The picture above: Sofia with some of her children and grand-children in front of Storrydet where she spent 34 years of her life – 24 years with her beloved husband Johan August
Sofia grew up in Sötåsa Norrgård, the northernmost village of the same village as Johan August- her husband- grew up in. Her parents were Johan Samuelsson (29 sept 1813-)and Stina-Lisa Carlsdotter (20 Febr 1811-).
Maja-Lotta born (Aug.3 1834-). She married Johan Anderssson. Johan August (April 14 1838-) died as a child. Anna Lovisa – (April 14 1840-)- she married Engstrand and moved to the US. Hedda Christina (6 Dec.1842-) – married Engdal and moved to the US, Gustaf Alfred (Aug.6 1845-), Johannes Adolf (Sept 9. 1847), Sofia May 17 1849 who died young, and a younger sister Matilda born 14 April 1857 to whom Sofia was close all her life.
To see Sofias Ancestry: Go to the Ancestry of Sofia
Sötåsa Norrg
Sofia married Johan August 1876 as she was 22 years old and Johan August was 30 years old.
They had 11 children:
John 1877,Josef 1878,David 1880, Hanna 1882, Judith 1884, Maria1885, Agnes 1887,
Elisabeth 1889, Isak 1891 and Ruben 1893 o Tekla 1896.
Agnes died 1892- only 5 years old and David died half a year later- 12 years old. This was a very hard time in their lives.
Sofia was teaching her children, both schooling and practical work. She was making leather purses to sell. The younger children were taught by the older siblings.
Sofia was said to be a little bit shy. When Johan August decided to follow his new belief of keeping saturday as the holy day- Sofia said: ‘If YOU want this, I will do it too’. She was warmly christian but didnt go as much to meetings as Johan August. She would be the one to stay more at home.
Sofia survived Johan August by 15 years. He died 1909. The years after this were strugglesome.
1910 the daughters Judith and Maria emigrated to the US. They were then 26 and 25 years old.
The younger sons Isak and Ruben were still at home, 17 and 19 years old. The oldest daughter Hanna, who was 27 years old came home after having been in Norway and in Nyhyttan for some time. Hanna died 1912- only 30 years old.
Abt 1912 the second son Josef moved home to Storrydet from Nyhyttan where he had been in charge of the farming for 6 years- he was then 34 years old.
Sofia stayed at Sötåsa til about 1914 when the animals and goods were sold at an auction: See Newspaper ad below. The no 2 son Josef moved away and took a job as a farmhand in another farm and Sofia moved to the closeby farm Åbo where the younger son Isak lived with his family. Storrydet was leased to a family Götberg until it was sold 1919.
1922 her oldest son John who had been close, both geographically as well as family-wise, died 44 years old in tuberculosis.
Sofia died 1924 in the middle of the winter. Her daughter Elisabeths little newborn baby daughter died at the same time and they were in the same wake and funeral. The little cast is on the picture beside Sofias.
According to the tradition the outdoor compound was decorated with spruces (not pines)
The Obituary: ‘Sofia was put to sleep after a hard but patient suffering, in strong faith in her Saviour in an age of 69 years and 10 months, mourned by (the children with spouses) : Judith and Rudolf, Lisa (Elisabeth) and Oskar, Isak and Anna, Teckla and Gustav, Maria Bjurström, Anna Blomdahl and Josef and Ruben.