The First Born – John August Linn

We have seen among Gus and Catherine’s children triumphs, bravery, tragedies, overcoming difficulties, making life-changing choices. We’ve seen the deaths of two of their children in infancy, their personal sacrifices when Gus fought in the Civil War. This is a hearty bunch! And now we close this look at their children with John August Linn, their first born.

John August (birth name Johan August) was born on August 30, 1851, in the parish of Ulrika in the county of Ostergotland, Sweden. He is the only child of Gus and Catherine born there before they left for the United States.

Below is his church birth record:

It shows Johan August born on the 30^th of August and christened on the 1^st of September, to married farm worker (drang) Gustaf Magnus Olofson and his wife (hufstra) Catherina Carlsdotter of Kalkegryt farm.

A closer look at that farm in the yearly church survey shows the family moving to North America in 1853. arriving in Boston August 10, 1853 aboard the Bark Christina from Gothenburg. They are shown on the ship’s passenger list as Ustaf Olson, age 24, farmer; wife Catherine, age 29; and son John August, age 1.

This family settled near Gus’ brother Peter who had arrived in the United States in 1851.

As the oldest, it’s very likely that John took on additional responsibilities when his two infant sisters died in 1862 and 1864, and he would have shouldered farm responsibilities when his father left for the Civil War and when Gus returned with physical limitations.

John’s wife Marie Isaacsson (Isaacsdotter) was also born in Sweden, arriving in the United States in 1870. At the age of 18 Marie is found in the census working for the Saloon Keeper, Andrew Johnson, age 23, and his wife Sarah, age 20, in Boone County. John A. Linn and Marie Isaacsson married on July 3, 1875, and moved to the Pilot Mound area to raise a family. To this couple were born the following children:

·         Oscar A. Linn (1876-1950)

·         Albert C. Linn (1878-1958)

·         Henry Edward Linn (1882-1948)

·         Maude M. Linn (1883-1968)

·         Lloyd Linn (1887-1964)

John must have done well for himself and in providing for his family. In the 1915 Iowa state census, the value of all his property was shown as $55,000 (with no encumbrance), which in 2017 dollars would be approximately $1.35 million.

I’ve not found additional resources, newspaper articles, church records, etc., that would give a more detailed look at John’s life. And so, I’ll turn to his children.

Oscar, the eldest child, married and had 5 children. A short mention in the 21 August 1913 Dayton Review, page 5 states:

The Burnquist Hardware Co. sold two Oakland 35 cars Monday, one to Oscar Linn and the other to Carlson brothers, south of town. Here is a photo of the 1913 Oakland 35. Oscar must have turned a few heads in 1913!

The second child, Albert, never married. He lived with his parents and helped manage the farm. On a World War II draft registration, he is described as 5 foot 3 inches tall, 148 pounds, blue eyes, gray hair, and ruddy complexion.

Henry, the middle child, was married and had 4 children. His wife Alma Nordbloom was born in Gavla, Illinois, which was a settlement for many early Swedish immigrants. Henry’s World War II draft registration states that he is 60-years old, from Pilot Mound, 5 foot 9 inches tall, 193 pounds, blue eyes, gray hair, ruddy complexion.

Their only daughter Maude married Albert Carlson and had two sons. When Maude’s father died, her mother Marie lived with Maude and her family.

The youngest child Lloyd also never married and was a private in World War I in the 163rd Depot Brigade. On his World War II draft registration card, Lloyd is described as 5 foot 9 inches tall, 180 pounds, blue eyes, brown hair, ruddy complexion. From conversations with my mom, it appears that Lloyd came back from his service in World War I a changed person.

Lloyd wrote this letter that appeared in the July 18, 1918, Dayton Review. The hanging that Lloyd refers to is one that Grandpa (Peter Linn) and Uncle Frank also experienced during basic training. I’ll post about that experience at a later date.

With both Albert and Lloyd to help their parents on the farm, John and Marie lived a comfortable life.

While I don’t know how John died, the following Dayton Review news article just two months before he died shows the state of John’s health.

John died on September 17, 1917, at the age of 66 and is buried in the Linn-Bethel Owen Cemetery alongside his wife Marie who died on February 27, 1933.

His obituary from the Dayton Review, October 4, 1917 follows: