The Karlberg Chronicle

Part I: Carl Magnus Petersson – the first Karlberg 1834-1921
Part II: Augusta Maria Carlberg (1856-1933)
Part III: Johanna Sophia Mathilda Carlberg (1869-1943)
Part IV: Carl Albert Carlberg (1858-1942)
Part V: Christina Lovisa Carlberg (1865-1934)
Part VI: Frans August Karlberg (1862-1917)
Part VII: Jonas Peter Emil Carlberg (1872-1937)
Part VIII: Gustaf Anders Fridolf Carlberg (1870-1958)

I used Google Notebook to make a AI video presentation about this.

Carl Magnus Petersson – the first Karlberg 1834-1921

When Carl Magnus Peterson was born on 3 April 1834 in Björnstorp, Alseda, the father, the soldier Petter Johansson Reik, was 41 years old and the mother, Maja Stina Petersdotter, was 43 years old. Björnstorp, which was also called Ryttartorpet and was also called Reikavången, is today long gone but was located in Lammåsa outside Skede.

It was from here that soldier Petter Johansson got his new surname; Reik. Vång is an older word meaning fence, open field or similar. Carl Magnus lives here with his mother and father and his four older siblings; Johannes Peter (b. 1823), Inga Stina (b. 1825), Anna Maria (b. 1825) and Gustaf (b. 1831) until 1842 when he and the family moved to a farm, Fagraryd under Lammåsa Östergård.

On 11 May 1856, Carl Magnus marries Anna Maria Jonsdotter, born in 1832 in Kråkshult. She was the daughter of the parish cobbler and soldier Jonas Peter Koll and Maria Nilsdotter. The couple move together into the Rosensberg croft, which is only a short distance from where Carl Magnus was born.

At this time Carl Magnus is called ”Carl Magnus Peterson Reik” in the house interrogation record ”Alseda (F) AI:17 (1856-1860)”. The name Carlberg is added later and so far he has inherited his father’s soldier name, Reik. In 1861 the name Reik disappears and Carl Magnus is only called Carl Magnus Petersson.
Carl Magnus and Anna Maria live in the Rosensberg croft for six years when, on 11 October 1862, they move to Alseda and the Rosendahl croft. During the six years in Rosensberg, they have three children; Augusta Maria (b. 1856), Carl Albert (b. 1858) and Johanna Sophia Mathilda (b. 1869).

The family lived in the Rosendahl croft under Bjelkerum Mellangård until 1870. Two more children were born here. Frans August (b. 1862) and Christina Lovisa (b. 1865). In 1870, the whole family moved to Stora Bitsås, and here Carl Magnus and Anna Maria had their sixth child, Anders Gustaf Fridolf (b. 1870) (my great grandfather). Until now, Carl Magnus has been a crofter and lived on what he grew and the animals he had on the croft and probably the odd jobs that were in the area.

From 1871, Carl Magnus gets work as a miner at the Kleva mine, which is only 1.5 km from the Bitsås croft. In 1872, the couple’s seventh and last child, Jonas Peter Emil, was born.

In connection with Carl Magnus getting a job as a miner, he also changes his surname to Carlberg. It was quite common to change surnames at this time as it could be difficult, especially in workplaces, to keep track of which Pettersson, Svensson, Nilsson, etc. was who. Carl in Carlberg can come from the fact that his name was Carl and why not add mountain (in swedish ”berg”) as you, as a miner, work in mountains. Carl-berg.

Carl Magnus works as a miner until 1886. In 1887, Carl Magnus and Anna Maria move to Vrångshult with their sons Frans August and Jonas Peter Emil. Anna Maria died in 1904 of dropsy (water swellings due to kidney or heart failure).

1907 Carl Magnus moves to Björkholm Kassagård in Alseda. He lives there only for a short time before he sells the croft and remarries on 25 July 1907 to Emma Pettersdotter from Nottebäck, who is 25 years younger than him. Carl Magnus died on 25 February 1921 in Rydlund croft under No 4 Ämmaryd Kåragård, after a long life at the age of 86. His wife Emma stays until 1929 when she is moved to ”Trollhälla poorhouse” under Alseda rectory. She lived here until her death in 1945.

The Emigrants

Of Carl Magnus and Anna Maria’s seven children, four emigrated to Pennsylvania in the USA. Carl Magnus’ older brother, Johannes Peter, has five children, of which his youngest daughter Anna Lovisa Johansdotter Reik also emigrates to America. She moved in 1881 to Kasota in Minnesota. More about that in another post.

After 1873 there was a recession in the United States which affected emigration. In Sweden, a sawmill crisis arose in 1879 at the same time as there were concerns in the ironworks industry, which gave rise to a new emigrant peak. Now it was mainly the crisis-hit areas that saw increased emigration. From sawmill and forestry areas such as Västernorrland saw emigration tenfold. From 1880 onwards was industrialism so advanced in Sweden that crises in industry hit hard and affected emigration. At the same time, there were difficulties in agriculture due to falling grain prices.

