Aunt Julia

Anna Olivia Nelson Knudson 1904 Litchfield, MN

Anna Olivia Nelson was born 2 December 1852, in the Lofoten Island of Borge, Norway. According to our records, her father Anders was 28, her mother Marta was 34. She was a very beautiful child. In about 1864, her widowed, well to do, Auntie Marta, who had no children of her own came to see her brother Anders and family shortly after his boating accident. Julia was about 10 at the time, and with good intentions, Marta wanted to possibly ease the burden of a large family for her brother and told him she would like to adopt lovely Julia. If things played out, Julia would one day inherit this wealthy Auntie's estate. Having already lost so much they couldn't see losing their daughter too. Whatever the offer, it was refused. Hopefully, the parting was amicable and no hard feelings prevailed. When the Nelson family arrived in America in 1868, she would have been 16 (most likely changed her name with the move). I found her in St. Peter's, MN in the 1870 Census working as a nurse. So obviously she did not accompany the rest of her family to Lake Lillian, MN where they moved in 1869. She had friends and many family members there in St. Peter. But most likely in the early 1870's she came to Lake Lillian where she possibly got to be friends with Paulina, who would become her sister in law, and Paulina's sisters.They all ended up moving to Minneapolis, MN to experience the "big city". There she was working as a maid in the famous Pillsbury family home. Also, working there as a Chauffeur was John Knudson, also from Norway. They must have been a stunning couple! They married on 14 February 1875 in Minneapolis. According to the Knudson family, John used the name "Sand" as a last name. This was a community name in Norway which was the same community that our Great Grandmother Paulina Hanson Nelson came from. I am now thinking that he possibly knew the Hanson girls and maybe that is how Julia got to know him.(Just guessing here, but makes sense, maybe?) We next find Julia in the 1880 Census living in Lake Elizabeth, MN with her husband, John, son Albert J and two daughters, Ida E & Agnes M. Beginning in 1880, there was a diphtheria epidemic that ran through much of the country. Many Minnesota families suffered the loss of one or two or even all of the children in one family.Early in 1885, Julia and John lost three within days of the sudden illness. Albert J 10, Agnes M 6, and another daughter, 4 (nameless) were taken. Sometime shortly thereafter, the family moved into Litchfield, as we find them in the May 1885 census with John, Julia and children, Ida, Willie and Ettie. According to Grandma Annette's book, in 1889 they moved to a purchased ranch in Idaho's panhandle, Big Potlatch. Prior to moving, they had a daughter, Maud in 1887. It must have been more than a mother could bear to see so many reminders of her lost children. Why did they move to Idaho? Was there someone there that they knew? I'm not sure we will know, unless the Knudson family can shed some light. She also had two more children in Idaho; Burton in 1891 and Gladys in 1897, for a total of 9 children~6 living to adulthood. In 1904, our Grandma Annette's mother, Paulina suffered a nervous breakdown. Her husband thought of Julia, who most likely had been good friends with her sister in law and a ray of hope and sunshine. She and her daughter, Ida Lena, then 27, came and stayed 6 weeks. She must have cared for her father, Anders during this time and spent many a day outside under the willow trees talking and sewing with Paulina. Grandma remembers her as having black hair and stunning blue eyes. The picture above was taken during this visit. In May 1916, she and John move to Lethbridge Canada. John is listed as a farmer. He actually went to Canada in 1914. I'm thinking they must have purchased a farm there but why do this at their age~ 63 and 62?! It's a mystery! In 1925, John her husband of 55 years passes away on 29 August. During the winter of 1926, her brother Nels comes to Canada and spends the winter. He wrote the he was having a fine visit with Julia! Shortly thereafter, she must have sold the farm and moved to Spokane, Washington where her daughter Ida and her husband, Perry Davis were living. There she would spend her remaining years and would pass away on 7 August 1940. In August of this year, my daughter Jessi and I drove around Spokane looking for the houses they had lived in. We found them and took pictures! They are included above. Whew! I know this was a long, long story but I wanted to make sure I included as many facts as possible for the Knudson family readers. Welcome Knudson's!!!