Elin Mathilda Andersson Linn

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