During the 1880s, 325,000 people emigrated to North America and 52,000 to other areas of the world. The record years were 1880 – 1882 and 1887 – 1888 when there were good times in the USA and great demand for labour. During 1882 and 1888, respectively, 45,000 Swedes emigrated.

Eldest daughter Augusta is the first to leave for the United States. In 1875 she married in Kråkshult and in 1879 she emigrated with her husband, Carl Johan Asplund, to Sheffield, Pennsylvania. The following year, her little sister Johanna follows, who in 1882 marries Swedish Nils Carlsson from Abild in Halland. Johanna and Nils settle in Glade Township, Pennsylvania.

In 1880 Albert follows his sisters and in 1882 Lovisa also emigrates to the USA. Johanna, Albert and Lovisa travel with the steamer ”Orlando” from Gothenburg.

Sollentuna Genealogist’s member magazine Antecknat had an article in issue 1-2019 that describes in detail an emigrant’s journey across the Atlantic in 1880. The article is called ”A journey over the Atlantic” and is written by Agneta Berghem. It was originally published in the newspaper Härnösandsposten on 27 October 1880 and depicts a journey from Gothenburg via Hull and Glasgow to New York. Carl Albert Karlberg sailed on the ship Orlando on October 21, 1880.

He who expects to hear here about a happy and pleasant crossing, perhaps reminiscent of ”Dreams on the Ocean” etc., will be endlessly deceived. Here reality is depicted, and therefore lamentation, need and misery must be touched upon. It shouldn’t hurt that compatriots at home know what they dare, when they leave the fatherland in sweet hopes of better days. At least, I don’t think anyone willingly travels in 3rd class, since he knows how it is provided, but rather waits until he has acquired 85 kroner, when he can travel in 2nd. Here you are a respected human being – in 3rd grade a despised animal. […]
A Friday dinner at half 2, 900 passengers left for Hull with the steamer ”Orlando”. Already after 2 hours, those more vulnerable to seasickness began to show noticeable signs of nausea. The ship rolled more than is usual with larger ones, and the water washed over the deck, where most people stayed to avoid the dark, cramped and plague-ridden salon, where 900 people would live together […] At 6 o’clock the so-called tea in our tin measures, one each
half a quarter, without milk in it (cream was naturally out of the question) and so little sugar that one could doubt whether there was even any. How this so-called tea was cooked, only the chef knows. For this we each received a dry anchor log sandwich, with rancid butter, from which, however, we were spared due to its small quantity. That was all that day consisted of. […] Those who did not bring large food sack chests, and for whom seasickness did not suppress their appetite, had to spend the night hungry. Not even on the first day was there fresh water; all drank from a measure, tied to a cask, on deck, of truly stinking contents.
In the morning, at different times, coffee and sandwiches were distributed, as before tea, with the slight difference that the coffee was thicker and more tasteless than the tea. At 1 was dinner, consisting of half a spoonful of unsalted pea porridge and tough fresh meat. The food was distributed on deck, where each man received his share, and everything had to be consumed below deck, surrounded as it was with all kinds of uncleanness. One sat in his bed and ate. The peas had the effect predicted by me to return with company on the golf course, from everyone who tasted them. At 6 o’clock tea again.

Thus the time passed to Hull […] Without me consuming anything but the anchor log sandwiches, we arrived in Hull on Sunday afternoon. Waiting for the tide from half past 12 in the morning until 11 at night, we received the same food as the day before. At 4 o’clock everyone would get up, pack the bedding etc. and at 5 be finished, but only at At 7 we were able to go ashore. […] Then the biggest effects were sent to the railway and we all, each line with its agent, were driven forward through the streets of Hull like a driving oxen. Long way to go, much to carry, drenched by the day’s still rain, in which we stood without protection, we found ourselves lucky to be crowded into one of the smallest rooms in an emigrant house, sitting on our little sleeping bags. […] At 3 o’clock our line departed with 3rd class compartment across England to Glasgow.[…] Two and two slept in the beds, which were three on top of each other and from three to six in the room. For the first time since we left Gothenburg, we could now undress. Three full non-working days were spent here […]

Incessantly we were eluded with the hope of leaving, because the ship went for 10-15 minutes and stopped again. They had taken in too much cargo, therefore loaded off and on again. Sunday morning we arrived at the town of Laine in Ireland, where again cargo was taken and Irishmen came on board.
Finally, on Monday morning, the journey became serious, and we left Ireland to go directly to New York.

