Kristina the Farmer's Wife

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4. Kristina Holmquist (November 20, 1852 - February 2, 1924) married Johan Sunesson (February 19, 1843 -February 14, 1927) on June 21, 1872.1 Johan was a bond "jordbrukare" or a farmer. Their eight children took the name of Johansson, no doubt from their father's first name.

Kristina's granddaughter Hillevi had heard that Kristina was a nice and tender person who was much concerned about her family.

Kristina's house (and presumably where Kristina and Johan lived) was not too far from her father, Trufvid's, house. It is quite possible that her home was even on Trufvid's property.

Sunesson and Johan Sunesson may have owned 200 tuunland near the Fransson family.2

4.1. Emulin [Emma] Johansson (May 2,1874 - 1900) married Mr. Hultgren (???? - ????). Emma was the only child of Kristina and Johan to emigrate to America. She married Hultgren whom she met in Chicago. They later moved to Brooklyn, New York where she died in 1900 at the age of 25. Lennart Holmquist made a brief attempt around the year 1987 to find this side of the family, but was not successful.

4.2. Signild Johansson (December 27,1875 - deceased) married Josef Stahl (1885 - deceased).3

4.3. Matilda Johansson (December 13, 1878 - 1959) married Frans Magni Jonsson ( 1878 - 1934) of Nybyggden on November 23, 1900.

4.3.1. August Hilding Fransson (January 13, 1901 - 1946) married Lillie Berg ( 1901 - 1922).

4.3.2. Astrid Emilia Fransson (March 28,1903 -) married Fritiof Dalkvist ( 1891 - ).

4.3.3. John Gottfrid Fransson (November 25, 1907 - deceased) married Signe Jönsson ( 1909 -). Bernard and Doris Holmquist visited John and Signe in Älmhult, Sweden, probably in the 1970's and stayed overnight. John escorted Bernard and Doris around the Stenbrohults Kyrka where many of the Holmquist family is buried.

When John was twenty-two years old he wrote his mother's cousin John T. Holmquist in America asking if he would sponsor his immigration to America. We don't know what John T.'s response was, but we do know that John Fransson never emigrated to America. Here is a translation of his letter:4

I am sure that you wonder why I am writing you, but this is the reason. I am thinking of sailing over.

In order to come over I need permission [sponsorship] from a relative because so they can stand and guarantee me. Not that it is needed but it has to be on paper.

Would you like to be that person? I do not have any other relative in USA, perhaps friends if someone would give me a job in the city of Chicago. I have been told I should write you. My uncle Albert Johansson5 said I should. He is your cousin.

If OK is given by the consulate I will be coming this winter (1929) or the next year spring. A friend will find me a job to the Worlds Fair, Is this job a recommended one? How are jobs now?

I am 22 years old. I work with cement, have been a carpenter for one year and now a grovarbetare [works hard with his hands], but it pays very little, have been without job too, so therefore I feel that I should emigrate to USA, as I said before someone has to be my 'guardian' before I can take the trip. I much prefer to travel to the USA.

I ask you therefore with friendship that you will answer this letter. If you want to I will give your name and who will meet me.

4.4. Anna Johansson (June 19, 1882 - March 11, 1883). Anna was less than a year old when she died.

4.5. Sven Magnus Johansson (March 15, 1884 - November 29, 1896). One day while Kristina Holmquist was looking out one of the windows of her home she saw that her 12 year old son Sven had fallen through the ice of Lake Steningen and was drowning. She was unable to get to him in time. This sad event was of course a great tragedy to the family, and one which was remembered by the family nearly a hundred years later for when Lennart Holmquist visited family members in the 1980s this story was told and again mentioned in a letter in 1992.

This lake is near the town of Nybyggden. Presently the lake is not as large as it once was. The area where Sven actually drowned has receded and is now dry land.

