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Helena Gustafva Högberg[1] 1835 - 1915

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• Birth	18 Apr 1835	Kokaregården, Hovby, Skaraborg, Sweden   [2]
  Christened	19 Apr 1835	Hovby, Skaraborg, Sweden   [3]
  Gender	Female
  Also Known As	Elena
  Reference Number	KWCC-CST
  _UID	BE7B4E1F00D5A849AB92850223F7F0639D66
  Died	14 Feb 1915	Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah, United States   [4, 5, 6]
  Buried	17 Feb 1915	Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah, United States   [5, 7]
  Notes	!BAPTISM: J.C. Johnson papers give bap. date as 8 April 1860, by Rasmus Berntzon, confirmed by Johnas Lindberg !IMMIGRATION: from Göteberg to Hamburg; May 1, 1863 departed Hamburg on the 'Roland' (carrying 600 people, 40 steers and several hundred sheep) to Grimsby, England arr May 3, then by train on May 6 to Liverpool, departed Liverpool 8 May 1863 with 657 Saints, arr New York on 15 June 1863 (there were 4 deaths, 2 births and 7 marriages), from NY to Albany to Florence, Nebraska by train (Mormon Imigration Index CD) !PIONEER: from Florence, Nebraska to Utah by ox team. She volunteered to to care for the children of a mother who had been killed in a stampede. Entered the valley September 11, 1863. !MARRIAGE: 3rd wife of plural marriage !RESIDENCE: 1835 born Hovby, Lidköping, Skaraborg, Sweden; 1835 with parents and siblings moved from Kakaregård, Hovby, Skaraborg to Råda, Skaraborg 1835-1847 listed with parents and siblings in Lilla Broholm, Ågard, Rhåda, Skaraborg 11 Nov 1850 with father and siblings moved from Råda, Skaraborg to Lidköping, Skaraborg 1851 with father and siblings moved from Råda, Skaraborg to Carlslund, Lidköping 1851 moves from Carlslund, Lidköping to Hofby 1855 moves from Skölmentorp, Östby Rote, Hovby, Skaraborg for Göteborg also "after death of mother (1847) "moved in with married sister [Christina Lovisa] then to "another estate" for 1 year; as a "young adult" moves to Göteborg to work; 1860 baptised in Göteborg; 1863 emmigrated to Utah; 1863 marries Jorgen Swaner and lives several years in Salt Lake City; to Ogden; to Big Cottonwood !BIOGRAPHICAL: for bio info see "Our Pioneer History", Kate Carter ed., DUP, Utah Printing Co.,Salt Lake City ,1960, vol. 3, p. 96-98. !UTFLYTTNINGSLÄNGD 1835: Helena (b. 18 April 1835) moved from Ostby Kokaregård, Hovby, Skaraborg to Råda, Skaraborg with parents and 3 siblings (FHL# 0249110, utflyt. Hovby, Skaraborg, p. 55) !HUSFÖRHÖRSLÄNGD 1835-1850: Helena (b. 18 April 1835 Härene) in Lilla Broholm, Råda, Skaraborg (FHL# 024903, hus. Råda, Skaraborg, p. 108) !UTFLYTNINGSLÄNGD 1850: Helena (b. 18 april 1835 Hären) moved from Råda to Lidköping with father and 3 siblings (FHL# 518516, uttflyt. Råda, Skaraborg, p. 9) !INFLYTTNINGSLÄNGD 1850: Helena (b. 18 April 1835 H?) Helena moved to Lidköping from Råda with father and 3 siblings (FHL# 0419038 inflytt. Lidköping, no page #, year 1850, line 212) !UTFLYTNINGSLÄNGD 1851: Helena (b. 18 April 1835 H?) moved from Carlsland, Lidköping to Hovby on 8 Nov 1851(FHL# 0419038 utflytt Lidköping, line 140) !HUSFÖRHÖRSLÄNGD 1851: Helena leaves Skölmentorp, Östby Rote, Hovby, Skaraborg for Göteborg in 1855 (FHL 30249110, hus. Hovby, p.153) !US_FEDERAL _CENSUS_1880: Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah [name] Johanna Swaner [race] W [sex] F [age] 44 [marital status] widow [occupation] housekeeper [born] Sweden [father born] Sweden [mother born] Sweden. Enumerated with her 8 children, Julia 15, Mary 13, Christina 12, Joseph 11, Mollie 9, Emma 8, Martha 5, Rabecca 3. NOTE: is Johanna really Helena? the age of 44 is right, her children are correct, and Jorgen's other wives had passed away. (ancestry.com, pB10, ED 58, 4 June 1880) !US_FEDERAL_CENSUS_1900: Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah [name] Helena Swaner [relation to head] head [color] W [sex] F [birth] Apr 1835 [age] 65 [marital status] Wd [born] Sweden [father born] Sweden [mother born] Sweden [can read/write/speak English] Yes [home owned or rented] O [free or morgage] F [farm or house] F [no. on farm schedule] 75. Enumerated with son Joseph, his wife and 2 children; and with daughter Emma, her husband and 3 children. (ancestry.com ED 6, sheet 5, 9 June 1900) !US_FEDERAL_CENSUS_1910: Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah [name] Helena Swaner [relation to head, Joseph Johson] mother-in-law [sex] f [color] w [age] 74 [marital status] wd [place of birth] Swed/Swedish [father's birth place] Swed/Swedish [mother's birth place] Swed/Swedish [language spoken] Swedish [occupation] own income. Enumerated with so-in-law, Joseph, Sarah and their 5 