ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202
COLLECTION: OGL# 1312
DATES: 1869-1903
SIZE: .25 linear feet
ACQUISITION: The John Jaenson Malberg Diaries was deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection as a gift from George E. Sands, great grandson of John Malberg, May 24, 1995 (Acc # 95-2032).
ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.
John Jaenson Malberg was born in Grahntarr, Woreda Soken, Jonkopings Lan, Sweden April 23, 1827. He emigrated from Sweden to the U.S. in 1853. Malberg landed in Boston, then traveled to Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. His future wife, Christina (Jonson) Malberg, was born in Reaby, Grenna Soken, Jonkopings Lan, Sweden November 27, 1833. She emigrated from Sweden in the fall of 1853. Christina landed in New Orleans, then traveled to Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. John and Christina were married in Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota on July 18, 1857. They lived in Red Wing for some time. In the spring of 1860 they moved to a farm in Cannon Falls, Leon Township, Goodhue County. That fall, they assumed ownership of the property through preemption rights. The Malbergs lived on this farm for the rest of their lives. John and Christina had seven children, Peter Bennet (FEB 1858), Ida Helena (OCT 1869), Phebe Johanna Marie (SEP 1861), Olive Matilda (AUG 1864), Amos (OCT 1866), Adelia Malvina (NOV 1868), and John Sidney (FEB 1875).
John J. Malberg was a farmer and carpenter. As a farmer, he raised small grains and livestock. As a carpenter, he built coffins and did work for his church. In his spare time John loved planting trees. He died on his farm October 14, 1903 at the age of 76. Christina also died on the farm January 12, 1927 at the age of 93. Both John and Christina are buried at the Cannon Falls Cemetery.
The John Malberg Diaries collection is organized into five folders. Folder one consists of genealogical documents. These include land records, naturalization papers, and other family records. Folder two consists of a name index, which provides page number citations for persons mentioned in the diaries. Folders three, four, and five consist of typewritten English transcriptions of the Diaries, which date 1869-1903 (JAN 1869-DEC 1880, JAN 1881-DEC 1890, JAN 1891-OCT 1903) that were originally written in Swedish.
Box 1
Folder
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