Olof Christofferson

   Another name for Olof was Olof Christoffersson Bonstrom.

  Research Notes:

Summary:

Olof Christofferson was the oldest son of Christoffer Ersson Bönström (1819-1900) and Kjerstin Olsdotter (1823-1905). He was born 5 Jul 1852 at the farm/village of Bäckången-Sormark in Östmark parish. In Nov 1878 he left Östmark parish and traveled to Hälsingtuna (Hudiskvall) near the Baltic Coast in Gävleborg län. He began working at a lumberyard. It is not clear if he left Östmark to begin work or if he left for other unknown reasons. In Oct of 1879 he married Märta Olsdotter who was born (in 1845) in Arkiva parish in the southern part of Värmland län. And in Aug of 1881, he, his wife and infant son, Knut (born Nov 1880) left for North America.

Olof Christofferson and family arrived in the area north of Cokato, Minnesota in 1881. Olof's older sister, Maria Christofferson and her husband Lars Jonsson had left Östmark parish in 1866 for Cokato, MN. Unfortunately, Olof's son Knut died around in 1881 in MN. Olof and Kjerstin had a daughter, Hulda who was born in 1882 in the area north of Cokato known as the Knapp community or the North Crow River area. It is assumed that Olof worked at various jobs and perhaps on his sister's farm.

In the US, Olof used and was known as Ole B Christofferson or some times simply as O. B. He did not use the surname "Bonstrom" in the US, although the middle initial that he used likely refers to Bonstrom.

Ole B and his family moved to Minneapolis, likely in the summer of 1885. They lived in an area that at the time was known as East Side River Flats on the river bank of the Mississippi River. Later in the early years of 1900, he moved to Minneapolis - East Side River Flats was likely abandoned or taken over by the city as early as 1900-1905.

A daugther, Annie was born in 1892 but she died within a year.

Ole B worked at various jobs throughout his years. He died on 29 Jan 1928. His wife Marta had died earlier, on 22 Apr 1917.

Ole's daughter, Hulda M was married in Minneapolis in 1903 to Otto E Johnson (1878-1953). They had 7 children, with one child dying [likely stillborn].

Olof/Ole Christoffersson, Relationship:
3rd cousin, 3 times removed: his 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.



Modified Descendant:

Olof (Ole B) Christofferson, (b 1852 in Sweden; died 28 Jan 1928 in Minneapolis, MN
married: 1879 to:
Marta Oldsdotter (b 1845 in Swden; died 22 Apr 1917 in Minneapolis MN)

children:
[1.] Knut Oscar, b 1880 in Sweden; died 1881 in Wright Co, MN
[2.] Hulda Marie, b 1882 in MN; died 1972 at Minneapolis
married: 1903 to Otto E Johnson, 1878-1953. Children:
a. Evangeline, 1904-1974;
b. Hazel Martha, 1906-1993 [m. in 1934 to Anthony Joseph Domiano, 1914-2000; their children: Ralph Gordon
Dominano, 1934-1991 [married he was to June Ann, 1936-2015. They had 4 children.
c. Ellen Caroline, 1908-1989; married: 1939, Robert Ferdinand Turnquist, 1914-1997. Their children were
Sandra Ellen, 1941-2011 [married John Raston, 1928-2003]; Frederick Otto 1944-1944; who had a son Hugo
and a daugther Lynn Quensel
d. Esther Hulda, 1911-1982; married 1942, Lawrence Woodrow Eggen, 1915-1986; Their children were Judy
[m. F. Stuart Baker] and a son Terry A [m. Dianne]
e. unnamed baby, 1914-1914
f. Alden Otto, 1916-1996. not married
g. Walter Daniel, 1918-1978, married: 1948 to Anne Marie Norman, 1918-2002. Their children: Annemarie,
Jennette; Walter N; Alden L


Written by Rueben D Grue, 3 Jan 2021
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1. Ancestry Family Trees

lennart erikson Släktträd family Tree on ancestry
link, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/85009464/person/220169155651/facts
- note the use of the Finnish Family Name of Liukkoinen

And another FT; Eggen Clark 1 FT [ most complete ]
link, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/100825750/person/180006459647/facts
[ library edition: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/family-tree/person/tree/100825750/person/180006459647/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 died in AB 1948... but nothing more than Lennart Eriksson FT

- records that son Knut died 1881 and then further qualifies it with bet 1881-1895 and at Minneapolis, BUT ....
However, he is recorded as 8 months old leaving Gothenburg Sweden - see point 3


