| Notes |
- Johannes Olofsson/Olsson changed his name to John Wilhelm Wilson when he left Hulterstad, Scärlof,Kalmar County, Island of Öland, Sweden and arrived in America in the year 1864. Before coming to the United States, he first went to Helsingör, Denmark on 9 February, 1854 possibly, to work as a sailor on the open seas.
He left his parents and siblings in the village where he was born and grew to manhood. They lived in a small home about 300 yards off the main road of Hulterstad, Scarlöf, Number 8, on the southeastern part of the island of Öland, just a few blocks south of the Hulterstad Church where so many of his family have since been buried, including his parents and perhaps even his grandparents.
Johannes was a man of the sea. He used to tell of his voyages, starting at about the age of 14. By the time he left Hulterstad, Scarlöf, Öland, Sweden for Denmark, he was an experienced sailor at the age of 21. He sailed around the world, arriving at such ports as Seattle and San Francisco and those of Asia.
From Denmark, he made his first trip to America, but he returned to Sweden two times, the final trip leaving Sweden on January 1, 1870 with his wife, Bertha Hakanason who was two months pregnant with son, Otto. It could have been this last return to America when he was joined by his brother, Nils and a sister, for they immigrated and settled in Chicago, IL. Later, Nils moved to Boxholm, Boone County, Iowa. John became a naturalized citizen in 1864 according to the 1900 federal census for Ganeer, Kankakee co., IL.
On one of his trips to Sweden, Johannes used the name of Olofsson, which could have been the name he was baptised with. Another time, he used the name of Olsson. To this day, it is not unusual for one to change their name, either using their mother's maiden name or their father's, thus making it difficult to trace family lines.
As one can see by the last names in preceeding generations, a son took the father's first name to be his last and adding a "sson" to it. Thus, Olof Anderson's son was called "Olofsson". Daughters were "Olofsdotter". In the vital records, it would be recorded, if her first name was Marie; Marie Olof with a "Dtr" following as we would abbreviate "Jr." This method of naming is no longer used.
On a visit to Hulterstad, we discovered this wonderful old Hulterstad Church where the cemetery surrounds the building. The original Catholic Church was built in 1200 but all that remains of the original part is the tower or nave. The bell was installed in 1630 and remains the same today. It is in this cemetery that surrounds the church, we discovered many names of Olsson, Olofsson and Anderson. These are more than likely descendants of Olof and Brita Anderson, parents of our Johannes Olofsson/Olsson a.k.a. John W. Wilson.
At the time of our visit in the fall of 1997, the only information we had was an obituary of John W. Wilson who died in Momence, Illinois, an immigrant from Sweden in the mid-1800's. We were also made aware by grandson, Harley Wilson, that Wilson was not his birth name but his "Americanized" name. He remembered the name of Olson. With this information and the sleuthing investigation of our guide, we discovered our John, a.k.a. Johannes had changed his name several times with each voyage to America. Weeks after our return to the United State, a letter arrived from our guide with the information containing the vital records. They were confirmed by a genealogist in the Family History Center Library in Salt Lake City, UT.
The Island of Öland is a very small island, 85 miles in length and 9.9 miles in width and only 180 feet in it highest point, connected now by a bridge to the city of Kalmar on the mainland. It used to be the summer home and private hunting grounds for the King of Sweden so anyone who lived on the island was not allowed to cut down any trees or hunt on the property. Timber for their houses had to come by boat from Kalmar. The Islander would go by boat to Kalmer, look at the house he wanted to buy, tear it down, ship it by boat to the island and rebuild it. This was the standard way one would build.
The house where Johannes lived still stands today with very little modification according to an elderly couple that live near by. The house is said to be about 200 years old. The attached barn is probably 300 or more years old. The roofs have been replaced with metal, corregated roofing.
Down the road is an old windmill, possibly used by the family to grind their grain. It is unknown how much land was owned by the family but the land itself is "hard scrabble" and does not seem suitable for raising of any kind of crop other than sheep.
During the mid-1800's, a famine struck the island because of harsh winters and poor crops in the summer. Perhaps there were other economical problems as well. During that period, the area around Hulterstad lost over 80 % of the people either from starvation or immigration to America; the largest group settling in the Chicago, Illinois area and that of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
With so many people coming to the island in recent years in search of their roots, the minister of the church decided to moved to a nearby town so he would not have to be bothered with their inquiries. The elderly lady we talked to said the minister would slam his door on their faces! The old church records were moved to a larger parish.
There is also an Immigrant's Information Center in Vöxjö on the mainland who specialize in the 1800's immigration to America and other parts of the world.
In the Momence Paper, Momence, Kankakee County, IL Friday, December 23, 1910 issue is the following, including a lovely large picture:
A RESPECTED CITIZEN WHO RECENTLY DIED.
John Wilson was born on the island of Oland, Sweden, April 12, 1833, and died at his home south of Momence, December 7, 1910; at the age of 77 years, 7 months and 25 days.
