More on Catherine Lundblad Linn

It took nearly 4 months for Gus, Catherine, and John August to make their long trip to Boston in 1853 and then to Iowa. From Boston, it's likely that the trio would have used several modes of transportation to Iowa: the train to Chicago, then perhaps by wagon train or foot to Keokuk, Iowa, where they would have traveled by boat up the Des Moines River.

I can't imagine how very difficult this weeks-long voyage in steerage was, followed by the long trek to Iowa, for Catherine and Gus with their young son. They would have traveled with others from Sweden, perhaps someone who could translate or help with difficulties that surely came up.

Catherine, Gus, and John, arrived in Iowa and within 3 years, Gus had taken out his naturalization papers (April 5, 1856) making him and his wife and son American citizens. By the 1860 US Federal Census, Gus and Catherine held real estate in Pilot Mound, Boone County, worth $750 and personal property worth $600. The family consisted of the parents, John August, William Peter, Emma Catherine, and Anna Sophia. In the US Federal Agriculture Census for the same year, they had 30 acres of improved land, 52 acres unimproved, cash value of the farm $780, $250 in farm implements and machinery. The family owned 2 horses, 2 milch cows, 2 oxen, 2 other cattle, 8 sheep, 16 swine, for a total value of livestock at $325. The family held 75 bushels of wheat, 30 bushels of rye, 350 bushels of Indian corn, 100 bushels of oats, 100 pounds of tobacco, and 14 pounds of wool. This family was working hard and living well, doing more than just surviving.

Gus and Catherine had two more children, Andrew born in 1861; and Mary, born in 1863.

And then, tragedy struck this family.

On August 24, 1862, daughter Emma died at the age of five. Then four-year old daughter Anna died on January 10, 1864. This devastating blow to the family, the deaths of two young daughters in less than two years, had to sap the strength out of both Catherine and Gustus. So why would Gustus choose to volunteer to fight in the Civil War, leaving his family, his grieving wife Catherine, mustering in 5 days before Anna's death?

It seems impossible to me that a husband and father, after losing two daughters, and in the middle of  an Iowa winter, would go, leaving Catherine and their four young children to tend the farm. I have read about Gus' true sense of patriotism for his adopted country, his appreciation for the life it had given him and his family, the opportunities he had been given to own land and make a good living to support his family. But there may be additional reasons for his going.

• Did Gus even know of Anna's death? If it were a sudden illness or accident, Gus may have been gone before Anna passed.
• There were bounties paid to those who entered the war effort in the waning days of the Civil War, even in a state such as Iowa where, because of volunteers, no one was drafted. In some cases, a man who needed money would take the place of another man. 
• It's also possible that this was how Gus dealt with his grief.

Whatever the reason, Gus was gone. Catherine was on the farm. And she didn't know if Gus was dead, alive, wounded, where he was, when or if he would return. Two daughters dead. Two sons who were still children (John, age 12 1/2; William, age 9 1/2) but of some help in operating the farm. Two other children (Andrew, age 3; Mary, age 1) who were too young to be of any help. When we look at what this family's holdings were from the 1860 Agriculture Schedule above, I am in awe of what Catherine and her children were able to do.

My hope is that Catherine had help from Gus' two brothers, John and Peter, during his absence. But there is some good news for Catherine during this time. In last week's posting, I questioned if either of Catherine's siblings might have also come to Iowa. And the answer is "yes". In 1857, brother Anders Lundblad, born in 1819, and his wife Anna, along with four children arrived in Boston, made the trip to Burlington, Iowa, where they were met by Gus who took them the rest of the way to Pilot Mound. Anders, later known as Andrew Lundblad, settled just a short distance from Gus and Catherine. His two oldest children, Alfred and Carl, were born in 1845 and 1848 and were certainly old enough to help Catherine with all she had to do in Gus' absence. And Catherine now had family there to support her.

Gus returned in July of 1865, but he was most certainly a changed man physically. His time as a POW took a toll on his body, and he was unable to be at 100% strength on the farm. Once again, we see Catherine having to shoulder a great deal, both physically and emotionally. Gus and Catherine had one more child, Charles, born in 1866, who was the subject of an earlier post.

To shorten this a bit, Catherine and Gus lived a quiet life, one of service to their family and neighbors, one of devotion to their church, one of patriotism. Once their days of farming were over, they moved to Dayton to live out their final years. Gus passed away in 1897, but Catherine lived 15 additional years, passing in 1912 at the age of 88.

Catherine Lundblad Linn

Whenever I used to look at Catherine's picture, I would think "that is one serious, stern looking woman" but looking now, after all she went through, I can see in her eyes a real softness, maybe kindness, certainly a life with challenges. In those eyes I see a woman who lost her parents at a young age, made a difficult and long journey to Iowa, a place that she didn't know. In those eyes I see the loss of her two young daughters, the stress of being alone on the farm while her husband served in the Civil War. In those blue eyes, I see how hard she worked, what a great partner she was to Gus.

Thanks for all you did, Great-great Grandma Linn, for giving those of us who follow you the life we are able to have today.

Obituary from the January 18, 1912, Dayton Review, Page 1
Errors in her birth year and location (1823; Malexander)