GRIMLAND FAMILY MEETING - February 9, 2002

By Ruell Solberg, Jr.

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Wanda Mobley called another meeting of Grimland family members on February 9, 2002 at the Civic Center in Clifton , Texas .  The purpose of the meeting was to review the status of efforts to produce a Grimland family tree and a Grimland family book, to regroup and adjust the activities, and to decide how to proceed from this point.

 The Grimland family goes back to Norway where Jorgen Gunsteinsen Grimeland married Liv Nilsdatter Ufsvatn in Norway in 1832.  Jorgen died before his son Jorgen Jorgensen Grimeland was born.  Then, Liv married Kittel Gunsteinsen Grimeland, a younger brother of Jorgen, and they had six children before immigrating to Henderson County in East Texas in 1850.  They had one additional child after arriving in Texas and moved to Bosque County in Central Texas in 1868.

The names of the children of Liv and Kittel Grimland were Gunsten, Niels, Ole, Gjeruld, Jorgen (J. K.), Kerste, and Reinert.  The only daughter, Kerste, married Ole Solberg.  The “e” in the surname was dropped after they arrived in Texas , and William Yearl Grimlan and his descendants dropped the “d”.

People began arriving for the meeting before 10:00 am with each person bringing their lunch.  After some informal visiting and sharing of information about families, Wanda Mobley, chair of the Grimland family, led the meeting.  John Reesing, treasurer, gave the treasurer’s report.  Evelyn Smith recorded minutes of the meeting.

Some information was given about each person that was present and how they fit into the family.  For the first time, there were descendants from each of the six children of the original Grimlands that married and had children.  Two, Gjeruld and Reinert, did not marry.

John Reesing reported on the status of the Grimland family tree for Bruce Wiland, who could not be present, and provided printouts to contact persons for their family groups.  There were discussions about some of the family groups that do not have contact persons yet and suggestions about possible ways to obtain missing family information.

About 2,650 people in the Grimland family have been identified so far, and many are yet to be identified.  The family has been divided into groups with specific individuals taking the lead for obtaining missing information for their group.

Family groups and the lead or contact persons for them for the Jorgen Grimland (first child of Liv) family include the following: 1) Jorgen Christian Grimland, Bruce Wiland; 2) Tellef William Grimland, Janey Finstad Ivey; 3) Emma Bertha Lizabeth Grimland Arneson, Ruell Solberg, Jr.; 4) Andrew Carl (A. C.) Grimland, John Reesing; 5) John Alexander Grimland, Martha Nelson Swenson; 6) Jennie Emelia Grimland Wallace, Wallace Hughes; 7) Benjamin Sinclair (Beno) Grimland, Kevin Couch; 8) Olena Aleda Grimland Bronstad, Kesa Grimland Clingman; and 9) Flora Bedina Grimland Bruland, Ruth Bruland Korn.

Family groups and the lead persons for descendants of Kittel and Liv Grimland include: 1) Peter Andrew (Pete) Grimland, Floyd Grimland; 2) William Cornelius Grimland, Floyd Grimland; 3) Jim Nikolai Grimland, Virgil Tindall; 4) John Martin (Jerol John) Grimland, Neal Grimland, Jr.; 5) Neal Gideon Grimland, Neal Grimland, Jr.; 6) Tom Cornelius Grimland, Tom L. Grimland; 7) William Yearl (Will) Grimlan, Wanda Teague Mobley; 8) Lillie Pearl Grimland Watson Wheeler, John Warren; 9) Della Grimland Snell, Betty Hodge Poe; 10) Maude Grimland Hodge, Betty Hodge Poe; 11) Rachel Liv Grimland Lockhart, Jo Ann Summerville Davidson; 12) Eddy Grimland, Joy Grimland Teague; 13) Lorense Galinda (Lou) Grimland Johnson, Wanda Mobley; 14) Oscar Christian Grimland, Cecil (Tergy) Tergerson; 15) Gena Antonette Grimland Tergerson, Cecil (Tergy) Tergerson; 16) Julian Ardin Grimland, Bill Bryan; and 17) Kerste Grimland Solberg, Ruell Solberg, Jr.

