Meet my Grandparents
Christopherson Branch
Here are two of my Great Grandfathers and just a handful of hundreds of my Great Grandparents I connected thanks to Halfdan Helgason in Iceland.
Revised: July 11, 2011
Register Report for Kjartan Christopherson
Generation 1
1. Kjartan Christopherson-1. He was born on 17 Nov 1888 in Grund District, Manitoba, Canada [1].
He died 1969 in San Francisco? [2].
Notes for Kjartan Christopherson:
General Notes:
Kjartan
Added by skitang6 on 12 Nov 2007
Information from "Come into our Heritage RM of Argyle 1882-1982"
Kjartan (Kay) was born on November 17, 1888 at Grund. He took most of his education at Hola and later farmed with his father and brothers at Grund. When his parents moved to British Columbia, he moved out there with them. There he met Gudrun (Rooney) Thorsteinson (Stoneson), and they were married in the spring of 1914. Kay continued working for a wholesale company in Vancouver until 1920, when he and Rooney decided to move back to Manitoba. Kay came late in the fall, and Rooney and the four children arrived the following spring. They rented the Bile's farm for a year before buying NW 6-6-13. In 1930, they moved to a farm near Belmont (Bob Campbell's) for a year. Then they moved to the Catteuw farm at Baldur. Rooney's family had moved to San Francisco and were urging Kay and Rooney to move out there. Lorne, the eldest son, left in 1932, and Kay and Rooney and the rest of the family left in 1926 for San Francisco, where Kay built up a real estate business and worked at it until his retirement. Kay passed away in 1969.
Gudrun Rooney Thorsteinsson is the daughter of Þorsteinn Þórsteinsson and Ingibjörg
Einarsdóttir. She died 1963 in San Francisco, CA, United States.
Notes for Gudrun Rooney Thorsteinsson:
General Notes:
Brothers built Stonestown in San Francisco.
Kajartan Christopherson and Gudrun Rooney Thorsteinsson. He married Gudrun Rooney
Thorsteinsson. They were married 1914 in British Columbia, Canada [1]. They had 9 children.
i. Lilja Costello. She was born in Bristish Columbia, Canada [1].
ii. Kjartan Lorne Christopherson [3]. He was born on 29 Dec 1916 in Canada [3, 4].
He died on 06 Sep 1982 in Merced, California [3].
Notes for Kjartan Lorne Christopherson:
General Notes:
Lorne
Added by skitang6 on 12 Nov 2007
Information from "Come into our Heritage RM of Argyle 1882-1982"
Lorne, a winner of singing trophies at an early age in Boys and Girls Club fairs,
chose not to take up singing professionally. Lorne is in the construction business
and presently living in Los Angeles.
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
about Kjartan L Christopherson
Name:Kjartan L Christopherson
Birth Year:1916
Race:White, not yet a citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country:British North America or Canada or Labrador or Newfoundland
State:California
County or City:San Francisco
Page 1 of 4 Monday, June 16, 2008 9:23:55 PM
Register Report for Kajartan Christopherson
Generation 1 (con't)
County or City:San Francisco
Enlistment Date:27 Aug 1941
Enlistment State:California
Enlistment City:Camp Roberts
Branch:Infantry
Branch Code:Infantry
Grade:Private
Grade Code:Private
Term of Enlistment:One year enlistment
Component:Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Source:Selective Service within 3 months of Discharge 11 punch
Education:2 years of college
Civil Occupation:Addressing-Embossing Machine Operator or Clerk, General
Marital Status:Single, without dependents
Height:67
Weight:140
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Source Information:
National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment
Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File,
1938-1946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records
of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.
Description: This database contains information on about 8.3 million men and women who
enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. Information contained in this database usually includes: name of enlistee, army serial number, residence (county and state), place of enlistment, enlistment date, grade, army branch, component, term of enlistment, birthplace, year of birth, race and citizenship,
height and weight, education, and marital status. Learn more...
iii. Theodore Evan Christopherson. He was born on 24 Sep 1918 in Shawnessy
Lake, British Columbia, Canada [5]. He married Pauline Evelyn Einarson. They
were married on 16 Jun 1946 in Grund Lutheran Church, Grund, Manitoba [6]. He
died on 04 Jul 1979 in La Grange, Stanislaus, CA, U.S.A. [7].
