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James E Heg
Member of honor
USA
135 Posts |
 Posted - 13/08/2002 : 21:51:13
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Børge - Some time ago, I promised you an anecdote. As you know, the Even Heg family family came to America in tne bark EMILIE in 1840.
Years later, one Ella Straton Cobo (Racine, WI) published a small book having to do with the opening of the Heg Memorial Park near Wind Lake in Racine County. In this book she describes an incident that occured as EMILIE arrived in New York. Mrs Cobo claims this incident was related to her by a Mrs. Ada Cleven Hendersons of Stoughton, WI.
"Among the passengers was Tosten Kleven, my grandfather, then a lad of 16 years of age. When the ship (EMILIE) was a few hours out of New York harbor, he was stricken with the black plague, given up for dead, and preparations were made for his burial at sea. The Even Heg family intervened and were given permission to bury their young friend on land. They took him to a New York undertaker. here he awakened from the coma which had been mistaken for death. ---. He lived to become 74 years of age ---."
You must admit that this story is very touching. So, it was taken as "gospel" by our family and all others interested in the history of Norway Township, WI. I have heard that there was a demurrer entered by another member of the Kleven/Cleven family, but it was ignored and this story was repeated in subsequent editions of the book.
What is wrong with such a nice story? Just that Torsten Kleven, age 17, is listed as passenger #95 on the manifest of ELLIDA, arriving New York in 1842. Mr G-Grandmother's family appears on this manifest. In reviewing this record, the name, Torsten Kleven, claimed my immediate atention. In checking, I found that he did indeed come to America alone, and made his way to the Muskego settlement,where Even Heg lived. His parents and siblings followed him in 1843.
Without your efforts and good records, the inaccuracy of this well meant story would never have been conclusively revealed. (note: the spelling of "Tosten" and "Torsten" are put down as they appearin the records cited.) Jim Heg
Erik Bye is a friend of mine. |
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