Amanda Holm

 Amanda Holm was born March 21, 1868 in Slatthog, Sweden. Her father was the local blacksmith. She was the youngest of 6 children. When she was just under 2 years old her mother died of typhoid fever on February 10, 1870. 10 days later on February 20, her father also died of typhoid fever. This left all the children orphaned. The oldest was only 14 years old. The children were split up and placed in other homes in the parish.  I don't know where Amanda was sent, but in 1880, when she was 12 years old she was sent to live with Sven Andersson Fahna, his wife Kajsa, and their daughter Sara Lena. Sven was in his late 60's, and Kajsa in her late 70's. Sara Lena was in her early 40's. Amanda would have been helpful for the family as records indicate they were all sickly. She was listed as their foster daughter but most likely would have helped with cooking and cleaning for the family. Sven passed away at the age of 70 in 1881. Kajsa passed away at the age of 82 in November 1883. Sometime the next year, in 1884, Amanda joined an older sister in America. She was 16 years old.

One of Amanda's older sisters had immigrated to America earlier. She was married with a family. She helped bring Amanda over. Amanda lived with her sister for a while and then moved to Chicago where she married and had a son and daughter. Amanda married again and had another daughter. Amanda married again for a third time. This time she married one Andrew Fahnstrom, son of Jonas Fahnstrom. Jonas was the son of Sven and Kajsa Fahna, brother of Ingrid Fahna, and uncle of George Henrickson. Andrew had been born in Slatthog in 1864 and immigrated to America in 1890 with his wife and young family. It's hard to know if Amanda kept up with the Fahnstrom family that had immigrated to America, or if it was simply being from Slatthog that brought them together. They lived a happy life together in Galva, Illinois. Andrew passed away in 1944 and Amanda passed away in 1957 at the age of 89. She left 3 children, 2 grandchildren and a great grandchild. Amanda had come a long way from the orphaned 2 year old child in Slatthog, Sweden. 

Andrew Fahnstrom and Amanda Holm