Mattias--born on June 4, 1875 in Klövsjö, Jämtland, Sweden. He married Ida Swanson on November 7, 1903. He died on January 2, 1969 in Aitkin, Minnesota, buried at Maria Chapel Cemetery in Nordland Township, Aitkin, Minnesota. The grave is well marked. Their children: Berthel (Bert), Alfhild Sergent-Rasmussen, Isabelle Haugen-Kehoe, Carl, Linnea (Nicky)Franzen, and twin daughters: Lois Elaine Hagman and Betty Jane Wall and is Randy Wall's mother.

Matt Nickander had eight sisters. A lot of research was done on the Nickander family. Two books were published: "The Nickander/Swanson Story" by Randy Calvin Wall, 1996, tells of the families journeys from Sweden/Sverige to the New Land. Another book was published in 2002 by Terry Sylvester and Debra Janzen (Hagman sisters), titled "Memories". This collection covers more on all the families and their lives, here in America.
Now it was time to look at the brother-in-laws of Matt. Here is some family history on the "Swede Boys" his sisters married. They all married 100% Swedish men.
I felt it was important to document their lives in Sweden and journeys to America. After all they were our UNCLES! Here are their humble beginnings. And perhaps a descendant of these husbands below will travel back to Sweden where it all started from and I would like them to find the right areas for their ancestor.
Randy Calvin Wall, the Twin Cities, MN, Nov, 2010
-A quick reference to where they are from-
(län means County)
1. John Forslund- Ljusdal, Gävleborgs län, Hälsingland
2. Andrew Peterson- Junsele, Västernorrlands län, Ångermanland
3. Edward Edlund- Fränsta, Västernorrland län, Medelpad
4. George Larson Jr's parents- Klövsjö, Jämtland län, Jämtland
5. Alphie Olson's parents- Gunnarskog, Värmland län, Värmland
6. Gust Dahlgren- Fröskog, Västra Götaland län, Dalsland
7. Gust Larson- Väne-Åsaka, Västra Götaland län, Västergötland
8. Carl Lindahl- Vissefjerda, Kalmar län, Småland

Here is a Map of Sweden and the provinces:
http://flagspot.net/flags/se(lkap.html

1. Ida Nickander married John Forslund on Nov. 11th 1899, Brainerd, Crow Wing Co, MN. Johan Oskar Forsslund was born on May 27th, 1874 at Ljusdal, Gävleborgs län, Province of Hälsingland, Sweden/Sverige. In the Minnesota records his birth date is recorded May 24th, 1874. His parents were August Oskar Forsslund and Gölin Jonsdotter.
He left for Canon Falls, Goodhue Co, Minnesota on Sept. 6th, 1893, age 19 from his home parish in Sweden and left from Göteberg, Sweden on Sept. 29th, 1893, to America. We cannot find him on a ship manifest at this time.
The place where John is from (Ljusdal) is also the area the Swanson's were from. Matt Nickander's wife was Ida Swanson. Their lives were covered in Nickander/Swanson Book. I have been there many times to Ljusdal. Beautiful historical church with a lovely city on the river.
John died on Jan 3rd, 1949, Crosby, Crow Wing Co, Minnesota, buried at Lakewood Cemetery, Crosby and has a grave marker. See the Forslund Document for more on John and his family.

2. Anna Nickander married Andrew Peterson on June 10th, 1903, Aitkin, Aitkin Co, MN. Andrew was born on May 10th, 1861 at Junsele, Västernorrlands län, Province of Ångermanland. His birth was recorded May 12th, 1861 in Minnesota records.
Nils Anders Persson (Andrew Peterson) Emigrated on June 10th, 1892, from Brattforsmon, Junsele, Västernorrlands län, Ångermanland, and it states that he is going to Aitkin, Minnesota, USA. His parents were Per Persson and Anna Stina Christofersdotter. He arrived at New York, NY on the ship Servia on August 1st, 1992, age 32.
Andrews died on August 23rd, 1928, at a Minneapolis hospital, in Hennepin Co, MN. Five of Andrew's brother-in-laws were pallbearers at his funeral; Matt Nickander, Gust Dahlgren, Gust Larson, Carl Lindahl and John Forslund. Andrew is buried at Bethlehem Cemetery at the Bethlehem Church, in Aitkin Co, MN and has a grave marker. See the Persson/Peterson Document for more family history in Sweden and Nils Frosberg, Andrew's nephew.

