Person talk:Caroline Nilsdotter (2)

Who was her Benefactor? [12 October 2015]

In the 1872 parish records for Västra Husby, Carolina Nilsdotter is noted as "fattig" (poor, or pauper, needing assistance from the church). She was living in a dug-out hut, probably as a squatter, on the farm Gadderstad. She was an un-wed mother of two. Her daughter left home at the age of 14, and was listed as Foster Daughter in the Eric Jonson Household whose wife was Carolina's half sister Anna Stina Hansdotter. Carolina was probably employed part time by the Hylinge Inn, and in 1872 she went to Amerika, taking both of her children.

So, it is my question: who paid for her trip?

There are two reasonable answers. 1. Johan Andersson, the god-father of her son. 2. A family member.

Johan Anderson was the god-father of Carl Alfrid. At the christening he was listed as a 'gardissnikaren' from Hylinge, which probably translates Farm Carpener. Hylinge was an estate with a Manor House, probably the richest in the community. It apparently had property reaching into other parishes. I have found evidence that it employed at least 3 carpenters. In 1871, He is listed as a 'machinist', which probably was one of the highest paid skills in the parish. Might he have paid passage for his god-son and his family to go to America for a new life?

A family member, but who? Carolina had two older brothers. Technically they were half brothers, their mother died, and their father married Anna Svensdotter, who was the mother of Carolina and her sister Maria Charlotta. The older brother Nils, left home when Carolina was only 2 years old. He eventually joined the army. He eventually went to Askeby, where he lived out his life. One of his sons went to America in about 1868, first to Burlington Iowa, and then to California. Later, a daughter went to McPherson Kansas, and in the 1880s brought her widowed mother from Sweden. The younger brother, Peter, left home soon after. He married but never had children. I tend to think that she was not very close to her brothers. That leaves her sister, Maria Charlotta. I think that she is the most likely candidate.

Maria Charlotta Nilsdotter was 4 years older than Carolina. They both had the same mother. In 1855, when Carolina gave birth to her daughter, Maria Carolina, Maria Charoltta was working for the Torpare (tenant farmer) Johan Andersson and his wife Brita Larsdotter Landstrum. These became the god-parents of Carolina's daughter. Two months later, Maria Charlotta left for America.

This next is total speculation! It is plausible that Maria Charlotta, went to Chicago. She worked there to pay off her passage, and in the process met a fellow Swede, whom she married. At some point, possibly as a result of the Great Chicago Fire in October 1871, they moved to Porter County Indiana. There is another remote possibility that her husband may have been involved in brick production for the rebuilding of the city. In November of 1872, Carolina Nilsdotter, with her two children, Carl Alfrid and Maria Carolina leave the parish of Västra Husby for America. Their final destination is Porter Station. There, they would have assimilated into the Swedish Community that was associated with Baileytown, and the Augsburg Lutheran Church.--PhilGambrel 16:03, 8 April 2015 (UTC)

Sister: Maria Charlotta [14 November 2017]

Maria Charlotta Nilsdotter was born in 1830 in Västra Husby, Ostergotland, Sweden.

In 1855 she was working at the farm Mosen under Gadderstad for Johan Andersson. He became the god-father of her niece, Maria Carolina Nilsdotter, who was born in May of 1855.

In July of 1855, Maria Charlotta left Västra Husby to travel to America. Leaving at the same time, and possibly traveling with her, were Gustav Jaensson and his wife Johanna Hult. Johanna's father, Olaf Hult, had already gone to America in 1853. Also it should be noted that Johanna had a brother named Frans, who was born in 1829.

A sailing ship would quite probably take 3 to 5 months to cross the Atlantic. So one could assume that she arrived in America in the last quarter of 1855.

In January of 1856, Maria Charlotta Nilsdotter married Frances Holt in Porter County Indiana. The Justice of the Peace was E Thomas. Elias Thomas was a JP in Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana.

