Hansine Margrethe Kjøller Schrøder, Part 3 -- paternal ancestors

Hansine Margrethe Kjøller, ca 1876

Generation 1 –

Hansine Margrethe Kjøller, born 17 September 1853, Vestermarie, Bornholm, Denmark; married 30 June 1876, Nexø, Bornholm, Denmark to Hans Christian Schroder, born 8 October 1852, Odense, Odense, Denmark, divorced; died 9 May 1920, Seattle, King, Washington, United States.

Three children:

1.    *Axel William (also written  Villiam) Schrøder, born 20 January 1877, Nexø, Bornholm, Denmark;  married 27 April 1912, Seattle, King, Washington, to Anna Mikalsdatter Hornnes, born 20 January 1884, Hornnes, Aust Agder, Norway; died 14 March 1951, Rural Torrance, Los Angeles, California.  Two children:  William Lawrence Schroder, born 14 March 1913, Seattle, King, Washington; two children;  died 28 July 1970, Seattle and Evelyn “Betty” M. Schroder, born 25 May 1914, Seattle, King, Washington, married 30 March 1935 to (1) Theodore “Ted” Tremper, divorced; married 9 May 1943 to (2) Rudi Becker divorced; no children; died 8 October 1981.

Betty and Bill, ca 1917

1.    Unnamed daughter Schroder, born 22 August 1880, Helsingør, Fredriksborg, Denmark, died 22 August 1880, Helsingør.
2.    Camillo Kjøller Schrøder, born 13 June 1885, Rønne, Bornholm, Denmark, died 11 July 1885, Rønne.

Generation 2 –

Jens Peter Kjoller,   born 26 May 1826, Vestermarie, Bornholm, Denmark; married 11 August 1852, Vestermarie, to Ane Malene (also written as Anne Magdalene) Jensen, born 4 December 1818, Vestermarie; died 22 August 1900, Rønne, Bornholm, Denmark.  They had four children all born and christened in Vestermarie, Bornholm, Denmark.

(1)    *Hansine Margrethe Kjøller was born 17 September 1853, see above Generation 1.
(2)    Hans Georg Kjøller, born 8 September 1855.  Hans Georg married  (1) Anna Caroline Viktoria Sonne (born 16 September 1861, died before 1890) about 1881.  They had one child:  Alfred Laurentias Kjøller, born 19 March 1883.  After the death of Anna, Hans G. married (2) Agneta Marie Hansen (born 29 August 1869) in 1890.  No children have been discovered yet.
(3)    Ane Katrine Kjøller, born 8 November 1857.  Ane Katrine never married.
(4)    Jane Caroline Magdalene Kjøller, born 11 November 1860.  Jane married Hans Christian Skov (alternate spellings: Skou, Schouv, Schouw) born 6 August 1863, died 6 March 1916, on 8 June 1883 at Vestermarie.  Hans Christian Skov was the son of Christian Schou and Ingeborg K. Rasmusen.  Hans C. and Jane Caroline had seven children:  Ingeborg Malene Skov, born 19 March 1884; Alma Skov, born 7 December 1885, died 19 January 1887; Herluf Kristian Schou, born 2 August 1887; Harald Valdemar Schou, born 10 November 1889; Henry Knud Schouv, born 24 August 1892, died 28 May 1893; Hans Kristian Schouv, born 8 April 1894; Herman Jensen Schouw, born 8 October 1898. 

Exterior view of Vestermarie church, 1982

Vestermarie church interior, 1982

Generation 3 –

Hans Kioller Hansen or Hans Hansen Kiøller, 25 February 1798, Østermarie, Bornholm, Denmark; married about 1825, Vestermarie, Bornholm, Denmark to
Anne Margrete Madsdatter Kofoed, born 1 August 1801,  who was the daughter of Mads Larsen Kofoed and Anne Margrete Jens’datter; died at Vestermarie.  They had six children:


