Maria Christoffersdotter

   Other names for Maria were Maria Christoffersdotter Bönström and Maria Christofferson.

  Research Notes:

Summary:


Maria Christoffersdotter, b 1846, was the oldest child of Christoffer Ersson Bönstrom (1819-1900) and Kjerstin Olofsdotter (1823-1905). She spent her early years with her parents, mostly at the farm/village Bäckången - Sormark. In 1864 she moved to Millmark to work and a few years later, 13 Apr 1866, she left Östmark parish for North America. It seems that she traveled with Lars Jönsson (1819-1892), a son of the farm owner in Millmark.

Maria Christoffersdotter and Lars Jonson were likely married in 1866 in Carver Co, likely in the Watertown area [Lars' brother Erik and Jon both had left Sweden in Apr 1866), and so it is likely Maria and Lars joined them. Sometime between 1866 and 1869, they moved to the area in Wright Co known as Knapp, in the northwest corner of Cokato Twp. Maria and Lars raised 9 children on the home farm. Many of the children married and had numerous children, mostly in the area around Knapp.

In 1892, Lars Jonsson died. Maria continued on the home farm, but by 1911 she moved to Watrous Twp, south of the town of Loman in Koochiching Co, MN. This is area is just south of International Falls, MN and the US/Canada border. Her son, Erik Gustaf had moved to this area around 1905. In 1911 Maria was married at the age of 65 to Nels Alstermark (1854-1933). Around 1916, her married daughter, Caroline (married to William A Anderson) also moved to Koochiching Co, MN.

Maria Christoffersdotter died in 1925 at Loman at the age of 79.

I have done a lot of research on Maria and her children - see her children's reseach pages.
My relationship with Maria goes back to my 4th great grandfather, Nils Ifvarsson (1741-1829). Maria descends from the family of a brother to Nils Ifvarsson, Erik Ifvarsson.

Maria Christoffersdotter, Relationship:

3rd cousin, 3 times removed: her father Kristoffer/Christoffer Ersson Bönström, 1819-1900
Common ancestor: Nils Ifvarsson, 1741-1829; my 4th great grandfather and Karin Svensdotter, 1741-1821
- Nils Ifvarsson's son, Sven Nilsson, 1766-1855 - my direct line, and following this line to my grandmother, Avey Rangborg Skaret [1890-1960]
- another of Nils Ifvarsson's children, son Ifvar Nilsson, 1768-1852; and then his son, Erik Ifvarrson, 1794-1851
- Erik Efvarsson, 1794-1851, son Christoffer Ersson Bönström, 1819-1900
- Christoffer Ersson Bönström, 1819-1900:
he had 5 children and of these children, 2 emigrated to the North America:
Maria Christoffersdotter (1846-1925), and Olof Christofferson (1852-1928).
- Christoffer's grandson, Karl Johan Bonstrom, b 28 Jan 1889, died 2 Feb 1954, Minneapolis, MN. He was the son of Christoffer's son, Erik Kristoffersson (1858-1940/1950)
- 2 other grandsons of Christoffer emigrated to North America: Hjalmar Bonstrom (1890-1956) and Oscar Bonstrom
(1883-1948), both to MN. In 1920 Oscar later emigrated to Alberta, Canada. Both Hjalma and Oscar were sons of Christoffer's daughter, Kerstin.


[written by Rueben D Grue, 12 Mar 2021]

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See, Bonstrom Chart One - PDF under "Anvsoft" folder in This PC-documents
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1. Ancestry.com Family Trees:

**
And another FT; Eggen Clark 1 FT
link, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/100825750/person/180006459944/facts
- includes a photo of him - Ole B Christofferson, b 1852 and his wife and daughter Hulda
- far more complete
- includes link to Oscar Bonstrom ... but nothing more than Lennart Eriksson FT

**
Another FT: Johnson FT [Tammy Johnson]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/60113092/person/140179588019/facts
- appears to have information similiar to Eggen Clark 1 FT
- records Maria's second marriage to Nels Alstermark, b 1854 in Sweden
- 65 pages on her "media gallery", https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/60113092/media?usePUBJs=true

*
Ancestry.com FT ; Dennis Anderson FT;
link, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/111448627/person/370104596640/facts
- daughter Carolina Lena b 1877 - died at Loman

Another FT: Lund FT [Sam Lund]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/155440287/person/152051801712/facts
- has some additional information on descendants of son Erik Gustav Johnson, b 1869


Another FT: Johnson FT [Sarah Haag]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/120719633/person/251000194007/facts
- records that Maria Christofferdotter was married twice to Nels .....