4.6. Anna Maria Johansson (November 22, 1886 - Septemer 6, 1965) was born Nybygden, Stenbrohult, Sweden. She married Nils Johan Bengtsson (October, 3, 1885 - December 5, 1977) on June 23, 1910 in Vigsel. Anna was passed away in Äskya, Stenbrohult, Sweden.7

4.6.1. Gulli Bengtsson ( 1911 - 1918). Gulli apparently died of the Spanish Influenza, a disease that killed many people throughout the world during this time.

4.6.2. Gunnar Nils Johan Bengtsson ( 1917 -) married Bernice ( 1924 - ). Gunnar retired from house construction. Bernice was a children's day care worker for 23 years.

4.6.2.1. Laila Bengtsson ( 1941 - ) married Per Eliasson ( 1940 - ) in 1959. Per is from Lönsboda, but Laila and Per live in Varberg. Per was a glass-cutter for the company Sweda, but now works for Korpens Kansli.

4.6.2.1.1. Thomas Eliasson ( 1960 -) married Helena Nelje ( 1960 -) in 1984. Thomas is working on a masters of Business Administration in Göteborg. Helena works in a hospital as an operations assistant in Varberg.

4.6.2.1.2. Ann-Charlotte Eliasson ( 1963 -) married Lars Bengtsson ( 1963 -). Lars is a farmer in Trååker. Ann-Charlotte is a nurse in Trååker.

4.6.2.2. Marianne Bengtsson ( 1943 -) married Erling Johansson ( 1941 - deceased about 1990?) in 1963. Erling is from Älmhult and is an office worker???.

4.6.2.2.1. Susanne Johansson ( 1963 -) lives with Mickael Hjort ( 1962 -). Mickael Hjort works for Sittm ans.

4.6.2.2.2. Stefan Johansson ( 1966 -). Stefan is (studying ?) international economics in Lund. He works 3 months in the summers in Germany.

4.6.2.3. Kenneth Bengtsson ( 1945 -) married Gunilla ( 1950 -). Kenneth works for the furniture store Ikea. Gunilla is a textile teacher. They live in Pjättryd.

4.6.2.4. Ann-Louse Bengtsson ( 1946 -) married Kenneth Eriksson ( 1951 -). Kenneth is the owner of a trucking business. They live in Traryd.

4.6.3. Vera Gulli-Maria Bengtsson ( 1920 -) married Hilding Pettersson ( 1918 - deceased about 1976?). Vera was a nurse.

4.6.3.1. Ann-Marie Pettersson ( 1947 -) married Roland Johansson ( ). Roland is a doctor in Älmhult.

4.6.4. Alldo Gästa-Martin Bengtsson ( 1923 -) married May-Britt Nygren ( 1926 -). Alldo has been a foreman and metal worker and worked in a local stone quarry. May-Britt's parents are Marie and Thura Nygren. Marie was born in Austria and as a result May-Britt speaks German fluently.

Bernard and Doris Holmquist visited Alldo and May-Britt sometime in the 1970's probably. Bernard and Doris' son Lennart and his wife, Jill, visited with Alldo and May-Britt on November 17, 1988, had dinner with them and left the next day to Göteborg to visit Len's grandparents on his mother's side of the family. Alldo introduced Lennart and Jill to some of his immediate family living in the area of Älmhult.

4.6.4.1. Björn Stig-Mikel Bengtsson (March 10, 1961 -) and Kristina Nilson ( ) have two children.

4.6.5. Yngve Karl-Erik Bengtsson ( 1927 -) married Halina ( 1946) who is from Poland. Yngve works in Älmhult and works in city government.

4.6.6. Asta Elsa-Viola Bengtsson (July, 07, 1930 -) married Allan Âke Karlsson (January 5, 1924 - April 3, 1998). Asta works in a pharmacy in Älmhult, Sweden. Richard Holmquist from America visited the Karlssons along with other relatives in 1991.