(1)    *Jens Peter Kjøller was born 26 May 1826, see Generation 2 above.
(2)    Hans Vilhelm Kjøller, born 30 March 1828, married 3 August 1855 in Ostermarie, Mathea Petrea Mognsen, born about 1834 in Vestermarie.  They had six children:  Anine Catrine Kjøller, born about 1858; Hans Svendsen Kjoller, born about 1860; Mathilda Magrete Kjøller about 1862;  Peter Kristian Kjøller, born about 1868;  Sexine Vilhelmine Kjøller born about 1874; Alfred August Kjøller born about 1876.
(3)    Bolsine Catrine Kjøller, born about 1830.
(4)    Bodil Cathrine Kjøller, born 4 January 1831
(5)    Andreanus Kjøller, born 5 March 1837
(6)    Lars Peter Kjøller, born 9 July 1840.  Lars married (1) Johanne Kristine Jensen on 2 March 1861 at Vestermarie.  They had 9 children:  Ane Ellen Margrete Kjøller, born 6 June 1861, died 11 October 1886; Hansine Katrine Kjøller, born 2 December 1862; Jane Laurentia Kjøller, born about 1865; Frida Johanne Kjøller, born about 1867; Petra Ingeborg Karolina Kjøller, born about 1869; Magnus Andreas Kjøller, born about 1861; Jorgine Kristine Kjøller, born 3 February 1872, died 3 August 1911; Hans Jensen Kjøller, born about 1875; Lars Peter Kjøller, born 12 January 1879, died 13 January 1879.  Johanne Kristine died 16 days following the birth of her last child on 29 January 1879.  Lars Peter married (2) Annine Boline Andreasen, born 1855.  They had 2 children:  Peter Andreas Kjøller, born 24 August 1886; Marta Margrete Kjøller, born 11 March 1894. 

Generation 4 –

Hans Espersen Kioller, born about 1764 at Østermarie, Bornholm, Denmark; married 15 January 1793 to Bodil Catrine Jens’datter.  Bodil died 13 September 1830, Vestermarie.  They had five children:

(1)    Seijne Hansen Kjøller, born 1793, Østermarie.
(2)    Jens Hansen Kjøller, born 1794, Østermarie.
(3)    *Hans Kioller Hansen (also written as Hans Hansen Kioller), born 25 February 1798; see Generation 3 above.
(4)    Unnamed son Hansen Kjøller, born 1801; died 15 November 1801, Østermarie.
(5)    Anna Cathrine Hansen Kjøller, born 26 November 1803, Østermarie.

Generation 5

Esper or Esber Kioller
 [At this point we only have his name.  It is hoped that as more records are digitized and/or filmed it will be possible to add information about Generation 5 and beyond.]
At lease one child:

(1)  *Hans Espersen Kioller, born about 1764 at Østermarie, Bornholm, Denmark), see Generation 4 above. One of the attractions on the island of Bornholm is the ruins of Hammerhus seen below in photos taken in 1982.


One of the main attractions on the island of Bornholm, are the ruins of Hammerhus castle pictured below, 1982.

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Note: 

Some of the material posted here originally appeared in "the family gathering" newsletters, Vol. X, issue 1, March 1987, page 122-125 and Vol. XVI, issue 2 (51), July 1993, page 152.  Some new information has been added that was not known at the time the newsletters were sent out.

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 209

Bremen, Germany

This 1982 color postcard, published by Gunter Reinhardt of Bremen, shows part of the Marktplaz of Bremen, Germany including the statue of Roland (1404) the protector of the city seen in the foreground.  He is holding the sword of justice and a shield decorated with an imperial eagle.  Another statue in the square, not visible on the card, is of the Town Musicians, a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.  Following World War II the facades of the buildings in the marktplaz were the first buildings in Bremen to be restored by the citizens.

As the third largest city in Northern Germany, Bremen is a major port and commercial and industrial city situated on the River Weser.  Bremen with neighboring Bremerhaven comprised the state of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.  The Hanseatic League was formed in the 14th century as an international trade and defensive confederation of merchants and guilds originally formed for protection from raids and piracy.

 The city’s stone walls were first constructed in 1032 or about the time trade began with Norway, England and northern Netherlands.   Like many of the older European cities this one had a Prince-Archbishop; however, the city was recognized as a political entity with its own laws.  This meant that property within the boundaries were not subject to feudal overlordship.  Even some serfs could and did acquire property.  

Bremen declared neutrality during the Thirty Years’ War; nevertheless, the city reinforced its fortifications as protection.  For more interesting history, pictures, and information about Bremen and the Hanseatic League, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bremen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 208

 Piazza Grande

 Different view of the Cathedral

Some time ago my wonderful French friend sent me these postcards from Modena, Italy where he now lives.  The first one, at the top, shows the Piazza Grande with the Cathedral and the Communal Palace.  They are UNESCO World Heritage sites.  The first stone for the Cathedral was laid in 1099 under the direction of the Countess Matilda of Tuscany. The second card shows another view of the Cathredal.  The third card, below, contains a picture of the theater designed in a "pure Italian style," according to my friend.

