Catherine's Older Brother

Until I started this blog, I hadn't looked at Anders Lundblad very closely other than locating his birth and death and his marriage to Anna, plus a few details about their children. But after writing about Catherine and involving Andrew a bit in her story, off I went to find out more about him and his family. And a large family it was!

The only son of Carl Johan Lundblad and his wife Maria Andersdotter, Anders Carlsson (later known as Andrew Lundblad) was born on Saxebacken farm in Malexander Parish on September 21, 1819.

In the postings about his sister Catherine, we know that Anders left home when his father remarried, working as a laborer on various farms in Malexander Parish. He met Anna Catharina Johansdotter whom he married on December 27, 1844.

The couple had the following children in Sweden:

·         Anders Johan Alfred Lundblad (later known as Alfred), born August 6, 1845;
·         Carl August Lundblad (later known as Charles), born March 25, 1848;
·         Anna Charlotta Lundblad (known later as Charlotte), born May 14, 1850;
·         Hedda Matilda Lundblad, born July 12, 1852, and died March 17, 1856;
·         Maria Lovisa Lundblad (known later as Louisa), born July 19, 1854;
·         Gustaf Melker Lundblad, born June 20, 1856, and died April 14, 1857.

As we learned from the post two weeks ago, Andrew Lundblad and his family immigrated to the United States in 1857. We see them in the moving out records to North America on April 14, 1857. Does that date mean something? When we look at the date 9-month old Gustaf Melker died, they are the same. I had to look several times at the records to be certain I had it right. And I did. When I reviewed Gustaf’s death record, I see that he was buried on April 26, days after the rest of his family had left for North America.

As usual in genealogy research, one item often brings up additional questions or confusion. But I remind myself that the lives our ancestors lived were not the same as those we live today. Were the wheels in motion for sailing before Gustaf died? Tickets purchased? Travel arrangements made? If so, there was little choice this family had but to leave when scheduled. And one other thought: Today we have hospitals and doctors and medicine and tests that reduce child mortality tremendously. But it was not unusual for families to lose several children to what seems to us to be simple diseases. In this case, Gustaf contracted pneumonia, and his 9-month old body could not overcome that. It was just a very sad fact of life.

There was no time for grief. No time to bury their son. And so, Andrew and Anna Lundblad, along with their two surviving sons and two daughters, sailed in steerage for North America, arriving in Boston on July 3, 1857. Once settled in Pilot Mound, near his sister Catherine and her husband Gus Linn, they had more children:

·         Augusta Lundblad, born July 27, 1859;

·         Anna Julia Lundblad, born July 23, 1861;

·         Henrik Julius Lundblad, born July 28, 1866;

·         Edward Lundblad, born in 1868;

·         Maria Lundblad, no birth date known

·         William Lundblad, no birth date known but he died August 22, 1869.

Just like Gus and Catherine, Andrew did well for himself in this new country. He became a citizen and owned his own farm. In the 1870 Federal Agriculture Schedule, we see that the family owned 160 improved acres, 10 unimproved, worth $5,000 total. Machinery and farm implements totaled $250. They owned 8 horses, 7 milch cows, 6 working oxen, 13 other cattle, 11 sheep, 16 swine. They had 750 bushels of spring wheat and 3,000 bushels of Indian corn, in addition to other produce.

Looking at this family over the next several years, I find no news articles other than the usual "newsy, homey" kinds of articles about visiting neighbors or going to town. They led a quiet life, but one that clearly centered around their children. 

ARTICLE FROM DES MOINES REGISTER, JAN 5, 1905: Their 60th Wedding Anniversary
PILOT MOUND, IOWA Jan 5 several relatives and kind admiring friends met at the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Lundblad on Tuesday, December 27, to assist them in celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.

Mr. and Mrs. Lundblad are pioneer settlers in this vicinity, coming to this country from Sweden in the early days and when the country was almost a wilderness, enduring all the hardships imminent to the life of a new country, and with the patience, determination, perseverance, bent all their energies to build up the happy home they now enjoy, surrounded by scores of kind friends and acquaintances.

It has been the writer's privilege to live a near neighbor to this illustrious couple for many years and they have always been ready to grant any favor of accommodation in their power. Many are the kind deeds that can be attributed to their willing hands, many the kind and encouraging words spoken by them to cheer, comfort and encourage their friends in diistress and trouble.

This venerable couple have seven children to comfort them in their declining years. Alfred Lundblad, Mrs. Charlotte Peterson and Mrs. Augusta Bergendahl living in Pilot Mound Township, C. A. Lundblad, Mrs. Mary L. Nelson and Miss Julia Lundblad, living in Dayton, Iowa, and Henry Lundblad, who lives near Laurens, Iowa.

Ten years ago this couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. At that time there were present seven children, twenty-three grandchildren and many friends. They now have twenty-eight grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

While this couple is quite aged, they are enjoying reasonably good health. Mrs. Lundblad doing her own housework, and Mr. Lundblad does light work and his own chores, while when the weather is fine, they drive eight miles to church.

Heaven has bounteously lengthened out the lives of this venerable couple and their many friends pray that the Father of all mercies will smile on their declining years and bless them.

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UNSOURCED INFORMATION: In 1894 Andrew and Anna celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. The Dayton Lutheran Church presented him with a gold headed cane and her with a gold band ring. After his death the cane went in turn to Alfred, Charlie and Henry and now is with Henry's son, Frank. The ring is with Charlotte's daughter, Callie Huglin.

NOTE: Wouldn't it be fun to see those two items? I hope they are still in their family.

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Anna Lundblad died on January 18, 1907, at age 82 and is buried in the Linn Cemetery. Husband Andrew Lundblad died a year later on February 23, 1908, at age 88 and is also buried at the Linn Cemetery.

Andrew, Catherine, and Maria, the three siblings, all died at the age of 88. An amazing fact!

Obituary in Dayton Review, January 31, 1907,
page 4

Obituary in Dayton Review, March 5, 1908,
page 1