Elsie Axelina Dahlgren - History Updated

ELSIE AXELINA DAHLGREN

Bruno and Emma’s second daughter was born 21 February 1895 in Southington, Hartford, Connecticut.  Sometime between 1895 and 1900 the family moved back to Brooklyn, New York and in 1902 Emma died giving birth to their eighth child.  Bruno decided Pennsylvania would be a healthier climate for his remaining children and moved to Bradford, Pennsylvania.  (There is a large Swedish community that gathered close to Bradford in the adjacent town, Jamestown, New York, during this time.) 

Shortly after arriving in Bradford, Ethel, the youngest daughter died from meningitis and was buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Bradford, Pennsylvania.

Oakhill Cemetery, Bradford, PA.

Looking for a better situation for his daughters, Bruno took Elsie and her sister, Anna,  back to New York and placed them in the Kallman Orphanage for Swedish Children.

Kallman Orphanage for Swedish Children

Circa - 1900

New York City, New York, US Census – 1905

Kallman’s Orphanage – Elsie Dahlgren #30 and Anna Aurora Dahlgren #37

The Kallman Orphanage was opened during a time when the streets of  New York were overrun with orphaned children. Philanthropic groups galvanized people across the U.S. to take in children using the now famous  Orphan Trains.   In New York City, Gustaf Kallman, a young man from Sweden, saw the same horrific situation among the children in the Swedish immigrants. He felt divinely called to help the children of the Swedish population who were not only without parents, but could not speak English.

Shortly after being placed in the orphanage, Anna was adopted by the Janson family.  Elsie was left behind, living out her young life at Kallman’s  separated from her father, brother and sister.  We know very little about her life from this point.  She probably worked in New York and then returned to live near her brother and father in Bradford.  This picture of Alexander with his first wife, Hilda, and his two sons, Francis and Robert include young Elsie in her twenties.

L to R:  Francis Dahlgren, Hilda Dahlgren, Robert Dahlgren, Elsie Dahlgren (standing), Alexander Dahlgren

According to my father’s personal history his father, Alexander, remained very close to Elsie. “..he helped her to go through secretarial school and had high hopes for her.”  (1)

Elsie never married and she lived and worked in New York as a secretary.  Sometime, in her late twenties, Elsie contracted tuberculosis.  She moved to Stony Wold Sanatorium in June 1923.  Stony Wold was a beautiful retreat in the Adirondack Mountains of New York for single working  women and children of limited means to come and receive medical attention. 

Stony Wold Sanatorium

Sadly, she died at Stony Wold on 29 December 1923 from pulmonary tuberculosis.   Her sister, Anna, loved Elsie very much and always regretted that her sister had not been adopted as she had.  Anna remained close to Elsie and after her death  Anna had Elsie buried in New York City. 

Elsie Axelina Dahlgren’s death certificate which shows her sister, Anna A. (Dahlgren) Janson’s name at the bottom.

Elsie Axelina Dahlgren’s obituary listing her sister Anna and brother Alexander.  The obituary was copied to Jamestown, NY where her father, also deceased, had lived prior to his death.

Alexander Dahlgren, her brother and my grandfather, named his third daughter after his sister, Elsie.  As a child my father, William Dahlgren, would tell me about his dad and the terrible fear that came over him whenever the children became sick.  I specifically remember a story that is recounted in my father’s personal history:

“ It was the winter of ’34 that was the back breaker…as again illness struck everyone in the family in one form or another.  The more seriously effected was Elsie (Alexander's daughter and namesake for his sister who died) as she developed diphtheria…and would miss most of the (school year).  As usual illness in the family would hit Dad very hard and in the case of Elsie he was most upset as he had seen so many of his family die from (similar diseases).  When Elsie survived he was so relieved that he made her a fur coat and adopted her as his pet.” (2)

1. William Dahlgren’s Personal History, William Dahlgren, pg:  8.
2. William Dahlgren’s Personal History,  William Dahlgren, pg:  38.

