SANDBURG

 

Compiled by: Andrew L. Moore

336 Sarver Road, Sarver  PA  16055

Email: PAmoores@juno.com

Dated: 25 Dec 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SANDBURG

 

 

 

[Note at the top of the first typed page]:  Typed from a handwritten notebook borrowed from Mrs. Helmer E. Danielson (Emily Nelson), Rt. 1, Pittsfield (Warren Co PA). Mr. and Mrs. Danielson live in Wrightsville and were interviewed June 8, 1970 by Mrs. Robert Israel and Mrs. Keith Chase.

 

[Also, 'WRIGHTSVILLE' appears at the top of each of the 9 typed pages.]

                                                                                                             

I am going to try and write a biography of the Sandburg [Sven Magnus and Carrie (Anderson) Sandburg] Family as I happen to be one of them.

 

My mother and father came from Smoland which is the Southern part of Sweden in the year 1869.  At that time the poor people had it very hard, so all that were able to come came to U. S. A. and there were lots of relatives as well as friends who sent money so they could come to this country. It must have been very hard for them to leave their old homeland. Father and Mother had to leave two of the children with their grandparents because when they came to the boat they were to old and their money was gone (they could not pay the children's fare) so they had to go back with their grandparents. It took them three weeks from the time they started until they arrived in New York Harbor. Most of the food they had to eat was brought with them. There has been some changes in 82 years!

 

My Father [Sven Magus Sandburg] was born 11/21/1834. My Mother [Carrie (Katrina) Anderson] was born 11/13/1836. They were married in 1862 at their Church, Skede Jonköpings Län Smöland Sweden. They were members of The Alskede Church.

 

They left Sweden for North America the 17th of April and arrived at their destination May 20 [1869].  They came to Freehold, Warren County Pennsylvania. They had friends and relatives from the old country to receive them.

 

There was a big movement to this locality during the years 1865‑1875. There was a settlement located of Swedish people around this section they called Freehold. A Lutheran Church was organized on Ascension Day 1868 Rev. C. 0. Hultgren present the name decided on being Berea. The Church was built the following year, 1869. The Swedish language was used altogether. During the summer months Swedish School was held.  If a resident Pastor or summer student from Seminary were here to conduct the same. As late as 1918 the last Swedish School Session was held over in the Miles Run School house. The preaching was in Swedish. The people were very much in favor of staying by their language, There have been no Swedish sermons preached since 1938. Rev. A. A. Fant preached one Swedish Sermon each month. The first Church Secretary Book to be written in English language was Jan. 6, 1932. All congregational meetings up until then had been conducted in Swedish. At the present time the Swedish Language is almost forgotten. My brothers and sisters were confirmed in the Swedish language. I have not forgotten, and I do enjoy a Swedish Sermon but I do not hear one very often.

 

There were eight children in our family five boys and three girls:

 

1.       Christene M. [Christine Matilda, married Oscar Albert Sandberg] born in Skede Sweden 4/17/1863.

2.       Jonas Peter born in Skede Sweden 1/8/1865. 

3.       Edith Louise born in Skede Sweden 1867 (11/19/1866 follows in pencil).

4.       Victor Emanuel born in Skede Sweden 3/9/1869. 

5.       Charles J. born in Freehold, Warren Co., Pa., 3/29/1871.

6.       Emma Josephine born in Columbus, Pa., 8/25/1873.

7.       Amil Oscar born in Columbus Pa.. 5/5/1875.

8.       Albert Luther born in Columbus, Pa. 10/27/1877.

 

My parents went to keeping house in Miles Run, Pittsfield Township Warren Co. Pa. and moved from there to Pittsfield, Pa. and from there to Columbus Pa., on a piece of land that was mostly all woods. They built a very plain house out of very plain lumber. It was not too warm in the winter, but there was lots of good wood to bum in the stove so we did not suffer much. In the Spring father built on a summer kitchen. That gave us more room in the other part of the house. There, is where we lived and spent our childhood days.

 

Father had to work in the lumber woods, he would be gone during the week but came home on Sunday. We surely were glad when it came Saturday to see father. Of course we quieted down some when he was around.

 

I must say we had a wonderful mother. She was a good Christian woman, a good singer. She entertained us by reading the Bible and singing Christian Songs and Hymns. They were very strict with us Children were not allowed to go out during Service Hours we could not attend Church as our Church was five miles away. Father and Mother would walk to church quite often. After a while we got a horse. We thought that was wonderful.

