Olsson was born in Oknö near Mönsterås, the second-eldest child of five children; her siblings were all brothers.[4][5] On 18 February 1876, at the age of 14, she suffered a head wound while outdoors, but seemed to recover from it quickly.[4] On 22 February, she complained of a toothache. Her family believed her tooth was sore because of witchcraft, and she was ordered to go to bed. However, when she fell asleep, she did not wake up.[5]