Searching for my Great Grandfather John Olson

Cheryl Fletcher

Where to start with such a common name and so little information. The name we know him by is John Delphin Olson. Birth date May 12, 1861 (or 1850 or 1857) Immigration 1880/1881. Birth info, all I have is Sweden. No details on his parents. I have not been able to locate his marriage record to my Great Grandmother Hilma Christina Anderson. They did not immigrate together, met in the US. They lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota. I can find them in the 1900 & 1910 census. We believe he was married prior to Hilma and had another family.

Suggestions?

Dennis J Yancey

as for research in Sweden - I am looping in the Nordic group who can be of assistance

@Nordic Countries Genealogy Research​ 

 

DeborahCarl

I found my husband's grandfather's birth place on his death record - San Giorgio la Montagna. Everything else says Italy. If you can find his immigration record you might find his hometown (be sure to check for a page 2).

But you might have to work on FAN - Family, Associates and Neighbors. Immigrants tended to move in or near family or neighbors from the Old Country. Where did Olson's neighbors come from? If you're finding a lot of them are from the same town in Sweden, you should take a look there for your John Delphin Olson.

Don't be surprised if the birth date is not accurate. With my Italian relatives, I find several birth dates until they settle on one. My husband's grandmother could not write her name and did not know her exact birth date.

Dennis J Yancey

are you mainly looking for info here in the US or looking for info in Sweden?

 

LegacyUser

as I can find nearly nothing, I am searching here and Sweden.

Judith Clancy Dalebout

I Found a Jonas Olsson born the 16th of May 1861 who leaves for America in 1881 for St Paul, Minnisota.

Dennis J Yancey

Yes - Judith brings up a good point

one should always consider the possibility that the name may have been "Americanized"

John may not have been his name in the Old World.