Another FT: Engelking FT [Christopher Engelking]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/169500781/person/132198367423/facts
- has some additional information of descendants of daugther Carolina Lena Johnson, b 1877 ; nothing on others


Another FT: Lundberg Släktträd FT [Lisskersti Marit Lundberg ]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/74595831/person/112217735244/facts
- has some addtional information of descendants of son Nels August Johnson and Carolina Lena

[ note: this FT has incorrectly recorded John Peterson Hedman, 1851-1916 mother as someone named Brita Olsdotter from Östra-Fors in Malung parish in Kopparberg county; also had downloaded the family photo - links to son John William Hedman and then his daughter Lavena, 1912-2000. I have no idea why this is included in her FT ]


Another FT: Graves/Pratt/Alama/Robinson/Henry/Deaver FT [Lisa Tollison]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/166346778/person/202202527994/facts
- has some additional information of descendants of daugther John Ludwig Johnson, b 1877 ; nothing on others
[also: Hensler-Palmberg FT; Katherine Hensler
link, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/77050092/person/34360787400/facts ]

Another FT: Ellingston/Lunquist FT; 'ommypapa'
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/5608273/person/-586860964/facts
- has some additional of the three youngest children, but names only ; names of other children, only

Another FT: Norma's FT; Norma Johnson
link, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/118060577/person/412132800590/facts
- has some additional information of descendants of son Peter Lars Johnson, b 1867 ; only; nothing on others

Another FT, Robert Clousing FT [re: "DNA ancestor"
link, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/75409959/person/432176294869/facts
- Peter Johnson, 1867, John Ludwig, b 1877; and Carolina Lena b 1886
- and this has some more information on daugther Caroline's daugther, Helen R Christie with a photo and the following
Ancestry FT, Adams Family Tree; https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/87013688/person/46557338938/facts

NOTE: there is a FT on Ancestry [Nilsson FT; owner, KurtKjellen]
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/36357824/person/360064617901/facts
- records the WRONG Maria Christoffersdotter - this FT records Maria/Marit b 1848 BUT this is Maria Christoffersdotter's (b 1846) sister who was Marit Christoffersdotter b 1848 and married to Erik Ersson b 1845 [see Östmark household, AI:22, page 291
- a couple of other FTs have made the same mistake


2. Detailed Research: I have completed detailed research on Maria Christoffers's children - see their research pages.
Maria Christoffersdotter had 8 children, each with descendants., and thus a lot of information to review

I have used the above Ancestry Family Trees as source information, but all the above FTs do not have complete information - most times I have identified the FT I most commonly used. I have tried to verify the information, but there is still much information missing - because of this much more researched will need to be conducted.

See Below for a "Modified Chronlogical": but note that on the research pages for each of her children, I have recorded a 'modified chronological' for each child and their family/descendants.



3.
and Swedish Lutheran Church - Stockholm Lutheran; image 747 ; and image 790
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554912-00846?pId=30296899
Lars Johnson, b 16 Jun 1819 at ; arrived in US in 1866; received 1869
wife Maria Christoffersdotter, b 30 Aug 1846 at Östmark
son, Erik Gustav b 24 Jul 1869 at Moores Prairie [baptism, image 1048
[ but why is son, Peter Lars Johnson not recorded on this page or on image 70; b 1867 ???]


