Wilhelm Magnusson (Elmer)
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History of Wilhelm Magnusson (Elmer)
Wilhelm Magnusson was born
on June 13, 1852, in the village
of Nickalycke. He was the
sixth child (fourth surviving
child) of Magnus Johannesson
and Martha Lisa Isaksdotter.
Wilhelm’s oldest brother,
Frans Gustaf Oskar was nine
years old when he was born.
He also had two older sisters,
Johanna Matilda and Beata
Kristina, who were eight and
five respectively. Wilhelm’s
grandparents also still lived
at the farm, as well as an
eighteen year old farm-maid named Helena. During the next decade, two
more sisters and a brother were born.
Wilhelm moved from Nickalycke on Aug 20, 1874 at age 22. He moved to
Siggahult in the adjoining county of Linneryd, and three days later married
Eva Katarina Petersdotter. The marriage record describes Wilhelm as a
person entering farm ownership. Eva was described as a ‘farm maid’ of a
farmer who did not own his own land.
The couple settled on a small farm in the village of Hornanas, Linneryd,
Kronoberg. It was designated in size as 3/16 mantal, which meant that it was
scarcely sufficient to support a family.
On Feb 6, 1875, Wilhelm and Eva’s first child, Carl Edwin, was born. Three
years later, on Sep 23, 1878, Hildur Theresia was born. On May 26, 1881,
Bror Herman was born. On Apr 15, 1883, daughter Frida Viktoria was
born. On Feb 24, 1885, Claus Martin was born.
One month after Claus Martin was born, Wilhelm and Eva left the farm in
Hornanas. It appears that they returned the farm to the original holder -
Johann Lyon - who had retired from farming when he sold them the farm.
The family moved back to Ljuder to the village of Kråksjomåla in 1885,
perhaps adjacent to Wilhelm’s sister Ida Sophia. Here they farmed a 1/12
mantal farm - again, very small - for approximately one year.
In 1886, when Wilhelm was 34 years old, he left for America, leaving his
family in Kråksjomåla. It was probably at this point that Wilhelm changed
his name to William Elmer.
Shortly after Wilhelm left Sweden, his last child, Hjalmar Albert was born.
Hjalmar only lived five years – until 1992. As his other boys grew, they
moved to different farms in Linneryd as farmhands – Carl in 1890, and Bror
Herman in 1893. His wife Eva, and his two girls Hildur and Frida, continued
to maintain their legal residence in Kråksjomåla, although it appears they
spent much of their time with Eva’s family in Linneryd. Hjalmar’s death was
recorded in Linneryd, as were several of the other children’s confirmations.
In 1894, son Carl emigrated to America. According to the 1900 US Census,
Wilhelm and Carl worked together as “common laborers” in Gordon Township,
Douglas County, Wisconsin. They worked with 36 other men. Wilhelm was
48 years old.
By 1903, Wilhelm’s entire family had emigrated to America, settling in St.
Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Although the family was together long
enough to at least have had the above photo taken in America, Wilhelm
ultimately did not live with the family. His wife, Eva lived with some of her
children in St. Paul, in the 1910 and 1920 US Census. I have not yet found a
record of Wilhelm in the 1910 and 1920 Census.
On Feb 24, 1924, at the age of 72, Wilhelm committed suicide in Hibbing,
Minnesota. According to the Hibbing Daily News, Wilhelm hanged himself in
the County Jail by tying his suspenders to the door and around his neck, and
letting the weight of his body gradually strangle him. He had been booked in
the jail for two days as a “plain drunk”. Wilhelm had lived in Hibbing for
about 20 years at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and was known as a heavy
drinker. His estranged family was contacted by the Hibbing County Coroner
after his death.
Wilhelm Magnusson rests in an unmarked grave in Roselawn Cemetery, St.
Paul, Minnesota.
