Because of Him

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)