AND Swedish Lutheran Church: North Crow River Lutheran; image 124 - also image 86
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554910-00523?pId=31116002


image 285; Nels August Johnson
image 286; Peter L Johnson
image 287; Swan/Sven L Johnson
image 288; Otto Alfred Johnson


Also: checked out Watertown, Carver Co.; not listed; no baptism - earliest 1866 at Trinity but not for Peter Lars Johnson,
b 1867

.... Also, Swedish American Church Records; Bethany Lutheran Church, Loman, Koochiching Co, MN
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554877-00479?pId=30762707
- note: there are only 50 images posted: images 2-21 and 32-40 are notes; images 22-29 and 42-48 - members; image 31 - births, 1905, 1908 and then 2 records for 1920

image 23: Nels Alstermark, b 13 Feb 1855 at Lekvattnet parish, Värmland; to America in 1880; came from Cokato
wife: Mary Astermark, b 10 Aug 1846 at Östmark; married 1910; from Cokato
** actually Maria Christoffersdotter

BUT: 12 Feb 2021 - I reviewed births in Lekvattnet parish and there is no record of a birth on this date; But there is a birth record at Lekvattnet parish for 13 Feb 1854 for Nils Pärsson, born outside of marriage (the father is not recorded) - And this is records notes that the mother is Marit Nilsdotter age 28 at Långsjöhåden and this Marit is in fact the wife of Halsten Erikson b 1832 and emigrated in 1870 to Cokato Twp, Wright Co - see his research notes - I have recorded his family in Sweden and the US, but I haven't found her son in connection with Halsten Erikson's family in the US.

I can't find any records in the US that allows for a definitive proof that the above Nels Alstermark and Nils Person (Pehrsson or Pärsson) are the same person, but I think they are the same persons.


4. Some initial Östmark church records

She married Lars Johnson b 1819 and died 1892 at Knapp, Cokato Twp, Wright County, MN
Also: Ancestry has a collection of MN marriages - a transcribed record, married 11 Sep 1866 at Watertown, Carver Co
Ancestry.com. Minnesota, U.S., Marriages Index, 1849-1950
--- but the Swedish American Church record (Trinity Lutheran, in Watertown does not have marriage records, they are not recorded as members, and although there are some births for the 1866-1868, but not for son Peter

Östmark (S) AI:21 (1861-1865) Page 418, Millmark (Mellmark) (AID: v9146.b36.s418)
Jöns Persson, b 11 Jun 1792 at Käppanstorp
wife Gertrud Larsdotter, b 1786 at Mellmark ; died 8 Jan 1862
daughter, Marit, b 1812
son, Lars b 16 Jan 1819
son, Jon b 1827; moves to .....?
son Erik b 26 Oct 1833; moves to p. 242 [ the father of Otto E Johnson married to Hulda M Christofferson, b 1892 at Minneapolis ]

then a couple of spaces,
Måg (typically son in law)
Jon Persson b 31 Jul 1827 born at Radom; m.
Ingeborg Jönsdotter b 8 Oct 1821 at Mellmark; and their children

then, towards the bottom, ...... pige Maria Christoffersdotter b 30 Aug 1846 at Mellmark and came in 1864 from p 276

Östmark moving out: B:2, image 43, no 18 and 19
pige Maria Christoffersdotter from Millmark (page 444)
drang Lars Jönsson from Millmark (page 444) to America
household records: AI:23, 1866-1870, page 444, Millmark
pige Maria Christoffersdotter, b 1846 to America 13 Apr 1866
and a few lines further down.
drang, Lars Jönsson b 1819 to America 13 Apr 1866
[Lars is recorded with his widowed father, Jöns Persson b 1792 and likely a sister, Marit b 1812]

Note: Ancestry.com has a transcribed record, Sweden, Emigrants Registered in Church Books, 1783-1991, and this records that Maria is a "hustra", meaning wife of Lars Jonsson, but that is NOT what is recorded in the Östmark parish books
AND Ancestry.com also has a trancribed record, Minnesota, U.S., Marriages Index, 1849-1950, that records her marriage on
11 Sept 1866 at Watertown, Carver Co, MN

Swedish American Lutheran Church records; image 747 and 790; Stockholm Lutheran Church, MN
link, https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554912-00846?pId=30296899

