Kristin Persdotter

  Research Notes:

See: Kristin's page for "stories"

I have included to articles that I finalized on 28 Sep 2022:
One: "Summary, Kristin Persdotter and Erik Nilson Lofgren"
- this includes a listing of all the Sources that I used in researching Kristin and her family
Two: "Lima Church, Gosen Church, and the Gossen Post Office"
- in addition, this includes a number of sections that I have labeled "Appendix"

Also NOTE: I have written a complete document [not part of the 2 stories above] and the this document includes a number of backround notes of my research. I had researched this family in detail. Currently this document is located in 'zz folder....Erik N Lofgren [26 Jul 2023]

Also Note: from: North Dakota, U. S., Cemetery Records, 1877-1999 [Ancestry]

Kristen Persdotter, with the name as Chrestina P Lofgren is buired at the Gosen Cemetery. See findagrave id 57883941. Her burial is also recorded in the Ancestry collection, North Dakota, U. S., Cemetery Records, 1877-1999 - see direct link to image 263; https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/251681:62162?_phsrc=hyr558&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Chrestina+Lofgren
&gsln=Lofgren&ml_rpos=1&queryId=f12a13472ec6eca21cdaa0a0a933562d

Also: Erick N Lofgren, image 294;

image 294: https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/252926:62162?_phsrc=hyr559&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=ERik+N&gsln=Lofgren
&ml_rpos=1&queryId=cf5634f78913033d6ff3e43bf5c86732

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Note: I have only recorded my cousin Kristin's children on my Legacy database. But I haven't recorded the names of daughter Ellen's children.

Erik remarried later in 1891 after Kristin's death in 1891. He had 4 other children with his second wife. I haven't noted these in any detail (see the 1900 US Federal Census record) since these individual's would not be related to me.

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Östmark (S) AI:28 (1881-1885) Page 232, Sörmark Såter [Svenssatern]
enk, Kjerstin Persdotter, b 26 Jun 1819 ..next vol, AI:29, page 224 ... moves in 1887 to 214 - Sörmark with son Sven Svensson, b 1842
dau Karin Persdotter, b 7 Sept 1846 ..... next vol, AI:29, page 224 ... moves to Fryksände 25 Oct 1889 ... married???
dau Kristin Persdotter, b 22 Feb 1862 ................ moves to North America, 24 Apr 1882




Värmlänninger .....
image 231; 24 Apr 1882 from Sormark Sater; last address Dassel
Kristin Persdotter, married Löfgren .....


Ancestry Family Trees

My Family Tree [KadyLyn85] ; access on 21 Aug 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/9257564/person/39178958/facts ⁹⁶⁶²

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Emigration, 1882: Leaving for North America, 1882, 24 Apr 1882, Östmark, Värmland län, Sweden. ^9663,9664 Kerstin leaves Östmark parish in 1882. From the Östmark moving out records [B:3, image 12 no 26] it appears that she is traveling by herself. In Värmlänningar in Nordamerika it is noted that her address is Dassel, MN and that she marries "Löfgren".

"Summary, Kristin Persdotter and Erik Lofgren: 28 Sep 2022, Winger Twp, Polk Co, Minnesota, United States

"Summary, Kristin Persdotter
and Erik Nilson Lofgren"

Written by Rueben D Grue, 28 Sep 2022. Copywrite. All rights reserved.


Introduction: Kristin Persdotter (b 1862) is my 3rd cousin 4 times removed. Although she is a distant cousin, she had left Östmark parish in 1882, for Minnesota. My interest is that she is one of many relations that left Östmark for the US.

Kristin was born on 22 Feb 1862 in Östmark parish in Värmland. Her parents were Per J onsson and Kjerstin Persdotter and they lived at the farm/village of Sörmark Såter. On 24 Apr 1882 Kristin left Östmark parish for North America. She likely traveled to the Dassel, Meeker Co, Minnesota area, since at least 2 of her younger brothers had settled in the area just south east of Dassel. Her brothers used the surname "Settergren" in the US. Kristin used the given name of "Christine" in the US and she may have been known with the surname, Peterson or Pederson.

On 1 Nov 1884 in Meeker Co, MN, she married Erik Lofgren. His given name is often spelled Erick or Erik. I have completed a fairly extensive review of the Sweden Church records looking for any possibility of a family relationship with Erick Nilsson Lofgren. There is NO Family relationship with Erick Nilsson Lofgren.

There are 3 clues that lead to the birth date and birth location of Erick N Lofgren. The first clue is the Obituary that is posted on an Ancestry Family Tree, "My Family Tree FT". This obituary is from the "The Winger Enterprise" issue of 23 Jun 1938 [Winger is a small town in Polk Co, MN]. This obit notes that Erick N Lofgren "was born in Sweden on 5 Jan 1858" and that he "came to America in 1880 [actual emigration was 1881], locating in Dassel, Minnesota".

Secondly, there is one record from the Lima Lutheran Church in Winger Township, Polk Co [Ancestry's collection is under the town of "Union Lake", which appears to the nearest Post office in the 1883-86 time period]. On image 91, there is a listing for Eric N Lofgren, born 5 Jan 1858 at Vermland, Sweden, that he was married in 1883, that he arrived in the US in 1881, and that he died 16 Jun 1938. This record does not record a spouse, but below Eric, his son Oscar is recorded, but no details are provided.

