Brodin Family History

The Brodin family papers consist of manuscripts pertaining to Old Brodin and an overview of the Brodin family, a map of Dalsland, letters from Carl Brodin to family members, John Brodin’s certificate of citizenship, articles, one in Swedish, and seven family photographs. Also included in the collection are a first through sixth generations quick reference list, Brodin genealogy list, and a first through tenth generations list.

Donated by Carl W. T. Brodin.

Biographical Note

Johan (Jan) “Old Brodin” was born in Alster, Vaermlaend, Sweden around 1809. Old Brodin acquired a right to free land from the agricultural department. He spent most of his money on liquor, to the dismay of his wife and children. He was a family man, however, and very well versed in the Bible.

He lived to be eighty-nine years old. He and his wife had three children, Christine, Johannes and Emma. His son, Johannes Jansson Brodin (John Brodin), born 14 October 1846 in Grinstad parish, Sweden immigrated to Minnesota in 1877. He returned to Sweden in 1879 and married Christine Johannesdotter. The two left for Minneapolis and where he worked as a boot and saddle maker. He died in 1922. Christine Johannesdotter Brodin was born in Grinstad, Dalsland, Sweden on 20 March 1856. She was a bleeder, which was part of the medical profession of that time. She also knitted and wove. She died in 1935. John and Christine Brodin had nine children: Charles Magnus, Alexander, Frank Martin, Beda Marie, George Esaiah, Anna Elvira, Esther Christine, Ruth, and William Rudolph. Great grandfather Old Brodin (Johan/Jan Brodin) was born in Alster, Vaermlaend, Sweden about 1809. He worked for a time under Erik Svenson in Raadane who was known as the county king.

Old Brodin acquired a right to free land from the agricultural department. He spent most of his money on liquor, to the dismay of his wife and children. He was a family man, however, and very well versed in the Bible. He lived to be eighty-nine years old. Johannes Jansson Brodin (John Brodin), born on 14 October 1846 in Grinstad parish, Sweden, immigrated to Minnesota in 1877. He returned to Sweden in 1979 and married Christine Johannesdotter. The two left for Minneapolis and he worked as a boot and saddle maker. He died in 1922. Christine Brodin was born in Grinstad, Dalsland, Sweden on 20 March 1856. She was a bleeder, which was part of the medical profession of that time. She also knitted and wove. She died in 1935. Charles Magnus Brodin (Charley) was born in Grinstad, Dalsland, Sweden on 4 June 1880. He and his brothers hauled the harvest in from the field by hand and went hunting with an old muzzle-loader shot gun. He attended school in Scandia, taught in Swedish, until the third grade. Charles was sent to work on a farm by Stillwater and then, at 13, to the woods for logging.

Later he took classes at the YMCA. His occupations included iron molding, shoe repair, grocery, and landscaping. He died on 8 November 1965. Alexander Brodin (Alec) was born in Minneapolis on 9 March 1883. He died in a canoeing accident on 28 May 1908. Frank Martin Brodin was born on 11 March 1885 in Minneapolis. He became a salesman for Wyman Partridge Co., a general merchandise wholesale house. He died from a rheumatic heart on 24 March 1924. Beda Marie Brodin was born on 28 May 1887 in Minneapolis. She was schooled in Scandia in Swedish. She learned housekeeping, cooking, and dressmaking from her mother. She worked for the Munsingwear Co. until her retirement. She died in June 1973. George Esaiah Brodin was born on 20 September 1889 on the family farmat Scandia. He worked for Minneapolis Moline Power Equipment during the Depression. He later managed a golf course at Cokato. He died on 6 February 1961.

Anna Elvira Brodin was born on 20 October 1894 on the farm in Scandia. She was educated and studied hairdressing. She moved to Minot, North Dakota, to work in a beauty shop in 1925. There she married a businessman, Louis Panos. They operated several businesses, tried their hand at cattle raising, and then went back to the city to manage a grocery store. She died on 18 August 1969. Esther Christine Brodin was born on the farm at Scandia on 21 April 1896. She was accepted into Nurses Training at Swedish Hospital and became a registered nurse in 1920. She earned a top place in the Polio Clinic where she worked until her retirement. She married Hans (John) Beyersdorf in 1925 and they had two daughters, Joanne and Marieanne. She died on 1 March 1960. William Rudolph Brodin was born on the farm at Scandia on 19 July 1901. He went to school and worked at grocery stores. Then he was hired by Minnesota Loan and Trust. Here he met and married Esther Heiges. He died of a heart attack on 28 May 1973.