Some of the family groups do not yet have a contact or lead person.  Under Jorgen Grimland, these and their spouses include 1) Annette Gurine Gimland and Arnt E. Bye and J. G. Butler, 2) James Edward (Ed) Grimland and Lucy Wallace, 3) Harry Nicholas Grimland and Mary Louise Burrows, 4) Laura Katherine Grimland and Nels Olaus Nelson, and 5) Gustaf David (Gus) Grimland and Leah Townsend.

Under Kittle and Liv Grimland, lead persons are needed for 1) Karen Louisa Grimland and Anton L. Peterson, 2) Amelia Berdine (Mollie) Grimland and Otto Anderson Stanhiser, and 3) Inez Adelia Grimland and Edmond Alexander Tweedy, Jr. and Durie Clinton Holverson.

People who have or know of people that have information about the Grimland family or are interested in helping with the family tree, book, reunion, or other items are urged to contact a lead person for a family group or Bruce Wiland, Wanda Mobley, or Ruell Solberg, Jr.  Their e-mail addresses are Wiland@att.net , mouse5@pgrb.com , and SolbergR@asme.org , respectively.  Their telephone numbers are (512) 443-2918, (915) 784-6589, and (210) 684-1326, respectively.  Also, people can take the leads for smaller family groups than what is implied here.

Goals are to submit all major family tree information to Bruce Wiland by April 1, 2002 ; final proofing back to Wiland by July 1; and publication about September 1.

Ruell Solberg, Jr. reported about compiling a Grimland family e-mail address list of all possible living descendants and asked for this information for people not yet included.  Also, he has been sending out Grimland family e-mail newsletters.

Solberg has started to compile a list of U.S. mail addresses of all Grimland descendants for sending future announcements of the Grimland family reunion and other items.  People should send addresses of family members to him at 5906 Forest Cove, San Antonio , Texas 78240-3429 .

There were discussions about having a Grimland family reunion.  Decisions were made to have a potluck lunch family reunion at the National Guard Armory in the Clifton City Park on October 5, 2002 .  Joyce David and Carol Couch are the leaders of the planning committee for the reunion.  The family tree will be available at that time.

  A reminder was given about the website that has been set up for the Grimland family at http://www.grimland.org .

  Bonnie Grimland was recognized as being the oldest person (88) in attendance.  Neal Grimland and Ruell and Jane Solberg, Jr. traveled the longest distance for the meeting.  The meeting was adjourned about noon , but there was significant sharing of family information, pictures, and family memorabilia after the meeting.

  Attending the meeting were Bonnie Grimland, Janelle Grimland, and Martha Swenson of Clifton ; Lorean Davis of Meridian; Evelyn Smith and Virgil and Betty Tindall of Cranfills Gap; Jerry and Joyce David of Whitney; John and Hallie Jo Reesing of Austin ; and Betty Poe of Lometa.

  Also, Floyd and Eddie Grimland and Randall Moore of Troy; John and Margie Warren of Burnet; Patsy Grimland of Kaufman; Kesa Clingman of Keller; Bill and Wanda Mobley and Mason Fabbina of Brownwood; Cecil (Tergy) and Fran Tergerson of Fort Worth; Carol Couch of Euless; and Neal Grimland and Ruell and Jane Solberg, Jr. of San Antonio.

  The next Grimland family meeting is scheduled to start at 10:00 am on June 22 2002 at the Civic Center .  People who are interested in attending should contact Wanda or one of the other persons listed here.

* * *

February 23, 2002

Ruell Solberg, Jr.
5906 Forest Cove
San Antonio, TX 78249-3429
Ph. (210) 684-1326
E-mail SolbergR@asme.org or RSolberg@ev1.net

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