WEB VERSION OF A BOOKLET
WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED BY
LYLE & ELIZABETH LOFGREN, 2001,
2ND EDITION, 2003
Modern photos by Elizabeth Lofgren
We finished writing the first edition in 2001, and
passed copies out at a Lofgren family picnic in August.
We also sent copies to some members of the Johnson and
Swenson clans. From the Johnson side, we received more
information from Bev Applund Larson of North Branch MN
and also Joey Johnson of Woodbury MN, who sent a copy of
a family history that Fillmore Johnson of Harris wrote
for that media conglomerate, the East Central
Minnesota Post-Review. Jon Kent of Santa Barbara
CA sent data and photographs about California relatives,
descendents of R.G. Smith, as well as pictures of fourth
and third generation ancestors. We have included this
information.
We are thrilled that the booklet reconnected us with
2nd cousin Alf Gunnarson in Skövde, Sweden. The E-mails
flew between us. He sent lots of genealogical
information on the Finnerödja (Swenson) side of the
family, extending that history from the fourth
generation back to the tenth generation. In addition, he
sent photographs we'd never seen of relatives, even
those in America. Without his generous sharing of family
history, we probably would not have bothered to revise.
Alf runs a website, www.mossebobladet.se,
devoted to family history and sometimes current events
in and around Barrud. Swedish is the normal
language for this website, but sometimes English is
used. There are also many photographs, which are
accesible to anyone, no matter what your language. He
changes the content regularly. He featured Ida Lowisa
Swenson in November 2005.
Chuck Maki of Rock Island IL contacted me in 2005 with
a generous offer to look up Lofgren ancestors in the
Elghult (now called Älghult) parish records, copies of
which are at the Swenson archives at Augustana college.
He corrected many birth-year errors and found
previously-unknown siblings of August Löfgren (fourth
generation Lofgren, chapter 5). He added birth dates for
early ancestors, so you can celebrate someone's birthday
almost any day you're in the mood. I thank him for all
his genealogical help. One discrepancy between the
records he found and the scribbles handed down to me
through the family is that the records sometimes show
"Karl" as being spelled "Carl," and sometimes the
opposite. As far as I can make out, the spellings are
interchangeable, so I won't try to be consistent about
it.
In late 2009, I received more genealogical information
as well as more stories about the Lofgrens listed in
Chapters 5 and 6. Alison Nunnally, of Lake Tahoe,
Nevada, shared information about descendants of Isak
Peterson. Göran Lundkvist of Göteborg, Sweden, who
googled up this website while looking for relatives,
sent information on the descendants of Isak's sister
Lena.
Authorship note: Lyle started writing this, and so
first person narration seemed logical. We've retained
that conceit, even though Liz contributed much to
writing and editing of text and photos.
If you have more than a cursory interest in this
material, we could send you the booklet, which is not
kept updated like this website, but is a damn site
easier to read. To get a copy or otherwise comment,
e-mail us at lylelofgren@visi.com.
July, 2003 (web edition, 2005. Updated Jan.
2006, Feb., Sept., Nov. 2007, Jul. 2009,
Nov. 2009, Dec. 2009, Nov. 2010, Aug. 2012)
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Roots
Limitations of
Genealogy
How
Long is a Generation?
Old Social Structure in
Sweden
Ancestor Immobility
A Swedish History
Lesson from Alf Gunnarson
Prounouncing Swedish
Umlauts
Swedish English Language
Similarities
Swedish Surnames
Where's Småland?
Where's
Västergötland?
Using
"MMFMM", etc., to Identify Ancestors
Life Expectancy
Ghosts
LOFGREN FAMILY, PART 1 -- 9th -
3rd generations B.L. (before Lyle)
Prolog:
Ninth Generation-- of
geneaological interest only.
1.
Eighth Generation -- of geneaological interest
only.
2.
Seventh Generation-- of geneaological interest
only.
3.
Sixth Generation-- of geneaological interest only.
4.
Fifth Generation-- of geneaological interest only.
5.
Fourth Generation -- First Lofgren family
immigrant to America, plus first family photographs.
6.
Third Generation -- C.A. Lofgren comes to America.
C.A. Lofgren's Siblings
-- Stories about my Lofgren 2nd cousins and their
descendants in Sweden, California and Minnesota.
JOHNSON FAMILY -- 4th - 3rd
generations B.L.
7.
Fourth Generation-- First Johnson family
immigrants to America
8.
Third Generation Augusta Johnson's family comes to
America. Hard times in Harris. First Johnson family
photographs.
Augusta Johnson's
Siblings -- Stories about my Johnson 2nd cousins
and their descendants.
LOFGREN FAMILY, PART 2 -- 2nd
generation B.L.
9.
Second Generation -- C.A. Lofgren and Augusta
Johnson in Harris
Lofgren Home Place
Influence of the
Railroad
C.A. Lofgren's Mishaps
The Smith Place
Stromberg's Washout
Diaries
Schooling
C.A. & Augusta's
Later Years
Elmer Lofgren's
Siblings -- Stories about my Lofgren aunts and
uncles, as well as their descendants. Includes Arvid's
snuff recipe.
SWENSON FAMILY -- 12th - 2nd
generation B.L.
Prolog:
Twelfth & Eleventh Generation-- of
geneaological interest only.
10.
Tenth Generation-- of geneaological interest only.
11.
Ninth Generation-- of geneaological interest only.
12.
Eighth Generation-- of geneaological interest
only.
13.
Seventh Generation-- of geneaological interest
only.
14.
Sixth Generation-- of geneaological interest only.
15.
Fifth Generation-- of geneaological interest only.
16.
Fourth Generation-- of geneaological interest
only.
17.
Third Generation -- First Swenson family
immigrants to America. Visiting Barrud and my 2nd
cousins in Sweden.
18.
Second Generation -- John Swenson & Ida Lowisa
Karlsdotter in Fish Lake township
Ida Swenson's Siblings
-- Stories about my Swenson aunts and uncles, as well as
their descendants.
August Carlson's
Letters Home
Music in the Swenson
Family
LOFGREN FAMILY, PART 3
19.
First Generation
The Great War
After the Great War
Ida
The Hired Man
Mike and Me
Elmer & Ida's Last
Years
Elmer & Ida Singing
(mp3 audio files; added 6/12/05)
MAPS:
SOUTHERN SWEDEN
SMÅLAND
VÄSTERGÖTLAND
BARRUD
HARRIS TOWNSHIP, 1888
FISH LAKE TOWNSHIP, 1888
|