(click the photo to enlarge it)
I have a photo from the
Lundquist studio in Odebolt, Iowa.
It is of my grandmother's grandmother, Nilla Månsdotter, taken
in 1884 or at the latest, March of 1885.
Nilla Månsdotter was my second
great grandmother (b. May 22 1830 in Misterhult, V.Torup in Skåne, Sweden, she
died 1900 in the same place). Månsdotter was her maiden name and she was married
to Nils Persson, so her name when coming to USA in 1883 was Nilla Persson. Her
husband Nils had died in Sweden and she was a widow when she went to America,
bringing also three of her daughters along. They were Johanna Nilsdotter (b.
March 27 1864 in Hörja, Sweden), Mathilda Nisdotter (b. April 2 1869 in
Misterhult, V.Torup, Sweden) and Antina Nilsdotter (b. September 30 1871 in
Misterhult, V.Torup Sweden).
Three of Nilla's cousins had previously emigrated to the Swedebend (Iowa) area,
and so had her brother who became known as Elias Munson. He immediately
continued to unbroken land in Crawford County and became one of the founders of
Kiron in 1867. Most likely they were all going to Kiron, or very close to Kiron.
Nilla’s son Martin Nilsson Martell had also emigrated the year before Nilla,
i.e. in 1882. He is my great-grandfather.
But Nilla decided to return to Sweden in 1885. She reportedly claimed that ”you
can’t live in a country where there are no lingonberries”. But the true reason
was that she was missing her late husband and wanted to be buried beside him,
once it would be time for that.
My great grandfather Martin (Nilsson) Martell followed her home, and they
brought along also his youngest sister Antina who was still a child.
Martin remained in Sweden, but he had picked a lot of ideas from America and
became known here as an entrepreneur and for his innovative ideas and projects
(this is why yours truly is a Swede and not an American).
Antina Nilsdotter, however, emigrated again in 1887, just before she became 16.
Most likely she went to her sister Johanna, who reportedly had married in
Nebraska.
I know the whereabouts of descendents from Nilla’s cousins, and also from her
brother Elias Munson. But I have not found the tracks of Nilla’s three
daughters, the only thing I heard was that Johanna married somebody in Nebraska.
With girls you always have the problem of name changes by marriage. Their names
were Johanna (could also be called Hannah), Mathilda and Antina (could also be
called Tina). All three had the surname Nilsdotter when they arrived to America.
Should anybody know how I can find out more about them, I would be glad for some
help. Their descendents are actually one step closer relatives than those I know
of.
Best regards,
Tord Martell
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