Notes for Theodore Evan Christopherson:
General Notes:
The Grund church is south of the Arason homestead and north of Christophersons. They all attended there as did Theodore Christopherson's uncle, Bill Chrisopherson, Sigurdur's son?. When he died the funeral was at Grund and that is where Roy Christophersons mother and father met. [Aunt Em 03/18/06].
Page 2 of 4 Monday, June 16, 2008 9:23:55 PM
Register Report for Kajartan Christopherson
Generation 1 (con't)
iv. Sigurdur T. Christopherson. He was born on 17 May 1922 in Manitoba,
Canada. He died on 15 May 2000 in San Francisco, CA, United States.
Notes for Sigurdur T. Christopherson:
General Notes:
Passed away peacefully.
Grandfather of five.
Canada to a farming family of 9 children. In 1936 the family emigrated to San Francisco. After serving in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II, Sig spent most of his life involved in the real estate and property development business. He spent the last 12 years of his life in Santa Rosa where he could be close to his children. During the last 35 years he was deeply involved with the Hispanic community in the San Joaquin Valley working and advocating housing for the workers in the agriculture industry where he was affectionately known as Mexican Sigui. He became an authority on early California history and created an annual charity horseback ride to the Arroyo Cantua in the Three Rocks area. It was because of this dedication to intercultural cooperation that he was recently
awarded the prestigious Leif Erikson Award for the year 2000. Sig was a passionate man and carried immense pride for his family, his Icelandic heritage, his work with the Hispanic community and for all of his dear friends. He loved people and people loved him. He will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure to know him. Family and friends may visit Thursday, 5-9 p.m. and are invited to attend the Funeral Service Friday, 12 noon at DUGGAN'S SERRA MORTUARY, 500 Westlake Ave., Daly City, CA. THE BUD DUGGAN FAMILY (650)756-4500 (415)587-4500Posted at Ancestry.com message
boardhttp://boards.ancestry.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.s
onoma/1775/mb.ashx v. Henry Christopherson [1]. He was born in Baldur, Manitoba, Canada [1].
Notes for Henry Christopherson:
General Notes:
Henry Christopherson
Added by skitang6 on 12 Nov 2007
Information from "Come into our Heritage RM of Argyle 1882-1982"
Henry lives in the San Francisco area and is carrying on his father's business.
vi. Eileen Keller Christopherson. She was born in Baldur, Manitoba, Canada [1].
vii. Dorthy Christopherson. She was born in Baldur, Manitoba, Canada [1].
viii. Caroline McLaughlin. She was born in British Columbia, Canada.
ix. William Christopherson.
Sources
ancestry.com, isberg_Kanaski tree.1
Come into our Heritage RM of Argyle 1882-1982, unsure.2
Ancestry.com, California Death Index, 1940-1997 (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network,
Inc., 2000), Database online.3
National Archives and Records Administration, U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records,
1938-1946 (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005), Database online.4
Page 3 of 4 Monday, June 16, 2008 9:23:55 PM
Register Report for Kjartan Christopherson
Sources (con't)
National Archives and Records Administration, U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records,
1938-1946 (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005), Database online.5
(Almanak, O.S.Th. 1940, p. 27-28. - Saga Isl. in Vesturheimi, IV, 194, Logberg Febr.10th, 1949),
SEC.1 (Aunt) Em Einarson Enns-1954 translated Icelandic Papers.6
Family Search U.S. Social Security Death Index, Morman Church - The Church of Jesus Christ.7
Page 4 of 4 Monday, June 16, 2008 9:23:55 PM
10. Stoneson Family
My grandmother Rooney's brothers were
Henry & Eillis Stoneson, my Grand Uncles, who bult Stonetown in San Francisco back in the 50's and helped fund a retirement home still operating in British Columbia. Posted a report done by my cousin, Caroline Cartwright. written about 1980 after having interviewed Donald Stoneson.
11. Andy Oddstad who built Rolling Woods in San Bruno / Redwood City, and tragically died young. Here is his daughter's website. I have corrections on that branch to do. Thanks Kommi.
From Bruce Costello
Kay (Kjartan Christopherson) was best known as a horseman in Vancouver. Luke Humber said he remembered K from c. 1915 because he had dancing horses hooked to a buggy, and gave remarkable performances in downtown Vancouver (free, unschedule type).
