Johanna Olivia Hanson

JOHANNA OLIVIA (NILSSON) HANSON

Johanna Olivia Hanson was born on November 14. 1868 in Malmö, Sweden. Her parents were Jacob Nilsson and Cecilia Christoffersdotter Falk who were married December 31, 1858. She had two older brothers Nils Jacobson (9) and Carl Johan Jacobson (6). Additionally, the family had a foster child also named Carl Johan (1). At the time, the family lived at Rostock N. 26, which was on the eastern side of Malmo. Johanna's future husband, Carl Alfred Hanson, also lived at the same time on Rostock, but it is not known if the two families knew each other.

They later moved to another home in a newer section in the southern part of Malmo located at Sodra Forstaden 6 around 1872. Johanna's father, Jacob, listed his occupation as a grain merchant. He died at the age of 51 on December 30, 1876 when Johanna was 8 years old. His death record indicated the cause of death was possibly due to Rheumatic Fever.

l. to r. Cecilia Cristoffersdotter Falk, Carl Johan (3), Nils (6) and Jacob Nilsson in June, 1866.

Cecilia Cristoffersdotter Falk and Johanna Olivia (9) around 1878.

It was likely difficult times for the Nilsson family following Jacob's death. The oldest son Nils learned the trade of machinist which he followed until he left Sweden to go to America in June, 1880 at the age of 20. After emigrating to America, Nils initially settled in Chicago where he got a job as a machinist on the railroad. Several years later the railroad work took him to Minneapolis where he married and started a family.

From dates on letters he wrote home Carl Johan took a job as a seaman on merchant cargo ships about June, 1879 at age 16. He traveled to ports around the world and would periodically send money home to his mother when he could. The last letter we have from Carl Johan is dated December 11, 1882 from Soderhamn, Sweden. He was reported lost at sea, presumably due to a ship wreck so this occurred probably at the end of 1882 or early 1883.

With the loss of Carl Johan, Cecilia and Johanna, age 14, decided to join Nils in America. They sold their home in Malmo for what they could get for it as times were tough in Sweden at that time. They left Malmo on October 17, 1883, probably by ferry to Copenhagen, where they boarded the S/S Island, one of several steamships in the Thingvalla Line that provided regular passenger service between Scandinavia and America. They also picked up Norwegian passengers from Christiania (now Oslo) and Christiansand and arrived in New York where they disembarked on November 5 at Castle Gardens.

Cecilia and Johanna had 3td class passage on their voyage. While this is sometimes referred to as steerage with minimal ammenities, it appeared that their accommodations were reasonably comfortable and good food was provided based on information in the 1887 Thinkvalla travel brochure.

After arriving in New York, Cecilia and Johanna most likely went directly to Minneapolis by rail to join up with Nils, whom they stayed with. The Minneapolis city directories shows Cecilia at the same address (2423 28th av S.) during the late 1880's. Johanna's future husband, Carl Alfred Hanson, didn't arrive in America until 1887 and initially went to Ashford, Wisconsin. It is not known when he might have moved to Minneapolis. They were married in Rossland, Canada on August 26, 1896. So between 1887 and 1896 we have no information except that at some point they met and started their journey to the West Coast. For the story of their life together go to Carl Alfred's page.

Johanna and Cecilia - Picture taken in Minnealpolis, probably soon after they arrived in 1883 when Johanna had just turned 15

Likely Johanna - Picture taken in Minneapolis, probably several years after after they arrived.

Johanna with children in Lynden - Dec, 1910.
1st row: Cecil, Gladys, Leslie
2nd row: Daisy, Billie, Johanna
3td row: Viola