These first 2 clues led me to a hunch that Erik N Lofgren was probably born in Östmark parish, Värmland [Vermland]. From previous research, I have found that a large number of my family relatives had left Östmark parish and many emigrated to the western part of Wright County, Minnesota (Stockholm and Cokato townships; some to the eastern part of the county) and to the area around the town/village of Dassel in Meeker Co. I have also found that Erick's first wife, Kristin/Christine Persdotter's siblings had emigrated to an area south east of Dassel.

The Östmark parish birth/baptism volume does include the birth of a Erik (born 5 Jan 1858) with his parents named Nils Nilsson and Anna Larsdotter living at the farm/village of Millmark Liusättern - see Erick's research page for more details of his family and his family's movements.

In the the Östmark parish records, Erick was normally recorded as Erik Nilsson.

Erik Nilsson is recorded living with his parents until about 1880. In Mar of 1880, Erik moves to Ramsjö parish in Gävleborg län. It is not clear why he did this since Ramsjö is about 335 kms north east of Östmark - perhaps the move was for military service?

On 16 Jul 1881, Erik leaves for North America. As I have indicated, it is likely that he made his way across the northern states to the Dassel, MN area. And he likely first worked at a few farms in the area - it is likely he knew the "Settergren" family from.

There are 2 sources that record Erick and Kristin's marriage. The Minnesota marriage index (MOMS) records the marriage of Erick Lofgren and Christina Peterson on married 1 Nov 1884 in Meeker Co, MN [Meeker Co certificate D-004]. This one of the earliest records that uses his surname as "Lofgren". The given name of his wife is recorded in various records as Christina/Christine/Kristin - this is not uncommon in that a person's name in Sweden is "anglicized" in the US or Canada. Her surname has also be anglicized - instead of Persdotter, the record recordes her surname as Peterson (in some cases as, Pederson). Her father was Per, and usually a Swedish given name of "Per" is anglicized as Peter.

One other record notes that Kristin Persdotter was married to "Lofgren". This record is found on FamilySearch.org, "Värmlänningar i Nordamerika", by Måwe, Carl-Erik; 1971. On image 231, Kristin Persdotter came to the US in Apr 1882 from the farm/village of Sörmark Sater with her last address recorded as Dassel, MN. This record notes she is married to "Lofgren."

Winger Twp, Polk Co, MN

The US land records note that Erick Lofgren had made his first payment on homestead land in Sep 1883 and a final payment in Nov 1888. The homestead was on Section 8 in Winger Twp, Polk Co, MN.

One of the easliest records of Erick and Christine is the 1885 Minnesota State Census for Winger Twp, Polk Co. This records Erick age 27 and his wife Christine age 23, along with their daughter Ellen age 1 who was born in MN. Both Erick and Christine were born in Sweden. Christine age translates to being born around 1862. Other records note that Erick continuing to live in Winger Twp, Polk Co.

Erick and Christine were early members of the Lima Lutheran Church, located about a km north of their homestead buildings [see below for a summary of the Lima Lutheran Church]. The Lima Lutheran Church was established in Nov 1886. It also appears that there was a school named, "the Lofgren School" that was also on their homestead land.

It is clear that Erik Lofgren was the father of 7 children. However, it is not clear how many children Christine [Persdotter, b 1862] had. The reason for this is because the records for Erik Lofgren (and Chrisine) are confusing as are many of the Family Trees. I am reasonably confident that she had at least 3 children - Ellen, Oscar, and Selma. They are recorded in the family grouping in the Lima Lutheran church records on image 120 of the Ancestry collection. This records Erik, Christine Pederson, and the three children. And this record also records that Christine is "död", Swedish for "dead". However, this record does not record a date for her death.

The handwriting on image 120 from the Lima church is different from many of pages particularly on the section 'register of members' [starting with image 84]. The handwriting on image 120 is closer to the handwriting starting with image 4, but it still is not the same. However, image 123 has the same handwriting and includes dates, 1890 and 1891 - I think this brief note refer to dates of the church service [Gudstjenst]. I think that the images from 120-123 are from an earlier record of the church, but the rest of those early records are lost or have been destroyed. If this is the case, then Erik N Lövgren's first wife Christine had died in the 1890/1891 time frame, possibly a year of two earlier or a year of two later. Many of the Ancestry FTs record her death as 1891 and some record the date of death as 8 Feb 1891. However, none of these FTs provide any source citiation for this date of death.

The Minnesota death index does not record a person with the surname of Lofgren and a date of death of 1891 in Polk Co, MN. However, there is a grave marker on Findagrave for a person named Chrestina Lofgren.

In reviewing grave markers, I used the link on Ancestry FTs particularly the "My Family Tree, managed by LadyLyn85". This FT links Christine to a findagrave post [id 57883941]. This post includes some photos of a gravemarker. However, the initial post recorded the name, "Chrestina P Fodd Lofgren", born in 1863 and died in 1891. Note that the name in Italics usually refers to a maiden name. Fortunately this post includes a photo of the grave marker/tomstone. By carefully reviewing reviewing the photo, the following is clear: on the top line is "Chrestina P" and then below this is the word "Fodd" and likely there is the diacritical mark above the letter "o", "ö". In Swedish the word "Född" means was born or simply born. Then a couple of spaces down is the word "Död", meaning "died", Feb 1891. On the base of the gravestone is "Lofgren", or possibly "Löfgren". I had contacted the findagrave post manager and the change in the findagrave post has been made - she agreed with my review.