 

At that time most of the Farmers did their farm work with oxen. It was very common to drive to town five or six miles with these oxen. I remember they would yoke up an ox team when the sleighing was good and pick up a load of young folks and drive four or five miles to some‑farm house and spend most of the night visiting playing games, dancing, etc, Those were the good old days! The good old times!

 

We built a new house in 1890. The Family were very proud and very happy when we moved in. But part of the children were then grown up and some were married and had homes of their own.

 

I was 15 years old at the time I worked on a farm and I got $7.00 a month. As soon as we got old enough, we had to get out and earn our keep. We never got very much schooling. We were lucky there was not much sickness in the family. So we did not pay out for Doctor bills, but I remember once my sister was taken sick and they sent me for the Doctor. I had to walk five miles, but I was lucky, got a chance to ride back with the Doctor and they insisted I eat dinner with them before we started back. I surely enjoyed that ride. It was good sleighing and he had a very nice horse and cutter and a nice robe to keep us warm. Best of all. The Doctor did not have to come‑‑only that once. She soon got well.

 

I am going to write a history of Father and Mother's childhood days back in Sweden. What I am going to write is what I have heard from others. There was large families on both sides with only one boy in each family. My mother's brother died when he was young. According to father and mother they both had very happy homes and their parents lived to be very old. I can remember as a boy the letters they got from Sweden. Father read them aloud and I tell you we kept very quiet and sometimes he hardly could read them. I think you know the reason. My father was a very quiet man. He believed in the old saying and practiced it "If you cannot say anything good about any body, don't say anything".

 

Mother was quite different. Always looking on the bright side. She had a lot to put up with. Father was away so much and she was left to look after us children but she had a wonderful way with us. She never learned the English language very well. Around where we lived were mostly all American people, but she got along with them very well. At home we all talked Swedish. Soon as we got old enough we went to American Schools. None of us ever forgot but we could talk Swedish though as we grow older it was partly forgotten, and one would mix in English words while conversing in Swedish. In our childhood we spoke perfect Swedish.

 

I am going to give a brief history about Fathers and Mothers Sisters that came to United States of America.

 

Father had four sisters that came. One stayed here in the East and was married to a man by the name of C. Danielson. They lived in Wilcox, Pa. She died in childbirth in 1871, and was brought to The Freehold Lutheran Cemetery and buried. I was born the 29th of March the same year and the little baby girl Emma in June. My mother took her and kept her we call one another twins. She is still alive. My Uncle by marriage went back to Sweden and brought back his second wife. There were six boys and one girl born to them. John, Edith, David, Alfred and Helmer are living. The father and mother passed away some time ago. The house they lived in stands just the same although unoccupied up on Lind Hill, Pittsfield Township. Uncle was a great worker in the Berea Church but he did not live to be very old. Died 11/7/1909 aged 66 years. The mother lived to be quite old, she departed this life March 10, 1924 aged 76 years. She was a remarkable woman, we enjoyed visiting her very much.

 

The other three sisters of my fathers or rather my Aunt's went to Chicago, Illinois and got married and they located there. One of my Aunts were there during the big Chicago Fire. I think that was in 1870. I have heard her tell about it. It must have been a terrible experience.

 

In 1893 the time of the world's Fair in Chicago I went there and spent one month. Had a grand time. My Aunts lived in different parts of Chicago and there was lots of Cousins to show me around. There was always some of them to go with me when I went down on the Fair Grounds so I did not have to do alone. I tell you Chicago was no place for a kid like my self to be wandering around alone.

 

Two of my Aunts came from Chicago and visited us on the farm and one came during Fathers illness and death. He was sick for a long time and quite a care.

 

Mother's sisters went out to Minnesota and married and settled down on farms. They each lived in different counties. One lived in Bigstone County. One in Mickey County and one Chippeway Co.

 

At the time of the Worlds Fair I continued my journey and made a visit to my brother's home in the West and the rest of my relation up in Minnesota. Arrived there the first of July. It was quite a change from the City of Chicago to the farming country in the West. It was all prairie. No timber, only where they had taken up tree claims. They are supposed to plant 100 or 160 and take care of the trees and in ten years they can claim the land. That is the way lots of people got good land and homes. My brother bought his land. The soil was very fertile. Wonderful farming land. The main crops were Oats, Wheat, Barley and Flax.

