Caterina Lundblad

Augustus (Gus) Magnus Olausson Linn. Father, husband, brother, farmer, Civil War veteran. We know the details of his life through photos, stories, news articles. Even his obituary appeared on the front page of the Dayton Review.  The cane he whittled while he was a POW is still in the family.

But what about his wife? What do we know about the woman he married in Sweden? The mother of his children? The person who stayed on the farm during the Civil War raising the children and taking care of the farm responsibilities while Gus served our country?

For the next two weeks I will share what I have learned about Caterina (Catherine) Lundblad, my second great-grandmother.

When following our female ancestors, it's important to know that there is not as much information about women. Women were referred to by their husband's names in news articles i.e. Mrs. John Smith and not Mary Smith. In the United States, a woman's maiden name was gone after marriage until it sometimes appeared in an obituary. And until our more recent history, women didn't own land, vote, serve in the military, or work outside the home or farm. It can be a real challenge to find interesting or detailed information about our female ancestors.

Caterina Lundblad was born on October 3, 1823, on Stromskullen farm in Malexander Parish to the soldier Carl Johan Lundblad (1793-1841) and his wife Maria Andersdotter (1793-1838).

Catarina Carlsdotter from Stromskullen born October 3, christened October 5, 1823. Parents Life grenadier Lundblad and wife Maria Andersdotter

Carl was born to the unwed mother Ingeborg Ingedotter. His military record states that he represented the Skarlunda rote, serving as a "life grenadier" in Omberg Company. A grenadier was originally a soldier armed with hand grenades. The grenadier first fired his musket and then he would light the fuse of the grenade and throw it, a seemingly dangerous job. By the time Carl Lundblad was in the military, though, a life grenadier was simply a part of an infantry unit. Carl was 173 cm tall (just under 5'7" tall) and was in the military from 1813 until his death in 1841.

Carl's service included time in both Germany and in Norway from 1813-1814. And on a closer look at Swedish military history at that time, it appears that Sweden fought a major battle in Germany in 1813, and in 1814 was at war briefly with Norway, both of which were victories for Sweden. It is likely that Carl saw action in both of these countries.

Carl and Maria married on October 19, 1815, in Malexander Parish, and had three children:

• Maria, born on September 24, 1816; 
• Anders, born on September 21, 1819; 
• Catarina, born on October 3, 1823.

In Sweden during the early 1800's, it was normal for young boys and girls to make their own way, often leaving their family farm in their early teens to work as a servant or farm laborer. Sometimes family circumstances rushed children into their independence. In Catarina's case, her mother Maria died in 1838 and Carl remarried in 1839; shortly after, each of the 3 children left. Katerina/Catherina was just 16 years old, now working on various farms through Ostergotland county. In the clerical surveys, she is noted as "Catherina Carlsdotter" or "Katerina Lundblad" or "Carin Lundblad" or other variations of these. In order to make certain I am following the correct person, I always verify the birth date, birth location, and other information available, i.e. moving in or out records, name of parents or siblings.

It's interesting to note that, when Gus' father Olaus Fredericsson died, and his mother remarried, Gus and his siblings also started working on various farms. In Gus' case, he was just 9 the first time he is seen working as a farm laborer.

Catarina's father, the soldier Carl Johan Lundblad, died just two years after remarrying, passing on August 17, 1841, of a stroke, at the age of 47. In his probate, completed just one week after his death, it's clear that Carl had not amassed any wealth. And, as was the practice in Sweden at this time, the widow received half the estate, the children the other half, with boys receiving twice what girls received. None of the children became any better off financially from the proceeds.

Catarina and Gus met and married in Vastra Ryd Parish in Ostergotland County on February 18, 1851. Catherina was 5 1/2 years older than Gus. Their first child, Johan August, was born on August 30, 1851.  On April 11, 1853, Gus, Catarina and Johan set off for the United States, to join Gus' brothers John and Peter in Iowa, arriving in Boston August 10, 1853. On the passenger list for the Bark Christina from Gothenburg, Gustus is listed as Ustaf Olson, age 24, farmer; along with wife Catherine, age 29; and son John August, age 1.

Catarina was nearing 30 years of age when she left Sweden with her husband and son for the unknown. Her parents were both deceased; she was separated from her two siblings; she had worked for years as a servant girl until meeting and marrying Gus.  The clerical survey notations for both Gus and Catarina as they prepared to move to America in 1853 were that he was honest and there were no complaints and that she was honest and steady.

Gus and Catarina would have no opportunities to own property in Sweden, no parents on whom to rely. But what would they find when they arrived in Iowa? The hope of a better life drove them to make the arduous trip in Steerage, a most inhumane condition where people were crammed into tight quarters below deck with no food and little air. But would they find the better life that they dreamed of? Would the trip be worth the risk?

Gus had two brothers waiting for him and his family, but Catarina had no one. No one in a country where the customs and the language were different from her own. No one in a prairie state where her nearest neighbor might be miles away. Would either of her siblings join her in Iowa? Would Catarina be able to find happiness in this new place called Iowa?

Next week's post will look at Catarina in her new country.