OAKLEAF FAMILY FROM SWEDEN ORIGINATES FROM THESE TWO PEOPLE BELOW.
Benjamin Peter Christianson was born Dec 9, 1827 in Alstrop, Renneslof Parish, Hallan's Lan; died Feb 1, 1893, Mound Valley, Kansas USA
Mary Ecklof was born Sept 18, 1830 in Edinberga Parish; died Oct 20, 1905, Mound Valley, Kansas USA
They were married in Renneslof Parish Oct 22, 1850
According to family legend BP (As we call him, ) and his brothers took the Ecklof name translation to English – Oakleaf – one took Oakley, they could not pronounce Christianson in English
An old notebook documents their crossing in 1851 in a small sailboat and landing in Boston. They lost a 6 month old at sea and later his older brother, 18 months soon after arrival. They joined other Sweds in Moline, IL and then emigrated to Mound Valley, Kansas through Oklahoma. This notebook was written by one of the four original brothers’ sons in Swedish and was recently translated for us.
Our great- grandparents homesteaded the property in 1869. Benjamin Peter Oakleaf-- it is 5.5 miles SW of Mound Valley along Pumpkin Creek.
My grand parents:
Stephen Marion Oakleaf (b 2/25/1871 d 6/29/1926) Mound Valley, KS married ( 11/25/1891 MV, KS) Iola Wallis Oakleaf (b 9/30/ 1866 Centralia, IL d 7/20/1954)
Their children: Mary Wintress Oakleaf m. Earl J. Richey – children :Marion Eugene Earle Junior, Eldon Keith, Leland Ralph, Ronald Kay ( father of Linda m. Gov. Bill Graves )
Lillian Oakleaf m Nelson Carr
Gertrude Marie Oakleaf M Charles Belknap
Marcus Byron Oakleaf m.Sara Butler Robards. Marcus was on the school board and his papers were donated to the library by his family on his death.
Josephine Brunhilde Oakleaf b 1/23/1903 ( My mother ) M. John Walker Cross 9/22/1929 MV, KS ---b 8/29/1902 Sheldon, MO
Please contact me at :
Carol Cross Thompson
Annapolis, Maryland, USA
410-757-1294