Chapter 3: Swedish Johansson to American Ogren

The Ancestors and Siblings of Amanda Gustafsdotter

Jonas Swensson was born on June 10, 1770 in Karrakra, Sweden. He married Cajsa Johnsdotter who was born on December 6, 1798 in Hallstad, Sweden. They had at least one son, Gustaf Jonasson (1832). Jonas died on November 23, 1842 in Karrakra, Sweden. I don't know when Cajsa died.

Gustaf Jonasson was born on May 5, 1832 in Borstig, Sweden. He married Anna Kajsa Magnusdotter who was born on March 18, 1827 in Alvsborg, Sweden. She was the daughter of Magnus Emanuel Ericsson Blad and Ellika Andersdotter. Gustaf and Anna emigrated to the United States, probably sometime around 1882, and he changed his family name to "Streed" (the "J" on his tombstone and in other records may indicate that he kept Jonasson as a middle name). Gustaf and Anna had six children: Oscar Ljungbarg (1854), Amanda Eleanora Gustafsdotter (1858), Herman J. Gustafsson (1862), Hulda B. Gustafsdotter (1865), Swan Sevrin Gustafsson (1868), Elizabeth Gustafsdotter (1870). I believe that all the children were born in Sweden and immigrated to the United States with their mother and father. Gustaf Streed died on February 12, 1904 in New London, Minnesota, his wife Anna died on July 20, 1910 in New London.

Oscar Gustafsson Ljungbarg, Amanda's oldest brother, was born in 1854 in Sweden. A family photograph of "Oscar Youngblood", taken in Boras, Sweden in 1901, is labeled as being the brother of Amanda. Even though the family tree lists him as "Ljungbarg", it is possible that "Ljungbarg" means "young blood" somehow, though "ung" is Swedish for "young" and "blod" is Swedish for "blood". It is even more possible that a later ancestor finally changed the name to "Youngblood" (his family tree shows both names as descendants). They might have even translated it incorrectly to arrive at Youngblood. In any case, it is not clear why he never took the surname "Streed". Perhaps it is because he did not emigrate to the United States with the rest of the family--the photograph from 1901 could be partial evidence of this fact. And "Ljungbard" seems to be an added last name which might have something to do with his profession or an honorary title. Oscar married Annette Josafina Johansson (1855-1933) and they had four children: Eleanora Anna Ljungbarg (1885), Axel R. Youngblood (1887), another son, and Karl Gustaf Ljungbarg (1892). Oscar died in 1943, but I do not know where he is buried.

Oscar Ljungbarg, taken 1901, Boras, Sweden

Amanda Eleanora Gustafsdotter was born on February 17, 1859 in Boras, Sweden. Several documents list Amanda's last name as Gustafsson instead of Gustafsdotter. Her father's name was Gustaf which should have made her last name Gustafsdotter since she was the "daughter of Gustaf" but it was not uncommon for Swedes to change names ending in "-dotter" to "-son" for simplicity upon emigrating. Most documents and photographs refer to her maiden name as "Streed", but it may be just an extrapolation from her father and brother's chosen surname. It is also possible that she may have changed it from Gustafsdotter in Sweden, to Gustafson upon emigrating to America, to Streed to match her immediate family, before marrying into the Ogren name. One document also refers to her as "Nora" so she may have gone by "Nora" instead of "Amanda". Because Amanda Gustafsdotter is of the most interest to my family tree, I'll come back to her in a bit. For now, I'll continue with the known details of her siblings lives.

John Herman Gustafsson was born in May of 1862. In 1880 he immigrated to America. In 1888, he married Sofia Johanna Johansson who was born in September of 1854. Like Herman's parents, they emigrated to the United States and changed their surname to Streed. They had five children, two died in infancy: Sigrid E. Streed (b. March 1890), Ella C. Streed (infant, 1896-1896), Esther M. V. Streed (b. September 1898), Hulda A. Streed (b. 1900, d. 1995).

Their family is listed in the census of 1900.

The 1910 census for New London lists John H. (48), Sophia J (55), Esther M. (11) and Hulda A. (9). The census notes that Sophia had birthed five children but only three are currently living. Herman was a general farmer who owns his farm. Hulda can't read or write but does speak English.

Sophia died in 1914. In 1920, the "widowed" Herman Streed (57) was living with his daughters, Esther (21) and Hulda (19), both still single. It is also noted that Herman was born in Sweden, immigrated in 1889 and was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1896. Hulda did not attend school the previous year, is not able to read or write, but is able to speak English. Herman is a general farmer and both girls are listed as housekeepers at home.

The 1930 census shows Herman J. Streed (67) living with his daughter, Esther V. (31). Esther is still unmarried. It says Herman immigrated in 1890 and is a gerneral farmer.

At the same time, Hulda Streed, still unmarried, was living in Ramsey County at the Anchor City and County Hospital and working as a "laundress" there.

Herman died in 1948. Herman, Sofia and their children Ella and Hulda are buried in the Streed family plot of the Lebanon Cemetery, New London, Minnesota.

Herman Streed's headstone in Lebanon Cemetery; Sophia (Johansson) Streed's headstone in Lebanon Cemetery

Ella C. Streed's headstone (infant) in Lebanon Cemetery; Hulda A. Streed's headstone in Lebanon Cemetery

Hulda B. Gustafsdotter was born in 1865. She may or may not have changed her name to Streed upon arriving in America. She married Eric Lundbeck and they had three children, Dagmar Lundbeck, Elrin Lundbeck and a third son. I do not know when she died or where she is buried.

Hulda (Streed) Lundbeck (left) with her sister Amanda Eleanora Ogren

Swan Sevrin Gustafsson was born in 1868. He emigrated to America and changed his name to Streed. I don't believe that he ever married. He died in 1903 and is buried in the Streed family plot at the Lebanon Cemetery.

Swan Streed; Swan Streed's headstone in Lebanon Cemetery

Charllota Elizabeth Gustafsdotter was born in 1870. She married Gustav Swenson (b. 1864, d. 1931). It is not clear if she changed her name to Streed before she married. They had seven children: Alfred Swenson (1894), Martin A. Swenson, Aida Eleanor Swenson (1899), Ernest S. Swenson (1901), Ruth Agnes Swenson (1903), Rudolph Albert Swenson (1904), Martha Olivia Swenson (1912). Elizabeth died in 1934 but I do not know where she is buried.

Elizabeth (Streed) Swenson

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