In Sweden, Andrew was known as Anders Johan Svensson. Anders and his family lived in a cottage named "Svenstorp" on the farm "Lunnaberg" in Vrigstad parish, Jonkoping county, Sweden. (Source: "EMIBAS" database, thanks to Stig Marz, Vrigstad Historical Society). His mother, Johanna was a widow, when she married his father, Sven. After his father died, Anders, his sister Helena Svensdotter, and their mother, Johanna Arvidsdotter, left for America. Anders was 17. They received their "moving letter" on September 26, 1879.
Then, on October 3, 1879, they left Gothenburg on the steamship "Orlando (I)", heading to Hull, England. (Förteckning (Passenger List) ''Orlando^^, October 3, 1879). They took the railway from Hull to Liverpool. In Liverpool, they took the Steamship "Atlantic" to New York. (Source: "EMIHAMN" database, thanks to Stig Marz, Vrigstad Historical Society). The arrival date is unknown, so far.
He married Mary Jane Walker (daughter of Daniel Walker (a civil war veteran) and Sophia Elizabeth Waldrip) on September 18, 1887 in Lockhart, Caldwell County Texas.
Anders Johan changed his name to Andrew John, a more American-type name, probably at a young age, perhaps before his first job. He preferred to be called John. His son John Walker Swenson told of his father working on large construction projects throughout Texas, including the Medina Dam in South Central Texas, which was built from 1911-1912. None of his work record has been found.
The 1900 U.S. Census - San Patricio County, Vol. 95, ED 73, Sheet 2, lists Mary J. Swensson (note spelling) as head of household. Andrew John is not listed. The children listed are Neda C. (Nedia Christina), Olive, May (Mae Matilda), and John Walker. Helen was not yet born (Mary was pregnant when the census was taken). My guess is that Andrew John was off to another long construction project (perhaps in or near San Patricio County) and Mary just did not bother to mention him. Andrew John Swenson, in any spelling, cannot be found in the 1900 Texas census.
Mary's first child, Charles Oscar, lived only 14 months and 2 days.
Their oldest daughter, Nedia Christina, may have been named after Andrew John's oldest sister, Ida Kristina.
Their daughter Olive's first name was either Johanna or Hannah. Most likely, it was Johanna, which was her grandmother's name. In Texas, her father, having a thick Swedish accent, probably pronounced it "Yo-hanna", which her siblings shortened to Hannah. Later, she simplified the whole thing by going by a variation of her middle name - not Olivea, but Olive.
Their daughter Mae Matilda, may have been named after Johanna's daughter, who was born prior to marrying Sven Svensson. She was Ann Mathilda Arvidsdotter, who married Charles Brady in Austin, Texas.
Their youngest daughter, Helen Augusta, may have been named after Andrew John's sister, Helena.
Andrew John's photo is taken from an original photograph of a group of 23 well-dressed men, who appear to be either engineers or supervisors or some of both. In the group photograph, he is the seventh from the right end.
In 1910 Andrew John was living alone in Williamson Co., TX (U.S. Census, Williamson Co., ED 135 Sheet 399 Vol. 144). He was 56 and he and Mary were likely separated or divorced by then.
Family stories say that Andrew John's two daughters died in their twenties from Tuberculosis. He also died of the same disease. As the story goes, Nedia or Neda, John's oldest daughter, had either written to him or to friends in Williamson County. After finding her father was in poor health, she and her husband (Banks Eastland) took him in and cared for him at their home in Smithville, Bastrop Co. Nedia fell sick and Andrew John moved in with 19 year old daughter Mae and her husband (a Mr. Darnell) in San Antonio. Andrew John spent the last 18 months of his life in the County Home for the Aged in Bexar County, Texas, died May 22, 1915. Mae died a year later in May, 1916 at age 20 in San Antonio, also of Tuberculosis. Nedia died at age 24 in August, 1916 in Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas.
