This is the story of Carl Mauritz Lindfors and his descendants.

This story begins with a man named Carl Mauritz Lindfors. He was born in Torsåker parish, Gävleborg County in Sweden on March 19^th. 1849. The son of Carl Magnus Lindfors and his wife Niccolina Josephina Grönbeck.

Carl Mauritz was a Goldsmith. He learned his trade by being an apprentice at Goldsmith Carl Johan Kling in the city of Gävle. He was a working Goldsmith in Gävle between the years, 1877 and 1886. In 1886 he moved to Söderhamn, Gävleborgs county.

In 1877 he married Anna Sofia Westberg (born on May 18^th.1843 in Waksala parish,) and the minister’s name was Wallerström.

Carl M. and Anna Sofias first child was a daughter born in 1878 named Olga Sofia. Then three sons followed; Johan Mauritz b. 1880, Carl Hjalmar b.1883 and Rikard Leonard b. 1884. All four children is born in Gävle parish and are listed in the records as not Baptised.

In 1880, Carl Mauritz takes on an apprentice of his own.

In 1881 there is a note in the church records he has travelled to America, but he must have returned home because in the records of 1886 he is back. Then comes the real emigration date on March 18^th, 1887. The notes here after is a real riddle. I get the feeling his wife had no knowledge of her husbands whereabouts. In the population records 1890 the wife states his whereabouts to be unknown since 1881.

In records from Hanebo parish in 1888 Carl Mauritz wife; Anna Sofia and all four children is stated to have emigrated to America. Where in America is unknown. But in the population record for 1890 they are all back in Sweden again. One can only speculate why…

In 1903 Anna Sofia and her daughter Olga Sofia emigrates, probably for good. They leave from Gothenburg harbour with the ship Cymric for Ellis Island, New York.

They state that they are going to Annas son Johan M. in Lorain, Ohio. However, after the records on Ellis Island I haven’t been able to find anything more about what happened to them.

Now back to Carl Mauritz. He has settled down in Worcester, MA. Here he probably feels safe because he has his brother Gustaf Theodor and his whole family living there.

(You can read more about Gustaf Theodor here!)

I don’t know anything about Carl Mauritz life in Worcester. But I assume he either continued his work as a goldsmith or helped with his brothers engraving business.

However, in the late 1880’s  he catches tuberculosis and passes away in Worcester hospital on June 27^th. 1889. It is unknown where he was interred.

Carl Maurits son Johan Mauritz  b. on October 24^th. 1880 in Gävle Parish.

Unfortunately, I don’t know that much about Johan, except for what can be found in the census. I know he learned the trade blacksmith here in Sweden. Where is so far unknown. However, since he was born in Gävle and they later move to Söderhamn it is possible he was an apprentice in one of these two places. I am not sure if it will be possible for me to find out anything more about this, since the church records that are available for the years 1895-1920 only consists of a population count every 10th. year.

In 1902 he immigrates permanently to America via Montreal, Canada. I don’t know why, by he settles in Lorain, Ohio. (In 1902 he has this address: John Lindfors, 774, 11 th. avenue, Lorain, Ohio. And in 1911 his brother Rikard Leonard states he is going to his brother: John M. Lindfors, Brown, Cleveland, Ohio.)

In 1904 he marries Lillian.

Lillian was born on March 5th, 1887 and she passed away in 1972 in Olympia, Washington.

In 1910 Johan M. and his wife Lillian and two children is found in the census at 410 Cleveland Road, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Johan M. states he is 29 y.o. and has been married for 6 years. The children’s names are John (age 4, born in Pennsylvania) and Bessie (Age 1 year and 4 months, born in Indiana.) They have stated that Lillian is born in North Dakota.

In 1920 he and his family lives in Buffalo, Eire, NY. He is by then 39 years old and is working as a Draughtsman. In this census his wife Lillian E states she was born in South Dakota. Johan M. states he immigrated in 1893. The children Johan M. Jr is 14 and Bessie E. is 11 y.o.

In the 1930’s census we find Johan M. and his Wife Lillian renting a house (§40/month) at 612 Roberts Avenue in Abington, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Johan M. is now 49 year old. States he was married when he was 23. He now claims to have immigrated in 1912 and is a draftsman at a steel plant. Lillian (who’s middle name is “E”) is 42 years old and was first married at age 17 (with whom is unknown!) She now states she was born in South Dakota by parents born in New York. The daughter Bessie is 21 years old and is still living with them She was born in Indiana and works as a comptometer operator in a railroad office.

