Hey Buffa-
I came across this string randomly. . .
I believe the same Andrew Frederick Hillstrand was my grandfather. I believe I have the hard copy of his death cert somewhere. . . maybe even a birth cert. I would need to dig. Per the string, my grandmother was Melita (Krieger) Hillstrand. Out in California your great grandfather had two sons. Andrew Frederick Hillstrand, Jr. and Robert B. Hillstrand (my dad and uncle). My dad had 3 daughters and me, and my uncle had a daughter and a son (6 California-born grandchildren). Unfortunately both my dad and uncle passed 2006 and 2008. My dad spoke about having a half sister that lived in Santa Paula, California that passed in the late 90's or there about. He has six grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren branching from my dad and uncle.
I never did meet him, but my oldest sister, Debbie did. I understand grandpa Andy came from Gothenburgh Sweden though New York and promptly went into the military at around age 16 or 17. Grandpa Andy was apparently a champion bicyclist growing up in Sweden. I believe he ended up in the Pacific fighting during the Spanish - American War and was a sniper. I do not have a clue about his life between age 20 and about 48.
Anyway, it would be interesting to exchange what we know about the Hillstrand lineage. I guess I am your half uncle or something like that! Let's chat sometime!
-Andy
