Lars and Lotta Anderson

ANDERSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/22/2015 at 16:32:26

Monona County, Iowa History
1982

Lars and Lotta Anderson, p 93

On April 26, 1880, Lars and Charlotta Anderson and eight children left Askersund, Sweden for Neola, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. They stayed with Lotta’s sister Amalia and Gust Sundell family until a small home was built nearby at Weston, Iowa. Lars worked on the railroad and the older girls learned dressmaking and began housework jobs in Omaha, Nebr. areas. In 1884 the family home was torn down, and moved board by board and with all their livestock on the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railway Co. to the farm in Ashton Township, Monona County, in Iowa. They were among the first settlers in the area. Later, (1898) a new house was built, this being their only home from then on (1884-1952). Lars Fredrick received the citizenship (1889) in Monona County.

They had eleven children, two girls died of diphtheria in Sweden, no dates known. Their eleventh child, a boy, John W., born and died (1881) while they lived at Weston, Iowa.

Augusta Matilda (1864-1935); Amanda Charlotta (1866-1936); Ida Karolina (1868-1948); Anna Sophia (1870-1894); Carl Fredrick (1872-1941); Selma Amalia (1874-1950); Gustav Alfred (1876-1952); Agnes Theodolinda (1878-1913). There are seven grandchildren.

Tillie was a beautiful dressmaker and returned home (1910) to care for her aged parents. After their deaths (1914-1915) she kept house for her brother, Alfred. She died (1935). Amanda married John C. Green (1892) moved to Petaluma, Calif. Anna married Joseph Boulden (1887) moved to Sanger, Calif.; Charles F. married Anna Carlson, (1901) moved to Leeds, Iowa; Selma married Rapp Andrew Anderson (1905) moved to Turin, Iowa. Agnes remained at home and taught school. She died (1913).

Alfred was a streetcar conductor at San Francisco, Calif., and returned home (1901) to care for the farm and aged parents. He took an active part in community affairs. Member of Modern Woodsman, Vespers Masonic Lodge, Shrine Consistory. For many years he was Secretary for the Ashton Township school Board; Secretary and director of the Farmers Elevator, as well as being active in various social and civic interests. He died (1932).

In 1979, Selma’s daughter and granddaughter, Judith returned to her home in Askersund, Sweden and also visited the railroad station at Finnerodja, where the Lars and Lotta Anderson family boarded the train to come to America (1880).

The Alfred Anderson Estate farm, 320 acres, was sold to Walter Wright (1953). This is now owned by Irwin Niewohner (1958-1981).