Meet the Swedish Immigrant Musicians of the Upper Midwest

Click on the name of the musician to learn more!
Johan Nordenström 
Fiddle.  Also played accordion and pedal organ  
  • Born: 1859, in Håsjö, Jämtland, Sweden
  • ​Emigrated: 1888  Settled in Minnesota: Grass Lake, Kanabec County and Cambridge, Isanti County.

Learn about Johan Nordenström's story here 
Mats Walner 
​Fiddle and Singer of Traditional Folk Tunes    
  • Born:  1879. Mockfjärd, Dalarna, Sweden. 
  • Emigrated: 1890.   Settled in Lake Lillian Township, Kandiyohi County,  Minnesota

Learn about Mats Walner's story here​​
Per August Widmark  
Fiddle
  • Born: 1864.  Vingåker, Södermanland, Sweden 
  • Emigrated: 1887.  Settled in Minnesota: St. Paul, Ramsey County and Minerva in Clearwater County

Learn about Per August Widmark's story here 
​Per Selander
​Fiddle. Guitar, Piano
  • Born:   1871.  Bergsjö, Gävleborg, Sweden
  • Emigrated: 1899.  Settled in Minnesota:  Quamba, Kanabec County and Cambridge, Isanti County

Learn about Per Selander's story here 
Ivar Andersson 
​Fiddle.  Button Box Accordion 
  • Born:  1899  Ulvaboda, Blekinge, Sweden
  • Emigrated: 1923  Settled in Minnesota: Aurora, St. Louis County.    

Learn about about Ivar Andersson's story here ​
Gumas Lars Larsson 
Fiddle
  • Born:  1855. Loka, Älvdalen, Dalarna, Sweden
  • Emigrated: 1900. Settled in Minnesota: Dalbo, Isanti County, MN 

Learn about Gumas Lars Larsson's story here ​
Tång Anna Nelson
Fiddle 
  • Born:  1834  Överbyn, Högbo, Gävleborg, Sweden 
  • Emigrated: 1887. Settled in Minnesota:  Blue Hill, Sherburne, USA

Learn about Tång Anna Nelson's story here
Hård Lars Larsson   
Fiddle
  • Born:  1822  Östermyckeläng, Älvdalen Sweden
  • Emigrated: 1886. Settled in Minnesota: Solway and Lammers in Beltrami County

Learn about Hård Lars Larsson's story here 
Korp-Erik Olson  
​Fiddle  
  • ​Born:  1851.  Hassela, Nordanstigs, Hälsingland, Sweden
  • ​Emigrated:  1908.  Settled in Minnesota: Wyanett, Isanti County.
​
Learn about Korp Erik Olson's story here 
Edwin Johnson 
Fiddle and Nyckelharpa 
  • Born:  1905 December 6.  Rättvik, Dalarna, Sweden
  • Emigrated: 1924.  Settled in:  Minneapolis, Minnesota  Also lived in:  Hayward, Wisconsin
 
Learn about Edwin Johnson's story here ​
Knute Stone 
Nyckelharpa  (Kontrabasharpa)
  • Born:   1886.  Österbybruk, Uppsala, Sweden. 
  • Emigrated: 1911.  Settled in South Dakota: Brookfield, McCook County.

Learn about Knut Stone's here ​​
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.

Learn about Axel Kjellberg's story here ​
Daniel Pettersson  
​Nyckelharpa 
  • Born:  1897, July 16, Film Sweden 
  • Emigrated: 1923, October 6.  Lived in Wisconsin ​

Learn about Daniel Petterson's story here 
​​
Anders Challman 
Nyckelharpa  (Kontrabasharpa)
  • Born:  1871. Börstil, Uppland, Sweden. 
  • Emigrated: 1890.  Settled in Minnesota: Minneapolis, Hennepin County. 

Learn about Anders Challman's here  ​​
August Lundgren
​Nyckelharpa 
  • Born:  May 6, 1891, Österlövsta parish (Österänge), Uppland, Sweden
  • Emigrated: 1910,   Lived in St. Paul, MN  ​

Learn bout August Lundgren's story here 
​​
Anders Andersson  
Nyckelharpa 
  • Born:  1841. Börstil, Uppland, Sweden. 
  • Emigrated: 1907. Destination listed as "Marinette, Wisconsin

Learn about Anders Andersson's story here ​​
Britta Skifstrom 
​Säckpipa​​
  • Birth:  1842.  Dala-Järna, Sweden. 
  • ​Emigrated 1868. Settled in Minnesota: Cokato, Wright and Koochiching County

Learn about Britta Skifström's story here ​​
Anna Larson 
Säckpipa 
  • Birth:  1819, Dala-Järna, Sweden.
  • ​Emigrated 1880.  Settled in Minnesota: Cokato, Wright County.

Learn about Anna Larson's story here ​
Erik Persson 
​Säckpipa ​
  • Birth: 1813.  Säfsnäs, Dalarna, Sweden.
  • ​Emigrated 1868.   Settled in Iowa: Marcy Township, Boone County. 

Learn about Erik Persson's story here ​​​

Coming soon...

Charles Johnson 
Fiddle 
Born:  1892, Ålshult, Kronoberg, 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. ​
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 ​
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  ​
Nall Jon Erickson 
Fiddle 
Born:  Sweden 
Emigrated:  Lived in Minneapolis, Hennepin County Minnesota  ​