Item Detail
-
Olson, Anna Persson
-
1820-1898
-
MSS SC 872
-
Biography
-
Anna Persson (Pehrsdotter) Olson was born July 19, 1819 in Moilena Lane, Asmundtorp, Malmhs, Sweden to Per Persson Peter Pet and Johanna Bengtsson. Anna married Sven Olson on June 17, 1842 in Svalov, Malmhs, Sweden. They became the parents of eight children: Ola, Johannas (John), Johanna (JoAnn), Kirsti (Charstee), Hanna, Bengt (Benjamin), and Anna. Their family was Lutheran until they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1858. They immigrated to the United States in 1859 with a group of Swedish converts under the direction of Elders Carl Widerborg and Niels Wilhelmen. They left on the steamer LN Hvidt, went by train from Grimsby, England to Liverpool, and then sailed on the Wm. Tapscott. Anna gave birth to their last child, Anna, while the ship was docked at Ellis Island. The family traveled to Utah in Captain Robert Neslen's company and settled in Moroni, Utah. Anna died on March 4, 1898.
-
This collection contains several biographies written by Callie O. Morley. Anna is mentioned in her son's biography, 'History of John Olson.' The biography is 14 pages long; however, Anna is only briefly mentioned. No genealogical information is given on her ancestors. Instead, there are some comments on Anna's personality and references to the household tasks that she performed: 'John's mother Anna was a real hustler. She was the type of woman who believed idle hands were the devil's workshop, so she taught her children how to work and work never seemed to end for the Olson family.' Anna made cheese, butter, dried fruit, clothing, and soap, and sewed the family's clothing. Morley describes a type of sour milk bread that Anna often made: 'This bread could be eaten eighty or ninety days after it was baked and it would still be palatable [. . .] Each piece had a hole cut in the center, and after it was baked on a slick polished board, many pieces were strung on a broomstick and hung up among the rafters to be taken down and eaten later as needed.' Morley also mentions some Swedish and Lutheran customs that the family participated in. For example, on Saint Lucy's Day, December 13th, Anna served coffee and cake and lighted special candles. Anna and her family members were strong supporters of the People's Party, and they were also involved in the Emigrant Aid Program. The biography demonstrates their resourceful efforts to support themselves; in 1864 their family experienced economic hardship, but Anna and her daughters sold lace and their silk dresses to trade for sugar, thread, and other family needs. Anna and Sven's oldest son, Ola, was crippled in a work-related accident at age 21, and he required constant care from his parents and siblings after this. Although the biography focuses mostly on John's life, Morley describes the trek west in detail. She also focuses extensively on the early settlement of Moroni and on stories about community members of that time.
-
1844-1921