My parents came from Sweden

My mother, Anna Lovisa Swanson, was born July 23, 1886, in Småland, Sweden. She was one of seven children born to Frans and Lisa Marie Colleen Nilsson. Four of the five children who eventually came to America changed their name to Swanson. One brother, John, changed his last name to Blomquist. These five children of Frans and Lisa Marie left Sweden due to the harsh economic conditions and never returned.

In August 1907 my mother and a younger sister, Gertrude, traveled together by boat to Ellis Island and then by train to a small village in western Illinois, Swedona. During their train trip from New York some men tried to get my mother and her sister to leave the train but they refused. They were later told that there were men called “White Slavers” who would try to entice young Swedish women to come with them. Those who did go with them were never heard from again.

Upon arrival in Swedona, my mother and my Aunt Gertrude were met by the Bohman family. Mrs. Bohman was a sister of their mother. The Bohmans had six children - sons Joe and Carl, and daughters Minnie, Ella, Anna, and Edna. During the time I was growing up our family often visited with the Bohman family.

Once in Swedona,my mother began work as a housekeeper for families in the area, one being the Albert Joneson family at Opheim. The Joneson’s had five children - Frances, Mae, Gladys, Clifford, and Margaret. My mother was treated as one of the family, and the Joneson family remained close to ours through the years.

While employed by the Jonesons my mother met my father, Gust Sundeen, who was also employed in that area. They were married at the Joneson home on March 2, 1910, and started farming near Ophiem.

My mother’s sister, Gertrude married Adolph Swanson and settled in Minnesota. They had three children. Her brother Henry lived with his wife near Andover Illinois and had six children. Another brother, John, resided in Colorado Springs., with his wife, Hilma, and their five children. A sister, Hulda also lived in Minnesota. She married but had no children. Two sisters, Hilma and Christine, remained in Sweden. Hilma never married. Christine married and had seven children. From my mother’s side of the family I had 21 first cousins.

By Helen (Sundeen) Rishel August 1998.