Erik Erikson, date unknown
Karin (left) and Vallborg Erikson, circa 1890
Erikson siblings - Sarah Hendrickson, Lars (Lewis), Martina Olson, Karin Olson, Nils (Nels) Erikson, Britta Olson. Photo taken 1932
Erik and Sarah Erikson Family
Family of my paternal great-grandmother, Karin Erikson Olson
In 1940 Britta, Mrs. Per Olson, sister of my great-grandmother, Karin Erikson Olson, wrote a book entitled “Memories, Recollections of Pioneer Life in Crooked Lake Community” describing her family’s life in Långviken, Lima Socken, Västra Dalarna, Sweden, and their immigration to and settlement in Minnesota. The following gives as much birth and death information about the siblings as could be found after their immigration to Belle River Township, Douglas County, Minnesota, the first of whom arrived in 1870.
Sarah and Erik Erikson are the parents of my great-grandmother Karin (also spelled Carin or Caren) Erikson Olson, and were both born in Sweden. They were married December 26, 1842, and they immigrated to the U.S. in 1870 with several of their children. Some of Erik and Sarah’s children, including great-grandmother Karin, came a couple of years later.
Erik Erikson was born February 22, 1815 in Långviken, Sweden, and died December 16, 1909 in Nelson, MN. We have seen his name spelled several ways: Ersson, Erikson, and Erickson. Sarah Olsdotter (on death cert) was born November 17, 1820 and died Novemer 14, 1881. They are buried at Fahlun Church cemetery, rural Nelson, MN. Erik's parents were Erik Larson (1776-1865) and Walberg Person (also spelled Valborg Persdotter) (1779-1842). Sarah's parents were Olof Olson (1790-1874) and Kerstin Hinrikson (1791-1870).
Their children were:
Vallborg: born July 1, 1843 died 1924. Vallborg came to the U.S. in 1870. Her Swedish baptismal records list her name as Wallborg Ericsdotter, baptized July 9, 1843 in Lima, Kopparberg, Sweden. No other information known, nor were any other records found at the Douglas County Courthouse.
Kerstin: born September 14, 1844, died 1891. Had a son, Johannes, born out of wedlock on March 19, 1870. Kerstin came to the U.S. in 1878. No other records found regarding Kerstin.
Sarah: born April 25, 1846, died April 17, 1941. She came to the U.S. in 1870 and married Ole Hendrickson May 14, 1871 (marriage certificate says Ole, but his death certificate reads Olof). Also, Britta gives their marriage date as April 14, 1871 in the Memories book, but their marriage certificate in the Douglas County Courthouse shows May 14, 1871. Ole was born September 5, 1833 and died February 28, 1911. Ole’s parents were Hendrick Olson and Brita Olson. Ole and Sarah had twelve children, all of whom died. Eleven of their children are buried in the Fahlun pioneer cemetery. Sarah and Ole and their 12th child, Dusina, are buried at Fahlun Church Cemetery. We have found their name spelled both as Hendrikson (on the gravestones) as well as Hendrickson.
Martina: born September 22, 1847, died December 19, 1938. Martina came to the U.S. in 1872 and she married Olaf (Ole) Olson (May 11, 1840–January 14, 1900) October 28,1873. After Ole’s death, Martina married Andrew Lindstrom. Andrew was born December 24, 1842 and died April 23, 1927 at age 84. Andrews’ first wife was Anna Araling. They are all buried at Fahlun Church Cemetery. See also note at end of this summary.
Olof: born March 1, 1849, died 1929. Olof came to the U.S. in 1873. He married Christina Sward June 19, 1885, and she died 19--.(year not on stone.) They are buried at Fahlun Church cemetery. Olof served as foreman of the construction of Fahlun Lutheran Church. There is a stained glass window in the church that Olof donated and that bears his name.
Karin (also spelled as Caren and Carin): born July 9, 1852, died April 19, 1939. Swedish baptismal records list her as Carin Ericsdotter, baptized August 4, 1852. Karin came to the U.S. in 1872 (Gothenburg, Sweden passenger lists) with sister Martina, and she and married Lars Peter (Pelle) Olson on August 1,1874. L. Peter was born April 6, 1846 in North Loten, Lima Socken, Vastra, Dalarna, Sweden. His parents were Ma_trias (unable to read exact spelling) and Karin Olson. He died February 16,1898, and his death certificate reads “Peder.” Karin and L. Peter’s marriage certificate reads Caren Erickson and Peter Oleson. The witness was Ole Hendrickson. They are buried at Fahlun Church cemetery. Karin and L.P. were the parents of Otto Theodore Olson (10/13/1876 - 8/13/1961), father of Herbert Olson, and were my great-grandparents. Other children were: Otto Edward (10/25/1874 - 7/07/1875), Emil (8/28/1878 - 1/26/1960), Caroline (5/19/1881 - 1/20/1960), Emelie Charlotte (aka Emily, Emma); born Nov 26 or Dec 5, 1883 - 10/08/1912), Selma (aka Zelma) (5/31/1886 - 2/03/1982), and Arthur (1/12/1891 - 12/12/1964). See also Otto Olson history.
