Frank Edward Carlson

CARLSON LYONS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 21:04:32

Woodbury County History 1984

Frank Edward and Rosa (Lyons) Carlson
By Constance L C H Hawley

Frank Edward Carlson was born 22 February 1861 in Vaarmland, Sweden, the son of Gust Carlson and Anna Swanson Carlson. Frank came to the United States at the age of 19 with three of his brothers, Joseph, Henning and Christopher.

Frank worked his way across the United States with the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, settling near Climbing Hill, Iowa, as a farm worker on the Robert Lyons farm.

There he met Rosa Lyons, daughter of Robert Lyons, III and Frances Ann Thomas Lyons. Robert Lyons was born in New Jersey and Frances was born in Dane County, Wisconsin, where the couple was married. Rosa was born 7 November 1869, one of nine children of this marriage.

Frank and Rosa were married 7 March 1894. To this family four children were born: Frances Ann born May 1898, married Richard ‘Dick’ Dunnington, died May 1951; Robert Edward born 15 February 1900, married Wilma Aldys Strong, died 29 March 1974; Sylvia born 21 June 1902, married Harry Bolte and Earl Van Laningham; Marie born 21 July 1907, married Cornelius (Eril) Flynn.

The family farmed near Climbing Hill. Rosa was a school teacher and also drove the horse-drawn school bus to the near-by country school.

Frank and Rosa separated. He continued to work on farms near Anthon and Correctionville, Iowa until his death in 1941.

Rosa moved to Ute, Iowa, to be near her daughter, Marie Flynn. She passed away on 6 September 1951.

This family had five grandchildren: Constance Louise Carlson Hoag Hawley, Harry Harlan Bolte, Curtis Dean Bolte; Audrey Ann Bolte Clark Zieman and Conn Leonard Flynn.