My 3rd great-grandmother Lena Stina, or Helena Christina as she would later be known, was born 28 Feb 1822 in Ulfsman Fiskaby, Jönköping, Småland, Sweden.

She was one of three known daughters born to Magnus Åhman (later Åman) and his wife Britta Catharina Issaacsdotter.

Helena married Carl Tolf in her Swedish village on 26 Dec 1846. The couple had eight children.

Their four oldest children each traveled to the United States individually. Lena, her husband and the four youngest children followed in May of 1878. They settled in Batavia Illinois where Helena would live out the rest of her days.

Helena's and Carl's eight children are Gustav (1847-1930), Carl Johan (1849-?), Frans Magnus (1852-1928), Carolina Fredrika (1855-1930), Peter August (1858-1929), Kristina Elisabet (1860-1941), Frida Katrina (1863-1937) and Amanda Sofia (1865-1940). The four who lived in Batavia at the time of their mother’s death were Gustav, Kristina, Amanda and my 2nd great-grandfather Peter.

From the Wednesday January 16, 1901 issue of the Batavia (Illinois) Herald; "Death of an Aged Mother - Died, at the home of her daughters, Misses Christina and Amanda Tolf, on Hueston (sic) St., West Batavia, Sunday, Jan 13, 1901, after an illness of several weeks, Mrs. Elena Tolf, aged 78 years. Deceased was an old resident of this city. She had reazed a large family of children, four sons and four daughters, four of whom live in Batavia. She was a good christian lady and a kind and devoted mother. Funeral will be held at the Swedish M.E. church, Thursday afternoon. Burial at West Batavia cemetery."

From a scrapbook clipping in the Gustafson Research Center in Batavia Illinois; "Mrs. Carl Tolf, died at the home of her daughters Christine and Amanda Tolf on Houston street, at 4:45 last evening of heart failure. She had been ill for some time and the end was not entirely unexpected. She was born February 27, 1822. Eight children survive to mourn her loss. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. from the house and 2:30 from the Swedish Methodist church on McKee street."

From the Wednesday January 23, 1901 issue of the Batavia (Illinois) Herald; "Card of thanks - We desire to express our heartfelt thanks to the friends and neighbors, who so kindly assisted us during the sickness and death of our beloved mother, and especially to those who sent the beautiful floral pieces. Christine and Amanda Tolf"

My 3rd great-grandmother Lena Stina, or Helena Christina as she would later be known, was born 28 Feb 1822 in Ulfsman Fiskaby, Jönköping, Småland, Sweden.

She was one of three known daughters born to Magnus Åhman (later Åman) and his wife Britta Catharina Issaacsdotter.

Helena married Carl Tolf in her Swedish village on 26 Dec 1846. The couple had eight children.

Their four oldest children each traveled to the United States individually. Lena, her husband and the four youngest children followed in May of 1878. They settled in Batavia Illinois where Helena would live out the rest of her days.

Helena's and Carl's eight children are Gustav (1847-1930), Carl Johan (1849-?), Frans Magnus (1852-1928), Carolina Fredrika (1855-1930), Peter August (1858-1929), Kristina Elisabet (1860-1941), Frida Katrina (1863-1937) and Amanda Sofia (1865-1940). The four who lived in Batavia at the time of their mother’s death were Gustav, Kristina, Amanda and my 2nd great-grandfather Peter.

From the Wednesday January 16, 1901 issue of the Batavia (Illinois) Herald; "Death of an Aged Mother - Died, at the home of her daughters, Misses Christina and Amanda Tolf, on Hueston (sic) St., West Batavia, Sunday, Jan 13, 1901, after an illness of several weeks, Mrs. Elena Tolf, aged 78 years. Deceased was an old resident of this city. She had reazed a large family of children, four sons and four daughters, four of whom live in Batavia. She was a good christian lady and a kind and devoted mother. Funeral will be held at the Swedish M.E. church, Thursday afternoon. Burial at West Batavia cemetery."

From a scrapbook clipping in the Gustafson Research Center in Batavia Illinois; "Mrs. Carl Tolf, died at the home of her daughters Christine and Amanda Tolf on Houston street, at 4:45 last evening of heart failure. She had been ill for some time and the end was not entirely unexpected. She was born February 27, 1822. Eight children survive to mourn her loss. The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. from the house and 2:30 from the Swedish Methodist church on McKee street."

From the Wednesday January 23, 1901 issue of the Batavia (Illinois) Herald; "Card of thanks - We desire to express our heartfelt thanks to the friends and neighbors, who so kindly assisted us during the sickness and death of our beloved mother, and especially to those who sent the beautiful floral pieces. Christine and Amanda Tolf"