As part of my recent scanning adventures at the in-laws house, I came across an awesome scrapbooks my mother-in-law put together. It included lots of pictures I haven’t seen. Even my husband hadn’t seen most of these! I scanned a few pages – really only the one’s with any documents – knowing I would have to go back and scan all of it. I’ll also need to sit down with my mother-in-law and get names for everyone in the pictures.
Here is one page for Troy’s grandfather – Archie W. Ranson. He always went by “Archie” but his given name was William Archibald Ranson.
Page: Source: Midge Lund’s private scrapbooks. Obit. Source: clipped from Standard Examiner.
I spoke with Troy’s mom to verify dates for all the pictures. Here’s what we know. Top Picture: Ervie Joseph, William Archibald “Archie”, and Zentha Martha. I guessed taken about 1909-10, and Midge verified the image was dated 1910. Babies (boys as well as girls) wore dresses until about 2 years old…plus Archie doesn’t look to be much older than 1 year. I assume this was taken in Randolph, as that is where Archie was born and raised until he was 12 years old. Bottom Left Picture: Dated 1935. Bottom Right Picture: Dated 1927. The L on his jersey is for Lewis Junior High School where he played on the team. Obit Picture: Taken 1976. It is half of a picture of him and his wife Margaret.
His obituary was written by his wife Margaret Warner Ranson.
Transcript: Archie W. Ranson OGDEN – Archie William Ranson, 85, died Friday, March 3, 1995 at a local care center. He was born March 22, 1909 in Randolph, Rich County, Utah, a son of Joseph H. and Vilate Corless Ranson. At age 12, he moved to Ogden and received much of his education. Here he served a four year machinist apprenticeship on the Southern Pacific Railroad. He worked 46 years and retired in 1974.
In June of 1929, he married Ester Bennett. They had five children and then divorced. In April of 1934 he married Margaret Warner and they had five children.
He played Church basketball for the Ogden 17th Ward for several years. He served as Sunday School and M.I.A. Superintendent. He served as a Counselor in the Bishopric and Bishop of the Ogden 23rd Ward. He was a Home Teacher and Bishop’s Clerk and served as an ordinance worker in the Ogden Temple.
He was active in the Democratic Party as well as the Machinist Local 1429, where he was Local Chairman and President.
Surviving are his wife of Ogden and his children; Mrs. Duane (Dolores) Gibson, Ogden; Jerry Ranson, Layton; Mrs. Hyrum (Bonnie Jean) Price, Ogden; Clifford Ranson, Aiken SC; Mrs. Robert (Fern Kay) Freeman, West Point; Mrs. Keith (Helen Elaine) Wight, Fruit Heights; Mrs. Brent (Midge) Lund, Ogden.
He was preceded in death by three sons.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Aspen Care Center, for their care and concern during his illness.
Family services will be held on Tuesday prior to burial at the Ogden City Cemetery. There will be no public viewing.
Source: 1900 U.S. Census, Plain City, Weber, Utah, population schedule, Plain City Precinct, enumeration district (ED) 194, sheet 1, dwelling 12,, family 12, Karon C. Lund; digital images, Family Search (FamilySearch.org : downloaded 30 August 2011); FHL microfilm, 1854 reels.
Transcription: Line 45. Dwelling #12, Family #12. Lund, Karon C., Head, W, F, born Oct 1815, age 84, Widow, had 6 children 4 still living, place of birth: Denmark, father pob: Denmark, mother pob: Denmark, immigrated 1871, in US for 29 years, can read, can write, can speak English, Owned, free, House.
At this point, Karen is living alone in her home in Plain City, Utah. Her husband Diderick died five years earlier in 1885. She will live for another 7 years.
One interesting item in this entry – “had 6 children, 4 still living”. From my records she actually had 7 children and three would have died by 1900. Her oldest child, Claudina Christina was born about 3 years prior to her marriage to Diderick, from a prior (non-marriage) relationship. Could this be the missing child? I don’t know when or if Claudina immigrated to the United States, so perhaps Karen hadn’t seen her since 1871 when she herself immigrated. Claudina died earlier in 1900. Did Karen know?
I just scanned in a bunch of documents at the in-laws house. I’m so excited to sort through them and add them as sources in my database. Since most of the documents are for living relatives, I won’t be adding them to the blog.
In the meantime, I was looking through my “to file” folder and came across this:
Source: Tombstone for Didrick F. Lund and Karen C., Didrick died 21 Oct 1885, Karen died 17 May 1907, Plain City Cemetary, Plain City, Weber, Utah, United States. photograph.