4.6.6.1. Jan-Åke Karlsson (May 8, 1957 -) was born in Älmhult, Sweden. Åke works for Möckeln Co., a conveyor belt construction company for which he travels to many other countries, the most recent of which was Mozambique. Richard Holmquist visited Jan-Åke in 1991.

4.6.6.2. Inger Mona Marie Karlsson (October 3, 1963 -) was born in Älmhult, Sweden. She is an administator by profession, and is a resident of Degersnäs Sg, Virestad (2009). Inger married Anders Roland Sven Johansson (April 15, 1960 -) who was born in Degersnäs Sg, Virestad. Inger and Anders three children:

4.6.6.2.1. Niklas Johansson (November, 14, 1988 - November, 14, 1988) born in Ljungby (G), Sweden, but sadly passed away on the same day in Ljungby (G).

4.6.6.2.2. Tomas Åke Roland Johansson (December 27, 1989 - ) who was born in Degersnäs Sg, Virestad (G), Sweden.

4.6.6.2.3. Mattias Erik Gunnar Johansson (August 7, 1992 - ) who was born in Degersnäs Sg, Virestad (G), Sweden.

4.7. Frans Albert Johansson (December 7,1889 - November 29, 1972) married Edit Hildur Nyh (April 13, 1902 - November 1, 1992). Albert was born in Nybyggden and was a farmer who had taken over his father Johan Sunesson's farm. When Albert was about twenty-eight years old he wrote a letter to his cousin John T. Holmquist in America whom he had never actually met. The letter was in response to a letter from John notifying the family in Sweden that John's father, Johannes had died. The following is a translation of Albert's response:8

Best cousin John and family. After a long quite time I want to write you and let you know we had your letter where I see your dear father has gone home, and he has gone before us and that feels sad when our closest family leaves us. Even my parents have gone away from us. It is now one year since Father died and four since my Mom died. So now it is soon us that are old. I can tell you that live on my father's homestead. I have a wife and two boys, have been married three years. I have three sisters who live in this area with their family, and I can tell you that I have met Gustav Holmkvist children.9 They have been married but their wives have died. I don't have much more to tell about this time, but it was fun to share a bit to you and to the other cousins. I have so many relatives in Amerika both on Mom's side and on Dad's side. I think my uncles are still alive, but they are getting old.

It would be nice if I could also tell some to my sister Emma's husband, Gustav Hultgren.10

If you know something about him when Uncle Holmkvist11 lived, he wrote so we got some news from Amerika. He wrote such beautiful letters with so many of God's words. He sounded like he was so nice, so now he rests from all of this in this world.

Yes, it would be nice if you could write and give us some news. I'll have to close for this time with many greetings to you and yours.

4.7.1. John Ragnar Johansson (June 21, 1926 - February 18, 1981) married Asta Sonja Margareta Gustavsson (February 20, 1928 -). Ragnar was born in Nybygden and Asta in Göteryd. Ragnar was a furniture craftsman and Asta a nurse.

4.7.1.1. Bo Stefan Johansson (January 15, 1954 -) married Anna Karin Christina Göth (July 27, 1958 -). Stefan was born in Älmhult and Karin in Virestad. Stefan is a minister and Karin a sociologist.

4.7.1.1.1. Jon Kristoffer Stefan Johansson (November 28, 1984 -). Jon was born in Lund.

4.7.1.1.3. Peter Stefan Henrik Johansson (March 13, 1989 -) was also born in Lund.

4.7.1.2. Mats Olaf Johansson (April 7, 1959 -) married Ann Betty Mari Karlsson (June, 22, 1965 -). Mats was born in Älmhult and Ann in Killeberg. Mats is a teacher.

4.7.2. Klas Helmer Johansson (December 11, 1927 -) married Margit Viola Benjaminsson (September 26, 1931 -). Helmer was born in Nybygden and Margit in Hinneryd. Helmer was a hospital employee and Margit a dressmaker.

