The Andersons

Adolp and Josephina Anderson, courtesy Ancestry.com

Adolp Fredrik (A. F.) Anderson immigrated to Texas in 1867 from  Barkeryd, Jönköpings län, Småland, Sweden . That is where his father, Anders Fredrik Nelson, was a farmer. Adolp traveled with a group of young men from Sweden sponsored by August Palm and a Mrs. Parson who lived north of Manor, Texas.

"A. F. ANDERSON. One of the Swedes who went west in 1867 on a Viking-voyage to conquer a part of the Texas wilderness, to be developed and civilized, was A. F. Anderson. He was born in 1848 in Barkeryd parish, Småland, where his father, Anders Fredrik Nelson, was a farmer. His son Adolp Fredrik, got a good education. In 1867, a group of twelve youths left Småland and went to unknown destinies in Texas, where they already had countrymen who had arrived earlier. The immigrant group consisted of A. F. Anderson and his brother, A. J. Anderson, August Engstrand, John Ljunggren, August Sponberg, C. M. Newgren, C. P. Peterson, Swen Anderson, Gustaf Rapp, Otto Sandahl, Anna Fritz (Mrs. Sven Munson) and her sister, Christina Fritz. August Palm had arranged to have their passage paid for by Mrs. Parson. She lived north of Manor, Texas. The group arrived at her place on August 1, and they worked there for thirteen months to pay for their passage. In 1873, A. F. Anderson and Gustaf Lundell bought land in Knight's Ranch, present-day New Sweden. This land which is located one and a half miles northeast of New Sweden was the first which was purchased by Swedes between Manor and Circleville. It is remarkable that Anderson had been in Texas for only six years when he bought his own farm. Land could be bought cheaper than than now. Anderson paid $3.00 per acre then, while the same land is now worth over $150.00. There was not such an abundance of money then as there is now. In the same year that he bought his land, he also married Josefina Christina Rolf. She was born in Rosenhöga parish, Småland, in 1852, where her father, Johan Rolf, was a farmer. She immigrated to the United States in 1870 and first came to Austin, Texas. Their marriage has been blessed with eight children, of whom six are still living: Anna, married to Julius Seaholm in Austin, Ida, Ed., married to Mary Anderson, and living in Elgin, Sara, married to E. L. Sandahl in New Sweden, Arthur, and Lillian, married to Theo. Engblom in New Sweden. John and Olga are dead and are buried in the family grave in the New Sweden cemetery. The A. F. Anderson family have lived in their attractive home in New Sweden for over forty years. The old shade-trees around the homestead, and the avenue of cedars and deciduous trees which lead from the house to the highway give this farm the look of a Swedish manor-house. The Andersons and their daughter, Ida, moved to Austin in 1914, where they live in peace and quiet in the shadow of the State Capitol, only a stone's throw from the Swedish Lutheran Church. The son-in law, Theo. Engblom, and their daughter are working the farm. This family has been one of the leading forces in the New Sweden Lutheran church since its founding. A. F. Anderson, Mrs. Anderson, and their daughter, Anna, are charter members. Anderson has been a trustee for 37 years, treasurer for 23 years, and a member of building-committees, and did work on the church when it was built. They still belong to the congregation in New Sweden. Anderson has taken an active part in community work. He has also been honored with many positions of trust. He is on the board of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank in Elgin, Texas, where his son, A. F. Anderson Jr., is treasurer. He has been treasurer of the mutual fire insurance company, Svea, since its beginning more than 27 years." --Swedes in Texas, pg. 374 In 1873, A.F. Anderson married Josefina Christina Rolf. They had eight children including my grandfather Edwin. As I recall, I met my great aunts Ida, Olga and Lillian when I was a child. They lived just east of Gethsemane Lutheran Church north of the Capitol in Austin as part of a Swedish enclave called Swede Hill at 104 East 16th Street. Adolp died in 1937, and Josefina died in 1943. They are buried in the New Sweden Lutheran Cemetery in New Sweden, Texas, northeast of Austin.

My maternal grandfather was Edwin William Anderson. He was born in Texas on June 21, 1882, in New Sweden, a settlement between Austin and Pflugerville, and died on January 12, 1930 in Austin.

Edwin married my grandmother Mary May Anderson in 1908. She was the daughter of Claus Anderson of Manor, Texas. She was born in Manor on May, 5 1885. She died on July 25, 1935 in Austin. Edwin and Mary had four children: Hazel Louise Anderson Sims (1909-1985, my mother); Eldridge Weldon Anderson (1913-1937, died of Brights disease); Mary Lee Bernice Anderson Dyet (1914-1992); and Joe Milton Anderson (1919-1983). Edwin, Mary and and their grandchildren Weldon and Mary Lee are buried in the Oakwood Cemetery Annex, Section E 465.

My grandfather and his father seemed to thrive in Texas. My grandfather Edwin was part owner of the Sellstrom Hardware Co. in Elgin. At his death at 47, he was the head of E.W. Anderson Tire Company at 6th and Trinity. The family lived at 1204 West Avenue across the street from the old Austin High School.

"E. W. ANDERSON. Son of the well known pioneer in the Swedish communities A. F. Anderson of New Sweden, Texas, and respected in both church and community, Edwin William Anderson was born in 1882. In addition to an elementary education, he has a diploma from the Business department of Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas. As part-owner of the Sellstrom Hardware Co. in Elgin, Texas, he runs a successful business with his partner, Albert Sellstrom. By being honest and obliging, he has won the complete confidence and respect of his fellow countrymen. He takes an active role in the improvements of the community and belongs to the New Sweden Church. He has been happily married to Mary Anderson since 1908. She is the daughter of the widely known family of Claus Anderson in Manor, Texas.

She was born in Manor in 1885 and lived with her parents until she married. The young couple's children are: Hazel, 1909, Weldon, 1912 and Mary Lee, 1914." --Swedes in Texas, pg. 373