When I first saw this findagrave post, I thought this must be wrong. The spelling of the given name is somewhat different, but the year of birth is not correct, since Christine/Kristin was born in 1862. But based on other information from the Lima church records, it is reasonable to conclude that this is my cousin Kristin married to Erik Lofgren.

Another confusing aspect for me was that Kristin/Christine's grave is located in the Gosen Church Cemetery. As I indicated below, Erik Lofgren family belonged to the Lima Lutheran Church which was a Swedish Church. The Gosen Church initially was a Norwegian and the cemetery was located about 5-6 kms north east of the Lofgren home. I think the reason for her burial at the Gosen Cemetery is because it was likely the first established cemetery in the vicinity. I had reviewed other deaths recorded for the Gosen Cemetery and "Chrestina's" was the earlist grave marker.

I found one other source for "Chrestina's" burial at the Gosen Cemetery. This is from the ancestry collection, North Dakota, US Cemeteries completed by the Red River Valley Genealogy Society in Fargo, ND. The western part of Polk Co, MN borders the Red River and North Dakota. On images 261 - 264 are the transcriptions "of existing stones of the cemetery [that] were copied on September 21, 1987 by Maxine Workman and Ethel Meholt". Image 263 records, "Lofgren, Christina P. , 1863-Feb 1891" located on the east side of the church.

Only a couple of Ancestry FTs record that Erik Lofgren was remarried later in 1891 to a person named "Chrestina B., born in Apr 1859 in Sweden and died on 7 Nov 1904. The "My Family Tree" on Ancestry records her surname as Olson, but provides no evidence of this. I believe this surname is incorrect since I have reviewed the records of 2 of Erik's other children. His youngest son, Ferdinand was born in 1899 and he died on 16 May 1978. The MN Death Cert index for him records his mother's maiden name as Johnson. And then Erik's son, Maurice John was born 15 Jan 1895. He died on 30 Jan 1968 in Iowa, but on his US SS claims index (on ancestry), his father is named as Erick Lofgren and mother as Christine Johnson. it is reasonable to conclude that Erik Lofgren's second marriage was to Christina B Johnson.

FamilySearch has a collection named "Minnesota Death and Burials, 1835-1990. In this collection there is a record of the death of Erik Lofgren and my cousin Christine/Kristin's oldest daughter, Ellen Christine Elizabeth b in 1884. Ellen was married to Martin Peterson and they farmed in Beltrami County, MN. Ellen's death record records that her parents were Eric Lofgren and Christina Seltergren. Christina's surname in the record should have been spelled Settergren, the surname her older brothers used in the US. This record along the records of the 2 sons mentioned in the previous paragraph, support the likelihood that the two wifes of Erik Lofgren had different surnames. With Erik Lofgren's other children, I have not found a record that names his other children's mother.

There is one other record that supports that in both of Erik Lofgren's marriages, his wife's given name was "Christina". Above, I have already discussed the 1885 MN State Census. The 1900 US Federal Census records the Erik Lofgren's family on records that Erik and then his wife Christine born in Apr 1859 and that they have been married for 9 years. This would mean they were married around 1891. However, I not found any other record of their marriage. Another important point on this census record is that it records Christine "was the mother of 4 children, with 4 children living". The record then records the names of the children and their relationship to the head of the "head of the family", that is Erik Lofgren. The records records 7 children, but this Christine only had 4 children. It is reasonable to conclude that the 3 youngest children of Erik had a different mother, that is, Christine/Kristin Persdotter/Settergren born in 1862 as I have indicated above.

Two other records support my belief that Erik Lofgren's second wife was also named Christine. First is the findagrave records for Lima Cemetery. As I have indicated, Erik Lofgren's grave maker (id 579505850) records that Erik was born in 1858 and that he died in 1938. His post is linked to his wife, Chrestina B. Lofgren, born 1859 and died in 1904, and that the photo of her gravemarker is very similiar to the photo of Erik's gravemarker. I had reviewed the MN Historical Society Death Index and on this index there is a record of a person named Christine E Lofgren who had died on 7 Nov 1904 at Polk County. This record shows that she was born in 1859 in Sweden and that her mother's maiden name was "Paulson". Of course, this an Anglicized surname - in Sweden it would have more likely been recorded as "Pålsson" or "Pålsdotter", as a patronymic. Although there are various spellings variations of "Pål". My cousin's patronymic was Persdotter and her mother's was also Persdotter.

It should also be noted that if you search the MN Historical Society Death Index for any person with a surname of "Lofgren" and who died in Polk Co, there is also a record for the name "Babe Lofgren" who died on 7 Nov 1904. This may be a coindence but it most likely is that Erik's 2nd wife died during childbirth as did the baby.

There is at least one other note on Erik Lofgren's findagrave post. This is that there is another link to his spouse, Julia Agnus Anderson Olson b 1858 and died in 1930. Erik was in fact married for a 3rd time to Julia in 1906. Julia's first husband was Richard Olson had died in 1905 and so Julia was a widow when her and Erik had married. Julia with her first husband had farmed not far from Erik Lofgren. She had a number of children with Richard, but Erik Lofgren and her did not have any children.

