Alfred Nelson
Dec. 20, 1860, Norrgården, Ånnebo, Gammalkil parish, Östergotland
baptized Dec. 23, 1860, same place
died Oct 6, 1935, Burlington, buried Aspen Grove
sailed from Göteberg on Sept. 24, 1880, on the “Robury” bound for Burlington; went to Olena, Illinois, near Stronghurst, to live with relatives
1885 Iowa census, living in Sioux Ciy (3rd Ward, 1017 Iowa St.); probably working for the railroad like brother John in Omaha
declaration of intent February 27, 1886 in Des Moines County; citizen Sept. 25, 1888
December, 1886, letter from brother John in Omaha to Alfred in Burlington, tone makes it sound like he had not been there long
February, 1887, letter from brother John in Omaha to Alfred in Burlington, mentions that Alfred is in school
bought land and had a house built on it by September, 1888
March, 1896, letter from brother-in-law Victor says Alfred is working for himself
July, 1898, letter from brother John in Omaha mentions that Alfred could come to Omaha for free (railpass?)
carpenter, CB&Q B-Route Shops until 1922
Leopold Desk until 1926
member of Woodmen of America
attended West Hill Swedish ME
married Anna Louise Carlson May 13, 1891, at his house at 1425 Cleveland Ave. in Burlington; service performed by A.M. Soderstrom, “Minister of the Gospel,” aka pastor of Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church, now West Hill Methodist Church
Anna Louise Carlson Nelson
born Johanna Lovisa Karlsdotter Dec. 12, 1865, Hagen Backstuga, Torpa parish, Östergötland
died Sept. 23, 1945, Burlington, buried Aspen Grove
my grandma said that her mother told them that she could iceskate to school in winter; she said that the picture of Torpa parish was her church and school
1881-82, worked as a servant in Nås, Norra Torp, Hyltestugan, Torpa
left March 10, 1882; specific note in parish book said she left without papers, for North America
sailed March 24, 1882, on the “Romeo” for Hull, then to New York; went with an older female cousin; the cousin held the money; they got separated in New York; Anna took the train to Olena, Illinois alone, with just an apple that someone gave her to eat during the two-day journey; went to live with relatives to work as a domestic
member, West Hill Swedish ME
year ending 1905, 50 cents each month (an average amount; one of the most consistent givers) BUT next recorded year, 1907, her line empty, THEN December, 1908, $1
children were all active in young people’s organization at WHSME (these were the only extant stewardship records at the church)
my grandma always commented that her mother never raised her voice, that she was very sweet
my grandma said her mother was never completely comfortable speaking English, although the children stopped speaking Swedish when they went to school
children (names in parentheses spelled as they were written by parents in a book of poetry):
Albert Julius Chester Nelson (Anna had a high fever while pregnant with him; he was intellectually disabled, maybe autistic)
born March 9, 1892, died Jan. 28, 1930
Laura Hulda Helen Nelson Butler (Hulda Hellen Laura)
born July 5, 1893
George Victor Nelson (Georg Victor)
born Dec. 3, 1894, died Jan. 8, 1895, of bronchitis, at home
Esther Lydia Alfreda Nelson Setterberg (Esther Lydia Alfrida)
born Dec. 26, 1895
Genevieve Eleanor Nelson Martensen (Genaviva Elenore)
born July 21, 1898
Emma Ulerika Nelson Roberson (Emma Ullerika)
born Jan. 11, 1901
Arthur (Art) William Theodore Nelson (Arthur Theador William)
born March 17, 1903
Robert (Bob) Walter Nelson
born Feb. 22, 1905, died Feb. 28, 1984
Frances Minnie Alice Nelson Malmburg (Francis Minnie Alice)
born Feb. 15, 1907
Beatrice (Bea) Virginia Nelson Corman
born June 6, 1909