Lars Jonsson, b 16 Jun 1819 Östmark; received 1869
wife Maria Christoffersdotter, b 30 Aug 1846, Östmark
and son, Erik Gustaf, b 24 Jan 1869 at Moores Prarie

and then, North Crow River Lutheran, image 86 and image 124
https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554910-00485?pId=31115639



5. US Census and MN State Records

1870 US, Cokato, Wright Co, page 3 and 4; dw/fam 27/30; post office Moores Prairie
Lars Johnson, age 51 b in Sweden; farm labor
wife Mary, age 24 b in Sweden
Peter, son, age 3 b in MN [14 Nov 1867 in Carver Co]
Gustav, son, age 2 b in MN [ 24 Jan 189 in Wright Co ]

1875 MN State, Cokato Twp, Wright Co, MN; page 13 family 114 [familysearch; ancestry image 41]
Lars Johnson, age 56 b in Sweden; farm labor
wife Mary, age 30 b in Sweden
Peter, son, age 8 b in MN [14 Nov 1867 in Carver Co]
Erick J [Gustav], son, age 6 b in MN [ 24 Jan 189 in Wright Co ]
Christina, age 4 [1871]
Sven, age 2 [1873]

1895 MN State, Cokato Twp, Wright Co, MN; page 3 [ancestry image 128; relatively poor quality]
- Mrs Mary L Johnson, age 49 b in Sweden
then, son, Peter L Johnson, age 27 born in MN; BUT records he has been in this district for 27 years and 6 months - not correct
son, Ludvig J age 18
son, Nels August, age 15
son, Otto Alfred age 18
dau, L Carolina age 8

1900 US, Cokato, Wright Co, MN; ED 220; sheet 4B; dw 64/fam 67 ; line 68
Mary Johnson, age 53 b Aug 1846 in Sweden; Wd; mother 10 children 8 living
Sven, son, age 25 b Sep 1874 in MN [as are other children]
Ludwig, son, age 22 b Aug 1877
Nels, son age 20 b Sep 1879
Otto, son, age 18 b Aug 1881
Lena age 13 b Aug 1886


1910 US Census, Cokato, Wright; ED 204; sheet 3B; dw 50, fam 56
Maria is living with her daughter Lena and her husband William Anderson - see Lena's page
- Maria is recorded as a widow

then 1920 US Census

6. Second Marriage: to Nels Alstermark

Ancestry.com FT ; Dennis Anderson FT;
link, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/111448627/person/370104596640/facts
- records they were married on 27 Aug 1911 at Loman, Watrous Twp, Koochiching Co, MN [about 25 kms+ west of Fort Frances, ON; along the border]
and records: "Second Marraige. They lived in a house on the west end of the sand ridge on the Johnson/Anderson Homestead land. Carl Alvin Anderson subsequently owned that land, then his son William(Bill) and today Bill's daughter Kressen is the owner of record.

Note: this marriage is NOT recorded on MOMS; but according to MOMS, his first marriage was on 29 Dec 1893 at Douglas Co to Malina Torgerson
** see above Bethany Lutheran Church Record

- NOTE: Maria Christofferdotter's daughter Carolina Lena Johnson, 1886-1977, was married to William A Anderson in 1905. By 1910 they had moved to Watrons Twp, Koochiching Co, MN - see Eggen and Tammy Johnson FTs

in the 1910 US Census at Watrous Koochiching Co; ED 84; sheet 7B; line 95; dw1 47
Nels Alstermark, age 53 born in Sweden ; emigration as 1881 ? [ancestry records it as 1887 but it looks more like 1881]
is recorded as a Widow and he is a farmer on a homestead


Re: Nels Alstermark
BLO GLO records, patent issue 29 Oct 1908, Twp 158 N, range 25W; Sec 27 S½NW¼ and N½SW¼ ; 160 acres; homestead
US Track Books; Vol 22, image 226
- initial payment of $10 on 26 Mar 1903, receipt #232; with final receipt 270 on 17 Apr 1908

1895 MN State, he is at West Union twp, Todd County; age 40 married to Bertha M age 48 b in Norway; in this district 1 yr, 8 mos
and in the same family is Torger Torgerson age 16 b in MN; T..?? age 12; and Gunder age 7: these are likely her children from another relationship [since she isn't recorded in the 1900 census - she must have died between 1895 and 1900
1905 MN State, West Union Twp, Todd Co [image 11 on familysearch]
Torge Torgerson, age 25; Sophia T Torgerson, age 22; Gunder Torgerson, age 17; all b in MN; all in this district - thus born here
BUT Nels Alstermark or Bertha are not recorded
- I can't find Nels Alstermark in the 1905 MN State - Koochiching Co was not formed until 1906 and was carved from Itasca Co - using
the homestead record [twp 158, range 25W], but he is not recorded; so, I don't know ???