Kjartan Christopherson
son of Sigurður Kristófersson
Grandfather of Roy Christopherson
Shanty on the NW of 6-6-13, Manitoba, Canada
Three homes in 2009 :
574 Monteray Blvd, San Francisco. (Map),
(spelling is correct)
Very busy street, I see why he moved a few blocks away.
Photographed many angles.
234 Joost Avenue, San Francisco (Map),
Same house circa 1911
Very narrow street. Fairly quiet
, San Francisco (Map)
Left - Gudrun ‘Rooney’ Sigridur Thorsteinsdottir
(Rooney Stoneson) from Blaine,
CTR - Kjartan Christopherson
and Right - Dorothy Cartwright. On porch ?
Rooney, Kay, cousin, Roy in APR 1963
11 Westgate livingroom
11 Westgate in 2009
Henry & Ellis Stoneson's
Stonestown (Map), where I worked for 4.5 yrs at Bullocks.
Gudrun Rooney Thorsteinsson's brothers
Lakeside Medical Building in 2009
Built by Henry & Ellis Stoneson,
Bldg. in 1956
Lakeside Close Up
100 Stonecrest Drive
Home of Henry Stoneson
30 Stonecrest Drive
Home of Ellis Stoneson
A handyman was reparing the stone wall
when this photo was taken.
Christopherson & Sons Real Estate
1735 Ocean Ave., San Francisco (Map)
now http://www.westportalbooks.com/
Has two palm trees out front.
I could still recall my visits there. The Red sign is hanging
on the right side of the bldg., above the gas station, missing the "o".
Andy Oddstad's Rollingwood development
Tanforan Horse Racing Statue
Thought I would post a local statue for those in other countries.
Sigurður Kristófersson, later changed to Christopherson, born in Iceland, was a pioneer of New Iceland , Postmaster in Baldur, General storekeeper and welcomed ALL of his neighbors. Helped when they needed a hand. Both his homesteads still stand today.
The Pioneers landed at Willow Point. Sigurdur was instrumental in scouting out the site a year earlier and traveled to Iceland and Swan River as an Emigration Agent. He was almost thrown out of Iceland as leaving the motherland at that time was frowned upon. They intended to land north near Hecla island in the north of Lake Winnipeg. The weather changed and the captain let them off at Willow Point,
where they set up a quick camp and built one log cabin for the food. This would be near current day Gimli, Manitoba, Canada in the harbor. Later, illness broke out and the area was quarantined. Imagine the Reverend on the one side of Netley Creek and Kelsey's GGF Sigurdur marrying Caroline Nee Taylor on the other, because he could not enter the restricted area.
They settled for a couple years and moved to the Argyle RM district. At this time much of Canada was unsettled except by fur traders for the Hudson Bay Company, Indians and french outposts. Winnipeg was the largest town at that time in 1887 and Sigurdur was the 1st to file a deed for many acres (on file here) in that area. Grund Lutheran Church was built right next to his homestead named after their Iceland homestead which meant "Grassy Plains". Picnic grounds were set up near Sigurdur and Caroline's homestead which still stands today and owned by Sigurdur's son; William Christopherson's offspring. The last name was anglicized. During a meeting of the Icelanders, Sigurdur suggested naming the village closest to them, after a pretty flower. He could not find one and named it after a Pagan God, Baldur. This map shows within 1 mile north or south where the farm is at.
You see, Sigurdur's health was not that good. He found when he visited the coast of British Columbia, Canada, his lungs were better and around 1912 they moved and built- a small cabin there which the larger house was attached to it. The street they lived on was named after them (Christopherson Road) and shows on the map to this day. His beautiful house still overlooks the bluff and seaside. Roy is working on a compilation of hundreds of pages on the family, titled "Christophersons Saga". Passing down the family tree information was common for Icelanders as the Sagas prove, however it seems it skipped a generation with my grandfather, Kjartan, so we must pass the torch of information.
Photos of Sigurður Kristófersson's
1st Homestead
'Grund' meaning Grassy Plains
2nd Homestead
2215 Christopherson Rd., Surrey, B.C., Canada
Both still stand to date
Special thanks to Ed Fader for the scans.
Husavik, Iceland, name used for 1st homestead in New Iceland (Gimli)