Erika Bergman 1864-1937

BERGMAN, MABIE, CARLAND

Posted By: A. Bruce Owens (email)
Date: 12/29/2008 at 18:48:50

MISS ERIKA BERGMAN

Miss Erika Bergman was born in Sweden July 24, 1864. With her parents she came to America in 1868, settling in Allamakee county on a farm three miles from Churchtown, between Lansing Ridge and Faegre Prairie. She was a member of the Village Creek Swedish Baptist church, having been converted and baptized in 1882. Early in life Miss Bergman manifested a desire to do things-to help people-and soon she dedicated her life to spreading the word of Jesus Christ and saving souls from sin and ignorance. She felt the call to missionary service, and, answering it, went to Minneapolis where she studied in the Missionary Training School, Dr. H. C. Mabie, president. She was accepted by the Woman's Missionary Society, sailed from Boston, and landed at Madras, India, November 24, 1891.
From 1891 to 1998 [sic – 1898] Miss Bergman labored for the cause in the Madras Presidency, on the Bengal side in south India, a land at that time infested with plagues and disease. She was poisoned and afflicted with Asiatic cholera, and finally she was sent home in order that her life might be spared from the disease. She had spent much time at Sumbun, a missionary station only fifteen degrees from the equator. Her inability to return to the foreign missionary work was one of the great disappointments of her life.
After her return to America, Erika Bergman settled in Lansing, where until 1908 she cared for her mother. Since then she has lived with her sister Mary and earned her living as a seamstress. With her pleasant wit and radiant personality, she has been a helping friend to all who have known her. Frequently friends dropped in to see her at her home in Lansing, and her conversation, permeated with that same kindliness which had brought Christian light into homes and families in far-away India, sent them on their way, glad because they had come and spoken with her.
Miss Bergman died at her home in Lansing on the afternoon of June 3, 1937 at the age of 72 years, 10 months, after an illness of about six months. Left to mourn are her three sisters, Mary, at home, and Carrie Bergman and Mrs. Hannah Carland of Minneapolis, besides a host of other friends and relatives.
Peace to the memory of a great woman.