Swanson Family

Swanson Family
Chicago, Illinois, USA
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1. Sven Jacob Svantesson (May 28,1824 - October 30, 1870) was born in Idakra (probably Idåkra), Dalhems socken (socken=parish), Sweden. He married Christina Caterina Gustafia Carlson - probably 'Carlsson' originally (September 29, 1829 - April 29, 1907) who was born in Harad of Kalmar lan, Sweden.

Sven was killed in 1870 at 45 years of age by a thrashing machine he had made.

In 1880 his son, Sven Johan Svensson, emigrated to America.

Christina’s daughter, Tillie, emigrated to America around 1882. Tillie saved up enough money for tickets for her mother Christina and her sister Ida to come to America. Tragically, Ida died before she could leave Sweden. Christina gave Ida’s ticket to Ida’s fiancee Oscar Carl.

In 1892 twenty-two years after the death of her husband and when she was about 63 years old Christina emigrated to America. We don’t know, but perhaps Oscar Carl and Christina sailed from Sweden together.

When Christina came to America she stayed for a short time with her son Sven Johan Svenson (a.k.a., Swan John Swanson) at 59th and Carpenter Street in Chicago. When S. John moved from from that residence, Christina moved to the house of her daughter Anna and her son-in-law Axel Strodtz. She kept house for the family. After arriving in America, Oscar married Ida's sister, Tillie.

When Anna died in 1899 at age 40, her three kids, Anna, Ida and Ella, continued living with Christina and their father Axel.

Ella, Anna’s daughter and Christina’s granddaughter, died in 1903.

Axel died in 1907.

Christina also died in 1907, of pneumonia, on April 29, 1907. Ruth, Christina's granddaughter wrote a letter to her boy friend, John T. Holmquist, about her grandmother's death:

Dear John -

Grandma died at 3: o'clock this morning. The funeral is going to be held at her home 6930 Ada St., Wednesday at 1-o'clock. Burial at Oak Hill by carriage.

This time the letter is closed with just a few lines from Your own and loving, Ruth.

Apr - 29/07 -

In 2015 John Swenson and his wife Sheila visited Oak Hill Cemetery in Chicago and later wrote an email to his cousin Lennart Holmquist about the visit:

My Mom had some info for the grave site location of [Christina] Carlson [Svenson] who was at the top your Swanson family listing and was married to Sven Jacob Svantesson. When we visited the Oak Hill Cemetery, we stopped at the office and inquired about her. An employee pulled out the cemetery records for 1907, which was the year the cemetery opened, and found the listing for her burial and copied the info from the book for us. It listed her name as Christina C. Svenson, and had the same date of death, April 29, 1907, as your online records but had some additional info. Burial was on May 1 and as you noted the cause of death was pneumonia. Their records said that the plot was purchased by her son, Sven J. Svenson of 6930 Ada Street, Chicago. There was no headstone but they paced off the location for us which was in Division 26-1, Lot 16, Grave 5, which agreed with my Mother's information.

The photo showing the stone for Sven Magnusson may confuse you - he's most likely not a relative, but just beyond that grave is where the cemetery workers paced off the grave location for Christina Svenson, as she had no headstone.

Either before or after Axel’s death Ida and Anna went to live with their mother's sister, Tillie (Swanson) Johnson.

Christina and Sven had eleven children, eight of whom never left Sweden.

1.1 Carl Gustav Svensson (March 31,1853 - April 16, 1883) possibly married Kristina Svantesson ( ? - July 5, 1915). Carl died in Lofta, Kalmar, Sweden. They had no children. Either Carl or Kristina may originally have been from Drabo, Oppeby, Sweden. (We are not sure if he actually married a Kristina or not. This Kristina here may be confused with Kristina married to Swen Jacob.)

Carl Gustav Svensson: Sweden, Selected Indexed Death Records

Carl Gustav Svensson death record original

1.2 Sven Johan Svensson (December 25,1855 - November 22, 1920) who was known in America as Swan John Swanson and went by the name of John was born on Christmas day in Jyllela, Ukna socken, Kalmar Län, Sweden. In America he married Beata Josephina Jonsson (February 3, 1857 - August 14, 1939) whom he met on the boat in 1880 coming to America and whom was an acquaintance from a neighboring town. They arrived in America May 1, 1880. In America Beata was known as Betty. We shall continue to use her Swedish name of Beata.

For more information on S. John Swanson and Beata see:

Swan John Swanson: the Carpenter and his Wife

1.2.1 Ture Ernest Swanson (March 12, 1882 - May 30, 1885).

The only information that came down to us through the family is that John and Beata's first child was named 'Ture Ernst', and he was born on March 12, 1882 and died in infancy. See letter of September 1969 regarding Descendants of Sven Jacob Swenson and Christina Caterina Carlsson (in Swedish).

However, official records give the young lad's name as Ernst Thure Swanson. His birth place was Englewood where John and Beata settled after arriving from Sweden.and his place of death Lake, Cook County on May 30, 1885. Lake is the old name of the town West Englewood.

