where2look4ancestors

Tag: Batavia Illinois

  • Wedding Bells for Peter Tolf and Augusta Landstrom

    How did this young couple meet I wonder? Peter August Tolf was born in Svenarum, Jönköping, Sweden 01 Jan 1858. Augusta Sophia Landstrom was born 13 Feb 1858 in Norra Sandsjö, Jonkopings, Sweden. While they weren’t terribly far from one another, they weren’t exactly neighbors. In May of 1878, Peter, three of his…

  • My Favorite President

    I’ve always felt a connection to President Abraham Lincoln. What a treat it was to meet him in person!    

  • Peter Tolf and Augusta Landstrom Marry

    At first we thought there were two couples; Peter & Christine Tolf and Adolf & Augusta Sandstrom. Isn’t that what it looks like? But it was actually only one couple, Peter Tolf and Augusta Landstrom. They each brought a sibling to act as witnesses when Peter and Christine’s brother Frans…

  • Helena Christina Åman 1822-1901

    She died. And then she disappeared. According to the local newspaper, my 3rd great-grandmother died 13 January 1901: From the Batavia (Illinois) Herald, Wednesday 16 January 1901, “Death of an Aged Mother – Died, at the home of her daughters, Misses Christina and Amanda Tolf, on Hueston (sic) St., West Batavia,…

  • Karl John Raymond Tolf 1891-1973

    He was my grandmother’s Uncle Ray, the younger brother of her father. My mother and my sisters and I called him Unkie. While I was thinking about writing this post, it dawned on me – with some surprise – that I actually knew someone born in 1891. Not knew of him, but knew him.…

  • Peter August Tolf 1858-1929

    Happy birthday to my 3rd great-grandfather born on this day 157 years ago! The parish register of Births (Födde) and Baptisms (Döpte) [in] Svenarum [for the] year 1858: Pehr August was born on the 1st day of the 1st month and was baptized two days later. In the column following the new…

  • Wesley Tolf; Bowler Extraordinaire

    The following article, which appeared in the April 12, 1929 issue of the Batavia [Illinois] Herald, gave me some insight into the life of Wesley Lambert Tolf (17 Sep 1894-Dec 1969), a 1st cousin thrice-removed; “Batavia Bowlers Get in Prize Money at Ottawa Sunday – Frank Thomle and Wesley Tolf, prominent…

  • Chicago Research – Batavia Illinois

    Batavia Illinois is a lovely suburb about forty miles west of Chicago. The oldest city in Kane County, Batavia was founded in 1833 and many old buildings remain, giving visitors a sense of the community’s rich history. The Fox River runs through the center of town and shady well-kept parks are located along…

  • Chicago Research – Home Again

    Husband and I just returned from a genealogical vacation in Chicagoland. We explored records at the Gustafson Research Center in Batavia Illinois and at the Chicago History Museum, Harold Washington Library and Newberry Library. We visited several cemeteries including West Batavia, Rosehill, Graceland, Jewish Graceland and Wunders. We spent a day…