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Born Axelholm, Morlunda , Kalmar , Sweden Charley, as he liked to be called , immigrated to Iowa when he was 15. His steerage was paid by his uncle Nels C Olson. Charley's brother immigrated a little later. His name was Nels Johan, but adopted the name John, just as Carl adopted the name Charley. Both brothers worked for their uncle to pay their passage and helped make enough money to buy a farm. They worked at various jobs, from driving horses, herding sheep, to working on the Rail Road. This was in Pocahontas Co, Iowa. Later Charley's brother, Gus immigrated. He lived with Charley for a while, but later settled in Minnesota.
My uncle told me that the ship Charley was on came out of England. I haven't found the records yet as to what port, but Uncle Lloyd told me that a peddler sold my grandpa an orange, which turned out to be a lemon. [I guess it was supposed to be a joke ] and THEN gave him the orange. It was the first time he has tasted citrus.
My uncle Lloyd also told me that his father, Grandpa Charley, told him that his mother {Emma Fredrika} was a very tall woman, over 6 feet. She was a midwife.
Charley said that his preacher in Sweden fixed up papers for him to immigrate. He didn't speak English at the time. He said that in Chicago he got on the wrong train and a Swedish fellow told him finally that the train was going to Wisconsin. The fellow took him to the conductor, who got him on the right train.
My grandpa Charley lived with us as I was growing up. He loved to read and he loved to tell stories. He would sometimes take my text books from school and read them. When I went to school, he would say "don't take that book, I'm not finished with it yet! He would tell me stories about "The old Country", meaning Sweden. He said that in the summer they all loved to swim in the lakes. They didn't wear bathing suits, but bathed au natural. He would tell me about the apples that grew there. They were translucent and you could see through them. I guess at times he must have missed that place. He told me of the things they ate, herring , pickled herring, lutefisk, (dried herring creamed soup), cookies and all kinds of breads. Sweet breads to rye breads.
He loved to work in our garden and was excellent at grafting fruit trees. We had a wonderful back yard as he helped my parents plan the planting and such. We had apple trees, pear, cherry, grape vines along the fence, etc.
He also helped my parents build our house. He was a master carpenter and for some time built grain elevators in Iowa. He also helped my dad build our cabin at Spirit Lake. Mainly, it was just the two of them.
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On warm days, my grandpa would take the bus to town and sit at the court house side , where his friends gathered to talk about whatever old men talk about. He had some steady friends there. One was Jack Kilpatrick, who he called "the black Irishman". Another, he called "The dirty Dane"
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To contact us: |
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Email: goodkaren@cox.net |
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My Maternal grandpa, Carl August Olson |
My Swedish Immigrant |