children, Esther, Mabel, Irene, Joseph, Clifford. (ancestry.com database, ED 75, sheet 14B, line 86-93) !BURIAL: Holladay Memorial Park, Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah; 9S 8E, No.7 !BIOGRAPHICAL: A LIFE SKETCH OF HELENA GUSTAVA HUGHBERG By Sarah Johnson; A similar, edited version appears in the DUP’s book Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 3, p 96-98. In the little town of Lidkoping [Lidköping], Sweden, situated in the edge of a big wood, was the quaint and picturesque home of Swen Hughberg and Caterina Sitterberg, his wife. Their family consisted of three boys and one girl. The father was a shoemaker by trade, making shoes for the people of his home town. They were a religious and industrious family. To this family was born a baby girl, on April 18, 1835, whom they named Helena Gustava. She was a healthy baby, and grew apace. When little Helena was eight years old, her mother’s health failed. The family savings were spent in an endeavor to restore her health, but seemingly to no avail, for after much suffering, the mother died when Helena was but nine years old. Her elder sister and two brothers were married, thus Helena was the house-keeper for her father and one brother. This she con­tinued to be for some time until her father married again. Then Helena went to live with her sister, helping her with her family. Later, she hired out as a housemaid at a neighboring estate, where she remained for one year. Having now grown to womanhood, she hired out as an apprentice to a tailor and later to a glove maker, learning both trades, and becoming an expert seamstress and needlewoman. But the city was calling her, so, accompanied by a girl friend, she went to Gotenberg. Here for the first time, she heard the gospel preached. She had heard a great deal of adverse talk of the Mormons, but some friends urged her to attend a meeting of the elders and hear them talk and preach. Thinking it would be a great lark, she did so, and was very much impressed, so went again and again. She believed fully that it was the truth they taught, so applied for baptism, which ordinance was performed on her 25th birthday, April 18, 1860. Helena rejoiced very much in her new-found faith, and went back to her native town, thinking that her family would be as pleased to hear of her new religion as she was. But, to her great disappointment, they would have none of it. Her eldest brother was particularly strong in his denunciation of the new sect, and said that Helena was a disgrace to the whole family, and that he did not wish her to darken his door again. Being of an independent disposition, she went back to Gotenberg. Here, however, new difficulties arose. She could not obtain employment, as the Priest of the predominating church of the country had issued a decree that none of his members should give employment to any Mormon under any circumstance. Helena then went to the headquarters of the Mission and did what she could find to do in cooking, washing and mending for the traveling elders and president of the branch. The desire to go to Zion grew very strong, but, as she had no means and no employment, she did not know how this could be done. There was a large branch of the church in Gotenberg at this time. A few had some means that they shared with others, but most of them were without means or employment. The situation became critical. The President of the branch informed the authorities in Salt Lake City, and an emmigration [sic] fund was sent to bring the worthy Saints to Zion, so a large company of Saints started to Salt Lake City in charge of returning missionaries. After an eight-week rather hard voyage on a sailing vessel, Helena beheld the shores of the promised land. Landing in New York, then by train to Florence, where they were met by ox-teams, sent by the church, and started their never-to-be-forgotten tramp across the plains. The large company was organized, as were the companies that had crossed before them, into fifty’s and ten’s, with their captains, and strict dicipline [sic] was enforced. Nothing of great importance happened in this company, as a11 the drivers were experienced in the driving of oxen. But in a company of an independent train, that is those who had means to buy their own outfit, who were traveling a few days ahead of the church trains, had considerable trouble, as their teamsters were not at all familiar with the driving of oxen or horses. A young woman with a family of small children had been killed in a stampede, and other misfortunes had befallen them. One of their drivers went to the Church train and asked for someone to help the family who had thus been left, and Helena volunteered to go and left the