate and married a Laplander.

And now the letter from Wilma to Ida:

Front. We see that this letter was mailed in 1942 at the height of World War 2. Sweden was neutral in the war.

The back of the envelope with Wilma's return address in Sweden.

Neistenkangas, Sweden

Page 1 (Click to Enlarge)

Page 2 (Click to Enlarge)

Page 3 (Click to Enlarge)

Page 4 and End (Click to Enlarge)