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

Bruno Dahlgren - Marker

Marker for Bruno Dahlgren - Lakeview Cemetery - Jamestown, New York

Marker for Bruno Dahlgren was set in the Lakeview Cemetery August of this year.  Bruno was father to Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren.  Earlier posts on this blog have his family history.

Markers in Oakhill Cemetery, Bradford

Iva Pearl Emerson Dahlgren's mother Mary Emerson.
Oakhill Cemetery - Bradford, PA.

William W. Dahlgren and his mother Iva Pearl
Emerson Dahlgren
Oakhill Cemetery - Bradford, PA.

Pictures from Barb Straub

 1.   Robert Russell Emerson's family

Iva Pearl Emerson's  father was Alfred Emerson b. 1857
Alfred Emerson's father was Robert Russell Emerson b. 1827
Robert Russell married three times:
     1.  md.  Sapphrona Smith b. 1841
     Children:  Martha Sapphrona Emerson b. 1856,  William Emerson b. 1854
     2.  md.  Mariah b. 1841
     Children:  Alfred A. Emerson b. 1858,  Frederick Emerson b. 1860
     3.  md.  Sarah Gould b. 1836 
     Children:  Elmer Emerson b. 1862, Ida A. Emerson b. 1865, Rosa Jane Emerson b. 1867,      
                        Anne Emerson b. 1874


The following pictures are of Alfred's step mother, her children and their spouses, Alfred A. Emerson's step sisters and step in-laws:

Sarah Gould and her daughter Ida A. Emerson Covell  c. 1904

Seated Center:   Children of Damon and Anna Emerson Merrill -
Lawrence Winfield Merrill and Francis Rose Merrill
Seated:  Phoebe Brown Merrill - mother of John D. and Damon C. Merrill,
John D. Merrill, Damon C. Merrill (bow tie), Sarah Gould Emerson - mother of Ida, Anne,
and Rose Emerson.
Standing:  Grace Griffith Merrill - second wife to John D. Merrill,  Ida Emerson Covell,
 Anna Emerson Merrill - wife to Damon C. Merrill.
Picture taken by William Covell about 1904

William Covell - husband to Ida Emerson and Damon C. Merrill - husband to Anna Emerson.

2.  Mary and Esther Dahlgren at the Kendall Oil Refinery in the 1940s:

Esther Dahlgren first on bottom row  and Mary Dahlgren fifth on the bottom row.

Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren

Alexander with his first wife, two sons and sister Elsie - about 1917.
Seated from left to right, (son) Francis Carollton Dahlgren, (wife) Hilda Danielson Dahlgren,
(son) Robert  Lewis Dahlgren,  Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren, standing behind Alexander, (sister), Elsie Dahlgren

Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren

Timeline

• 1886            Bruno Dahlgren and Emma Charlotta Johansson marry, Lidkoping, Sweden
• 1887            Sister - Agnes Marie Emilia Dahlgren born, Lidkoping, Sweden
• 1887            Bruno, Emma and Agnes immigrate from Sweden to US
• 1888            Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren born, Brooklyn, NY
• 1890            Brother – Axel Brynolf Dahlgren born, Brooklyn, NY
• 1893            Brother – Andrew Dahlgren born, Southington, CN
• 1893            Brother – Andrew Dahlgren dies, Southington, CN
• 1893            Brother – Axel Dahlgren dies, Southington, CN
• 1895            Sister – Agnes Marie Dahlgren dies
• 1895            Sister – Elsie Axelina Dahlgren born, Southington, CN
• 1896            Sister – Anna Aurora Dahlgren born, Southington, CN
• 1898            Sister – Ethel EmeialDahlgren born, Brooklyn, NY
• 1902            Mother – Emma and baby die in childbirth,    Brooklyn, NY
• 1904            Sister – Ethel Dahlgren dies, Bradford, PA
• 1904            Sisters – Elsie and Anna placed in Kallman’s Orphanage,  Brooklyn, NY
• 1905-1906            Anna Dahlgren adopted by Frederick and Hilda Jansen
• 1912            Alexander marries Hilda Danielson, Jamestown, NY
• 1914            Son – Francis Carrollton Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1916            Son – Robert Lewis Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1918            Wife – Hilda Danielson Dahlgren dies, miscarriage, Bradford, PA 
• 1921            Alexander marries Iva Pearl Emerson, Bradford, PA
• 1922            Son - Edward Allen Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1923            Daughter – Esther Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1923            Son from first marriage - Robert Dahlgren sent to live with his mother's sister                        
• 1923            Sister – Elsie Dahlgren dies, Stoney Wold Sanatorium, NY
• 1924            Daughter – Mary Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1926            Son – William Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1927            Daughter - Elsie Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1929            Daughter -Namoi Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1933            Son – Ward Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1938            Son – Phillip Dahlgren born, Bradford, PA
• 1962            Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren dies, Detroit, MI

