Anders Andersson Åström Family

A salute from our generation to our forefathers, . . . from whence we came and to whom we owe so much

…for inspiring our faith and fortitude

See also Grandpa Anderson Genealogy and “Grandpa Anderson” History
Home: https://andersonfamilyhistory.wordpress.com/

“Grandpa Anderson,” Anders Andersson Åström (1854-1943), the 4th of 9 children of Anders Mårtensson-Elizabeth Johansdötter [photo] of Åsjön, Bydeä Våsterbötten lan, Sweden, worked as a drang (farmhand), moving to Norrliden, Degerförs (Vindeln) on November 3, 1883 on to Sofors in Bygdeå Parish, Sweden, marrying Sophia Johansdötter. Of 3 children born in Sweden, only 1 survived. They hear glowing reports of ‘ life in Amerika. ‘

Anders, selected by his brothers to take care of their elderly mother, Elisabeth, and his dying step-father, Anders Burman, finally convinced his charges to emigrate from Sweden with his pregnant wife, Sophia, and daughter, Hilma. They were astounded on their arrival in Salem, Dakota Territory. amidst Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks which they thought his two immigrant-brothers had arranged for the occasion . The journey from Goteborg to Hull, England took 2 days. After docking, emigrants went by train to the west coast of England (Liverpool) where they boarded a large ocean ship, SS Adriatic for New York. In 1888, the fee for a second class ticket was 105 Swedish crownes ($10). Immigration records show all but Burman debarked; apparently, he did not survive the journey.

Arriving in Salem on the 4th of July, 1889 Anders finds all the government land gone and his brother, John, discouraged by the droughts and blizzards is about to re-emigrate to Cuba; meanwhile, his brother, Nils, is about to head as far west as the train tracks can go, to the Missouri River, where the latest homestead lands to be recently opened now remain. With all the local homestead lands gone, Anders signed an IOU to buy a farm homesteaded by early arrivals. (See map below — NE S18, T104, R53, Ramsey.)

Horrible news keeps coming as a dozen of the couple’s babies die with the last one also taking the life of his wife in childbirth; only three survived, Aunt Hilma, who married Ole Bratmoe; Arvid who in 1913 married Blanche Wicklund and became my parents and Aunt Mayme who in 1919 married Ben Howe to become parents of Laurel, Lyle, and Merland. Anders and all of his children were once farmers NE of Salem, SD but went on to live quite a different life.

If you are an ancestor of the above you are an individual here for God’s special purpose.

Grandpa Anderson, as he was affectionately known around Salem, was a fearsome Model-T driver; he aligned radiator cap with the center line of the road to travel to Mitchell to fish bullheads in the Jim River. Armed with magnifying glass, he was an avid reader of ‘Old Country’ newspapers. By the time of WWI, he had taken his recently widowed daughter, Hilma Bratmoe, on a comforting trip to Southern California; sailed back to Sweden to visit his young brother, Carl Åström, and traveled to Cuba, where his eldest brother, John, died. Before each of his travels he made prepaid room and board arrangements for his mother, Elizabeth.

Grandpa Anderson farmed the land highlighted in orange on the following map (NE S18, T104, R53, Ramsey) 1889-1819 with wife Sophia Augusta Johansdotter (see family picture 1902). Grandma died 1/1/1907 in childbirth with 13th child so Grandpa lived here with his widowed mother, Elizabeth Burman, and his only surviving son, Arvid, my dad and two daughters Hilma & Mayme (see 1915 picture of sisters). He visited his brother in Cuba 11 months after the death of his wife, Grandma Sophia, per Montrose Herald 12/26/1907: “News Item from Ramsey: Andrew Ostrom (sic) and Jonas Olson left for Cuba a week ago to visit Mr. Ostrom’s brother ( Johan Andersson, July 15, 1850- Feb 23,1913) who went to Cuba about 2 years ago (Dec 1905).” He also visited his younger brother Carl in Sweden in 1913 after attending his older brother John’s funeral in Cuba per the postcard shown elsewhere..

He is pictured visiting Southern California circa 1925 with his widowed daughter, Hilma Bratmoe and in Miller, SD 1941 with all his descendants. In 1913 Dad, Arvid Anderson (1889-1953), and my Mom, Blanche Wicklund Anderson (1888-1949), bought a farm nearby on section 5; we lived there until 1935.

Map of Anderson and Wicklund family farms, Ramsey Township, McCook County, South Dakota.Grandpa Anders Anderson farmed the orange land (NE S18, T104, R53, Ramsey) 1889-1919.In 1913 Dad, Arivid Anderson and my Mom, Blanche Wicklund Anderson, bought a farm nearby on section 5; we lived there until 1935. Grandpa Johan Johannesson Wicklund (1854-1929) homesteaded the green land (SE Sec8, T104N, R53W) in 1884 and received land patent issued 1/30/1892 serial # SDMTAA 093196 Document Nr.10695. He had settled next door his sister, Ida and brother-in-law CA Tidbloom.

Map of Anderson and Wicklund family farms, Ramsey Township, McCook County, South Dakota.
Grandpa Anders Anderson farmed the land highlighted in orange (NE S18, T104, R53, Ramsey) from 1889 to 1919.
In 1913, Dad, Arvid Anderson, and my Mom, Blanche Wicklund Anderson, bought a farm nearby on section 5, as highlighted in red; we lived there until 1935 when forced out by the Great Depression. We moved to Canova and Mitchell.
Grandpa Johan Johannesson Wicklund (1854-1929) homesteaded the land highlighted in green (SE Sec8, T104N, R53W) in 1884 and received land patent issued 1/30/1892 serial # SDMTAA 093196 Document Nr.10695. He had settled next door his sister, Ida and brother-in-law CA Tidbloom.

The 3 children, 8 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren & their many offspring of these emigrant ancestors are saluted for their many sacrifices: Mayme Howe, Laurel Howe, Laurita Howe Kvenberg, Michael Kvenberg, Rachael Kvenberg Roth, Kristin Roth, David Howe, Elisabeth Howe, Daniel Howe, Barry Howe, Dina Howe Mittan, Sharie Howe, Lyle Howe, Rebecca Howe Nelson, Todd Nelson, Haley Nelson, Denton Howe, Shannon Howe, Andrew Howe, Merland Howe, Debra Kay Howe Ness, Robert Ness, Philip Ness, Alicia Mae Ness, Donald Ray Howe, Erick James Howe, Kristin Anne Howe, Donna Marie Howe Meinerts, Jesse Mark Meinerts, Kieth Richard Meinerts, Shannon Marie Meinerts,Hilma Bratmoe, Baby Bratmoe, Arthur Andersson Åström, John Andersson Åström, Arvid Anderson, Vincent Anderson, Richard Anderson, Patricia Anderson, Frances Verda Anderson, Maynard Anderson, Dennis Anderson, Donald Anderson, Bruce Anderson, Carol Anderson, Allan Anderson, Daniel Anderson, David Anderson, Travis Anderson, et. al.