 

My Uncles farm was located along Bigstone Lake. He was brought up by a lake in the old country. So he decided to make this his future home, there were not many white folks at that time but lots of Indians. There was an Indian Reservation not far from there, but he said: "He got along good with them, they seemed quite friendly." It was wonderful fishing on the lake. I used to enjoy going down to my Uncle. I made my home with my brother, he lived about two miles from Uncle's. My Aunt was dead but there were two daughters that kept house for him. They were a little younger than myself and he had a hired man. So there was some attraction and Sundays the young folks from the prairies came over and had picnics by the Lake. I stayed at my brothers until threshing time. Uncle and his two sons had a machine of their own. It was run by horse power. There were five teams that went around in a circle. They surely could thresh out the grain. There was a very big crop of grain that year. The price was very low. I think the wheat was only 60 cents a bushel and oats were 15 cents a bushel but everything was very cheap so the farmers got along well. After we got through threshing I left for a while and made my mother's sisters and their families a visit, and I surely had a most enjoyable time. They were all so nice to me. After staying with them a while I went back up to my brothers. I stayed until after Thanksgiving.

 

Want to mention at this time It gets very cold in Minnesota and already in November the ice on the Lake was six inches thick. I made up my mind I did not want to spend the winter there so I started back East, stopped in Chicago on my way. A change had taken place. It was during Pres. Grover Cleveland's administration when the hard times hit the country. There was no work and the men were walking the Streets. I did not stay very long. I was glad to start for home, arriving a few days before Christmas. It was good to be back. It was a wonderful experience.

 

In the year of 1938 my son Albert, Daughter Margaret and niece Manda Sandburg (Smith) took a trip where I spent some time over fifty years ago. There was surely a great change. Of course the old people had passed on but the younger ones had taken over and had made good. The land was all under cultivation. There were nice farm buildings and improved roads. When I was there before the farmers did not plant much corn. At the present time the corn and hogs were their beat paying crop, income. We traveled in the other Counties. They all had made good. One of my Uncle's had sold the old homestead and the young folks were living in town. We spent one day with them.

 

After dinner we went out sightseeing. At each home we visited they drove their car so all we done was to rubber. We drove to a park and my cousin told us "During the time of the Indians a battle had been fought between the whites and the Indians and most of the whites were massacred". There was a monument in their memory at the Park.

 

We came through Chicago where we also stopped and saw the stock yards. That surely was some sight.

 

We had a lovely trip. Had no bad luck. Did not change water in the radiator but never the less the old Swedish saying "Borta är bra, men hemma är bäst" ‑ translated "The best part of going away is getting home again", proved true in our case. We were glad to get back to Pennsylvania.

 

In 1912 Father and Mother celebrated their golden wedding Anniversary. Five of the children were there, and three were not present. They had thirty-two grand children and twenty-two were present. Eight were in Minnesota and the others in the State of Washington. It was to bad they could not have been with us. It was a joyous occasion and one that was not forgotten.

 

We can thank the Lord that he gave us health and we could be together. There has been a great change since in our Family. Of course that is the way of our lives.  Someday we too will say Farewell to our Dear ones, and be gone forever. We do not know what time. It is up to us to be ready. There are just two of us my sister in Jamestown and myself that is left of our immediate family. We both have a lot to be thankful for. We are well enough to be around and take care of our selves.

 

Will now give you a history of my Brothers and Sisters Families.

 

My sister Christene was born in Sweden. She came to this country when she was quite a young girl. Was married to Oscar Sandberg 1886. There were nine children born to them. Seven girls and two boys. The children are all alive except one boy. The Father passed away 1926 ‑‑ 65 years of age and my sister 1946 aged 84. They are buried in The Freehold Cemetery.

 

Jonas Peter was born in Sweden. Came to United States when quite young and he went to Minnesota as a young man, married up there and he spent the rest of his life in the West. There were eight children in their family. Four girls and four boys. There are three boys and two girls left. The rest of the Family have passed on.

 

Edith Louise was born in Sweden. She came to the United States of America with her parents when she was a little girl. Went to the State of Washington. Was married to Ed Carlson and spent the rest of her life at the Coast. They had four children. Two boys and two girls. My sister and her husband have passed on, but the children are all living.

 

Victor was born in Sweden. Was three weeks old when his parents started for U. S. A. Spent his boyhood days in Warren County Pennsylvania. He learned the carpenter trade and married Ricka Hanson. They settled in Corry, Pa. where they made their home and spent his life. He died 1944 aged 75 years. His wife is still alive. They had two children. A daughter lives in Warren Pa. The son in Corry, Pennsylvania.

