Silver, Lena

3 file folders
2 photographs
2 sound cassettes

This interview was conducted with Lena Silver on March 11, 1983 in Tacoma, Washington. It contains information on family background, emigration, work, marriage, and family life. Also available are two photographs of Lena at the time of the interview. The interview was conducted in English.

Folder Contents

Box 11, File 3 Personal and Family History
Tape Archive Sheet, Family Background and Tape Index

Box 11, File 3A Correspondence and Forms
Checklist and Release Form
Thank you letter from Janet Rasmussen
Handwritten Tape Archive Sheet and Family Background

Box 11, File 3B Photographs
Two photographs

Interviewed by Inger Nygaard Carr
Transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky Husby
Encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl & Amity Smetzler
Recording Quality: Good

Biographical Note

Anna Olena Silver (Lena) was born on June 3, 1889 in Hægebostad, Vest-Agder, Norway. Her parents were Ole Snartemo and Asgjerd Birkeland Hesjevollen, and there were fifteen children in the family: Johanna, Siri, Lars, John, Lars, Josefina, Lars, Johan, Lena, Noe, Lars, Olaf, Agnes, and Marie. (The name of the fifteenth child was not obtained in the interview). The family lived on a farm, but when taxes got high, Lena's father got behind on the payments and decided to go to America to earn extra money. He worked on a farm in Pendleton, Oregon for three years, and when he finally returned home, he convinced the rest of the family to emigrate permanently.

They departed on May 23, 1905 and moved into a shanty in Tacoma, Washington, where Lena's father had moved from Oregon. In America, Lena had no trouble finding employment and soon became a mother's helper for various families, which she continued to do until some Norwegian friends convinced her to go to Dawson, Alaska, where she could make a better living. In Dawson, Lena first worked at a laundry and later obtained a job at a bakery-restaurant. While living there, she also met her husband, Conrad Silver, who was born in Joppen, Sweden of a Swedish father and Norwegian mother.

Lena and Conrad remained in Dawson until she became pregnant with their first son, Lloyd. They then returned to Tacoma, where they had two more children: Ardell Geraldine and Dexter. In Tacoma, Conrad worked for Brown and Haley, followed by the Shell Company and a large sign company. Conrad had no trouble finding jobs, but did, however, have trouble saving money, and times were financially difficult for the family. Lena took in boarders and patients to earn extra money for her family. Before the children were grown, Conrad went to California and never returned. In 1929, Lena began a nursing home, which she states was the first one in Tacoma.

Lineage

Full Name: Anna Olena Silver
Maiden Name: Anna Olena Snartemo
Father: Ole Snartemo
Mother: Asgjerd Birkeland Hesjevollen
Paternal Grandfather: Hjalmar Snartemo
Paternal Grandmother: Johanna Snartemo
Maternal Grandfather: Lars Birkeland
Maternal Grandmother: Siri Birkeland
Brothers and Sisters: There were 15 children in the family but only 14 names could be gleaned from the interview. Johanna and Siri Snartemo (twins), Lars Snartemo (died), John Snartemo, Lars Snartemo (died), Josefina Snartemo, Lars Snartemo (died), Johan Snartemo, Noe (?) Snartemo, Lars Snartemo, Olaf Snartemo, Agnes Snartemo, Marie Snartemo
Spouse: Conrad Silver
Children: Lloyd Silver, Ardell Geraldine Silver, Dexter Silver