 |
| Alexander with his first wife, two sons and sister Elsie - about 1917. Seated from left to right, (son) Francis Carollton Dahlgren, (wife) Hilda Danielson Dahlgren, (son) Robert Lewis Dahlgren, Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren, standing behind Alexander, (sister), Elsie Dahlgren |
Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren
Timeline
- 1886 Bruno Dahlgren and Emma Charlotta Johansson marry, Lidkoping, Sweden
- 1887 Sister - Agnes Marie Emilia Dahlgren born, Lidkoping, Sweden
- 1887 Bruno, Emma and Agnes immigrate from Sweden to US
- 1888 Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren born, Brooklyn, NY
- 1890 Brother – Axel Brynolf Dahlgren born, Brooklyn, NY
- 1893 Brother – Andrew Dahlgren born, Southington, CN
- 1893 Brother – Andrew Dahlgren dies, Southington, CN
- 1893 Brother – Axel Dahlgren dies, Southington, CN
- 1895 Sister – Agnes Marie Dahlgren dies
- 1895 Sister – Elsie Axelina Dahlgren born, Southington, CN
- 1896 Sister – Anna Aurora Dahlgren born, Southington, CN
- 1898 Sister – Ethel EmeialDahlgren born, Brooklyn, NY
- 1902 Mother – Emma and baby die in childbirth, Brooklyn, NY
- 1904 Sister – Ethel Dahlgren dies, Bradford, PA
- 1904 Sisters – Elsie and Anna placed in Kallman’s Orphanage, Brooklyn, NY
- 1905-1906 Anna Dahlgren adopted by Frederick and Hilda Jansen
- 1912 Alexander marries Hilda Danielson, Jamestown, NY
- 1914 Son – Francis Carrollton Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1916 Son – Robert Lewis Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1918 Wife – Hilda Danielson Dahlgren dies, miscarriage, Bradford, PA
- 1921 Alexander marries Iva Pearl Emerson, Bradford, PA
- 1922 Son - Edward Allen Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1923 Daughter – Esther Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1923 Son from first marriage - Robert Dahlgren sent to live with his mother's sister
- 1923 Sister – Elsie Dahlgren dies, Stoney Wold Sanatorium, NY
- 1924 Daughter – Mary Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1926 Son – William Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1927 Daughter - Elsie Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1929 Daughter -Namoi Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1933 Son – Ward Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1938 Son – Phillip Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
- 1962 Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren dies, Detroit, MI
My father, William Dahlgren, said very little about his father. What he did say was that Alexander had been deeply affected by the loss of his siblings and mother as a young man. He was left in his teens to fend for himself as a tailor and was separated from his remaining sisters who were placed in an orphanage. During Alexander's young adult life he set up shop as a tailor and helped his remaining sister, Elsia, through stenographer school. (His other sister, Anna, was adopted by a Swedish couple.) Elsia never married and died from tuberculosis in her twenties.
Hilda, his first wife, died after only six years of marriage, leaving him with the care of his two sons. Iva Pearl Emerson comes into his life at this time. According to my father's history, she worked as his housekeeper and they later married in 1921.
The following are stories about Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren recorded in William Dahlgren's history, 100 Years:
Alexander and Hilda began their marriage on Delaware Avenue and this was the home he brought Iva to after their marriage.
"Life on Delaware Avenue was rather pleasant for the children...as they had a yard to play in complete with a long rope swing, a sand box and a slide that went from the big oak tree right into the sand box. (Dad) would rebuild these each summer. Neighborhood children were allowed to come play in our yard but we were not allowed out of the yard. This was brought to the extreme when (Dad) built a covered, floored, picnic area. He even had lights strung all around the roof. Neighbors were invited and brought their children which made for a great time for all."
Alexander had been trained as a tailor, like his father Bruno Dahlgren. Around 1927 the business world turned for tailors:
"In Bradford...the new thing is that ready made suits have been introduced and are rapidly taking over the suit market. This brings a chill to the heart of Dad for this is his whole life. The thought that no one would go to a tailor for their suit to be made was difficult to accept. Dad and the other tailors in Bradford got together to discuss the outcome of this new development...at the outset there (was) much gnashing of teeth...but cooler heads prevailed...more wealthy customers would most likely stay with them as the new ready made suit did not use quality material...and women would never go (with) mass production (dresses)...(tailors) would always have a market from women who demanded the finest..."
Sadly, the depression and mass production took it's toll on Alexander's business. He closed the shop he started with his first wife and went to work with another tailor, but could not make ends meet.
According to my father, scarlet fever, diphtheria and other illnesses terrified Alexander. He felt that his Dad harbored a great fear of loss, due to his experiences growing up seeing so many of his family members die.
"...his greatest fear resurfaces--illness to the children. Scarlet Fever will hit all but Mary. The house is quarantined which means that Dad must stay at the shop and not enter the house or he also will be forced to stay home. His only contact with the family is to deliver groceries to the front porch and talk through a window. Scarlet fever is a serious disease at the time and is greatly feared. Dad is no exception...He truly dreads loosing more family members to disease."
"...the winter of '34 was the back breaker for our living in Foster Brook as again illness struck everyone in the family in one form or another...As usual illness in the family would hit Dad very hard and in the case of Elsia he was most upset as he had seen so many of his family die from diphtheria. When Elsia survived he was so relieved that he made her a fur coat and adopted her as his pet."