It is my premise that Frances Holt was a misspelling of Frans Hult, who was the brother of Johanna Hult. The question then comes to mind, did they know each other in Sweden?

My best guess is that Frans Hult could have been employed by one of the several brick yards in and around Porter, Indiana. The Great Chicago Fire destroyed much of that city in October of 1871, The brick yards of Porter were big contributors of new brick to help rebuild Chicago. It would not be much of a stretch to think that Frans Hult was making good money with the added production. This allowed his wife to bring her sister and her family to Porter Station (Baileytown, the vicinity around Augsburg Lutheran Church, or Chesterton).--PhilGambrel 04:33, 3 August 2015 (UTC)

Maria Charlotta quite likely travelled with Gustav Jaensson and his wife Johanna Hult all the way to Indiana. Gustav Jaensson's name was Americanized to Gustav Johnson, and he and Johanna settled on a farm near Chesterton (or perhaps near La Porte) in 1855.

The 1860 Census for Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana show that Frank Holts, and his wife Mary A. Holts were neighbors to Agustus A. Johnson and his wife Johanna Johnson. All were born in Sweden.

The Johnsons later (1867) moved to Saline County Kansas with Johanna's father Olaf.

Olaf Hult was elected secretary of the church council (committee, board, whatever it may have been called in English) in January of 1859 shortly after Augsburg Lutheran Church at Baileytown was organized in 1858. He had come to America in 1853 with his wife, daughter, and son Frans. --PhilGambrel 15:11, 12 October 2015 (UTC)

Descendants of Frank and Mary (Charlotte) Hult have an interesting verbal history.

I would seem that Frank also used the name Edward, and Mary used the name Charlotte.

The story goes that Edward was carrying a keg of fish across a frozen lake, possibly Lake Michigan. He fell and the keg of fish landed on top of him severely injuring his chest. He died from those injuries. At the time of his death, his youngest son, Gus (Carl Gustav) was 4 years old. Since the child was most likely born in 1867, Edward's death must have been around 1871.

This predates the arrival of Carolina by at least a year, and maybe close to two years.

The story also goes on to say that the mother also died when Gus was 6 years old. The four children were sent to different relatives to live.

Frank Edward went to Kansas to live with Auntie Johnson (Johanna Hult Johnson). Lottie went to Colorado to live with Aunt Wilhelmina Lundstrum. Josie went to Chicago to live with one of her mother's relatives. (I have not figured out who this might be.) Gus stayed in Indiana with a family named Anderson. (This could be Caroline Anderson and her son Charles Alfred.)

If this verbal history is accurate, then Maria Charlotta was a widow when Caroline came to America. It is not likely that she had money to give her sister for passage.--PhilGambrel 21:17, 26 September 2017 (UTC)

She may have already been 'sick' or incapacitated, and needed her sister's help.

Hylinge Manor [16 February 2017]

The Hylinge Herrgård or Manor was owned by the Strömfelt family since the 1820s. Strömfelt was a name of a very influential family in Swedish history, having been key players in two different coup attempts (1756 and 1809).

The story of Caroline Anderson says she worked at a "castle" where she met the Prince, who would later become King Oscar II. That is not true.

BUT Maybe instead of a "castle", she worked at a Manor. And, instead of a Prince, she met a count.

In November or December of 1858, it is possible that the "Lady of the Manor", Maria von Troil (the widow of Harald Stromfelt), was preparing for the Holiday celebrations, perhaps an elegant ball for other nobility in the area. There would need to be overnight accommodations for the guests. It is plausible that Caroline was hired as a "temp" to help prepare. It is also possible that in her temporary position she needed to be "cleaned up and dressed up". At that time she caught the eye of the "Lord of the Manor", Maria's son Frederik Knut Harald Strômfelt, who was only 3 years older than her, and a bachelor.

This is all speculation, but it is possible.

It could also be possible that they knew each other as children, as Caroline grew up on various properties (some owned by the estate) around the Manor.--PhilGambrel 19:27, 16 February 2017 (UTC)