Erik Lofgren and my cousin, Kristin Persdotter had 3 children. Their oldest daughter was Ellen Christine Elisabeth and she was married to Martin Peterson. Ellen and Martin Peterson had 9 children. They farmed at Washkish, Beltrami Co, about 180 kms north east of Winger Twp. Kristin's son Oskar was not married. He lived in Winger Twp, Polk Co. Kristin's other daughter was Selma. She was married to Elmer Nordstrom and they farmed in Collinwood Twp in Meeker Co. It doesn't appear that they had any children, although some information indicates that when Ellen died in 1927, Selma and Elmer took in at least 2 of Ellen's children.

Note: I have not researched Kristin's children or her decendants in any detail.

In conclusion, my cousin Kristin Persdotter was born in 1862 in Östmark parish, Sweden. She died in Feb 1891 in Winger Twp, Polk Co, MN. She likely died on the family homestead on Sec 8 of Winger Twp. Kristin was married in 1884 to Erik Nilsson Lofgren. Erik began using the "Lofgren surname" in the US, but there is no family relationship other than his marriage to my cousin and being the father of 3 of Kristin's children.





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Source Information.

I have consulted numerous sources while researching my cousin Kristin Persdotter born in 1862. Usually, I would start with Swedish Church records for births marriages, and emigration. Then I usually enter basic information on the person on the Ancestry search page. Often there are some Family Trees. I then carefully begin to review the information on the FTs (Family Trees), and then review other source information such as Census records, findagrave, and various other records to try to collaborate the information recorded on FTs. But as is often the case, many FTs record incorrect information and often contradictory information. Kristin Persdotter's information on the FTs and some more original sources, are confusing.

Sources:

Arkivdigital. Swedish Church Records, mostly from Östmark parish

Ancestry.com. Ancestry FTs relavant to Kristin Persdotter, b 1862

My Family Tree [KadyLyn85] ; access on 21 Aug 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/9257564/person/39178958/facts
- records 3 wives of Erik Lofgren; likely the most accurate, but it is a confusing record;
- there are a couple of other FTs but they add nothing new

Ancestry.com. other Ancestry FTs relavant to the Settergren family in Meeker Co;
- only Kristin's name, but nothing on marriage or children

Walberg FT [Michelle Walberg] access 17 Sep 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/154608868/person/322042802893/facts
- detail and photos
- has some 40 pages [or 900+ photos, etc] in Media File/Gallery [click on profile ...]
- includes wife Gertrud's obit, 1924 [ page 2 of Media ...]

Agnes Anderson Setterberg FT [Carol Brodin Birkeland[; access 17 Sep 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/116629682/person/360156450562/facts
- similar layout for her other FT
- detail and a number of photos
note: her father was Frank [Francis] Brodin (1915-1962) who was married to Violet Settergren - see her page for media
- over-all this is a bit confusing: Violet, b 1919 - 2009; father was Carl Oscar Settergren and grandfather was Peter Settergren b 1849
- Violet had remarried after Frank Brodin died in 1962 [they married in 1940]; in 1977 to Robert Philip Jenson, 1922-2014
- on findagrave id 38759735 there is a posted obit for Violet; ... Violet was preceded in death by her first husband,
Francis Brodin; parents, Oscar and Agnes Settergren; brothers, Russel and Kenneth Settergren; step-father, George Wolfe[ ??].
- the above FT does not record the name of the father of Frank Brodin; but the Walberg FT does

Note: it is not clear to me why the connections are not made on this FT [17 Sep 2022]


Cheryl Boyer FT [Cheryl Boyer]; access 17 Sep 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/12418275/person/232002991662/facts
- details and a number of photos

All of Me FT [Joy Paulson] access 14 Sep 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/15179799/person/20465583915/facts
- somewhat detailed

U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-1947

Lima Lutheran Church
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/48258_555097-00803?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=78373949

Lake Jennie Evanglical Covenant Church, Dassel MN [ancestry collection]
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61586/images/48740_i601482-00142?pId=104663


Värmlänningar i Nordamerika, by Måwe, Carl-Erik 1971
on-line at FamilySearch.org: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89MB-LNVC?i=5

US Census records, Ancestry

MN State and Territorial Census, Ancestry

MN Historical Society, people search
https://www.mnhs.org/search/people

U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918 [Plat books]
[also see, http://www.historicmapworks.com/]
https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/1127/
1902 Plat, Winger Twp; http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/1610598/Winger+Township++Gossen++Gregg/Polk+County+1902/Minnesota/
1915 Plat, http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/150915/Winger+Township/Polk+County+1915/Minnesota/


North Dakota, U.S., Cemetery Records, 1877-1999
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62162/

FamilySearch.org [various records; one FT, but has many errors]
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/MSG3-J7L ; links to MN Deaths, 1887-2001; link to Ellen Peterson death

US Bureal of Land Management, General Land Office Records [BLM GLO] [homesteads]
[also consulted with FamilySearch.org, US Track Books]
https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx

Minnesota Official Marriage System [MOMS] https://moms.mn.gov/Search?S=1

Saga of the Thirteen Towns
https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/48179-saga-of-the-thirteen-towns?offset=416258
- Polk Co; Winger Twp [image 141] and Lima Lutheran [image 146]; Gosen Community [image 72]; Gosen Church [image 70]

"The Centennial History of the Thirteen Towns (Townships), 1883-1983". Gonvick, Minnesota. Richards Publishing Co, 1983.
PDF received from Fosston Public Library. Email of 21 Sep 2022 [pages 2,4,5]

Gosen Church History, 125 Anniversary, McIntosh, MN; http://www.gosen-church.com/our-history/

Findagrave.com
- Kristin - id, 57883941; Gosen Cemetery, Winger Twp, Polk Co
- Erick - id 57950585; Lima Cemtery, Winger Twp, Polk Co

Home Town Locator
www.minnesota.hometownlocator.com
- click on Counties, then Polk Co, then Features tab, then on the right,
"historical features" tab

US National Archives Catalog
Record Group 28:"Records of the Post Office Department, 1773-1971"; and
Series:"Reports of Site Locations, 1837-1950
link, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/68456011 [this link is to image 1 on the microfilm for Pine to Rice [1130 images]: search images 340-343; also see folder for PDF

Lima Church, Gosen Church, and the Gossen Post Office: 28 Sep 2022, Winger Twp, Polk Co, Minnesota, United States

Lima Church, Gosen Church, and the Gossen Post Office
Written by Rueben D Grue, 28 Sep 2022. Copywrite. All rights reserved.

I have gathered pieces of information about the above 2 Churches, as well as the Gossen PO. Lima Lutheran Church was established with the adoption of the church constitution on 29 Nov 1886. The formal name was Den Swenska Evangeliskt Lutheraska "Lima" församlingen, vid Union Lake, Polk County, Minnesota.

The Gosen Church was initially established 17 Nov 1884. The Congregation was given the name, "Den Norsk Evangeliske Lutherske Gosen Menighed i Polk County, MN". At the time of organization, a cemetery was also established near the Church.

Both churches were in close proximity of each other. The Lima Church was about 8-9 kms south and west from the Gosen Church. The main difference of course was that the Lima Church was Swedish and the Gosen Church was Norwegian.


Part A: Lima Lutheran Church and cemetery

The Lima Lutheran Church (Swedish) first organized in 1886. Members met in various homes and also at the Lofgren School [see The Saga of the Thirteen Towns, image 146]. The church was built in 1904 on the former site of the Gossen Post Office and Store that prior to about 1904 was owned and operated by Halvor S Aasen. The Gossen store was established in 1893 [see, Saga of the Thirteen towns, image 72]. I do know when services stopped. It is possible that the Church was moved somewhere else, but I do not know. I am reasonably sure that the Church building was about 0.70 kms west of the junction of hwy 34 and 410 St SE [using Bing Maps]. This is near the northern boundary of Erick N Lofgren's initial homestead quarter [his land is just a bit south west of this on the junction of 205 Ave SE and 410 St SE, within a 1 km distance].

I have also found that the last Gossen Post Office was at the same location of the Lima Lutheran Church. The 1915 Plat of Winger Twp, Polk Co, notes the Gossen PO and store at the junction of 202 ave SE and Hwy 34 [google does not name the road as 202 ave SE, but it is named on Bing Maps]. Using aerial/satellite views or using Google Earth, there is some type of marker or sign at this "T intersection". Neither Google or Bing maps have a street view of this junction, and so it is hard to make out what the sign/marker says. My hunch is that it records the location of the Church, or possibly the Gossen PO. There does not appear to be a cemetery, but among the 2 taller trees there seems to be some kind of stone or marker. The overall image doesn't support a cemetery.

There is a cemetery called "Lima Cemetery", however. This is located on section 2 in Garden Township and is about 5 kms west and north of the Lofgren homestead and the Lima Church. I have not found direct evidence that this Cemetery is directly connected to the Lima Church, but it is most likely. What I do know is that Erik N Lofgren is buried at the Lima Cemetery. In addition to Erik's grave marker, there area grave markers for his daughter Ellen (who had married Martin Peterson) and his son Oscar. His daughter Selma (married to Elmer Peterson) is buried at Dassel, MN. The mother of \\these 3 children was Erik Lofgren's first wife \endash my cousin Kristin Persdotter. Also buried at Lima Cemetery are Erik's second wife, also named Christina, and his sons Elvin and Ferdinand. Erik's other two sons, Ray and Maurice are buried in New York State and Iowa, respectively. Erik's third wife, Julia, is buried at Winger Cemetery.

The exact location of the Lima Cemetery is on south end of Union Lake, close to a small inlet, and along Hwy 42, less than 0.5 km of the junction of Hwy 42 and 405th St SE [Lat: 47-35-04; Long: 96-05-44]. Google street view shows this cemetery location.

However, a contradictory GPS location for the Lima Cemetery is noted on the findagrave website for Lima Cemetery: Lat 47-58-440, Long 96-09-42. I cannot explain the different coordinates.

And interesting note is that on both the 1902 and the 1915 Plat book, Erik's land is recorded with the name "C. P. Lofgren". I do not know why this is the case. At that time period, normally the land is recorded in the husband's name unless the husband had died [Erik died in 1938].