The theater house

Modena is best known today as the “capital of engines” or the “World’s Super Car Capital” because Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Pagani and Maserati have headquarters in the city or nearby.  The 360 Modena (Ferrari) and a Ferrari color Modena yellow were both named for the city.  There is a strong sporting tradition in the town mainly involving auto racing.

Modena is very ancient.  The Villanovans inhabited the territory around Modena in the Iron Age.  Others who lived here at different times were Ligurian tribes, Etruscans, and the Gaulish Boii.  Although the exact date of the founding of the city is unknown it was already in existence during Hannibal’s invasion of Italy in 218 BC.  The University of Modena was established in 1175 and later expanded in 1686 by Francesco II d’Este.  The Este family was identified as lords of Modena as early as 1288 and from 1336 onward was permanently in power during the Middle Ages. 

Balsamic vinegar is made here and with the city of Parma (and Parmesan Cheese) not far away samples of both these items made their way to us last year—were very tasty and much appreciated.  Tortellini and tortelloni, ring shaped pasta stuffed with meat or cheese, comes from Modena.  Other specialties include meats, hams, salamis and dishes called “zampone” (more fat) or “cotechino” (lean) Modena that are both preserved meats made from less tender cuts, and usually served with polenta and lentils.  For dessert one could choose the Torta Nera, a black tart made of coffee/cocoa with almond filling in a fine pastry dough.  

In addition to the pretty photographs on the card fronts I found the stamps to be interesting and quite lovely as well.  The two blue stamps are most likely the regular postage but the others show the wine industry and a library interior.  As always, my thanks to my kind friend. 

For additional information, please see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modena

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 Note:

Since we will be without internet access for a few days, this Thursday postcard is a day early.

Hansine Margrethe Kjøller Schrøder, Part 2

Hansine Margrethe Kjøller Schrøder, ca 1903-1904

Sometime following her divorce from Hans Christian Schrøder, Hansine Margrethe returned to Bornholm and settled in Rønne with her parents, Jens Peter Kjøller and Anna Magdalena Jensen (also written as Ane Malene Jensen).   Hansine’s son, Axel, leaves Vestermarie and moves in with them probably between late 1890 and 1891.  Up until this point Axel had been living with his aunts Ane and Jane and Jane’s husband, Hans Christian Skov in Vestermarie where he is listed on the 1890 Danish census taken mid year.  

Most likely one of Hansine's sisters, ca 1880 reproduced 1902

The photograph above is a copy of an original photo and it is likely of one of Hansine’s sisters, Ane or Jane Caroline who was married to Hans Christian Skov.  The resemblance is most noticeable in the mouth and nose.  Not many pictures survived the journey from Denmark to America and those that did are not always identified.  

The Skov’s had seven children of their own and had been fostering Axel since he was 2 or 3 years old.  It was not unusual for children to be fostered out with relatives at what seems to us today a very young age.  The family would not have thought it strange to leave such a young child in the care of an aunt and uncle where he could grow up with cousins close to his own age.  Axel would have been about 13 or 14 years old when he moved back in with his mother. 

Rønne, Bornholm, Denmark, 1982

Hansine’s brother Hans Georg, who had married in 1881, was also living in the same town.  It appears that they together with their father may have joined the newly formed Dairy Co-operative on the island.  Hans Georg is listed as a dairyman and Hansine is identified as being in the milk trade business.  The Co-operative was first established in the 1880s on Jutland and later spread to other parts of Denmark.  It allowed people to pool their resources, use communal grazing land, have access to the latest most modern equipment, trade and sell milk, eggs, butter, cheese and other dairy products for a small fee charged by the co-op.  In return the members could get better prices for their own goods.  Many people took advantage of the new system and it proved quite profitable for those who had several cows and it still managed to help the small farmer or cottar as well. 

Hansine seems to have been very savvy financially and she, her father and her brother did have a sufficient herd of milk cows to do well under the co-operative system.   It also looks as if she had a divorce settlement of some significant amount that allowed her to be more or less independent.  After he retired from his farm in Vestermarie and moved to the town of Rønne, Hansine’s father, Jens Peter Kjøller entered into the cattle breeding business.  This partnership between daughter, son and father permitted them to take full advantage of the Dairy Co-operative and provided a decent income for the extended family.  It is also possible that the two sisters and son-in-law still living at Vestermarie may have been part of the family partnership. Today approximately 95% of all Danish dairy products come from the Co-operative members. 

