Berggren, Johan Eric (1829-1905)

BERGGREN, PETERSON, DRUG, LINDQUIST, SHAEFFER, SWEDLUND

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Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Stratford Courier
March 9, 1905

Obituary

Berggren

At exactly on the stroke of the church bell, 7 o'clock, Thursday evening all that was mortal of the honored and revered Rev. J.E. Berggren passed from the earth to join the host of angels who have awaited his coming so long.

After a year of patient suffering during which his body had wasted away to almost nothing, he unfearingly left a world of sin and struggle to meet the Master he had worked for on earth. The direct cause of his death was cancer of the stomach and all medical aid availed nothing.

John Erick Berggren was born in Ockelbo, Gestrikland, Sweden September 1, 1829. He was married in 1853 to Anna Peterson and together with her in August 23, 1856 left for America, settling at Oneida, Ill. and in 1858 went to Center Prairie, Kansas. He was converted at a meeting there in 1864 and ordained by Bishop Sampson in 1866. In 1865 he moved to New Sweden, Iowa, where he was pastor three years and was sent in 1868 to Webster-mission, Iowa, which at the time included Swede Bend, Dayton, Swede Point (Sheldahl) and Madrid. Here in 1869, he, with over a hundred members, organized a separate congregation and built a church. He was its pastor until 1874, when he moved to Bishop Hill, Ill. and again in 1877 was sent to Swede Bend. In 1878 was elected Presiding Elder by the Swedish M.E. conference and had charge of the Iowa-Nebraska district which was about half of Iowa and all of Nebraska, serving until 1882 when he was sent to Dayton, remaining one year, and then sent to Galva, Illinois. From 1886 to 1888 he was sent to Des Moines and afterward served one year at Sheldahl. In 1893 he was superannuated by the conference and has since lived a quiet life here. July 26, 1893 his wife died and he has since lived with his children. He was 75 years, 6 months and 1 day old.

He left eight children to mourn his loss. Ex-county Auditor, J.A. Berggren, of Webster City, Phil and Wesley Berggren of Sheldahl, Mesdames J.T. Drug, Eric Lindquist, J.L. Shaeffer and Sam Swedlund and Miss Tena Berggren of Stratford. Two brothers, Hon. A.W. Berggren of Galesburg, Illinois, and Lars Berggren of Stromsburg, Nebraska, and eighteen grandchildren are also left behind to mourn him.

The funeral services were held Sunday. The first service was held at the J.T. Drug home led by Rev. O. Granberg. After this service those present marched to the church headed by Rev. John Linn, who was master of ceremonies. At the M.E. Church Revs. C. Fromen and O. Granberg read the scripture lessons and A.R. Melin of Des Moines preached a deep and soul-stirring sermon. Rev. John Linn read a sketch of the deceased's life in both Swedish and English. Rev. L.O. Stromberg read a very touching piece of poetry composed by himself.

The pall bearers were ministers excepting one who could not come. They were: Rev. A.R. Melin, of Des Moines, Rev. Carl Fromen, of Boxholm, Rev. L.O. Stromberg, of Dayton, Rev. Olof Granberg, of South Marion, Rev. E.S. Benjamin of Stratford and A.P. Anderson.

Music was furnished by the church choir. After viewing the remains they proceeded to the Olson cemetery where the remains were laid to rest. It was one of the largest funerals held here in many years. The coffin was banked with beautiful flowers and bouqets. There was a ? and ? of wheat from Hon. A.W. Berggren of Galesburg, Illinois, a large cross and pillow and a wreath from the children.

Webster City Tribune
March 3, 1905

DEATH OF A STRATFORD PIONEER

Rev. J.E. Berggren, Father of J.A. Berggren of This City Passes Away of Cancer of Stomach.

WAS MINISTER FOR 28 YEARS.

Beloved by People of Stratford, His Death Came as Pall of Sadness to Community.

Word reached this city last night of the death of Rev. J.E. Berggren of Stratford, father of J.A. Berggren of this city, who passed away last evening at seven o'clock. Rev. Berggren was seventy-five years, six months and one day old. For some time he had been suffering from cancer of the stomach and for a month his death has not been unexpected. The funeral will be held in the American Methodist church in Stratford, Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock. It is expected that Rev. A.R. Mellin, an old time friend and presiding elder of the Iowa district of the Swedish American church, will conduct the services. He will be assisted by Rev. Linn of the Stratford Methodist church and Rev. Benjamin of the Stratford American Methodist church.

Until the last year, Mr. Berggren has always been a very robust and strong man. But for his affliction of cancer, her would doubtless have lived for some years yet.

Rev. Berggren was one of the pioneer settlers of Hamilton county and the state of Iowa. For twenty-eight years he was an active minister in the Swedish Methodist church in this state. He resided during this time at various places. For a time he was pastor of the South Marion church, south of Stratford. This was before there was any town on the present site of Stratford. His last charge was in the city of Des Moines.

Mr. Berggren was born in the town of Gefle, Sweden. In the year 1856 he and his wife came to America and after a residence elsewhere came to the state of Iowa in the year 1868. Mr. Berggren had entered the ministry in the year 1863 and remained in active service until 1893, since which time he has been upon the superannuated list of the Swedish Methodist church. Mrs. Berggren died on July 23, 1893. Both Mr. and Mrs. Berggren were always very prominent in Swedish Methodist church circles in the state. Mr. Berggren was a minister of much power and a man who always stood high in the estimation of his hosts of friends and admirers. During his residence in Stratford he had become one of the leading citizens there and one who had at hear the interest of his town. He was beloved by all the good people there for his piousness and his high character and his activity in the affairs that made for the best interests of Stratford. His life was to them an open book and his deeds the emulation of his hosts of friends all over the southern part of the country, where he was best known. His demise, though expected and looked for for a week, came as a pall of sadness upon the community, and the surviving relatives have the sympathy of all in their affliction.

To Mr. and Mrs. Berggren have been born eight children, all of whom survive. They are:

Mrs. J.T. Drug, Stratford.
J.A. Berggren, Webster City.
Phillip Berggren, Sheldahl.
Wesley Berggren, Sheldahl.
Mary Swedlund, Stratford.
Mrs. J.L. Shaeffer, Stratford.
Phoebe Lindquist, Stratford.
Miss Tena Berggren, Stratford.

Not all the children were present during the last moments of Mr. Berggren's life, but during the latter part of his illness each of them had been to see him and each realized that their father had but a short time to live. The remains will be interred in Stratford beside those of his wife.