On this ship we lived 16-18 people in each cabin, as big as usually one for two people on Swedish ships. Only 180 Swedes followed our line, of which more than half were children. The food was probably better here, but everyone starved without their own supplies, and I was among them. If the mornings at 7 mixed mashed potatoes, black and thin from the water, half a ladle for each, ½ a quarter of the same coffee as at ”Orlando” and a loaf of bread for each. At 1 dinner was served, consisting of ½ ladle of soup, a tough piece of meat and 2-3 potatoes per man. At 5 tea, a loaf of bread and a pinch of rancid butter. These were the meals for our 14-day journey […] Here the food was salty and the water supply meager; because only in the mornings at 7 and in the evenings at 4 you had to collect in your measure. Those who did not know this or were not provided with vessels had to thirst or beg from others. Salt water was used for washing water and the washing took place on deck. What the consequence was, when we had an 11-day storm, is easily seen. […] No one who has not seen it knows what an emigrant ship in rain and storm is a sight to behold. The night was disturbed by children’s cries, and there were women who did not leave the cabin between Glasgow and New York, no, not even the bed, what one can imagine about all the dignity of such a journey. The incredible stench evoked again

Augusta Maria Carlberg (1856-1933)

Augusta Carlberg married Carl Johan Asplund in Kråkshlut in 1875 and together had three children; Anna Lovisa (b. 1876), Jennie Augusta (b. 1880) and Alfrida Sophia Amalia (b. 1885). On August 11, 1879, Augusta and Carl Johan move to the United States. When Augusta and Carl Johan meet, Carl Johan works as a miner at the Kleva mine, just like Augusta’s father. In the federal census from 1880, it is noted that Carl Johan is a laborer while Augusta is a house keeper. On April 30, 1893, the couple’s first daughter, Anna Lovisa, dies at only 16 years old. On March 5, 1897, the family was expelled from Sheffield Bethany Lutheran Church for ”contempt of grace.” The 1900 federal census lists the family as living in Sheffield, Warren in District 0147.

Carl Johan works at a tannery, daughter Jennie Augusta is a music teacher and Alfreda goes to school.

Sheffield – a city that was powered by tanneries and the timber industry.

In 1828, Timothy Barnes, a native of Yates County, New York, built a sawmill in downtown Sheffield in the
southeast corner of Warren County. Nestled in Tionesta Creeks with its hemlock trees and abundant banks, Barnes sought to connect his growing development with the heart of the county.

By clearing 22 km of road in just four days, a transportation route was provided from Warren, Pennsylvania to the young, but growing village of Sheffield. Recognized as a great businessman and pioneer, Barnes sparked a competition that would lead to the rapid growth of the small village.
Following in Barnes’ footsteps, Richard Dunham, an active lumberman credited as one of the most important members of the Sheffield community, soon built his own sawmill just west of Barnes, leading to the expansion and current boundary lines of present-day Sheffield, Pennsylvania. The first tax roll within Sheffield, which was established as a town soon afterwards, contained only thirty-three names with not more than twenty of these persons being permanent residents.

Several notables from the New York region noted the growing and resource-rich village and soon migrated to the area. Although the milling industry continued to flourish in Sheffield, companies chose a new focus for their operations, leading to the establishment of several famous tanneries.
Famous for their wealth, the W. & W. Horton family, who migrated to Sheffield from Sullivan County, New York, bought land and in 1867 the firm of Horton, Crary & Company was formed. The company built a large tannery in the heart of Sheffield and also ran three sawmills in the village which produced large quantities of timber.
Unable to compete, the tanneries of both J.F. Schoelkopf and John McNair & Company soon fell to the interest of Horton, Crary & Company who managed to gain a foothold in the growing gas and oil production sweeping through the village.

Horton, Crary & Company proved their dominance over business and went on to build the Tionesta Valley Railroad in 1881. With the entry of the railroad, emigrants from Sweden and Germany could now find work in Sheffield. Swedish and German roots soon took hold in the village of Sheffield, which continued to grow at an increasing rate.

Augusta suffers from dementia and sometime around 1910 she is admitted to the Warren State Hospital for the insane. There she spends more than 20 years when she dies in 1933 aged 77. Two years earlier, her husband Carl Johan dies.

Augusta and Carl Johan’s eldest daughter Jennie marries Swedish Robert Larson and together they have three children; Blanche Constance Evelyn (b. 1904), Raymond Carl Larson (b. 1905), and Stanley Clair Larson (b. 1918). The 1925 state census lists the Larson family at 306 Charles Street in Jamestown. Robert works as a carpenter, Jennie is a housewife, Blanche is listed as a musician, Raymond works as a bookkeeper and the youngest son Stanley is still at school. 24 July 1935, Jennie’s husband Robert passes away, only 59 years old. From 1930 the family lives in a house at 209 Dearborn Street in Jamestown, the house is owned and listed as having a value of $6000. After Robert’s death, the Jennies sell the house and instead rent a house at 158 Sampson Street. Presumably, they cannot afford to stay after Robert’s death.

Jennie lives here with her sons, Raymond and Stanley. Since 1925, Blanche has been the manager of The Song Shop in Jamestown. In 1927, Blanche married Russell Carl Alton Haglund, a Swedish descendant whose father came from Sweden. Blanche moves in with Russell and his father, mother and sister. While Blanche works as a music teacher, the entire Haglund family works as furniture salesmen in the family’s furniture store, Haglund Furniture Company, which was one of Jamestown’s oldest furniture stores.

In 1940 Russell works as a furniture salesman and Blance is a music teacher (piano) and has her own studio. They live at 515 Forest Avenue in Jamestown. Just before 1950, Blanche and Russell divorce. Blanche still lives in the house where Blanche’s mother Jennie also lives and also her younger brother Stanley. In June 1953, Blanche’s ex-husband Russell dies suddenly aged only 48.