Since family history knew him to be 'Ture Ernst' we may guess he was called by his middle name Thure.

Thure was buried at Oak Woods Cemetery in Cook County, Chicago, Illinois.

Ernst Thure Swanson Cook County, Illinois, Deaths Index

Ernst Thure Swanson, Illinois Statewide Death Index

1.2.2 David Ivar Swanson (September 14, 1884 - April 8, 1950) married Ruth E. Agnew (c1893 - ????) on June 29, 1912. Ruth was 19 and David 27 years old. They eventually divorced.

David Swanson and Ruth Agnew marriage

David later married Margaret Ulreka Carlson (???? - ????). Margaret had two sons, Harry and Wilbur who became David's stepsons.

For more information on David and Margaret see:

David and Margaret Swanson

1.2.2.1 Harry Stanley Carlson (about 1911 - ????). Harry Stanley never married and lived with Margaret Ulreka Carlson (Nana) until her death 1970?. Nana died of a stroke.

The 1940 United States Federal Census records that Stanley was living at home with his parents who at this time were 54 and 50 years old. Stanley was a teller at the National Bank. The lived on Marshfield Avenue, Chicago.

1940 United States Federal Census original

1.2.2.2 Wilbur Alfred Carlson (c1914 - July 26, 1996) married Veronica Keenan (???? - October 27, 2006) on November 24, 1938. Wilbur died complications of diabetes and Veronica died of old age.

Wilbur and Veronica had three children: David, Maureen and Kathleen.

1.2.2.2.1 David Keenan Carlson

1.2.2.2.2 Maureen Ann Carlson

1.2.2.2.3 Kathleen (Kathy) Joan Carlson

For more information on this branch of the family see:

Swanson Family: Descendants of David and Margaret Swanson

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1.2.3 Ruth Elfie Swanson (December 23, 1887 - September 24, 1948) married John Theodore Holmquist (January 3, 1886 - January 12,1953) on October 3, 1908.

Theodore Holmquist & Ruth Elfie Swanson

Swanson Addresses

For the descendants of Ruth (Swanson) and John T. Holmquist see:

Johannes & Johanna Holmquist & Family

1.2.4 Almeda Lydia Swanson (November 29. 1888 - ????) married Ruben Carlson (???? - ????) on September 28, 1912. He was 25 and she 23.

Almeda Swanson and Ruben Carlson marriage

They had two children, Sigurd and Edith.

Almeda eventually lived at Fridhem, (translated as 'peaceful home' a retirement home, used by many Chicago's aging Swedes. Ruth (Swanson) Holmquist was at one time the the head of a Fridhem women's auxiliary, a church support organization for Fridhem. Doris (Rinell) Holmquist worked at Fridhem for a short time soon after emigrating from Sweden to the United States.

In 1952 the president of Fridhem wrote a letter to a David Carlsson in Sweden asking if Almeda may be a beneficiary to property of her grandfather Sven Jacob Svantesson. Perhaps money was needed to pay for Almeda's stay in Fridhem. Doris Holmquist translated the letter and provided some notes.

1.2.4.1 Sigurd Carlson (July 1913 - August 28, 1928).

1.2.4.2 Edith Carlson (???? - ????) married married Eskal Carlson (???? - ????). Circa 1969 they lived at Shorewood Hills, Sawyer, Michigan. They had three children Arnold, Lorraine and Gayle.

1.2.4.2.1 Arnold Carlson (1938 - ) married Susan Ilall (1944 - ). They lived at 9120 Biahop St., Chicago, Illinois, circa 1969.

1.2.4.2.2 Lorraine Carlson (???? -).

1.2.4.2.3 Gayle Carlson (???? -).

1.2.5 Henry [Henk] Oscar Swanson (February 22. 1891 - June 22, 1944) married Belle Gibson (???? - ????).

The federal census records that Henk, at age 9, was living with his parents, brothers and sisters in Chicago.

In 1939 Henk and Belle lived in a large frame house in St. Charles, Illinois.

Henk was a foreman in a print shop. He also was a drummer for the American Legion in the Veterans parades.

Henk died of complications from being gassed in WWI many years before, and had not been well for years. Bud and his father, John, visited Hank in the V. A. hospital shortly before he died.

He was buried at Edgar's Mortuary on 79th Street on Chicago's south side where many of the Swansons were buried. A reception followed at the Holmquist home at 11342 Church Street in Chicago.

Henry Oscar Swanson 1900 United States Federal Census . The Federal Census of 1900 incorrectly give Henry's name as 'Henning' and Henry's mother, Beata, as 'Bertha'. Perhaps the census taker had a hard time understanding English spoken with a Swedish accent.

Henry O. Swanson Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index

Henry and Belle had six children: William [Bill], Betty Mae, Lois, Virginia, June and Thomas.

For the descendants of Henry and Belle see:

Swanson Family: Henry and Belle Swanson and their Descendants

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1.2.6 Joel Walter Swanson (January 7. 1896 - November 7, 1974 ) married Mabel Josephine Swanson (???? - ????) on August 4, 1917. They had one child Dorothy.