Church train and travelled in the independent train, caring for the children the remainder of the journey. Being of a robust constitution, Helena walked the whole way across the plains, without sickness or other misfortune, and arrived in Salt Lake City on September 11, 1863. She was met at the camp ground by a family of Scandinavians, with whom she made her home, doing all kinds of work that she could get, in order to pay back her immigration fare to the Church. On October 3, 1863, she was married at the Endowment House to John Jenson Swaner and lived for a number of years in Salt Lake City. Later, the family moved to Ogden Valley to a farm. But being so far away from Church headquarters, where he wished to attend conference, John Swaner traded his place for one in Big Cottonwood, ten miles south of Salt Lake City. Here Helena lived the remainder of her life. The farm was just begun, as much of the land had not been broken up, and house consisted of one log room and a dugout. Enjoying as he did the privilege of having a home of his own within walking distance of Salt Lake, (the Scandinavians were great walkers, as they were not used to driving horses) John wished to share his good fortune with friends who were still in Denmark and he informed them of the advantages to be had in Zion and urged them to come and share his home. This they did, coming to live with them in their home, until the farm was divided and the friends building a home for themselves-here the family still remain. Being an all-around handy-man and a cabinet-maker by profession, he made furniture from the native woods, with the inadequate tools in his possession, which proved to be very useful if not so handsome. He also utilized everything that could be made use of, having a turning Lathe, he made from bones of overuals buttons, knitting needles, crochet hooks, one with a very clever hollow handle with a screw top and a screw clamped furale for holding fine crochet hooks made from broken sewing and darning needles, and filley needles and tatting shuttles, all of which Helena was proficient in the use of. The farm was improved as fast as the family could get the time and means. Fruit and shade trees were planted, and vegetables helped out the feeding of the ever-growing family. The ever-cheering flower garden was not forgotten. Again the home was shared by an immigrant family until they could build themselves a home close by. In April, 1876, John Swaner passed away; six months later a baby girl was born to Helena, leaving her the sole support of a family of seven girls and one boy. Her indepent [sic] nature stood her in good stead. With the help of the children, she ran the farm, hiring only such help as was absolutely necessary, such as the cutting of the hay and grain and the thrashing. She afterwards bought a mower and did the cutting herself. She, herself, often hauled the hay to Salt Lake City to sell for the necessary cash. During these trying years, she did not neglect her religion. The writer’s first remembrance of Sunday school was a hurry and a bussle [sic] to get ready, as there were six or eight cows to milk and feed, pigs, chickens, and sheep to care for and horses to water and feed and harness, and the usual bussle [sic] to get a family ready. Sunday school started at nine o’clock, Mother being one of the teachers. This, in itself was quite an achievement, as in her native country, it was not customary to give the girls any schooling-they were taught to do all kinds of work and to read sufficiently well to read from the Bible to the Priest of the predominat [sic] church, -- this must be done before confirmation. Coming as Helena had to a new country and having to learn a new language, a new alphabet, new customs and even a new mode of living, she learned to speak and read sufficiently well to read intelligently the current literature of the church. Her children were brought up to the love of the gospel and a love and appreciation of the beauties of nature and the handy work of God. They were taught to love truth for truth’s sake, to do good for the love of work. Her influence was for good. Although not a public character, she did much to help her friends and neighbors in sickness and trouble. Her character would ever be classed as strong and noble. Her self-reliance and reliance on the Lord brought her through many a trying time. Her health was remarkable having never required the services of a doctor until she was past her seventieth year. On February 14, 1915, in her 80th year, Helena G. Swaner passed away peacefully and without one hour’s sickness, being able to help herself till the last. Thus was finished the noble. and useful life of my Mother.
