Claus' birth record is online at https://app.arkivdigital.se/volume/v36458?image=46 , and it mentions Ekelund and Hult, as mentioned also in the letter we have from the archivist.
Claus was born June 11, 1864, in Vetlanda, Sweden, and attended grade school there 1871-1877. In July, 1880 he started as an apprentice in a furniture shop where he worked for three years. He emigrated to the US March 26, 1883, as is recorded in the census, because he was about to be drafted into the Swedish Army for four years. His opportunity came when a Mr. Swan Carlson from Pilot Mound went to Sweden to get farm workers, to be indentured for one year. He arrived in Pilot Mound on April 18, 1883. He hired out to a farmer in that community and began at once to take an active part in the Grant Center Congregation which is now, Trinity Lutheran Church of Boxholm. When he was 21 the church was built, and he drew the plans for it and helped with the construction. When Claus was 21 he drew the plans and supervised the building of Grant Center Lutheran Church near Boxholm, Iowa, in Boone County, Iowa. Then he farmed nearby until 1887 or 88, and went to Stratford, in Hamilton County. There he managed a furniture store and built caskets for C. J. Danielson, who had another store in Dayton. He met Anna Carlson in Dayton, and married her December 23, 1890. He was superintendent of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Orphan Home for 16 years at Stanton, Iowa, starting in 1892: all five children were born during this period. He managed another orphan home for two years at Vasa, Minnesota. They were very much interested in Sunday School and congregational work, and both sang in the choir. He went to the ``79 Ranch" in Barber, Montana, for two years, for a Mr. Eklund, whose son still owns the ranch, which is now called the Eklund Ranch. (Is there any connection between Eklund ranch and the village "Ekelund" where Claus was born?) Claus worked as a carpenter, helped them build shacks, an irrigation system, and started a lumber company. The ranch was near the Musselshell River, where there was sheep herding and sheep shearing. Mr. Dawson was the ranch foreman. They had 18-28 Hereford bulls and three cowboys. The log cabin they lived in near Ryegate is still there. In 1912 he came back to Dayton, bought a farm north of town, and farmed until 1925, when they sold out and moved to town. Anna died November 8, 1932. In 1935 he retired and moved from Dayton to Boone, where he became a cabinet maker and painter. He married Alice Wiley in 1938. He was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church throughout his life. He died April 11, 1955, at home, 1728 Crawford Street, Boone, Iowa, and is buried in the Dayton cemetery.Rebecca Grayson has (1992) a dresser with a mirror that Claus built, which she got from her mother, June. She also has a silver set that used to belong to her mother June
on which is inscribed "Complements of Manrelunds Församling, to C. G. & A. Lind." Dan Grayson has a wall cabinet that Claus built.
We have a picture of the tombstone, and it looks like this:
LIND
ANNA CLAUS G.
1859 1931 1864 1955Dan Grayson's baby book has a family tree in it that lists Claus' father as Carl Wilhelm Lind.