This is the grave marker for both Didrick and Karen Lund – Troy’s third-great-grandparents. All the information on the marker matches what I had in the database – except, the name spellings. This is yet another way to spell Didrick. I also have Diderich, and Didrich and various combinations of Lund, Funk, and Funch, sometimes together, sometimes not. Also, I have Karen’s name as Karen Kathrina Chirstine Hansen, but that only comes from Family Group Records from the new Family Search. I’ll have to find a birth record for her to get her “real” name at birth.
Transcription:
Didrick F. LUND born Mar. 25. 1816. died Oct. 21. 1885. —- Karen C. Wife of the above born Oct. 9. 1815 died May 17. 1907 —- Born at Bornholm Denmark —- REST
I think it says “REST” but it also looks like RBST or RβST, but those don’t really make sense. I got this photograph from findagrave.com so I’ll have to go to Plain City in person to get a better image.
I was sitting with my mother in the hospital today for a few hours and thought, since I had my laptop, I might take a look at some database information on Utah marriages and organize what I wanted to get at the Utah State Archives.
In this process, Aliene and Eugene Lund showed up on my list…Troy’s grandparents. I don’t have a place for her first or last marriages (she was married and divorced 3 times), but she lived in Utah. However, her 2nd marriage, to Troy’s grandfather, took place in Wyoming. I thought, since I had time, and no where to go I would try to see what Wyoming had online. It was quite confusing so I decided to call them.
The archivist was extremely helpful and after I gave her the information I had, she said she’d pull the certificate and email it to me.
When she called me back she informed me that Aliene was listed on her Marriage certificate as Aliene Harvey (1st married name) and listed as divorced. Also, the date on the certificate didn’t match what I had on file.
Here’s the Certificate:
Source: Wyoming, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, marriage certificate 1289 (11 May 1946), Eugene Lund and Aliene Harvey (Anderson); Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne.
Transcription State of Wyoming Department of Heath Bureau of Vital Statistics Certificate of Marriage File No. 1946 Certif. No 1989
I, Victor W. Matthews a Bishop of the Evanston 1st Ward in the L.D.S. Church officiating in the County of Uinta and State of Wyoming, do hereby certify that I did on the 11th day of May A.D. 1946 in Evanston, County of Uinta, State of Wyoming, unite in marriage Eugene Lund of Plain City, County of Weber, State of Utah, and Aliene Harvey, of Ogden, County of Weber, State of Utah the parties named in the within license, in said County and State according to the laws of the State of Wyoming.
Ellis M. Lund (Witness) RFD #2 Ogden (Residence) Ray S. Chislton (Witness) R.F.D. #2 Ogden (Residence)
(Signature of person officiating and P.O. address) Victor W. Martinez, Evanton, Wyoming
Groom Full Name: Eugene Lund Residence: Plain City, Utah Age: 27 Color or Race: W Single, Widowed or Divorced: D Occupation: Farming Birthplace: Utah Name of Father: Victor Lund Birthplace of Father: Utah Maiden Name of Mother: Pearl Taylor Birthplace of Mother: Utah
Bride Full Name: Aliene Harvey Residence: 3453 Porter Ave. Ogden, Utah Age: 27 Color or Race: W Single, Widowed or Divorced: D Maiden Name if Previously Married: Aliene Anderson Birthplace: Idaho Name of Father: Oscar Anderson Birthplace of Father: Utah Maiden Name of Mother: Annie Mills Birthplace of Mother: Utah
Date Received by County Clerk: May 11, 1946 Recorded by Clerk on page 188 Book 177 Signature: Joseph M P—- County Clerk Date received by State Registrar: May 16, 1946
So, the date I had on file – which was listed in Aliene’s own “Book of Rememberances” on multiple pages (so it’s not a typo) was 11 May 1945 – one year earlier.
Aliene and Eugene’s son was born in November of 1946…6 months later! It would appear she was pregnant before they were married.
My burning question – Why did they go to Wyoming to get married? They are both from the Ogden, Utah area, as are both Witnesses.
Also, I would like to track down all of Aliene and Eugene’s divorce records. Those should be interesting as well.
Why, its the study of the Lund's, of course! I am jumping in to researching our family history and seeing where it takes me. We are the Lund's. We come from Lund's, Ranson's, DeMacedo's, Lima's, Anderson's, Warner's, Ferreira's, Da Silva's and beyond! Since my own side of the family is from Brazil, it is quite difficult to track things down. Troy's side, on the other hand, has proven to be much easier. So, I'll be jumping back and forth and all around to learn about where we come from.
Are you related to us? I'd love to learn more about you and share what I know about our common ancestors!