Many of the dates starting with Andrew John Swenson, are from my great Aunt Helen's bible, pages of which were provided by Joseph Charles Bateman, Sr., Austin, Texas (son of Helen Swenson and grandson of Andrew John Swenson). Andrew's death certificate isn't much help - lots of omissions and errors, like being born in Texas. He died in the County Home for the Aged, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
Have not been able to locate his grave in City Cemetery #3 in San Antonio. My father, Henry Cooper Bledsoe spent several hours at the cemetery back in about 2003, but could not locate a marker. A person with the city sent him a layout of the cemetery and said his grave is located at "Row 13, Grave 35", but there are many places this could be. (See layout, with this memorial) Andrew's grave may have only been marked with a wooden marker, as he was completely destitute, when he died.
by H. P Bledsoe
Then, on October 3, 1879, they left Gothenburg on the steamship "Orlando (I)", heading to Hull, England. (Förteckning (Passenger List) ''Orlando^^, October 3, 1879). They took the railway from Hull to Liverpool. In Liverpool, they took the Steamship "Atlantic" to New York. (Source: "EMIHAMN" database, thanks to Stig Marz, Vrigstad Historical Society). The arrival date is unknown, so far.
He married Mary Jane Walker (daughter of Daniel Walker (a civil war veteran) and Sophia Elizabeth Waldrip) on September 18, 1887 in Lockhart, Caldwell County Texas.
Anders Johan changed his name to Andrew John, a more American-type name, probably at a young age, perhaps before his first job. He preferred to be called John. His son John Walker Swenson told of his father working on large construction projects throughout Texas, including the Medina Dam in South Central Texas, which was built from 1911-1912. None of his work record has been found.
The 1900 U.S. Census - San Patricio County, Vol. 95, ED 73, Sheet 2, lists Mary J. Swensson (note spelling) as head of household. Andrew John is not listed. The children listed are Neda C. (Nedia Christina), Olive, May (Mae Matilda), and John Walker. Helen was not yet born (Mary was pregnant when the census was taken). My guess is that Andrew John was off to another long construction project (perhaps in or near San Patricio County) and Mary just did not bother to mention him. Andrew John Swenson, in any spelling, cannot be found in the 1900 Texas census.
Mary's first child, Charles Oscar, lived only 14 months and 2 days.
Their oldest daughter, Nedia Christina, may have been named after Andrew John's oldest sister, Ida Kristina.
Their daughter Olive's first name was either Johanna or Hannah. Most likely, it was Johanna, which was her grandmother's name. In Texas, her father, having a thick Swedish accent, probably pronounced it "Yo-hanna", which her siblings shortened to Hannah. Later, she simplified the whole thing by going by a variation of her middle name - not Olivea, but Olive.
Their daughter Mae Matilda, may have been named after Johanna's daughter, who was born prior to marrying Sven Svensson. She was Ann Mathilda Arvidsdotter, who married Charles Brady in Austin, Texas.
Their youngest daughter, Helen Augusta, may have been named after Andrew John's sister, Helena.
Andrew John's photo is taken from an original photograph of a group of 23 well-dressed men, who appear to be either engineers or supervisors or some of both. In the group photograph, he is the seventh from the right end.
In 1910 Andrew John was living alone in Williamson Co., TX (U.S. Census, Williamson Co., ED 135 Sheet 399 Vol. 144). He was 56 and he and Mary were likely separated or divorced by then.
Family stories say that Andrew John's two daughters died in their twenties from Tuberculosis. He also died of the same disease. As the story goes, Nedia or Neda, John's oldest daughter, had either written to him or to friends in Williamson County. After finding her father was in poor health, she and her husband (Banks Eastland) took him in and cared for him at their home in Smithville, Bastrop Co. Nedia fell sick and Andrew John moved in with 19 year old daughter Mae and her husband (a Mr. Darnell) in San Antonio. Andrew John spent the last 18 months of his life in the County Home for the Aged in Bexar County, Texas, died May 22, 1915. Mae died a year later in May, 1916 at age 20 in San Antonio, also of Tuberculosis. Nedia died at age 24 in August, 1916 in Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas.
Many of the dates starting with Andrew John Swenson, are from my great Aunt Helen's bible, pages of which were provided by Joseph Charles Bateman, Sr., Austin, Texas (son of Helen Swenson and grandson of Andrew John Swenson). Andrew's death certificate isn't much help - lots of omissions and errors, like being born in Texas. He died in the County Home for the Aged, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
Have not been able to locate his grave in City Cemetery #3 in San Antonio. My father, Henry Cooper Bledsoe spent several hours at the cemetery back in about 2003, but could not locate a marker. A person with the city sent him a layout of the cemetery and said his grave is located at "Row 13, Grave 35", but there are many places this could be. (See layout, with this memorial) Andrew's grave may have only been marked with a wooden marker, as he was completely destitute, when he died.
by H. P Bledsoe
In Sweden, Andrew was known as Anders Johan Svensson. Anders and his family lived in a cottage named "Svenstorp" on the farm "Lunnaberg" in Vrigstad parish, Jonkoping county, Sweden. (Source: "EMIBAS" database, thanks to Stig Marz, Vrigstad Historical Society). His mother, Johanna was a widow, when she married his father, Sven. After his father died, Anders, his sister Helena Svensdotter, and their mother, Johanna Arvidsdotter, left for America. Anders was 17. They received their "moving letter" on September 26, 1879.