The following month, July 29, 1953, Blanche goes to Sweden with her mother Jennie to visit her relatives in Vetlanda. Here they live with Jennie’s cousin Olof Carlberg and his wife Signe. One visits, among other things, Alseda church during the stay with the relatives in Småland. Jennie and Blanche stay with their relatives for a month and a half before returning home.

Sonen Stanley gifter sig 21 oktober 1950 med Mabel Virginia Andersson. Även Mabels föräldrar (Oscar Anderson och Maria Elisabeth Swanson) härstammar från Sverige, närmare bestämt Fändefors i Västra Götaland. Tillsammans får paret två döttrar; Deborah (f. 1951) och Patricia (f. 1954). Stanley dör 1970 och Mabel 1997.

Jennie remains in Jamestown, at 515 Forest Avenue and on October 18, 1961, Jennie passes away, aged 81.

Augusta and Carl Johan’s youngest daughter, Alfrida, marries her first husband, Sten Hjalmar Johansson, a sailor from Harplinge in Halland, they were married in August 1910. Sten dies in December, just months after they were married.

Alfrida, then remarries in 1917 to a John Richard Johnson. John Richard is Alfrida’s second husband and his parents were named Peter Johnson and Sarah ”Sitterstrom” according to the marriage certificate, probably an Americanized version of Sätterström. Johan Rikard emigrates in 1911 and he is the son of a Sofia Setterström and Per Alfred Pettersson Johansson in Alnö, Västernorrland.

Alfrida appears to have passed away just a year after she married John Richard, in 1918.

Johanna Sophia Mathilda Carlberg (1869-1943)

On September 17, 1880, about a year after her older sister Augusta emigrated to the United States, Johanna follows. The trip goes from Gothenburg via Hull in England on to New York and then to Sheffield in Pennsylvania. Two years after she arrived in the USA, she married Swedish Nils Carlsson, who was born in 1857 in Abild in Halland and emigrated in 1881. Together Johanna and Nils have five children; Harry Sigurd (b. 1883), Carrie Christina (b. 1885), Ester (b. 1889), Jeneve ”Jennie” Severina (b. 1892) and Carl Albert (b. 1895).

In 1900 the family lived in Glade Township in Warren. Nils worked as a farmer. In 1910, the family still lives in Glade Township, but Nils has now found work as a pumper at the oil fields. At this time, only two of their children remain at home, Harry and Carl Albert. Ten years later, in 1920, Harry and Carl Albert have moved and Johanna and Nils live alone in Warren Bourough where Nils now works at one of the many tanneries. In the end they buy a small house at 326 Park Avenue in Warren. Nils works as a pumper until his retirement and on October 16, 1936 Nils dies aged 79. Johanna remained in the house until December 23, 1943, when she died at the age of 83. Both Nils and Johanna are buried in Oakland Cemetery in Pleasant Township, Warren.

Son Harry marries Pearl Kathleen Morris, who was born in 1881 in Winfield West Virginia, and moves to Erie, Pennsylvania, living at 1204 20th Street. Harry works as a shop assistant in a grocery store. In February 1921, Harry is sentenced to 4 months in prison for selling alcohol. The period between 1920 and 1933 in the United States is called the Prohibition Era. During this period, the manufacture, transportation, import, export, and sale of many alcoholic beverages were prohibited in the United States.

In 1930 they moved to 2802 Ash Street, Erie. Harry continues to work at the grocery store. In 1945 Harry tragically kills himself and leaves Pearl alone, and in 1958 Pearl dies. Harry and Pearl never had any children.

Daughter Carrie marries Harry Delbert Graham (b. 1880 in Rouseville, Pennsylvania) in 1906 and together they have 7 children; Gilbert Lothair (b. 1905), Willard Curtis (b. 1910), Robert A (b. 1914), Dorothy May (b. 1919) and triplets Leroy (b. 1922), Clifford (b. 1922) Paul Richard (b. .1922). The 1930 federal census lists the Grahams and their children at 700 East Street in Warren. Harry works as a car salesman, which must have been a relatively uncommon occupation in 1930. The couple remains at 700 East Street until Harry’s death in 1963. Carrie passes away in November 1978, aged 93.

Daughter Ester marries William Chadwell, born 1890 in Tennessee, in 1927. Together they have a daughter Evelyn Ann in 1930 when William works in the iron industry in Erie, Pennsylvania where they live at 2222 Myrtle Street. In 1940 they moved to Austin Hill in Warren. In 1950, they still live in Warren and William now works as a forest ranger for the U.S. Forestry. William passes away in 1966 and Ester in 1993. Daughter Evelyn marries Norman Kenneth McDanel in 1962.

Jeneve ”Jennie” married Carl John Lindberg in 1915 whose parents emigrated from Adelöv in Jönköping County, Sweden. In 1920 they live at 203 Grant Steet in Warren where Carl works as a boiler maker. Jennie and Carl have four children; John Wesley (b. 1916), Bernice Esther (b. 1920), Marjorie Eleanor (b. 1922) and Geraldine Eunice (b. 1925).

