Andrew Anderson

ANDERSON, BJORLING

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/22/2015 at 11:31:53

Monona County History
1982

Andrew Anderson, p 92

Andrus (Andrew) Anderson was born in Bjuras on Falun, Sweden Jan. 17, 1865. His father died before he was born and his mother, when he was twelve, he had no sisters or brothers. He lived with first one family and then another until he came to Monona County about 1884. He worked as a farm hand until he was married.

Anna Bjorling was the daughter of a miner. She was born in Bjuras on Falun, Sweden April 6, 1861. Her mother died when she was ten years old. Both of her brothers died of consumption. Anna and her sister, Christina (Stena), both worked in plaster factories and took care of cows during the summer months. They herded the cows to mountain pastures and kept them there all summer. They kept milk and cheese in caves until fall when they brought the cows home.

Anna came to the United States (Monona County) in the 1880s with a group of people. She worked as a housemaid until she was married.

Andrew and Anna were married March 3, 1888 in Sioux City, Iowa. When they were first married they lived in the Little Sioux bottoms. She was afraid of the Indians that were still in the area, so would not light the lamp in the evenings until Andrew came home.

They soon moved to their own farm south of Castana, where they lived the rest of their lives. They had six children: Elvira, Ellen, Hulda, Edwin, Anna, and Clara. Elvira and Ellen started school together at the Burr Oak School. They could speak only Swedish and the teacher could speak only English. There were some Danish children who were able to help interpret for a while until the girls could learn the language.

Anna died May 11, 1932 and Andrew Nov. 15, 1938.

Elvira married James Jensen of Mapleton Dec. 22, 1915. They had five children: (1) Ethel (Mrs. Joe Cresgrove), 2) Marjorie (Mrs. Hank Chamberlain and later Mrs. Clarence Waldren), 3) Marvin, who died of tuberculosis before he was eleven, (4) Ardith, who died of meningitis at about eight months of age, (5) Mavis (Mrs. R.J. Black of Onawa). In 1943, Elvira married Claude Treece.

Ellen married Axel Tronstrem of Soldier Sept. 23, 1914. They had one daughter, Mae, (Mrs. Roy Keeton).

Hulda married Bernard Higgins of Onawa. They had two sons. Lee married Betty Holloway of Whiting, later married Betty Lou Benson. Glenn married Evalynne Brown. Hulda still resides in Onawa.

Edwin farmed the home place until his death in 1945. He never married.

Anna married Walter Hadden of Castana May 22, 1922. They had two children. Lewis married Jean Carlson of Sloan. Elsie married Eugene Blanchard.

Clara married Earl Horner in 1932. They had two sons, Earl, Jr. married Elaine Smith, divorced, later Shirley Davis, divorced, and is presently married to Dixie Sue Wilson. Edwin married Clara Davis.

The next generation (great grandchildren) number twenty-two, and the great -great grandchildren, twenty eight.