Karlson Family

Charles Henry Karlson
Charles Henry Karlson
photo from Fran Smith

Charles Henry Karlson

Birth: 14 July 1899 in Stanger, Natal

Father: Carl Victor Carlsson

Mother: Elin Elisabet (Nyberg) Karlsson

Education: University of London and Louisiana State University

In 1920, Henry studied at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He arrived in New York on his way there, on 12 March 1920, aboard the Adriatic from Southampton. The manifest lists Charles as 20 years old, born in Stanger, South Africa. He is single, a sugar chemist and a citizen of Great Britain. His last permanent residence was Umzinto, South Africa and his nearest friend of relative in the country from which he came is listed as "friend" (obviously an error, and should be father), K V Karlson of Port Shepstone, Natal. Charles is described as 6'0" tall, with fair hair, fair complexion and grey eyes. It is noted that he has "Amputation right leg Military service". Henry has a disability pension and an allowance of £1500/year. Two years later we find Henry in the manifest of the Cartage which arrived in New Orleans from Havana, Cuba, on 8 December 1922. Charles Karlson is listed as aged 26, a student and citizen of England, born in Natal, South Africa. He is a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and had been there for two years. His nearest relative is listed as his father, K. V. Karlson, of Port Shepstone, Natal. Charles is 6'0" tall with fair complexion, fair hair and blue eyes.

Notes: Charles usually used his middle name, Henry.
He served in World War I, in the 2nd South African Infantry and was wounded in action, resulting in the amputation of his right leg.
Charles's father wrote a letter dated 15 April 1920 published in Trons Segrar in which he mentions news of Charles.
Trons Segrar 1920 p179
  Många av våra vänner ha hört, att vår äldste son var i kriget i Frankrike och där miste sitt högra ben, efter endast 5 veckors vistelse där. När han sedan blev så mycket återställd, att han kunde, började han studera i universitetet i London, där han fick fri skola ett år jämte sin armélön. Han studerade kemi. Återkommen till Afrika, fick han plats hos ett sockerbolag som sockerkontrollör. Nu har detta bolaget sänt honom till Amerika för 4 år, till Louisiana statsuniversitet, for att utbildas till sockerfabrikör. Så det har gått särskilt bra för honom, som ju blott är en 20 års yngling.
which roughly translates to:
  Many of our friends have heard that our oldest son was in the war in France and there lost his right leg after only five weeks of stay there. When he was so much restored, he could, he began studying at the University of London, where he received free school one year along with his army salary. He studied chemistry. Back in Africa, he got place of a sugar company sugar inspector. Now, this company sent him to America for four years, to Louisiana State University, for training in sugar manufacturing. So it has gone very well for him, which of course is a mere 20 years of youth.

Hattie Mae Tullis
Hattie Mae Tullis
photo from Fran Smith
Married (1st): Hattie Mae Tullis on 7 June 1923, in Rapides parish, Louisiana, United States.

Hattie Mae was born on 13 November 1898, in Pineville, Rapides parish, Louisiana, the daughter of John Rufus Tullis and Abbie Christian. In the manifest of the West Isleta in 1929, Hattie Mae is listed as being 5' 4" tall, with fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. She is listed as a seamstress in the 1940 census, and was a teacher in Louisiana. Hattie died in June 1978, in Harrisonville, Virginia, and is buried in Greenwood cemetery, Pineville, Rapides parish, Louisiana.
Census:
1900: Pineville, Rapides parish, Louisiana
1920: Rapides parish, Louisiana
1935: 515 Chartres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana   (1940 census)
1940: 515 Chartres Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

Married (2nd): Esmé Dolling Ford on 30 March 1935 in the Congregational Church, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa
Charles Henry Karlson is recorded as a divorcé, aged 35, born in South Africa. He is an Analytical Chemist, resident in Maidstone. Esmé Dolling Ford is recorded as a spinster, aged 22, born in South Africa and a resident of Maritzburg. The marriage was witnessed by Frances Doreen Ford and Otto Waldemar Karlson.

Occupation: Analytical Chemist
Henry worked for most of his career in the sugar industry. Henry's research was published in the Proceedings of the South African Sugar Technologists Association (SASTA) Congress of 1932:
"The Preservation of Cane Juices by Refrigeration" Proceedings of the South African Sugar Technologists Association Congress 1932  p37 - C. H. Karlson and W. H. Foster
Later Henry became the chemist at the Corporation Water Works in Prestbury, Pietermaritzburg.

Death:
9 July 1954, at Greys Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa, aged 54
The cause of death is listed as cerebral thrombosis, hypertension and arterio sclerosis, and obstructive jaundice, of durations 10 days, years and 10 days respectively.

Cremation: Mountain Rise, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa

Photographs:

Charles Henry Karlson   Charles Henry Karlson   Charles Henry Karlson   Marriage of Charles Henry Karlson and Esme Dolling Ford   Charles Henry Karlson   Charles Henry Karlson   Charles Henry Karlson   Charles Henry Karlson

Portrait Painting
photo from painting held by Chris Gosnell

Military Uniform
photo from Marilyn Gosnell

At Louisiana State University
(1920's, Baton Rouge)
photo from Marilyn Gosnell

Marriage to Esme Dolling Ford
(1935)
photo from Marilyn Gosnell

Henry Karlson (left) - Malaria research at Tongaat
photo from Esme Fuller

with pipe
photo from Esme Fuller

On his land at Quarterdown, Natal
photo from Marilyn Gosnell

Henry looks contentedly at his land, "Quarterdown", where Henry and Esme were building a house, a project never completed due to Henry's death
photo from Esme Fuller
Left Arrrow scroll with your mouse to see more pictures; click on an image for enlargement Right Arrrow