Then, on October 3, 1879, they left Gothenburg on the steamship "Orlando (I)", heading to Hull, England. (Förteckning (Passenger List) ''Orlando^^, October 3, 1879). They took the railway from Hull to Liverpool. In Liverpool, they took the Steamship "Atlantic" to New York. (Source: "EMIHAMN" database, thanks to Stig Marz, Vrigstad Historical Society). The arrival date is unknown, so far.
He married Mary Jane Walker (daughter of Daniel Walker (a civil war veteran) and Sophia Elizabeth Waldrip) on September 18, 1887 in Lockhart, Caldwell County Texas.
Anders Johan changed his name to Andrew John, a more American-type name, probably at a young age, perhaps before his first job. He preferred to be called John. His son John Walker Swenson told of his father working on large construction projects throughout Texas, including the Medina Dam in South Central Texas, which was built from 1911-1912. None of his work record has been found.
The 1900 U.S. Census - San Patricio County, Vol. 95, ED 73, Sheet 2, lists Mary J. Swensson (note spelling) as head of household. Andrew John is not listed. The children listed are Neda C. (Nedia Christina), Olive, May (Mae Matilda), and John Walker. Helen was not yet born (Mary was pregnant when the census was taken). My guess is that Andrew John was off to another long construction project (perhaps in or near San Patricio County) and Mary just did not bother to mention him. Andrew John Swenson, in any spelling, cannot be found in the 1900 Texas census.
Mary's first child, Charles Oscar, lived only 14 months and 2 days.
Their oldest daughter, Nedia Christina, may have been named after Andrew John's oldest sister, Ida Kristina.
Their daughter Olive's first name was either Johanna or Hannah. Most likely, it was Johanna, which was her grandmother's name. In Texas, her father, having a thick Swedish accent, probably pronounced it "Yo-hanna", which her siblings shortened to Hannah. Later, she simplified the whole thing by going by a variation of her middle name - not Olivea, but Olive.
Their daughter Mae Matilda, may have been named after Johanna's daughter, who was born prior to marrying Sven Svensson. She was Ann Mathilda Arvidsdotter, who married Charles Brady in Austin, Texas.
Their youngest daughter, Helen Augusta, may have been named after Andrew John's sister, Helena.
Andrew John's photo is taken from an original photograph of a group of 23 well-dressed men, who appear to be either engineers or supervisors or some of both. In the group photograph, he is the seventh from the right end.
In 1910 Andrew John was living alone in Williamson Co., TX (U.S. Census, Williamson Co., ED 135 Sheet 399 Vol. 144). He was 56 and he and Mary were likely separated or divorced by then.
Family stories say that Andrew John's two daughters died in their twenties from Tuberculosis. He also died of the same disease. As the story goes, Nedia or Neda, John's oldest daughter, had either written to him or to friends in Williamson County. After finding her father was in poor health, she and her husband (Banks Eastland) took him in and cared for him at their home in Smithville, Bastrop Co. Nedia fell sick and Andrew John moved in with 19 year old daughter Mae and her husband (a Mr. Darnell) in San Antonio. Andrew John spent the last 18 months of his life in the County Home for the Aged in Bexar County, Texas, died May 22, 1915. Mae died a year later in May, 1916 at age 20 in San Antonio, also of Tuberculosis. Nedia died at age 24 in August, 1916 in Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas.