Information about the Danish Dairy Co-operative can be found here:
http://www.danishdairyboard.dk/History.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_cooperative_movement 

The Rønne church records show Axel’s confirmation at age 14 in 1891, hence it is possible to determine that he was living with his mother at that time at least long enough to take the classes and examinations for confirmation or his records would have been at Vestermarie Church instead.  Axel is listed on the Danish naval roles in 1896 and 1897.  In those days the Danish navy trained the sailors on sailing vessels not steamships so he would have learned how to sail a true large military sailing ship.  

Axel in a sailor uniform, ca 1898

Oral history stories have him sailing as a cabin boy when he was 14 years old but the records show only his entry into the navy at age 19.  The family stories tell of one shipwreck but there could have been two since one story or incident involved a ship carrying a cargo of salt and another seemed to be about a navy ship.  One family story says he was tied to a barrel or piece of wood during a storm at sea.  The ship he was on went down in the storm and was he pulled out of the sea by a rescue vessel. 

The same ship or possibly another wreck with a rescue at sea had him impressed, or as the story goes, he was “Shanghaied.”  This second incident would have been when he was about 20 years old.   He worked on that vessel until he was able to jump ship in Valparaiso, Chili.  Once in Chili he found work in the nitrate mines until he could get another ship and work his way up the coast of South America eventually landing in Seattle, Washington in 1898 or 1899 where he decided to stay.  It is thought that it was during his time working in the mines that he contracted TB which he had the rest of his life.  His route from Denmark would have meant that he came in a sailing ship around Cape Horn or the tip of South America. 

Hansine’s father, Jens Peter, died 22 August 1900 and her mother, Ane Malene, died 16 October 1902.  Hansine had lived with them and had taken care of them for at least five years by the time her parents passed away.  From the quality and quantity of goods she brought with her to America and the fact that most of the items she brought are dated to about the time she left Denmark, it is most likely that she inherited a fairly substantial amount.  Her sister Jane Caroline would have most likely kept the property in Vestermarie, her unmarried sister, Ane, would have continued to live with Jane and help with that large family.  Hans Georg remained in the city of Rønne but also most likely received some inheritance when his parents died. 

Another family story has always held that Hansine came in a sailing ship around South America bringing with her trunks and barrels of goods including dishes and woolen cloth.  However, in 1903 when Axel sent for his mother to join him in the United States the passenger lists show Hansine purchasing a ticket on the Scandinavian American Liner, SS Norge, on the 17th of April 1903.  A closer examination of the lists indicate that she canceled that ticket and later purchased another one, dated 4 May 1903 also on a Scandinavian American Liner, SS United States.  The SS United States was a new steamship, only one year old, when she was a passenger.  Hence while Axel was on a sailing vessel his mother was on a modern steamship.  Just another example of how oral stories can contain kernels of the true events but often some things get jumbled in the retelling as years pass.  Nevertheless, it is these family stories that help us get a sense of the character and lives of our ancestors.  They provide color and richness to the basic dates and facts.  As more information becomes available we can make corrections and additions as needed. 

The picture at the top of the page shows Hansine at 50 years old when she left Denmark to begin a new life in America.  Her occupation/income and social standing is given as “rentier” which translates roughly as a person living on investments or a person of independent means.  This photograph of her taken shortly before she left Denmark seems to confirm that definition.  As one observer noted, "She looks every bit the part of the grand dame."

 Below are a few pictures of some of the lovely things she brought with her when she left Denmark.   A few of these things have survived the years.  Some of the items we have photos of and accounts of but other items are no longer in the family.  She arrived in New York on 15 May 1904 so she bought the ticket about a year before she actually left Denmark.  No connecting ticket has been found and the records show the SS United States continuing on from New York City to Seattle, Washington therefore she must have stayed on the ship to complete her journey.

Here above is a large Rörstrand (ca 1890s) hand painted urn, it has butterflies and strawberry blossoms on the front, Nubian heads on the sides, and sheaves of grain on the reverse side.  Originally it was one of a pair but an attempt to turn the matching urn into a lamp by drilling a hole in the bottom resulted in breaking the urn.  Rörstrand founded in the 13th century is one of the more famous Swedish porcelain factories still in use today.

