Her mother, Hannah (Minnie) Elemina Olson

Esther’s mother, Hannah Elemina Olson was born on July 11, 1883, near Rochelle, Illinois in a farm home. Hannah was the oldest child of Andrew and Anna Olson who were married on October 3, 1881 in Rockford, Illinois.

Hannah (Minnie) Olson (1883 - 1965)

Hannah’s father, Andrew Peter Olson (Anders Petter Olafson) was born on August 8, 1848. Anders lived with his parents on a farm near Varberg, Sweden. He was confirmed in Rya, Sweden, on August 23, 1863. His father raised fine horses and Anders helped to herd sheep on the hillsides. He loved music and liked to sing and yodel. One night the horses were stolen, causing hardship for the family. Neighbors and friends urged Anders to work for the government, but he decided to come to America. Friends of the family, Walter Erickson’s parents, loaned Anders money that he later paid back to come to America.

Hannah’s mother, Anna Johanna Carlson was born on May 11, 1855. She also lived with her parents and siblings on a farm near Varberg, Sweden. Anna was confirmed on August 8, 1869 in Weadige, Sweden. The Carlson family was considered fairly “well-to-do”, according to the standards of that time. They had a farm and were responsible for giving food, grain, and seed to the poor. When Anna was eight years old, her father was killed by robbers who mistook him for someone else. Her mother was devastated and had three young children. But she was a resourceful person and used her artistic ability to design needlework, which she sold to help the family income. After Anna’s oldest brother Andrew came to America in 1879, Anna, her mother, and her brother John decided to come to America, too.

Anna, John, and their mother, Johanna Carlson, came to America by boat in the summer of 1880. On this same boat from Sweden was a young man named Anders Olafson. His name was changed to Andrew Peter Olson in America. When they arrived in America, Andrew Olson and the Carlsons came by train to Rochelle, Illinois, where they found employment. Andrew found work as a hired man on a farm. He worked until he had saved enough money to buy some machinery and livestock, so he could rent a farm. At this same time, Anna Carlson was working as a hired girl for a neighbor. She saved her money and earned enough to bring home four wooden caned chairs. She carried them home, one at a time, across the fields.

Esther’s grandparents, Andrew Olson and Anna Carlson, were married on October 3, 1881, at Rockford, Illinois. He was 33 years old and she was 26 years old. After their marriage, they lived on a rented farm near Rochelle, Illinois. Their seven children were all born in Illinois. Their oldest, Hannah (Minnie) Wilhelmina, Esther’s mother, was born near Flag Center, Ogle County, Illinois, on July 11, 1883. She was baptized on September 1, 1883, by Rev. G. Peters, pastor of the Swedish Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois. When the neighbor’s daughter Minnie died, they missed her so much that they started calling Hannah “Minnie”.

The Olson family prospered in Illinois. The family worked together caring for the livestock and working in the fields. The children all graduated from eighth grade. Minnie was encouraged to become a teacher but she felt she was needed at home to care for her younger siblings and help her father on the farm.

Since her dad loved music, he bought an organ when his children were old enough to take lessons. A music teacher came to their home and gave Minnie around eighty lessons. Minnie then taught her younger sister, Alma. Later Andrew purchased a piano-organ. Minnie and Alma also took lessons in sewing or dressmaking. Later they were able to use this skill to make their own wedding dresses – dresses trimmed with tucks and lace.

Since Andrew and Anna Olson wanted a home and farm of their own, they decided to investigate the option of moving to Minnesota because the price of land in Illinois had risen so much. Anna’s two brothers had purchased Minnesota land and moved in 1899 and 1901. Andrew purchased 320 acres of land near Alpha, Minnesota. He paid $32 per acre and they moved to this farm by train in 1902. Minnie remembers leaving a spinning wheel on the platform at the depot because there was no room in the railroad car. They did take the piano-organ!

The Minnesota farm was good black soil, but there were low wet spots in rainy seasons. Tiling was done later by hired help – men digging the tile ditches by hand and laying the tile. The buildings on the farm were old but adequate until they were able to build new buildings. Many trees were planted to provide shelter and also to provide firewood to heat the house. They raised crops of oats, corn, and hay besides having pasture for the livestock. Horses were used in field work and for transportation – pulling wagon or buggy. -Marita

Emma Olson, Henry & Alma Petersen, Eva Olson,
Alvina & Arthur Petersen, Minnie & Peter Hansen, Emil Olson

Footnote:

The Olson-Carlson family reunions were held in the Jackson area from 1937-1999. During the years when there were a lot of children attending, the reunions were often held in the Minnewaukon area by Spirit Lake, south of Jackson. The get-togethers were usually held in June with a potluck dinner of delicious food followed by an afternoon of visiting, swimming and playing games – always a fun day.