Part B: Gosen Church and Cemetery


There is a second church and cemetery that seems to be a part of the Erik and Christina (Persdotter) story. The Gosen church is located in Knute Twp. It was initially a Norwegian Lutheran Church but currently it is considered an independent church with no Lutheran affiliation. On this church's website, there is a post on the history of the Gosen church. This is somewhat similar to the history noted on images 70-72 of the Saga of the Thirteen Towns. However, the Saga information is somewhat confusing. It seems to me that the main confusion is the name "Gossen". As indicated above, Gossen was the name of the post office and store and possibly the beginnings of a small village (see image 72, Saga). But it seems that when the post office and store closed around 1904 the use of the Gossen as a community began to disappear.

The Norwegian Gosen Lutheran Church was established in 1886 with the church built on Section 26 in Knute Twp, north east from the Lima Church, about 5-6 kms distance. When the church was formed, a cemetery next to the church was also established. It is likely this was one earliest cemeteries in the vicinity. The cemetery is significant to the Erik Lofgren family, since it is the location of the grave marker for Christina/Kristin Persdotter, my third cousin.

Part C: Gossen Post Office and store

According to the 1902 Plat, the Gossen Post Office (and Store) was located on the far east corner of the SW¼ on Sec 5 in Winger Twp. It appears that this land was owned by Claus Olson. I am quite certain that when the post office and store were closed around 1904 the Lima Lutheran Church was built on this same location around 1904.

According to the US National Archives, the Gossen PO was first established by Knute Rollag and by 1889, it's location was on the NE¼ of Sec 32 in Knute Twp in 1889. Then on 12 Dec 1891, Claus Olson took over the Post Office with the location recorded on the NE¼ of Sec 8 in Winger Twp. Note that Erik Lofgren's homestead patent was issued in 19 Mar 1890 and part of his original homestead was on the NE¼oftheNW¼ of Sec 8.

Claus Olson did have a homestead patent issued on 20 Dec 1889 on the S½of theNW¼ of Sec 5. The SE¼ of Sec 5 and the N½ of the NE¼ of Sec8 was homesteaded by John G Johnson with his patent issued on 19 Mar 1890. According to the Saga of the Thirteen Towns [image 72] John G Johnson took over the Gossen Post Office around 1892. Later Halvor Aasen took over the post office but a year for this doesn't appear to be recorded anywhere.


Appendix: US National Archives Catalog

Record Group 28:"Records of the Post Office Department, 1773-1971"
Series:"Reports of Site Locations, 1837-1950

Minnesota:Counties: Pine - Rice
Polk County: images 340-343, Gossen PO Office

url: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/68456011 [this link is to image 1 on the microfilm for Pine to Rice [1130 images]


Appendix: Lima Lutheran Church Records, Ancestry collection
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/48258_555097-00803?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=78373949
Lima Lutheran Church records have been scanned on Ancestry. The first images (starting with image 4) includes the "Kostitution för Den Swenska Evangeliskt Lutheraska "Lima" församlingen, vid Union Lake, Polk County, Minnesota" with a date of 29 Nov 1886 - this is likely the "formal or first Constitution". Note that all the scanned images are written in Swedish, thus I have not read all of the "90 some images."

Erik N Lofgren became a trustee of the Lima Church as recorded on image 45 on 21 Mar 1893, for a 3 year term. On image 45 on the second side at the top it is recorded "E. N. Lofgren och hustra 4 barn." As I have indicated elsewhere, this supports that Erik Lofgren was married again and that another child was born before Mar 1893 \endash likely this was Ray Ernest who was born 17 Jan 1893.

The Ancestry collection also includes the second set of notes [see below, next paragraph], starting on image 38 to image 46 with a "new" articles of the Constitution. I have reviewed this and I think this refers to a change of name. Instead of "... Lima Lutheran in Union Lake" it changed to "...Lima Lutheran in the town of Winger." It is also possible that the change reflects the addition of the Augustana Synod, that is, the church became apart of this Synod. The date of this change is 19 Jun 1893, and E N Löfgren is a trustee and signer of this revision. In my review of these images (14 Sep 2022) I do not see a mention a cemetery.

Ancestry has another set of images of the "Den Sv. Ev. Luth.", and included in the collection, "US, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969". This is a scan of an "old style ledger" and appears to note the change of name from "Svenska Evangelisk Lutherska Församlingen i Town of Winger, Polk Co, Minn" to "Sv. Ev. Luth. Lima Församlingen vid Union Lake, Polk Co, Minn". Note the following images, are also contained in the above Lima Lutheran Church. I do not know why there are 2 collections, with same information.

On image 112, there is a record for the birth/baptism of Selma Leonda [sp?] born födt=born, 9 Dec 1889, and baptised=döpt on 23 July 1890; parents "fadre E. N. Lövgren hustr Christine Persson"; vid. or Vidner=witnesses [sponsors], Hans Hanson, Johnanna Olson". And then image 120 includes the family record for Erik N Lofgren and wife Christina Pederson who is recorded as död [see article, "Summary, Kristin Persdotter and Erik Nilson Lofgren]. My cousin Kristin/Christina is buried at the Gosen Cemetery in Knute Twp. She is likely the earlies burial at this cemetery.