An interesting thing about the coffee cup and the pot was the pattern of wear on the gold trim of both the cup and coffee pot suggesting that Hansine was left-handed.   Marks on the bottom of the coffee pot and the saucer (ca 1890s) show those pieces to have been made by C. Tielsch & Co. of Altwasser, Silesia, Germany a porcelain factory founded in 1845 and operating into the 20th century.  

The white painted flowers on this porcelain tray (ca 1890s) are Edelweiss and the blue flowers look like Gentian.   If the red flowers were here in the United States and not in Europe they might perhaps be Penstemon with the sprigs intertwined as Baby’s Breath. There are marks on the backside of the tray but those marks have not yet been matched with a porcelain factory.  Because of the Edelweiss it is probably of Austrian or German manufacture.

A wind up Celesta Music Box that has several metal disk records, ca 1890s. 

After Hansine arrived in Seattle she lived with her son and they on occasion had others live with them mostly seafaring friends of Axel’s including L.R. Swanson.  When Axel and Anna Hornnes married in 1912 Hansine continued to live with them.  It is entirely possible that Hansine helped her son and his new bride purchase the land and build the house but we cannot know that for sure.  Anna and Axel also sponsored several friends and relatives who stayed with them until they could get jobs and places to live.  Gunnie Osmund was another of Lil Anna’s nieces and she stayed with them for a while, was introduced to L.R. Swanson, they married and moved to a farm near Silverdale, Washington.  Gunnie was the mother of Agnes Allpress.  Agnes’s children still live on the original farm although it was divided so each of Gunnie’s grandchildren could have their own piece of the farm.  Very similar to what happened in Norway with the larger farms.  Two sisters, Anna and Oline "Line" Espetveit, who had been Lil Anna's neighbors in Norway, were among those who stayed for a while at the Schroders.  Anna Espetveit later married Edward Grodvig, a friend of Axel's, who had also stayed with the Schroders.  There were so many who were sponsored and lived with them it is hard to make a complete list but one is in progress and it is hoped that eventually all the people can be found. 

 Axel and Anna had a small cottage built for Hansine in the backyard of their home on Yale Avenue East.  Anna indicated in her journal that it was not easy having her mother-in-law live with them but somehow they managed.  Hansine was used to being waited on and Anna ended up having to do many things for her that were difficult and unexpected chores.  My mother said that Anna had to carry Hansine or move her from the bed to a chair on some occasions and that resulted in Anna miscarrying two children during the final couple of years of Hansine’s life. 

Here below are a couple snapshots taken that include Hansine during that time.  She died from a stroke 9 May 1920 and after being ill with pleurisy for 2 months prior to her death. 

 Hansine with her grandson, Bill, ca 1913

Hansine in the garden, ca 1918

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Note: 

Some of the material posted here originally appeared in "the family gathering" newsletters, Vol. X, issue 1, March 1987, page 122-125 and Vol. XVI, issue 2 (51), July 1993, page 152.  Some new information has been added that was not known at the time the newsletters were sent out.

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 207

Sir William Butts, M.D., ca 1543 by Hans Holbein the Younger

He's not a movie star or someone currently famous but this type of card with a portrait on it does seem to fall into that category.  In the early 1900s many not so famous people also had their own picture put on cards to share with family and friends.  Putting portraits on postcards does provide another way for us to see the likenesses of individuals from years past as well as clothing styles and a peek into history. 

This week the postcard features a portrait of Sir William Butts, M.D. (1486-1545), physician to Henry VIII painted by Hans Holbein the younger in 1543.  Butts was a Member of the College of Physicians and knighted just before he died in 1545.  He is buried at All Saints Church, Fulham, London.  The painting is part of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum collection, Boston, Massachusetts.  Brüder Hartmann printed the postcard in Berlin, Germany.  The unused card was found in a small local secondhand/antique shop and caught the eye because the find occurred when the PBS Masterpiece series, Wolf Hall, about Thomas Cromwell and King Henry VIII was being aired.  Dr. Butts is mentioned in the series, as is Hans Holbein the artist.

