Olina Anna Andersen 
Olina Anna was born on December 3rd, 1849 in Hedemarker, Norway.1 Olina Anna's father was Andrew Anderson and her mother was Anna Pederson. She had four brothers and a sister, named Antone, William, Agustus, Andrew and Ellen. She died due to Cancer of the Stomach at the age of 62 on May 18th, 1912 in Midvale, Salt Lake, Utah. She was buried in Midvale City Cemetery (A, 27, 4), Midvale, Salt Lake, Utah.2 3 General Notes
On her Death Certificate, which was signed by daughter Amelia, her name was Annie. The name a the top of the Death Certificate is Olena A. Paulson. I assume that the A is for Annie or Anderson (no middle name according to Martha A Johnson). The Certificate also states that the names of the Parents are James O. Paulson and Annie Anderson; I think that possibly the young Amelia was distraught and gave information regarding her own parents rather than those of her mother's parents. It would be more than remarkable if Olena's parents' names were the same as her own and her husband's.
In the Salt Lake County Census of 1900, Olena (spelled Ilena) is widowed and supporting herself and her three daughters as a laundress.
In the 1900 Census, Olena also indicates that she arrived in the United States in 1871.
In a letter written to Blaine Bonny, Martha Johnson (cousin, aunt? in Stewartville, Minnesota) says that Olena came to America with her parents from Hedemarker, Norway and that she had 12 brothers and sisters. It is possible that it was Olena's mother who had 12 brothers and sisters. The family first settled in Chicago for a short time then moved to Minnesota and stayed with Martha's family. Olena attended school at Adams [Mowers County in southeast Minnesota]. It appears they were not there long, though the brothers were apparently not far away nor were their uncles. She mentions siblings Altena, Willard, Blanche and her husband Milton.
In 1880, Olena is in Freeborn County and her parents are perhaps in Mower County. There is no record of marriage of Olena to James in either Mower or Freeborn County. Did Olena just decide one day to take the new train to the west. Did James decide to go out of state in search of a new wife? In the late 19th century 60 per cent of all daughters left the country and farm for the city. Perhaps Olena met James in Minnesota if he served as a Scandinavian missionary there. Swedish missionary Mad Anderson was known to have worked in southern Minnesota; he may have convinced Olena to leave for Utah.
Olina Anna and James O. were married in a religious ceremony on December 20th, 1883 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.4 They had four daughters named Mary Altina, Sophia Ellenova, Amelia Olina and Anna Larenda.
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Children
Sophia Ellenova Paulson
Sophia Ellenova was born on August 4th, 1887 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. She died at the age of 1 on December 23rd, 1888 in Midvale, Salt Lake, Utah. She was buried in Midvale City Cemetery (A, 27, 1), Midvale, Salt Lake, Utah.
Amelia Olina Paulson
Amelia Olina was born on September 17th, 1889 in Midvale, Utah.1 She died at the age of 81 on December 6th, 1970 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah.1
1 RossBonny.FTW
2 Ancestry.com Utah Cemetery Inventory
3 Death Certificate
4 IGI, FamilySearch.Org
Further sources/citations:
BettyAndersonSmith.FTW, RossFBonny.FTW
2 Ancestry.com Utah Cemetery Inventory
3 Death Certificate
4 IGI, FamilySearch.Org
Further sources/citations:
BettyAndersonSmith.FTW, RossFBonny.FTW
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