  Person ID	I16	Johnson Merrill Family Tree
  Last Modified	13 Jun 2012

  
  

  Father	Sven Petterson Högberg,   b. 24 Sep 1800, Hustru Annasgård, Högstorp, Särestad, Skaraborg, Sweden ,   d. 23 May 1859, Lidköping, Skaraborg, Sweden
  Mother	Catharina Olofsdotter Setterberg,   b. 22 Sep 1798, Säter, Eskilsäter, Värmland, Sweden ,   d. 14 Apr 1847, Lilla Broholm, Råda, Skaraborg, Sweden
  Married	26 Oct 1823	Lidköping, Skaraborg, Sweden
  _UID	142512B23593FC4F9B95EBF4BCC51B7732FA
  Family ID	F20	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Jørgen Jensen Svane or Swaner,   b. 29 Apr 1807, Branderup, Haderslev, Denmark ,   d. 27 Apr 1876, Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
  Married	3 Oct 1863	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States   [8, 9]
  _UID	69B0E2F7E1B3444D854CA618553EA65D3CB0
  Children	1. Julia Helena Swaner,   b. 10 Feb 1865, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States ,   d. 13 Nov 1939, Jackson, Cassia, Idaho, United States   2. Mary Louisa Swaner,   b. 20 Jul 1866, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States ,   d. 29 Jan 1882, , Salt Lake, Utah, United States   3. Christina Gustava Swaner,   b. 29 Mar 1868, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States ,   d. 7 May 1899, Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah, United States   4. Joseph Swaner,   b. 19 May 1869, Huntsville, Weber, Utah, United States ,   d. 15 Apr 1924, Medford, Jackson, Oregon, United States   5. Amelia Catherine Swaner,   b. 5 Jan 1871, Huntsville, Weber, Utah, United States ,   d. 18 Jul 1941, Rosemead, Los Angeles, California, United States > 6. Emma Johana Swaner,   b. 3 May 1872, Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah, United States ,   d. 24 Apr 1943, Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah, United States   7. Martha Caroline Swaner,   b. 10 Sep 1874, Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah, United States ,   d. 1896, Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah, United States > 8. Sarah Rebecca Swaner,   b. 26 Sep 1876, Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah, United States ,   d. 24 Jan 1959, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States
  Family ID	F4	Group Sheet

  
  

• Photos		Helena Gustava Hogberg Swaner 1835-1915 Helena Gustava Hogberg Swaner
  		Helena Gustava Hogberg Swaner 1835-1939 Helena Gustava Hogberg Swaner
  		Helena Högberg Swaner 1835-1939 Helena Högberg Swaner
  		Hogberg, Helena 1835-1915 Helena Gustava Hogberg Swaner

  
  

• Sources

  [S13] BOOK: Our Pioneer Heritage, Carter, Kate B. ed, (Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Utah Printing Co., Salt Lake City, 1960), "Helena Swaner", vol. 3, p. 96-98. In the little town of Hofby [Hovby] in Lidkoping, Sweden...home of Severn Hogberg and his wife Caterina Setterberg. To this family was born a girl April 18, 1835 whom they named Helena Gustafa. [S18] Svenska Kyrkoböcker, (microfilm of Swedish state church records), FHL# 249113, Hovby, Skaraborg, Födde 1807-1850, p. 264. Fodde 1835: Hovby; 18/19/4; Helena Gustafva; Sv. Högberg, Kasja Setterberg, 37; Torpare under Kokary.; Torp. ib. And. Pettersson, hu.; Drg. Sven Andersson; Pig. Gret. Andersdoter [in Hovby, was born 18 April 1835 and christened 19 April 1835, Helena Gustafva, (parents) Sven Högberg, a crofter at Kokareg[ården], and Kasja Setterberg, age 37; (witnessed by) Anders Pettersson, a crofter at the same place, and his wife; Sven