The artist, Hans Holbein the Younger, was born about 1497 in Augsburg, Bavaria, then part of the Holy Roman Empire.  His father, uncle and brother were also painters and draftsmen.  At about age 30 he traveled to England looking for work and eventually became one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century creating portraits of Anne Boleyn, Thomas Cromwell, and Henry VIII among others.  In his position as King’s Painter to King Henry VIII he not only painted portraits but also designs for jewellery, plate, and other precious objects.  He is sometimes referred to as a realist drawing and painting with precision.  After his death some of his work was lost but later much was found and collected.  By the 1800s he was recognized as a great portrait master.  He layered his works with symbolism, allusion and paradox and they have remained a fascination of scholars.

For more about Hans Holbein the Younger and William Butts, please see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Butts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Holbein_the_Younger

Hansine Margrethe Kjøller Schrøder, Part 1

 Hansine and her grandchildren, Bill and Betty, ca 1918-1919

This marvelous photograph above of Hansine Margrethe Kjøller Schøder and her two grandchildren, my father, William L. (Bill) and his sister, Evelyn (Betty), was taken about 1918 or 1919 at the family home near Lake Union in Seattle, 2231 Yale Avenue North.  Judging from the finery of their dress, it looks as if it may have been Easter or some other special occasion.

From oral history accounts, Hansine was said to have been a formidable appearing woman.  In an interview with Herb Solwold, Sadie Stean’s husband, he said Mrs. Schrøder was imposing woman.  Sadie was Anna’s niece and had lived with Axel and Anna for a while before she married Herb.  He said he was at the house often before he left for France during World War I and knew the family well.  Lil Anna Hornnes, Hansine’s daughter-in-law, wrote in her journal:  “I was scared stiff of his (Axel’s) mother, and all my friends didn’t make it any better with their advice.”  At 5’ 10” Hansine would have been extremely tall in the early 1900s.  She was born 17 September 1853 in Vestermarie, Bornholm, Denmark, the first of four children born to Jens Peter Kjøller and Anna Magadalena Jensen. 

The other children in the family were: 

Hans Georg, born 8 September 1855
Ane Katrine, born 8 November 1857
Jane Caroline Magdalene, born 11 November 1860.

The picture below taken in 1982 shows some of the flat farmland near Vestermarie with the church on the horizon.  The church is brick and has a hedge fence surrounding it. 

 View of Vestermarie with church on horizon, 1982

Vestermarie Church, 1982

Among the monuments in the churchyard are two standing stones with runes on them.  A remarkable history of Vestermarie compiled by one of the pastors of the church was discovered as an addendum to the parish register and included a runic/Danish alphabet with a translation into Danish of the two stones.  This stone shown below says in Danish: 

Rune stone in the Vestermarie Churchyard, 1982

“Asur lit noa stein ifter Alvard fadur sin truknade han ute med ala spikare,”
and in English: 
“Asur erected this stone in memory of his father Alvard who was drown at sea with all aboard ship.” 

The stones are approximately 4 to 5 feet high and were carted 13 kilometers or about 8 miles from somewhere near Rønne to Vestermarie in the year 1658.  The historical account of Vestermarie in the church register runs about 17 handwritten pages.  One interesting detail in the history relates to the forest, Almindingen.  This is not a natural forest, as first supposed, but was planted by the islanders in the 19th century.  During part of Hansine's life the forest would not have existed and it would have been a small woodland when she left Denmark for America in 1904.  Now it is the third largest forest in Denmark.

The Kjøllers were landowners first in Østermarie and then later in Vestermarie.  According to records searched thus far the Jensen side of Hansine’s family lived in Vestermarie as early as 1727, probably even earlier.  It is even possible that they were living there during the Bornholmers uprising in 1658 when the Swedes were expelled from the island after Jens Kofoed killed the Swedish commandant.  There are many families on the island with the surname Kofoed including some who connect to our family line.  Through FamilySearch.org our branch of the Kofoed line has been extended as part of the shared FamilyTree feature.  

 Monolith to commemorate Jens Kofoed and the Bornholm uprising of 1658

[photo taken 1982]

A translation of an inscription on a tall granite monolith commemorating the 1658 event stands near the castle ruins of Hammerhus and reads:

“This people threw off its foreign yoke
Here, where rock breaks into sea.
Freeborn, men speak mother’s tongue—
Danish still will Bornholm be.”

When she was 22 years old Hansine left Vestermarie in May 1876 to move to Nexø, a seaport town on the eastern side of the island, where she married Hans Christian Schrøder a baker and confectioner on 30 June 1876.  Their first child, Axel William, was born 20 January 1877 while they were living in Nexø.  By July 1877 Hansine, Hans Christian and Axel had moved back to Vestermarie where they stayed for the next two to three years living with her family. 