3. Martha Nickander's friend was Edward Edlund, born July 15th, 1884 at Fränsta, Västernorrland län, Province of Medelpad, Sweden. Edward came to Minnesota from Sweden on Sept. 30th, 1888, age 4. His parents were Andrew Edlund (Anders Olofsson) and Christina (Stina) Andersdotter. Their family history is in the Nickander/Swanson Story. Edward Andrew Edlund died on May 6th, 1951 at Oakland, Alameda Co, California and was cremated.

4. Bessie Nickander married George William Larson (also known as George Larson Jr) on Oct. 10th, 1914 in Monson, Piscataquis CO, Maine. George was born on March 28th, 1894 at Monson. He was 100% Swedish. He died on Aug. 26th, 1941, Dexter, Maine.
His father, George Larson, was from Klövsjö, Jämtland, Sweden and his mother Lisa Göransdotter from Råneå, Norrbotten län, Province of Norrbotten, Sweden.
A document was written about the whole family; The Larson's, in May 2004. This document can be emailed to you at anytime.

5. Minnie Nickander married Alphie Waldmer Olson on Feb. 21st, 1921, Aitkin. He was born Oct. 7th, 1891 in Escanaba, Delta CO, Michigan but was raised in Hazelton Township, Aitkin Co, MN. He was 100% Swedish. Alphie died on Nov. 28th, 1958, Aitkin.
Alphie's father, Daniel Olsson (Olson), was born on Nov. 19th, 1854, at Gunnarskog, in Värmland län, Province of Värmland, Sweden and his mother, Karolina Persdotter Lamberg, was born on March 19th, 1864, at Torsby, Fryksände, Värmland län, Province of Värmland. Torsby is the name of a farm in Fryksände parish area. They were married on Nov. 20th, 1886 at Gunnarskog. They came to America in 1888, separately and went to Michigan and then on to Aitkin Co. in 1892.
Daniel's parents at Gunnarskog, (skog means forest in Swedish) were Olof Persson, born Nov. 2nd, 1817 and died Jan 3rd, 1902 churchwarden and Stina Andersdotter, born Sept. 26th, 1819 and died on June 30th, 1884, all at Gunnarskog. Their children at Gunnarskog, in Berga parish were: Per born Jan 17th, 1844, Kajsa born May 2nd, 1848, Daniel born Nov. 19th, 1854 and Nils Olsson Berg born Feb. 17th, 1859 and died on 24 June 24th, 1939 at Gunnarskog, tailor (he married Anna Cajsa Jonsdotter and they had three children).
Daniel Olsson emigrated on April 20th, 1888 from Karlsvik, Alnö, Västernorrlands län, Medelpad, to America, by himself, arriving at New York, NY on May 23rd, 1888, on the ship, the "State of Pennsylvania", age 34
Carolina (Caroline) emigrated on July 28th, 1888 from Karlsvik also, age 24 with their daughter, Signe Daniella Olsson, who was born Sept, 28th, 1887 in Alnö. They arrived at New York, NY on Sept 14th, 1888 on the ship Adriatic.
Caroline's father was Per Persson Lamberg, born 1818 and died on Jan. 13th, 1871 and her mother, Karin Jansdotter Lamberg, born 1821 and died on June 12th, 1900, all at Fryksände. They were married on Feb 2nd, 1945.
They had seven children born at Torsby in the Fryksände parish: Kristan born Dec 6th, 1844, Nils born March 19th, 1850, Per born Sept 23rd, 1853, Johan born May 9th, 1856, Maria born Sept 16th, 1858, Gustaf born Dec 19th, 1860 and emigrated Sept 13th, 1886 to Michigan and Karolina born March 19th, 1864.
The Olson's are buried at Bennettville and Farm Island Cemetery in Hazelton Township, Aitkin Co. and their graves are marked. Caroline died on April 11th, 1936 in Itasca Co and Daniel died on Jan. 17th, 1940 in Aitkin Co.