Addresses:
1920: Umzinto, Natal   (manifest of the Adriatic 12 March 1920)
1921: 544 Third Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana   (The Hexagon of Alpha Chi Sigma, vol 12 p122)

Sources:

Elna Elizabeth (Karlson) Emslie

Hattie Mae (Tullis) Karlson and Elna Elizabeth (Karlson) Emslie
Elna Elizabeth (Karlson) Emslie (right)
with her sister-in-law, Hattie Mae (Tullis) Karlson. Written on the back of the photo is "On the beach, Indian Ocean, South Africa"
photo from Fran Smith
Karl Victor Karlsson and family
Karl Victor Karlsson (seated), Elin Elizabet (Nyberg) Karlsson, Elna Elizabeth Karlson and Otto Waldemar Karlson
scanned from Trons Segrar
Haedstone of Wilson Thompson Emslie
Headstone of Wilson Thompson Emslie in Stellawood cemetery, Durban, Natal
photo by Eleanor Garvie posted at eGGSA
Birth: 1902/3, in Natal

Father: Carl Victor Carlsson

Mother: Elin Elisabet (Nyberg) Karlsson

Married: Wilson Thompson Emslie on 8 March 1928, in Port Shepstone, Natal, South Africa
Wilson Thompson Emslie is recorded a bachelor, aged 28, born in the Cape Colony. He is a railway engineer, resident at Seven Fountains, Cape Colony. Elna Elizabeth Karlson is recorded as a spinster, aged 25, born in Natal and resident in Port Shepstone. The marriage was witnessed by E. G. Anderson and O. W. Karlson.

Wilson was born on 26 August 1899 in Grahamstown, Cape Colony, the son of Robert Emslie and Emily Field. He was an engine driver for South African Railways. Wilson died on 9 June 1930 at Musgrave Road Nursing Home, Durban. An inquest found that Wilson's "death was due to concussion resulting from multiple head injuries incurred in a collision between a motor car and cycle, in which deceased was a passenger - Accidental" of duration about two hours. He is buried in Stellawood cemetery, Durban. The headstone on his grave reads:
In Loving Memory of
WILSON T. EMSLIE
Accidentally killed 9th June 1930
Aged 30.
"A Link the Death cannot sever,
Love and Remembrance live forever"

Will, dated 10 August 1929 at Pietermaritzburg Estate Files 1030 #15835 GS film 007866894 image 912:
  THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me WILSON THOMPSON EMSLIE of Greyville Loco Running Sheds, in the County of Durban, made this tenth day of August in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and Twenty Nine.
  I hereby revoke all Wills made by me at any time heretofore. I appoint my wife ELNA ELIZABETH EMSLIE to be my Executor and Direct that all my Debts and Funeral Expenses shall be paid as conveniently may be after my decease.
  I Give and Bequeath all my property, movable and immovable unto my wife the said ELNA ELIZABETH EMSLIE.
    (Sgn.) WILSON THOMPSON EMSLIE.
Signed by the said Testator WILSON THOMPSON EMSLIE in the presence of us, present at the same time, who at his request in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses.
   (Sgd.) Ernest William Boucher, Guard, S.A.R.
   (Sgd.) Ignatius Cornelius Rautenbach, Fireman, S.A. Railways
Addresses:
1928: Seven Fountains, Cape Province, South Africa   (Natal Civil Records Marriages Port Shepstone 1928 #1 DGS 004236663 image 2089)
1930: 30 Venice Road, Durban, Natal   (Natal Civil Records Deaths Durban 1930 #1262 DGS 007752195 image 2668)

Occupation: Teacher
In a letter dated 15 April 1920, Elna's father mentions that she is attending teacher training college and in the Braby's Natal Directory 1950 p1972, Mrs E. E. Emslie is listed as a teacher in Port Shepstone, and in her father's obituary in 1960, Elna is noted as being "of the staff of the Port Shepstone school".

Notes:
Elna's father wrote a letter dated 15 April 1920 published in Trons Segrar in which he mentions Elna.
Trons Segrar 1920 p179
Våra andra barn har också Herren hjälpt oss med. Vår dotter går nu på statens folkskollärarinneseminarium.
which roughly translates to:
Our other children also has the Lord helped us. Our daughter now attends State Public school teacher training college

Sources:

Otto Waldemar Karlson

Karl Victor Karlsson and family
Karl Victor Karlsson (seated), Elin Elizabet (Nyberg) Karlsson, Elna Elizabeth Karlson and Otto Waldemar Karlson
scanned from Trons Segrar
Birth: 1905/6, in Natal, South Africa

Father: Carl Victor Carlsson

Mother: Elin Elisabet (Nyberg) Karlsson

Married: Violet Martha Gurine Andreasen on 11 August 1935 in Port Shepstone, Natal, South Africa
Otto Waldermar Karlson is recorded as a bachelor, aged 29, born in Natal, S.A. He is a book-keeper resident at Punzi Drift P.O. Izingolweni, Natal. Violet Martha Gurine Andreason is recorded as a spinster, aged 24, born in Natal, S.A. and resident at Punzi Drift P.O. Izingolweni. The marriage was witnessed by C. A. Noakes and J. G. Andreasen.

Violet was born in 1910/11 in Natal, South Africa, the daughter of Edwin Ingwald Andreason and Annie Thea Rositzky.

Occupation:
Book-keeper. Otto's research at the Experiment Station of the South African Sugar Association at Mount Edgecombe, Natal, was published in the Proceedings of the South African Sugar Technologists Association (SASTA) Congress in the 1930's:
Notes:
A record in 1936 shows the transfer of the Entangeni Trading Site in location no. 17, Bizana from E.I. Andreason to O.W. Karlson.

Death: 1972

Sources:
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