Hansine Margrethe Kjøller, 1876, about age 22 or 23

Hans Christian Schrøder, 1876, about age 24

The two photographs, one of Hansine and the other of Hans Christian, shown above were both taken by G. Stockel of Rønne, Bornholm.  It is not known if they were taken at the same time; however, they appear to have been taken sometime near the date of the marriage.  While we do have a few other photos of Hansine, including snapshots, this is the only picture we have of Hans Christian.  It is interesting to note that several of his physical characteristics have carried through the generations, the light curly hair, deep set eyes, the mouth and the overall shape of his ears and head for example. 

By using the available Danish census records and parish registers it is possible to piece together some of what must have occurred following their return to Vestermarie.  It appears that Hansine and Hans Christian left Bornholm and traveled by sea at least as far as København/Copenhagen, on the island of Sjæland, that would have been a 7 hour voyage in 1880, and most likely by sea from there north to Helsingør another 2 hours.  Today modern ferries run between Rønne and Ystad, Sweden (about 2 hours) with good roads and a drive across southern Sweden to Malmö, then a short 1½ hour ferry to Copenhagen, and another 1 hour drive up the coast for about a 4½ hour journey. 

The 1880 Danish Census shows them living in Helsingør at Fredriksborg, Lynge-Kronborg, Helsingør Købstad, Sct. Annagaden, [Fredriksborg, Lynge-Kronborg district, City of Helsingør, Saint Anna Street].  However, only Hansine is actually living there.  She is listed with the widower, Franz Georg Wilhelm, a music teacher, his daughter, Julie Franciska Pouline Wilhelm, and Mathilde Bernhardtdine Andersen who is thought to be Franz’s stepdaughter.  Hans Christian is temporarily living at the Hollandske Møll (Dutch Mill).  It looks like the Dutch Mill was some sort of school and dormitory and since he was a baker it is possible he went there to get additional training for his profession.

 The church register for Helsingør, Fredriksborg, Denmark shows the birth and death of a baby girl on 22 August 1880 born to Hans Christian Schrøder and Hansine Margrethe Kjøller. This little girl was born 12 weeks prematurely and died before she could be christened and given a name. 

The next time we see Hansine in the records it is 1885 and she is back on Bornholm living with her parents who have left the farm in Vestermarie and are now in the city of Rønne.  On 13 June 1885 Hansine gives birth to a boy named Camillo Kjøller Schrøder.  She is listed as divorced and Camillo is marked as illegitimate in the church register.  The legitimacy issue probably arose due to her status as a divorced woman.   Camillo was christened at home on 6 July 1885 and dies on 11 July 1885.  There is no indication in the church register to show the name of the father of this child so we do not yet know if it was Hans Christian or another man.



(To be continued in part 2)

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Note:  Some of the material posted here originally appeared in "the family gathering" newsletters, Vol. X, issue 1, March 1987, page 122-125 and Vol. XVI, issue 2 (51), July 1993, page 152.  Some new information has been added that was not known at the time the newsletters were sent out.

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 206

Tatlanika Gift Shop, Alaska, ca 1980

Bob found this postcard dating from the late 1980s among several others when he was cleaning out some old boxes recently.  The picture of the Tatlanika Gift Shop at milepost 276 on the Fairbanks-Anchorage Highway is from an original pen and ink drawing by Alaskan artist Marybeth Harder.  Notice the Moose antlers above the entrance and at both sides of the building as well as the old snow shoes mounted on the outside wall.  It also looks like a bear hide tacked to the door and at least one blanket handing on the railing.

From what I could discover the items for sale in the gift shop are not the typical cheap trinkets found in many such shops but are instead things made by local Alaskan artisans and of quality.  Another thing that seems to astound campers is that the campground has very clean restrooms with flush toilets and showers both practically unheard of for such an out of the way place. 

The Gift Shop established in 1986 is on the grounds of the small Tatlanika Campground and RV Park that has room for eleven guests and is located near the town of Nenana, Alaska and the Clear Air Force Station, part of the Alaska Air National Guard early warning station.  The Clear station was one of the Alaska World War II Army Airfields later it was converted to a radar station with additional structures constructed in the late 1950s.  Still in use today it has been further modified with the Space Warning Squadron taking on the early warning/space surveillance mission using updated computer processing and software improvements that enhance the capability.