Images 26 and 27 note the change in the constitution for the Lima Lutheran Church. Then the record notes the name of people who signed the constitution, and include "E. N. Löfgren, hustru och 4 barn ..." Then at the mid-point of image 27, recorded Trustees, and include " .... E. N. Löfgren, 3 years [term?] .... then .... and if a union was formed with the western congregation, the name of that congregation was adopted namely Sv.Ev.Luth. Lima Församlingen vid Union Lake, Polk Co, Minn"; image 28, signed on 18 Jun 1893 by E. P. Löfgren and M. O. Linclen [sp??; maybe Lundin]

Image 91 contains the following: "Eric N Löfgren born in Vermland; married 1883 ??" No wife is named, but their "son Oscar" is noted with no added information.


Also, Image 49, at the bottom and in English, "Articles of Incorporation of the Swedish Ev. Luth. Lima Church at Union Lake, Polk Co, Minn filed in the Register of Deeds office, Polk County Court House, Crookston, Minn on page 433, Miscellaneous Record, Book C, Polk County, Jan 22, 1887 at 5:15 PM".

Much of the record on the Ancestry Collection consists of notes written in Swedish. As indicated elsewhere, it appears that much of the early records have been lost or destroyed, since there are only a few birth/baptisms and only about 15 names are noted under funerals. My cousin's funeral is not included [see image 116]. Of interest, there is a marriage record for 12 Apr 1901 on image 115 for Halvor S Aasen and Carolina Carlson both from Gossen, Polk Co and on the column for "married at", Gossen PO. At that time Halvor was the post master at Gossen PO.

Erik N Lofgren is buried at the Lima Cemetery [findagrave id 57950585]. There is a link to his third wife Jula Agnus Anderson Olson {1858-1930}, [id 52136224]. She is buried at Winger Cemetery in the town of Winger and on the link to her son Herman Alfred Olson (1887-1969 [id, 146172291 at Lima Cemetery] and there is a comment: "Farmer at Winger, MN. Wife Erika Larson. Son of Richard and Julia Anders. Olson. Julia wed E.N. Lofgren, widowed, after Richard died in 1905."


Appendix: North Dakota Cemeteries, image 294
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/252926:62162

The above is an Ancestry.com collection, organized under North Dakota, but obtained through an agreement with FamilySearch.org. FamilySearch is clear that this collection is based on microfilms or transcriptions from the "Red River Valley Genealogy Society, Fargo, ND". Some of the cemeteries have been visited by the person who did the transcription. This volume appears to include all/most cemeteries in Polk Co, MN. There is no introduction page to this volume nor is there an indication of the volume number.

Erik Lofgren, his second wife, and a number of children are recorded. Kristin/Christina burial is recorded on image 263: "Lofgren, Christina P. , 1863-Feb 1891", East side of the Church

Appendix: Plat and BLM-GlO Records

1902 Plat for Winger Twp, Polk Co, MN

Section 8 - showing the "lots" with the name C P Lofgren (Christina - but why not E N Lofgren?); this also records a school on lot 4; and about 0.35 km north section 5 is Gossen Post Office and Store - this corresponds to the junction of road 202 ave SE and Hwy 34.
- based on BLM-GLO records, Erik Lofgren's homestead land with patent for 145.88 acres granted on 19 Mar 1890. NE¼ of the NW¼ Section 8 [Twp 147N and range 42 W of the 5th] + Lots 3,4,5, and 6 [bordering a large slough/lake - not named on google or bing maps]
- the 1902 Plat records that the NE¼ofNW¼ Section 8 is owned by C L Fristrom


Section 6; NE¼ of the NE¼ of Sec 6 - Christina Lofgren - image 100 on the ancestry college records on the directory, "Erik Lofgren, Farmer, post office Gossen, section 8
Plat for Winger Twp, Polk Co, MN as the 1902, but more clearly shows the school on lot 4, and on the far east side of lot 4 or the border with lot 5 an indication of a house/buildings section 6, as a above is now, Oscar Lofgren on image 115 of the ancestry collection, the directory for Winger Township records, Erik [but is spelled as C. N. Lofygren], sec 8, 87 acres, wf Julia, ch Oscar, Ferdinand at the junction of road 202 ave SE and Hwy 34 is the Lima Lutheran Church (same location of the Gossen post offfice in 1902.