Claus was born June 11, 1864, in Vetlanda, Sweden, and attended grade school there 1871-1877. In July, 1880 he started as an apprentice in a furniture shop where he worked for three years. He emigrated to the US March 26, 1883, because he was about to be drafted into the Swedish Army for four years. His opportunity came when a Mr. Swan Carlson from Pilot Mound went to Sweden to get farm workers, to be indentured for one year. He arrived in Pilot Mound on April 18, 1883. He hired out to a farmer in that community and began at once to take an active part in the Grant Center Congregation which is now, Trinity Lutheran Church of Boxholm. When he was 21 the church was built, and he drew the plans for it and helped with the construction. When Claus was 21 he drew the plans and supervised the building of Grant Center Lutheran Church near Boxholm, Iowa, in Boone County, Iowa. Then he farmed nearby until 1887 or 88, and went to Stratford, in Hamilton County. There he managed a furniture store and built caskets for C. J. Danielson, who had another store in Dayton. He met Anna Carlson in Dayton, and married her December 23, 1890. He was superintendent of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Orphan Home for 16 years at Stanton, Iowa, starting in 1892: all five children were born during this period. He managed another orphan home for two years at Vasa, Minnesota. They were very much interested in Sunday School and congregational work, and both sang in the choir. He went to the ``79 Ranch" in Barber, Montana, for two years, for a Mr. Eklund, whose son still owns the ranch, which is now called the Eklund Ranch. Claus worked as a carpenter, helped them build shacks, an irrigation system, and started a lumber company. The ranch was near the Musselshell River, where there was sheep herding and sheep shearing. Mr. Dawson was the ranch foreman. They had 18-28 Hereford bulls and three cowboys. The log cabin they lived in near Ryegate is still there. In 1912 he came back to Dayton, bought a farm north of town, and farmed until 1925, when they sold out and moved to town. Anna died November 8, 1932. In 1935 he retired and moved from Dayton to Boone, where he became a cabinet maker and painter. He married Alice Wiley in 1938. He was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church throughout his life. He died April 11, 1955, at home, 1728 Crawford Street, Boone, Iowa, and is buried in the Dayton cemetery.
Rebecca Grayson has (1992) a dresser with a mirror that Claus built, which she got from her mother, June. She also has a silver set that used to belong to her mother June
on which is inscribed "Complements of Manrelunds Församling, to C. G. & A. Lind." Dan Grayson has a wall cabinet that Claus built.
We have a picture of the tombstone, and it looks like this:
LIND
ANNA CLAUS G.
1859 1931 1864 1955Dan Grayson's baby book has a family tree in it that lists Claus' father as Carl Wilhelm Lind.
BIRTH: Also shown as Born Hvetlanda, Småland, Sweden.
Born October 13, 1828, in Kråkshult parish, Sweden. Died at the age of 94 in Sweden according to Ted Lind, 1975.
The family lived at the small cottage Ekelund under the farm Hult, from 1865 Skoarp under Vetlanda postgård, and from 1886 Åkersdal under the same farm. In 1895 the parents and one daughter were living at Åkersdal under Hvetlanda postgard. The children were all born in Hvetlanda parish, Sweden.
Carl's death record is online at https://app.arkivdigital.se/volume/v172682?image=63 . It says he died of a cerebral hemorrhage. It also gives a cross reference to his entry in the census book : "238 I". That page is online at https://app.arkivdigital.se/volume/v172641?image=2500 . It shows Carl's occupation as "Toffel" maker, a maker of slippers or wooden clogs.
Information about the grave is available at https://www.svenskagravar.se/gravsatt/83360908 .
The family is listed in the census, 1866-1870, on page 185, online at https://app.arkivdigital.se/volume/v22501?image=201 .
Rebecca and Daniel Grayson found the grave in June, 2019. Inquiries about its status resulted in this reply:
"I have been looking for those buried in our register, but not found them because the graves are old. If you have found the stones over the deceased at Vetlanda cemetery, these will remain forever. No cost will be charged when these stones are classified as culturally interesting. The remains of the deceased will not be removed.
With best regards
Jan Johansson
Förvaltningsassistent
Kyrkogårdsförvaltningen
Vetlanda pastorat
0383-553585"Born October 13, 1828, in Kråkshult parish, Sweden. Died at the age of 94 in Sweden according to Ted Lind, 1975.
The family lived at the small cottage Ekelund under the farm Hult, from 1865 Skoarp under Vetlanda postgård, and from 1886 Akersdal under the same farm. In 1895 the parents and one daughter were living at Åkersdal under Hvetlanda postgard. The children were all born in Hvetlanda parish, Sweden.
BIRTH: Also shown as Born 13 Oct 1828
DEATH: Also shown as Died 1923
Her birth record is online at https://app.arkivdigital.se/volume/v33052?image=122
SURNAME: Also shown as Adamsdotter
GIVEN NAMES: Also shown as Gustafva
John was 6'3" tall. He had a twin sister.
John was 6'3" tall.
Lived at 1503 Anthony Street in Columbia.