The town of Nenana with a population of about 400 is situated at the confluence of the Nenana and Tanana Rivers.  The Mears Memorial Bridge that spans the Tanana River is 700 feet in length (210 meters) was built as part of Alaska’s railroad project to connect Anchorage and Fairbanks.  At one time this bridge was the longest truss bridge in the United States. 

When Europeans first came to the area they called the town Tortella because they couldn’t manage the native word Toghotthele that means “mountain that parallels the river.”  Russians bartered for goods and furs here as early as 1838.  After the United States purchased Alaska from the Russians in 1867 American explorers and traders began entering this area in the 1870s.  The name was changed to Nenana after the river and the people who lived there.  With the discovery of gold in Fairbanks in 1902 there was an increase of activity.  In 1903 Jim Duke built the first trading post/roadhouse that could supply the natives and the travelers coming though on the river.  It wasn’t possible to tell if the original trading post still stands or if the shop on this postcard is a replacement.

For more information, see:

http://www.romancingalaska.com/interior/INT_tatlanika_campground_%26_rv_park.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nenana,_Alaska
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Air_Force_Station
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear,_Alaska

Summer hiking highlights -- Mt. Rainier

We are having a hot, dry summer this year that makes it harder for me to do some of the more strenuous hikes as the heat slows me down considerably but we have done several hikes since the last hiking blog post.  As seniors we are fortunate to be able to take advantage of the Golden Age Pass that allows us to use National Parks, National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management areas for a one time nominal fee.  The other pass we use for State Parks is a Discover Pass that has to be renewed each year.  Here are a few highlights and photos from four hikes we enjoyed in the Mt. Rainier National Park.

 Glacier Basin, Mt. Rainier National Park

 

 

Hike 1:  Glacier Basin in the Mt. Rainier National Park was one destination.  This is a moderate hike of a little more than 6 miles round trip with a 1650 foot vertical gain.  We probably saw more climbers on the way up to a base camp than day hikers.  The basin and small tarn are beautiful and scenic.  However, notice the lack of snow.  Most years this might have been still snowed in the middle of June instead of green.  Glacier Lilies, Mertensia, Monkey Flower, Shooting Stars, Phlox, Showy Jacob's Ladder, and Bear Grass were among the flowers we saw in bloom.

 Bear Grass

 Shooting Stars

 Glacier Lily

 Showy Jacob's Ladder

Wooly Sunflower and butterfly

Mertensia

Paradise, Mt. Rainier

Hike 2:  Paradise, Mazama Ridge and Myrtle Falls had fields of Lupine in bloom, marmots sunning on the rocks and whistling in the flowers.  This was about a 4 mile round trip with a 700 foot elevation gain.  It was very hot and I needed lots of rest stops on the way up.  As the photo just above shows there were a number of climbers who were practicing for the climb all the way up the mountain. 

 A Hoary Marmot sunning on a rock

Myrtle Falls

We hiked up the Skyline Trail just as far as the Van Tump monument to the first climbers to reach the summit of Mt. Rainier in 1870, Hazard Stevens and P.B. Van Trump.  

Van Trump monument

 Views from the trail

 Indian Paintbrush

Avalanche Lilies

We also stopped at Narada and Christine Falls on the way home.

 Narada Falls

Christine Falls

Hike 3:  This was the second time for me to do the Naches Loop trail.  It is also a 4 mile round trip with a 700 foot gain.  We started early but it was still too hot at 80ºF.  We hiked with good friends and had a great day together enjoying this beautiful place that was almost completely filled with flowers and their sweet scents.  We topped the hot day off by stopping at Wapiti Woolies for ice cream cones.

 On the Naches Loop trail

 Below, view of Dewey Lake from the Naches Loop trail

 Larkspur

 Lousewort

Tiger Lily

 Columbine

 Magenta Indian Paintbrush and Lupine

 Mountain tarn and flower filled meadow

Hike 4:  The Summerland trail actually goes much further but we just stayed on the lower section, went 5 miles round trip with a 900 foot gain.   We got rained on (a welcome coolness) but that meant not too many good photographs.

 At the start of the trail

 Pipsissewa

 Bog orchid

 Pinesap

 Wild Blueberries

There were lots of very tasty blueberries and we ate lots of them!

 Bumble bee on a thistle flower

 River and small falls

Misty view through the rain

These are just a tiny sampling of the many trails in Mt. Rainier National Park.  This year the flowers were spectacular and we look forward to going back next year or sooner.