Britta: born February 24, 1854 died December 3, 1948. Britta came to the U.S. in 1870, and married Per Olson January 3,1875. Per was born April 21, 1849 and died May 30, 1933. Britta's death certificate says Bertha Ericsdotter Olson. Per's parents are Olaf Lindberg or Lundberg and Sarah Olson. Britta is buried in the Pioneer Monument Cemetery and Per is buried at Fahlun Church cemetery. Brita listed all of their children in the “Memories” book. Per Margaretha Hedblom of Sweden, their grandson Howard Hanson (daughter Emma’s son) was a professor in Duluth. He was married to Agnes, also from the Nelson area. Margaretha said that Howard worked at the Wenner-Gren Center of Stockholm, a research institute, and that he and Agnes visited Lima many times.
Erik: born February 22, 1856 and died 1866. He did not came to the U.S., and we do not have any additional information about Erik.
Lars (AKA Lewis): born July 20, 1858, died 1946. About 1890 Lars married Bertha (maiden name unknown) who born in Sweden and immigrated to the U.S. between 1883 and 1886. Census records give varying years for her date of birth, from 1861 to May 1866. Bertha died in 1937. Lars and Bertha lived in Calhoun, Michigan and
Parkland, WI. Per census records daughter Selma (1885 or 1890 - 1984) was born in Minnesota and daughter Lydia (1893 or 95 - 1957), was born in Michigan. The 1900 census records a son Lewis, born June 1897 in Michigan, but Lewis is not listed in the 1905 census nor in any later records. Son Raymond was born October 8, 1904 in Buffalo County, WI and died in 1974. Lars and Bertha also raised foster daughters, Valeria and Florence, and two men listed as brothers-in-law, Carl Mattson and Otto Olson, also lived with them for quite some time. Lars was a very gifted carpenter and one census also lists his occupation as a bookkeeper. Lars was a good friend of Otto Larson and sponsored Otto’s immigration from Sweden to Crooked Lake. Otto’s daughter, Inis, went on to be a Minnesota stateswoman. Lars and Bertha are both buried in Graceland Cemetery, Superior Village, Douglas County, WI.
Lars and Bertha’s son Raymond and his wife, Clarice, had four sons, Paul, David, and James while they lived in Superior, then they moved to Port Washington, WI where son, John was born in 1947. John married Kathie, whom he met in England while serving in the Air Force and stationed there. John and Kathie returned to the US and lived in Grafton, WI for a time, then moved back to England when their two sons were small. They continue to live near Nottingham, England. Both of their sons came to the US for college and chose to stay and live in Omaha, NE. Paul and his wife, Arlene, met at the University of Wisconsin and married in 1957. They lived in Colorado Springs, CO where Paul helped to build the Air Force Academy. Paul is a retired Air Force Captain, and they currently reside in Glendale, WI. Paul and Arlene have one daughter, Elyse, who married Andreas (Andy) Danckers. David was a teacher and he and wife, Karen, have three sons and all of whom live in the Milwaukee area. Jim and his wife, Connie, have one son. Jim has a pharmacy degree from Madison.
Nils (also spelled Nels) and listed as Nelson in the 1880 Census): born December 9, 1860, died January 13, 1950. Death certificate says "Nels" died at the Raphael Parkers Prairie Hospital from a fall. In 1889 Nils married Paulina (Lena) Frederick who came to Minnesota in 1875. Lena (daughter of John) was born in Germany October 8, 1867, and she died May 7, 1949. Nils’ and Lena’s children were Arthur, Ella (1893), Louisa (1895), George Leo, and Eva (1902). Arthur was born January 5, 1889 (also found birthdate of 1891) and died July 3, 1933. He married Bertha (1886-1940), and they had a son, Norman (1929-1978.) Leo (March 6, 1898, died 1985) married Olga (August 8, 1897, died January 19, 1965.) Olga’s parents were John Geving and Carrie Olson. Leo and Olga were living in Portland, Oregon at the time of Leo’s death. Nils, Lena, Leo, Olga, Norman, Arthur, and Bertha, are all buried in Carlos Prairie Cemetery, just west of Carlos, MN.
Additional information: Britta (Mrs. Per Olson) wrote in her “Memories” book about staying at the home of Lars and Karin Larson when she went to the Christmas service at the church in Lima, Sweden. Lars Larson was a brother of JoHanna Larsdotter (Mrs. Lars Olson) and Brita (Mrs. Ole Olson). Ole and Brita’s son was L.E. Olson, father of Lawrence Olson, also a member of Fahlun Church. Mrs. Ole Olson died in 1870, and Ole married Britta’s (Mrs. Per Olson) sister, Martina. The Lars Olson’s immigrated to Crooked Lake Township, Nelson, MN in 1868. Lars Olson was born August 23, 1840 and died May 23, 1921. JoHanna was born December 09, 1835 and died April 25, 1914. Lars and Johanna Olson are buried in Fahlun Church cemetery. Their son was John O. Olson.
Sources for this information were the book “Memories” by Mrs. Per Olson (Britta Erikson), the Douglas County Courthouse, Douglas County Historical Society in addition to many other research materials.
Erickson sisters: Standing L > R Martina, Vallborg, Karin; seated: Britta, Sarah. Date unknown
Judy Alcott