Andrew Anderson was born on September 16, 1883 in Tjome, Norway. He was the son of Hans and Ingeborg Helene (Jakobsen) Andersen. Hans and Ingaborg had three sons; Andrew (1883), Jacob Hagbart (1888), Haakon (1891).

Post Card sent to Andrew from his Grandmother Olava Jorgensen for his 25th birthday. It shows his family home and she wishes him a happy birthday. 

In the 1891 Norwegian Census, Hans and Ingeborg live in Grimstad on the island of Tjome. They had two of their three sons at that time, Andres and Hagbart. Hans is a fisherman who is at sea a great deal of the time. In September 18, 1894, two days after Andrews eleventh birthday, Ingeborg died of Typhoid Fever. Andres and his brothers would spend the next three years or so under the watchful eye of their grandmother, Olava Jorgensen while Hans was at sea. Hans eventually married his second wife, Mathilde Zainer in March of 1898. By then Andres was 15 years old and nearing the end of his school years. At about 16 years of age, Andres began sailing on the ship called the Sir John Laurence which was registered in Tonsberg but sailed out of London. In the 1901 Norwegian Census, Andres is listed with Hans, his new wife Mathilde and his two brother but the record states that at the time of the census, he is in London working. He sail the North Sea but made several voyages to America as a deck hand aboard the Sir John Laurence.

In 1904, a twenty one year old man, he decided to go to America where he settled in Marine City, Michigan. He entered the country through Ellis Island. From that moment, He became Andrew Anderson.  The Americanized version of his name. From the moment he set foot in America, he called it home.  I wish I knew how he got from New York to Marine City. He began sailing the Great Lakes soon after his arrival in Michigan. He met his future wife, Addie Densmore, when she delivered milk to the Gus Englehart’s home where he was a boarder.

He sailed on the Great Lakes Steamer Geo King. Postal mail addressed to him from his family in Norway was sent to Andres Andersen in care of Gus Englehart on the Steamer Geo King. The Steamer Geo King transported timber from Minnesota to south eastern Michigan where it would be used to build homes and businesses or move via railroads to other parts of America.

One hundred and twelve years ago from the day of this writing, December 9, 1907, Addie Densmore and Andrew Anderson married in Essex, Ontario, Canada.

The winter of 1907/1908, Addie and Andrew lived aboard a ship in the Chicago Harbor, when the shipping lanes closed. Addie became the cook on the ship that Andrew was working on for a time after they were married. It may have been the Geo King.  I will have to research that more.= but obviously this photo was taken while they were in Chicago shortly after they were married.

Andrew submitted the first of two Naturalization applications in 1909. He listed his occupation as Sailor. The first application was denied because he had not been a residence of the state of Michigan long enough and he had not known his sponsors for more than five years.  It is interesting that one of his sponsors was his father-in-law, Charles Densmore. His citizenship was granted after submitting a second application in 1911.

In the 1910 Federal Census, Andrew is listed with the Charles Densmore Family in Marine City. He and Addie live with her parents when they are not aboard a ship. His occupation is listed as a Wheelman on a lake steamer. It states that he has submitted his naturalization papers but is not yet a citizen. By September 12, 1918, when Andrew register for the WWI draft, Andrew is now a substation operator for the Detroit Union Railroad. He is no longer sailing. They live at 518 Third Street in Marine City.

By the 1920 Federal Census, Andrew and Addie have two children, Olga (1911) and Ray (1916). His occupation is listed as a power house operator. He is a naturalized citizen. They live at 518 Third Street in Marine City. By the 1930 Federal Census, they have seven children; Olga, Ray, Robert (1920), Andrew (1922), Charles (1925), Leah(1928), Herbert(1930). Olga is married and no longer lives at home. So she is not listed in the 1930 Census. Andrew and Addie live on North Elizabeth Street.

Andrew and Addie Anderson Family – 1937
Back row: Andrew Fredrick , Robert Wesley , Ray Densmore, Charles Henry
Front Row: Addie Densmore Anderson, John Hayner, Andrew Anderson, Leah Mae, Olga Marie, Herbert William

By the time of the 1940 Census, Addie and Andrew have had another son John who was born in 1932. Seven of the eight children are still living with Andrew and Addie. The three oldest sons who live at home are employed or looking for employment. Ray is a Machine Operator, Robert is a sailor who is currently at home and Andy is looking for employment according to this census. They live on Elizabeth St in Marine City.

Forty nine years ago today, Andrew died in a hospital in Port Huron after having a heart attack. He was buried at Rosehill Cemetery in East China Township next to his wife, Addie, who died of Breast Cancer in 1955.

Rest in Peace, Grandpa!

Love and miss you!

Jan

Jan (me), Sharon with one of our cats, Andrew and Mark

Yes, he was my Grandpa, a very special person to me, Addie died before I was born so Grandpa spent quite a lot of time with us when I was a kid. He went on every vacation with us and was with us for most of the holidays. He was a quiet gentleman who loved his family and all his grandchildren. He became grandpa to all the kids in out neighborhood. When he visited us in the summer he would sit on the front porch and smoke his pipe each afternoon. He would hand out fruit striped gum to all of the children in the neighborhood.  He always cautioned us, “Put your gum in the waste basket when you are done with it or your Mom won’t let me give it to you anymore! ” He had a welcome lap that you could always crawl up on. I miss you Grandpa. When I smell the smoke from a pipe, when I see a round loaf of bread, when I see instant coffee, when I drive past the old cottage in Lakeport…(which is not longer there..) all these things and many more make me think of you!