Only 17 years old, youngest son Carl marries Verdella Krupp (b. 1893) in 1912. Carl works around 1917 as a ”refiner” at the Glade Oil Works in Warren. Carl and Verdella have two sons; Melvin Laverne (b. 1917) and Donal Fredrick (b. 1919).

Carl Albert Carlberg (1858-1942)

Albert Carlberg followed his sisters when on October 21 1881 he went on the ship Orlando with final destination New York. On 8 May 1890, Albert married another Carlberg, Anna Dorothea Carlberg (b. 1869) in Motala. Together they had nine children: Carl Edward (b. 1892), Georg Albert (b. 1894), Gustaf Arthur (b. 1896), Edna Lovisa (b. 1897), Robert Herman (b. 1900), Harry Victor (b. 1902), Clifford Theodor (b. 1904), Dorothy Elvira (b. 1906) and Raymond Felix Sigfrid (b. 1907). Of their nine children, six reach adulthood. Georg Albert dies only 12 years old, Gustaf Arthur and Dorothy Elvira are only 6 months old when they die.

In 1901, Albert and Anna return with their four children; Edward, Georg Albert, Edna Lovisa and Robert Herman to Småland and settle in Skirö outside Vetlanda. The family moves in with Albert’s brother Emil Carlberg, who works as a sculptor in a carpentry workshop that he leases, and there Albert gets a job as a carpenter. Just one year later, on April 8, 1902, Albert and Anna travel back to the United States again and on August 11, the couple’s sixth child, son Harry, is born, which means that Anna made the long boat trip across the Atlantic pregnant with Harry.

In 1910 the family lives at 399 Henry Hills Road in Sheffield, Pennsylvania. Albert works in the timber industry. In 1917 Anna Dorothea dies aged only 47 after complications from a cancer operation. Three years later, Albert has moved to 107 Dunham Street in Sheffield, where he lives with his six children. Albert now works as a church warden (sexton) and his son Edward works as a brakeman at the railway where Robert also works while Harry works at a ”Kindling Factory”, a factory that manufactures kindling.

Kindling factories were common in the timber regions of the state. They were usually located near sawmills. The kindling factories used the leftover slab and waste wood from the sawmills to make kindling wood. Much of the firewood produced was then shipped to New York City and Philadelphia for use in coal stoves for heating and cooking. During the late 19th century, firewood was hard to come by in these cities, especially in New York. The bundles of wood were tied with a string soaked in tar, making it a wick. Once the stack of wood was placed in a stove, one only had to light the burning wick to ignite the stack of wood, which in turn ignited the coal in the stove. A regular bundle was sold in the cities for about 5 cents.

Albert remarries sometime in the 1920s to the fifteen-year-younger Christina Sophia Holmgren, born in Alseda, Sweden in 1873. Christina Sophia dies in 1936, which leaves Albert alone again. In 1940, Edward and Raymond are still living with their father on 43 Dunham Street in Sheffield, Warren. Albert still works as a sexton, a church warden, until his retirement and on September 26, 1942, Albert passes away aged 84.

In 1977 Robert dies aged 77, his wife Olga lives until 1998. Their daughter Donna marries Charles Edward Adams (b. 1926) in 1963. The son Owen participated in the Korean War from 1950-1953, where he belonged to the Air Force. In 1957, Owen married Janet Marie Hall (b. 1938). Together they have three children; Leigh Ann, Robert J and Lynn.

Clifford Carlberg, Albert and Anna’s seventh child, lives with his father Albert until September 1928 when Clifford does his military service in the US Army, this he does until August 1931. After that Clifford moves in with his brother Harry and his wife Beata who lives at 76 Johnson Street in Jamestown, NY.

Joyce Carlberg marries Clair Burgeson 1954 and in august 1980 they visit Olof and Signe (my farfar and farmor) in Vetlanda, Sweden. Images below from Olof and Signes guestbook.

Clifford works as a welder. Sometime before 1950, Clifford marries Helen Mary Babarik (b. 1907). Helen’s parents emigrated from Austria-Hungary. In the 1950 federal census, the couple is seen living on Hopkins Avenue in Jamestown with the then 1-year-old son, Clifford Theodore, born May 26, 1948. Clifford works as a lathe operator at appliances factory. In the 1960 census, Clifford works at Blackstone Corp in Jamestown. Blackstone Manufacturing Company, formerly known as Vandergrift Manufacturing Company, maker of washing machines and the Jamestown auto parts manufacturing company merged as Blackstone Corporation in 1934. Clifford died at the age of 84 in 1989 and his wife Helen died in 1996. Clifford and Helen’s only child, who was also named Clifford, moves from Jamestown to Ohio as an adult and marries Laurie Jean. Together they have children Eric and Stacey.

The youngest son Raymond lived with his father Albert and later with his brother Harry. On June 15, 1941, Raymond dies tragically, at his brother Harry’s home, when he faints and falls so unluckily that he hits his head so hard that he later dies.

