Meet the Swedish Immigrant Musicians of the Upper Midwest
Click on the name of the musician to learn more!
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Per August Widmark
Fiddler Born: 1864. Vingåker, Södermanland, Sweden Emigrated: 1887. Settled in Minnesota: St. Paul, Ramsey County and Minerva in Clearwater County Read more about Per August Widmark here |
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Johan Nordenström
Fiddler. Also played accordion and pedal organ Born: 1859. Håsjö, Jämtland, Sweden Emigrated: 1888, Grass Lake, Minnesota. Coming soon! Februrary 6, 2026 |
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Per Selander
Fiddle. Guitar, Piano Born: 1871. Bergsjö, Gävleborg, Sweden Emigrated: 1899. Settled in Minnesota: Quamba, Kanabec County and Cambridge, Isanti County Read more about Per Selander here |
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Ivar Andersson
Fiddle. Button Box Accordion Born: 1899 Ulvaboda, Blekinge, Sweden Emigrated: 1923 Settled in Minnesota: Aurora, St. Louis County. Moved to Illinois around 1925 Read more about Ivar Andersson here |
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Gumas Lars Larsson
Fiddle Born: 1855. Loka, Älvdalen, Dalarna, Sweden Emigrated: 1900. Settled in Minnesota: Dalbo, Isanti County, MN Read more about Gumas Lars Larsson here |
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Tång Anna Nelson
Fiddle Born: 1834 Överbyn, Högbo, Gävleborg, Sweden Emigrated: 1887. Settled in Minnesota: Blue Hill, Sherburne, USA Read more about Tång Anna Nelson here |
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Hård Lars Larsson
Fiddle Born: 1822 Östermyckeläng, Älvdalen Sweden Emigrated: 1886. Settled in Minnesota: Solway and Lammers in Beltrami County Read more about Hård Lars Larsson here |
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Korp-Erik Olson.
Fiddle Born: 1851. Hassela, Nordanstigs, Hälsingland, Sweden Emigrated: 1908. Settled in Minnesota: Wyanett, Isanti County. Read more about Korp Erik Olson here |
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Edwin Johnson
Fiddle and Nyckelharpa Born: 1905 December 6. Rättvik, Dalarna, Sweden Emigrated: 1924. Settled in Minnesota: Minneapolis, Hennepin County. Also lived in Wisconsin: Hayward, Sawyer County. Read more about Edwin Johnson here |
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Axel Kjellberg
Nyckelharpa (Kontrabasharpa) Born: 1871. Gimo, Skäfthammar, Uppland Sweden. Emigrated: 1891. Lived in Miles, Porterfield, Marinette County, Wisconsin. Also lived in Illinois and Michigan. Read more about Axel Kjellberg here |
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Anders Andersson
Nyckelharpa Born: 1841. Börstil, Uppland, Sweden. Emigrated: 1907. Destination listed as "Marinette, Wisconsin Read more about Anders Andersson here |
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Anders Challman
Nyckelharpa (Kontrabasharpa) Born: 1871. Börstil, Uppland, Sweden. Emigrated: 1890. Settled in Minnesota: Minneapolis, Hennepin County. Read more about Anders Challman here |
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Knute Stone
Nyckelharpa (Kontrabasharpa) Born: 1886. Österbybruk, Uppsala, Sweden. Emigrated: 1911. Settled in South Dakota: Brookfield, McCook County. Read more about Knut Stone here |
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Daniel Pettersson
Nyckelharpa
Read more about Daniel Petterson here |
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Britta Skifstrom
Säckpipa Birth: 1842. Dala-Järna, Sweden. Emigrated 1868. Settled in Minnesota: Cokato, Wright and Koochiching County Read more about Britta Skifström here |
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Anna Larson
Säckpipa Birth: 1819, Dala-Järna, Sweden. Emigrated 1880. Settled in Minnesota: Cokato, Wright County. Read more about Anna Larson here |
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Erik Persson
Säckpipa Birth: 1813. Säfsnäs, Dalarna, Sweden. Emigrated 1868. Settled in Iowa: Marcy Township, Boone County. Read more about Erik Persson here |
Coming soon...
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Mats Walner
Singer of Traditional Folk Tunes Born: 1879. Mockfjärd, Dalarna, Sweden. Emigrated: 1890. Settled in Lake Lillian Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota |
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Charles Johnson
Fiddle Born: 1892, Ålshult, Kronoberg, Sweden, Sweden Emigrated: 1910. There are indications that this Charlie Johnson is "Charlie Wallbreaker" from Ivar Andersson's Memoir, "Berättarkungen" Charlie played violin for many dances. |
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Eric Olsson
Fiddle Born: May 22, 1889, Bingsjö, Dalarna, Sweden Emigrated: 1926. There are indication he and his brother Jonas Olsson first settled in South Dakota before moving to Vancouver Washington |
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Nylands Jonas Gotthard Olsson
Fiddle Born: April 16, 1899 in Bingsjö, Dalarna, Sweden Emigrated: 1926. There are indication he and his brother Eric first settled in South Dakota before moving to Vancouver Washington |
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Nall Jon Erickson
Fiddle Born: Sweden Emigrated: Lived in Minneapolis, Hennepin County Minnesota |