Helmer and Margit and their son, Leif, and his girlfriend , Ann Christin, visit Meilynn and Steve Smith at Sulatorp (the name of the Holmquist cabin) in Sweden in 1999.

4.7.2.1. Eva Inger Johansson (May 7, 1952 -) married Sven Olof Sigmund Koggdal (March 27, 1956 -). Eva was born in Älmhult and is a teacher. Meilynn Smith while in Sweden in 1996 spoke to Eva over the phone. Eva gave Meilynn her brother, Leif's, phone number whom Meilynn called and visited on August 1.

4.7.2.1.2. Sabina Margit Ingeborg Koggdal (April 9, 1987 -) was born in Växjö.

4.7.2.1.3. Johannes Klas Arvid Koggdal (September 20, 1989 -) was born in Växjö.

4.7.2.2. Leif Evert Johansson (August 1, 1953 -) was born in Älmhult and is a surveyor.

Meilynn Smith from America visited with Leif on his birthday in Varberg, Sweden (not too far distant from the Rinell's family home outside Björketorp) in 1996 together with Leif's girlfriend Ann-Kristine and Leif's parents Helmer and Margit. This is the first time they had met and they spent much of the time going over the family tree and talking about their respective families. Meilynn also spoke with Leif's sister Eva over the phone. Leif speaks English.

Leif visited with Meilynn and her husband Steve at the Rinell home called Sulatorp just outside of the village of Björketorp about an hour from Göteborg. Sulatorp is the Rinell stuga (or cabin). The Rinell family is from Meilynn's mother's side of the family, and are related to the Holmquist by marriage.

4.7.3. Hillevi Marianne Johansson (December 9, 1928 -) married Gösta Elis Fagerberg (June 5, 1924 -). Hillevi was born in Nybygden and Elis in Räppe. Illevi is a clerical employee and Elis a mechanic. Richard Holmquist visited Hillevi and her family in 1991. Hillevi visited Richard and Sally Holmquist in the States in 1993.

4.7.3.1. Kerstin Marie Fagerberg (June 11, 1956 - ) married Sten-Ove Conny Linell (July 9, 1949 -). Kerstin was born in Växjö and Sten-Ove in Vislanda. Kerstin is a teacher and Sten-Ove a chauffeur.

4.7.3.2. Inger Agneta Fagerberg (November 7, 1959 -) was born in Växjö and is a clerical employee.

1. Birth and death dates of Kristina and Johan are taken from their headstone in Sweden.

2. A Tunland equals 5000 sq meters or 2 acres. I do not know where this information about the amount of land Kritina and Johan had came from. Since it is mentioned that the land was near the Fransson family, perhaps they were the one's who mentioned with when visited by the Holmquist in the 1970s.

3. Swedish records actually have Signhild marrying Joseph Vilhelm Karlsson on June 29, 1912.

4. Translated by Doris [Holmquist] Brown in 2004.

5. See ID # 4.7.

6. 'Elmhult' and 'Almhult' and 'Almhult' with two dots above the 'A' are names for the same town in southern Sweden. Almhult is, also, the 'birthplace' of the Swedish furniture store Ikea, a company which is becoming popular in the USA at this time (2004).

7. Years of birth and death for Nils, Anna and their daughter, Gulli, are taken directly from their gravestone in Sweden. Photo of this gravestone and that of Johan and Kristina Sunesson were provided by Richard Holmquist, Sr.

8. Translated by Doris [Holmqust] Brown, 2004.

9. Gustav Holmkvist (also spelt Holmquist) was John and Albert's uncle. See ID # 2 of the chapter entitled 'Gustav the Seller of Milk and Bread.

10. See ID # 4.1 in the chapter entitled 'Kristina the Farmer's Wife.

11. Johannes Holmquist, John's father. See ID #6 of the chapter entitled 'Johannes the Frog Maker.'

Kristina the Farmer's Wife

The Johansson Family