Emma Christina Anderson

In 1882 Emma Olson Anderson and her parents came to Illinois from Öland, Sweden, Gärdslösa Parish, with three other children when Emma was about 12 years old. Six of Olaus and Christina Olson's children were born in Södra Gärdslösa, Peter, John, Emma, Agnes, Andrew and Lydia (died in infancy). The youngest, Clarence was born in Illinois.

Olaus, Emma's father, emigrated to the U.S. on July 17, 1876. He probably used the ferry "Kalmarsund" to cross the Kalmarsund. Then he probably traveled over land to Göteborg where he would have taken a steamer to Hull, England and then by rail to Liverpool. Olaus initially settled at or near Bishop Hill (Henry Co., SE of Moline) Illinois. Bishop Hill was a religious communal enterprise estab. sometime after 1844 and dissolved in 1868.

He was financially able to bring his eldest son, Peter, to the U.S. in 1877 and in 1880, Christina and the other children left Hagby, Öland and travelled to the port of Göteborg. They left Göteborg on Sept. 10, 1880 on a ship for England. Pax index microfilm at port of Göteborg, 1880. Christina's contract #16:195:05372.

In 1887, her father Olaus moved the family to Phelps Co. Nebraska, 10 miles north of Holdrege. He purchased land for $2.50/acre possibly from the Union Pacific or the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroads. The 1916 Atlas of Phelps Co. indicates that he owned the NE 1/4 Section 10 (160 Acres) and the NW 1/4 Section 11, Township 7, Range 18 (Center township). Olaus farmed this land until his death in 1915.

They first lived in a sod house and also had a sod barn. They had to go to Orleans to get the logs to build a wood house and the little lumber they used. Emma remembers that they used oxen to farm with-they broke up the ground and planted broom corn. Brooms were made from the heads of the corn and they used the seed in stoves for fuel. The seeds had to be beaten out of the heads of the broom corn. She remembers eating lots of bread and gravy. She also remembers an Indian coming when the father was gone and just the mother and younger children were home, and how scared they were! The Indian kept begging for food and money so they gave him food and he left without trouble.

For several years they had no church to attend but every Sunday morning each member of the family read from their Swedish Bible-they read together and studied it. Her father loved to sing and much time was spent singing. Later on, they held Sunday School in their home and the neighborhood children would come. Emma remembered a Sunday School Christmas program that was held in their home. They made their own Christmas tree by wrapping a small tree or a nice branch with tissue paper and then adding candles. They never had any presents but she remembers having apples and peanuts.

Emma was married to Emil Anderson February 5, 1902, had two children, Goldie and Edgar, and divorced in 1909. She then lived with her youngest brother Clarence on the farm in Phelps county until his death in 1950. Emma then moved to 415 Logan where she resided until moving to Christian Homes in 1964. Her body is interred in Lot 14 Div C, Prairie Home Cemetery, Holdrege, NE.