“They were born in Ödeshög and the ten came to America. ( A quote from Ida V. Colson in “Colson Family Records” published, 1950.)

September 28, 2025

A FAMILY HISTORY BLOG BY LAVERNA COLSON SMITH

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The New Land

Between 1852 and 1868, all ten of Carl and Rebecca’s children left Sweden for America. The large group of descendants settled near each other in Illinois and after 1864 several of them left for free land west of the Missouri River. They left behind their homeland, their family , their friends and neighbors and went into the unknown. They were a remarkable people with high moral standards, strong Christian principles and a Scandinavian work ethic that beats anything. Here they are:

Sara Helena Carlsdotter – The oldest of the ten, Sara Helena was born September 22, 1815 on Kushult Farm, Ödeshög and married Gustav Hansson in 1843 in Sweden. Sara and Gustav left Sweden on August 1, 1866 and traveled to Hampton Township , Rock Island County, Illinois. Sara and Gustav had remained on Skrädeberg farm assisting Sara’s mother until the farm sold in 1866. Sara died on September 21, 1891 and was buried in the Moline Hampton Township Cemetery.

Anna Charlotta Carlsdotter – Born May 8, 1817 on Kushult Farm, Ödeshög, she married Johannes Håkansson in 1840 in Sweden. Anna and Johannes left Sweden on May 1, 1868 traveling with their two sons to Rock Island, Illinois. Johannes became John Hokenson in America and worked as a carpenter. Anna died on June 14, 1892 and is buried in the Moline’s Riverside Cemetery.

Maria Christina Carlsdotter – Born July 15, 1819 on Kushult Farm, Ödeshög, she married Jonas Nilsson in 1844 in Sweden. Maria and Jonas left Sweden in 1868 with their three children and first settled in Moline Illinois but later moved to Oakland, Nebraska where Jonas became a farmer. Jonas took the name Nelson in America and Maria became Mary Nelson. Maria died on April 27, 1901 and is buried in the Oakland, Nebraska Cemetery.

Lars Peter Carlsson – Born February 2, 1822 on Kushult Farm, Ödeshög, Lars Peter married Britta Larsdotter in 1844 in Sweden. Lars and Peter traveled with their six children to Rock Island County, Illinois arriving in 1863. After Britta’s death, he remarried to Lena Berquist and moved to Oakland, Nebraska where he farmed near his younger brother, Victor. Lars became L. P Carlson in America and his sons (Carl, Gustaf, Lars and Andrew) took the name Ford. Lars died on November 22, 1888 and is buried in the Oakland, Nebraska Cemetery.

Ulricka Carlsdotter – Born on September 10, 1824, she married Anders Peter Melin in 1852 in Sweden. Ulricka was the last child to be born on the historic Kushult farm before the family moved to Skrädeberg. The couple immigrated to America with one daughter and two sons in 1868 and made their home in Moline, Illinois where they were members of the Lutheran Evangelical Church. Ulricka died on December 16, 1908 and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Ill.

Carl Johan Carlsson – Born September 21, 1826 on Skrädeberg Farm, he married Sophia Andersson in 1854 in Illinois. Carl Johan was the first of the ten to emigrate and arrived in Rock Island County, Illinois in 1852 as a single man. A. J. Swanson from Ödeshög had settled there in 1850 and ultimately made a fortune in property. The 1860 Illinois Census listed Carl Johan as a farmer, married to Sophia Anderson and the father of two children. As his prospects grew, he purchased a mercantile building in downtown Moline. Carl Johan blazed the trail for his nine siblings and served as the touchstone for their success in America. Carl Johan changed his last name to Colson, the first of the brothers to do so and later went by a nickname – Charlie. Charlie died on August 13, 1900 and was buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Illinois.

Rebecca Christina Carlsdotter – Born August 29, 1829 on Skrädeberg Farm, she was unmarried. Rebecca and her brother, Carl Johan, were the first of the ten to leave Sweden for Illinois. According to Ödeshög church records, she left the parish on June 25, 1852, signing out the same day as a young couple and three other single women. Rebecca and her brother, Carl Johan, became charter members of the newly formed Swedish Baptist Church in Rock Island and several of their siblings later joined them. According to various accounts, she died in 1859 at 30 years of age and was buried in Hampton County, Illinois.

Gustava Sophia Carlsdotter was born on January 18, 1832 on Skrädeberg Farm and married Carl Johan Jonson in 1864 in Sweden. The couple along with their toddler and infant son left Sweden on July3, 1866, They established a home first in Illinois and then later in Oakland, Nebraska where they farmed near Gustava Sophia’s brother, Victor. Carl changed his last name to Servine and became known as Charlie Servine, establishing the Servine branch of the family. Gustava died on October 24, 1919 and was buried in the Oakland, Nebraska Cemetery. Gustava and Charlie were a handsome couple and the faded image below (from a faded photo) does not do them justice.

Below is a “Family View ” for Carl Samuel Larsson 10 children with Rebecca Samuelsdotter including their paternal ancestry. Carl’s first two children are included in a previous blog and they are the two who remained in Sweden. (Reproduced from Family Tree Maker, 2024 version.)

NEXT BLOG: THOSE WHO LEFT – THE TEN – …..CONTINUED WITH THE FINAL TWO