Nils-Harald Tornbacken Biography

Consists of the autobiography of Nils-Harald. It includes information about his childhood in Sweden, his emigration, career, and family. There is also family history of his wife’s family, his brother’s wife’s family, his sister-in-law’s husband’s family and other family members.

Biographical Note

Nils-Harald was born on January 10, 1900. He grew up in Sweden but the family moved around to different cities in Skåne. He attended “Malmø Grafiske Anstalt” (Graphic school). His father and oldest brother immigrated in 1913 to America. He saved money for the trip, and the rest of the family, mother Ida-Josefina Tornbacken, and three kids, Carola “Calla”, Nils-Harald, and Hjalmar, joined them in America. They traveled on the “United States” steamship from Copenhagen to New York then took the train via Chicago to Minneapolis, arriving early October.

In Minneapolis he attended and finished high school and got help from a teacher to enroll in the Minneapolis Art Institute. He then worked in different graphics companies. He enlisted in the army during World War I but did not have to fight. He married Hulda Forsberg. They lived well in Chicago until the Depression and then had to move around to find work. They ended up back in Minnesota and bought their own farm.

During World War II he again did not have to fight, but he worked for a company that worked for the military. Nils-Harald and Hulda visited Sweden three times after emigration, and were also able to visit Norway and Denmark. They also traveled around the United States. They moved to Tacoma where Nils-Harald worked for a lumber mill for four years before retiring to Gig Harbor. They did not have children.