Olof Olsson Angstrom was born Nov. 8, 1830 in Ovanåker, Gävleborg, Sweden, the son of Olof Olsson and Brita Pehrsdotter.

Like his ancestors, he was a farmer. He worked as a farm hand until his 21st birthday, when he answered the call to civil service where he got the name Angstrom.

On April 28, 1854 he was united in marriage to Ella Olsdotter at the Ovanåker Parish Church in Sweden. In June 1867, Olof and Ella, with their first five children emigrated to America. Olof's brother, Peter Olsson Angstrom also emigrated at this time and also settled in Stratford, Iowa.

After arriving in America Olof and Ella had six more children. Namely, the eleven children are:

Brita, born July 5, 1856 and died at age 12, the second year after coming to America with her parents.

Olof, later Americanized to Olaf F., was born April 12, 1858 in Sweden and died Nov. 6, 1945. He married Eva Layton.

Kerstin, called Katie, was born Nov. 22, 1860 and died Feb. 27, 1865 in Sweden.

Pehr, later Americanzed to Peter T., was born March 22, 1863 in Sweden and died Sept. 26, 1954. He married first Martha Jonsdotter/Johnson and second to Emma Costenson Peterson.

John, born Feb. 20, 1869 in Iowa and died 1961 at Wilbur, Washington. He married Sarah Anna Fisher.

Helen Matilda, born April 9, 1871 and died Sept. 9, 1945. She married John H. Hice.

Albert, born Aug. 9, 1873 in Iowa and died March 26, 1942 at Staples, Minnesota. He married Julia Filloon.

Charlotte, born Oct. 16, 1875 in Iowa and died Oct. 23, 1942. She married J.R. Cottington.

Minnie Augusta, born Aug. 1, 1878 in Iowa and died Feb. 9, 1966 at Stephenson, Virginia. She married Albert H. Greeley.

Mary Louise, born Jan. 2, 1881 in Iowa and died Nov. 3, 1955. She married Clarence Rodine.

Olof died Sept. 27, 1919 at the age of 88 years, 10 months and 20 days.

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Stratford Courier
October 2, 1919

AGED CITIZEN ANSWERS THE CALL

Olof Angstrom, Sr., passed to his reward about 5:30 Saturday night. He had been ailing for many months being confined to his bed a great share of the time. Death was due to the infirmities of old age, he being nearly 89 years of age. Funeral services were held from the Lutheran church yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

Stratford Courier
October 9, 1919

Obituary
Angstrom

Olof Angstrom was born November 7 [8], 1830, in Ovanåker, Gävleborg, Sweden. He was baptized and confirmed in the Hälsinglands Evangelical Lutheran church. He was married to Miss Ela Jonson, April 28, 1854 in Sweden and together they came to America in 1867 stopping for a while at Moingona. A little later they moved to Stratford living on a farm until some years ago when they retired and moved into town. They have ever since made their home in this community. Deceased passed to his reward September 27, 1919, having arrived at the ripe old age of 89 years, 10 months and 28 days.

He leaves to mourn his passing his aged wife, four sons, O.F. and P.T. of Stratford; John Angstrom of Wilbur, Washington and Albert Angstrom of Staples, Minn.; and five daughters, Christina, Mrs. Milo Currey, Dallas, S.D.; Helen Mathilda, Mrs. J.H. Hice, of Webster City; Charlotte, Mrs. J. Cottington, Ayrshire; Minnie Augusta, Mrs. Albert Greeley, Webster City; and Mary Louise, Mrs. C.A. Rodine, Stratford. Two children have preceded the father in death. They are Kerstin, aged four, died in Sweden and Bessie, aged 12, died in America. A brother, Peter O. Angstrom, of this place and a sister in Sweden, Miss Ellen, twenty-three grand children and eighteen great grand children also survive. A host of friends are also left to mourn the passing of a true neighbor.

It is more than a half century since this old gentleman bade farewell to the land of his nativity and first set foot in this new world to make a home for himself and his family. And the greater portion of these more than fifty years were spent in hard work amidst the greatest of privations and self-denials in a country which was at that time new and wild. Primitive means were then the only method at hand with which farming could be done and deceased was one of the pioneers who perhaps owned a plow with which to till the soil while the remainder of the work was all hand labor. And yet he and his kind did thrive and left not only of this worlds goods to his children but more than that - a good name and a true Christian character for them to forever remember him by.

During the years of his residence in Stratford when he was able to work his home dooryard and garden were his pride and the envy of everyone. He always worked and worked smilingly and with a cheerful countenance. For the year or ore which he has been unable to be out of doors he has been missed by everyone here but his Christian character will live on after him.

Funeral services over the remains were held from the Lutheran church Wednesday afternoon of last week at 2 o'clock and the remains laid in their last resting place in Oakwood cemetery.