Many of the dates starting with Andrew John Swenson, are from my great Aunt Helen's bible, pages of which were provided by Joseph Charles Bateman, Sr., Austin, Texas (son of Helen Swenson and grandson of Andrew John Swenson). Andrew's death certificate isn't much help - lots of omissions and errors, like being born in Texas. He died in the County Home for the Aged, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
Have not been able to locate his grave in City Cemetery #3 in San Antonio. My father, Henry Cooper Bledsoe spent several hours at the cemetery back in about 2003, but could not locate a marker. A person with the city sent him a layout of the cemetery and said his grave is located at "Row 13, Grave 35", but there are many places this could be. (See layout, with this memorial) Andrew's grave may have only been marked with a wooden marker, as he was completely destitute, when he died.
by H. P Bledsoe
Then, on October 3, 1879, they left Gothenburg on the steamship "Orlando (I)", heading to Hull, England. (Förteckning (Passenger List) ''Orlando^^, October 3, 1879). They took the railway from Hull to Liverpool. In Liverpool, they took the Steamship "Atlantic" to New York. (Source: "EMIHAMN" database, thanks to Stig Marz, Vrigstad Historical Society). The arrival date is unknown, so far.
He married Mary Jane Walker (daughter of Daniel Walker (a civil war veteran) and Sophia Elizabeth Waldrip) on September 18, 1887 in Lockhart, Caldwell County Texas.
Anders Johan changed his name to Andrew John, a more American-type name, probably at a young age, perhaps before his first job. He preferred to be called John. His son John Walker Swenson told of his father working on large construction projects throughout Texas, including the Medina Dam in South Central Texas, which was built from 1911-1912. None of his work record has been found.
The 1900 U.S. Census - San Patricio County, Vol. 95, ED 73, Sheet 2, lists Mary J. Swensson (note spelling) as head of household. Andrew John is not listed. The children listed are Neda C. (Nedia Christina), Olive, May (Mae Matilda), and John Walker. Helen was not yet born (Mary was pregnant when the census was taken). My guess is that Andrew John was off to another long construction project (perhaps in or near San Patricio County) and Mary just did not bother to mention him. Andrew John Swenson, in any spelling, cannot be found in the 1900 Texas census.
Mary's first child, Charles Oscar, lived only 14 months and 2 days.
Their oldest daughter, Nedia Christina, may have been named after Andrew John's oldest sister, Ida Kristina.
Their daughter Olive's first name was either Johanna or Hannah. Most likely, it was Johanna, which was her grandmother's name. In Texas, her father, having a thick Swedish accent, probably pronounced it "Yo-hanna", which her siblings shortened to Hannah. Later, she simplified the whole thing by going by a variation of her middle name - not Olivea, but Olive.
Their daughter Mae Matilda, may have been named after Johanna's daughter, who was born prior to marrying Sven Svensson. She was Ann Mathilda Arvidsdotter, who married Charles Brady in Austin, Texas.
Their youngest daughter, Helen Augusta, may have been named after Andrew John's sister, Helena.
Andrew John's photo is taken from an original photograph of a group of 23 well-dressed men, who appear to be either engineers or supervisors or some of both. In the group photograph, he is the seventh from the right end.
In 1910 Andrew John was living alone in Williamson Co., TX (U.S. Census, Williamson Co., ED 135 Sheet 399 Vol. 144). He was 56 and he and Mary were likely separated or divorced by then.
Family stories say that Andrew John's two daughters died in their twenties from Tuberculosis. He also died of the same disease. As the story goes, Nedia or Neda, John's oldest daughter, had either written to him or to friends in Williamson County. After finding her father was in poor health, she and her husband (Banks Eastland) took him in and cared for him at their home in Smithville, Bastrop Co. Nedia fell sick and Andrew John moved in with 19 year old daughter Mae and her husband (a Mr. Darnell) in San Antonio. Andrew John spent the last 18 months of his life in the County Home for the Aged in Bexar County, Texas, died May 22, 1915. Mae died a year later in May, 1916 at age 20 in San Antonio, also of Tuberculosis. Nedia died at age 24 in August, 1916 in Smithville, Bastrop County, Texas.
Many of the dates starting with Andrew John Swenson, are from my great Aunt Helen's bible, pages of which were provided by Joseph Charles Bateman, Sr., Austin, Texas (son of Helen Swenson and grandson of Andrew John Swenson). Andrew's death certificate isn't much help - lots of omissions and errors, like being born in Texas. He died in the County Home for the Aged, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
Have not been able to locate his grave in City Cemetery #3 in San Antonio. My father, Henry Cooper Bledsoe spent several hours at the cemetery back in about 2003, but could not locate a marker. A person with the city sent him a layout of the cemetery and said his grave is located at "Row 13, Grave 35", but there are many places this could be. (See layout, with this memorial) Andrew's grave may have only been marked with a wooden marker, as he was completely destitute, when he died.
by H. P Bledsoe
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