Elin, Ruth & Lundstrom cousins Beacon Hill – 1923

So I received the present of a DNA test through ancestry.com.  It took me a while to get it done since I needed to do it without eating or drinking anything first.  My morning coffee was the problem, but I finally got it done and received the results.

It said I was 56% Great Britain, 30% Scandinavian and the rest “other regions” but I was a total of 97% European.

Ruth John Isabell Stone Emil Elin Donna – 1965

None of this was a surprise.  From my family’s genealogy I know I am 1/4 Swedish from my maternal grandmother, 1/2 Scotch-Irish from my father, and a mixture of British, Welsh and German from my maternal grandfather.  The highest photo is of my maternal grandmother on the far right with her mother next to her.  The above photo is my maternal grandmother and grandfather on the left then my grandfather’s step mother and my grandmother’s father, my mother and me.

But it did get my thinking about who exactly were they, these immigrants from Europe to America.  The closest are my great-grandparents shown above.  Emil Gottfried Johansson was born April 27 1893 in Overklinten, Vasterbotten, Sweden and died March 1969 in Seattle, WA.  He was a carpenter.  His wife, whom he met here, was Elin Augusta Lundstrom.  She was born June 29, 1890 in Skvabbkullen, Svensbyn, Norrbottens, Sweden and died September 1959 in Seattle.  She was a cook.  I believe it was largely for economic reasons that they immigrated.  Here is their wedding photo:

Emil & Elin Johnson wedding photo

On my father’s side, the most recent immigrant was Simon McCrory.  He was born November 12, 1845 in County Antrim, Ireland and died December 28, 1925 in Denison, Kansas.  He was a farmer.  Here is a photo of him with his wife.

Simon and Agnes McCrory 1870

One generation back, on my father’s side, were James White born November 8, 1810 in County Donegal, Ireland and died December 2, 1881 in Jefferson County, Kansas.  He was a farmer.  And there was James Keers born July 24 1824 in County Down, Ireland and died November 12, 1906 in Denison, Jefferson Co., Kansas.  He was also a farmer.  In the same generation was Samuel Robert Stevenson born July 19, 1810 in Antrim, Ireland and died January 29, 1886 in Clarinda, Iowa.  I could not find any photos of these ancestors although I do believe I have some, just need to dig harder.  For this side of the family it was mostly for religious reasons that they immigrated.

Two generations up there was William Faries, born 1747 in County Antrim, Ballymoney, Ireland and died May 30 1805 in Turkey Creek, York County, South Carolina and his wife Agnes Cowan, born 1749 in Ireland and died June 21, 1832 in New Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana.  He was a farmer as well as a surgeon in the Revolutionary War.  These were my great, great, great, great, great grandparents.

In this same generation on my mother’s side there was Charles Stones born April 16, 1756 in Hereford, Cheshire, England and died of yellow fever August 10 1798 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  This was about 3 years after his arrival in the country.  He was married to Margaret Steele, born July 3 1761 in Barthomley, Cheshire, England and died July 3 1808 in Philadelphia.  I believe it was for economic opportunities that they immigrated.

In the next generation older there was John Carmichael born 1728 in Talbert, Scotland and died 1785 in Windsor Place, Pennsylvania.  There is an excerpt in the History of Chester County regarding his Revolutionary Wart efforts.  He was a Presbyterian pastor.  I am guessing he immigrated for religious reasons.

In the next generation up there was Ulrich Reigart.  He was born March  1694 in Schwegenheim, Bavaria and died March 15, 1766 in Pennsylvania.  His wife was Anna Maria Merkel, born  in 1701 in the same region and died October 30 1769 in Lancaster County, PA.

The next generation older there was David Meredith.  He was born in the late 1600s in Wales and died in 1754 in Chester County, PA.

For my great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandparents’ generation there was William Rush.  He was born July 21, 1652 in Hornton, Oxford, England and died August 7, 1688 in Byberry, Pennsylvania.  He was the great-grandfather of Benjamin Rush.

So this is a glimpse into my ancestors that immigrated to this country and added to its development and history.  And ultimately produced me!