13/52 -- A Rocky Start for My Grandfather

The early part of John Oliver Manson’s life undoubtedly affected his footloose nature over the rest of his life. [A reminder for those new to my grandfather’s story - “John Oliver Manson” turned out to be “Otto Johan Månsson” in the old country. Which turned out to be Sweden rather than Australia.]

During the late 19th century, Malmö experienced significant changes and growth. The modernization of the harbor in the late 1700s played a crucial role in Malmö's rise, as did the advent of the railroad. By the 1880s, Malmö had become an industrial powerhouse. The city excelled in textile manufacturing and produced mechanical components for various industries.

Malmö had several churches, both Lutheran and other denominations, and notable Lutheran churches included Sankt Johannes, Sankt Pauli, and Sankt Petri. In 1880, the new Caroli Church was completed. It was designed by the renowned Stockholm architect Emil Viktor Langlet.

It was in this parish that Otto Johan was born.

Many Malmö residents worked in textile factories, producing fabrics, clothing, and other goods. The textile industry was a significant employer. Skilled artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, and other tradespeople contributed to the local economy. Malmö's harbor is usually bustled with activity. Ships arrived and departed, carrying goods and passengers. It was also a jumping-off place for emigration for those looking for a better life.

Successful business owners, factory owners, and entrepreneurs belonged to the upper class. They lived in spacious homes, often with servants. Upper-class individuals emphasized education, culture, and refinement.

Middle-class families included shopkeepers, doctors, teachers, and civil servants. They enjoyed a more comfortable lifestyle than the working class. Education was valued, and middle-class children attended schools.

The working class comprised most of the population, toiling in factories, docks, and construction sites. Trade unions emerged in this period, but most working-class families faced financial constraints and lived in modest conditions.

And at the bottom of the ladder were landless laborers who struggled to make ends meet.

Enter my great grandparents, Lars Månsson and Johanna Persdotter, likely at the bottom of the class structure in Sweden. Lars was a farmhand, worker, coachman, and finally, kerosene dealer.

Lars was born November 9, 1846, and Johanna was born June 26, 1850. They were married on September 26, 1870.

Their first-born son, Pers, was born a few months after marriage. He was followed by Hanna (1873), Anna (1875), Betty (1878), and my grandfather, Otto Johan, born on May 25, 1880.

Most working-class families lived in tenement buildings. These were multi-story structures with small apartments. Apartments were often cramped, with several family members sharing a single room. Sanitary conditions varied. Some areas had access to clean water and sewage systems, while others lacked proper facilities. Disease spread like wildfire, and sanitation was not to be heard of. Pildammarna was the city's water supply; factories everywhere spewed out black smoke and sewage into the streets, contaminating drinking water.

In the late 19th century, dysentery (rödsot) wreaked havoc in various parts of Sweden, including Malmö. In some areas of Sweden, particularly during the worst outbreaks, up to 90% of all deaths were attributed to dysentery. The disease flared up irregularly, and the transmission patterns differed from one outbreak to the next. The impact varied significantly across different regions and localities. Individual clusters with high mortality were often observed within the same county.

Otto and his family were in the middle of all this. Johanna died of dysentery on August 19, 1881 -- Otto was 15 months old. Otto's brother Per (10 years old) died 12 days later of the same disease. During the last 2 weeks of August 1881, there were 36 deaths in the Malmö Caroli parish -- 19 of these were from dysentery.

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This is part of a series of posts designed to keep me busy and off the street. My New Year’s Resolution was to do one per week. Hopefully some of these musings will contribute to a successor to Immigrant Secrets.

(https://www.amazon.com/Immigrant-Secrets-Search-My-Grandparents/dp/B0B45GTTPP).

You can get the posts directly HERE (https://www.searchformygrandparents.com/subscribe) or use the subscribe button on this page (https://authory.com/johnmancini).

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The five previous most recent posts…