My father, William Dahlgren, said very little about his father.  What he did say was that Alexander had been deeply affected by the loss of his siblings and mother as a young man.  He was left in his teens to fend for himself as a tailor and was separated from his remaining sisters who were placed in an orphanage.  During Alexander's young adult life he set up shop as a tailor and helped his remaining sister, Elsia, through stenographer school.  (His other sister, Anna, was adopted by a Swedish couple.)  Elsia never married and died from tuberculosis in her twenties.
Hilda, his first wife, died after only six years of marriage, leaving him with the care of his two sons.  Iva Pearl Emerson comes into his life at this time.  According to my father's history, she worked as his housekeeper and they later married in 1921.
The following are stories about Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren recorded in William Dahlgren's history, 100 Years:

Alexander and Hilda began their marriage on Delaware Avenue and this was the home he brought Iva to after their marriage.
      "Life on Delaware Avenue was rather pleasant for the children...as they had a yard to play in complete with a long rope swing, a sand box and a slide that went from the big oak tree right into the sand box.  (Dad) would rebuild these each summer.  Neighborhood children were allowed to come play in our yard but we were not allowed out of the yard.  This was brought to the extreme when (Dad) built a covered, floored,  picnic area.  He even had lights strung all around the roof.  Neighbors were invited and brought their children which made for a great time for all."

Alexander had been trained as a tailor, like his father Bruno Dahlgren.  Around 1927 the business world turned for tailors:
        "In Bradford...the new thing is that ready made suits have been introduced and are rapidly taking over the suit market.  This brings a chill to the heart of Dad for this is his whole life.  The thought that no one would go to a tailor for their suit to be made was difficult to accept.   Dad and the other tailors in Bradford got together to discuss the outcome of this new development...at the outset there (was) much gnashing of teeth...but cooler heads prevailed...more wealthy customers would most likely stay with them as the new ready made suit did not use quality material...and women would never go (with) mass production (dresses)...(tailors) would always have a market from women who demanded the finest..." 
Sadly, the depression and mass production took it's toll on Alexander's business.  He closed the shop he started with his first wife and went to work with another tailor, but could not make ends meet.

According to my father, scarlet fever, diphtheria and other illnesses terrified Alexander. He felt that his Dad harbored a great fear of loss, due to his experiences growing up seeing so many of his family members die.
        "...his greatest fear resurfaces--illness to the children.  Scarlet Fever will hit all but Mary.  The house is quarantined which means that Dad must stay at the shop and not enter the house or he also will be forced to stay home.  His only contact with the family is to deliver groceries to the front porch and talk through a window. Scarlet fever is a serious disease at the time and is greatly feared.  Dad is no exception...He truly dreads loosing more family members to disease."
"...the winter of '34 was the back breaker for our living in Foster Brook as again illness struck everyone in the family in one form or another...As usual illness in the family would hit Dad very hard and in the case of Elsia he was most upset as he had seen so many of his family die from diphtheria.  When Elsia survived he was so relieved that he made her a fur coat and adopted her as his pet."


