Marriage of John Albert Anderson and Sophia Bjorklund

Sometimes I am amazed when I find out that I don't have simple, easy to access records on my ancestors that I would have thought I would have obtained long ago. The other day I was going through my family tree and I looked at the profile of my second great-grandfather (John Albert Anderson) and noticed I did not have his marriage record to Sophia Karoline Whelmina Bjorklund. As such, I went to the Family History Library the other day and obtained it from microfilm.

John Albert Anderson

​Sophia Karoline Whelmina Bjorklund

John and Sophia were married in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, on 24 June 1914. I had an index entry attached to both of their profiles on my online tree, but the other day is when I realized I didn't actually have a copy of the record. Each Wednesday I try to make an effort to head over to the Family History Library and do some of my own genealogy. Lately I have been trying to fill in simple gaps like this one.

The marriage records on the particular rolls of microfilm I was going through for Salt Lake County, Utah, were marriage license books. Interestingly, the marriage applications were loose sheets of paper that were slid into the page of the corresponding license. Therefore when the records were microfilmed, the applications and licenses were filmed side-by-side together, so I was able to get "two birds with one stone" so-to-speak.

Image 1: Marriage application for John A. Anderson and Sophia K. W. Bjorklund.

Image 2: Marriage license for John A. Anderson and Sophia K. W. Bjorklund.

Every once in a while when I am researching I find other online indexes show up that show another Family History Library (FHL) microfilm number that is different than another index. After coming across these many times, I know there are several reasons why this could be. Some may include:

• Additional times that particular record was microfilmed (for legibility, etc.)
• A transcription or abstract of the record that was compiled into a book
• A copy of the record made the same or different agency

In the case of John and Sophia's marriage license, I found an additional copy of the record that was made at a later date. Since I always want to obtain every record possible for my ancestors, I made a digital copy of this record as well.

Not only do I like to get a copy of every single record I can about my ancestors, but it will also save me time in the long run. I can almost guarantee that if I didn't get this additional copy of their marriage license, a year or two from now when I am looking at this family again I will find that additional index that gives a different FHL microfilm number and wonder, "What is that record?" or "I should get this to see if it provides additional information about John and Sophia."

It takes additional time for me to spend gathering these "extra" or "additional" records that may just be copies or the original record, but for me that is okay. I am of the opinion that genealogy is not something that I need to do quickly or fast. I value my attention to detail when it comes to researching my family, creating citations of where I searched and recording what I did and did not find, and overall building my family tree with care. I find that the more detailed I am while doing the research, the more time it will save me down the road when I come across something and wonder, "What was I thinking?"

I have not done a lot of research on John and Sophia's family, but I would like to in the future. John died 2 June 1918 in Central, Bannock County, Idaho, from an ulcer of the stomach and Sophia later married a man named Charles Broady. I do not even have a photo for John, so that is something I would definitely like to have.

Image 3: Additional copy of John and Sophia's marriage license.

Image 4: Death certificate for John Albert Anderson.

Note: If you are family and would like better quality copies of these records, please contact me and I would be happy to share the records with you, along with the appropriate source citations you can include with your research.

Sources

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          “Utah, Select Marriages, 1887-1966,” Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com), John A. Anderson and Sophia Karolina Whelmina Bjorklund, married 24 June 1914, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, information from FHL Microfilm 429086, reference 19558, accessed February 2014.
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          Image 1: Salt Lake County (Utah) County Clerk, Marriage Licenses, 19201-19600, Volume 49, Application for License to Marry, license 19558, John A. Anderson and Sophia Karolina Whelmina Bjorklund, application dated 23 June 1914; FHL Microfilm 429086 Item 1.

          Image 2: Salt Lake County (Utah) County Clerk, Marriage Licenses, 19201-19600, Volume 49, Marriage License, license 19558, John A. Anderson and Sophia K. W. Bjorklund, license dated 23 June 1914; FHL Microfilm 429086 Item 1.

          Image 3: Salt Lake County (Utah) County Clerk, Copies of Original Marriage Licenses, No. 19000-19999, Volume 20 (1914), p. 280, license 19558, John A. Anderson and Sophia K. W. Bjorklund, license dated 23 June 1914, FHL Microfilm 429306 Item 3.

          Image 4: Idaho, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, Certificate 21467, John Albert Anderson, died 2 July 1918, in Central, Bannock County, Idaho; digital image, “Idaho, Death Certificates, 1911-1937,” FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org), accessed October 2013.