Wilhelm Magnusson was born
on June 13, 1852, in the village
of Nickalycke. He was the
sixth child (fourth surviving
child) of Magnus Johannesson
and Martha Lisa Isaksdotter.
Wilhelm’s oldest brother,
Frans Gustaf Oskar was nine
years old when he was born.
He also had two older sisters,
Johanna Matilda and Beata
Kristina, who were eight and
five respectively. Wilhelm’s
grandparents also still lived
at the farm, as well as an
eighteen year old farm-maid named Helena. During the next decade, two
more sisters and a brother were born.
Wilhelm moved from Nickalycke on Aug 20, 1874 at age 22. He moved to
Siggahult in the adjoining county of Linneryd, and three days later married
Eva Katarina Petersdotter. The marriage record describes Wilhelm as a
person entering farm ownership. Eva was described as a ‘farm maid’ of a
farmer who did not own his own land.
The couple settled on a small farm in the village of Hornanas, Linneryd,
Kronoberg. It was designated in size as 3/16 mantal, which meant that it was
scarcely sufficient to support a family.
On Feb 6, 1875, Wilhelm and Eva’s first child, Carl Edwin, was born. Three
years later, on Sep 23, 1878, Hildur Theresia was born. On May 26, 1881,
Bror Herman was born. On Apr 15, 1883, daughter Frida Viktoria was
born. On Feb 24, 1885, Claus Martin was born.
One month after Claus Martin was born, Wilhelm and Eva left the farm in
Hornanas. It appears that they returned the farm to the original holder -
Johann Lyon - who had retired from farming when he sold them the farm.
The family moved back to Ljuder to the village of Kråksjomåla in 1885,
perhaps adjacent to Wilhelm’s sister Ida Sophia. Here they farmed a 1/12
mantal farm - again, very small - for approximately one year.
In 1886, when Wilhelm was 34 years old, he left for America, leaving his
family in Kråksjomåla. It was probably at this point that Wilhelm changed
his name to William Elmer.
Shortly after Wilhelm left Sweden, his last child, Hjalmar Albert was born.
Hjalmar only lived five years – until 1992. As his other boys grew, they
moved to different farms in Linneryd as farmhands – Carl in 1890, and Bror
Herman in 1893. His wife Eva, and his two girls Hildur and Frida, continued
to maintain their legal residence in Kråksjomåla, although it appears they
spent much of their time with Eva’s family in Linneryd. Hjalmar’s death was
recorded in Linneryd, as were several of the other children’s confirmations.
In 1894, son Carl emigrated to America. According to the 1900 US Census,
Wilhelm and Carl worked together as “common laborers” in Gordon Township,
Douglas County, Wisconsin. They worked with 36 other men. Wilhelm was
48 years old.
By 1903, Wilhelm’s entire family had emigrated to America, settling in St.
Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Although the family was together long
enough to at least have had the above photo taken in America, Wilhelm
ultimately did not live with the family. His wife, Eva lived with some of her
children in St. Paul, in the 1910 and 1920 US Census. I have not yet found a
record of Wilhelm in the 1910 and 1920 Census.
On Feb 24, 1924, at the age of 72, Wilhelm committed suicide in Hibbing,
Minnesota. According to the Hibbing Daily News, Wilhelm hanged himself in
the County Jail by tying his suspenders to the door and around his neck, and
letting the weight of his body gradually strangle him. He had been booked in
the jail for two days as a “plain drunk”. Wilhelm had lived in Hibbing for
about 20 years at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and was known as a heavy
drinker. His estranged family was contacted by the Hibbing County Coroner
after his death.
Wilhelm Magnusson rests in an unmarked grave in Roselawn Cemetery, St.
Paul, Minnesota.
Wilhelm in North America with family, approximately
1903. From left backrow, clockwise: Hildur,
Herman, Frieda, Martin, Eva, Wilhelm, and Carl.
1903. From left backrow, clockwise: Hildur,
Herman, Frieda, Martin, Eva, Wilhelm, and Carl.
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