Hail the Ancestors!
It was 115 years ago today, that my grandfather, Karl Fritjof Oberg was born in Geta, Aland.
Karl was the son of Karl Viktor, and Ida Viktoria (Westerlund) Oberg. He was the grandson of Karl Erik, and Mathilda Sofia (Sundstrom) Oberg. And he was the great-grandson of Jan Erik, and Eva Stina (Eriksdottir) Oberg.
In 1916, still in his early 20’s, Karl did as so many of his fellow Alanders
were doing - he boarded a ship and left his ancestral homeland behind, heading
for the shores of America with the hope of prosperity. Upon entering the
country, Karl had to change the Swedish spelling of his middle name to the more
‘American’ version - Fredrick - which he must have liked, as he also began using
it as his first name. Here he would take a job as a truck driver for Granite
Farm in Quincy, Mass.
Four years later, he married Hilda Olivia Erikson, who was born in Iron Belt,
Wisconsin. Hilda was the daughter of Gabriel, and Carolina (Veso) Erikson.
During the 1920’s, Karl and Hilda had two sons and a daughter. Then, a ‘late
arrival’ came in 1940, when my father, Richard Ernest was born. Sadly, on March
9, 1955, only 15 years after my father’s birth, Karl Fritjof (or more commonly -
‘grampa Fred‘), would pass into the Halls of our Ancestors at the far too young
an age of 59.
Tonight, Karl Fritjof’s great grandsons, Erik Michael and Kyle Gunnar, will join
me as we put out our ancestor plate and share our meal. I will tell them all
that I know of their great grandfather, just as I have on this date for many
years now. And he will be remembered, as we raise our glasses and speak the name
of Karl Fritjof Oberg.
Hail the Ancestors!
Karl was the son of Karl Viktor, and Ida Viktoria (Westerlund) Oberg. He was the grandson of Karl Erik, and Mathilda Sofia (Sundstrom) Oberg. And he was the great-grandson of Jan Erik, and Eva Stina (Eriksdottir) Oberg.
In 1916, still in his early 20’s, Karl did as so many of his fellow Alanders
were doing - he boarded a ship and left his ancestral homeland behind, heading
for the shores of America with the hope of prosperity. Upon entering the
country, Karl had to change the Swedish spelling of his middle name to the more
‘American’ version - Fredrick - which he must have liked, as he also began using
it as his first name. Here he would take a job as a truck driver for Granite
Farm in Quincy, Mass.
Four years later, he married Hilda Olivia Erikson, who was born in Iron Belt,
Wisconsin. Hilda was the daughter of Gabriel, and Carolina (Veso) Erikson.
During the 1920’s, Karl and Hilda had two sons and a daughter. Then, a ‘late
arrival’ came in 1940, when my father, Richard Ernest was born. Sadly, on March
9, 1955, only 15 years after my father’s birth, Karl Fritjof (or more commonly -
‘grampa Fred‘), would pass into the Halls of our Ancestors at the far too young
an age of 59.
Tonight, Karl Fritjof’s great grandsons, Erik Michael and Kyle Gunnar, will join
me as we put out our ancestor plate and share our meal. I will tell them all
that I know of their great grandfather, just as I have on this date for many
years now. And he will be remembered, as we raise our glasses and speak the name
of Karl Fritjof Oberg.
Hail the Ancestors!