1900 US Census at West Union Twp, Todd County
Nels Alstermark (but recorded as Sels) b Feb 1855 in Sweden; Wd; emigrated in 1880; farmer
then, Gunder Torgerson, step son, age 12, b Sep 1887 in MN
and then a couple of servants?

There is a record of his burial/funeral at First Lutheran church records, International Falls, image 186
9 Sep 1933 - same day as death - does not record his age at death
[ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554877-00479?pId=30762707 ]


7. Modified Chronological: [see point 3 above]

Maria Christoffersdotter (Bonstrom)
b 10 Aug 1846, Östmark; d. 4 Sept 1925, Loman, Watrous Twp, Koochiching Co, MN
1st marriage, 11 Sep 1866, Carver Co, MN;
Lars Jonsson Johnson, 15 Jun 1819, Östmark, Värmland, Sweden; d. 17 Feb 1892, Knapp, Cokato Twp, Wright Co, MN
Children:

[1]. Peter Lars Johnson, b 14 Nov 1867, Wright Co, MN; d. 27 Jul 1937, Cokato, MN. Marrried with children
[2]. Erik Gustave Johnson, b 24 Jan 1869 Wright Co, MN; d. 11 Dec 1933, Koochiching Co, MN. Married, with children
[3]. Christina Johnson, b 18 Nov 1870, Wright Co, MN; d. bet 1920/1930, Wright Co, MN. Married, with children
[4]. Swan Lars Johnson, b 27 Dec 1872, Wright Co, MN; d. 2 Jan 1950, Wright Co, MN. Married, with children
[5]. Johan Ludvig Johnson, b 5 Jun 1875, Wright Co, MN; d. bet 1875/1877, Wright Co, MN.
[6]. Ludvig Johnson, b 16 Aug 1877, Wright Co, MN; d. 13 Dec 1958, Wright Co, MN. Married, with children
[7]. Nels August Johnson, b 17 Sep 1879, Wright Co, MN; d. 7 Oct 1951, Wright Co, MN. Married, with children
[8]. Otto Alfred Johnson, 12 Sept 1881, Wright Co, MN; d. 29 Oct 1918, Wright Co, MN. Married, with children
[9]. Caroline Lena Johnson, b 8 Aug 1886, Wright Co, MN; d. 20 Sep 1977, Koochiching Co, MN. Married, with children ^9266,9267

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Emigration, 1866: Leaving for North America, 13 Apr 1866, Östmark, Värmland län, Sweden. ^9268,9269 The household record vol, AI:23 (page 444, farm/village Millmark) records that Maria Christoffersdotter left Östmark parish for North America. This is also recorded in the Östmark parish moving out records (B:2, image 43, no 19). Note that in the moving out records on the line above pige Maria is drang Lars Jönsson. This would likely mean that they were travelling together.

Maria married Lars Jonsson Johnson on 11 Sep 1866 in Carver Co, Minnesota, United States.⁹²⁶⁶ (Lars Jonsson Johnson was born in 1819 in Östmark, Värmland län, Sweden and died on 17 Feb 1892 in Cokato Twp, Wright Co, MN ⁹²⁷⁰.)

Maria next married Nils Alstermark on 27 Aug 1911 in Loman, Koochiching Co, Minnesota, United States. (Nils Alstermark was born on 13 Feb 1854 in Lekvattnet, Värmland län, Sweden, died on 9 Sep 1933 in Loman, Koochiching Co, Minnesota, United States and was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Loman, Koochiching Co, Minnesota, United States.)