MATILDA ANDERSON
MARCH 26, 1884 - 1956
Matilda (Tilda) was the first born to August and Charlotte. She was very much loved and respected by the other family members. They seemed to think of her as a "second mother". She kept them posted on the events in Sweden by correspondence. I remember my dad receiving a letter from Tilda. He handed it to brother Cole and said, "Do you want to read it?" Cole picked it up and said "Dear Al." No one in Sweden knew dad as "Al." He got quite a kick out of this. Tilda and her family took care of "the old folks" sharing an adjoining cabin.
Tilda married August Johanson on . August was born 1870 and worked as a smelter until he became crippled from arthritis and then worked as a gardener for the government co-op.
Tilda and August had two sons: Arne and Sven-Erik.
Tilda died 1956 and August in 1945.
Arne and Sven-Erik's last name is SVARTMARK; the same situation as Anderson-Borgstrom.
Sven-Erik told me that Tilda hoped her brothers would come back to see her after the war. The post-war years were much better than the 30's but unfortunately for working people, they were still very suppressed. As a result, none of the family ever again returned to their homeland another sad and disturbing fact in the lives of this family.
Realizing all of this, I cannot express the gratitude I felt when I met Sven-Erik at Lindsborg, Kan. in April of 1990 for the first time. This was my first touch with relatives from the homeland. It bridged a lifetime gap and after I spent the day with him and his wife, I felt I had known them all of my life. It was a "Godsend" and I know he feels the same way.
Tilda, Clara, Alma
Portion of a letter and newspaper clipping received by Hjalmar from Tilda - 1940