Olivia

Olivia

(Severin)

Biographies Alf. L. Scott and T. J. Westerberg

The community with this name is located along the southern coast of Texas, in Calhoun County, between the Carancahua Bay to the east, and the Lavaca Bay to the west. The city of Port Lavaca is located fourteen miles to the west across the sea, and fourteen miles to the north across land, is La Ward, a railroad community. The founder of the community, Dr. C. J. Haterius, named it Olivia, after his wife, as early as 1893. Farming and ranching have been the major industries but fishing and sea-trade has also contributed to the growth of the community.

John Lind, now living in Ganado, was not only the first, but the only store-keeper in the pioneer-days and he was a great help to the early settlers. As they were accustomed to, they complained that the goods were too expensive but Mr. Lind usually had to wait years to get paid. He and the farmers had to be patient in the early difficult years. His patience helped him and he won both respect and love. In 1906, Mr. E. Wilson and his son Hartwin, bought Mr. Lind’s store, and they have owned it since then.

During the early days it looked as if Olivia would become a large Swedish community, but there are only around twenty Swedish farmers left there and sixteen own their own homes.

Swedish immigration began in 1891. These Swedes came from the northern states. The climate was unusual for them and growing cotton was an experiment they did not like very much in the beginning. Many had never worked on a farm and the farm-work, especially picking cotton, was a tiresome chore, particularly to the older people. But here as elsewhere they learned to like everything about cotton, and many of those sons of the north, now live in Olivia and enjoy the southern hot sun. These were the early pioneers of the community: A. G. Bergstrom, Mr.Williams, M. Cavallin, John Lind, Nels Larson, Chas. Johnson, Pete Swenson, Gust. Swenson, C. Carlson, Eben Olson, Mr. Martinson, and Bengt Fyhr and his daughter, and J. F. Skogberg.

The first to be born in the community was a daughter of the Chas. Johnson family, who was named Eva. The first child to be born in this paradise had to be named Eva. The first bridal couple was Hanna Lind and Robert Utberg who were married in 1900. Mr. Lind’s father was the first to die in 1893 and then Mr. C. Carlson, who died in a bad storm along the Matagorda coast. The pioneers met many difficulties. First they had a persistent draught, and when it started to rain, it never wanted to stop. In spite of all this rain, there was still a shortage of drinking water. They had to drink the same water as the cattle from the pond or dam, and the cattle not only drank from it, but were actually standing in it. In spite of this, there were no major illness among the settlers, except when somebody was bitten by a rattle-snake, and there were plenty of those around. When you were out and met one of those creatures, there was never a question of who had the right of way, and if you had nothing to defend yourself with, you stepped aside.

One of the biggest difficulties the farmers had, was the eradication of the Boll Weavel. The lack of transportation was also a major drawback. Port Lavaca was the only center of trade in the area that had a railroad connection. To get there they had to travel across the lake which was not always possible without danger and difficulties. But these people had courage and faith and in time, most obstacles were removed.

The first cotton-gin was built in 1894 at a cost of $800.00 and it was called the “Farmers’ Gin.” Before it was built they had to transport the cotton for thirty miles to have it ginned, all together sixty miles, there and back behind oxen. A bale of cotton sold for only $20.00 and at the most $25.00. Oh, what patience! The people of Olivia now have their own modern gin which was built at a cost of $10,000. Cotton is now shipped, either by boat, from the gin to Port Lavaca or Galveston. The automobile has taken the place of the oxen in this community as well, and they can now complete in a few hours, a trip that took a few days during pioneer days. In the political field, one of Olivia’s pioneers, M. L. Cavallin, is outstanding. He was a county commissioner for many years and the community can thank him for many improvements particularly in the public road system. Nobody has taken a greater interest in the general welfare of the community than Fred Skogberg.

Among the youths who have grown up in Olivia and have already become known, are the schoolmaster and school mistress, Mr. Conrad Damstrom, Esther Larson, Clara Damstrom, Susanna Haterius, two nurses, Ellen and Ella Swenson, and a preacher, Hugo Haterius. Here, as in many other places, many young men have joined Uncle Sam. Everyone tries to do their duty but we should not forget those who stay home and take care of the community.

Olivia is in general a nice community, attractive and varied in its nature, and those who have stayed have been successful. The community is Swedish Lutheran and it has a nice church.

Extracted from: Swedes In Texas In Words and Pictures,

English Translation, 1838 - 1918