Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Life of Olaf Adolph Anderson


Study this picture carefully. Look at the background. Judy, is this the table you have? Shirley, is this the song book? Look at the ink well. Did he own that many books? Was this picture taken at Risberg's Theological Seminary, Chicago?


Is the document in front of me stating his intention to become a citizen of the United States bona fide? Did he renounce, forever, all allegiance and fidelity to the King of Sweden on October 23th of 1886? Did he really emigrate to the United States through Quebec?


We know he had a sister in Vermont. She had a son named Ernie, who was part of the Atlanta Braves Baseball Organization. Did any of the Rosewood Anderson's keep in touch with this part of the family?


Let's review what we have learned from the newspaper. Think about how he would have traveled.


The Rosewood News mentioned him consistently starting in March of 1916. He is referred to as Rev OA Anderson; Nina is Mrs. Rev. OA Anderson.

Reverend Anderson had a church in Plummer. He would leave Rosewood on Friday and return on Monday or Tuesday. The Rosewood News referred to the church as the Congregational Church. The News refers to people visiting the parsonage of Rev OA Anderson.

March 1916
"Rev OA Anderson and J Albert Peterson visited at the Styrlund home Tuesday afternoon."

"Rev OA Anderson, having spent Sunday with his congregation at Plummer, arrived home again on Tuesday."

April 1916
"Rev. OA Anderson delivered an interesting message to an attentive congregation at the Congregational Church on Sunday evening."

"Services were held at the Congregational Church last Sunday with Rev. OA Anderson."

May
"Mrs. Rev OA Anderson was entertained at the John Sor's home."

"Rev. OA Anderson returned home after a week absence to the northern part of the state."

"Services were conducted at the Congregational Church on Sunday, Rev OA Anderson, officiating."

"Mrs. Rev OA Anderson and Mrs. T Mellem visited with relatives in Rosewood Saturday."

July 1916
"A business meeting at the Rev OA Anderson parsonage Tuesday evening for the purpose of arranging an ice cream social in connection with the Congregational Church."

August 1916
"Rev OA Anderson in Viking this week."

September 1916
"Rev OA Anderson spent the day with relatives in Viking."

October 1916
"Joel Shoberg was a guest at the Rev. OA Anderson parsonage last week".

November 1916
"Rev. OA Anderson gave a short speech and many English songs were sung."

"The Peter Mellem's visited the Rev. OA Anderson parsonage."

"Religious meetings by Rev OA Anderson were conducted at the Bredeson Church on Saturday and Sunday."

"Reverend OA Anderson returned home from West Valley last weekend."

December 1916
"Rev OA Anderson left Friday to spend time with his Plummer congregation."
"Rev Olaf Anderson arrived home from Plummer on Tuesday."

April 1917
"Rev OA Anderson returned on Tuesday morning after a few weeks mission tour in the Rainy River region. He had also passed the previous Sunday with his congregation at Plummer, Minnesota."

"Rev OA Anderson spent Thursday in Viking, MN visiting."

"Services were conducted at the Congregational Church on Sunday evening with Rev Anderson officiating. The text was taken from St. John, 21:1-14"

"Rev OA Anderson spent Tuesday at Viking attending to business matters and also visiting relatives, returning the same evening."

"John Bloom and T Mellem sided up the west wall of the Congregational Church on Saturday. The reason it wasn't sided was because an addition had been considered."

May
"Rev OA Anderson was host in the parsonage for Rev. AK Voss of International Falls, Minnesota."

"Rev. Olof Anderson left on Friday evening for an over Sunday stay with his congregation at Plummer."

"Rev, OA Anderson arrived home from his tour to Plummer Tuesday morning."

"Rev OA Anderson was a caller at the Sor home."

June
"Rev OA Anderson left Tuesday for Red Lake Falls for a stay in the interests of his ministerial duties."

"Evangelists lead services for this week at Congregational Church."

Carl Mellem and Minnie Holson marry. Ceremony was performed by Rev. OA Anderson.

July
"Rev OA Anderson spent Friday visiting the SS Norgaard and E. Nelson families in Viking."

September
"Rev OA Anderson of the Congregational Church spent Sunday at Plummer, where he also has a congregation."

The Congregational Church installed a new oil stove on Thursday

Rev Olaf Anderson spent Saturday visiting with friends and relatives in Viking.

October 11, 1917 Newspaper
News of Rosewood

The funeral of Rev OA Anderson was held from the Congregational Church last Thursday. About 200 attended. The services were conducted by Rev Drotts.

Mrs. Anderson and her youngest son, Lloyd, went to Viking on Tuesday to visit relatives for a couple of weeks.

November 1917
11 22 1917 paper

Church has interim pastor as they search for a replacement for Rev. OA Anderson who died unexpectedly.

Olaf Adolph Anderson died in Koochiching County in the township of Manitou on October 1, 1917. He was born on December 3, 1871. He died of pulmonary tuberculosis, which he had for ten years. He did not die in a hospital. . He was buried at Wildwood Cemetery on October 4, 1917.

His father is listed as Andreas Nelson from Dalsland, Sweden. His mother is considered "unknown". Nina Anderson, his wife, provided the information.

THE WARREN REGISTER
COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE

Rev. Olof A. Anderson, pastor of the Congregation Church at this place, died early Monday morning at the home of P. Olson north of Birchdale, where he was spending a vacation with friends. He has not been strong for a number of years, having been suffering form weak lungs and throat affection. A telegram was received by his relatives on Monday, stating his departure, and an undertaker was sent there to remove the body, which will rest at the Wildwood Cemetery here.

Rev. Anderson was born at Dalsland, Sweden, December 3, 1871, graduated from Risberg's Theological Seminary, Chicago, 1905, for few years traveled in the interest of the Red River Valley Mission Society, from where he came to this place and founded the Congregational Church in 1912 and has been its pastor.

He leaves to mourn him a widow and two boys, besides a number of relatives in Vermont and numerous friends. He has accomplished a commendable work at this place and the whole community will grieve for him.










2 comments:

Unknown said...

The book shown here seems somewhat bigger than the songbook I gave Shalin. The songbook was maybe 5"-5 1/2" high.
As far as I know, Bob is the only one to have contacted Ernie Johnson. I think Ernie is a sportscaster in Atlanta? I've seen him announce several times on TV.
Mom said the first time she heard him she was walking through the livingroom..she stopped short almost recognizing the voice that was coming from the TV. I can't say that I noticed any likeness in their voices.
Grandpa Olaf never met his sister Ingeborg. He came to the US before she was born..then when she came to the US, he had already moved to MN. I think I remember hearing that Olaf was 18 yrs older than Ingeborg.
It says (from the newspaper) that Olaf was buried on Oct 4, 1917. I think Dad died on Oct. 4, 1967.
I can still remember Mom saying after Dad died that Olaf died in '17, Newell in '27 and Dad in '67.

Unknown said...

I have to say "Oops"! I was wayyyy wrong about Ernie Johnson. I didn't realize that the Ernie Jonson that I've seen on TV is Jr. He's the one that Mom heard broadcasting many years ago..NOT Ernie Johson Sr.
Sorry if I caused any confusion.