My grandparents, Albin and Hilda Forsberg left Stockholm, Sweden the summer of 1881, visiting Hilda Forsberg's brother who was a sea captain out of South Hampton, England. From there they sailed for the United States, arriving in Valley City in January 1883.
They traveled north 38 miles and homesteaded on Section 2 Northeast, nine miles south of Cooperstown, North Dakota.
Albin and Hilda Forsberg gave the five acres of land plot to Union Church and Cemetery, this being one-eighth of a mile just north of the farm buildings.
Albin and Hilda made two visits back to Sweden. Their first trip in 1907, then again in 1911. Visiting six months in Stockholm each time. Albin had two brothers there, John and Gustav; also two sisters, Mrs. Andrew Johnson and Mrs. Streeter, who was married to a school teacher and had a family of two sons and a daughter. The eldest boy, Frank Streeter, being well educated and became an attorney at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
My dad, Gustav Lind and my mother, Charlotte (Forsberg) Lind, left Norrtalye, Sweden for the United States in 1899, at the age of 16, after graduation from school (about the same as high school here). In 1904, Gustav's brother, Philip, also arrived from Sweden. In 1911, Philip went to Canada and homesteaded. At the start of World War I, Philip and his neighbor decided to enlist in the Canadian Army. Philip became badly wounded and also received mustard gas. He died in 1954, in Shaughnessy Veterans Hospital at Vancouver, British Columbia. Philip is buried in Vancouver National Cemetery. All his unit buddies are buried there.
Gustav had three sisters and one brother. All remained in Sweden. His brother, Nels, an instructor at a college in Karlstad; his sister, Stina, taught at a high school at Gottenburg, Sweden for 54 years when she retired. His youngest sister also taught school until her death.
My dad, Gustav Lind in 1902, filed claim on a homestead eight miles northwest of Itasca Park, Minnesota. He later gave up that homestead.
In 1910, he started farming my grandfather's farm, the Albin Forsberg farm at Hannaford, North Dakota.
There were five sons born to Gustav and Charlotte. They were Algot, Adolph, Vincent, Robert and Walter. Only two are yet living, Algot and Walter. Walter having the misfortune of suffering from multiple sclerosis. Adolph was a mechanical engineer for Fergason and Company. Adolph and his wife, Dorothea had four daughters: Elaine, Barbara, Jeannie and Patricia.
Elaine Metler had two daughters. Karen graduated from college two years ago. Kristen is a junior at St. Olag's and is on the Dean's List, studying to be an actuary. Barbara Ober is a CPA. Her husband is a retired Army major. They have a son and daughter. Curt will graduate from college this spring. He spent two to six month periods at the nuclear sight at Los Alamos and his last year at the Atmospheric Science Laboratory. After graduation, Curt will continue for his masters. Curt's sister, Michelle, will also graduate from the New Mexico University with a double major in accounting and economics.
Three remaining nephews and the grand nieces are very young at this time, but no doubt, will be well educated. Barbara Ober, being in charge of the Army Floral Shop for many years, was called upon to supply bouquets and flowers for the astronauts when they made their landing at the Sand Flats where she met all of them.
Source: Hannaford Area History North Dakota Centennial 1889 - 1989 Page 195