Christina Lovisa Carlberg (1865-1934)

Lovisa is the last of the group of siblings to emigrate to the United States. In October 1882, when Lovisa is only 17 years old, Lovisa steps aboard the boat Orlando that will take her to the United States. Lovisa comes to her siblings and only a year later she marries Frans (Frank) Otto Blom (b. 1857). Frans changes his name to Frank in the US and the surname is spelled Bloom. Frank was born in 1857 in Målskog outside Gränna and he emigrated in 1881.

In the wedding announcement, you can see that Lovisa is now called Louisa, an Americanized version of Lovisa.

Together, Lovisa and Frank have four children: Nelly Louise (b. 1887), Julia Mable Theresa (b. 1890), Frieda Emilia Burdessa (b. 1892) and Harry (b. 1895). The couple resides in Stoneham, Warren.

Unfortunately, Louise became insane and in 1900 was admitted to the Warren State Hospital For The Insane, where she died on October 4, 1934. Her husband Frank became so upset with his wife that he hanged himself. Their two older daughters moved in with Frank’s brother Charles, who has a farm in Elk Township, Warren, while Frieda moved in with a pastor and his wife, Carl Bergström. Frieda was adopted after her father’s death by the pastor and his wife Christina in Kane Borough, McKean, Pennsylvania.

The youngest son, Harry, is only 4 years old when he ends up with the Forsberg family in Ellicott. Harry lives with the family and eventually takes the name Forsberg. Harry married Geneva Helen Peterson (b. 1908) in 1937. Among other things, Harry worked as a draftsman (draftsman, draftsman) with the American Navy at Brooklyn Navy Yard. In 1946, the couple’s only child, Charles, was born. Harry lived until 1966 and his wife until 1998.
Nellie who lives with her father’s brother until 1907 when she marries Eugene Samule Karr (b. 1881) and moves to Glade Township in Warren. In 1910, the couple had two daughters; Mabel Irene (b. 1905) and Mildred (b. 1909).

Julia also lives with her uncle, but moves to Jamestown and works as a maid for a J.W. Morris, who is a physician and has his practice in his home at 142 Forest Avenue in Jamestown. In 1922, Julia marries Frank Theadore Swanson (b. 1888). They settle at 25 Myrtle Street in Jamestown and Roswell Laverne Swanson is born there on September 7, 1919. In the 1930 US federal census, the family still lives in the same place and Frank works in a furniture factory and makes cabinets (cabinet maker). In 1940, the son Roswell moved away from home and the Swansons remained on Myrtle Street. Roswell is together with Eleanor Marie Rosedahl and together they have a son, Roswell Jr. Theodore, who was born in 1940.

Four years later, on May 5, 1944, Roswell enlists in the US Army to participate in World War II. In December 1944, Roswell dies during the Battle of the Bulge.

The Ardennes Offensive is the month-long counter-offensive conducted by the German Army of Heeresgruppe B (Army Group B) in the Ardennes in southern Belgium against the forces of the Western Allies from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945 at the end of World War II. The battle is considered one of the bloodiest battles in American military history. In the English language, the battle is most often referred to as the Battle of the Bulge.

Roswell Jr. served and retired from the U.S. Army, Military Police Corp in January 1983 with 24 years of active duty. He also served as a reserve officer in the Army starting in 1967. After retiring from the Army, he worked at the Phoebus Post Office, where he was a mail carrier. Together with his wife Shirlee Ann Sanford, Roswell Jr. had five daughters and one son.

Frank and Julia Swanson visit Sweden and the family in Vetlanda sometime in the early 1950s. In 1963 Julia dies and in 1977 Frank passes away.

Frank and Lovisa’s daughter Frieda, who is adopted by pastor Karl Bergström and his wife Chistina, grows up in the family. In 1910 she lives with the Rev. Conrad Hooker and his wife Gertude Hooker at 532 Averill Avenue in Rochester City where she works as a housekeeper.

In 1919, Frieda married Axel Walfrid Almquist (b. 1893), whose parents immigrated to the USA from Filipstad in 1890.
Frieda and Axel settle at 127 West Main Street in Ridgeway Borough, Elk County where Axel works in the office of a tannery. Frieda and Axel have three sons together; Donald Leroy (b. 1920), Wallace Eugene (b. 1922) and Edward David (b. 1927). Edward David is only four months old. In 1930 they moved to 431 Hyde Avenue and Axel now works as a clerk in a bank. 1971 Frieda dies. In 1977 Axel remarries Betty Brisson and in 1986 Axel dies, aged 92.

Frieda never mentioned her mother to her children because she was ashamed of her mother’s mental illness and her father’s suicide.

Son Donald Leroy marries twice but never has any children and dies aged 78 in 1999. Youngest son Wallace Almquist marries Mary Evelyn Foster (b. 1926) in 1947 and together they have five children; John (b. 1950), William Craig (b. 1954), Kristen (b. 1956), Douglas (b. 1963) and Wallace Jr.

Those who remained in Sweden.

Three of Carl Magnus and Maria’s children remained in Sweden. Frans August, Gustav Anders Fridolf and Jonas Peter Emil.