Since the 1902 plat records a person named as Christina Lofgren on Sec 6, I checked the BLM records for the initial homesteader on Sec 6 - possibly Brus M Johnson, since he had homesteaded lot 4 and 1 on Sec 6 [Twp 147n and range 42W] in Winger Twp along with a lot 6 of land north in Knute Twp. His patent was granted on 16 Apr 1890. But I have not found him on the 1885 or 1895 MN State Census. I wondered if Brus M Johnson was the father of Christina Johnson, Erik's second wife. However, I have not found any evidence to support this. On this note, there is another possibility for the father of Christina Johnson, b 1859. John G Johnson was a Gossen postmaster starting in about 1892. He initially homesteaded on and land next to Erik Lofgren [just east of Erik's first homestead and just north of Erik's homestead land that borders the slough/lake [lots on Sec 8] and likely include the farmstead buildings and the "Lofgren" school.Appendix: MN State and US Federal Census: 1885 MN State Census, Winger Twp, Polk Co, MN,page 7, line 14 [image 318 ancestry] N Lofgren, age 24 b in Swe Lofgren, age 23 b in Swe Lofgren, age 1 b in MN 1895 MN State Census, Winger Twp, Polk Co, MN, page 13; fam 102 [image 937] N Lofgren, age 37 b in Swe; in MN for 14 yrs 2 months; in this district 11 yrs 6 months age 36 b in Swe Christine Elisabeth, age 10 b in MN E Lofgren, age 7 E Lofgren, age 5 Ernst Lofgren, age 2 Mares Lofren, age 5 months Nelson, age 21 b in Swe; farm labor 1905 MN State Census, Winger Twp, Polk Co, MN; sheet 8; line 57 [image 278 ancestry] N Lofgren, age 47 b in Swe; in the MN 22 yrs in this district 20 yrs; farmer age 20 b in MN [born abt 1885] age 17 age 16 age 12 age 10 age 8 age 5 1900 US Census, Winger Twp, Polk Co, MN; ED 0236, sheet 8B and 9A; dw/fam 143/148; 99 N Lofgren, b Jan 1858 in Swe, age 42; married 9 yrs; farmer Christine, b Apr 1859 in Swe, age 41; mother of 4 children, 4 living Christine, b Sep 1884, age 15, b in MN Oskar, b Dec 1887, age 12 Selma Leonida, b Feb 1890 age 10 Ray Ernst, b Jan 1893, age 7 John Mauritz, b Jan 1895, age 5 Elvin Necolai, b Apr 1897, age 3 Ferdinand, b Dec 1899, age 6 monthAppendix: Gosen Church

From: http://www.gosen-church.com/our-history/
23482 390th St SE, McIntosh, MN 56556

GOSEN CHURCH HISTORY; 125 ANNIVERSARY

Gosen, the first Church of the 13 towns, was organized, November 17, 1884. The Congregation was given the name, "Den Norsk Evangeliske Lutherske Gosen Menighed i Polk County, MN". A committee was selected to locate a place for a cemetery and church. They decided on the southern end of Section 26 in Knute Township on the land of Rev. Heierman. The remainder of the Heierman farm was later sold to Helmer Hogenson who, shortly before his death, willed the farm to the church. The living place, just north of the church, was later sold to Lance (who grew up in the church) and Julie Erickson. The farm land has been rented to farmers in the area with the proceeds being used for the continual upkeep of the church. Though both Rev. Heiereman and Mr Hogenson have been gone for many years, their gifts to Gosen continue to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the community.

Before the Church building was erected, the congregation met in homes and for the most part, in an unheated loft at the home of Rev. Heirman's sister, just west of the church on Hwy 59 where now an A frame house stands. The church building was erected in 1886 from native logs donated by members of
the congregation and Norwegian and Swedish neighbors. The main building was done by the Soli brothers who were trained in Norway. They were assisted by volunteers from the congregation. The logs have since been covered by siding but can still be seen as you look up the stairs to the balcony.

Being the only church in the area, membership grew rapidly reaching 237 by 1885. The railroad came through the area in 1888 and new settlements were established along with new churches. Seeing the need for new churches in traveling distance for the people, Rev Heierman organized 8 more churches in the area. Once the congregations were organized, pastors were brought in to build and pastor the new church. Rev. Heierman then moved on to start another. The heavy load Rev. Heierman carried took its toll. At the age of 47, he went home to be with the Lord and was buried next to his wife and sister in the Gosen Cemetery where his ministry to this area started. At the time of his death, he was serving in Atwater MN.

from: Historic map works
http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/150873/Garden+Township/Polk+County+1915/Minnesota/
Lot 3, NE¼ of Sec 2, Twp 147N and Range 43W, Garden Twp \endash land of Lars O Lind, homestead patent in 1890

Gosen Cemetery473604N 0955820W
Lima Cemetery473504N 0960540W

Appendix

"The Saga of the Thirteen Towns", McIntosh, Minnesota. 1958
available on line through FamilySearch.org Books
https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/48179/?offset=#page=1&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=Union%20Lakehttps://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/48179/?offset=#page=1&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=Union%20Lake>ffset=#page=1&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=Union%20Lake
Lima Church - image 146
Gossen Church and community - images 70-72

"The Centennial History of the Thirteen Towns (Townships), 1883-1983"
- received some pages of the Fosston Public Library
- very little new information [see p 2]], except on page 4 of the PDF
re: Gossen School District No 22
- "This district was the first officially organized district as it was organized on July 21, 1888, at the E.N. Lofgren home. Herman S. Wold was the first teacher, starting school on Nov 1 [1888] for a two-month term at $35 a month."
- also has a photo of the school and students, 1906 \endash copy is of a poor quality. But on the far right side are 2 of Erik's children, Ferdinand and Alvin.

Kristin married Erick Nilsson Lofgren on 11 Jan 1884 in Meeker Co, Minnesota, United States.⁹⁶⁶⁰ (Erick Nilsson Lofgren was born on 5 Jan 1858 in Östmark, Värmland län, Sweden,⁹⁶⁶⁵ died on 16 Jun 1938 in Winger Twp, Polk Co, Minnesota, United States ⁹⁶⁶⁶ and was buried in Lima Cemetery, Polk Co, Minnesota, United States ⁹⁶⁶⁷.)