Emma Elizabeth Sanderson, Civil War Poet (52 Ancestors, week 19)

Emma Elizabeth Sanderson > Elmira Lyons > Lillian Emma Ransom >  Charles Lloyd Walters

 

Emma Elizabeth Sanderson is the daughter of Loren Sanderson and Almira Allen. She was born on June 18, 1847 in Oriskeny, New York. She married John Lyons in 1864. John enlisted in naval service in the Civil War in September of 1864 and by the end of the war, he was serving in Texas. After the war, the couple settled in Leroy and later Marengo, Iowa, both in Benton County. Emma’s parents and family also settled in Benton County. Emma gave birth to 7 children, 6 who lived to adulthood. Emma and John both died on the same day, May 2, 1914, Emma being seized with grief over the death of her husband. They are buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Marengo. Emma’s marker includes the symbol of the Women’s Relief Corp. 

The following is a poem that Emma is said to have written while waiting for John to return from the Civil War. As far as I have seen and can tell it is an original. (If anyone knows differently, please let me know)

Poem by Emma Lyons                    Utica, New York, June 7th, 1865

He is coming home today

Yes, he's coming home, my darling,

From the field where fiery wars

Holds his carnival in horror

Of the dear old Stripes and stars

and impatiently I'm waiting,

While the tedious hours delay,

For my gallant sailor lover

Who is coming home today.

Oh, my eyes were dim and tearful

As I watched him go away,

Looking oh, so brave and fearless

But he's coming home today.

How my cheeks turned pale with terror,

How my heart stood still with fright,

When they told me how he'd battled

In the thickest of the fight,

And I prayed that God would shield him

In the terrible affray

And forbid the balls to harm him.

But he's coming home today.

He is good as he is gallant,

And has such a charmed air.

And such mischief making glances

And such waves of curling hair

Oh my life is full of gladness

And my heart with pleasure gay

For my Johny true and faithful

And he's coming home today.

Sources: Census records from Ancestry; family photos, letters and stories

Thomas Lord, 11-times great-grandfather (52 Ancestors, week 18)

Thomas Lord > William Lord > Benjamin Lord > Andrew Lord > Huldah Lord > Caleb Chapman > Pamela Chapman > Melchior Walters > Freeman Walters > Florence Eugene Walters > Cecil Lloyd Walters > Charles Lloyd Walters

Thomas Lord, son of Richard and Joan Lord, was born in England around 1585. Philip Lord, Jr, a direct descendant of Richard Lord, has done extensive research on the Lord family. He concludes that the Lord family was of middle class and fairly well off based on the property listed in Richard's will and other clues which he talks about on his website.

Thomas Lord and his family left England spring of 1635 aboard the ship Elizabeth and Ann and arrived in Boston harbor in July 1635. Thomas, age 50, traveled with his wife Dorothy and 7 of their 8 children. The eldest son, Richard, had arrived in the New World sometime earlier, probably to prepare the way for the rest of his family. Richard had been granted land in the town of Newtown (later called Cambridge) and the family probably lived with him for the first winter. The passenger lists says the Thomas is a "smith" which would have been a very valuable occupation to the colony and there are later records that show his eldest son, Richard, to have been a metal smith.

In the fall of 1635, some of the colonists, under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Hooker, were looking to move. The group was already becoming too large for the town and space was becoming limited. A location up the Connecticut River was selected for a new settlement. By spring 1636, preparations were made. Most of the supplies would be shipped from the Boston Harbor and up the Connecticut River. On May 31, 1636, one hundred colonists, a group which included the Lord family, along with 160 cattle began to walk the 100 mile trail to their new home in Hartford, Connecticut.

It is believed that Thomas died around 1655 as there are not further records relating to him, but he had certainly died by 1663 when the records of Hartford include an order to his wife, Dorothy, to maintain a section of fence, an order that would have certainly been directed to Thomas if he had been alive.

Sources: Some of the Ancestors of the Reverend John Selby Frame and his wife Clara Winchester Dana, compiled by Julia Locke Frame Bunce, Ancestry.com; Passenger Lists from packrat-pro.com/ships/shipnames.htm; Philip Lord’s site at living-in-the-past.com

Absalom Johanson Landberg 1847-1928 (52 Ancestors, week 17)

Absalom Landberg > Ida Petronella Landberg > Hulda Vidlund > Lorayne Wendorf

AJ and Christine's wedding photo

Absalom Johanson Landberg, who often went by A.J., was born on November 14, 1847 to Johan Hansson and Petronella Andersdotter in Mo, Göteborg Och Bohus,​ Sweden. He was born “Absalom Johanson” and added “Landberg” later in his life. From family stories, I know he was a sailor while in Sweden and also worked in a store in Norway.

He came to America and Minnesota on 1873 and on November 28, 1874 he married Mary Erickson. I haven’t much information about Mary, but it is probable that she died within a couple years of their marriage as Absalom entered into his second marriage less than 3 years later, marrying Christina Louise Nelson on September 1, 1877 in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Upon coming to Minnesota, AJ lived the first ten years or so in Minneapolis where he worked as a cooper. At least part of that time he worked Mr. A. M. Anson who operated his business on the corner of 6th Street and 14th Ave, Minneapolis. AJ was living South Washington Ave during this time. I’m sure AJ wouldn’t be able to recognize his old stomping grounds. To help make ends meet, the family took on boarders.

Around 1894, AJ and his family moved to the area of Watertown and Hollywood in Carver County, Minnesota. Absalom set his sights on becoming a farmer, however he didn’t know much about farming. Their daughter remembers Christine instructing AJ on the ins-and-outs of farming, often working in the fields herself. The couple had 12 children, all but 2 lived to adulthood.

By 1926, A.J. and Christine were once again living in Minneapolis, this time at 1942 Hayes Street. The large stucco house at this current address is the same that AJ and family would have lived in and it was in this house, on September 11, 1928, where Absalom died. He was buried in the Watertown Public Cemetery in Watertown, Minnesota.

Sources: City Directories, Census, and death records from Ancestry.com; Swedish birth records from FamilySearch.org; Family stories from Vidlund Family Roots by Bruce Mattson; family photos from Bruce and others; Trulia.com property information