Frans August Karlberg (1862-1917)

Frans August, who is the oldest of the children staying in Sweden, is described in the house interrogation records as ”insane and ”sick”. Among other things, he was released from conscription in 1881. At the age of 33, Frans August married Anna Kristina Andersdotter and moved to Vetlanda. Together they have a son Karl Gustav Edvin in 1895, but who tragically dies only one day old. Frans August’s wife dies aged only 52 in July 1905 and Frans August lives alone in Madstugan, Uplanda in Vetlanda until February 1917 when he dies of pneumonia aged 54. You can understand that Frans August and his wife Anna Kristina had a tough time in an article in the Vetlandaposten on July 27, 1900.

Jonas Peter Emil Carlberg (1872-1937)

Jonas Peter Emil moves to Norra Sandsjö in 1900 where he marries Hannah Josephina Sunesson, born in 1880 in Skirö. The couple’s first daughter Hanna Alice is born here. Shortly afterwards, Jonas Peter Emil gets work as a carpenter in Vetlanda and the family moves to the Norresand quarter, No. 84. They live here for only a short period when in December 1901 they move to Skirö. In 1901, Jonas Peter Emil leases a carpentry workshop together with his brother Albert, who has returned from the USA with his family. Jonas Peter Emil is a wood sculptor while his brother Albert is a carpenter. In January 1902, Jonas Peter Emil and Hanna Josephina’s second daughter, Hanna Olga Maria, was born.

In April of the same year, brother Albert returns with his family to the USA and Emil has to advertise for a new carpenter.

In October 1903, Jonas Peter Emil also moves with his family from Skirö to Värnamo where he continues to work as a sculptor and they live at Wernamo Pilagård, Karlsnäs. Here the couple had their third daughter, Rut Agnes, in 1904. But they also stayed here for only one year before moving on in November 1904. Then they moved to Landskrona and the quarter Mars no. 8. Here the first son was born in 1906, Sune Emil. In July 1907, the moving load goes again and this time to Malmö and stays here for seven years. Daughter Ingeborg was born here in 1910 and son Bertil Harry in 1913. In September 1914 they moved to Järeda in Kalmar county.

On January 31 1916, daughter Ingrid Margareta is born and in November 1920 they move to Hemlyckan in Ökna, which is owned by Kvillsfors furniture factory. In November, the couple’s eighth child, son Otto Weimar, is born. Jonas Peter Emil Karlberg lived here until his death on 12 August 1937 and his wife died in June 1961.

Gustaf Anders Fridolf Carlberg (1870-1958)

Gustaf Carlberg is my great grandfather.

Gustaf Carlberg moves away from home in 1885 and becomes a shoemaker’s apprentice in Eksjö with shoemaker Gustaf Robert Enblom in Andra Kvarteret No5. In December 1890, Gustaf moves to Säby outside Tranås where he works as a farm hand for Corporal Frans Gustav Lindström. In 1891, Gustaf was accepted as a volunteer at the Jönköping regiment. After his time as a volunteer, Gustaf lives in different places for short periods. Säby 1890-1892, Alseda 1893-1896, Björnekulla in Skåne 1896-1897, Växjö 1898-1899, Alseda 1899, Enköping 1899-1900.

Meanwhile in Enköping, Gustaf worked as a clerk at the timber merchant Oskar Emanuel Feldt and lived in Femte kvarteret, Södra roten. In the same area lives Maria Elisabeth Brinkman, daughter of the city council member and master blacksmith Axel Brinkman and his wife Maria Amalia Landström.
Gustaf and Elisabeth meet during this period because Elisabeth eventually becomes pregnant and gives birth to daughter Agnes Ingeborg Elisabeth on 14 November 1900. Elisabeth and Ingeborg stay with Elisabeth’s parents until May 1902 when they move to Hjeltevad where they rent a house on Böresbo estate in Ingatorp, now Gustaf works as a wood dealer. After several years as a clerk and most recently at the wood goods dealer in Enköping, Gustaf has gathered experience that allows him to now start his own business.

In May 1902, Elisabeth and Gustaf also get married. Just one month after the wedding, the couple and their two-year-old daughter move to the Trasten neighborhood in Vetlanda.

Gustaf works as a timber merchant but runs into problems and finds it difficult to get money. In three articles in the Vetlandaposten, one can read that Gustaf claims that the soldier Karl Hall in Bjälterum is said to have spread disparaging rumors that Gustaf does not pay his woodcutters. In the first article, Karl Hall claims that he has not been paid what he was promised and said in the Autumn Parliament in October that: ”Karlberg has me to thank for not getting his wood, because if I hadn’t been there, the wood would have been arrive before midsummer” According to Gustaf, Hall’s statement had made the local lumberjacks pull away to drive for Gustaf.

The case was dropped and Gustaf was unable to substantiate his claims, and this is where Gustaf’s career as a timber merchant ends.

On March 10, 1903, the family grew further when the son Einar Gustaf Evert was born and the family needed larger accommodation and moved to the block Wesslan, No. 78. In 1904 they moved to the block Merkurius, No. 188 and on February 27, 1905, Malte Gerhard Evert was born.

