52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Favorite Photo

Nothing like a photo prompt to get me to join a blogging challenge!

Since uncovering car-loads of genealogical goodies in my stepmother's basement two years ago, this wedding photo of my paternal grandmother's parents on their wedding day has become my favorite photo.

My great-grandparents, Carl Johan Anderson and Mathilda Alfina Johnson, were married at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in South Manchester, CT on August 4, 1893.

Carl and Alfina knew each other in Sweden and were childhood sweethearts. They immigrated to America separately in 1888 and 1890 respectively, Carl alone and Alfina with her sister Anna and friend Selma. Carl found permanent work as a velvet weaver at a large mill in Manchester within eight months of his arrival and eventually they were able to build their own home, half of which was a boarding house.

Carl and Alfina had three children who all lived to adulthood: Axel Henrik Waldemar born in 1894, Elmer Carl Ragnar born in 1896 and my grandmother, Dagmar Alice Viola born in 1905.

Alfina died in 1955, Carl in 1956. I believe that they both died at a home in Massachusetts near their son Axel, but I have yet to verify this. They are buried in East Cemetery, South Manchester, CT in a plot with their boys and their wives, and Elmer's son who died at nine days old. Buried near them in their own family plots are Alfina's friend Selma and her sister Anna.


Anderson, Carl Johan and Johnson, Mathilda Alfina. Photograph taken 1893 privately held by Anna C. Matthews, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Rockville Centre, NY, 2018. It was found in the basement of her stepmother's home in 2015, her father having died in 2005. Subjects are identified by writing on the back as well as their resemblance to other photos.

Friday's Faces From the Past - Group Photo

One of my favorite photos (if I can even really pick favorites) from Dad's basement stash is this group photo of family members and friends of my grandmother's family.  Of course, the first thing I noticed was the numbers, in red marker, on the photo itself! Oh, boy!

But it is the people who are not marked, not identified, who are the reason for this post. I have had a little bit of luck finding cousins through this blog, so why not some descendants of my ancestors' FAN clubs?

1 - Carl Johan Anderson, my great-grandfather.
2 - Albin Johnson, my great-grandmother's brother.
3 - Anna Johnson, my great-grandmother's sister.
4 - Charles Johnson, Anna's husband.
5 - John Anderson (Lil' John), relationship unknown, but may have been a boarder according to a 1900 census.
6 - John Carlin - no relation, but possibly the brother of Selma Carlin, Anna and Alfina's friend.
7 - Mrs. Carlin - probably John's wife.
8 - Axel Heinrich Anderson, my great-uncle.
9 - Elmer Carl Anderson, my great-uncle (brother of Axel).
10 - Lillian Hildur Ingeborg Johnson, my first cousin 2 x removed, daughter of Anna and Charles.

There are no indications as to exactly when or where this photo was taken, but many of these people lived in and around Manchester, CT. And from the ages of my great-uncles, I can estimate that it was taken around 1900 when my great-grandparents and great-uncles (my grandmother wasn't born until 1905) had just moved into what is now a two-family house that my great-grandfather built on Garden Street. (The number now is 68 but I believe the numbers changed over the years.) He purchased the land from the Cheney family who owned the mill where he worked and built the home large enough to take in boarders who became my great-grandmother's responsibility. The 1900 census lists a John Anderson as one of their boarders, though it is unclear if the John Anderson above is the same man. The other boarders listed were Albin Johnson (likely my great-grandmother's brother), Alexander and Axel Bergrin (likely Berggren) and Charles Larson - all from Sweden and all employed at the Cheney mills. Any of them could be in this photo, or not.

So, if you have any of this rings a bell to you, please take a closer look at this photo by clicking on it and if you recognize anyone, please let me know!