 

Charles J. that is myself was born in Pittsfield Township Warren Co. Pa in 1871.  After I got old enough to work, spent most of my time in the Lumber Woods. I bought a Farm in 1900. Was married to Josephine Anderson. She came from Sweden when she was fifteen years old. We were married at her brother’s home at Bear Lake Pa. Oct 240 1901. Went to housekeeping on the farm at Blue Eye. There were three babies born to us. Two are grown up and one died at birth. My wife passed away Sept. 28, 1932. She was sick for a long time and suffered very much. It was a relief that God took her as long as there was no hopes of her ever getting well. It was hard to part with her. She was a good Christian woman a good wife and mother. Always so cheerful and seemed to got so much out of life. She was only 58 years (Hers was the first interment in the new cemetery recently purchased at that time (1932) at Freehold. My daughter stayed with me and made a Home for me. Altogether I lived on the farm over forty years. I got crippled up and could not get around very well. I sold the Farm and we bought a home on North Main St. Youngsville Pa. in 1943. My daughter Margaret married George Abbott last April (1950). He had a home of his own so ours was sold. I am living with my son Albert and his wife Zella Carole Sandburg‑‑or my daughter in law to be exact, at Columbus, Pa. They have two sons, Charles Allan and Dexter Amel. I am quite well and thankful I can get around and help myself.

 

My sister Emma comes next. She was born in Columbus Township 1873. She was married in Jamestown in 1895 to Axel Larson who was born in Sweden in 1872. Came to U. S. A. in 1892. They are the parents of five children. Three girls and two boys. They are a wonderful family of children and I know their parents are very proud of them. There have been no deaths in their family. Only one daughter lost her husband in 1947. It was a great shock to her and the family, he went very sudden. No warning. It is hard for those that are left to have your Dear Ones go that way. My sister and brother in law have spent their married life in Jamestown N. Y. They have spent fifty five years together. Though they are not very well they still are able to take care of themselves. I think that is wonderful. They have a lot to thank God for!

 

My brother Amel was born in Columbus Township. Warren County Pennsylvania 1875. He was married to Alice Crosby in 1901. Went to housekeeping in Spring Creek, Pa. They lived there for sometime then they moved to Corry Pa. where they spent the rest of their days together. He passed away in Dec. 1945 aged 70 years of age. In his younger days he was a Blacksmith. Then he had a Hardware Store and made a successful Store Keeper. He sold the store a short time before his death. My brother was a very busy man. They had one child a daughter Mildred who married Robert Bell. They are living near New York City at Chappaqua. Bell is County Superintendent of Schools. After my brother's death my sister in law stayed in Corry during the summer months and lived with the daughter and husband and the grand daughter. She passed away at their home 19__. They are both buried in the Cemetery at Columbus Pa. We surely miss them. We used to be together so much. The home where they lived was sold, and Corry is not the same anymore. Both my brothers gone, but I have the pleasant memories, as my thoughts go back to the good old times, and I think of the good times we had.

 

My youngest brother Albert was born in Columbus Township Warren County, Pennsylvania 1877. He spent most of his life in Jamestown N. Y. He was not married. He was taken sick. Went to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in hopes the climate would benefit him but he became steadily worse and passed away May 13, 1902 aged 24 years. Brother Amel went to Colorado Springs and brought back the remains. Interment took place In the Freehold Cemetery.

 

Chas. J. Sandburg died at the Corry Hospital March 2, 1953. If he had lived until 29 of March he would have been 82 years.

 

Axel Larson his brother in law died Feb. 20, 1953 aged 80 years ‑‑ Emma Larson died July 25th 1956 82 years.

 

 

 

 

 

____________ Sandburg

 

_______ and _______ (_________) Sandburg had the following children:

 

1.       Sven/Swancy Magnus, born 11 Nov 1834 Skede Jönköping Lön Smöland Sweden, married Carrie (Katrina) Anderson circa 1862 at Alskede Church, Skede, Jönköping, Lön Smöland Sweden, died 5 Feb 1913 at his home in Columbus Township, Warren Co PA, buried Berea/Lutheran/Swedish Cemetery, Pittsfield Twp, Warren Co PA.  According to his death certificate he died of apoplexy (stroke) contributed by la grippe (influenza).

2.       Unknown Female #1, married C. Danielson, died 1871 Wilcox PA, buried Wrightsville Cemetery, Wrightsville, Warren Co PA.

3.       Unknown Female #2.

4.       Unknown Female #3.

5.       Unknown Female #4.

 

 

 

Sven/Swancy Magnus Sandburg

 

Sven/Swancy Magnus was born 11 Nov 1834 in Skede Jönköping Lön Smöland Sweden.  He married Carrie (Katrina) Anderson circa 1862 at the Alskede Church, Skede, Jönköping, Lön Smöland Sweden.  Swancy died on 5 Feb 1913 at his home in Columbus Township, Warren Co PA and is buried in the Berea/Lutheran/Swedish Cemetery, Pittsfield Twp, Warren Co PA.