On 28 April 1910, another son, Karl Ture Bertil, was born.

Elisabeth’s father Axel Brinkman is alone when he lost his wife Maria Amalia in 1899. Elisabeth’s sister already moved in 1888. After a long career as a blacksmith and master blacksmith, Axel decides to move to his daughter in Vetlanda. He buys a plot of land, for SEK 3,800, in the Venus quarter in Vetlanda, where Elisabeth and Gustaf and their children also move in.

Axel lives upstairs and Gustaf and Elisabeth and the children downstairs.

Axel, who was a master blacksmith, reportedly made the large iron gate for the chapel at Vetlanda cemetery.

On February 5, 1912, Elisabeth gives birth to the twins Nils Erik Sigvard and Edmund Olof Valdemar (my grandfather). Nils Erik Sigvard died only two years old of a congenital stomach disease on January 27, 1914. Gustaf worked as a bookkeeper at Wilhelm Petris Grynfabrik for some time afterwards as a timber merchant. Things are getting better here and after a while Gustaf becomes a manager and eventually also manager at Wilhelm Petris Grynfabrik.

He and the family live in the house in the Venus quarter until May 6, 1920, when Gustaf and Elisabeth divorce.

After the divorce, Gustaf moves to the block Björnen no. 194-195, which is referred to as Petriska Grynbolaget’s office. He is accompanied by daughter Ingeborg and son Bertil.

Ingeborg is at this time 20 years old and Bertil 10 years old. The Björnen neighborhood is located between Älggatan and the railway track in Vetlanda. In October 1921, Ingeborg moves to Kungsholmen in Stockholm, where she works as a maid. Ingeborg moves back to Vetlanda in March 1923.

In 1924, they moved from the Petriska office and moved to the block Gustav Adolf no. 418, the current block is between Gökgatan, Tomasgatan, Vasagatan and Södra Esplanaden. No. 418 was located where the current address is Gökgatan 22.

During this time, Gustaf becomes manager at Wilhelm Petris Grynfabrik and in 1933 they move to the block Sten Sture plot no. 5. Here they live together until 1937 when they move to Kvarteret Oxenstjerna, plot 2. Current address Tomasgatan 27B. Gustaf retires and Ingeborg is named house manager. Bertil works as a clerk and moves with his future wife Aina Stina Svensson in 1941. Bertil and Aina Stina have a daughter Ebon Christina in 1942 but divorce 3 years later. Bertil later moved to Avesta in Dalarna, where he died in 2002 aged 91. Gustaf passes away in 1958 at the age of 88.

Elisabeth Brinkman continued to live in the old house with her three sons: Einar, Malte and Olof. The year was 1920, and Malte had a job as an office assistant. But tragically, Malte suffered from pneumonia (tuberculosis) and passed away in 1922.

The family’s life was marked by both sadness and change. Elisabeth’s father, Axel, had been an important part of their lives, but on September 27, 1921, he left this earthly life.

Einar did his military service and left home in 1923.

It was during these times (1925-1926) of upheaval that another woman, Elin Mathilda Johansson, and her three children, Frits Erling, Maj-Britt Elisabeth and Kerstin Matilda, came to live with Elisabeth. Elin Mathilda was in the middle of a divorce from builder Adolf Valfrid Sparv and needed temporary accommodation. Elin Mathilda, who originally came from Västanfors in Västmanland, did not have any close family in the town. Elisabeth, who herself had come from another place, could understand the challenging situation for Elin Mathilda. Perhaps it was with a sense of empathy and community that Elisabeth welcomed Elin Mathilda and her children into her home, supporting them until they could find their own place to live.

At the age of 18, Olof Karlberg did his military service in Eksjö in 1930.

Sometime after his military service, Olof meets his future wife, Signe Berta Viktoria Ny (b. 1911). Signe was born in Vislanda but moved to Vetlanda in 1931 where she worked as a pastry assistant. In 1934, Olof and Signe’s first child was born; Ingrid Gunborg Irene and at the same time they move in with Olof’s mother Elisabeth.

The following year, on 3 February 1935, Olof and Signe get married. Olof and Signe have four more children together; Barbro Signe Ingegerd (b. 1938), Aina Kerstin Elisabet (b. 1941), Jan-Olof Rune (b. 1945) and Stefan Anders Åke (b. 1953).

In 1935, they moved on and lived in a couple of places in Vetlanda before moving back to the Venus quarter and Olof’s mother Elisabeth, who passed away in September 1940.

Olof works as a bank janitor at Skånska Banken in Vetlanda. In October 1959, Olof and Signe go to Jamestown to visit Blanche and Jennie.

Gunborg marries Hans Hultman (b. 1930) in August 1954. Barbro marries Rolf Elgmark (b. 1934) and together they have children; Anne (b. 1959) and Håkan (b. 1963). Barbro and Rolf move to Nyköping. Kerstin moves to California in 1962 and marries Brian Neil Chuchua (b. 1937).

Jan-Olof marries Kristina Nilsson (b. 1952) and together they have children; Kristoffer (b. 1974), Michael (b. 1977) and Anders (b. 1982).