Books We're Reading.....

At Gina's request, I've added a "gadget" called "Books We're Reading" on the right side of the screen. To add your own books you must first sign in with your google address. Then go to "Layout" at the top of the screen, then to "Add List Item". At this time, I'm the sole administrator of the blog, but I believe that, as "authors", the rest of you can add whatever you want to this blog. Feel free to fool around with it and let me know if you're not able to get access. -Kate

I don't have everyone's email, so pass on to your brothers and sisters.......

As some of you may be aware, Mark and I have been working on trying to dig into family roots with a focus on the Seeberg branch, not only because its the family name, but seems like the one we know (knew) the least about. We will have Mark write this up better than I in a formal document, but here are some tidbits of what we have uncovered so far - I am writing this on a plane, from memory so I may have a few dates wrong:

Otto Seeberg born in 1866, was the son of Swan Sjoberg (two dots over the "o") and Catherine (possibly Caroline) Magnuson from Tranemo in the former Smoland region of Sweden. He immigrated to the US/ Chicago  with at least two older brothers (Adolph and Gustav) in 1884, 13 years after the Chicago Fire.  Maybe some other brothers/cousins (JP, Frank, Charles). Looks like he boarded with Gustav in the 1890's in the River North area (near current Merchandise Mart). 

Otto returned home to Sweden in the 1890's (probably to visit mom), may have lived in London for a short time and sailed back to the USA via New York in 1894 aboard the Teutonic. Maybe he got out of Chicago to avoid the crowds of the 1893 World's (Fair) Colombian Exposition which would be pure Seeberg style. (How do you say "I have to get away from these idiots" in Swedish?). 

Otto married Katherine Johnson (pure Swede) in 1897 in Milwaukee and they had only one child, Wilbur A. Seeberg, Sr. born in 1897. Moved to Rogers Park area in sometime after 1900, on Western Ave. near Rosehill Cemetery - likely moved to be near his two grocery stores in Andersonvile. Otto bought/built a brand new six-flat in 1915 on Glenwood Ave adjacent to Senn High School - a building which remained in the family until the 1960's (?). In the 50's the extended family (4 generations) all lived in the building, including Mark and BJ. 

WAS Sr.  graduated from Senn High School and went on to work in salesman for the National X-Ray Company on W. Jackson Street - near the Board of Trade. WA Seeberg married Gertrude Lundgren in 1923 (daughter of Andrew Lundgren (Swede) and Mary Agnes Morrison (Irish).

In the 1930's he sold lighting to St. Ignatius Parish, starting what became a life long and multi-generation connection with the Jesuits. Shortly thereafter, he transferred two of his kids (Marge and WAS Jr.) from public school to St. Ignatius grammar school. WAS Sr. later went on to become a member of the Father's Club at Loyola Academy and his wife Gertrude (Gram to us) was Chair of the Womens Club of Loyola in 1942/43. 

Otto's wife Katherine died in 1917 at the age of 57 of breast and uterine cancer.  WAS Sr. died on Christmas Eve/Day in 1954 at the young age 56. His son Jim (Uncle Jim or "RJ" as we know him) was home from John Carroll University on Christmas break and had taken Otto to mid-night Mass to come home to the news. The president of John Carroll traveled to the funeral and assured Gram that all Jim's remaining education would be paid for by the Jesuits.

Otto died in 1962 at the age of 96, 9 years after his son. Gram sold the six-flat and moved to an apt at 1033 W Loyola Ave, right on Lake Michigan and now surrounded by the Lake Shore campus at Loyola University. She died in 1988 after a long battle with dementia. All are buried at Rosehill Cemetery. 

Otto's brother Gustav seems to have stayed in the River North area and he and his wife Emma and many of his children are buried in Graceland Cemetery, just down the street from Wrigley Field, also home to final resting place for famous Chicago figures: Potter Palmer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, Armour, Augustus Dickens (Charles brother), Marshall Field, William Holabird, John Kinzie, Cyrus McCormick, Joseph Medill, George Pullman, Frederick Wacker. 

Adolph and family lived at 1632 Olive Ave, just a few blocks from the six-flat Glenwood property, where WAS Jr. remembers Otto visiting.  Adolph and much of his family are also buried at Rosehill. 

No one seems to know why there appears to have been no regular contact between WAS Sr. and his first cousins. Maybe there was but no memory of it from Dad and Uncle Jim. Or perhaps there was taboo that WAS married a Catholic?  May never know. 

We are working with two of Gustav's descendants on confirming the exact town in Sweden and looking into Lutheran parish records in Sweden to map out the entire family-.  Mark has made contact with William Seeberg, Jr, grandson of Gustav and his daughter Robin Seeberg Stow. His daughter's email to Mark says "When he talked to me about this letter, there was a sparkle and an excitement, something I don't often see."

More to follow. 

Tom  

OK guys, I'm still trying to figure out how this works. First thing is, I believe that if you're not writing about a new subject, you should click on "comments" below the post you are responding to in order to respond to something that has already been posted.

On the other hand, if you would like to bring up a new topic, then click on "new post". Mark, if you want to update us on family history, you should start a new post and anyone who wants to respond should click on "comments" below your post.

Similarly, if someone is daring enough to make a statement about Obama's healthcare plan, or Charlie's 4-3 defense (or is it 3-4?), they would start a new post, and any responses would go under "comments".

Okay, Kate, I'm in.