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Looking for descendants of the Jonas and Christina Westberg family. Both parents came from Alfta Parish, Hälsingland, Sweden in 1913 to Chicago, where Jonas sister, Tilda (Maria Matilda Hägg) Westberg was living.
Jonas was known in Sweden as Jonas Hägg, and Christina was born Kristina Ström. They married after they came to the U.S., and Jonas apparently decided to use his sister's name, which I believe must have been that of her husband. Their family included:
-Ruth M., b. abt 1916 in Illinois
-Marian C., b. abt 1919 in Illinois
-Everett J., b. abt 1925 in Illinois
-Mary L., b. abt Jan of 1927 in Illinois
-unknown, b. abt 1933, probably in Illinois
It was known to my Swedish correspondents that Christina and a husband, Jonas, had daughters, Ruth, "Miriam," and Maria-Louise. It was also known that they had a son, whose name was unknown. A photograph from 1933 was stamped, Galesburg, Illinois. This photo showed the parents, a boy, a girl and a baby in a carriage. It was also thought that Christina had married her sweetheart, Jonas Hägg. The back of a photograph said something about her husband, Jonas. However, all efforts to find the family under the name, Hägg, or any other variation of that name were fruitless.
Then there was a new piece of evidence: In 1979, a relative of Christina's was at Bishop Hill, Henry County, with a dance troupe. He met Christina at the event, though he says since he could not speak English, and Christina had forgotten most of her Swedish, they did not discuss much at all. In any case, they did meet there. Bishop Hill is the hub around which many Swedes from Alfta migrated, especially from the early 1850s through the late 1800s. It is very near to where I finally found this family.
A search for only the name Christina, along with her birth year, birthplace, and "Henry County, Illinois" finally yielded the right family. There was Christina and Jonas about the right ages, both from Sweden and both having immigrated in 1913, along with daughters, Ruth and "Marion" all under the surname, Westberg. The Westberg family was enumerated in the 1920 census at Cambridge, Henry, Illinois. In 1930, they were found at Galesburg, Knox, Illinois. This time I found the son, Everett J. Westberg and another daughter, Mary L. Westberg.
I decided to look again at the New York Ship's Passenger List. Both Jonas Hägg and Christina Ström had emigrated together with a group of young people from Alfta and Bollnäs, Hälsingland, arriving at New York on 10 Nov 1913. Both Jonas and Christina stated they were going to the same address in Chicago. Christina stated she was going to the home of her friend Tilda Hägg (it had been the custom in Sweden to refer to women using their birth names). Jonas stated he was going to the home of his sister, Tilda Westberg of the same address.
For some reason, Jonas did not want to continue using his given surname. Actually, this was a rather common practice among Swedish immigrants. Perhaps it was difficulties because of the Swedish letter in "Hägg," that made Jonas decide to choose a new surname. Tilda's surname probably seemed like a good name. Why not use it?
I am related to this family and can share with them extensive genealogy extending back into Sweden as far as the 16th century. I am very interested in finding descendants of this family so I can compare their stories with those of my direct ancestors.
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