Sunday, May 24, 2015

52 Ancestors Week #21 - Sigurd Leonard Carlson

Siggy is my great grand uncle.  Until about a year ago I had very little information on Siggy.




In honor of Memorial Day weekend, I picked Sigurd Leonard Carlson who was born on 25 Aug 1906 in Providence, Rhode Island to Erick Andrew Carlson (1873-1925) and Lena Marie Hokans (1871-1932).  By age four, Siggy and his family were living in DeKalb, Illinois.

Siggy was the youngest of four children:
Siggy was married to a woman named Berta.  They would divorce.  Together they had two daughters.


Siggy was in the Army during WWII.  After the war, Siggy worked as a telephone lineman and knowing that war was eminent in Korea he reenlisted and was assigned to the 24th Battalion.  Siggy sent regular letters back home to his family mostly his brother Walt (my great grandfather).

When the ground battles started, Siggy was sent to Seoul and they were sent to establish communication with Taejon and Pusan.  During the Battle of Taejon, Siggy was unfortunately killed during battle on 21 Jul 1950 at the age of 43.   Siggy's status was initially listed as missing in action and he was buried in a UN cemetery.  After the Korean War was over the cemetery was exhumed and Siggy's remains were returned to his family in the US in 1953.  Siggy is now buried at Fairview Memorial Gardens in DeKalb, Illinois.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

52 Ancestors Week #20 - Arval Arlando Carrico

Arval is my great grand uncle.

This picture was uploaded to Ancestry.com; captioned as Granddad and Momma.


Arval was born on 25 Dec 1893 in Pineville, Arkansas to Josiah Converse Carrico (1873-1957) and Celestia Alabama Caldonia Reese (1872-1948).  Arval was the oldest of six children:
Arval married Alma Amelia Jones (1901-1965) on 10 Feb 1917 in Fulton, Arkansas.  They had four children:
  • Benjamin Herman (1918-1956)
  • Natalie Retha (1920-1946)
  • Justin Lavern (1925-1928)
  • Daughter (still living)
Federal census through 1940 have Arval living in various towns in Arkansas including Big Creek, Wild Cherry and Union.  

Arval died on 28 Mar 1971 at the age of 71 from injuries suffered in a car accident.  The accident happened in Leach, Oklahoma.

Arval is buried at Mt. Home Cemetery in Baxter County, Arkansas.



Thursday, May 14, 2015

52 Ancestors Week #19 - Ora Belle Greene

Ora is my great grand aunt.

Ora was born on 23 Aug 1907 in Wisconsin to Walton Ward Greene (1885-1968) and Katherine Viola Keller (1887-1945).  Ora was rised in Avon, Wisconsin according to federal census.  The 1940's census Ora was living in Laona, Illinois.

Ora never married or had any children.  Ora died on 13 Nov 1988 at age 81.  Ora is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Brodhead, Wisconsin.

Friday, May 8, 2015

52 Ancestors Week #18 - Ruth Adele McNeal

Ruth is my great grand aunt.

Ruth Adele McNeal was born on 27 Mar 1918 in Byron, Illinois to Ernest Ralph McNeal (1896-1968) and Oral Marie Hodges (1896-1980).  Ruth is the youngest of three children:


  • Kenneth Ralph (my great grandfather; 1916-1983)
  • Hazel Loraine (1917-1917)
Ruth married George Francis Streit (1915-1966) on 10 Aug 1934 in Belvidere, Illinois.  They would have five children:

  • Daughter (unknown)
  • Son (unknown
  • Patricia Allyn (1935-1996)
  • Anne Marie (1938-2010)
  • Daughter (still living)
Ruth lived most of her life in Loves Park, Rockford and Harvard according to census and city directory records.

Ruth died on 10 Dec 2009 at age 91 in Delavan, Wisconsin.

52 Ancestors Week #17 - Mary Amelia Carlson

Mary is my great grand aunt.

Mary was born on 04 Jul 1895 in Finland to Erick Andrew Carlson (1873-1925) and Lena Marie Hokans (1871-1932).  Mary was the oldest of four siblings:


Mary married Reuben Ferdinand Larson (1895-1952) on 27 Sep 1916 in Joliet, Illinois.  They had four children:
  • Marron Virginia (1918-1918)
  • Baby Girl (1920-1920)
  • Daughter (possibly still living)
  • Son (possibly still living)
Mary died in Jun 1985 at age 89 in Rockford, Illinois.  Mary is buried at Scandinavian Cemetery in Rockford, Illinois.