 

Newspaper Accounts for Sven/Swancy Magnus Sandburg

Warren (PA) Evening Times, Friday 7 Feb 1913

 

Brokenstraw Valley, Feb. 7  Mrs. Oscar Sandburg was called to Spring Creek on Sunday (Feb 2) on account of the serious illness of her father.

 

Brokenstraw Valley, Feb. 7 – Mrs. Oscar Sandburg’s father died Wednesday morning, Feb. 5^th, after a long illness, as the age of 83 years.  He leave a large circle of relatives and friends.

 

 

Carrie Katrina (also seen as Maja Katrina, or Majkarrie) Anderson was born 13 Nov 1836 Alshede, Jönköping Lön Smöland Sweden and died 25 Nov 1922 at the home of her son Charles Sandburg in Blue Eye, Warren Co PA.  She is also buried at the Berea/Lutheran/Swedish Cemetery, Pittsfield Twp, Warren Co PA.  Her father was John Anderson.  According to her death certificate, she died from acute indigestion contributed by pleurisy.

 

Swancy and Carrie (Anderson) Sandburg had the following children:

 

1.       Christine Matilda, born 17 Apr 1863 Skede, Smöland, Sweden, married Oscar Albert Sandberg 9 Apr 1883 PA, died 18 Feb 1948 at the home of her daughter Mrs. Emma Nelson in Titusville PA, buried Berea/Lutheran/Swedish Cemetery, Pittsfield Twp, Warren Co PA.  Her death certificate states she died from coronary occlusion (heart disease).  Please see the Sandberg chapter for details on the descendants of this union.

2.       Jonas Peter, born 8 Jan 1865 Skede, Smöland, Sweden.

3.       Edith Louise, born 19 Nov 1866 Skede, Smöland, Sweden, married Edward Carlson.

4.       Victor Emanuel, born 9 Mar 1869 Skede, Smöland, Sweden, married Ricka Hanson, died circa 1944 Corry, Erie Co PA.

5.       Charles J, born 29 Mar 1871 Freehold, Pittsfield Township, Warren Co PA, married Josephine Anderson 24 Oct 1901 Bear Lake, Warren Co PA, died 2 Mar 1953 Corry Hospital, Corry, Erie Co PA, buried at the Berea/Lutheran/Swedish Cemetery, Pittsfield Twp, Warren Co PA.  Josephine was born 15 Mar 1874 in Sweden and died 29 Sep 1932 at her home in Blue Eye near Spring Creek PA.  She is buried next to her husband.

6.       Emma Josephine, born 25 Aug 1873 Columbus, Warren Co PA, married Axel Larson circa 1895 Jamestown NY, died 25 Jul 1956.

7.       Amil Oscar, born 5 May 1875 Columbus, Warren Co PA, married Alice Crosby circa 1901, died Dec 1945, buried Columbus, Columbus Township, Warren Co PA.

8.       Albert Luther, born 27 Oct 1877 Columbus Township, Warren Co PA, died 18 May 1902 Colorado Springs CO, buried Berea/Lutheran/Swedish Cemetery, Pittsfield Twp, Warren Co PA.

 

 

Berea Cemetery Information: According to Mr. Terry Barton, an extremely helpful person in Youngsville PA, the Berea cemetery has been referred to as the Berea, Lutheran, Swedish and sometimes Freehold Cemetery for some time.  It is located 7 miles west of Youngsville on Rt. 6, at the intersection of Routes 6 and 958.  This intersection is called "Three Point".  The cemetery is located in Pittsfield Township, Warren Co PA.

 

Wrightsville Cemetery Information: According to Mr. Terry Barton, the cemetery is located in Wrightsville, Freehold Township, Warren Co PA.

 

 

 

 

Federal and State Census Records

 

 

1880 Federal Census, Columbus Township, Warren Co PA   Household 148

 

1900 Federal Census, Columbus Township, Warren Co PA   Household 167

Household of Christine M (Sandburg) Sandberg's parents

(*) Year of Immigration:  1869.

(**) Year of Immigration:  1869. Had 8 children, 8 currently living.

 

1910 Federal Census, Columbus Township, Warren Co PA

Household 196 (home of Christine (Sandburg) Sandberg's parents

(*) Year of Migration to the United States: 1869.  Died 1913.

(**) Year of Migration to the United States: 1869.  Died 1922. Had 8 children, 7 currently living.

 

 

 

SANDBURG SOURCES

 

·         Genealogical and historical research I conducted.

·         Mr. Terry Barton (tebarton@westpa.net) - Lind, Sandberg and Sandburg information.