Andersson, a farmhand, and Greta Andersdotter, a servant girl] [S18] Svenska Kyrkoböcker, (microfilm of Swedish state church records), FHL# 249113, Hovby, Skaraborg, Födde 1807-1850, p. 264. Hovby; 18/19/4; Helena Gustafva; Sv. Högberg, Kasja Setterberg, 37; Torpare under Kokareg.; Torp. ib. And. Pettersson, hu.; Drg. Sven Andersson; Pig. Gret. Andersdoter [in Hovby, was born 18 April 1835 and christened 19 April 1835, Helena Gustafva, (parents) Sven Högberg, a crofter at Kokareg[ården], and Kasja Setterberg, age 37; (witnessed by) Anders Pettersson, a crofter at the same place, and his wife; Sven Andersson, a farmhand, and Greta Andersdotter, a servant girl] [S9] Death Certificate, File no. 272. [place of death] Holliday, Salt Lake [name] Helena Gustava Swaner [sex] female [race] white [marriage] widowed [birth] April 18, 1835 [age] 79 yr 10 mo 27 days [occupation] house wife [birth place] Sweden [father] Hughberg [father's birth] Sweden [mother's maiden name] unknown [mother's birth] Swden [informant] Sarah Johnson of Murray RD #3 [filed] Feb 18, 1915 by Henry Ballard [registered No.] 10 [burial permit] 10 [date of death] Feb. 14, 1915 [I hearby certify that ... death occurred on the date stated at] 8:00 PM [cause of death] "I did not reach patient until after she died, but from the history [I] believe the cause was chronic carditis" [signed] ? C. Emery, MD, Feb 17, 1915, Holliday [place of burial] Holliday Cemetery [date] Feb 17, 1915 [undertaker] W.A. Banks, Murray Utah State Department of Health [S30] Utah, Holladay Cemetery Records, Holladay Memorial Park, (microfilm #0962214/ Vol. 1/ 1860-1967), Page 19/ Internment No. 532. [name] Helena G. Swaner [place of birth] Sweden [late residence] Holladay [age] 79 [date of death] 1915 Feb 14 [lot] 9S 8E [location] No. 7 [nearest relative or friend] Sarah Johnson [S13] BOOK: Our Pioneer Heritage, Carter, Kate B. ed, (Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Utah Printing Co., Salt Lake City, 1960), "Helena Swaner", vol. 3, p. 96-98. Death claimed her [Helena Swaner] in her eightieth year, February 14, 1915. [S9] Death Certificate, File no. 272. [place of death] Holliday, Salt Lake [sex] female [race] white [marriage] widowed [birth] April 18, 1835 [age] 79 yr 10 mo 27 days [occupation] house wife [birth place] Sweden [father] Hughberg [father's birth] Swden [mother's maiden name] unknown [mother's birth] Swden [informant] Sarah Johnson of Murray RD #3 [filed] Feb 18, 1915 by Henry Ballard [registered No.] 10 [burial permit] 10 [date of death] Feb. 14, 1915 [I hearby certify that ... death occurred on the date stated at] 8:00 PM [cause of death] "I did not reach patient until after she died, but from the history [I] believe the cause was chronic carditis" [signed] ? C. Emery, MD, Feb 17, 1915, Holliday [place of burial] Holliday Cemetery [date] Feb 17, 1915 [undertaker] W.A. Banks, Murray [S24] IGI-LDS Ordinance Index 1.02, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Family Search), North America, main file. Swaner, Jorgen Jensen; m. 3 Oct 1863, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah; sp. Helena Gustave Hogburg; s sp. 11 Nov 1974 SLAKE From form submitted for proxy work, batch 7404512, sheet 97, film 934358. Viewed 19 Sep 2001, Danville FHC [S101] BOOK: Life of J. Cyril Johnson, Johnson, J. Cyril with Romick, Mabel Ann, (Hayward, California: McDonald Brothers, 1991), p. 6. On October 3, 1863, a short time after her [Helena] arrival in the valley, she married Jorgan Jensen Swaner.