6. Hulda Nickander married Gust Dahlgren on Jan. 18th, 1922, Aitkin. Gustaf (Gust) Adolf Dalgren, born Feb 2nd, 1892 in Fröskog (skog means forest in Swedish), Älvsborgs län, Province of Dalsland, Sweden. He traveled to the USA, on the Ship Franconia, arriving at Boston, Massachusetts on July 3rd, 1912, age 20. Gust's parents were Anders Peter Dalgren and Maria Lisa Jansdotter. Gust died on April 17th, 1947 at Crosby and is buried at Lakewood Cemetery, Crosby and has a grave marker. See Dahlgren document for Gust's life in Sweden. Two months later after Gust arrived, Carl Lindahl, Emma's husband, came over on the same ship and port.

7. Esther Nickander married Gust Larson on Feb. 25th, 1919, Aitkin. Gustaf Hugo Larsson was born on June 29th, 1893 at Väne-Åsaka, Västra Götaland län, (Älvsborgs län) Västergötland, Sweden. His parents were Lars Fredrik Örnberg Lod and Betty Mathilda Andersdotter.
Gust came to American leaving from Liverpool, England on June 14th, 1913, arriving at New York, NY on June 22, 1913, on the ship Carmania, age 19. He listed on the passenger manifest that he was coming to Virginia, MN to his brother's home, Fritz Larson.
The picture of the ship with history is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Carmania_(1905)
Gust died on Aug. 6th, 1965, Crosby and is buried at Lakewood Cemetery, Crosby. He has a grave marker.
For more on the family in Sweden, see the Larson document.

8. Emma Nickander married Carl Lindahl on July 10th, 1924, Aitkin. Karl Albert Leander Lindahl was born on Nov. 27th, 1893 at Baldon, in Vissefjärda, of Kalmar län, Province of Småland, Sweden. He left Sweden on Sept 12, 1913 from Mälmo to America. He arrived at Boston, Massachusetts on Sept 24th, 1913 on the ship Franconia, age 19. Carl died on March 26, 1964, Aitkin and is buried at Lakewood Cemetery, Crosby and has a grave marker.
His father was Johan Alfrid Lindahl born Sept 4th, 1867 at Baldon, Vissefjärda, Kalmar, Sweden and died on Dec 25th, 1957 at Bussamala, Vissefjärda, Kalmar. Johan married on Nov. 2nd, 1888 to Ida Amanda Svensdotter at Gullabo Annex, Sodre More, Kalmar, Sweden. Ida was born on June 7th, 1863, at Gullabo, Torsås, Kalmar, Sweden and died on May 9th, 1936, Vissefjärda, Kalmar, Sweden. They had nine children.
There has been a lot done on this family tree by Shirley Larsgard and her daughter Carol. I hope they know their work is greatly appreciated and it was left on the internet for all of us to enjoy. Carol downloaded the notes of her mother so it could always be here for all of us. Tack Så Mycket, Carol. We loved your mother for getting all of this started. She was one of my first relative that I contacted back in 1991 to start the research on my family tree. Both Shirley and Carol are gone today. But look what they left behind.......

https://beta.familysearch.org/s/treeDetails/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Ftree.familysearch.org%3A8080%2Fwww-af-webservice%2Fperson%2F2717451&hash=1Vf8IVfeOBt%252BIVyBPvD62tSof5g%253