His boyhood days only were spent with his parents as they were in humble circumstances, and when a youth he was deprived of the benefits of an education and was compelled throughout the following years to fight the hardships in the battle of life against those clad in the armoor of defense, "an education." Scarcely had he attained the age of early manhood when he left a rustic home of his native country and entered the ranks as a sailor, and to gain for himself a reputation and character not to be shadowed by the trials and temptations of a worldly life.
In 1848 he began to sail on the North and Baltic seas, starting as an apprentice and later through his honesty and faithfulness was promoted to chief steward.
In 1854, he set out to sail under the Swedish flag for America for the first time. In 1860, he returned home and later made several trips to America under the American flag. At the time of the Civil War he had many thrilling adventures. He would hold the interest of his friends for hours relating the many incidents and hardships of a sailor's life. One of especial interest was that of escaping the Alabama.
Owing to the lack of space only a few of his adventures can here be mentioned. During the twenty-one years of his sailor's life he sailed five times around the globe, stopping at all the important seaports such as Hong Kong, Shanghai and other ports along that coast, at one time passing Calcutta during the terrible famine, and so numberous were the dead bodies that it was necessary to clear them away with oars in order to land the ship. His ship also stopped at many ports in Africa, and various times passed the Cape of Good Hope with cargoes for the American continent. By so doing, he visited the seaports of San Francisco, Seattle and many others.
The seas are oftimes merciless to the ships, and three times was Mr. Wilson shipwrecked. Once he came to land in a beef barrel, bringing with him a little girl. There was a rope around the barrel. After the waves had washed them ashore, another rope was attached to the barrel and by this means the entire crew was saved, and showed his bravery and heroism.
Concluding his voyages on the seas in 1868, he came to Illinois, purchased a farm northeast of Momence where he spent one year. He then went to Chicago where in 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Hawinson. He then sailed the Great Lakes for a few months, after which he returned to Momence, building his first residence on the south side of the river. Later he purchased a farm 3 1/2 miles southwest of Momence where he resided until 1902 when he devided the farm between his three oldest sons--he moving to his late residence.
To this union, six children were born, of which three survive; Theodore and John W. of this place, and N. G. Wilson of Chicago. In 1888 the Lord saw fit to call the wife and mother home, leaving four small children to their father's care and guidance. Six years later Otto passed to the beyond.
In 1889, Mr. Wilson was married to Miss Bertha Larson of Chicago, and to this union two children were born; Freida V. and Oscar L., who, with their mother, survive him.
Mr. Wilson was a kind and loving father, a good neighbor and ever ready to offer his services or advice for the benefit of his family or community. He was a determined man, and to a friend, he was just as faithful and loyal as was Damon to Pythias. Many are the poor and friendless that he has fed and clothed within his gate; others he assisted to the best of his ability to secure and education. he was a man who won the respect and esteem of all who knew him, and had many friends who were deeply grieved to hear of his sudden death.
Besides his immediate family he leaves a brother, N. G. Wilson of Iowa, one sister, Mrs. Benson of Chicago, beside other relatives and a host of friends. The funeral services were held at the residence on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 10:30 a. m., conducted by Rev. Connor of the M.E. church. Interment in Mt. Airy cemetery.
Among those from abroad who attended the funeral were N. G. Wilson of Boxholm, Iowa, N. G. Wilson and wife of Chicago, and J. R. Wright of Morocco, Indiana.
More on the History of Hulterstad:
Hulterstad is a small coastal town on the southeastern part of the island of Öland , Sweden. Hulterstad is situated at the eastern fringe of the Stora Alvaret, a limestone pavement habitat which hosts a diversity of rare plants and has been designated a World Heritage Site1. Hulterstad is the municipal government center for this district and central records for centuries were kept at the Hulterstad Church. Significant gravefields and a Viking stone burial ship structure are located immediately south of Hulterstad. To the north is located the village of Alby , where a mesolithic village of early human settlement has been found,[2] and to the south is the Ottenby Nature Reserve. Across the alvar to the west is the village of Gettlinge.
Emigranten Populär, 1783-1951 Swedish Emigration Records, 1783-1951 <http://www.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1189&enc=1> about Lars Johan Olsson
Name: Lars Johan Olsson
Birth Year: abt 1832
Gender: Man (Male)
Place of Origin: Gårby Öland Kalmar Län, Sverige
Destination: San Fransisco
Record Date: 3 dec 1880
Port of Departure: Göteborg
Database Name: EmiHamn
Archive Call Number: 16:499:150
Principal Person: Olsson Lars Johan
The last trip to Sweden and his return was:
John Wilsson
Birth Year: abt 1840
Gender: Man (Male)
Place of Origin: Öland Kalmar Län, Sverige
Destination: San Francisco
Record Date: 21 Nov 1884
Port of Departure: Göteborg Database
Name: EmiHamn
Archive Call Number: 25:645:23295
Principal Person: Wilsson John
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1833 - 1910 (77 years)
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