Alexander moved the family to a healthier area of Bradford and decided about this time that tailoring could not provide for his family so he started work for the WPA as a stone mason.  I don't know if Alexander was aware of it, but many of his father's relatives had worked the stone quarries in Sweden.  He soon discovered a love for engineering.
"It is with great reluctance that (Dad) finally...applies for work in the WPA.  He is given work as a stone mason cutting stones to be used for curbs.  The engineering instinct in him comes out in this job and gets him deeply involved in designing tools to cut  stone.  The project leader where he works understands his interest and allows him to use the necessary equipment to make the tools.  He takes great pride in each new tool he creates and will bring them home to show everyone his handiwork.  It is good to see him excited about something after going to so long with disappointment after disappointment in the tailoring trade."

Alexander knew Swedish songs and loved to sing them to the girls while rocking them:
        "I understand that in the beginning of the marriage when the children were young, Dad would rock each child on his knee and sing them songs in Swedish."  

My fathers teenage memories of his dad were of a man troubled and withdrawn, who resorted to hand signals as life became more difficult.  He certainly was a man who endured much sorrow and grief.  I would have loved to hear him sing his Swedish songs and seen everyone dancing on his picnic floor.
Lisa Dahlgren
William Dahlgren's 100 Years  (pages: 23, 25, 38, 39-40, 44-45)

John Denver's "Grandma's Feather Bed" on the Muppet Show

Grandma's Feather Bed

Feather Bed Fun at Grandma's House

From Pam Hoover:
I have memories of the blue room, the one with the feather bed.  I remember the very soft bed we ended in the middle only.  Also, the pass through from the bathroom to the other bedroom, what fun!  But, as for grandma, I remember the African violets she grew so beautifully.  In fact, I loved hers so, that I grew them up until recently.  When we decide to stop traveling I  will do them again.  Grandma gave me two pieces of advise that I remember well:
1. "Never have an odd number of children as one will always be left out."
2. "And, save every penny you can as that war in Vietnam might get bad enough that they will come in handy."

From Lisa Dahlgren:
I remember Grandma's feather bed and begging to sleep in it.  You would roll up in a cloud of feathers at night and wake to the beat of the rigs pumping oil out of the heart of the hills in the morning.  One morning, when I was older, I wondered at the silence when the sun came through the mountains.  I ran downstairs to ask grandma why the oil rigs weren't making any sound and she said the companies were all closed.  I missed it.

I recall grandma's bathroom and a claw foot tub the size of a swimming pool.  There was great fear and trepidation whenever taking a bath if you were under 2-3 feet tall...how on earth could you get out?  There was an added feature to her bathroom never seen in any house.  The bathroom closet had a secret passage that led to another bedroom.  All you needed to do was push the towels out of the way and grab a flashlight.  Once the way was clear,  you could hoist each other up and crawl through to the next room!  We had so much fun plotting how we were going to take advantage of our discovery.

Whenever I was around her I felt grandma's love for the Lord and sensed she had a special relationship with God.  I also saw her love for  her children and her family.  Once when I was little, Grandma went on a small day trip with my dad and I to show us the places from her youth. I saw her home, parents, brothers and sisters through her eyes as she spoke.  I clearly remember stopping by a hill, where she pointed to an area of trees and an old shack saying that it was the place of her parent's home.

I loved grandma Dahlgren.

From Phil Dahlgren:
Mom Dahlgren often said, "I have only one accomplishment in life - raising ten kids and keeping them all out of jail."





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2nHGlE06y0

Memories of Grandma Dahlgren

Grandma Dahlgren with Lisa and Michael (baby) Dahlgren - 1958

FROM STEPHANIE LOGAN:

Back in the "old" days when I was in my early teens I remember spending a few weeks in the summer at Grandma Dahlgren's house. One day Linda (Austin), Steve (Oxley) and I were out running around town and it started raining.
We ran back to Grandma's house where she gave us some hot chocolate. Since I was staying there I had some dry clothes. I remember sharing my clothes with Linda, but Steve ended up in one of Grandma's bathrobes until she could dry his clothes, which back then meant they hung near the stove since there was no dryer.  While we enjoyed our hot chocolate we decided to play poker at the dining room table.  This dining room table held a lot of good memories. Not only did Linda and I take all Steve's baseball cards at that time, but I remember enjoying hot chocolate in one of Grandma's fragile tea cups. It was a great day.  (We gave Steve back his cards later that day.)

