Frans Fabian (Karlsson) Carlson (1886 - 1980)

Born 13 May 1886 in Nöbbele, Kronoberg, Sweden

Ancestors

Husband of Julia Sophia (Elberg) Carlson — married 12 May 1923 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Mar 1980 at age 93 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States

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Fabian (Karlsson) Carlson migrated from Sweden to America.

Biography

Frans Fabian Carlson was born in Nöbbele, Småland, Sweden in 1886 ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} to an impoverished family which would, in a few more years, have 9 children. In about 1900, their father deserted the family, and left their mother as the sole provider. She did so by growing flax on a few acres, and making linen thread which she wove into cloth and sold. At an early age, the children would have to leave home during the summer months and work on other local farms.

At the age of fifteen and completion of school, he joined his older brothers at the Kosta Glass Factory. ^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]} While there he apprenticed for five years (1901-1906) as a glass engraver, making expensive glass ware: drinking glasses, plates, bowls and decorative vases.

During his apprenticeship, he also completed his mandatory two years (1905-1906) of military service in the Swedish Army. He was attached to a field artillery unit and served as the one who directed the sighting of the canon.

He had an older brother who was also a glass engraver but had moved to Copenhagen, Denmark. The economy was better in Copenhagen and the brother said there was work there for him. He accepted and worked for 7 years (1907-1914) as an engraver in Copenhagen.

Their oldest sister, Beda, living in Minneapolis, returned to Sweden for a visit. With a war pending in Europe, she invited Frans, a younger sister, Gerda, and a younger brother, Knute, to return to Minnesota with her. The three accepted, tickets were purchased, and immigration papers prepared. On Oct 29, 1914 they bid farewell and departed for Minnesota, USA, on the ship United States arriving in New York on Nov 10, 1914. ^[11]

The immigration papers required a destination and financial responsibility. They had an older brother, Gustav, who lived in Lake City, Minnesota, who was also a glass engraver in a small shop there. They had the assurance of a job on arrival and a residence. Sister Gerda would reside with her sister, Beda, in Minneapolis. Gustav and his wife rented from Maria Elberg. While visiting with brother Gustav, Fabian met his future wife, Julia Elberg.

Fabian worked and resided in Lake City to the beginning of World War I, when he moved to Minneapolis, lived with sister Beda, and engaged in war work at Emerson Brantingham. ^{[12] [13]} This company built army tanks for WWI and in later years became Minneapolis Moline. After the war Fabian returned to glass engraving in a small shop in Minneapolis.

Shortly (probably about 1920, after the start of Prohibition, but possibly as late as 1923), the three brothers, Gustav, Fabian, and Knut, formed their own glass company, Leader Cut Glass, located off Hennepin Ave. in Northeast Minneapolis at 400 Main St NE. They sold custom glassware and also had a salesman who took orders through Jewelers, in Minnesota. The company prospered in the years following World War I until the Depression.

In May 1923, Fabian married Julia Elberg, whom he had originally met in Lake City. They were married at the Swedish Augustana Church in Minneapolis. Fabian purchased a newly built home at 4242 13 Ave. S. in South Minneapolis between Powder Horn Park and Lake Nokomis. Furniture was purchased at the Boutell Furniture Store in downtown Minneapolis (where Fabian's nephew Clifford worked as a salesman). The home was ready for occupancy when they married. A short time later that summer, a new 1923 Model T Ford was purchased and a garage built for it. Ralph William was born in July 1924 at Swedish Hospital.

Frequent trips were made to Lake City to visit family, Marie Elberg, Selma, Ted and Willard Leaf. Grandma Elberg often went with on the return trip.

In 1929 a RCA Radiola 60, 9 tube radio was purchased, then considered the best on the market. Swedish church services were broadcast each weekend and rarely missed in the home. Sunday church attendance was at the Swedish tabernacle on Chicago Ave, downtown. Ralph attended from the pre-school class to the 3rd grade. Miss Alice Koham was his Sunday School teacher for most of these years and he attended the Cyrus Northrup Elementary School Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

On January 1, 1930, Marlys Martha Marie was born at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis. The following early summer a 1930 Model A was purchased with the newest innovation of a spare tire, mounted rear of the front fender and a pull-out, rear-mounted trunk. Also in 1930 Fabian became a citizen of the United States.

Beginning in 1931, the Depression began to be felt by by all and by 1932 the Depression was taking it's toll. The market for cut glass ware, Rock Crystal as it was called, was gone. In the winter of 1932 the Leader Cut Glass shop liquidated. Fabian and Julia decided to move to a farm and begin looking for one in Pepin County, Wisconsin, close to were Julia grew up. They had several friends in the Ellsworth, Wis. area and found an 80 acre farm there which they purchased. ^{[14] [15]} Preparations were made to move after school was out.

Several items had to be purchased to accommodate the move, including a wood fired cook stove and heater and other items for the farm house. The move to Ellsworth was made in mid-June 1933 and a new life style began. The house needed repairs - outside and inside painting and wall-papering, etc. The barn and other buildings also needed painting and repair. Most of these was completed the first summer. The first milk cow was purchased in a short time, followed by machinery, a team of horses, and other cattle.

Ralph began attending the Fischer School, a 1.5 mile walk, the fall of 1933. With a total of 18 pupils in 8 grades, it was a change from the 30+ students in each class in Minneapolis.