Another FT on Ancestry; Maria Emilsson Släktträd; limited on Olof but see
link, https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/family-tree/person/tree/165615152/person/402152943119/facts
- more information on Marit Kristofferdotter Bonstrom, b 1848 to Erik Eriksson (Ersson) family
- no additional information of Olof other than name

ALSO: Family Search, id LVVH-VVY; with many posts by TDEggen, latest 24 Jun 2020
- likely same info as the Ancestry FT; this familysearch FT links alot of the family information with other 'collaborators'




2. Sweden Church records: for some earlier records, see his father's research page

Östmark (S) AI:27 (1876-1880) Page 224, Bäckången - Sormark (AID: v9152.b237.s224)
Christoffer Ersson Bönström, b 5 Sep 1819; wife, Kjerstin Olsdotter b 1823
and then,
son Olof, b 5 Jul 1852; reference moving to Hudiksvall parish in Gävleborg on 27 Nov 1878; but I couldn't find him in Moving in records at Hudiksvall parish


after searching in Arkivdigital 'name index' - family at Hällsingtuna parish
Hälsingtuna (X) AI:16b (1881-1890) Page 532, Avik (AID: v135654.b223.s532)
Olof Christoffersson, b 5 Jul 1852 at Östmark; above his name is Brådgårds Arebetare = lumberyard worker
wife, Märta Olsdotter, b 10 Apr 1845 at Gunnarskog in Värmland [Arvika parish, Gunnarshog, also known as Stommen; abt 65 kms
south of Östmark]
son, Knut Oskar b 15 Nov 1880 at Tuna [birth/baptism: CI:6, page 114, no 53 ]
also: marriage, 26 Oct 1879 at Tuna parish [Hälsingtuna] [EI:1, page 28, no 7; AID: v135676.b33.s28]
- Brådgårds Arebetare = lumberyard worker

AND the family leaves for America 21 Jul 1881

Gothenburg, Sweden, Passenger Lists, 1881, August
Olof Christofferson, age 29; wife, Marta age 34 and son, Knut age 8 months; designation Cokato MN


[Lennart Eriksson FT on Ancestry records that he had died in 1928 at Anoka Co, MN [just outside of Minneapolis to the north west]

so, Ancestry Search: Olof Christofferson, b 1852;
leads to: GBS Ancestors, 4 Apr 2017 "Ole B Christofferson" born 5 Jul 1852 and father as Kristoffer Ersson Bonstrom
- this FT has no sources or links to records: BUT
- records a son, Knut Oscar Christofferson b 15 Nov 1880 at Hudiksvall parish, Gävleborg
[ Hudiksvall parish Births/baptisms: CI:5, image 48 [2nd entry]; parents, Olof Christoffersson and Marta Olsdotter ....
then, ?? B.....??? Avik in Tuna Socken ??? .... one witness is Nils Bengtsson and wife



3. Family is also recorded: Swedish Lutheran Church Records: North Crow River Lutheran, Wright Co [abt 20 kms north of Cokato]
https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554910-00550?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=NEk378&_phstart=successSource&pId=31116498

image 151
Olof Christofferson arrived 1881 from Sweden; along with wife ; family leaves/rejected ?? 24 Nov 1885
but only 2 children: Hulda Madelia b 22 Aug 1882; and the other is faded and can't be read, [but looks like born 1883 ?????, but more likely has been erased - not clear why. It is possible that this was a record for their son, Knut Oskar ???]
[ the family was taken off the Chuch records, but are not recorded in the 1885 MN state - Cokato or French Lake townships

- Olof Christofferson and family first came to this area. Likely he came to this area since this is where his sister Maria b 1846 and her husband Lars Johnson, 1819-1892 [Jönsson or Jonsson] settled/homestead. They left Östmark parish in 1866.
and he first found work. Olaf only here only a few years, since it is likely they went to Minneapolis, around 1885.

- I have not found a death record for son Knut Oscar b 1880. He is recorded with the family leaving Sweden in 1881*, but no record of death in the US. Starting with image 229 (at North Crow River church), is listing of funerals through the church beginning in the year 1870. Since the family came to this area in 1881, I reviewed images 230 and 231 (years 1880-1886) and there is no funeral record.
Thus it is reasonable to conclude that Knut Oscar b 1880, died during the journey to MN, and thus died in 1881, but it is not clear if he had died between Götenburg and Hull/Liverpool or on the shipt to the US or during the travel across to MN. I suspect in died someplace in the trip country to Cokato Twp, Wright Co.