I remember one time in Bradford where I was bored,  Linda was busy and Uncle Amos was visiting. Grandma decided she wanted to get out so Uncle Amos drove us to Rock City. Even though they were up in age at that time, they tromped through the woods on paths that were a bit steep even for me. It was my special time with two special people. 

When Grandma was in the hospital in Meadville I remember my mom and I taking the drive from Akron to visit her. She looked so frail. Not anything like the grandma I remember carrying a basket of clothes to hang on the line then pulling them in to iron. (Taking care of laundry was how she paid the rent.) It was that trip when the doctor stopped us to tell us she probably would not live through the night. That was a tough ride home.

Finally, when Grandma died I remember the funeral home where she was laid out.  I was 15 at the time. I remember looking at the casket and all the flowers.  My mom told me that they had 52 white roses and 10 red roses put on the casket, fifty-two for the number of grandkids and great grandkids she had at the time and ten for her children.  I remember Bill Boyle and I walking around the block sharing great stories of our time with Grandma. 

Each one of us grandchildren have different stories of Grandma. These are my memories. 

Love to all,

Stef

FROM SANDY OXLEY FEHRMAN:

The recollections of a young girl, one of Iva's first grandchildren, are cherished

memories of a strong, loving and courageous Grandma.  It was through my

own mother, Esther Dahlgren Oxley, that I saw Iva as a depression-era warrior.

Iva was a tough old bird with no airs about her.  In fact, I remember well her

belching, a sudden, loud and unexpected noise that always made me jump.  I

was horrified by the lack of "manners" and yet my Mom (teacher of manners)

never criticized or made excuses for Iva.  My Grandma Dahlgren was a hero

to her daughter.  Iva was a huge presence in a room as everyone looked to her

for direction and approval.  It turns out, as I grew to know more about her, that

she wasn't only too big for the room, or the house, but for the times.  Iva

was an example to her family of the power of the will; the desire to raise children

with a respect for education and for honesty and integrity. 

Iva married Alexander Dahlgren, a Swedish immigrant and a tailor from "the

old country".  Alexander was a man I learned little about and never met as he

was long gone before I came on the scene.  Iva took in Alexander's two sons

from a previous marriage and had eight more children of her own.  The eldest

daughter, second born, was my mother.  All of Iva's children were named

from the Bible and I know Iva's strength must have come, at least in part,

from her faith because, oh boy, did she need strength and courage and a

strong will!  

Alexander and Iva's marriage ended after she had eight children with him. 

During that time, she also helped Alexander raise one of his sons from his
 first marriage to Hilda Daniels.  After Alexander left the family, Iva had 
the immense responsibility of caring for the remaining children by herself.

She cleaned houses, took in laundry and ironing and was a

nanny to a wealthy family in Bradford, PA.  My mother had many responsibilities

for her siblings but when she spoke of helping at home, Esther's memories

were good ones.  It is only now, as a mother myself, that I feel great sadness

that Grandma had to worry about finances instead of enjoying raising her

children.  My mother spoke often of Iva's morals and goals for the family. 

She insisted on proper behavior, good school performance, helpfulness at

home and in the community.  Everyone helped support the family. 

Iva was strong.  She was determined and she had dreams for her children. 

She made sure everyone graduated from high school and many also

graduated from college or, at least, attended some college classes. She

was also proud of her family!  Anyone who knew her knew her love for and

pride in her family. 

My personal memories of Grandma Dahlgren were many.  She was always

so happy to see me!  She remembered that I loved chocolate cake with white

icing and hers was the best ever.  She gave me everything in the house that

I admired until my mom insisted she stop.  Iva taught me to be strong, to be

forgiving, to trust in myself, to live my faith and to love my family.  What

better legacy can there be from a Grandma?!

