The Bergstrom-Ersson Family History

The Bergström-Ersson Family History is a seventeen page typescript . Included in the family history is a family tree of both the Bergström and the Ersson families, copy of Sven Bergström's citizenship papers, a copy of the patent deed issued to Tarkeld Willisson for the homestead Sven and Anna bought. A letter from Marie Klies to Arvada (Dotty) McFarland dated October 1982. Also included is a copy of
a drawing entitled “Unto the Promised Land...” and a cookbook printed for the reunion in 1991 of the Bergström/Ersson families title "Our Family's Best Kept Secrects."

Biographical Note

The family history describes the history of the Ersson and Bergström families by concentrating on the lives of Anna Ersson Bergström and Sven Bergstrom.

Anna Ersson was born on 26 December 1865 on a small farm to Flygar Per Ersson and Anna Olsdotter. Anna and her eight siblings helped her mother in the fields. Crop failures were common, and the girls were forced to beg. Anna and her sister, Christine, went to seek work in the city. As a house servant for a wealthy family in Gagnef she learned the craft of hair braiding. In spite of her limited education, she got work at a drug store in Uppsala where she became interested in medicine and became a midwife.

Anna immigrated on 16 June 1888 with a ticket given by a distant relative in Minnesota. She changed her name to Anna Smith and went to Hoffman, Minnesota, and lived with the Nyströms where she worked at the drug store making and selling hair jewelry. Her sister Christine joined her a year later and they lived in a Catholic orphanage in Morris, Minnesota, making hair jewelry.

Anna married Sven Bergström on 13 June 1891. Sven had emigrated from Ockelbo the preceding year and was a businessman. Sven and Anna moved to White Rock with their first two children, Ernest and Hildur. They bought a homestead at Crawford in 1897. Two more children were born: Ellen and Elvira. Sven built the town’s first store on their farm. It was a harness shop, but eventually became a general store, post office, and watch repair shop. Anna and Sven sent for Anna’s mother and siblings Andrew, Carrie, and Sara to join them in America. Tragedy struck on 5 December 1901 when Anna found out Sven had died in a wagon accident on a trip to White Rock. Anna, with six children now and another, Swan, on the way, worked hard to keep the family together. She took over the farm work and chores and took the trips into town. Anna lived a very frugal life and gave all she had to her children. She died of a heart ailment on 8 April 1953 at her son Hildur’s home in Rosholt and was buried in Roberts County.