The son John M. has left the home.

 Johan Mauritz Lindfors passed away in June of 1964 in Pennsylvania.

Johan Mauritz and his wife Lillian.

 All I know about Bessie E. is that she was born on November 10th. 1908. She  married a man named William Peters and they had tree boys. They lived in Washington and she worked for the Government. She moved back to Spring House, PA after her husband passed away. Bessie passed away in 1988 in Pennsylvania.

 Johan Mauritz Lindfors son John Maurice Lindfors Jr. born on December 25^th. 1905 in Ingram, Pennsylvania.

Johan Mauritz Lindfors son John Maurice Lindfors Jr was born on December 25^th. 1905 in Ingram, Pennsylvania. He was the firstborn child and after him followed a sister Bessie E. joined the family in 1908.

Up until John Maurice’s marriage to Alice Harvey in 1929 I only know he attended the University of Pennsylvania. If he accomplished to receive a degree I don’t know.

John Maurice's and Alices son:  Maurice told me how his parents met.

During his working years he and the family lived in Syracuse, N.Y. and Athens N.Y. They moved to Sparta Sussex, NJ in 1977.

 Maurice’s wife Alice Vivian Harvey was born March 25^th. 1908 in Englewood, NJ.
Jim Greenlee, who met her personally in June of 1986 describes her as “ a very kind, fair-minded person, easy to talk to and intelligent.”

Here follows the work of Jim Greenlee;

 “Alice married John Maurice Lindfors on the 9^th September 1929 during the Great Depression.  The going was tough and they found it almost impossible to survive.  She described her husband as a six foot four inch stunner, weighing around 200 lbs at his best.  As a young man, he went to work for Watson Stabilizer Co in the mid-western territory.  Two years later he returned and secured a job with The Atlantic Refining Co, with whom he worked for the next forty years.  He enjoyed his work and rose to a senior position within this company.  After a spell in charge of the terminals on the Eastern Pipeline, he established their asphalt terminals.

At the outset of World War II Maurice was keen to join the war effort and Alice reluctantly gave way to his wishes.   He was too old to enlist as a sailor so he went in as an Ensign.   I quote Alice, ‘He was criticised for going when he didn’t have to’.  As it turned out, he proved to be a valuable asset to the American forces and served in both the European and Pacific Theatres of War.

His first task was to represent the Navy on the ‘Big Inch Project’, built to speed oil to the eastern seaports for overseas shipment.

After that he went directly to England and more or less straight into the ‘D’ Day Landing in France on the Omaha Beach.  There he took on the unenviable job of ‘Fuelling Officer’, responsible for handling all fuel supplies, including water.  This was a monumental responsibility and potentially hazardous in the extreme.

Two years into the European theatre of war, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and posted off to KWAJALEIN in the Marshall Islands – a hot spot in the Pacific War Zone.  There he built an airstrip, fuelled the fleet and converted sea water into drinking water for the supply of all concerned.

His last assignment was Fuelling Officer stationed in Tokyo.

 Maurice had a great zest for life and he made the most of it.  He had a job that he liked and did well, he served his country in the Navy in World War Two and fulfilled his duties in an exemplary fashion.  He had the pleasure of earning his pilot’s licence, and, above all, he survived the war years.  He was very fortunate, and returned home sound in body and mind. There he willing and gladly resumed family life with enhanced enthusiasm, and the continued enjoyment of his children.

Maurice and Alice are interred in Arlington National Cemetery.”

Maurice and Alice had 4 children between the years of 1930 and 1946. One daughter and three sons.

He retired in 1970 after 30 years with Atlantic-Richfield Co. He was an Asphalt specialist and opened the company's first asphalt terminal in Syracuse, N.Y.

Maurice passed away on Saturday April 24^th, 1979 in Sparta, NJ. At the time of his death he had 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

First of all I would like to thank Maurice Lindfors for taking the time to correspond with me and for sharing his family history. This story wouldn't be possible without you and your family's approval.

My main source for the information about Alice and Johan M. Lindfors and their lives during the war is carefully gathered by James (Jim) Greenlees who has dedicated his time and effort to write a wonderful story about his family. To make the story fit on this homepage I have used my own research as well as Jims original work.

Jim, Thank you so much for letting me use your work!

 I also need to thank Sheila Hanna again- for the work she did on my behalf in 2004. Thank you!