I know so very little about my Swedish great grandfather Andrew Dalin. And most of what I do know comes from the document below – a “Declaration of Intention” signed by him on January 23, 1918 Continue reading
Brita must have felt very alone and frightened when her husband Andrew left her and their young son Johan to travel to America several years after they were married. She was only 25 years old and I can only imagine that she prayed every day he would stay safe and send for her and their son just as soon as he was able to secure work in the new country.
Brita was born in about 1863 in Hudiksvall, Sweden. I know nothing about her parents and it seems that even her children were unclear on her maiden name. I have located a Swedish record which indicates it might have been “Johansdotter” but more research needs to be done.
After Andrew had been gone from Sweden for some time, his brother Erick went searching for him. Eventually Brita was sent for – but their young son Johan had died in the meantime.
For more information on how Andrew, Brita and Erick made their way to Montana after Brita arrived, click here. Once in Montana, Brita and Andrew went on to have four more children, including my grandfather Cid H. Dalin.
When Andrew died in 1919, Brita was only 55 years old. Her brother-in-law, who never married, seem to watch over Brita for the rest of her life. According to census records, he lived with her for what seem to be short periods of time off and on until her death in 1942.
Brita is buried in the Oddfellows Cemetery next to Andrew. And Erick, who died in 1955 in California, is buried nearby.
This is my paternal great grandfather, Andrew Dalin. He was born October 21, 1859, in Hudiksvall, Sweden. At this time, I have no information about his parents. I do know that he had at least one sibling, a brother Erik.
In 1979, my father told me the story – as he knew it – of how his grandfather came to be in Montana:
Andrew and his wife Brita met and married in Sweden. Several years later, Andrew – being a sailor – left Sweden to travel, leaving Brita and their small son, John, behind. At some point in time, Andrew’s brother Erick learned that Andrew was in the United States and set out to locate him. When the two brothers were re-united, it was decided that Erick would go back to Sweden and bring Andrew’s family back to the United States. Sadly, Erick returned to Sweden only to find out the son had died, but he did bring Brita back with him. When Erick and Brita finally caught up with Andrew, he was in Minnesota where he had acquired 800 acres located in the Mesabi Iron Range. Andrew sold the land and the three set off by covered wagon for St. Joseph, Missouri. From there they traveled by steam boat on the Missouri River to Ft. Benton, Montana, and then continued by covered wagon to Hassel, Montana. Andrew timbered the mines in Hassel until 1907 when they moved to Helena. Continue reading