Genealogy Data
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Birth : April 1849 in Varo, Halland, Sweden
Death : 10 February 1920 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Burial : 13 February 1920 in Cannon Falls
[joan'sfam.FTW]
Johanna was baptized April 22, in Varo, Halland Sweden. (Also called Jane Berndtsdotter.) After she came to this country her name was Americanized, sometimes to Jane or Hannah and ultimately Jenny (Jennie). Her first son, Frans Oscar, our ancestor, was born "oakta" which means illegitimate or out of wedlock. Although John Noren is listed as the father (of Oscar) there is no marriage record. In her obituary, Jenny is listed as Mrs. L. J. Backland (aka Backlund). In the 1880 census of Cannon Falls, Minnesota, there is the following listing: L. Joseph, age 33, wife Jenney, age 31, children: William age 12, Oscar, age 9 and Stanley, age 2 all with the last name of Backland/lund). Apparently, William is Lars Joseph's son by a previous marriage. In "Mrs. L. J. Backland's obituary, Mrs. Swan (Anna) Olson is listed as a sister. All of her children, except Oscar, are listed in her obit, but in Lela Backlund's (a recognized daughter) obituary, Oscar is listed as a brother. Mrs. Backlund (nee Christenson) was a member of the First English Lutheran Church of Cannon Falls and is buried in a cemetery there. In her mother's obituary (Beata Christenson) a Jenny "Blanchard" of Cannon Falls is listed as a daughter. This is probably a typesetting error and should have been Backlund. The English Lutheran Church in Cannon Falls was not formed until 1900 (by Swedes who wanted the sermon in English). The Swedish church in Cannon Falls (St. Ansgars) did have Aida's birth and baptism (1887 & 1888), but some of their early records are missing. As late as 1877 Jenny Berndt (maiden name) (Christenson) was listed as a witness to the wedding of her brother Carl Berndt (Charles Bennett) and Ellen Olson. Again, the children of Berndt Christenson seemed to follow the Swedish custom of using their father's given name as their last name (patronymic system), see Berndt and Charles.
There are also notations in the Vasa Church records that Johanna moved, May 1, 1873 to an un-named place. Phyllis Pladsen, Genealogist, said that it is unusual that the place she moved to isn't named. Phyllis suggests that she left without telling the pastor, or it could be because the pastor discriminated against her because of the illegitimate birth of Frans Oscar, and generally made life difficult for her. Or both.
Update - March 2001. Joan went through the records in the Court House in Red
Wing and updated marriage and birth dates of Jenny and her children.
Parents:
Father: Christenson, BerndtFamily:
Mother: Kristiansdotter, Beata
Spouse:Family:Noren, JohnChildren:
Bennett, Oscar Frank
Marriage: 2 June 1877 in Cannon Falls, Minnesota [joan'sfam.FTW]
The witnesses to their wedding were Charles and Ellen Bennett. Minister: H. Wahlin.
Spouse:Backlund, Lars JosephChildren:
Backlund, Stanley
Backlund, Benjamin
Backlund, Lela
Backlund, Minnie
Backlund, Ada
There are many interesting stories in the lives of those represented here. Please help me add information, photos, or whatever you feel comfortable with.
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(aka Bruce Johnson)
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