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Archiver > ILKNOX > 1997-12 > 0881378074


From: Tom Lundeen <>
Subject: Re: Will Look-up
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 97 21:14:34 -0600


on 12/5/97 5:25 PM, Pat Smith wrote:

> I have a copy of " The Swedes Of Knox Co." until Jan. 14, I will be
>glad to do look-ups.

Pat:

Thanks for the offer -- I've got a pile that I'd love to have you look up, but I'll limit it to my great-grandfather's family.

Thomas Nelson came to this country, apparently alone, in 1875 from Jämshög, Blekinge, Sweden, and settled in Henderson Grove (Soperville). His parents, Nils Håkanson (often Hokanson or Hawkinson) and Hanna Jönson, emigrated in 1877, and apparently settled in Soperville also.

Nels Håkanson died in the late 1890s (we think 1898), and, according to my grandfather's recollection, "is buried at the big Lutheran Chuch in Soperville." His memory must be faulty, as the church has no records of his burial spot. It is probably the right church, as I found mention in the church minutes (in Swedish) that my g-grandfather (Thomas Nelson) had paid his dues in 1878. However, I found no mention of my g-g-grandfather in the minutes. Recently, I found proof that my g-g-grandmother, Hanna, died in the poorhouse in Knoxville in 1908.

When my g-grandfather was naturalized in 1884, he changed his name to Thomas Lundeen, apparently due to the commonality of the surname Nelson. And yes, I am his namesake. On the last day of 1887, Thomas married Nila Olson from the Barefoot area. We know very little about her parents and ancestors. Her father was apparently named Ole, but we have conflicting information on her mother -- we find both Truin (Truen?) and Bengta for first names -- perhaps two wives. We know that she had three siblings -- Karin (who stayed in Sweden), Nels (who emigrated for a while before retiring to Sweden), and Elsa (who married a man from Galesburg and settled there).

After these families moved to Galesburg, we have a wealth of information, but are always interested in more, particularly from the 19th century. Anything you could find on Soperville and Barefoot would be _greatly_ appreciated.

Thanks again for the kind offer.

Tom Lundeen
Palatine IL

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