Alexander moved the family to a healthier area of Bradford and decided about this time that tailoring could not provide for his family so he started work for the WPA as a stone mason. I don't know if Alexander was aware of it, but many of his father's relatives had worked the stone quarries in Sweden. He soon discovered a love for engineering.
"It is with great reluctance that (Dad) finally...applies for work in the WPA. He is given work as a stone mason cutting stones to be used for curbs. The engineering instinct in him comes out in this job and gets him deeply involved in designing tools to cut stone. The project leader where he works understands his interest and allows him to use the necessary equipment to make the tools. He takes great pride in each new tool he creates and will bring them home to show everyone his handiwork. It is good to see him excited about something after going to so long with disappointment after disappointment in the tailoring trade."
Alexander knew Swedish songs and loved to sing them to the girls while rocking them:
"I understand that in the beginning of the marriage when the children were young, Dad would rock each child on his knee and sing them songs in Swedish."
My fathers teenage memories of his dad were of a man troubled and withdrawn, who resorted to hand signals as life became more difficult. He certainly was a man who endured much sorrow and grief. I would have loved to hear him sing his Swedish songs and seen everyone dancing on his picnic floor.
Lisa Dahlgren
William Dahlgren's 100 Years (pages: 23, 25, 38, 39-40, 44-45)
Hilda, his first wife, died after only six years of marriage, leaving him with the care of his two sons. Iva Pearl Emerson comes into his life at this time. According to my father's history, she worked as his housekeeper and they later married in 1921.
The following are stories about Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren recorded in William Dahlgren's history, 100 Years:
Alexander and Hilda began their marriage on Delaware Avenue and this was the home he brought Iva to after their marriage.
"Life on Delaware Avenue was rather pleasant for the children...as they had a yard to play in complete with a long rope swing, a sand box and a slide that went from the big oak tree right into the sand box. (Dad) would rebuild these each summer. Neighborhood children were allowed to come play in our yard but we were not allowed out of the yard. This was brought to the extreme when (Dad) built a covered, floored, picnic area. He even had lights strung all around the roof. Neighbors were invited and brought their children which made for a great time for all."
Alexander had been trained as a tailor, like his father Bruno Dahlgren. Around 1927 the business world turned for tailors:
"In Bradford...the new thing is that ready made suits have been introduced and are rapidly taking over the suit market. This brings a chill to the heart of Dad for this is his whole life. The thought that no one would go to a tailor for their suit to be made was difficult to accept. Dad and the other tailors in Bradford got together to discuss the outcome of this new development...at the outset there (was) much gnashing of teeth...but cooler heads prevailed...more wealthy customers would most likely stay with them as the new ready made suit did not use quality material...and women would never go (with) mass production (dresses)...(tailors) would always have a market from women who demanded the finest..."
Sadly, the depression and mass production took it's toll on Alexander's business. He closed the shop he started with his first wife and went to work with another tailor, but could not make ends meet.
According to my father, scarlet fever, diphtheria and other illnesses terrified Alexander. He felt that his Dad harbored a great fear of loss, due to his experiences growing up seeing so many of his family members die.
"...his greatest fear resurfaces--illness to the children. Scarlet Fever will hit all but Mary. The house is quarantined which means that Dad must stay at the shop and not enter the house or he also will be forced to stay home. His only contact with the family is to deliver groceries to the front porch and talk through a window. Scarlet fever is a serious disease at the time and is greatly feared. Dad is no exception...He truly dreads loosing more family members to disease."
"...the winter of '34 was the back breaker for our living in Foster Brook as again illness struck everyone in the family in one form or another...As usual illness in the family would hit Dad very hard and in the case of Elsia he was most upset as he had seen so many of his family die from diphtheria. When Elsia survived he was so relieved that he made her a fur coat and adopted her as his pet."
Alexander moved the family to a healthier area of Bradford and decided about this time that tailoring could not provide for his family so he started work for the WPA as a stone mason. I don't know if Alexander was aware of it, but many of his father's relatives had worked the stone quarries in Sweden. He soon discovered a love for engineering.
"It is with great reluctance that (Dad) finally...applies for work in the WPA. He is given work as a stone mason cutting stones to be used for curbs. The engineering instinct in him comes out in this job and gets him deeply involved in designing tools to cut stone. The project leader where he works understands his interest and allows him to use the necessary equipment to make the tools. He takes great pride in each new tool he creates and will bring them home to show everyone his handiwork. It is good to see him excited about something after going to so long with disappointment after disappointment in the tailoring trade."
Alexander knew Swedish songs and loved to sing them to the girls while rocking them:
"I understand that in the beginning of the marriage when the children were young, Dad would rock each child on his knee and sing them songs in Swedish."
My fathers teenage memories of his dad were of a man troubled and withdrawn, who resorted to hand signals as life became more difficult. He certainly was a man who endured much sorrow and grief. I would have loved to hear him sing his Swedish songs and seen everyone dancing on his picnic floor.
Lisa Dahlgren
William Dahlgren's 100 Years (pages: 23, 25, 38, 39-40, 44-45)
No comments:
Post a Comment