I enjoy looking at old photos, imagining the lives of our
ancestors, whether their clothes had been handmade a generation before and
handed down for every additional family member to wear.
When I look at photos of my great-grandmother, Elin Mathilda
Andersson Linn, I see such a beautiful woman, thin, hair perfectly combed into
a knot, lovely dresses that covered her from neck to toe. I don’t imagine that
she was ever poor or homeless. But she was.
Elin was the middle of 5 children born to Carl Magnus
Andersson and his wife Anna Maja Abrahamsdotter. Carl and Anna were both born
and raised in Ostergotland county and married there on December 26, 1856.
To this marriage were born the following children:
·
Maria Lovisa Andersson (born February 11, 1859)
·
Anna Charlotta Andersson (born June 10, 1864)
·
Elin Mathilda Andersson (born July 1, 1867)
·
Karl Johan Oskar Andersson (born January 21,
1871)
·
Viktor Alfred Andersson (born December 2, 1873)
Carl and Anna struggled to provide for their family and
moved often. From Malexander parish where all of the children were born to Kisa
parish where Carl was a crofter or renter of a small place to Ulrika parish
where we find the family "on the parish" which means that they had no
place to live. According to a note in
the parish record, Carl Magnus Andersson "ran away" to America on
November 8, 1883, although he had not really left the country. (It is said that he did not have the proper
papers to emigrate; but Anna obtained the papers for him in 1885). Carl is also noted in the moving OUT record
April 7, 1885, together with his wife and two sons and two daughters, all of whom
moved to North America. The oldest
daughter, Maria Lovisa, moved to America later, on October 12, 1885.
Coming to the United States meant a new life for this
family, possibilities for success, opportunities for the children. In 1885, the
children’s ages ranged from 12 – 26. They were ready to work, to help their
parents farm, to marry and find their own paths. I imagine that if they had
stayed in Sweden, their lives would not have been at all fulfilling or happy,
perhaps ending with stints in the poor farm, being auctioned off as laborers
and separated from each other. This was a brave move, a risk that Carl and Anna were willing to take for their family.
After arriving in Iowa,
Carl farmed and is found in the 1895 Iowa state census for Dayton Township with
his wife and two sons.
 |
| Andrew and Elin Linn |
Elin, meanwhile, caught the eye of Andrew Linn. The two were
married on November 1, 1888, just 3 years after the Anderson immigration. From
an earlier post on Andrew Linn, we know this couple endured some personal
issues but raised three fine children: Elsie, Peter, and Frank.
Elin became ill in early September 1925 and died of a
cerebral hemorrhage on October 22, 1925. Her death record follows:
Elin was buried at the Linn-Bethel Owen Cemetery. Her husband Andrew died on March 22, 1939 and is buried next to her.
 |
| Four Generations: Elin Anderson Linn, Elsie Linn Carlson, Anna Anderson, and Kenneth Carlson |
 |
| Elin, Frank, Elsie, Andrew, Peter at Cedar Brook Farm |
Before I knew the story of this family, I would look at Elin
and just see a beautiful woman. But now I look behind that beauty and see the
courage, the strength, the endurance she had from an early age. From dealing
with her family’s poverty, to making the long voyage to a new land, to learning
a new language and culture, to dealing with her husband’s addiction, Elin
brought the kind of strength that I so very much admire. It’s strength and
courage that I see in many of my ancestors. It makes me so very proud to be descended
from the people I’m writing about now.
 |
| Back: Elsie Linn Carlson, Francis Carlson, Charlie Lundgren, Lily Lundgren Front: David Lundgren, Gus Lundgren, Elin and Andrew Linn, Kenneth Carlson |
