Julia Sophia (Elberg) Carlson (1888 - 1983)

Born 11 Mar 1888 in Lund, Pierce, Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Frans Fabian (Karlsson) Carlson — married 12 May 1923 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States

Descendants

Died 3 Nov 1983 at age 95 in Minneapolis, MN

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Julia (Elberg) Carlson has Swedish ancestors

Biography

Julia Sophia Elberg was born to Lars and Maria Elberg, on the family farm, near Lund, Wisconsin, in March 1888, during the infamous blizzard of that winter. ^{[1] [2]} She attended the Barry Corner Grade School and the family attended the Swedish Mission Church, now (1994) the Lund Covenant Church. She had an older sister Selma Lovise and brother Anton Hjalmer.

After completing grade school and after helping on the family farm for several years, she moved to Lake City, Minnesota. While in Lake City she worked at the Jewel Nursery, the button factory, and in the dining room kitchen at the Lyon Hotel.

Her next move was to Saint Paul, Minnesota where she found employment as a cook for several families. When she first moved to St. Paul, she lived with her cousin Ida Knapton. She was living with the Knaptons when Ida's daughter, Myrtle, died in 1917. ^[3] She subsequently moved to Minneapolis to being work at the Witt family residence on Lake of the Isles. She was employed as the head housekeeper, responsible for house keeping, meal preparation, and yard maintenance. Several girls assisted her in that capacity. The Witt family operated four meat markets in Minneapolis, including a well-known market on Hennepin Avenue near downtown. Julia worked for the Witt family until her marriage. ^[4]

Julia met Fabian Carlson shortly after his immigration from Sweden. His brother Gustav rented part of the home of Julia's mother and Julia and he became acquainted in 1914 upon Fabian's arrival.

Julia and Fabian Carlson were united in marriage on May 12, 1923, at the Augustana Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Fabian had purchased a newly built home from John Olien, a Swedish contractor, at 4242-13th Ave. S, in south Minneapolis. ^[5] Furnishings were purchased at the Bontell Furniture Store and delivered. The home was ready for occupancy when they were married. Shortly after that summer, a new 1923 Model T for was purchased and a garage built.

Ralph William was born July 3, 1924 at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis.

Frequent trips were made to Lake City to visit Julia's mother, Maria Elberg, and Julia's sister Selma and her two sons, Theodore and Willard. Maria often came back with them on the return trip.

Sunday church attendance was at the Swedish Tabernacle on Chicago Avenue. Swedish church services on Saturday and Sunday evening were broadcast and listened to on the radio.

On January 1, 1930, Marlys Martha Marie was born also at the Swedish Hospital.

The following spring a 1930 Model A was purchased with a rear mounted, pull-out trunk and a front fender mounted spare tire.

The Depression began in November, 1929 with the collapse of many banks and the stock market. By 1932 the hard-times were beginning to take their toll and the Leader Cut Glass Company operated by Fabian and his two brother was liquidated in the winter of 1932.

Julia and Fabian decided to purchase a farm. The search began in Pepin County. They had several friends in Pierce County, Wisconsin near Ellsworth. In the Township of El Paso about 7 miles from Ellsworth and about 25 miles from the farm where Julia grew up, they found 80 acres of hilly farm land which they purchased in the spring of 1933.

Preparations for the move were made prior to the end of the school year. Since the farm did not have electricity, indoor plumbing, and was an uninsulated structure, several items had to be purchased for the farm house - a wood-fired stove for cooking and a round oak heating stove, plus other house ware and furniture.

The move to the new farm was made in mid-June, 1933 and a new lifestyle began. The house needs repairs on both the inside and out. Painting, wallpapering, and other repairs were mostly completed the first summer with help from family and friends.

The first milk cow, a Holstein, was purchased, followed by a team of horses, other cattle and machinery. Fabian had lived in the country in Sweden but had never farmed so farm life was a learning experience. Julia had grown up on a farm in Wisconsin and was much more familiar and experienced with this life. With her knowledge and help from good neighbors and friends, the transition went well. Farming was difficult during the depression years, particularly during the drought and hot summers in 1934-1936.

The family began attending the little Swedish Mission Church in Ellsworth, about five miles from the farm.

Julia and Fabian continued to farm until 1950, a total of 17 years. The farm was sold, an auction was held, and a duplex home was purchased. In the late fall of 1950, they moved into their home at 3018 Colfax Ave. S, in Minneapolis. They missed the many friends at Ellsworth, but appreciated the lifestyle and convenience of the city. Adjusting to the change was not difficult, with the many close relatives in the city.

After a short period of getting settled, Fabian began employment at Northern Ordnance and worked until he was 70 years old. They continued to live in their home until 1979 when they moved to Redeemer Residence, an assisted living home on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis.

She spent her last years living at Redeemer Residence in Minneapolis and passed away in 1983 at the age of 95 and 7 months. She was buried next to Fabian in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM2M-JF5 : accessed 30 January 2018), Julia Elberg in household of Lanis E Elberg, Pepin town Pepin village, Pepin, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 116, sheet 10B, family 201, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,810.
2. ↑ "Wisconsin State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM3Y-L94 : 2 April 2016), Julia Elberg in household of Louis E Elberg, Pepin town, Pepin, Wisconsin; citing p. 93, line 28, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,020,980.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2P8-BFD : accessed 30 January 2018), Julia Elberg in household of Henry E Wolkow, St Paul Ward 7, Ramsey, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 97, sheet 2B, family 40, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 720; FHL microfilm 1,374,733.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWYG-DV5 : accessed 30 January 2018), Julia Elberg in household of Charles F Witt, Minneapolis Ward 8, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States; citing ED 173, sheet 13A, line 19, family 290, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 836; FHL microfilm 1,820,836.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3ZV-W3K : accessed 30 January 2018), Julia S Carlson in household of Frank F Carlson, Minneapolis (Districts 1-250), Hennepin, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 129, sheet 6B, line 71, family 110, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1093; FHL microfilm 2,340,828.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 04 January 2021), memorial page for Julia Sofia Elberg Carlson (11 Mar 1888–3 Nov 1983), Find A Grave: Memorial #35015216, citing Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA ; Maintained by Chris Falteisek (contributor 48559303) .

• Recollection of son Ralph Carlson.