Emma Nilson

  Research Notes:

Summary: Emma was the oldest surviving child of Nils Nilsson (b 1841) and Maria Jonsdotter (b 1839). In 1892 she married John Bergstrom a farmer from Lake Valley Twp, Traverse County in MN. It is not clear how they met - Lake Valley Twp is about 200+kms to the east of Stockholm Twp.

Emma and John first farmed in Traverse Co, but sometime after Jun of 1900 they moved to Stockholm Twp in Wright Co, likely close to her parents home. Emma and John did not have any children. However, it seems that they "adopted" a son, Harry L [Leroy]. The 1910 US census records Harry as an "orphan", but later census he is recorded as a son.

John Bergstrom died in 1931 and Emma died in 1943. Both are buried in the Stockholm Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Their adopted son, Harry Leroy Bergstrom was born on 28 Aug 1893 in MN but I'm not sure of the location. In 1930 he married Lenore Sandy from Isanti Co. They had at least 3 children. Harry died in Stanchfield, Isanti Co, on 23 May 1962.

[written by Rueben D Grue, 12 Jul 2020]
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Research:

1. Findagrave: John Bergstrom: id 106434085
Emma: name as Emma Setia Nelson Bergstrom, id 106433322; "daughter of Nels Nelson and Mary Anderson "- but wrong name for mother - her mother was : Maria Jonsdotter - see links on findagrave, but also Stockholm Lutheran Church Records
-- NOTE: I also think that the middle name of "Setia" is wrong and likely refers to another person - I have not come across a middle name or a middle initial; her grave marker only records her name as "Emma" and then 1871-1943
MN Death cert: 1943-MN-017592; died 20 Aug 1943 in Wright Co - no other information is provided

2. US Census


1895 MN State Census, Traverse Co, Lake Valley Twp, page 15, line 95 and 96; Wheaton Post Office [abt 230 kms east of Stockholm]
John Bergstrom age 32 b in Sweden; in US for 6 yrs; in this ED, 2 yrs
wife, Emma age 24 b in MN


1900 US Census, Traverse Co, Lake Valley Twp, ED 288, sheet 15A; dw 325 fam 251, line 38
John Bergstrom age 40, born Nov 1859 in Sweden; married 8 yrs em 1887; farmer
wife, Emma age 28 Jan 1871 in MN; mother of 0 children
mother, Olia Oleson, age 70 b in Sweden; widow [mother of 7 children, 6 living]
brother, Emanuel, age 34 b May 1866 in Sweden

1905 MN State Census, Wright Co, Stockholm Twp, ED 17; sheet 7 - 2; lines 50-53
John Bergstrom age 45, b in Sweden; in US 17 yrs ?, 8 months; this ED 6 years and 2 mos - ??? - But in Jun 1900 - Traverse Co ???
wife, Emma age 34, b in MN
Olga Olson, age 76 b in Sweden
Harry L Bergstrom age 11 b MN [1894], in this ED 3 yrs 8 mos - ?? a son ???

1910 US Census, Wright Co, Stockholm Twp, ED 218; sheet 2B; dw and fam 24; lines 56-59
John Bergstrom age 50, b in Sweden, married 18 yrs; em 1887
wife, Emma age 39, b in MN; mother of 0 children
Olivia Olson, age 80 b in Sweden; wd; mother 7 children, 5 living
Harry L Bergstrom age 16 b MN [1894] - relationship, recorded as "orphan"; nationality of father/mother - not known

1920 US Census, Wright Co, Cokato township; ED 28, sheet 1B; dw and fam 17
John Bergstrom age 60, b in Sweden,
wife, Emma age 48, b in MN;
Harry L Bergstrom age 26 b MN [1894 ]

1930 US Census Wright Co, Stockholm township; ED 33, sheet 2A; dw and fam 30. line 36
John Bergstrom age 71, b in Sweden, married at age 33
wife, Emma age 58, b in MN; married at age 21

1940 US Census, Wright Co, Cokato township; ED 86-10, sheet 4B; line 45
Emma Bergstrom, age 69 b in MN [1871]; Widow

note: Harry is NOT indexed in the 1940 on FamilySearch or on Ancestry
MN death records - a possibility:

3. Harry Leroy Bergstrom; died 23 May 1962; birth 28 Aug 1893 in MN; mother's maiden name:
Nilson; 1962-MN-008384
-- findagrave, id 68905831; [same information from above]; gravemarker - "Father" ; b 28 Aug 1893; died 23 May 1962
MOMS; Harry L Bergstrom, married 1 Nov 1930, Isanti Co; cert J-261; to: Lenore M Sandy
MN Births ??? - ancestry, "Minnesota, Birth Index, 1935-2000"
Jane Ann Bergstrom, b 30 Nov 1941 at Isanti Co; parents: Harry Leroy Bergstrom and Lenore Mae Bergstrom
Dean Paul Bergstrom, b 12 Oct 1937 at Isanti Co
- family: 1940 US Census: Isanti Co, Stanchfield, ED 30-15; sheet 4B
head, John E Sandy age 67 b in Sweden; farmer
then, line 59: Harry Bergstrom, son in law, age 39 b in MN; labor
daughter to head of household (wife) Lenore age 31 b MN
then, ohn grandson age 9 [1931] - but he is not recorded/indexed in MN births (MNHS.org)
then, Dean, grandson age 4 [1936]

4. See Emma's marriage record, 1892 - and source citiation

Emma married John Bergstrom on 2 Dec 1892 in Wright Co, Minnesota, United States.⁸⁹¹¹ (John Bergstrom was born in Nov 1894 in Sweden and died on 31 Jul 1931 in Stockholm Twp, Wright Co, Minnesota, United States ⁸⁹¹².)