Roots of the Tree

Sam and Emma Olson

According to her death certificate Emma Olson was born in Norway to Jonas and Mary Johnson. The census in 1895 lists her as being born in Sweden.

She was about 29 when she died of breast cancer on June 4,1898, so it would figure that she was born in 1870.

Emma had lived in Minnesota for 10 years, and in Minneapolis for 8 years at the time of her death. Her occupation was listed as "Domestic".

Samuel Olson was born in Sweden to Gustav Olson and Anna. He was 43 years old when he died on January 18, 1906, so he would have been born in 1863. He was seven years older than Emma.

He died of a "Valve disease of the heart", and his occupation was listed as "Plumber".

On Saturday, January 20, 1906, the Minneapolis Tribune carried a tiny notice which said,

"Sam Olson, aged 43, died suddenly Thursday afternoon. Funeral from residence, 1143 Aldrich Ave. N. Monday at 2:30 P.M. Mr. Olson was a member of the Swedish Brothers Society. Internment Hillside Cemetery."

They had three girls, Agnes, Mabel, and Esther.

Agnes Victoria Olson was born February 12, 1895,

Mabel was born in 1896.

Esther was born on May 21, 1897.  She was less than a year old when her mother died.

Agnes would have been 11 and the oldest when Sam died, Mabel, 10, Esther, only eight years old.  They were orphans.

Esther was admitted to the Washburn-Pillsbury Home, an orphanage, on April 9, 1906, and was discharged on September 3, 1910 "to the home of Edward Swanson, Amery, Wisconsin." She was sent to be a "domestic", or helper to a farm family. Her sister, Agnes, at 15, was employed at Northwestern Bell at the time.  This is really all we know about their early lives.

Peter and Maria Anderson

Alfred and Johanna Anderson

Elmer and Esther Anderson

Kenneth Ronald Anderson

Wayne Bobbie Anderson

Sharron, Dennis, Gary

Harold Roger Anderson and 

Marcia

Raymond Elmer Anderson

Click to read Ray's story in World War II