Edith Nieubuurt considered Joel to be an outstanding person. She said that Joel had a good heart, and was a very nice fellow when he was a young man. At Christmas and Thanksgiving he brought baskets of food to their house. (Edith's father died young, her mother had to support the family, and they never had a whole lot). Joel belonged to a young man's society. He always remembered her mother (Aunt Tillie). He was also chums with her brother Hugo, and so their family got to see him oftener than the rest of the Swanson family. Joel made a doll house once for Edith and her sister Emma. And one year he also made them a sled for the winter.

Joel and Mabel lived at 82355 Eberhart Avenue, Chicago in 1939.

Joel Walter Swanson: Cook County, Illinois, Marriages Index

Joel Swanson 1900 United States Federal Census . The Federal Census of 1900 incorrectly give Joel's name as 'Jule' and Joel's mother, Beata, as 'Bertha'.

Joel Walter Swanson Social Security Death Index

Swanson Family: Descendants of Joel and Mable Swanson

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1.2.6.1 Dorothy Merly Swanson (April 4, 1919 - August 1996) married William Bernard Arnold (October 8, 1915 - ????) on April 13, 1941.

Dorothy and Bill moved to Utah during the early 40s shortly after getting married. They had a short stay in Edwardsville where their daughter Jeannie was born and then on to Utah in 1943. Bill was working for U.S. Steel as an Assistant Superintendent of Blast Furnaces. Bill along with others started the big Geneva plant in Provo, Utah. The critical nature of his work during the war earned him a deferral from armed service.

Their daughter Pat was born in Utah in 1944. After the war they moved to Niagara Falls, which has been their home since 1945.

For his work Bill traveled all over the world. Dorothy kept things together at home and spent time teaching Sunday School and Week Day Bible School.

Dorothy's mother, Mabel, moved to be with her family in Niagara Falls in 1976.

Dorothy and Bill had three daughters, Sandra, Patricia and Judith.

Swanson Family: Descendants of Joel and Mable Swanson

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1.3 Anna Christina Svensson (June 25, 1859 - September 19, 1899) married Axel Strodtz (???? - March 17, 1907) who was born in Germany. They had nine children, six of whom were three sets of twins. They all died between 6 and 12 months of age. They had three other children, all girls, Anna, Ida and Ella.

Anna's mother, Christina, emigrated to the USA in 1892. At first Christina lived with Anna's older brother, Swan John Swanson, and his family at 59th and Carpenter Street. When S. John and his family moved from 59th and Carpenter Street, Christina moved in with Anna and Axel and kept house.

Anna died in 1899 at age 40. Christina helped her son-in-law, Axel, take care of the kids. The oldest daughter, Ella, died in 1903.

Axel died in March 1907. Christina died in April 1907. After Christina’s death, Ida and Anna went to live with their mother's sister, Mathilda (Tillie) Johnson. (Her husband,Oscar, had died the previous year in 1906.) Tillie now had six children to raise.

1.4 August Edward Svensson (April 26,1860 - July 6, 1873) died in Sweden.

1.5 Frans Victor Svensson (September 26, 1863 - January 4, 1878) died in Sweden.

1.6 Mathilda [Tillie] Gustafia Svensson (March 14, 1866 or 67 - August 6, 1934) married Oscar Carl Johnson (May 20, 1869 - June 18, 1906) on April 11, 1895 in the United States. Tillie was probably born in Flugenäs, Dalhems parish, Sweden where her family had moved in 1865. Her father was a farm boss.

They left Flugenäs in 1869 and went to Överum Herrgård. There on October 1, 1870 her father was fatally hurt and died on October 30th. Her mother was now a widow with 7 children, the oldest only 16 years old and the youngest 1 year. Tillie's brother shortly thereafter went to work to help support the family. He started to work at Överum in 1870 at about the age of fourteen.

Sven worked in Överum until 1877 when at the age of about 21 he went to Stockholm and worked at Atlas & Bergsunds until 1880 at which time he went to the United States arriving in New York, May 1, 1880. On May 4th he went to Chicago to find work.

Johan Swenson (Swan John Swanson) was the first of the family to come to America. He worked for a while, and when he had enough money he sent for Tillie, who was by then only 16 years of age, which would be around 1882. Tillie in turn saved up money for her sister Ida and their mother to come to America. But Ida died in Sweden before she was able to go to America. Their mother, Kristina, gave Ida's ticket to Oscar Carl Johnson, Ida's fiancee. After arriving in America, Oscar married Ida's sister Tillie on April 11, 1895.

1.7 Emma Sophia Svensson (1868 - 1868) born and died in Sweden.

1.8 Ida Sophia Svensson (January 25, 1869 - January 26, 1892). Her sister Mathilda (Tillie) saved up money for Ida and their mother to come to America. But Ida died in Sweden before she was able to go to America (possibly at the age of 16 which means the dates above are incorrect). Their mother gave Ida's ticket to Oscar Carl Johnson, Ida's fiancee. After arriving in America, Oscar married Ida's sister Mathilda (Tillie).

Footnotes