Fabian had lived in the country in Sweden, but had never farmed, so farm life was a learning experience. Thanks to the help of good neighbors, all went well. Farming was difficult for even the experienced farmers during the extremely hot, dry summers beginning in 1934-1936.

Marlys was 6 years old and began the 1st grade in 1936. It was the winter of extreme cold and snow. The roads near the farm were un-plowed, so little Marlys and Ralph skied cross country to the Fischer School. On extremely bad winter days, Fabian would take Marlys and Ralph to school with the horse drawn sled. They would sit in a large wood box on the sled for protection, covered with a heavy mohair quilt.

The family began attending the little Swedish Mission Church in Ellsworth township. There began a circle of friends, bonded together to this day.

The years went by swiftly. In 1938 Ralph graduated from grade school and began Ellsworth High School graduating 1942. December 7, 1941 was a memorable day, the beginning of World War II. ^[16] Ralph entered the Navy in 1943 and served until 1946 in the South Pacific.

Marlys graduated from the 8th grade in 1944 and attended Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis for one year. She then attended Ellsworth High School, graduating in 1948.

Fabian and Julia continued to farm until 1950, a total of 17 years. When the farm was sold, a duplex was purchased at 3018 Colfax Ave. So, Minneapolis. They moved to their new home in October 1950. Adjusting to the change was not difficult, as all of Fabian's brothers and sisters in America resided in Minneapolis. They missed the friends of Ellsworth but appreciated the easier lifestyle of the new residence.

After a period of settling in, Fabian began employment at Northern Ordnance and worked until he was 70 years old. They lived at their home until 1979, when a move was made to the Redeemer Residence, an assisted living home on Lyndale Ave. in Minneapolis. Fabian passed away March 20, 1980 at the age of 93 years and 10 months.^{[17] [18]}

(Author Ralph W. Carlson)

Sources

1. ↑ Nöbbele kyrkoarkiv, Födelse- och dopböcker, SE/VaLA/00285/C/5 (1875-1891)

   Riksarkivet View source A0009314_00091

2. ↑ Nöbbele kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/VaLA/00285/A I/20 (1886-1890)

   Riksarkivet View source C0025103_00444 sida 516

3. ↑ Nöbbele kyrkoarkiv, Husförhörslängder, SE/VaLA/00285/A I/21 (1891-1895)

   Riksarkivet View source C0025104_00420 sida 493

4. ↑ Nöbbele kyrkoarkiv, Församlingsböcker. Bunden serie, SE/VaLA/00285/A II a/1 (1896-1900)

   Riksarkivet View source 90001597_00559 sida 525

5. ↑ Nöbbele kyrkoarkiv, Församlingsböcker. Bunden serie, SE/VaLA/00285/A II a/2 (1901-1906)

   Riksarkivet View source 90001598_00136 sida 117

6. ↑ Nöbbele kyrkoarkiv, Församlingsböcker. Bunden serie, SE/VaLA/00285/A II a/2 (1901-1906), bildid: 90001598_00431, sida 394 https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/90001598_00431
7. ↑ Nöbbele kyrkoarkiv, Inflyttningslängder, SE/VaLA/00285/B I/6 (1895-1947)

   Riksarkivet View source 90001606_00038 sida 28

8. ↑ Ekeberga kyrkoarkiv, Församlingsböcker. Bunden serie, SE/VALA/00071/A II a/1 (1896-1905)

   Riksarkivet View source 90001545_00145 sida 126

9. ↑ Halleberga kyrkoarkiv, Församlingsböcker. Bunden serie, SE/VALA/00152/A II a/2 (1901-1910), sida 330
10. ↑ Modesjö kyrkoarkiv, Församlingsböcker. Bunden serie, SE/VALA/00241/A II a/17 (1907-1915), sida 1252
11. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJSG-13T : 30 January 2018), Trans F Carlson, 1914.
12. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K872-XSX : 12 December 2014), Frank Fabian Carlson, 1917-1918; citing Minneapolis City no 7, Minnesota, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,675,617.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWYK-3TQ : accessed 14 November 2017), Fabion Carlson in household of Albert A Lundgren, Minneapolis Ward 7, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States; citing ED 121, sheet 7B, line 84, family 167, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 835; FHL microfilm 1,820,835.
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3ZV-W3V : accessed 14 November 2017), Frank F Carlson, Minneapolis (Districts 1-250), Hennepin, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 129, sheet 6B, line 70, family 110, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1093; FHL microfilm 2,340,828.
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7NV-T62 : accessed 14 November 2017), Frank Carlson, El Paso Town, Pierce, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 47-8, sheet 11A, line 20, family 196, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4511.
16. ↑ "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5QT-23V : 8 April 2016), Frank Fagian Carlson, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
17. ↑ "Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4QX-N2R : 4 December 2014), Frank F. Carlson, 20 Mar 1980; from "Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2001); citing Hennepin, Minnesota, record 2008938, certificate number 008073, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis.
18. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 04 January 2021), memorial page for Frank Fabian “Fabian” Carlson (13 May 1886–20 Mar 1980), Find A Grave: Memorial #34909021, citing Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA ; Maintained by Chris Falteisek (contributor 48559303) .

• Recollection of son Ralph Carlson.