Meet our Relatives - Christopherson Branch

Kjartan Christopherson was known as Kay or K. He was born on 17 Nov 1888 in Grund District, Manitoba, Canada [1], ^[31He died 1969 in San Francisco? [2]. Kay is Roy's grandfather, webmaster of christopherson.net

Example of how you pronounce our gradfather's name
http://www.forvo.com/word/kjartan_sveinsson/#is

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.

MARRIAGE
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:
Brothers built Stonestown in San Francisco.
Kjartan Christopherson and Gudrun Rooney Thorsteinsson. He married Gudrun Rooney
Thorsteinsson. They were married 1914 in British Columbia, Canada [1]. They had 9 children.

IMG_SCAN_3878 Kjartan and Gudrun's Honneymoon tent in B.C. Courtesy of the Hank Christopherson Collection

IMG_SCAN_3224 Sigurdur, Caroline, Gudrun, Kjartan, Unknowm - Perhaps Susie's eldest children, Unknown woman, Halldor, Ranka Courtesy of the Hank Christopherson Collection

Kjartan and Gudrun's Marriage Cert
This is probably from Jenny Bakken, research convenor for our Kamloops Family History Society

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 (This would be Lorne, Kjartan's son, Roy's uncle, Indira's father).
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).


Image KayChristopherson_Chronology

From Pauline at PT. Roberts Hist. Soc., 7/11/2011 11:09 PM
Dagbjort's diary has been made into a small booklet by her daughter (now deceased) Runa, (the photographer) and is in the Point Roberts
library called "Echoes Of The Past".  Runa wrote it in the 1980's, I believe.  If you send me your mailing address, I can send you a copy of the
Point Roberts Historical Society newsletter about Runa and Ben Thordarson and Ben's Store.  I have forwarded this email to 2 of Helgi and Dagbjort's granddaughters who are my neighbors.

The older Runa, a friend of your grandmother, is Runa Thorsteinson of Point Roberts. Runa is the daughter of Helgi and Dagbjort Thorsteinson. She married Ben Thordarson and they started up Ben's Store. The latest Historical Society newsletter has a feature on Ben's Store. She did a lot of photography and we have her to thank for a lot of historical images of Point Roberts in earlier years.

Fr Roy:
I found
SYLVIA SCHONBERG
Organist&  Pianist

Sylvia Schonberg is a Point Roberts native whose grandparents, Helgi and Dagbjort Thorsteinson, were among the founding members of Trinity’s congregation. She began playing the organ at Trinity at thirteen years of age and has being playing since then at churches wherever she has been.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree at Washington State University , she raised a family of six children
before beginning her teaching career. Later she received a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Western Washington .

Sylvia returned to Point Roberts in 1987 and has been since then Trinity’s organist and pianist and member of the Worship and Music
Committee.

SOURCE: http://www.pointrobertschurch.com/sylviaschonberg.htm

Here is a whole diary by Dagbjort Dagbjartsdottir (Victoria Dagbjört Dagbjartsdóttir), b. 1862 in Iceland.
http://davidsicelandicblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/diary-of-dagbjort-dagbjortsdottir.html
Roy is still clueless as to the connection, other than a friend of Gudrun Christopherson.

It would appear that Helgi Þorsteinsson is the connection, yet his father was Þorsteinn Jónsson 1836-1903.
Þorsteinn Þorsteinsson, known to us as Stone Stoneson, his father was Þorsteinn Þórðarson, b. 1807.
Hence, no match. Helgi did have a sibling that died at childbirth and a brother named Þorsteinn.
Roy


Thank you for the lineages. I have placed a large image from Halfdan's website for Helgi and wife online here
http://www.christopherson.net/genealogy/photo/Thorsteinson/Dagbjort.jpg
http://www.christopherson.net/genealogy/photo/Thorsteinson/Helgi.jpg
They are rather large screenshots.

Unfortunately, Halfdan has few if any American branches. I've done that for all but the Stonesons.
I have written down the branches you gave me below.
Thanks
Roy

On 7/18/2011 7:56 PM, Point Roberts Historical Society wrote:
Hello Roy,
...We are actually not cousins, we just have a cousin in
common, which would be Paul and Dorothea.  Their Father, Steini, was my uncle.
The Stoneson connection is on their mother's side, she was Dora Thordarson.
Bertha Thordarson married Ellis Stoneson. ...Paul and Dorothea speak of an
Oddstad connection, another Thordarson sister??...

... I will forward your email to Sylvia and Joan, Helgi and Dagbjort's granddaughters.



Vern said: "Andres and Emma (stoneson) were just starting their family and living in South Vancouver; he was in the directories as a carpenter.  Charlie had remarried and had 3 more children and also a carpenter, living in South Vancouver.
Charlie and father Jon still owned the quarter section and a nearby lot on Nicomekel river."
Roy

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.

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.

There is a letter from veiga Dawe to Kjartan Christopherson. Do not know who this is she talks about, however, it might be an important clue for the McGreggor family. kasi? and his wife Anna visited Billy, Anna"and Peggy went out from time to time. Peggy is still with Dr. McGreggor__His son John got married and went off to Australia, and the daughter lives on praries and is busy raising a family"