Iva Pearl Emerson Dahlgren Part I

Iva Dahlgren - Christmas 1957

The following is extracted from:
100 Years by, William Dahlgren
(This history was written with
assistance from his sisters Elsia,
Esther, Mary and Naomi)

"Iva’s father’s name was Alfred A. Emerson and her mother was Mary.  (Iva’s) grandfather was named Russell Emerson, born (13 April 1827)…in Bath, New York.”

“We are quite sure that Iva’s great-grandfather, Charles, had fought in the War of 1812 and as a veteran was eligible to buy land in what is known as the Western Reserve.  The Western Reserve stretched from Connecticut through New York and into Ohio.  Alfred’s father, (Robert) Russell, used this grant to buy land in upstate New York in a town called Painted Post.  The land cost him one dollar per acre.  They farmed the land and flourished and it is where Iva’s life begins.”

“(Iva’s mother) was born Mary Adelaid Ward (or Grey), a Welsh woman from Ithica, New York.  Together they bore nine children, three boys and six girls.  Iva was born (June 25 1895)  at Painted Post, New York.  The names of the other children in the order of their age were, (Cora) Edith, Blanche, Maude, Nelson, Amos, Ward, Iva and Celia.”

“The trail of the family is a bit vague at this point but we do know that they moved from Painted Post into Bath, New York and then, while Iva was rather young, moved again into Pennsylvania…”

“The family settled in a small town called Tainters, a short distance from Bradford, Pennsylvania.  The town was nestled in the hills of Pennsylvania complete with cool fresh air, mountain springs and access to Bradford which was prospering from the oil industry.  Tainters itself was not involved with oil but was a lumbering town which made its way by selling lumber and (byproducts)….”

“(Iva’s father) Alfred set up a saw mill in his new home and began building the business. The sawmill was run with team-driven equipment powered with wood.  The trees were cut with axes and crosscut saws.  Horses were used to drag the trees from the woods…At the same time, Iva’s mother, Mary, was the community midwife.  It was a strong family undertaking requiring each to make their contribution with skill and long hours of work.  As I reflect on this period in my mother’s life, I remember detecting a feeling of peace and fond memories as she would talk about those days.  It was a simple, but hard life where a child could grow and gain strength from a stable family unit.”

Kinzua Bridge - this bridge crossed the valley by Tainters and Painted Post.  Family stories indicate that Iva, her  brothers, and sisters crossed the bridge on foot to get to school.  They also learned how to climb down unto the trestles in case they were on the bridge whenever a train came along.

“While Tainters was a small town, it did have a one-room schoolhouse which the children attended.  The classes were oriented to the basics and as the families needed the children for household chores the class schedule often reflected the availability of the children…Iva attended school in Tainters like the others, starting we assume about 1900.  We are not certain how long Iva attended school, but assume it was through the eighth grade.  It was during this time that her character was formed…The lifestyle in the hills and the family upbringing would instill the following qualities in each member of the family.  They, above all, would be self-reliant with a profound sense of responsibility.  As a result, they were also strong-willed with an (impeccable) work ethic.  The quality that pulled all of them together was a (deep) sense of moral values…By the time Iva was out of school, we assume 1908, her character was formed and she would face the world and her life in this manner.”

Part II coming...

Pictures - Bradford

I am sharing a few pictures from my Dad's file.  Under each picture I have posted what I know about the people and places.  Would you let me know if there is anything else you know?

Iva Pearl Dahlgren with her children Ed, Mary, Esther and holding William.

Does anyone have any great information about these four picture?  I recognize the last picture as the time the Alleghany River flooded the Bradford area.  I am not sure who all the children and teens are in each picture.

This is a picture of Mary's wedding with Alexander Napoleon Dahlgren, Phil ( I think),  a tall young man I can't identify, Iva Pearl Dahlgren, Mary Dahlgren, Esther Dahlgren,
and Ward Dahlgren (I think).  Is this by the house on 302 Main Street?  Does anyone know who the tall young man by grandma and grandpa is?