Eggen Clark 1 FT has a link to: Gotenburg Passenger lists 1869-1951 that records the family leaving Gotenburg in 5 Aug 1881 on the ship SS Romeo bound for Hull, England. It is not clear when they had arrived in America
Eggen...FT also links to New York Passenger Lists arriving in New York on 19 Aug 1881 (image 6, no 220): BUT I am not sure if this is the same person because his age is recorded as 31 years when his age should be closer to age 29 and the person noted does not have a wife or child (others on the same page do include the given name of wife)
then, on the same ship (SS City of Richmond) and arrival (19 Aug 1881) on image 8 (no 339) the name Marta Christofferson age 34, female, wife -but again she should have closer to age 36 ????; AND on the same image 8, number 340 is Kund, infant. Of course, it is possible that Ole/Olof and Marta were separated while unloading and thus were recorded separately on different pages with different numbers. Thus son, Knut Oskar arrrived in New York with his parents

Also: the trip from Gotenburg to Hull should have only been about a day or two and at least a day or to travel to Liverpool - thus the ship may have left Liverpool about 9 Aug and so it took about 10 days or less to travel to New York in 1881??? -- using the website 'norwayheritage.com' and looking at the ship SS City of Richmond there is a record of the ship leaving Liverpool on 10 Aug and arriving in New York on 19 Aug 1881. [passenger list is not noted]
There is another website that has passenger list transcribed: https://immigrantships.net/v6/1800v6/richmondco18810819_02.html ;
Immigrant Ships, Transcribers Guild,
SS City of Richmond, Liverpool, England & Queenstown, Ireland to New York 19 August 1881
Ole Christofferson is recorded on page 1, and Marta and Knud are page 2

ALSO Eggen Clark 1 FT; links to Swedish Amercian Lutheran Church Records; Augustana Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and to the birth/baptism of Anna Olivia Christine b 18 May 1892 with parents O B Christofferson and Marta living at 89 East Side Flats
link to birth baptism: https://www.ancestrylibrary.ca/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/48258_555055-00706?pId=63151089
image 2594



4. US and MN records:

1895 MN State Census, Hennepin part 2, Minneapolis ward 2, p 85
address: 87 or 89 East Side Flats on University grounds
O B Christofferson age 52 born in Sweden, in State for 14 years, resident of this district for 10 years - so since 1885; day labor
then, under 89 address
Martha age 50, b in Sweden
Hulda, age 12, b in MN
and then at the same address, Peter Holsten age 52 b in Sweden and his family either 89 of 91


1900 US Census, Hennepin Co, Minneapolis ward 2, ED 12; sheet 14A; dw 226 dw 290, line 89
O B Christofferson, b Jan 1852 [should be Jul] in Sweden, age 48, married 21 [years 1879] ; emigrated 1881; day labor
Mrs O B, b Jan 1845 [should be Apr] in Sweden, age 55, married 21 years; mother of 3 children, 1 living
Hilda, b Aug 1883 in MN, age 17; domestic

1905 MN State at Minneapolis, ward 1-2; Hennepin Co, Part 2 [image 681 on ancestry]
O B Christofferson and wife

1920 US, Minneapolis ward 2, ED 41; sheet 12B; dw 235/fam 264; house #1034,
Ole Christofferson, age 68, b in Sweden; widow; em 1881; street cleaner with the city

US City Directories; Minneapolis; Ole B Christofferson
1888 - 31 East Side Flats, lab
1890 - 31 East Side Flats, lab
1898 - 89 East Side Flats, lab
1904 - 89 East Side Flats; lab.
1919 - Ole Christofferson, lab. living at 1077 27 Ave SE ^9267,9275

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Emigration -1881, 21 Jul 1881, Hälsingtuna, Värmland län, Sweden. ⁹²⁷³ Olof, M and son Knut Oscar leave Hälsingtuna parish on 21 Jul 1881. The family is recorded leaving Götenburg, Sweden on the ship SS on Romeo on 5 Aug 1881 bound for Hull, England and from there through Liverpool to North America. They arrived at New York on 19 August 1881.

Olof married Märta Olsdotter on 25 Oct 1879 in Hälsingtuna, Värmland län, Sweden.⁹²⁷³ (Märta Olsdotter was born on 10 Apr 1845 in Arvika parish, Värmland län, Sweden ⁹²⁷³ and died on 22 Apr 1917 in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co, Minnesota, United States ⁹²⁷⁶.)